Manathakkali Vathal Kulambu

Vathal kulambu is tasty and healthy south indian dish. Both manathakkali and sundakkai are having medicinal properties. We usually pluck these seeds during its seasons, then dry and store those seeds for later uses of making curry like this or fries. Few marinate these seeds with butter milk and salt. Then dry and store it for frying in later days. Both ways, it tastes good.

Few of its health benefits I list here :

• Helps cure gastric and ulcer problems.
• Helps in controlling the diabetics.
• Regular intake of these would strengthen the bones and rejuvenate the nerves.

The recipe is given below…

Required ingredients:

Sesame oil / Nallennai – 2 tsp

To season:
Ground nut oil / Kadalai ennai – 2 tbsp
Mustard – 1/2 tsp
Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
Channa dal – 1 tsp
Curry leaves – few strands
Manathakkali Vatral – 1 tbsp
Sundakkai Vatral – 2 tsp
Whole black pepper / Kuru milagu – 1 tsp
Garlic pods – 2
Ginger – 1 inch

Vegetables:
Shallots – 6
Big onion – 1
Green chilli – 2
Tomato – 1
Drumstick – 1
Brinjal – 100g

Masala powders:

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder – 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder – 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Sambar powder – 1 tsp
Asafoatida / hing – 1 pinch

Tamarind – small lemon size
Grated Coconut – 2 tbsp or freshly ground paste.

Preparation Method:

1. Soak the tamarind in water (If tamarind is soaked in hot water, you can extract pulp quickly)
2. Chop the onions and shallots finely.
3. Slit the green chillies.
4. Cut the drumstick and brinjal into pieces.
5. Peel the garlic cloves and grate the ginger.
6. Heat the kadai and add ground nut oil.
7. Add mustard, urad dal and channa dal. After mustard crackles, add curry leaves, and rest of the ingredients mentioned for seasoning. Fry for about 3 minutes in low flame until all vathals are fried well.
8. Now, add the cut shallots, onion and required salt. Fry until onions turn transparent.
9. Add vegetables and fry for 2 minutes.
10. Add tomatoes and fry until they become soft and mashed.
11. Add tamarind extract water and all the ingredients mentioned under masalas.
12. Add cup of water and bring this to boil and cover cook in medium low flame until drumstick is cooked well.
13. By the time drumstick gets cooked, all the masala’s raw smell would have gone.
14. Add the coconut paste / grated coconut and bring to boil and switch off the flame.
15. Now add the sesame oil and mix well.
16. You can top it with coriander leaves if you like to have its flavour.

This vathal kulambu goes well with rice along with appalam. Simply tasty and healthy.

I hope you would try this and enjoy your tasty healthy day.