Sundakkai Vatha Kuzhambu

Sundakkai Vatha Kuzhambu

Vatha Kuzhambu is a traditional and common dish made in Brahmin households. Usually it is made with any of the dried vathals like manathakkali (black nightshade) or sundakkai (dried turkey berry). When vathal is not available shallots, drumstick, white pumpkin are used to make this tangy and spicy kuzhambu. Vatha kuzhambu is served with steamed white rice, paruppu thogayal and appalam. It also goes well with curd rice, dosa and idli. Arachuvitta vatha kuzhambu is another way this kuzhambu is prepared using freshly grounded spices.  

Sundakkai / turkey berry is known for its medicinal benefits such as relief from cold, stomach problems and skin ailments. Check out this pulikuthi poduthul recipe which uses fresh turkey berry / sundakkai. This kuzhambu is spicy, tangy and slightly bitter and addition of jaggery balances these flavors. I love to have this kuzhambu hot with some plain white rice, paruppu thogayal, potato podimas and appalam – makes a complete and satisfying meal.

Sundakkai Vatha Kuzhambu

Sundakkai Vatha Kuzhambu

Fried sundakkai vathal / dry turkey berry in a spicy tamarind gravy
Servings 2
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup sundakkai vathal / dried turkey berry
  • 1 tsp ghee
  • 1 tbsp tamarind paste / gooseberry sized tamarind
  • 3 tsp sambar powder
  • 1 tsp red chilly powder
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp jaggery
  • Few curry leaves
  • 2 tbsp gingelly oil
  • Salt to taste

To temper

  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2-3 dried red chillies broken
  • ½ tsp split urad dal
  • 1 tsp chana dal / kadala paruppu
  • ¼ tsp methi seeds / vendayam
  • ¼ tsp asafoetida / hing / kaayam
  • Few curry leaves

Instructions

  • Soak tamarind in 2 cups warm water. Extract the pulp and set aside.
  • Heat ghee in a small pan and add the sundakkai vathal. Fry till it turns golden. Set aside.
  • Heat gingelly oil and add mustard seeds. When it crackles, add red chillies, urad dal, chana dal, methi seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves. Fry till dal turns golden.
  • Reduce the heat to low and add sambar powder, red chilly powder and turmeric powder. Saute for few seconds.
  • Add the tamarind extract, salt and bring to boil. Lower the heat to medium and boil till it starts to thicken and oil separates, for about 8-10 minutes.
  • Add the fried sundakkai vathal, jaggery, curry leaves and boil for another 4-5 minutes.

Notes

  • Adjust the amount of chilly powder according to your spice level.
  • You can also fry the sundakkai vathal in oil instead of ghee.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out for you! Or snap a photo and tag @spillthespices on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #spillthespices.

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  1. Perfect kuzhambu for the rainy weather at my place now. Love the tangy taste of it anytime.

  2. Love this spicy kuzhambu!!

  3. Spicy and yummy kuzhambhu.

  4. Looks really yummy! Love it…

  5. It looks great. i love it a lot !

  6. tempting kulambu…my fav

  7. Very delicious and perfect kuzhambu….

  8. awesome prep Sona…. my fav vatha kozhambu.. the taste of sundakka cannot be beaten.. .have to get myself some soon

  9. i feel like grabbing that whole platter now, being lunch time here… looks so good…

  10. Can have this anytime,looksyum

  11. Tempting and yummy kuzhambu

  12. its new to me but clicks are very inviting…

  13. looks soo tempting.. love the look of it.. Perfect!

  14. Wow sundakkai hmm ages since I got hold of some ….u have made the vatha kuzhambu so well Sona.

  15. Mouth watering kuzhambu.

  16. completely new to me.but very tempting cliks n iam drooling here.:)

  17. This is one interesting condiment! Very healthy and flavorful.

  18. lovely kuzhambu to go with rice

  19. super flavorful and mouthwatering kuzhmambu there 🙂 looks so delicious .. I wud love to finish that plate now 🙂

  20. tempting kuzhambu… yummy

  21. Wow! That looks delicious. Yum and beautiful!

  22. The kuzhambu looks awesome, great with some thogayal/ chutney and pappads

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