Chettinad kaara kuzhambu

This is the weekend after Valentines day and we are fed up with sweets and specials. Before our tooth get used to sweet taste, we want to switch over to some spicy dish. Kaara kuzhambu is a very popular dish in Karaikudi which is in our wishlist since long time. So here is our try and it came out really well...Special treat for this weekend.....

Ingredients

1. Tamarind water- lemon size tamarind soaked in water
2. Garlic - 5-6
3. Egg plant - 4
4. Onion(Medium) - 1
5. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
6. To dry roast grind
1. Tomatoes - 1
2. Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
3. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
4. Coconut - 1/4 cup
5. Urad dal - 3/4 tsp
6. Channa dal - 3/4 tsp
7. Dry red chilli - 5
7. Salt - to taste
8. Water - 1 1/2 cup
9. Oil -5 tsp
10. Asafoetida - pinch(optional)
11. Seasoning items
1. Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
2. Channa dal - 1/4 tsp
3. Urad dal - 1/4 tsp
4. Curry leaves - 6-8
5. Dry red chilli - 2

Method

1. Grind the items lised in dry roast section
2. Put + on egg plant lengthwise and stuff the egg plant with grinded pasted
3. Heat oil in a pan and add garlic, onions, turmeric powder
4. Add salt and saute the mixture till the onion glazes at you. 
5. Add the stuffed eggplants and wait for the egg plants to shrink and half cooked
6. Now add the remaining grinded paste and tamarind water
7. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and boil the mixture on medium flame until you see the oil floating on top(takes around 20-25 mts). Remove it from the flame when the mixture thickens and in your consistency. 
8. Heat oil in another pan and add seasoning items. When it flutters, remove it from the flame and add it to the tamarind mixture

Cant beat rice/kaarakuzhambu/pappadam combo....enjoy the hot spicy food.

Tip :Jaggery can be added to add taste