Manathakkali vatha kulambu | appala vatha kulambu recipe with step by step pics and quick video recipe. manathakkali also known as sunberries are very commonly used in south Indian dishes either fresh or sun-dried ones. more commonly this dried berries or as we call it vathal/ vattral is used in making rasam. 
vathal kulambu is one of my favourite curries for rice. Just when we go out of vegetables or just when we have no mood to cook but large appetite to eat well. Just when you are caught up with any work and need a comfort meal. this curry is best that i would suggest. simple, easy and even if you do not have the sunberries, just add more garlic and cook it.
adding papad is also optional but papad is added in the traditional vatha kulambu iyer style which i learnt from one of my close friend years ago when i was in school.
my mom makes murungakka vatha kulambu just with drumstick and it tastes so awesome. If you don’t want the curry too tangy, then limit the tamarind water and add water. it has to thicken in simmer. adding jaggery is must to balance the spice and tanginess. kathirikka vatha kulambu is also one more dish we make. vendakka puli kulambu, is another tangy curry which we make often at our home.
here is the quick video recipe of Manathakkali vatha kulambu | Appala kulambu:
step wise description of making vatha kulambu:
heat oil in a pan, drop asafoetida and saute till aroma arises
pop in mustard seeds and when it pops, add little bit of fenugreek seeds
you can also add fenugreek powder at this stage instead of seeds.
further, add urad dal split and garlic cloves
break Red chilli into halves and add it. then goes in vathal of your choice, in this recipe i have added manathakkali vathal which is dried sunberries.
fry for a minute after which add tamarind water. I have soaked a gooseberry sized tamarind in 1 cup water and squeezed it to thin extract.
add salt to taste and let it boil.
furthermore, add sambar powder and mix well.
roast papad in stovetop until crisp
crush the roasted papad into the curry
serve hot with rice and ghee
vatha kulambu recipe:
manathakkali vathal kulambu
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/8 tsp asafoetida
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/8 tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1/8 tsp split urad dal
- 10-12 cloves garlic
- 2 dry red chilli broken
- 2 tbsp sunberries dried(manathakkali vathal)
- 1 cup tamarind extract
- salt to taste
- 1 tbsp sambar powder
- 1 small rice papad
- 1/2 tsp jaggery
Instructions
- heat oil in a pan, drop asafoetida and saute till aroma arises
- pop in mustard seeds and when it pops, add little bit of fenugreek seeds
- further, add urad dal split, garlic cloves, Red chillies, manathakkali vathal and fry for a minute after which add tamarind water.
- add salt to taste and let it boil.
- furthermore, add sambar powder and mix well.
- roast papad in stovetop until crisp. crush the roasted papad into the curry
- serve hot with rice and ghee
