A tangy blend of stir fried country vegetables best describes Pulikuthi upperi. Yet another palakkad special. This yummy curry serves as a great side dish with the mild molagootal. The upperi also goes well with rasam. It is usually prepared with a variety of country vegetables like Raw bananas, Yam, Brinjal, Okra, Pumpkin, and Broad Beans. It can be made with a combination of any of these vegetables or can be made with only raw bananas. So let’s get on with the recipe:
Ingredients (Serves: 3-4)
1. Raw Bananas – 1
2. Yam – 200 gms
3. Yellow Pumpkin – 200 gms
4. Broad Beans – 5 – 6
5. Brinjals – 3 – 4
6. Lady’s finger – 5 -6
7. Tamarind – A small lemon sized
8. Asfoetida a pinch
9. Turmeric Powder – a pinch
10. Jaggery – a little
11. Salt to taste
To grind
1. Raw rice – 3 tbsps
2. Fenugreek/methi seeds – ½ tsp
3. Dried Red Chillies – 3 -4
For Seasoning
1. Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
2. Curry Leaves – a few
3. Coconut Oil – 1 tbsp
Method
Cut all the vegetables lengthwise into about 1 ½ inch pieces. Soak tamarind in hot water for about 10 mins. Extract thick tamarind extract. In a vessel, add the vegetables and the tamarind extract. Add a pinch of turmeric powder, asfoetida, salt to taste and a bit of jaggery. Cover the vessel and cook till vegetables are done. Once the vegetables are cooked and if some water remains then cook without cover till the water evaporates.
In the meanwhile, dry roast the ingredients mentioned under the to grind section. While roasting first add rice, once it starts changing color then add methi seeds and chillies as these will roast very quickly and if add in the beginning itself will get burnt. Cool and grind to a fine powder.
Heat a non stick kadai with about 1 tbsp of coconut oil, add mustard seed. Once the seeds splutter, add curry leaves and then add the vegetables cooked in tamarind extract. Let it roast for some time stirring in between. After the vegetables are roasted well, add the curry powder. Mix it well. Take care not to mash the vegetables while stirring.
Delicious Pulikuthi Upperi is ready!
Note: Add Raw Bananas and Yam first let these be half done then add brinjals, lady’s finger and Pumkin as these take lesser time to cook.
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