Manathakkali vathal kuzhambu | Dry black nightshade seeds curry-How to make-Step by step photos

Cuisine Style: Tamil Nadu, South India | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | To Serve: 6 | Take with: rice | Type: Lunch Gravy

Ingredients

• Manathakkali vathal (Dried black night shade fruits, Makoy) – ½ Cup
• Tamarind extract or tamarind water – 1 ½ cup or tamarind paste – 2 tbsp
• Sambar Onion (Shallots) - 10 (whole)
• Curry leaves – 2 springs
• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• Jaggery – 2 ½ tbsp [grated]
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Urad dal – 2 tsp
• Bengal gram – 2 tbsp
• Asafoetida - 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Gingelly Oil [Sesame oil] – 3 tbsp
• Water as needed

For roasting & grinding

• Fenugreek - 2 tsp [Dry roast (don’t add oil for frying) fenugreek and grind to fine powder]
• Rice – 1 tbsp
• Dry Red Chilli - 4
• Urad dal – 2 tbsp
• Toor dal – 2 tbsp
• Coriander seeds – 2 tbsp
• Peppercorns – ½ tbsp
• Heat oil in a pan add toor dal & urad dal roast till light brown.
• Then roast coriander seeds & peppercorns.
• Next roast rice & dry red chilli then let it cool.
• Put roasted ingredients in mixer jar & grind to smooth paste with ¼ cup of water.

Preparation

• Soak Manathakkali vathal in water for 10 min then wash & drain water
• Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds, let it splutter.
• Add Bengal gram & urad dal sauté.
• Add onion sauté till light brown.
• Add fenugreek powder & asafoetida mix well. Then add curry leaves sauté.
• Add the Manathakkali vathal, salt & ½ tsp of turmeric powder sauté till soft.
• Add the tamarind paste / tamarind extract and mix well. Add water if required & let it boil & thickens.
• Add ground paste mixture mix well & let it boil
• Add Jaggery & salt let it boil
• Finally add 1 tbsp of sesame oil & cut off heat.
• Serve hot with rice.

How to make Manathakkali vathal kuzhambu - Stepwise pictures

Wash and soak manathakkali vathal for 10 min

Soak tamarind in warm water for 5 then squeeze & extract water

Heat oil roast rice, pepper, red chilli, coriander seeds, urad dal & bengal gram

Add roasted ingredients in a mixer jar & finely grind

Freshly ground vathal kuzhambu mixture is ready

Dry roast fenugreek grind

Dry roasted fenugreek powder is ready

Heat sesame oil, add mustard, urad dal, bengal gram, curry leaves, asafetida fry till light brown

Add onion & salt

Saute till soft

Add fenugreek powder

Add turmeric, manathakkali vathal saute

Add tamarind water let it boil, then add ground vatha kuzhambu paste, let it boil

Add jaggery

Finally add sesame oil , cut off heat

Manathakkali Vatha kulambu is ready, cut off heat, serve hot with rice & sutta appalam