Varuthu aracha Kuzhambu recipe| Varutharacha kuzhambu

வறுத்து அரைச்சகுழம்பு  

Varuthu aracha kuzhambu| Varutharacha kuzhambu as we call, is a sambar like gravy but made using fresh ground spices and traditionally toor dal will not be added, as we add in sambar. Kuzhambu and sambar are different, for kuzhambu generally no cooked dal is added. When my amma visited me in September, she was telling me that my Athai makes a sambar without toor dal and without sambar podi too. I was surprised and asked my mom the recipe for that. Amma couldn't recall the exact way athai makes. I messaged my cousin later and insisted that i want a voice note from Athai for this recipe. Within a week i got the message from my cousin with the recipe of Varuthu aracha kuzhambu in my athai's voice. At this age of 80, i really admire the way they remember everything and able to recall it the moment we ask for that. These traditional heirloom recipes are treasures and i am privileged to document the recipes and pass on to all. If you have any traditional recipes in your family, which you learnt from your mom or grand mom or anybody else, you can share with me, if you wish to.
This recipe is not the Kerala Varuthu aracha sambar. 

Varuthu aracha kuzhambu

  Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 Mins |Serves: 4

     Mixed veggies*  1 cup
     Tamarind   a small goose berry sized
     Cooked toor dal  2-3 tblsp (optional)
     Red chili  6
     Coriander seeds  2 tsp
     Rice  1/2 tblsp
     Toor dal  1 tblsp
     Venthayam | methi seeds  1/2 tsp
     Coconut   1/2 cup - 3/4 cup
     Jaggery  a tiny piece( sundakkai size)
     Sesame oil  2 tsp
     Cooking oil  2 tsp
     Asafoetida  2 pinches
    Curry leaves  few
    Turmeric powder   1/2 tsp
    Salt as needed
    Mustard seeds   1/2 tsp 
* I used drumstick, carrot and brinjal. You can use yellow pumpkin, broad beans(avarakkai)and chow chow too.

Method:

• Cut the veggies and keep it aside.
• Soak tamarind in hot water and extract 1 and 1/2 cup of tamarind water.
• If using cooked toor dal, cook that and keep aside.
• In a pan add the veggies.
• Add the tamarind water, salt, asafoetida and turmeric powder.
• Boil this in a low flame till the veggies gets cooked.
• Meanwhile let's roast the ingredients for the kuzhambu.
• In a pan add 2 tsp of cooking oil and add the coriander seeds, toor dal,venthayam,red chili and rice. (i used normal cooking rice)
• Roast till it becomes nice golden brown colour.
• Take out and keep aside.
• Add the coconut to the same pan and roast till it becomes brown. Do not burn it.
• As mentioned by my athai, no traces of white should be visible in the coconut. (vellaiae theiryapadadhu😃)
• Allow this to cool completely and grind this into a fine paste. Use water to grind the mixture.
• Once the veggies are soft, add this ground paste. If needed slightly dilute this and add.
• If adding cooked toor dal add it now. You can skip adding toor dal as the ground masala  itself thickens the kuzhambu.
• I added 2 tblsp of cooked toor dal as i had some after making dal for kids. 
• Mix well and let this boil for 2-4 minutes. Stir well.
• Add water if needed to bring the right consistency.
• Add tiny pinch of jaggery. (As athai said, sundakkai alavukku vellam)
• Switch off the flame.
• In a pan add sesame oi, mustard seeds and curry leaves.
• When the mustard seeds splutter, transfer this to the kuzhambu.
• Mix this just before serving.
• Varutharacha kuzhambu is ready to serve.
• We had this with urulai kizhangu kara curry.

     

Method with step by step pictures:

• Cut the veggies and keep it aside.
• Soak tamarind in hot water and extract 1 and 1/2 cup of tamarind water.
• If using cooked toor dal, cook that and keep aside.
• In a pan add the veggies.
• Add the tamarind water, salt, asafoetida and turmeric powder.
• Boil this in a low flame till the veggies gets cooked.

• Meanwhile let's roast the ingredients for the kuzhambu.
• In a pan add 2 tsp of cooking oil and add the coriander seeds, toor dal,venthayam,red chili and rice. (i used normal cooking rice)
• Roast till it becomes nice golden brown colour.
• Take out and keep aside.

• Add the coconut to the same pan and roast till it becomes brown. Do not burn it.
• As mentioned by my athai, no traces of white should be visible in the coconut. (vellaiae theiryapadadhu😃)

• Allow this to cool completely and grind this into a fine paste. Use water to grind the mixture.

• Once the veggies are soft, add this ground paste. If needed slightly dilute this and add.
• If adding cooked toor dal add it now. You can skip adding toor dal as the ground masala  itself thickens the kuzhambu.
• I added 2 tblsp of cooked toor dal as i had some after making dal for kids. 

• Mix well and let this boil for 2-4 minutes. Stir well.
• Add water if needed to bring the right consistency.
• Add tiny pinch of jaggery. (As athai said, sundakkai alavukku vellam)
• Switch off the flame.
• In a pan add sesame oil, mustard seeds and curry leaves.
• When the mustard seeds splutter, transfer this to the kuzhambu.

• Mix this just before serving.
• Varutharacha kuzhambu is ready to serve.
• We had this with urulai kizhangu kara curry.

Notes:

1. Rice and toor dal brings the thickness to the gravy, but do not add more than the quantity mentioned.
2. You can add small onions if you want, but traditionally onions are not added in this varuthu aracha sambar.