Drumstick Tamarind (Imli) Kulambu

Ingredients:
Drum Stick	2   nos	Fenugreek seed (Methi)	Few
Onion	1   Medium	Thalippu Vadagam	Little
Bangalore Tomato	1   small	Salt	To  taste
Country Tomato	1   small	Oil	3   tbsp
Green Chilly	1   small	Tamarind (Imli)	Small Lemon size
Garlic	4-5 flakes	Coriander Leaves (chopped)	1  tbsp
Turmeric	3-4 Pinch	Curry Leaves	Few
Red chilly/Dhania mix	2   tsp (heaped)	Coconut Fresh (Grated)	½   cup
Mustard	¼  tsp

Tip

• Red Chilly & Dhania Powder mix:: 100 : 150 gms.

Method:

• Soak the tamarind in ½ cup of water for ½ hr. And the extract juice.
• Grind coconut with little water and extract milk to about ½ cup.
• Cut Drumstick into 2 inch pieces. Chop the Onion into fine pieces. Cut each garlic flakes into 2 to 3 pieces. Slit the green chilly.
• Chop both the tomatoes into thin slices.

Cooking: 

• Heat oil in the Kadai lower the flame fry drum stick pieces till half cooked, remove and keep aside,
• To the same oil add mustard allow to splutter, add fenugreek seeds fry for a second, Now add Thalippu Vadagam, onion, garlic and green chillies fry till onion  becomes light brown.
• Lower the flame add the tomatoes, fry till soft, add turmeric , red chilly/Dhania mix & salt of approx 1 tsp.
• Fry  till well mixed and add one cup of water along with the fried drumstick pieces cover and cook for 5 minutes in low flame.
• Allow to boil, now add the tamarind juice , coriander leaves cover and cook for another 3 minutes.
• Now add coconut milk & curry leaves, check the spice and salt level if it is too sour add little more red chilly /Dhania mix powder with salt to the gravy.
• Cook till drumstick becomes soft.
• Serve with Rice, Pongal & Upma.
•  

Tip :

1. Cooking in low flame tastes better.
2. Variation : You could use Small violet Brinjal, Lady’s Finger(Okra) follow the same method to fry in oil and add to the gravy (Kulambu)
3. Yam could also be used – Scrap the skin, cut into cubes, Cook in water with little turmeric & salt for 4-5 minutes and drain the water [ no need to fry in oil] and follow the same procedure as above.