Milagu (Pepper) Kuzhambu

This pepper kuzhambu has quite a few medicinal ingredients going in and is sure to help clear up stuffy sinuses or a crummy cold. The spices in it give a wonderful jolt to one's palate and is definitely my go to recipe when I'm feeling under the weather.

MILAGU KUZHAMBU

Ingredients:

Shallots (Chinna Vengayam) - half cup, peeled
Garlic cloves - about 10 or 12, peeled
Tamarind - gooseberry sized, soaked in warm water & extract juice
Tomato - 1 small, chopped
Gingelly oil (Nallennai) - 1 to 2 tbsp
Mustard, Urad Dhal, Methi seeds, Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp each
Asafoetida (Hing/Perungaayam) - a pinch
Curry Leaves - few
Salt - to taste

To Grind:
Whole black pepper - 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds (Jeera) - 1 tbsp
Urad Dhal - 1 tsp
Channa Dhal (kadalai paruppu) - 1 tsp
Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp
Sukku (Dried Ginger) - 1 small piece
Dried Red Chillies - 2 or 3

Method:

1) Heat about 1 tsp of oil in a pan and fry the ingredients in the 'To Grind' list, until golden. Grind this to a smooth paste adding water as required.

2) Heat the remaining oil, and add the seasoning ingredients (mustard, urad dhal, cumin & methi), along with asafoetida and curry leaves. Once they splutter, add the peeled onions & garlic, fry till golden.

3) Then add the chopped tomato and fry with a bit of salt till it turns mushy. Then add the extracted tamarind juice along with the ground paste. Adjust salt & water, as necessary and allow this boil. Let this simmer until it thickens to the desired consistency and serve hot with rice.