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VARUTHARACHA INJI CURRY/INJI PULI

by - August 26, 2020


INJI CURRY/INJI PULI
VARUTHARACHA INJI CURRY/INJI PULI

     If Vararuchi accepted a Curry with Ginger/Inji as 1000 Curry then, it would surely be inappropriate if I do not mention about Inji Puli.  Both Inji Curry & Inji Thayir can be considered under Aayiram Curry according to the Fable.  As it is clearly not mentioned whether Panjami prepared Inji Curry/Inji Thayir.  Though Inji Curry/Inji Puli takes the limelight when it comes to being mentioned as 1000 Curry. I have already posted an Inji Puli/Inji Curry recipe earlier which is a simple version, along with few other methods like Varutharacha Inji Curry and Inji Curry with Shallots in the same recipe.
    This Inji Curry is a special version typically prepared for Sadhyas.  Main ingredients like Ginger, Green Chillies & Curry Leaves are fried in Coconut Oil and then they are coarsely pound before adding the ingredients along with the seasonings, Tamarind & Jaggery.  This is absolutely an extraordinary Inji Curry which is " more fragrant & flavour filled as the ingredients are fried." Long back my MIL saw this recipe in a TV Show and she had jotted it for me.  I had her handwritten transcript saved in my Recipe Diary.



Inji Curry/Inji Puli is one Sadhya Dish which I love the most.  I have always felt that just the Inji Curry brings me a total feel that I am eating a Sadhya. Inji Curry/Puli Inji is an inevitable part of Kerala Sadhya(banquet). It is literally a Curry, but it mainly falls under the category of a Condiment.  It is prepared with fresh Ginger, Green Chillies, Tamarind and Jaggery(Cane Sugar) as main ingredients. But in this Varutharacha Inji Curry, the ingredients are fried in Coconut Oil. This Varutharacha Inji Curry/Puli Inji is a wild combination of Sour, Sweet and Spicy tastes and a wonderful fresh flavour of fried ingredients in Coconut Oil.  Some regions of Kerala add Coconut to the same recipe and it is called as Inji Theeyal then.
     Though a must-have side-dish in Banana Leaf Meal served during festivals or in a Sadhya, don't reserve this INJI CURRY / PULI INJI for special occasions alone.  This condiment can be prepared within no time and also last for a few days in a refrigerator.  It tastes heavenly with a Curd Rice or just pair it up with Kanji(Rice Porridge). This mouth-watering Inji Curry/Puli Inji will surely rejuvenate your taste buds instantaneously that it is considered equivalent to 1000 Curries.
     I have given other methods preparing Inji Curry/Puli Inji in my earlier post, though the ingredients remain the same.  This method of preparation slightly varies giving new tastes & flavour to the same dish.
For more INJI CURRY/INJI PULI RECIPES, Click here

Cuisine - Kerala (South India)
Course - Condiment, Side Dish
Spice Level - Medium
Difficulty - Easy
Serves - 3- 4  
Author - SM               


Preparation Time - 5 -10 Minutes
Cooking Time - 25 - 30 Minutes



For more recipes from GODS OWN COUNTRY - KERALA  click here...


HOW TO MAKE VARUTHARACHA INJI CURRY/INJI PULI


INJI CURRY/INJI PULI
VARUTHARACHA INJI CURRY/INJI PULI

INGREDIENTS:

To Fry and Pound:

Fresh Ginger - 1/2 Cup
Green Chillies - 3-4 Nos.
Curry Leaves - a Sprig 
Coconut Oil - 1 Tbspn

 

For Varutharacha Inji Curry:

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Red Chilli Powder - 1 Tspn
Fenugreek  Powder - 1/4 Tspn
Asafoetida - 1/8th Tspn(Optional) 
Tamarind Paste - 2 Tbspns
Jaggery/Cane Sugar - 11/2 Tbspn
Salt - To Taste

 

For Tempering:

Coconut Oil - 1 Tbspn
Mustard  Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Dry Red Chillies - 1-2 Nos.
Curry Leaves - a Sprig

 


INJI CURRY/INJI PULI
VARUTHARACHA INJI CURRY/INJI PULI

PREPARATION:

  • Dry Roast the Fenugreek Seeds on a very flame until it splutters.
  • Grind it into a coarse/fine powder and keep it aside.
  • Meanwhile, clean, wash and scrape the Ginger pieces.
  • Cut into thin slices and keep it aside.
  • Finely chop/slit the Green Chillies into two and keep it aside. 


INJI CURRY/INJI PULI
VARUTHARACHA INJI CURRY/INJI PULI


METHOD:

  • Heat Coconut Oil in a Pan.
  • Fry the Ginger Slices until they turn fragrant and slightly crispy.
  • Follow the suit with Green Chillies and Curry Leaves.
  • Remove them from Oil and allow them to cool.
  • Grind the above-fried ingredient in a small blender jar coarsely and keep it aside.
  • In the remaining Oil, Splutter Mustard Seeds, Dry Red Chillies and Curry Leaves.(If needed add some more oil).
  • Add powdered Fenugreek Seeds & Asafoetida Powder to the above and give a quick stir.
  • Now add fried and powdered Ginger, Green Chillies and Curry Leaves to the above and fry it on a low flame until fragrant.
  • Then add Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder and give a quick stir.
  • Fry this on a low flame until fragrant.  Care should be taken not to burn the ingredients.
  • Then, add Tamarind Paste along with Salt and mix well.
  • Sprinkle some water to the above mix and allow it to boil.
  • Reduce the flame and add Jaggery/Cane Sugar to Varutharacha Inji Curry/Puli Inji and mix well.
  • Leave this on a low flame until oil separates from the mix.
  • Serve Varutharacha Inji Curry as a Side Dish/Condiment.
  • Inji Curry/Inji Puli is a must serve item in a Kerala Sadhya.


INJI CURRY/INJI PULI
VARUTHARACHA INJI CURRY/INJI PULI

NOTES:

  • I have used just 2 Tbspns of Coconut Oil in the recipe.
  • Shallow fry the Ginger Slices, Green Chillies and Curry Leaves individually.
  • Jaggery gives a slight sweetness to Inji Curry and also balances the sourness, adjust accordingly.
  • I have used Tamarind Paste in this recipe, adjust the amount of tamarind to suit your taste preference.
  • If using normal Tamarind use up to the size of a lemon.  Soak it in warm water for about 10 minutes and extract tamarind pulp out of it.
  • Adjust the number of Green Chillies and Red Chilli Powder as per your taste preference. 
  • Care should be taken while dry roasting the Fenugreek seeds.  It shouldn't burn, which will totally spoil the taste of Inji Curry.
  • Alternatively can add Fenugreek seeds along with Mustard Seeds while tempering the Inji Curry/Puli Inji.
  • Adding Asafoetida powder is purely optional.
  • Avoid using steel/aluminium/copper containers for storing Inji Curry/Puli Inji, as they tend to react with the acidic nature of salt and tamarind.
  • Store Inji Puli in a clean and dry Porcelain/Glass/Ceramic Jars.
  • Always use clean & dry spoons(preferably wooden spoons) to serve this Inji Curry.
  • Keep Inji Curry refrigerated.  It can stay good if stored properly.
  • Perfectly cooked & stored Inji Curry/Puli Inji stays good for about a week or two.
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