Kara kuzhambu recipe

Updated on June 28, 2022 by Raks Anand 74 Comments

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Kara kuzhambu recipe with brinjal and drumstick is a classic recipe with the combo made for each other. Let's see how to make this flavorful kara kulambu.

Kara kuzhambu recipe | Kara kulambu - Raks Kitchen (1)

If you ask which is the best combo of vegetables for making kara kuzhambu means I would say its brinjal and drumstick.

Both the veggies goes well with even sambar and same applies for kara kuzhambu too.

I make this basic kuzhambu and make with other veggies like ladies finger and even Paruppu urundai kuzhambu.

Love it a lot and this tastes great with rice, sesame oil/ ghee or even tastes good with dosa. I make usually the no-coconut kuzhambu like this, but make this occasionally when I have coconut in stock.

Kara kuzhambu recipe | Kara kulambu - Raks Kitchen (2)

Method

Chop 1 onion roughly and other onion and tomato finely. Peel the garlic. Extract the tamarind juice. Heat kadai with oil and temper with the items given under ‘to temper’ table in order. Add garlic and onion and fry till transparent. After that, add tomatoes and fry till soft.
Pour the tamarind extract and enough water, salt, turmeric, sambar powder. Add drumstick cut into desired size. Let it boil for 4 minutes. Then add brinjal and bring to boil. Grind coconut and another onion smoothly with little water and add it to the kuzhambu.
Let it boil until the brinjal gets cooked and the kuzhambu gets thick. Finally add pepper powder and jaggery and transfer to the serving bowl.

Serve with rice and any curry, kootu or poriyal. I had with vazhakkai curry.

Kara kuzhambu recipe | Kara kulambu - Raks Kitchen (6)

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5 from 4 votes

Kara kuzhambu recipe with brinjal and drumstick is a classic recipe with the combo made for each other. Let's see how to make this flavorful kulambu.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian, South Indian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Soaking time 30 minutes minutes

Author Raks Anand

Servings 4 people

Cup measurements

Ingredients

4 Brinjal
2 Drumstick
1 tablespoon Tamarind Indian gooseberry size
1 Onion
2 Tomato
10 cloves Garlic
1 tablespoon Sambar powder heaped
¼ teaspoon Pepper powder optional
¼ teaspoon Turmeric
¼ teaspoon Jaggery
Salt

To temper

3 tablespoon Sesame oil cooking oil
¼ teaspoon Fenugreek seeds
½ teaspoon Mustard
1 teaspoon Urad dal
1 teaspoon Toor dal
1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 sprig Curry leaves

To grind

½ teaspoon Grated coconut
1 Onion

Instructions

Prep

Chop 1 onion roughly and other onion and tomato finely. Peel the garlic.
Soak tamarind in ½ cup boiling hot water for 30 minutes. Extract the tamarind juice by adding more water. Total 1 & ½ cups.
Kara kulambu
Heat kadai with oil and temper with the items given under ‘to temper’ table in order.
Add garlic, onion and fry till transparent.
After that, add tomatoes and fry till soft.
Pour the tamarind extract and enough water,salt, turmeric, sambar powder.
Add drumstick cut into desired size. Let it boil for 4 minutes.
Then add brinjal and bring to boil.
Grind coconut and another onion smoothly with little water and add it to the kuzhambu.
Let it boil until the brinjal gets cooked and the kuzhambu gets thick.
Finally add pepper powder and jaggery and transfer to the serving bowl.

Notes

Brinjal gets cooked easily, so add it later after drumstick gets cooked almost ¾th.
You can add any vegetable of your choice. Even any one of drumstick or brinjal alone.
If you don't have sambar powder, you can try with red chilli powder too. But use 2 teaspoon only and add 1 teaspoon dhaniya powder. You may need a teaspoon of rice flour to thicken the kuzhambu. Dissolve in 1 tablespoon of water and add along.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Divya Kudua
March 20, 2012 at 4:39 am

I love the brinjal drumstick combo too.We make a very similar version called sagle which is more like a semi-gravy poriyal - http://www.divyascookbook.com/2010/05/brinjal-drumstick-masala.html
Reply
Rasi
March 20, 2012 at 4:44 am

Super kozhambu.. one of my fav.. Rak yours looks tempting.. i wish i could take a ladle of it now 🙂
Ongoing Event : I'm The Star
Reply
Saraswathi Iyer
March 20, 2012 at 4:50 am

Coincidence, I made sambar with this combo. Looks delicious and Nice clicks.
Reply
srividhya Ravikumar
March 20, 2012 at 5:09 am

never say no to this combo....yummmyy
Reply
Aarthi
March 20, 2012 at 5:11 am

karakulambu looks so good raji..yummy with rice
Reply
Kaveri
March 20, 2012 at 5:30 am

I love these kinds of kara Kuzhambu...looks really yum and delicious.
Reply
Sudha Sabarish
March 20, 2012 at 5:41 am

Never tasted kara kuzhambu before as i dont like it.But my hubby loves it.So will try soon.very tempting.
Reply
lata raja
March 20, 2012 at 5:44 am

to me paruupu urundai is the best in karakuzhambu....we had a friend during our college days whose mother used to make it and send it for us.....I have the recipe in drafts, have been too lazy to post anything!
I love this version and will find both veggies to try this!
Reply
Vishku
March 20, 2012 at 5:47 am

Hi.....
Sounds interesting... I have only made sambar and curry ... Will try this...How many onions do you use for this recipe
Reply
Kavitha Bhargav
March 20, 2012 at 5:48 am

love the second picture with ghee (oil?) on top
Reply
Rekha shoban
See Also
Capsicum Masala Curry Recipe - With Roasted Sesame Seeds and Peanut Based Spicy Masala Akkaravadisal recipe | Pongal recipes - Raks Kitchen Dosa Recipe, How to Make Dosa Batter at Home ragi dosa recipe | instant ragi dosa | finger millet dosa | ragi dose
March 20, 2012 at 5:52 am

yummy karakulambu!!!nice presentation and click!
Reply
Prathibha
March 20, 2012 at 6:38 am

I made similar kind of stew(ofcourse not with coconut) wid pumpkin 2day...looks yumm,love the way the brinjals r cut into the same size as drumsticks..
Reply
NiVi
March 20, 2012 at 6:40 am

awesome recipe.. my all time favourite..
Reply
Sayantani
March 20, 2012 at 6:52 am

often make it love the spicy taste with tantalizing flavours.
Reply
Sharmilee! :)
March 20, 2012 at 6:57 am

Love kara kuzhambu...looks yummo. Its lunch time here and ur kuzhambu makes me crave for it now 🙂 Nice clicks too
Reply
Recipe world
March 20, 2012 at 7:35 am

Kuzhambu looks delicious! Wanna have it for my lunch now 🙂
Reply
Chitra
March 20, 2012 at 9:26 am

Lovely post. It made me drool..
Reply
notyet100
March 20, 2012 at 9:29 am

This curry is new for me,..perfect with a bowl of steamed rice,..:)
Reply
faseela
March 20, 2012 at 9:43 am

brinjal n drumstick, lovely combo....superb
Reply
Rashida shaikh
March 20, 2012 at 10:27 am

New to me and seems drumstick goes perfect with brinjal.
Reply
S.Menaga
March 20, 2012 at 10:43 am

சூப்பர்ர் குழம்பு,சுட்ட அப்பளத்துடன் சாப்பிட சூப்பராயிருக்குமே....
Reply
Hema
March 20, 2012 at 11:45 am

Murungakkai and kathirikkai in Kara kuzhambu, sema combination, nice preparation and lovely clicks..
Reply
jeyashrisuresh
March 20, 2012 at 12:35 pm

wonderful combo of drumstick and brinjals. mouthwatering here
Reply
Ramya
March 20, 2012 at 12:46 pm

The last clicks is simple irresistible! make me crave for it!
Reply
Gayathri Anand
March 20, 2012 at 1:08 pm

yummy and delicious ...loved ur step wise presentation .
Reply
Lavi
March 20, 2012 at 1:51 pm

eggplant,drumstick makes good kara kuzhambu combo. ur kuzhambu looks absolutely delicious.
Reply
Ambika
March 20, 2012 at 2:01 pm

Absolutely delicious!!! I LOVE kara kuzhambu and the photos are so amazing! Brinjal and drumsticks are perfect for kara kuzhambu!
Reply
Suja Manoj
March 20, 2012 at 2:17 pm

Yummy and spicy kulambu,beautiful clicks..
Reply
Anu
March 20, 2012 at 2:36 pm

looks delicious. Spicy mouth watering kuzhambu..
Reply
DivyaGCP
March 20, 2012 at 3:13 pm

Kuzhambu looks so yummy and very inviting.. Love your clicks..
Reply
San
March 20, 2012 at 4:16 pm

Kara kuzhambu with ghee on it ia always heavenly. This combo is lovely.
Reply
Thara
March 20, 2012 at 4:44 pm

Hi Raks,
pic looks mouth watering:-)
May i know the name of the vessel used in 3rd step, it looks like a transparent one, just curious to know about it.
Reply
See Also
Thalapakatti Style Mutton Biryani Recipe – Kannamma Cooks
Krithi's Kitchen
March 20, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Superb comfort meal!! loving the plating..
Serve It - Stir Fried
Reply
Srimathi
March 20, 2012 at 5:49 pm

Very delicious looking kozhambu. Such perfect presentation.
Reply
sangee vijay
March 20, 2012 at 10:21 pm

love this combination:Drumstick n Brinjal...kara kuzhambu looks more tempting...very nice recipe,going to try this for sure...last picture makes me feel hungry now...paakave sapidanum pola erukku 🙂
Reply
Home Cooked Oriya Food
March 21, 2012 at 2:43 am

I love this combo too... both my favorite veggies...
Awesome clicks!
Reply
Aruna Manikandan
March 21, 2012 at 4:57 am

love this combo dear...
haven't tried kara kozhumbu with coconut , must give a try soon
Beautiful clicks 🙂
Reply
Laavanya
March 21, 2012 at 2:50 pm

I love kuzhambus like this.... i made with mochai too sometimes. Yummy.
Reply
Uma
March 21, 2012 at 4:39 pm

My way of making kara kulambu was very simple till my marriage. Learnt the correct version only after marriage from MIL. Just looking at the title I went back to the past 🙂 No doubt, brinjal and drumstick make a wonderful pair which goes well with steamed rice.
Reply
Vanamala Hebbar
March 21, 2012 at 4:53 pm

sambar looks superb..
Reply
vidhas
March 21, 2012 at 5:06 pm

Love this kulambhu, awesome clicks.
Reply
vijiraja
March 21, 2012 at 5:11 pm

raks..it looks so yummy
Reply
Nagashree
March 22, 2012 at 2:32 am

Yum, I love both veggies and your kulambu looks perfect with rice.
Reply
Priti
March 22, 2012 at 3:06 am

Looks yum and nice pics
Reply
Priya
March 22, 2012 at 4:06 am

My mouth is water as I read this post! And I just had my dinner! lol..
Can't wait to try this! Yum!
Reply
Mahek
March 22, 2012 at 10:07 am

This is a must try gravy for me...
I have one question.. I love the pot on the stove the brown one (what is it?) and I also love the one that you have displayed it in ...where did you buy it??
Reply
Shobha Kamath
March 22, 2012 at 10:12 am

Simply delicious !
Reply
Priyaram
March 22, 2012 at 1:22 pm

first click super...looks yummy
Reply
Vardhini
March 22, 2012 at 2:22 pm

We make kuzhambu with this combo too. Lovely clicks Raks.
Vardhini
Event: Legumes
Event: Fenugreek/Kasuri Methi
Reply
Sowjanya@Ruchikacooks
March 22, 2012 at 5:36 pm

Looks lovely raji, I made one last week with cauliflower 🙂
Reply
Cynthia
March 23, 2012 at 2:02 am

I'm drooling here!
Reply
Archana
March 23, 2012 at 6:19 am

Hmmm what a lovely combo love it. I am drooling and drooling here.
Reply
An Open Book
March 24, 2012 at 10:25 am

i am making this for lunch today, cant wait 🙂
Reply
Jayasri Ravi
March 24, 2012 at 5:54 pm

Mmm.., that's what your clicks make me.., Love this combo.., I love the smell of drumstick, when I buy them I use them in everything possible :).., If could pick up your bowl.., I don't have to cook anything tonight!
Reply
PriyaVaasu
April 03, 2012 at 6:21 am

mouth-watering!!!! karakuzhambhu and appalam awesome combo!!! i really envy your Gas-top Glass bowl raji!!!! i m trying my best to get it for me here, kidaika matengarathu!!!! 🙁
Reply
RENU
April 06, 2012 at 2:55 pm

looks nice colorful.
Reply
Nikki
August 29, 2012 at 12:20 am

i tried it and it was superb......thanks for the recipe......
Reply
Maria Albina
February 06, 2013 at 4:16 pm

Tried this last night, and was superb with cabbage poriyal..
So much I loved this dish, that I saved some for next day's lunch, and trust me its out the world!
Raks Rocks!
Reply
Maria Albina
February 06, 2013 at 4:16 pm

I tried this last night and it was superb with cabbage poriyal...
So much did I loved this one, that I saved it for the next day's lunch, and trust me, it was heaved..
You rock, raks!
Reply
Nandini Adhyapak
February 08, 2013 at 11:53 pm

What variety of brinjal is best for this recipe?
Reply
Nandini Adhyapak
February 08, 2013 at 11:53 pm

Which variety of brinjal is best for this recipe?
Reply
Sonia
April 09, 2013 at 10:40 pm

It says grind one onion with coconut. Doesn't raw onion give a bitter taste?
Reply
JeGana
June 23, 2013 at 10:02 am

hi!! m a greatest follower of your recipies.. only 2day got d chance to reply u. i made this kara kulambu 2day. it came out so well and evryone @ hme strtd praising me for my cookng skills.. thanku so much.. keep gng good work. for this kulambu i temepered d onion and coconut with 1/2 tsp jeera in a little oil and then ground it to avoid d biter taste of onion.
Reply
JeGana
June 24, 2013 at 5:19 am

hi! i'm one of the greatest follower of your blog. tried so many recipies but only today got the time to reply you. I tried this kara kulambu and it came out so well that everyone at home loved it and started praising me for my improving cooking skills. A special thanks to you for that. Keep up your good work and keep going.!
P.s: i tempered the coconut and onion with 1/4tbsp of jeera and 10 pepper seeds in oil and then ground it. Dont know it added any taste or not but one of my aunt told me to do this way.
Reply
santhu
June 25, 2013 at 2:05 pm

hi Raks
Big thanks to you. I tried this recipe with out coconut and came out nice ; tangy and spicy !!! I had a question about adding brinjal after tamarind paste. would that work? I heard veggies won't cook if we add tamarind first.
The one correction I did was adding tamarind at the end. thanks.
Reply
Sonia Punnen
August 20, 2013 at 1:52 pm

The dish is similar to sambhar but it tastes delicious.hope to try many of your other recipes too.
Reply
aishwarya sethuram
March 12, 2014 at 11:04 am

Hi Raks, I have not tried karakozhambu so far! today it turned out so well! Thanks for the wonderful recepie:-)
Reply
krsomasundr
July 21, 2014 at 7:30 am

Hi Raks, This recipe is great and came out very well.
Reply
kamalaveni
August 16, 2015 at 8:19 am

Nice kulambu, the stepwise pictures are good, neat and detailed explanation. Please give the onion and Tomotto and tamarind in grams or cup measure.
Reply
Ramya Ganeshmurthy
December 13, 2015 at 9:22 am

Hi,
Just tried your Kara Kuzhambu recipe and it came out very well.Just wanted to check with you if I could provide a link to yr recipe page from my blog in which I wanted to have links of tried and tested recipes.....
Thanks and regards
Ramya
Reply
Raks anand
December 13, 2015 at 9:27 am

Sure
Reply
S
June 28, 2016 at 11:04 am

Excellent combo .Ur proportions are just perfect
Reply
chandhra subburamaniyam
June 28, 2016 at 11:26 am

If jaggery not available what can I do
Reply
Raks anand
June 28, 2016 at 11:32 am

Just add white sugar
Reply

Kara kuzhambu recipe | Kara kulambu - Raks Kitchen (2024)

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