Mochakottai Kuzhambu / Fried Beans Kuzhambu

                       Mochakottai Kuzhambu according to me made by my aachi(grandma) is the perfect one. For cooking the mochakottai (fried beans) she only uses mud pots instead of cooker. The cooking time using mud pots will be a little more but still the taste will be heavenly. As always cooking in mud utensils will give a added up taste from usual taste.

                     I have also read in a article that the black mochai ( black fried beans ) is good for health. Lets look into the preparation.

Prep time 15 mins
Cooking time 30 mins


Ingredients

1/2 cup Mochakottai ( Fried Beans)
Small lemon sized Tamarind
2-3 nos Small Onion Chopped
1 Tomato 
3 nos Brinjal (small)
2 nos Ladys finger
1/2 Drumstick
3 small pieces Raw Mango
1 tbsp Chilly Powder
1/2 tbsp Coriander Powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
As per Taste Salt


To grind
1/4 cup coconut grated
2-3 nos Small Onion
1 tsp Cumin Seeds


To Temper
1 tbsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/4 tsp Fenugreek Seeds (Vendhayam)
1/4 cup Small onion Chopped
1 spring Curry Leaves



Procedure

1. Soak the mochakottai(fried beans) for nearly four hours. Cube all the vegetables. Cut drumstick lengthwise (into equal sized pieces)
Soak the tamarind in hot water. In a mixer jar put all the items under to grind and make paste.

2. Extract the juice of tamarind. In a vessel put all the vegetables (except lady finger and raw mango), grind-ed paste and the extracted tamarind juice.

Saute the ladyfinger in frying pan separately and keep aside.
Cook the soaked mochaikottai for nearly 5 whistles in pressure cooker and keep aside. 

3. In a small plate take the chilly powder and coriander powder. We have to saute the both the powders in 1/2 tsp oil.

4. Add the saute-ed powder along with the above mixture(coconut paste, tamarind juice n veges).

5. In a heated kadai add the sesame oil, after it gets heated add the mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds. After the mustard splutters, add the curry leaves and chopped small onion. Wait till the small onion turns brown colour. Add it along with the above mixture. Add the cooked Mochaikottai also.

6. Heat the above mixture and allow it to boil for 5 minutes in high flame, now add the mango and ladysfinger. Again allow it to boil for another 5-7 minutes in medium flame. Then switch off the stove. 

                  Your Mochaikottai kuzhambu is ready to be served.


                Note:

• You can make this kuzhambu by roasting the mochaikottai also(instead of cooking).
• This kuzhambu can be made without adding brinjal, drumstick, ladys finger, mango also. i.e; just by adding onion and tomato and mochai kottai (fried beans).
• Sauteing of chilly and coriander powder gives a good flavor. If you feel no need to saute you can just add the powders.