Tuesday, February 10, 2009

CHETTINAD KARA KUZHAMBU


Chettinad cuisine is widely popular and known for its spiciest, oiliest, and aromatic flavor in any dishes. The dishes are hot and strong with fresh ground masalas which gives a distinctive taste to the dishes.

My hubby dear hails from Chettinad region and through him I have learnt lot of recipes. When I mentioned to my hubby about an event running for Chettinad cuisines, he taught me this authentic recipe which he is very much fond of. It was a different and funny experience when he stood nearby and explained each and everything (as if I don’t know even the basics). However, the dish came out awesome and full of flavor.


The sad thing is I could not send this for the event as I have posted it too late.. I was totally occupied with the work and could not post this on time…Anyway, those funny moments have become one of my fondest memories now..

INGREDIENTS:

Pumpkin – 250 g

Mochai (either dry or fresh) – 1 cup (I used fresh ones paccha mochai and if your are using dry mochai, soak overnight and pressure cook)

Onion – 1 medium size

Chilly powder – 1 tsp

Tamarind – 1 lemon size

Garlic flakes – 10

Mustard seeds – 1 tsp

Asafoetida – a pinch

Curry Leaves – few

Oil – 2 tsp

TO GRIND:

Onion – 1 medium size

Tomato – 1 medium size

Coconut – 2 tsp

Sambar powder – 3 tsp

METHOD:

· Heat pan with little oil, add half of the onions and once they have become translucent, remove and allow it to cool. Grind this along with tomatoes, sambar powder, and coconut.

· In the same pan, pour some more oil (if needed), add the seasoning items and when they are ready, add curry leaves, garlic flakes, and the remaining onions. When the onions have become light brown, add pumpkin, mochai, and necessary salt. Then add the chilly powder and mix well.

· Now add the tamarind extract and mix well and allow it to boil.

· When the pumpkin and mochai is half cooked, add the ground masala paste and mix well. Let it cook in medium flame for 10 to 15 minutes or till the pumpkin and mochai is fully cooked and kuzhambu becomes thicker.

· Enjoy this with hot steamed rice.

Needless to say, this goes to FIC - Orange hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen started by Harini.

25 comments:

Varsha Vipins said...

Kuzhambu looks flavorful n yummy..:)

Vikis Kitchen said...

your Chettinad kara kulambu is a notable recipe dear. Love the way u used the pacha mochai. Me too forgotten the chettinad event. Dont worry dear, lets have the event together soon.. lets plan and make it possible.
Thanks for leaving that lovely comments in 'my friend award'. Happy to get u too as my friend dear. R u in orkut?

Usha said...

Looks spicy and delicious...

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

i too make this,but yours is very new to me.Grinding onion,tomato and coconut along with sambar powder,wow i could imagine the taste.Thaks to ur hubby,for this nice recipe.

Preety said...

never even heard of the name b4..but recipe looks perfect

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

good to have this recipe on hand.. will try this.. looks good and must be tasting great too.... kara kuzhambu a paatha naaku ooorardhu :)

Unknown said...

mochai is my fav and that to in kara kuzhambu mmmmm mouthwatering

Deepthi Shankar said...

Iam quite new to chettinad cuisine .. I too missed the event .. yummy & spicy recipe

Jaishree Iyer said...

Looks spicy and delicious.. will try this.

butterfly Surya said...

தளிகை நன்னா இருக்கு.. கலக்குறேள்..

வாழ்த்துக்கள்.


உலக சினிமா பத்தி பார்கணும்னா நம்ம பிளாக் பக்கம் வாங்கோ..

அபிப்ராயம் சொல்லுங்கோ..

Trupti said...

looks very spicy & delicious

AnuSriram said...

Looks very spicy... Kara kuzhambhu is my favourite..

Priya Suresh said...

Yummy kuzhambu..love to have them with hot steaming rice..looks spicy n delicious..

Madhu's cooking gallery said...

This dish looks different! Very tempting. Will surely try!

and thanks a lot for the clarifications reg the rice..

Swapna said...

Looks delicious & spicy.

Adlak's tiny world said...

hey nice to hear the story of preparation.. really its a treasure for every wife when her husband teaches her especially on cooking side.

Romba nalla vandhuruku kulambu.. selvam ku oru periya OOOOOOO potuten.

Nithya Praveen said...

Looks nice...Chettinadu cusine is my fav but also something i've never tried making.Good one!

sriharivatsan said...

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments..

Chitra said...

Hi sri,kara kuzhambu looks great..have an idea to make it:)

Madhu's cooking gallery said...

Right Sri..Authentic milagu rasam will not have tomato..but I just love tomatoes in rasam.. so I added it.. it really tasted well.. thanks for your comments!

Malar Gandhi said...

Chettinad Kara kuzhambu is my fav' one too. It will make all the vegetables succulent and tasty, hot and spicy...count me in!

I love your comments so much, nice to see tamizh words, infact our chennai baashai 'Chance-se illa'. Thanks for making my day happier!

Yasmeen said...

Sounds very healthy with pumpkins and mochai.Please trail back for my
token of gratitude

Aparna said...

Though I have heard a lot of this cuisine, I'm only discovering that there's are a lot of vegetarian dishes here too.
I never knew karakuzhmanbu was a pert of it.:)
Thanks for participating in FIC.

sathya said...

Had kara kuzhambu at my friends place n fell in luv with it...been searching for the recipe n found it here....u have a very nice space.love your recipes...

Sujaa Sriram said...

Hey nice to see your space... Great recipes ... Nice presentation.

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