More kuzhambu

is loosely translated to yoghurt gravy and is popular among iyers.

I am updating my blog after a long break (a week) mainly because I was away on a vacation. I returned two days back but certain amount of laziness crept in and I was in a laid back mood. My own blog seems unfamiliar after the break and I had to try really hard to defy my laziness and break the silence. That explains how hard I work to get myself active. :)

Had an awesome holiday. Everything went on fine except for the awfully bad food. Being a vegetarian, I had to resort to cheese pizza and fries all the time. The cheese and potato made me really sick. Sick enough to transform me from a potato lover to a staunch hater of it. I despise the very sight of potatoes. Hope I will get back to the normal self after a week or so. I just wanted to gain access to my own sweet kitchen and started craving for healthy home food. I really wonder how some Indians could change their food habits and thrive on pizzas and like. It's never an healthy option and I think I can never change my food habits anytime anywhere. Infact, I am really proud of Indian food varieties. I see non-Indians falling crazy for Indian food and that explains the goodness of our food culture.

But being a foodie, I like trying diff varieties now and then. I started loving mexican food since it offers more choice for even veggies like me.

Coming back to the post, this is a typical south Indian food made regularly at home. I made it this time with lady's finger. You can even use pumpkin, taro (arbi) or chayote squash(chow chow).

I have given two methods though I posted the pic for the first method only. First is the Tanjore style and second, Kerala style.
Finally, my blog looks updated and I am glad for getting back on track.




Ingredients:

Okra - 5 chopped
Thin Yoghurt or sour butter milk.(If the yoghurt is not sour, mix half a tsp tamarind paste)
Turmeric - 1 tsp
Hing - 1 pinch
For Paste
Coconut - 1.5 tablespoon
Red chillies - 2 medium sized
Fenugreek - 1/2 tsp
Soaked thoor dhall - 2 tsp
Channa dhall - 2 tsp
Dhania - 1 tsp
Fry the channa dhall, dhania, red chillies and fenugreek till light brown in a tsp of oil and grind together with coconut and thoor dhall.
Seasoning: Curry leaves, mustard, fenugreek 1/2 tsp, coconut oil or sesame oil or mix both.
salt to taste

Method:
1. Fry the okra in oil till crisp. Generally it is deep fried, but suddenly I turn calorie conscious and hence used a little oil to fry. Mix a little salt and keep aside.
2. Mix yoghurt, turmeric, hing, salt and ground paste.
3. Season the ingredients under seasoning, mix the curd and okra. Simmer a little and don't boil; otherwise the curd might break. That's the standing instruction for anything cooked with yoghurt.
Your gravy is ready to serve. Good to go with rice.

Method 2: Grind coconut, 1 tsp of cumin, 3 green chillies and use the paste in the similar way as method 1.


PS: For veggies other than okra, just boil and add. Don't fry.

8 comments:

lubnakarim06 said...

Okra in curd sounds new to me....Looks yummy...

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

Nice creamy texture of the Kuzhambu and the yellow hues all over is so tempting me!!!

Pooja said...

Well said Vidya! I too cant imagine people thriving on pizza and burgers..I too love Indian food a lot and take great pride in knowing how to cook Indian food too! Though I have non-veg I cant stay away from Indian food for more than 2-3 days! So can very well imagine your situation and that too on being a vegan!
Love the creamy look of kuzhambu..I usually prepare using the second method. Will try the first method some time.

Sree vidya said...

Thanx Lubna and Ramya for pitching in right after I posted the entry.
U ppl make my day.
Try this for sure. it's worth.

Sree vidya said...

Yeah Pooja! Indian food is gr8 and we shud be proud to be Indians; well, not just for food but for all the heritage.
I luv the first method better than second. Sure, give it a try; it's worth.

dsdsds said...

Thanks for visiting my blog... you have some popular yummy dishes... Nice collection :))

Unknown said...

hi,
thanks a ton for this awesome recipe. Came out really good....will follow your blog more closely!
U made my new year's day!

Vidya said...

Yummy Mor Kozambhu! turned out the way my mom makes it.. thank you!