Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu Recipe

The Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu Recipe is a tandy curry that is made from simmering baby onions also known as the sambar onion or Chinna Vengayam in tamil. Great to be served with steamed rice and poriyal.

Archana Doshi
Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu Recipe
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The Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu Recipe is a tandy curry that is made from simmering baby onions also known as the sambar onion or Chinna Vengayam in tamil. Chettinad cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines of Southern India, that is packed with a few essential ingredients and that is the baby onion and the black peppercorns. 

The Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu is a perfect dish to go along with some steaming hot rice, Cabbage Poriyal and Appalam. Serve it for lunch or dinner and you will surely enjoy this spicy curry.

If you like recipes from Chettinad, then you must try some of the favorites like 

  1. Chettinad Pattani Kurma
  2. Chettinad Vengaya Kosu Recipe
  3. Chettinad Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu
  4. Chettinad Kola Urundai Kuzhambu
  5. Chettinad Pepper Chicken Dry Recipe

Cuisine: Chettinad
Course: Lunch
Diet: Vegetarian
Prep in

10 M

Cooks in

30 M

Total in

40 M

Makes:

4 Servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Tamarind Water
  • 12 Pearl onions (Sambar Onions) , peeled and halved
  • 2 Tomatoes , roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Sambar Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Whole Black Peppercorns , coarsely pounded
  • Salt , to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Jaggery
  • Ingredients for seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Sesame (Gingelly) Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Methi Seeds (Fenugreek Seeds)
  • 2 sprig Curry leaves , roughly torn 

How to make Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu Recipe

  1. To begin making the Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu Recipe, first get all the ingredients prepped and ready. Make the tamarind water according to the recipe - How To Make Tamarind Water

  2. Once the ingredients are prepped, we will cook them all in the pressure cooker. Into the pressure cooker, add the tomatoes, onions, tamarind water, salt, jaggery, sambar powder, pepper and salt. Stir well to combine and cook until you hear a couple of whistles. 

  3. After a couple of whistles, turn of the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally. Once released, stir well and transfer to a boil. The Kuzhambu will be a little runny, if you like a thicker Chettinad Vengaya Kuzhambu, then you can simmer the Kuzhambu on low heat until it thickens.

  4. Check the salt and spices and adjust to suit your taste.

  5. The final step is the seasoning. Heat a little oil in a small tadka pan, add the mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and allow it to crackle. Once it crackles add the curry leaves and stir.

  6.  Turn off the heat and add the seasoning to the Chettinad Vengaya Kuzhambu and serve.

  7. Serve the Chettinad Thakkali Vengaya Kuzhambu along with some steaming hot rice, Cabbage Poriyal and Appalam. Serve it for lunch or dinner and you will surely enjoy this spicy curry.