Kara Kuzhambu/ Simple spicy curry

Kuzhambu is the tamil word for curry. This kara kuzhambu is the simple version of sambhar but without dal. I made this kara kuzhambu with one vegetable i.e, brinjal(Egg plant). You can make this kara kuzhambu with fried okra(lady's finger), drumsticks(murungaikai) too. It tastes wonderful with garlic, tamarind paste and small onions in it.

You will need:

• 1 big onion (chopped finely)
• 10 small onions or use one more big onion (chopped finely)
• 5 garlic pods
• 3 small brinjals (chopped finely)
• 3 tbsp canned crushed tomatoes or 1 tomato(chopped finely)
• ¼ tsp tamarind paste
• 1 tbsp sambhar masala powder / (1 tsp red chilli powder and 2 tsp coriander powder)
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 2 pinch of asofoetida (perungayam)
• salt for taste

For tempering:

• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• few curry leaves
• 3 tbsp oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat oil in a pan and when its hot add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, followed by asofoetida and curry leaves. When it splutters add chopped onions(small onions and big), chopped garlic and chopped brinjal. Saute it till it turns golden brown color.

Step 2:

Adding masala powders:

Now add the sambhar masala powder along with cumin powder and saute it for 1 min. Then add chopped tomatoes and saute it for min. Now add some water with tamarind paste and salt. Allow it to simmer for 3 to 5 mins or till it thickens.

Serve with steaming rice and omellete. Enjoy!!!!


Hint:

1. If you like very thick consistency add 1.5 cups of water or else add more than 2 cups of water.
2. You can even add 1 tsp jaggery/ 1 tsp sugar to this dish.