Nanjil Naatu Vendhaya Kuzhambu

 Serves -3

Nanjil nattu vendhaya kuzhambu....... the name itself was soooo new to me and made me to try the recipe..Quite different from rest of the kuzhambu varieties and tatsy too.

Ingredients:

• Oil -4 tbsp
• Mustard seeds -1/2 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds -1/2 tsp
• Onion -1
• Tomato -1
• Tamarind -A small lemon size
• Curry leaves -Few
• Salt -To taste

To dry roast and powder:

• Rice -1/2 tsp
• Fenugreek/Vendhayam-1 tsp

To grind:

• Oil -1 tsp
• Shallots -5-6
• Coconut gratings -2 tbsp
• Red chilli -2
• Green chilli -1
• Cumin/Jeera -1/2 tsp
• Red chilli powder -1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
• Coriander powder -1 tsp

Method:

• Soak tamrind in 1/2 cup of water and extract juice from it.
• In a pan dry roast rice and fenugreek.When rice turns brown turn off the flame,cool down and make it into fine powder.
• Now in a pan add oil,coconut gratings dry roast it and then add shallots,red chilli,green chilli and roast nicely.finally add dry spice powders fry for few seconds and turn off the flame.
• Cool them add water and make it into a fine paste.
• Now in a heavy bottomed pan add oil followed by mustard seeds,fernugreek/vendhayam and curry leaves.
• Then add finely chopped onion and fry well.When onion turn golden brown add tomato.When tomato turns mushy add tamarind extract.
• When it boils add coconut paste,water (as required) and mix well.
• Add salt to taste.When it boils add the roasted rice,fenugreek powder, mix well and turn off the gas. 
• Serve with hot rice.

Notes:

• I added less fenugreek seeds for dry roasting as I thought the dish may turn bitter.
• I dint dry roast the spice powders but the taste was still the same.
• Adjust the spice as per your taste.