Masala Kara kuzhambu podi - 250 gms

Ingredients - Ingredients - red chillies, coriander seeds, channa dal, tuvar dal, black pepper, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, rice, curry leaves, saunf, urad dal. Use about 3-4 spoons to serve 4 people. Chettinad flavours. 

Easy kaara kuzhambu - my way . Take tamarind extract from a small lemon sized tamarind. In a pan, add sesame oil. Do tadka of mustard seeds, methi, channa dal, red chillies, curry leaves and hing. Lower the heat. Add 4 tbsp of the kaara kuzhambu podi.  Saute in low heat for a minute. Take care not to burn. Add a spn of rice flour if you like a thick kuzhambu. 

Add this to the tamarind extract and boil gently. Saute small onions, tomatoes and garlic in some more oil and add to the kuzhambu. You can also add vathals or vegetables of your choice along with these. Do add a bit of jaggery to the kuzhambu when it cooks to balance the flavours.