Topic started by Jennifer (@ mail.pathways-inc.org) on Fri Nov 14 09:32:57 EST 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi. I am learning to cook Tamil food and there is one dish that is like a kozhumbu (maybe it is called kozhumbu) that has small black seeds in it. A few doubts:
What are these seeds called?
Where can I get them in US (can they be posted to me, I live in a rural area)?
Can you tell the name of this dish and recipe?
What are all varities of kozhumbu? (describe please).
Romba Nandri

Responses:

• From: Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on: Fri Nov 14 10:31:47 EST 2003
  
  Hello Jennifer,
  
  What you are refering to is known as SUNDAKKAI.
  I am posting the link to my website.
  Cook and enjoy.
  If you have liked the recipe, please post the feedback.
  
  http://www.hemant-trivedis-cookery-corner.com/rsd/vtral-kozumbu.html
  
  NOTE: Please use spices to your taste.
  
  
• From: Mrs.Mano (@ 195.229.241.167) on: Sun Nov 16 00:37:33 EST 2003
  
  Hello Jennifer!
  About the small black seeds-are they round in shape? Then I think that it is Manaththakkaali seed which is used in a kozhambu called vathal kozhambu. Here is the recipe for that. I have already posted this in my ‘Tamilnadu delicacies’ thread in this forum hub. There you can see so many varieties of kozhambu recipes. You can get this seed in any Indian store.
  VATHAL KUZHAMBU[TYPICAL BRAHMIN STYLE]
  Soak a lemon-sized tamarind in water and extract the thick juice of it after half an hour. Pour 2tbsp gingelly oil in a kadai and heat it. Add 1sp mustard seeds and when they splutter, add 1sp fenugreek seeds, 2tbsp Bengal gram, 2 spring curry leaves, a small piece of asafoetida and 5 red chillies. Fry them on slow fire for a few minutes. Pour the tamarind extract, enough salt, 1sp turmeric powder and 2 sp sambar powder. Mix well and let the kuzhambu simmer for some minutes until the desired consistency.
  NB: When you add the red chillies, add also 2tbsp of manaththakkali seeds.
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Sun Nov 16 11:04:24 EST 2003
  
  Sorry to butt in! Could the black seeds be kadugu?
  
  
• From: attukkara-alamelu (@ aca2b066.ipt.aol.com) on: Sun Nov 16 21:01:16 EST 2003
  
  Yes, I think you are right, Idiappam.
  I think it is mustard.
  
  
• From: devi (@ cs17022-189.jam.rr.com) on: Mon Nov 17 09:52:13 EST 2003
  
  Hey guys, kadugu(mustard) is used only for seasoning u can't make kuzhambu with kadugu.As Mrs.Mano said it shud be either with manathakkali vathal(dry fruit)or with sundaikai vathal.
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Mon Nov 17 13:22:37 EST 2003
  
  OK OK, Devi, I surrender and leave the kitchen to the experts. But, I THINK, Jennifer should, at least, give some dimensions of that 'small black seeds' - we can zoom in onto the right one!
  
  Diameter
  7mm -12mm sundakkai
  4mm - 7mm manathakkali
  0.8mm - 1.5mm kadugu
  
  Get you micrometer guage out, Jennifer!
  
  
• From: Jen (@ cache-dq08.proxy.aol.com) on: Thu Nov 20 19:14:49 EST 2003
  
  Romba Nandri Friends!
  
  I have found what I was looking for.. I have several things to make the kuzhambu with, however the seeds I was thinking are sundrakkai... do you know if this is called anything in english? luckily i can read tamil .. the package does not say sundrakai in english script.. but also have dried vathals... guess it is dried red chillies? and dried moor minkay.. (curd chilly).. i am guessing I can substitute any of these for the Manaththakkaali Mrs. Mano mentioned above?
  
  What kind of plant grows the sundraakai and Manaththakkaali?
  
  Jennifer
  
  VATHAL KUZHAMBU[TYPICAL BRAHMIN STYLE]
  
  
• From: vasan (@ 203.199.198.232) on: Fri Nov 28 06:48:52 EST 2003
  
  HI Vathal Kozbmbu can be made of any vathal.
  Sundaikkai,Manathakkali, Avarai Vathal, Kothavarai vathal, Thamarai thandu vathal and even raw appalams.
  
  You can use your imagination. But it is a kuzhambu made in haste or when there are no vegetables.
  
  Hope this info is useful
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Sat Nov 29 06:23:25 EST 2003
  
  Jen asked:
  //What kind of plant grows the sundraakai and Manaththakkaali? //
  
  How could I have missed this question!
  
  Sundakkai and Manathakkaali are plants of the same genus - Solanum (of the Solanaceae - the Nightshade family)
  
  Manathaakkali - Solanum nigrum Linn - the black nightshade.
  (syn: Solanum americanum (in the americas) - the glossy nightshade}
  View pictures of manathakkali at:
  http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/solanum_americanum_thumbnails.htm
  
  Sundakkai - Solanum Torvum - the turkeyberry
  View pictures at:
  http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/solanum_torvum_thumbnails.htm
  
  Others of the same genus in Indian food/medicines:
  Karimulli - Solanum anguivi Lam. - Poison berry
  Kathari - Solanum melongena Linn - Brinjal
  Kantan kathari - Solanum surattense Burm.
  Urulaikizhangu - Solanum tuberosum Linn. - Potato
  Kotthu kathari - Solanum stramonifolium
  ThUthuvalai - Solanum trilobatum
  
  and a few more!
  
  
• From: Jen (@ cache-dc01.proxy.aol.com) on: Fri Dec 19 16:40:09
  
  thanks Idiappam great information!
  Jen
  
  

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