Chettinad ladies finger curry (vendakkai kuzhambu) recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1. Ladies Finger - 250 grams, cut into 1.5" pieces
2. Small onion (shallots) – 1/4 kilo gram
3. Curry leaves – 10
4. Black pepper – 3 teaspoon (tsp)
5. Mustard seed – 2 teaspoon (tsp)
6. Tamarind – small lemon size
7. Garlic – 10 cloves
8. Cumin seed – 3 teaspoon (tsp)
9. Fenugreek seeds – 1 teaspoon (tsp)
10. Chili powder – 3 teaspoon (tsp) ( as spicy as needed)
11. Coriander powder – 6 teaspoon (tsp)
12. Tomatoes – 1/4 kilo gram
13. Oil – 1/4 cup
14. Coriander leaves – 1/2 cup
15. Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon (tsp)
16. Green chili – 3
17. Salt – to taste

PREPARATION:

1. Soak tamarind in 3 cup of water and get the juice. Remove the skin of the shallot and cut them into pieces. Cut tomatoes into pieces.
2. Crush half of the black pepper into a fine powder.
3. In a pan heat oil add the half the non crushed black pepper, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, garlic and curry leaves and temper (fry) them.
4. Now add the cut onions and cook until it turns light golden brown, then add the cut tomatoes and cook until oil separates.
5. Now add the tamarind juice and bring to boil and cook until it becomes thick.
6. Spit the green chili and add them to the boiling curry.
7. Now add the chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cook until raw smell is gone.
8. Now add the salt for taste and then the ladies finger.
9. Simmer and Cook until the ladies finger is done.
10. Cook until curry reached the right consistency of your preference and serve.

NOTES:

1. Curry tastes get better the over next days.