Vendakkai Mor Kuzhambu

Soak the chana dal, toor dal and coriander seeds in water for half an hour.

Heat coconut oil in a deep bottomed pan. Sauté the chopped okra and when it’s half done, add a pinch of turmeric powder and 1/4 tsp of salt.

In a separate kadai or wok, roast the fenugreek and cumin seeds until they turn golden brown. Keep aside.

In a blender, add the freshly grated coconut, green chillies, red chilli, ginger, asafoetida, turmeric powder, and the lentils, which have been soaked along with the coriander seeds. Grind this to a fine paste. Add the roasted fenugreek and cumin seeds and grind further.

Add the ground paste to the sautéed okra over a low flame for about a minute. Then add a cup of water and let it simmer over a low flame till the raw smell of the spices subsides.

Make buttermilk by whisking yoghurt and water in the following proportion - 3/4 cup of yoghurt and 1/4 cup of water. Add the whisked buttermilk and salt to the sautéed okra. Bring it to a boil over a low to medium flame.

Heat a tadka pan or a tempering wok, add coconut oil. Once the oil heats up, add 1 tsp of mustard seeds. Once it starts to splutter, add the remaining red chillies and the fresh curry leaves.

Pour the tempering over the Mor Kuzhambu.

Serve hot.

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