Kolam by Sudha Balaji

Kothamalli thokku - side dish for rice , idli dosa We need coriander leaves .  I have taken four clusters of coriander leaves, tamarind ,  Separate the leaves from the stems .  The stems interfere in grinding and some of them may not get ground properly Take shallots or onions an four cloves of garlic -  these are optional Take five or six red chillies Add tamarind. Add little water and wet grind all ingredients  in a mixer Heat oil in a pan , add mustard Add the wet ground mixture of coriander leaves Add turmeric powder - two spoons ( small as shown in the photo ) Add four spoons of dhania powder Add little chilly powder since we have already added red chillies.  If we want more kaaram ( hot ) we can add more chilly powder Heat it till the coriander leaves , onions and garlic get cooked. Close with a little because the thokku usually sputters. Once cooking is complete add salt I add jaggery also...

Vatha kuzhambu powder preparation The ingredients required and measurements are as follows Dhania or coriander 3 cups , urad dhal 2 cups ,  gram dhal 2 cups , 1 1/2 cups toor dhal One cup jeera or cumin seeds , one cup milagu or pepper  One tea spoon fenugreek seeds , little rice and 10-15 byadgi chillies All except chillies are to be dry roasted separately because the roasting time is different for each For chillies add a little  oil and roast so that the oil takes care of the hot vapours emanating  Or dhania and urad dhal are roasted separately Then gram dhal and  toor dhal  are roasted  Then cumin seeds , pepper , rice and fenugreek are roasted Finally the chillies are roasted. Allow them  to cool in air Dry grind in a mixer and store in an air tight container. It can also be used as sambar powder Vatha kulambu podi recipe through images Detailed description is given above for vatha kuzhambu podi recipe Now we know how to make v...

Onion tomato chutney Roast one table spoons gram dhal and a few red chillies in little oil Cut onion and tomato into slices.  For one tomato take two onions Take 3-4 table spoons oil in a vaanali ( vessel ) and fry the onion Onion need not be chopped into fine pieces.  However the smaller they are the easier it is to fry Once onions are partially fried add the tomatoes and fry We can add a pinch of turmeric powder and it is optional Add salt according to your requirement When the tomatoes are also cooked / fried remove and allow them to cool Then grind the tomato , onion, gram dhal and red chillies mixture in a grinder .  Saute with mustard and urad dhall.  Serve as a side dish for idly and dosa thakkali vengayam chutney under preparation The advantage of this chutney it is simple, easy to make .   Since the ingredients are very few it can be prepared very quick.   The flavour of the chutney is from the onion tomato combination and propor...