Vendakkai Puli Curry / Okra Tamarind Curry

    This is tamarind based vendakkai curry cooked with freshly grounded spices.this not 100% curry and 100% kuzhambu intermediate.but suits well with white rice and dosa.Amma Samayalla romba pidichathulla ethuvum onnu :) 
Nutritional Benefits of Okra: Okra is good for summer heat treatment.Okra's vitamin C is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which curtail the development of asthma symptoms.Some information shows that eating okra lowers the risk of cataracts.Okra protects you from pimples and maintains smooth and beautiful skin. Okra fiber is excellent for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics). This contributes to the health of the intestinal tract.

Ingredients

1. Okra    1/2 lb
2. Pearl onions    12-15 no.s
3. Tomato   1 and 1/2 (chopped)
4. Tamaind    small lime size pieces soaked in hot water for 20 min.
5. Garlic    8-10 flakes
6. Curry leaves    few
7. turmeric powder    a pinch
8. Coconut   1 tbsp(shredded)
9. Salt    to taste

To dry roast and grind

1. Dry red chillies     4-5 no.s
2. Coriander seeds   2 tsp
3. Fenugreek seeds/methi seeds    1/4 tsp
4. Cumin seeds     1 tsp
5. Chana dal     2 tsp
6. Rice    1/2 tsp
7. Hing   a pinch

To temper

1. Sesame oil/oil     1 tbsp
2. Mustard seeds    1/2 tsp
3. cumin seeds    1/2 tsp
4. Fenugreek seeds    10 no.s
5. Pepper corns   2-3 no.s
6. Hing   a pinch

Method

• Wash,Wipe and cut the okra in to 1" thick and fry them in a pan using few drops of oil,till the moisture absorbs n turn little crisp and keep aside

• Heat  a pan, and add the ingredients under "dry roast n grind" one by one and roast them lightly for 1-2 minutes ans allow to cool and grind it along with 1 tbsp shredded coconut and keep aside.

• Extract the tamarind juice and keep aside.(If u use tamarind paste...add 1tsp of paste in 1/2 cup water and dissolve it completely.)

• Heat oil in wok,add mustard and fenugreek seeds and wait till it pop,then add cumin seeds,pepper corns,hing and fry lightly and add curry leaves,onions and garlic ,saute nicely till the onion turns pink.

• then add chopped tomatoes and saute till it become soft and add the grounded paste ,turmeric powder and stir well.fry the masala for 1 minute.

• then add the tamarind juice ,enough salt and stir well.
• Add enough water and adjust the consistency to medium thick and cook covered in medium heat.

• When the tamarind gravy satrts boiling add the fried okra/vendakkai and cook for another 2minutes with lid closed.

• After that turn off the stove and leave it for another few minutes to get settle and the oil floats on top of the curry.
• And now the vendakkai puli curry is ready to serve for white rice with Appalam.