manathakali vathakuzhambu (black nightshade in a spicy sauce)

"Vathal" in Tamil refers to vegetables soaked in a yoghurt-spice mixture and sundried for several days until its dehydrated completely. This "vathal" is used to make vathakuzhambu along with tamarind and sambar powder. During the last manathakali season, I prepared some manathakali vathal. So there I am posting proudly my recipe with some home made manathakali!*.

My daughters like manathakali very much. Now my son-in-law also joined this "like" group. Manathakali can be roasted with 1 tsp of ghee and mixed with steamed rice. Besides being extremely tasty, the manathakali, also aids digestion.

MANATHAKALI VATHAKUZHAMBU
(Tamil to English: manathakali - black nightshade, vathakuzhambu - spicy sauce)

INGREDIENTS


Home made manathakali -  ½ cup (50gm measuring cup)
Tamarind -  lemon size 20 gm soak in water and extract the juice
Sambar powder - 2 tsp
Sesame oil -  8 tsp
Red chili - 2, split in half
Mustard seeds ¼ tsp, fenugreek seeds ¼ tsp, turmeric powder ¼ tsp,
jaggery as per taste, asafoetida, curry leaves, and salt to taste




METHOD


1. Soak the tamarind in water (approx. 2 to 3 glasses) for half an hour, then extract the juice by gentle pressing.
2. Heat sesame oil in a thick bottom vessel, add the manathakali to it. Allow it to be roasted until golden brown, then season with mustard seeds.
3. Add fenugreek, chili, asafoetida, curry leaves, turmeric powder. Saute for one min.
4. Now add tamarind juice, sambar powder, salt and jaggery. Stir occasstionally and cook on medium flame until the raw smell of the tamarind goes off.
5. The final sauce should be semifluid.
6. Serve with hot rice or curd rice (recipe follows soon).

TIPS
 
1.Vathakuzhambu can be prepared with vegetables, dry herbs, kuzhambu vadams and vathal.
2. Vegetables like pearl onion**, drum stick, lady's finger/okra, pumpkin or mixed vegetables can also be added
3. The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator up to a week.
4. Manathakali vathakuzhambu plus keerai masiyal is the best combination with steaming white rice!

* manathakali "vathal" is prepared during the season, it can be stored for many years :).
**pearl onion - chinna vengayam