HOW TO MAKE MAA VATHAL KUZHAMBU?
MAA VATHAL KUZHAMBU- SUN DRIED MANGOES, EGGPLANTS IN A TANGY SAUCE.
Maa vathal kuzhambu is a delicious concoction of sun dried mangoes and eggplants cooked along with several other ingredients. Like every self respecting kuzhambu lover, i love eggplants in kuzhambu. But little did i know that sun dried mangoes aka maa vathal,added to kuzhambu, can take it to another level.
I get my stash of maa vathal from my MIL s friend every year. They have a small orchard of fruit trees and their mangoes are delicious. Mrs.S knows my love for new recipes and hence sends me edible gifts almost every time i visit India. And the maa vathal is one among them.
Maa vathal is nothing but mangoes dried in sun until wrinkly and ugly. But hey, do not let appearances deceive you. This kuzhambu finds its way on to my table every winter. Yes, winter. We love this maa vathal kuzhambu with hot rice and appalam. I make it whenever we feel like indulging ourselves in some spicy fare.
Shall we now see how to make maa vathal kuzhambu step by step?
Soak the vathal in hot water for about 20 mins. Drain water and set aside. Similarly, soak a small ball of tamarind in hot water and make a thick tamarind extract.
Heat a pan with sesame oil. Add the shallots and garlic and saute till they turn brown. Once done, add eggplants and tomatoes and fry till mushy.
At this stage, add all the spice powders and mix well. Cook for 30 secs. Now, add the sun dried mango pieces and mix well. Add tamarind extract next along with salt and jaggery and mix well. Let it simmer until raw smell of tamarind goes away
Grind coconut and a tsp of rice flour along with water to a smooth paste. Add the coconut paste to the kuzhambu and mix well. Simmer till kuzhambu thickens. Once done , switch off flame.
Heat a small pan with sesame oil. Add mustard seeds and allow to pop. Once they pop, add the remaining ingredients for tempering. Pour tempering over the kuzhambu and mix well. Serve hot with rice and appalam.
If you are a kuzhambu lover, then check out recipes for ennai kathirikai kuzhambu, kathirikai kara kuzhambu, dhania kuzhambu and milagu kuzhambu.
Recipe For Maa Vathal Kuzhambu
Maa Vathal Kuzhambu Recipe
Ingredients
- Eggplants 2 quartered
- Shallots 6 to 8
- Garlic cloves 4
- Tomato 1 small chopped finely
- Maa Vathal 8 pieces
- Tamarind 20 g
- Hot water 1 cup
- Salt to taste
- Jaggery 1 tsp
- Rice flour 1 tsp
- Fresh grated coconut 2 tbsp
- Water 2 tbsp
- Kuzhambu milagai thool 1 tsp
- Red chili powder 1 tsp
- Coriander powder 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
- Tempering-
- Mustard seeds 1 tsp
- Fenugreek seeds 1tsp
- Fennel seeds 1/2 tsp
- Curry leaves a few
- Urad dal 1 tsp
Instructions
- Soak the vathal in hot water for about 20 mins.
- Drain water and set aside.
- Soak a small ball of tamarind in hot water and make a thick tamarind extract.
- Heat a pan with sesame oil.
- Add the shallots and garlic and saute till they turn brown.
- Once done, add eggplants and tomatoes and fry till mushy.
- At this stage, add kuzhambu milagai thool, red chili powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder and mix well. Cook for 30 secs.
- Now, add the sun dried mango pieces and mix well.
- Add tamarind extract next along with salt and jaggery and mix well.
- Let it simmer until raw smell of tamarind goes away
- Grind coconut and a tsp of rice flour along with water to a smooth paste.
- Add the coconut paste to the kuzhambu and mix well.
- Simmer till kuzhambu thickens. Once done , switch off flame.
- Heat a small pan with sesame oil. Add mustard seeds and allow to pop.
- Once they pop, add the remaining ingredients for tempering.
- Pour tempering over the kuzhambu and mix well.
- Serve hot with rice and appalam.
For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes
Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.
Disclaimer
Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.
jyothi says
hey can we make this with just brinjal ? I have white brinjals…saw them for the first time and bought them. ..wondering how to use them …
anusha says
Hey yes, you may try this with just the brinjal. Use a little more tamarind than mentioned.