Theeyal-Spicy Curry Made with Roasted Coconut

Since my blog title is "Naanjil Naattu Samaiyal" i'll start with a famous nanjil dish-"Theeyal".Its a cocunut based dish & u can use any kind of veg. like brinjal,okra,drumstick,black chenna,yam(chenai),snap peas(avarakkai)...I love to make this with black chenna.Its ideal to take for picnics as "Kattu Saadam".

Ingredients:

Grated Coconut - 2 handful
Dry red chillies - 4 (or as per ur spice level)
Corriander seeds - 1 1/2 tbsp
Whole black pepper - 1/4 tsp
Small Onion/Shallots -5-6 nos
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Black Chenna -1/2 cup (soak it for 10 hrs or overnite)
Tamarind -small lemon sized (soak in water & extract juice)
Salt to taste

For Seasoning:
Oil - 2 tsp
Mustard seeds
Fenugreek Seeds
Small Onions 2 no.s chopped
Vadagam (optional)

Method:

1.In a nonstick pan roast all the ingredients except chenna ,salt and tamarind with little oil (1tsp) till the coconut turns dark brown.
2.Grind this mixture into a smooth paste adding water.
3.Cook the cheena in a pressure cooker till its soft.
4.Add salt & tamarind juice to the ground mixture.Add water to get the required gravy consistency.
5.Pour this in a kadai along with cooked chenna & allow it to boil for 5 to 10 mins or untill the raw tamarind smell is gone.
6.Heat oil in a seasoning pan & add all the seasoning ingredients & tempur it.Pour this into the gravy.

Note:
If using any other vegetable,cook it seperately & then add to ground mixture.If using okra saute it instead of boiling.

Serve hot with white rice or even idly/dosa.

My First Post

Hey Everyone!

This is my first blog and i'm really excited to type my first post.I'm a homemaker living in the U.S.I'm very much interested in cooking right from my school days and I would be glad to share some of my recipes with u all.I see 1000s of food blogs in the net these days & thought to myself "Why dont I start one and spend my free time usefully"-thats how i ended up starting "Naanjil Naattu Samaiyal".Guess thats enough for an intro.Meet you people soon with my recipes...