Athalakkai has many nutritional health benefits because of which I buy it whenever the season comes and where ever I see them.
Since Everyday market is next to my home, I buy vegetables once in two days. But I stock seasonal vegetables as they come to market only once in a year. but this athalakkai is exceptional. I buy them in smaller quantity each time and cook it on the same day I buy it. because this vegetable tend to burst out its seeds in nature and you can not store it for long time.
People who stay at chennai and fond of eating athalakkai can also get it in leading Pazhamudhir solai shops. They sell it during its season. If you don’t know about athalakkai, click here to read about it and its health benefits.
Basic Information:
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients:
Athalakkai – 200 grams
Onion – 1 no, medium size, chopped
Tomato – 1 no, medium size, diced
Curry leaves – 1 string
Gingelly oil – 3 teaspoons
Mustard seeds and Urad dal – 1/2 teaspoon
Tamarind – 1 lemon size ball, soaked in a cup of warm water for 15 minutes
Water – 1 cup
Sambar masala – 1 and 1/2 tablespoons
Coriander powder – 1 tablespoon
Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon
Salt – to taste
Jaggery – 1 tablespoon
Rice flour – 1 teaspoon (optional)
Method:
1) Wash and trim both the corners of athalakkai. Keep it aside.
2) Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and urad dal when it is hot. Allow it to splutter.
3) Add onion and curry leaves. Saute till the onions become soft and translucent.
4) Add tomato. Cook till it becomes soft.
5) Add athalakkai now. Fry for a minute.
6) Add sambar masala, coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt. Mix well and let it cook for 1-2 minutes.
7) Squeeze out and extract juice from the tamarind pulp. Add this tamarind water to the pan. Add 1 cup water. mix well.
8) Allow this mixture to boil. When it is boiling, add the jaggery. If you are using rice flour, mix it with 1 tablespoon of water and add it to the kulambu. Cover the pan using lid and reduce the flame to low. Let it be for 7-10 minutes. This time might vary based on the consistency of the kulambu you required.
9) Check whether the athalakkai are cooked or not. Once it is done and the kulambu reached its consistency, add remaining teaspoon of oil and turn the flame off.
10) Serve it with hot steamed rice.
Notes:
1) Instead of fresh athalakkai, you can also use dried athalakki(vathal) to prepare this kulambu. If so, use only 1/4 cup of dried athalakkai and follow the same procedure.
2) Addition of jaggery and rice flour is optional. Rice flour is added to get thick gravy consistency.
very interesting recipe,looks tempting!!
Nice recipe…looks good…
Todays Recipe : Urulaikilangu paal curry / Potato paal curry
This is new to me,looks delicious and healthy.
looks too good. This is new vegetable for me
Uma.,.wonder such a veggie is thr..how come never heard abt it.. wow. its grt to know abt such a veggie..let me try in pazhamudhir any store in specific..
fabulous flavours
Very healthy recipe and nice post.
Sounds so delicious and healthy..Loved the clicks and also the good & neat step by step clicks..
I have tried this as poriyal,never tried in gravy,look yummy.
ha..!! athalakkai.. i love it.. we get it in mdu.. bt never had in chennai.. will look for them ven i visit chennai next time.. i like athalakkai stir fry too.. it has an unusual taste.. those who like small pavakkai will definetly like this too.. loved reading ur post and goin thro clicks.. athalakkai puli kuzahmbu is very inviting:) like its color..
Very nutritious and inviting dish.
Deepa
Wow I am drooling over here… Soooo goooood
sounds new to me,never heard abt this veggie..awesome clicks..
interesting recipe, sounds delicious..
Lovely dish… But what is athalakkai.. Can u post the picture..
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@Akila, Please have a look in this link for the picture of athalakkai. umaskitchenexperiments.blogspot.in/2012/12/athalakkai-poriyal-stir-fry.html
Delicious
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Miss this athalakkai,seriously kuzhambu makes me drool.
Unique n different combo,yummy with rice:)
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I didn't knew about this veggie..but the curry looks super ,saw ur previous post with through the link and thanks for sharing the picture of athalakkai 🙂
Interesting recipe.. And awesome clicks…
i love puli kuzhambu, mouth-watering
This looks very tempting Uma, would love to have some!
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Very healthy recipe and Very Nice post.
Thank you.