POONDU KUZHAMBU /GARLIC KUZHAMBU

Here is a tangy,spicy,healthy and flavorful kuzhambu /curry...made with Garlic as a main ingredient...

This is best mixed with hot rice and eaten along with hot vegetable stir fries and crunchy fried Appalam/pappad.

This kuzhambu is a great accompaniment for breakfast dishes like idlis,dosas,kal dosas upma etc. 

INGREDIENTS

• PEELED GARLIC PODS -1 CUP
• TAMARIND -1 INCH BALL
• MUSTARD SEEDS -1/2 TEASPOON
• URAD DHAL -1/2 TEASPOON
• DRY RED CHILLIES-3
• DHANIA POWDER -1/2 TEASPOON
• SAMBAR POWDER-1 TEASPOON
• TURMERIC POWDER-1/4 TEASPOON
• CURRY LEAVES-A FEW
• SESAME OIL-2 TABLESPOONS
• SALT TO TASTE
• ASAFOETIDA POWDER- 1/4 TEASPOON

METHOD

• Peel the garlic pods.
• Soak the tamarind in a cup of hot water and extract the pulp.
• Heat the oil in a pan/kadai.
• Splutter the mustard seeds.
• Add the red chillies,urad dhal  fry till the dhal is golden in color.
• Now add the curry leaves and garlic and fry in low heat till the garlic is slightly done.
• Now add the dhania powder,turmeric and salt to taste. Cook for a minute.
• Then add the tamarind puree and boil well .Add the sambar powder and cook till the raw smell of the tamarind and sambar powder goes away and the garlic pods are well cooked.
• Add the asafoetida powder/hing and remove from heat.

Serve hot with hot rice and vegetables or as a side dish to idlis,dosas etc.

GARLIC PICKLE / POONDU OORUGAI / LASOONI ACHAAR

Here is my favorite pickle- my good old,all time favorite ....not only mine but of my whole family and a hoard of friends too...

As garlic is good for your health-it is a great cholesterol fighter and good to your heart,I make it a point to add this to my meal regularly.


It is quite easy to prepare this garlic pickle -the only time consuming job is peeling the garlic pods...

Luckily ,I am able to pick up peeled garlic from a nice vegetable store and this removes the major ordeal from making this dish...

Even otherwise,to peel garlic easily ,just wipe a little oil on the pods and leave them in a plate and microwave them for a few minutes ...and the garlic slip out easily from its skin...


INGREDIENTS

• PEELED GARLIC-2 CUPS
• CHILLY POWDER-4-5 TEASPOONS
• TURMERIC POWDER -1/4 TEASPOON
• FENUGREEK SEEDS /METHI SEEDS-1 TEASPOON
• ROASTED SESAME SEEDS-1 TEASPOON
• SESAME /GINGELLY OIL-1 CUP
• LIME JUICE-4 TEASPOONS
• SALT TO TASTE

METHOD

• Coarsely powder the fenugreek seeds.
• Dry roast the sesame seeds(white sesame or deskinned sesame)
• Heat the oil.
• Add the garlic and cook over low flame for a few minutes.
• Add the chilly powder,turmeric powder ,fenugreek seeds and sesame seeds.
• Stir well.
• Add salt to taste.
• Remove from heat after a minute.
• Add the lime juice when slightly cool.
• Store in sterile ,dry containers.
• Keeps for 3 months if refrigerated.