Karuvadagam Dal Kulambu

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• Toor dal 1 cup
• Tamarind 1 inch cube
• Red chili powder 1.5 tsp
• Coriander 2.5 tsp
• Turmeric powder 1 pinch
• Asafoetida 1 pinch
• Karuvadagam 2 tsp
• Curry leaves
• Vegetables: drumstick or eggplant or raw mango or ridge gourd (peerkangai) or broad beans (avarakai) or white radish (mullangi) cut into bite size pieces

Method:

1. Cook toor dal and keep aside
2. Mix tamarind in 5 cups of water along with the vegetable, turmeric powder, chili powder, turmeric powder, salt and boil till the vegetables are cooked
3. Once the raw chili powder smell is gone add the cooked toor dal
4. In separate pan add 3 tsp oil
   • Add karuvadagam,  asafoetida, curry leaves and fry
   • Once the spluttering stops pour it into the mix in step 3

Note: Before step 4 taste the mix in step 3 for salt/tamarind/chilli-powder. If anything is less then add more of the same and boil for 3 minutes

Note 1: Raw mango + Drumstick + Eggplant makes a good combo
Note 2: Ridge gourd + Eggplant is also a good combo
Note 3: Don’t use White radish by itself