Name: Kara Kuzhambu
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Vegetable of your choice (Drumstick, Okra, Brinjal (Eggplant) or Potato); 1 no Onion (cut lenthwise, medium); 1 no Tomato (medium); 6 nos Garlic pods (crushed); 1/2 cup Tamarind thick extract; 3/4 cup Coconut milk; 1/4 tsp Asafoetida powder (Kayam); 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder; 1 1/2 tsp Sambar powder; 1 tsp Bengal gram (Kadala parippu); 1/2 tsp Black gram (Uzhunnuparippu); 1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds (Uluva); 1 tsp Chilly powder; Curry leaves (A few); 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds; 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds (Jeerakam); 2 tsp Safflower oil; Salt (As reqd)

Kara Kuzhambu

By LalithaSivaram

• September 26, 2006

Kara Kuzhambu

Kara Kuzhambu or spicy sambar is a delicious dish served in hotels with South Indian meals. The spicy flavor and taste of powdered Bengal gram and fenugreek seed mixture enriches Kara Kuzhambu. The dish can be easily prepared at home and our well illustrated Kara Kuzhambu will surely guide you. Kara Kuzhambu can be enriched with a combo of nutritious veggies like drumstick, okra or brinjal as per choice. I would personally go in for okra and brinjal which makes an excellent combination. Adding coconut milk in the end renders flavor and thickens spicy Kara Kuzhambu. Enjoy tasty Kara Kuzhambu with white steamed rice.

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Prep Time 20

Total Time 20

Cuisine Tamil

Servings people

Ingredients

1 cup Vegetable of your choice Drumstick, Okra, Brinjal (Eggplant) or Potato
1 no Onion cut lenthwise, medium
1 no Tomato medium
6 nos Garlic pods crushed
1/2 cup Tamarind thick extract
3/4 cup Coconut milk
1/4 tsp Asafoetida powder Kayam
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 1/2 tsp Sambar powder
1 tsp Bengal gram Kadala parippu
1/2 tsp Black gram Uzhunnuparippu
1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds Uluva
1 tsp Chilly powder
Curry leaves A few
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Cumin seeds Jeerakam
2 tsp Safflower oil
Salt As reqd

Instructions

In a pan, fry the Bengal gram, black gram and fenugreek seeds until slightly brown.
Grind these to a coarse powder and keep it aside.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add mustard seeds, black gram and cumin seeds.
Add a little bit of asafotetida powder and curry leaves.
Add sliced onion and garlic and saute for 2 mins.
Add drumstick and fry for 5 mins.
Add tomato, turmeric powder, chilli powder and sambar powder.
:- Make sure tomato is well cooked.
Add tamarind extract, salt and some water.
Let it boil for 6 mins.
Finally add powdered dals and coconut milk to thicken the spicy kuzhambu.
Simmer it for few mins on a low heat.
:- Make sure you mix powdered dals with some water and make it a paste before you add it to kuzhambu. This is to avoid any lumps floating in kuzhambu. :- If you`re using (Okra/Vendakka), make sure you fry these in a frying pan and add it at the end.
:- Serve with steamed rice and pappad.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Response (11)

u

umachander July 4, 2007

it was really delicious. all our family members liked it very much.

S

Srividhya September 27, 2007

Very good,after so many tries i got the right recepie,thank u

c

caroline April 21, 2008

This recipe came out really well…..the measurements were so perfect and it tasted like my mother`s recipe back home.

B

BINDU MATHEW June 17, 2009

Hats off to u Lalitha for a superb and perfect recipe!!!


Load more replies (7)
P

Preeti March 8, 2009

Fantastic recipe! I used to eat this kind of kara kuzhambu in college in Chennai, all those wonderful memories came rushing back after eating it today. Thank you Lalitha.

M

Mohana Senthilkumar February 6, 2009

It came out superb.my husband liked it a lot. Thank you.

c

cedrick February 18, 2010

Tastes really good. Suits rice as well as breakfast items.

a

aruna rao November 29, 2009

I just tried this recipe for lunch with hot steamed rice. was fantastic. my two sons who usually a rent fond of indian food just loved it.

S

Suchi October 25, 2009

Thanks a lot for this wonderful recipe.it was like the one we get at Hotel Saravana Bhavan..all of us liked it a lot…great work!!

c

chithra May 8, 2010

I prepared. It was really good, better than sambar cooked before.

S

Sowmya Sathyanarayanan January 19, 2007

The recipe was really nice.It was just like the Kara Kolambu made by my mom.My husband liked it a lot.Thanks for this tast Kara kolambu