Vengaya kara kuzhambu recipe: recipe for vengaya kara kuzhambu or onion kara kuzhambu with coconut milk. The kuzhambu (or pulusu, as we Reddiars call it) in my home and TH’s home are very different. My mom-in-law’s recipes are much milder, easier to make, and taste great with typical South Indian side dishes.This kara kozhambu is something she makes very often and it goes best with rice although we have it with pretty much anything in hand, like ven pongal. In fact, some of you emailed me to ask for that kozhambu recipe when I posted the ven pongal recipe a couple months back.

I’m led to believe that this is her own concoction though. She adds coconut milk to the kozhambu to add flavour and thicken it up a bit. The end result is mild, flavourful, and absolutely delicious.
You may also want to check out my easy kara kuzhambu recipe (no coconut milk), Andhra onion tamarind curry, and this instant vatha kuzhambu.
- 1 lemon-sized ball of tamarind
- 1 cup of peeled shallots / chinna vengayam
- 1 tbsp of coriander powder
- 1 tbsp of sambar powder
- ¼ tsp of turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp of mustard seeds
- A few methi seeds / uluva / menthayam
- A few curry leaves
- ½ tsp of red chilli powder (optional)
- A generous pinch of hing
- 1 tomato, chopped
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup of thick coconut milk
- Soak the tamarind in 1 cup warm water for 10 mins. Extract juice and discard the pulp.
- Peel and wash the shallots. Leave them whole, no need to chop them.
- Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds. When they pop, add the methi seeds and curry leaves. When the methi seeds start to turn brown, taking care not to burn them, add the chopped tomatoes and the shallots.
- Mix well and add the tamarind water, salt, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder, sambar powder, and hing. Top off with another cup of water and bring to boil.
- Simmer for 10-15 mins, adding more water if needed, until the shallots are cooked soft. The mixture should be a bit watery.
- Finally, add the coconut milk and when it just begins to boil, remove from fire.
If you find the kozhambu too watery, you can add 1 tbsp rice powder in 3 tbsp water and add to the mixture and bring to boil. Usually, the coconut milk gives the gravy enough thickness.

Serve the vengaya kara kuzhambu with rice, poriyal, and chips.
I tried your vangaya vatha kuzhambu recipe and it was awesome!! The family loved it. Thanks for posting the recipe.
Hey Nags made this dish and I have posted them in my place. We all loved it actually I made it trice that is how much we love this dish 🙂
Nags, You've mentioned sambar powder in your ingredients, but have'nt used it in the recipe. Does this mean that it's optional?
no neets, that was a mistake. thanks a ton for pointing it out. i've added it now and also added a link to the sambar powder recipe i use 🙂
Hey Nags, I just posted the kuzhambu recipe in my blog, but made it without the sambar powder. Today I was thinking of making your spinach thoran recipe! Chk it out n let me know ure thoughts!!
Visiting your blog for the first time..love it! great job at the pictures and ofcourse the recipes..following your blog already!
Lovely recipe!
hi nags…made this sterday nite with cabbage-carrot stir fry…was awsome…
Hey Nags, I used to study in chennai for engineering, and this was one of my fav dishes in college for lunch! i will definately be trying this out maybe during the weekend!
Delicious.. My MIL also makes this way..
Serve It – Preserved
Love that combo in the plate… chips with rice.. amazing combo..
Looks super tempting and delicious.
When i saw this pic in FB it looked like such a comforting food that i wsih i had it , now that you have posted the recipe, i am going to make it one day.
Absolutely mouthwatering… That 1st pic is soooo tempting…
This look yummy… I have never tried adding coconut milk to the sambhar.. seems interesting ! Will try it this weekend ! 🙂
Super tempting and fingerlicking kara kuzhambu..
Pass me that plate for lunch na, please. Chips and all 🙁 This is just how they make kara kuzhumbu at my place too!
Woww.. Looks absolutely inviting.. Yummy 😀
Indian Cuisine
Wow, Nags, I can't help drooling. I just love the Kara!
Well done!
If you submitted your Vengaya Kara Kuzhambu with Coconut Milk photos to http://www.foodporn.net , I'll bet they will make you on the home page.
Gosh, you have made me sooo hungry !
karakulambu looks mouthwatering..we make it different in our house..love your version a lot
Looks so homey and flavorful. Will love it with chips !!
like a cross between pulincurry and theeyil? i don't know but there are hazaar variations in our south indian tamarind based dishes no? but anything with small ulli – I love!
happy to follow you dear! 🙂
yum yum…this is one of my fav recipes that i like to prepare during the winter and rainy days!
Very inviting kuzhambu..
Divya's Culinary Journey
delicious…