a light tamarind and fenugreek seeds gravy with Papad or Poppadams
After an elaborate Obbattina Oota and the birthday feast, we all felt that we would not be able eat anything for a week! Mother came out with one of her unusual recipes – the Appalam Mendhya Kozambu. This is a very light tamarind gravy, without any dal ,vegetables, coconut or rich masalas. Having this light Kozambu with rice and dash of ghee, was a great relief after the heavy feast.
INGREDIENTS:Tamarind - a small lemon sized ball
Salt – 2 tsps
Sambar powder – 3 tsps
Jaggery – 1 tsp
Plain papads or appalams – 2
Sesame oil – 4 tbsps
Asafoetida – 1 pinch
Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp
Fenugreek seeds – 1 tsp
Bengal gram dal – 2 tsps
Red chillies (broken)- 2
Curry leaves – a few
Rice flour – 1 tsp
METHOD:
1. Extract the tamarind juice and add water to make ½ a pint.
2. Add salt, jaggery and sambar powder.
3. Break the papads into bits (2" - 2.5") and keep aside.
4. Heat oil in a pan and add asafoetida and mustard seeds.
5. When it splutters add fenugreek seeds and then the Bengal gram dal.
6. Roast the seasoning to a golden colour and add the red chilly and the broken papad pieces.
7. When the papad gets fried add the curry leaves and the prepared tamarind juice mixture.
8. Let it boil till the raw smell subsides and a pleasant aroma arises.
9. Make a paste with rice flour and little water, and add it to the kuzambu for thickening.
Bring to a boil, and switch off the flame.
Enjoy the appalam mendhya kozambu with hot rice and of course with a dollop of ghee.
