Vendakkai Puli Kulambu

Ingredients:

10 Lady's Finger

8 shallots (peeled and quartered)

10 cloves of Garlic (peeled and quartered)

2 Tomato (quartered)

4 Dry red chillies

3 strands of curry leaves

1 small lime size tamarind ball

1/4 tsp Fenugreek seed

1/2 tsp Mustard seed

1/2 tsp Vadagam

A pinch of hing

21/2 tbsp Sambar powder

1 tbsp Coriander powder

1 tsp grated Jaggery

1/4 cup Freshly grated coconut

2 tbsp Gingerly oil

Salt to taste

Method:

• Wash the lady's fingers, wipe clean and cut each into 2 or 3 pieces.
• Heat 1/2 tsp of oil in a non stick pan, add the lady's finger and stir fry for few mins till it is half cooked. Keep aside.
• Grind the grated coconut to fine paste.
• Soak the tamarind in a cup of warm water for 10 mins, mash the pulp and strain the water.
• Heat the oil in a wok and splutter the mustard, vadagam and fenugreek seeds. Then add curry leaves and dry chillies. Stir fry for few mins.
• Now add the garlic, shallots and hing.  Stir fry for 2 mins and add tomatoes.
• Then add the salt, sambar and coriander powders. Fry till the oil separates from the masala. Keep on low flame.
• Now add the lady's finger. Fry for few minutes. Add the tamarind water and cover the pan.
• When the lady's finger is cooked, add the grated Jaggery and coconut paste and cook for 5 more mins on low flame.
• Vendakkai puli kulambu is ready when the oil separates and comes on top.
• Serve the spicy  Vendakkai puli kulambu with plain rice and pappadam.