Karpooravalli Kuzhambu

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There can be no greater joy of outsourcing the ingredients from your own garden for using in your kitchen.  We started our own karpooravalli or omavalli(tamil names for ajwain) plant from a cutting given to us by my cousin sometime last year just to add to our collection of health benefical plants like tulasi, curry leaves and manathakkali.  Ajwain is more popular in northern India and the seeds are used as seasonings in dal or in the parathas and more so in the snacks.  Who can forget the aromatic taste of these lovely seeds in the very popular "omapodi" in the tamil households. However the leaves in abundance on my plant tempted me to try this dish which I would be making it again and again for sure.  Infact I do not hestitate to add these chopped leaves anytime I make rotis and puris.....






/4 tsp methi seeds
1/4 tsp urad dal
2 tsp dhaniya
1 tsp each tuar and chana dal
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2  long red chillies
15 to 20 black pepper
20 medium sized omavalli leaves

Roast all this in this order starting with methi seeds, dhaniya, pepper, the dals, cumin seeds and red chillies and add the chopped leaves in the end and saute it briefly

Grind with 3 tsp tamarind paste and about a tsp of salt and about 2 to 3 cups of water to make it into a fine paste.

Take about 3 tbsp oil season mustard hing, few curry leaves and add the ground paste.  Let this cook till the oil begins to separate.

Enjoy it by adding to hot rice!!!

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