Nellai Melagu Kulambu

Ingredients :

• Small onions 1 / 2 cup [ peeled ]
• Garlic flakes - 4 to 5 [ peeled ]
• Seasame oil - for frying
• Salt - as required
• Turmeric powder - 1 / 2 tsp
• Curry leaves - little
• Jaggery - 1 tbl. sps.

For seasoning :

• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida - 1 / 4 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 / 2 tsp
• Curry leaves - little

Grind together :

• Black pepper - 2 tbl. sps.
• Cumin seeds - 1 tbl sps.
• Coriander seeds - 1tsp
• Fenugreek - 1 / 4 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 / 4 tsp
• Ginger - small piece
• Dry red chillies - 6 to 8
• Grated coconut - 2 tsp
• Curry leaves - little
• Tamarind paste - 2 tbl. sps.

[ fry the above spices in little oil till golden and grind with little fresh curry leaves to coarse paste and keep aside. ]

Method :

Heat oil in a frying pan, and seasonings and then onions, garlic and fry till onions become golden. Add ground paste, salt, turmeric, jaggery and little water to get gravy  consistency. Boil till oil floats on top. Remove from the gas. Serve with idli, dosa, and cooked rice.  You can keep it in the  fridge for 15 to 20 days.