Vathal Kuzhambu is a gravy prepared with tamarind water and little spices. This Vathal kuzhambu recipe is mostly served along with Sambar, Rasam and curd in TamilNadu full meals. I used sun-dried sundakkai / Turkey berry and it is available in all supermarkets. Sundakkai also has a lot of medicinal values. It kills worms in our stomach, helps in proper digestion, control diabetes etc as it has a slightly bitter taste. This Sundakkai vatha kulambu is a traditional and authentic recipe of TamilNadu.
Check my other Kulambu Recipes
1. Vendhaya Kulambu
2. Appalam Kulambu
3. Poondu Puli Kulambu
4. Manathakkali Vatha Kulambu
5. Vengaya Sambar

Vathal Kuzhambu Recipe

Vathal Kuzhambu Recipe | Sundakkai Vatha Kulambu
Ingredients
1 Cup = 250 ML, 1 tsp = 5 ML
- Small Lemon Sized Tamarind
- 10 - 15 Sundakkai / Turkey berry
- 5 to 6 Small Onion
- 10 Garlic Flakes
- ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder
- Salt As Required
- Jaggery - A small piece
- 2 tbsp Gingelly Oil - 2 tbsp
To Roast and Grind
- ¾ tsp Jeera
- ¼ tsp Methi Seeds
- 5 to 6 Red Chilli
- ¼ tsp Pepper Corns
- 3 to 4 tsp Toor Dal
To Temper
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- ¼ tsp Methi Seeds
- ¼ tsp Jeera
- 1 Red Chilli
- Few Curry Leaves
Instructions
- Soak tamarind in water and extract tamarind water. Chop onion and garlic. Heat little oil in a Kadai and fry all the ingredients in the table 'To Roast and Grind'
- Grind it with little water. In the Kadai, fry the sundakkai with little oil until dark brown, but don't burn it. Heat oil in a Kadai and temper with the items give in the table 'To Temper'.
- Add small onion, garlic and saute for a while. Now add tamarind water, turmeric powder and boil until bubble appears.
- Then add Sundakkai, ground spices and salt. Boil in low flame until oil separates. Stir it in the middle. Finally, add a small piece of jaggery.Serve it with hot rice and poriyal.
Notes
Tips for Vathal Kuzhambu Recipe
1. This kuzhambu tastes good with sesame oil, you can use other oils too.2. Other vathals like Maa vathal, Mithuk vathal and Manathakkali vathal can also be used.
3. This sundried sundakkai vathal has salt in it so be careful while adding salt.
4. For a simpler version, you can skip, 'To Roast and Grind' part, add Sambar powder, chilli powder with tamarind extract and go ahead.
5. Never skip jaggery at the end, it gives an extra punch and taste to the vathal kuzhambu.

Vathal Kuzhambu Recipe
Method for Sundakkai Vatha Kulambu
1. Soak tamarind in water and extract tamarind water. Chop onion and garlic. Heat little oil in a Kadai and fry all the ingredients in the table ‘To Roast and Grind’
2. Grind it with little water. In the Kadai, fry the sundakkai with little oil until dark brown, but don’t burn it. Heat oil in a Kadai and temper with the items give in the table ‘To Temper’.
3. Add small onion, garlic and saute for a while. Now add tamarind water, turmeric powder and boil until bubble appears.
4. Then add Sundakkai, ground spices and salt. Boil in low flame until oil separates. Stir it in the middle. Finally, add a small piece of jaggery.
Serve it with hot rice and poriyal.

Sundakkai Vatha Kulambu
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