Thenga Araicha Kuzhambu is a tasty South Indian rice accompaniment prepared with freshly ground coconut based spice mixture with tamarind and curd. Kerala special Kuzhambu makes any meal extra delicious.
I love coconut, it just creates a magic in any recipe.Thenga Araicha Kuzhambu is a must try recipe for all coconut lovers. When we are busy and wanted to cook a quick rice accompaniment without dal this kulambu is the answer.
The blend of tamarind, coconut with freshly ground spices does magic in the dish, mild sourness from curd and slight sweetness from jaggery compliments the taste.
It is iru puli(sourness )kulambu because we use both curd and tamarind for sourness.
Thenga Araicha Kuzhambu (Ground Coconut Gravy) is a recipe originally from my Aunt’s mom, which was passed on to me through my aunt and my mom.
Urad dal and coconut reminded Poricha kuzhambu and poricha kootu with dal but with coconut, curd and tamarind tastes so different.
This is a great accompaniment with rice, and also tastes good with any tiffen item. Being a South Indian, rice is our main food, so preparing accompaniment for rice is such a big deal.
More than cooking, to think what to cook is a big task. Whenever I ask Hubby gives a one word answer always – “anything”, and that is something I hate to hear. Last week the same thing happened and I was thinking what to cook, and I flipped some pages from my Amma’s book, so that I can get some idea. Found this Thenga Aracha Kuzhambu recipe and quickly checked my fridge to see if I had the veggies to cook this.
Do you like curd based dishes? Try out other tasty yogurt dishes
My aunt is from Kerala she tells me this Thenga Aracha Kuzhambu is a popular dish there. I am not sure whether this is authentic recipe but it widely appreciated in our home and I started doing it my Aunt’s way.
If you are interested for some tasty South Indian kuzhambu varieties in TMF,
Kuzhambu varieties with tamarind
Kuzhambu varieties without tamarind
Thenga Aracha Kuzhambu
Print Pin RateIngredients
- Drumstick - 1 cut into finger sized pieces
- Mixed Vegetable - 2 cups I took brinjal, carrot, ladies finger and potato
- Tamarind - A gooseberry size ball
- Turmeric Powder - ¼ tsp
- Curd - 1/2 cup
- Salt - as needed
- Jaggery – 1 tsp
- For the spice paste
- Urad Dal - 1 tbsp
- Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
- Rice - 1/8 tsp
- Dried Red Chilli - 3 According to your spice level
- Shredded Coconut - 3/4 cup
- For Tempering
- Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
- Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
- Fenugreek - 1/4 tsp
- Curry Leaves - few
Instructions
- Soak the tamarind in warm water for 10 - 15 minutes and extract the juice from it, by adding 2 cups of water
- Dry roast the urad dal, fenugreek seeds, rice and red chillies till it becomes golden brown. Once it comes to room temperature, add coconut and little water to make the kuzhambu masala
- Add oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add mustard seeds and fenugreek. Once it splutters, add curry leaves
- After waiting curry leaves for 2-3 times add the chopped vegetables, turmeric powder and saute for 3-4 mins
- Pour a cup of water, cover and cook till the veggies are 3/4th cooked
- Add tamarind extract and salt. Cook till raw tamarind smell goes and vegetables are cooked
- Add the ground paste and cook for 3-4 minutes
- Take the curd in a small bowl and mix well. Add the curd And simmer
- Cook for 30 seconds and switch off
Notes
- Any veggies of choice can be used for kuzhambu
- For quick kuzhambu add Vegetables in a separator and pressure cook for 1 whistle
- Adjust the tamarind according to the sourness
- After adding cyrd do not cook the kuzhambu for longer time
Ingredients:
Drumstick – 1, cut into finger sized pieces
Mixed Vegetable – 2 cups (I took 1 brinjal, 1 carrot, 3 ladies finger and 1 potato)
Tamarind – A gooseberry size ball
Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp
Thick Curd – 1/2 cup
Salt – as needed
Jaggery – 1 tsp
For Kuzhambu masala
Urad Dal – 1 tbsp
Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tsp
Rice – 1/4 tsp
Dried Red Chilli – 3(According to your spice level)
Shredded Coconut – 3/4 cup
For Tempering
Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
Mustard Seeds – 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek – 1/4 tsp
Curry Leaves – few
Method:
- Soak the tamarind in warm water for 10 – 15 minutes and extract the juice from it, by adding 2 cups of water
- Dry roast the urad dal, fenugreek seeds, rice and red chillies till it becomes golden brown. Once it comes to room temperature, add coconut and little water to make the kuzhambu masala
- Add oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add mustard seeds and fenugreek. Once it splutters, add curry leaves
- After waiting curry leaves for 2-3 times add the chopped vegetables, turmeric powder and saute for 3-4 mins
- Pour a cup of water, cover and cook till the veggies are 3/4th cooked
- Add tamarind extract and salt. Cook till raw tamarind smell goes and vegetables are cooked
- Add the ground paste and cook for 3-4 minutes
- Take the curd in a small bowl and mix well. Add the curd And simmer
- Cook for 30 seconds and switch off
Wow this looks very nice Vidya, colorful 🙂
Thanks Malar:) lot of colorful veggies
I know, its not always easy coming up with something to cook! Looks like you found a wonderful recipe. Malar recently told me what jaggery is, so it is fun to look at your ingredients and know what they are! 🙂
Yes Lori very true:) Thanks and yes I saw in Malar’s blog she has shared a link about Jaggery. I love blogging, help me to know lot of Interesting stuffs from friends like you all
Looks so delicious My DH also says cook “anything” and I get so frustrated lol If only there was recipe for “anything” I’de cook it for him hehe
Thanks Sanjana:) I guess “anything” is universal husband’s reply:d if you find “Anything” recipe pls let me know. I will also cook the same Lol
The coconut gravy looks delicious, Vidya 🙂
Thanks Ahila:)
Hi Vidya, I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Team readership award – http://wp.me/p3Nc97-vT. Have a lovely day!
Thanks Ahila for the nomination:)
Yumm…shall make it someday….
Thanks Natasha:)
yummy…rich veggie curry vidya!!!…. is it Avial??? in Kerala they prepare na??
No Ashmitha for Aviyal we won’t add tamrind and paste is different. This is my Aunt’s recipe, she is from trivandrum
Oh okay Vidya 🙂
delicious kuzhambu….
Thanks Kurinji:)
rice, curry, kuzhambu what a wonderful combo Vidya. …very tempting….
Thanks Chitra:)
That looks delicious! So many flavors to love in here! 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment June:)
looks yummy! I should try it one day.
Thanks Saba:) Do try and let me know
Thanks Saba:)
I love ground coconut gravy, yum!
Thanks Liz:)
My kind of curry Vidya. Loved it.
You too like Coconut gravy?? Nice:) Thanks Sonal:)
Delicious curry love to have with my rice.
Thanks Swathi:)
This sounds like a very yummy dish! 🙂
Thanks Nancy:)
We will be right over for dinner. 🙂 Looks delicious.
Sure.. Most welcome:)
I think this sounds wonderful, love the coconut gravy, I just wondered what is a drumstick? I think of chicken but I don’t see any chicken in the preparation and it seems like this is vegetarian.
Yes Suzanne its a vegetarian gravy. Drumstick is a vegetable, commonly used in many Indian cooking.
Ah thank you. I gave never heard of that type of vegetable before. Thank you.
Pleasure is mine:)
I was rasied on rice as well, Vidya. So good, isn’t it? Your coconut gravy looks deliciously thick and rich. 🙂
Yes Patty, totally agree. I can’t live without rice. Thanks patty:)
Dear Vidya…I finally cooked this recipe…we all loved it…thanks…I have also put up its picture on my blog and for the recipe linked yours…thanks…
Thanks for trying my recipe Natasha:) Looks Awesome
Thanks to you…we loved it…my sister rates the recipes like star which means plz make it regular…she gave it a star in our house:-)
I am very glad to hear:) If younger one likes a recipe then thats most cooked. Having a sis I can very well relate:)
Vidya,prepared this kuzhambu, cos I grated fresh coconut today .didnt want to use the shallot version.going to serve with adai /avial for dinner.Happy Pongal to you&your family.
Sorry Ramya, I missed ur comment.. Hope you liked it.belated Pongal wishes
Sorry Ramya, I missed ur ping. Hope you liked it.. Belated Pongal wishes