South Indian Vathal Kuzhambu

Ingredients:

Tamarind- size of a small lemon
Oil- 2 tbsp
Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
Methi Seeds- 1/2 tsp
Some vegetable like Red pumpkin or Drumsticks- 1/2 cup (nicely cut)(optional)
Onions- 1 (nicely Chopped)
Sambar Powder -2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1 pinch
Asafoetida - 1 pich
Green Chillies- 1 or 2 (Slit) (If required)
Curry leaves- a few
Salt- to taste

Procedure:

• Soak tamarind in water for about half an hour and make it into a thick paste and keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a kadai and add mustard and methi seeds and allow it to splutter.
• Now add the slit green chillies and curry leaves and fry them until they turn crisp.
• Now add the Asafoetida and turmeric powder and fry for a few seconds.
• Now add the cut onions and fry until they become translucent.
• Now add the cut vegetables. (Instead of cut vegetables we can add "manathakali vathal" which will be available in south India mainly in Tamil Nadu in all grocery Shops. Which is a dried seeds of a green leafy spincah. This is very good for your stomach and they say that it has healing powers to heal mouth and stomach ulcers. It will be little sour in taste and this is also a recommended food for women who have delivered recently)
• Fry them for a while and add the sambar powder and immedieately the tamarind pulp.
• Add salt to it and mix well.
• Allow it to boil for a minimum of 20 minutes.
• Hot vathal Kuzhambu is ready to be served with steaming hot rice.