Dry Lotus Root In Tamarind Gravy/Thamarai Thandu Vatha Kuzhambu

Few days back, i went for the usual monthly purchasing to Indian grocery, while going through the dry sun dried products section, i got hooked to  these dry lotus root packet. Immediately i picked them and back home i wanted to try as my all time favourite vatha kuzhambu. I prepared this gravy without any expectation and went for usual preparation. Oh my god, these dry roots once get cooked turned out super yummy, tastes fabulous.

Most of us know that Vathal means vegetables which are sun dried,later they are used in gravy prepared basically with tamarind extract.You can add many vegetables like brinjal,drumsticks and potatoes to give a different flavour to this tamarind based sun dried veggies gravy, thats why i prepared this gravy simply with dry lotus roots and brinjals. Serve this super delicious gravy with hard boiled eggs or papads with hot steaming rice,am damn sure you guys will definitely love this fingerlicking gravy.This yummy gravy is my last post of this week's blogging marathon.Do check out the other marathoners running this 17th edition of blogging marathon here.

1/4cup Dry lotus root/Thamarai thandu vathal
1cup Tamarind juice
5-6nos Brinjals (chopped lengthwise)
1no Onion (big & diced)
1/4cup Tomato puree
7nos Garlic cloves (crushed)
Few curry leaves
1tsp Chilly powder
1tbsp Coriander powder
1/2tsp Pepper powder
1/2tsp Cumin ppowder
1tsp Mustard seeds
1/2tsp Fenugreek seeds
1/2cup Gingelly oil
Salt

Heat gingelly oil in a heavy bottomed pan, fry the mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds and curry leaves now add the dry lotus roots and garlic cloves and fry until they turns brown.

Add immediately the diced onions,chopped brinjals and cook until the onions turns transculent and brinjals get partially cooked..

Meanwhile add the chilly powder,coriander powder,pepper powder,cumin powder,tomato puree and salt to the tamarind juice.

Finally add this spiced tamarind juice to the cooking veggies, cook everything in simmer until the oil gets separates,the gravy constitency should be bit thick..

Serve hot with hot steaming rice and papads..