Cooking with Curry Leaves

Curry leaves also known as ‘kadi patta’ in Hindi is one of the popular herb used in Indian cooking especially in South Indian cooking. It gives a distinct aroma and flavor to Indian dishes. Curry leaves or curry patta has numerous health benefits. It is a rich source of vitamin A, calcium, folic acid and fiber. Curry leaves oil stimulates hair growth and also helps to prevent premature graying of hair. Today we will learn how to make curry leaves chutney for idli, dosa, appam following this easy recipe.

Karuveppilai Chutney Recipe-Curry Leaves Chutney

Prep Time : 5 mins

Cook Time : 10 mins Serves: 2 Recipe Category: Side Dish-Chutney Recipes Recipe Cuisine: South Indian Author:Padhu Sankar

Ingredients needed

Curry leaves – 1 cup tightly packed Oil – 2 tsp Red chillies – 2 Urad dal – 1 tbsp Hing – a pinch

Grated coconut – 2 tbsp Tamarind -1/4 tsp paste or a small pea sized ball Salt as needed

For the seasoning

Oil – 1 tsp Mustard seeds – 3/4 tsp

Preparation

Wash curry leaves, drain the water and pat it dry with a kitchen towel.

Method

Heat oil in a kadai, add urad dal, red chillies and hing. Saute until dal turns golden brown.

Now add curry leaves and saute in low flame for 2-3 minutes. Add tamarind, grated coconut, salt needed and saute for a few more seconds. Remove from flame and leave it to cool.

Grind it to a smooth paste adding little water. The consistency should neither be thick nor thin, so adjust water accordingly.

Heat a tsp of oil, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, pour the seasoning on the chutney. Mix well and serve with idli, dosa or appam

Curry Leaves Dip Thokku-Karuveppilai Thokku

Prep Time : 10 mins

Cook Time : 15 mins Yields:1 Cup Recipe Category: Pickle Recipe Cuisine: South Indian Author:Padhu Sankar

Ingredients needed

Curry leaves/Karuveppilai – 1 cup tightly packed Chilli powder – 1 1/4 tsp or according to your taste Tamarind – Small gooseberry sized ball Fenugreek powder -1 tsp Salt needed

For the seasoning

Oil -2 1/2 tbsp Mustard -1 tsp Hing/Asafoetida – a generous pinch

Preparation

Dry roast fenugreek seeds and powder it. Usually I dry roast 1-2 tbsp of fenugreek seeds, powder it and store it to use for my pickles and thokkus.

Soak tamarind in 1/4 cup of water and extract its juice. Discard the pulp.

Wash curry leaves and grind it with a little water to a smooth paste.

Method

Heat oil, add mustard, hing, when mustard splutters, add the ground paste and cook for a few minutes.

Then add tamarind water, needed salt, chilli powder and cook until oil separates.

Finally add a tsp of fenugreek powder, mix it well and switch off the flame.

After it cools, store in a clean bottle and use it when needed. It stays good for about 10-15 days in the refrigerator.

Tips for the busy women -If you do not have much time on hand to do any elaborate cooking, just mix this thokku with hot steamed rice, top it with a tsp of sesame seed oil/ghee and enjoy it with chips or papads or appalam.

Karuveppilai Podi ( curry leaves powder)

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

18 mins

Total Time

30 mins

Karuveppilai podi-Curry leaves powder is made from fresh curry leaves and spices. It can be had with rice or with idli, dosa. These podis come handy when you run out of time or when you feel lazy to cook. It can be stored for a month and can be used when needed. Nothing can beat the flavor of fresh homemade curry leaves powder. Hot steamed rice topped with a tsp of ghee and curry leaves powder is heavenly.

Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients needed

· 1 cup Fresh Curry leaves (very tightly/firmly packed)

· 2 tsp Whole black Pepper

· 2 tsp Cumin seeds/ jeera

· 2 tbsp Tur Dal-

· 2 tbsp Urad dal

· 2 tbsp Bengal gram or channa Dal

· 3-4 Red Chillies or as needed

· Salt needed

Instructions

Preparations

1. Wash curry leaves well, pat it with a towel to remove excess water and dry it well in the shade.

2. Spread the washed curry leaves on a cloth and let it dry for 5-6 hours. There should not be any moisture in the curry leaves.

Method

1. Dry roast tur dal, urad dal, channa dal (kadalai paruppu) until dal turns golden brown.

2. Then dry roast pepper and jeera separately until you get a nice aroma.

3. Dry roast red chillies for a few minutes.

4. Dry roast curry leaves well. Do not burn it. (the leaves should break when you crush it with your fingers)

5. Dry grind the dal, pepper and jeera first. Then add curry leaves and grind everything together (slightly coarse) along with salt required.

6. Store it in an air tight container so that it does not loose its freshness.

Recipe Notes

Oil is not required for roasting