Maangai Paruppu Kuzhumbhu (Tirunelveli Style)

Ingredients

Toor Dhal - 1/2 cup
Moong Dhal - 1/4 cup
Brinjal - 2 (cut to bite size pieces)
Tomato - 1 (cut to bite size pieces)
Small onions -10 Nos.
Garlic pods - 5
Hing (Asafoetida) - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin - 1/2 tsp
Green chilli - 2
Coconut Flakes - 3 tbsp
Raw Mango - 5 big slices
Tamarind - 1 pod
Coriander leaves - To garnish
Salt - To taste

Seasoning:
Oil - 3 tbsp
Mustard - 1/4 tsp
Urad dhal - 1/4 tsp
Red chilli - 1 (optional)
Onion - 2 tbsp
Curry leaves - 10 Nos.

Method

1. Add the following ingredients to the pressure cooker: Tood dhal, moong dhal, brinjal, tomato, onions, garlic, hing, turmeric, cumin and green chillies.
2. Add enough water to cover the ingredients. 
3. Pressure cook for 15 minutes over a medium - high heat.
4. After the steam is released, mash the contents of the pressure cooker with a potato masher / 'mathu'.
5. Add the mango slices. Add the giant mango seed (if you love mango so much like me).
6. Soak the tamarind in water and add the tamarind extract.
7. Add more water if needed.
8. Add in the coconut flakes.
9. Do the seasoning and add to the cooker.
10. Boil (with lid open) for about 15 minutes till the mango is completely cooked.
11. Garnish with coriander leaves.
12. Serve with white rice / brown rice / dosa / pongal.
13. With 'no tamarind' serve with idlis.

Note

1. Reduce tamarind when more mango slices are added.
2. Tamarind can be completely removed from the list and can be replaced by a whole big mango & 3 tomatoes.

Kuruma Kuzhumbhu

Kuruma Kuzhumbhu is a rice accompaniment with the flavours of kuruma since the masala includes fennel along with ginger & garlic....but also includes tamarind which makes it go well with rice.

Ingredients

Oil - 1 tbsp
Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
Potatoes - 1 (cut into big cubes)
Tomato - 1
Tamarind - 1 pod
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - To Taste

For Masala:

Coconut flakes - 1/4 cup
Fennel (Perunjeeragam) - 1 tsp
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
Garlic - 3 pods

For Seasoning:

Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard - 1/4 tsp
Urad dhal - 1/4 tsp
Chopped Onion - 1 tbsp
Curry leaves - 10 Nos.

Method

1. In a pan, add 1 tbsp of oil & add the cinnamon.
2. Now add the potato cubes and tomato slices and fry them for a minute.
3. In a mixer / blender, grind the masala with a little water, and add to the pan.
4. Soak the tamarind in water & add in the tamarind extract.
5. Add the chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder & salt.
6. Let this boil on a medium heat till its half - way done.
7. Do the seasoning and add to the pan.
8. Boil on a low - medium heat till the required consistency is reached.
9. Serve with white rice / brown rice.

Note

1. Ginger and garlic can be replaced by ginger - garlic paste. About 1 1/2 tsp of ginger - garlic paste can be added.