Maanga Vattakuzhambu ~ Sun dried mangoes in tamarind gravy AND a prelude to a giveaway

Remember I had hosted a promotional giveaway sometime back and Shoba of Anubhavati won the waffle maker. Its time for another giveaway. This time its going to different. Watch this space for the details which will be posted soon.


Now on to the recipe. Apart from pickling  raw  mangoes, I preserve them in the form of vathals/sun dried mangoes. Fresh mangoes which are sour and raw is chopped into pieces and marinated in salt and kept for a day. During the course, water will be released from the salt and mango juice. Next day, the mango pieces are squeezed and dried in the sun. The dried mangoes are put back in the squeezed salt water and this is repeated, till no water is left in the jar. A day more of drying in the sun leaves you with salted and dried mangoes. Store them in air tight container. It stays good for a year. This mango vattal is made into a vathakuzhambu.  In this kuzhambu, red chilly is used mnimally and heat is from peppercorns.

You need

Dried Mango pieces - 1/2 cup heaped

Tamarind - goose berry size

Turmeric - a pinch

Salt

To roast

Red chilly - 1 nos

Peppercons - 1/2 tspn

Urad dal- 2 tspn

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tspn

Curry leaves - few

Ghee/Oil - 2 tspn to roast

For Seasoning

Oil - 1 tspn

Mustard seeds - 1 tspn

Methi seeds -a pinch

Hing powder - few shakes

                 

Method

Soak the dried mango pieces in a cup of warm water for 20 minutes to soften. You can also microwave the mango along with water for a minute.  Extract tamarind juice. Roast the ingredients in ghee/oil till dal turns brown. Add the cumin seeds towards the end since it gets roasted faster.

Grind the soaked mango pieces along with the roasted ingredients to a smooth paste. You can use the soaked water to grind. Stir in the ground mixture to the tamarind extract. Add salt, tumeric powder and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for a while till the gravy thickens. Season with mustard, hing and methi seeds.

                           

Note:

Adjust the tamarind according to the sourness of the dried mangoes. Since the mangoes have salt in it, add salt keeping that in mind.

 

KHI Quarterly V1 Q2

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KOZHI AVARAI PORIYAL

This kozhi avarai belongs to the avaraikkai family. When we cut it, it resembles like a star. This is a rare vegetable. I have seen it when I was a young girl. Now after a long time, I have purchased this in the local market here. This vegetable can be cooked as poriyal and also used in sambar, mutton kuzhambu etc.

கோழி அவரை பொரியல்

Ingredients:

Kozhi avarai- 250 gms
Finely chopped onion-2
Green gram- 2 tbsp
Black gram- 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- half sp
Salt to taste
Chopped coriander- 2 tbsp
Oil- 2 tbsp


Grind the following ingredients coarsely:

Red chillies-3
Asafetida- half sp
Fennel seeds- half sp
Small garlic flakes-3
Shredded coconut- 3 tbsp

Procedure:

Heat a kadai and pour the oil.
Add the mustard seeds and when they splutter add the grams and fry them to golden brown.
Then add the onion and fry them for a few seconds.
Add the chopped kozhi avarai with the turmeric powder and salt.
Cook on medium fire.
After 5 minutes, add the ground paste and mix well.
When the vegetable is cooked well add the coriander.
Mix well and put off the fire.
NB: For viewers, I am publishing the photograph of Kozhi avarai [winged bean] here! This is very famous in Thai cooking!