Mani-thakkali Kai Sambar. Milagu-Thakkali Kai Sambar. Sukidi Kai Sambar.

From the name itself it explains that these berries are very tiny. Its about the size of pepper. They are green in color and turns to purple when they ripe. Both the greens and these berries are edible. Greens….I already mentioned ‘Masiyal’ and ‘Kuzhambu’. When it comes to berries…they sun dry them and use it in ‘Vatha Kuzhambu’. I never practically seen people using fresh berries! Well….instead of going thro’ all the hardship of sun-drying and storing them….I thought of fixing sambar and Kuzhambu out of it. So here it goes…

Ingredients:

Manathakkali Vidhai/Kai fresh 1 cup
Green chilies 6 finely chopped
Garlic 2 whole heads peeled & semi crushed
Onions 2 finely chopped
Tomatoes 2 chopped
Thoor dal 2 fistful
Tamarind paste 1/2 spoon
Salt
Turmeric powder 1/4 spoon
Chili powder 1 spoon
Asafoetida 1/4 spoon
Mustard seeds 1/2 spoon
Cumin seeds 1/2 spoon
Curry leaves few spoons
Oil few spoons.

Method:

Remove the stalk from the berries and wash them. Set aside.

In a wide vessel, boil 2 cups of water. Add salt and pinch of turemric to it. Now add berries, cover and cook for about 7-10 minutes. Or until the berries are tender.

Now remove them from heat and coarsely grind them in earthern pot(if you have one)or use wooden masher….and mash them gently. So that the berries release their fine seeds. Set aside.

Pressure cook thoor dal till tender.

Now heat a skillet. Add few spoons of oil. Start adding chilies, garlic, onions and tomatoes. Fry real good…until fragrant.

Add salt, turmeric, chili powders to it. Followed by ground berry and thoor dal.

Bring this to boil and finaly add tamarind and continue cooking over medium heat for few more minutes.

In a seperate pan, heat oil. Crackle up the seasonning spices and run this over the sambar made.