Kuzhambu
| Place of origin | Tamil Nadu |
|---|---|
| Region or state | South India |
| Main ingredients | Lentils, tamarind, vegetables |
Kuzhambu (Tamil:குழம்பு(Curry)), is a dish common in South India and Sri Lankan Tamil cuisines, and is primarily made of a variety of dals.
Kuzhambu is a stew based on a broth made with tamarind, urad (bean) dal and toor dal, and can include vegetables. The dish is very popular as a side for rice in the southern regions of India especially in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The number of varieties of kuzhambu are countless, with each state in the South preparing it with a typical variation, adapted to its taste and environment.
Preparation
The preparation of kuzhambu vary greatly with the type of kuzhambu to be made, but its basic preparation methods include first frying curry leaves, mustard seeds, and dry chili pepper over vegetable oil on a heated stove. For kuzhambu that includes vegetables, cut the vegetables and fry them if required for the kuzhambu. For some types of kuzmabu, such as vathal kuzhambu, heat a separate pan with oil, and use this to fry the dals, other spices, onions, and garlic. In general, kuzambu does not include onions. Add tamarind juice, which is made in advance by soaking tamarind with water, and jaggery. Add water and salt, and cook for about 20 minutes.
Varieties
The following is a small list of the hundreds of varieties of kuzhambu popular in Tamil cuisine. These types of kuzhambu all include a base of tamarind, urad and toor dals, and spices such as curry leaves, chili, and salt. Many of these varieties also include tomatoes or tomato juice as part of the base.
| Name | Distinguishing Ingredient(s) |
|---|---|
| Vathal Kuzhambu | turkey berry, shallots |
| Milagu Kuzhambu | black pepper |
| Kara Kuzhambu | onion, green chili, tomatoes |
| Mor Kuzhambu | thick buttermilk, channa dal, ash gourd, okra, pumpkin |
| Poondu Kuzhambu | garlic |
| Vazhakai Kuzhambu | plantain |
| Vendakai Kuzhambu | okra |
| Poricha Kuzhambu | mixed vegetables, black pepper, ample amounts of dal |