Manathakali keerai kozhambu (curry)

Manathakali keerai (Solanum nigrum -European Black Nightshade or locally just "black nightshade")

In tamilnadu this is a very special and important keeri(cheera). Manathakkali keerai or Black nightshade has lot of medicinal properties, its a wonderful home remedy for mouth ulcer and of-course ulcer.Its said, if we take a juice of this keerai by grinding this keerai in mixie with little water and straining it, its very good for health.esp.Mouth ulcer

Twelve years back, when I started living in Coimbatore after my wedding, I was shocked to see the varieties of keerai in uzhavar sadai. As in kerala we have mainly, chovappu cheera and paccha cheerai. Thanks to all who introduced me to all kinds of keerai and their uses in Kitchen.

 Kuzhabu is curry  so "Manathakali keerai kuzhabu"

Ingredients:

Manathakali keerai-  4 cups
Green gram (Mung beans)-1 cup
Big onion-1
garlic-4
green chillies-3
Small onion-5 nos
Tomato-1
Turmeric powder-1 tsp
Red chilly powder-1 tsp
Salt- to taste
Milk- 1/2 cup

Method:

Manathakali keerai will have small tomatoes or bulbs on it. 

 We need to remove the leaves and tomatoes separately.The stems can be disposed.Its the leaves and tomatoes that we use. for this curry we are using just leaves. I will posting another recipe with tomatoes.so tomatoes can be kept in fridge temporarily.

 In a cooker,pressure cook green gram, big onion, garlic and green chillies. Green gram should be cooked well. Mash it with a spoon.and keep aside.

In a Kadai, splutter mustards, red chilly and curry leaves. Add Small onions and tomatoes and saute well.

Add turmeric powder, red chilly powder and saute the onion and tomatoes .When done add finely chopped keerai to it and cook until the keerai is cooked properly.

         

Add the cooked and mashed mung beans to this.Stir and cook for sometime. Add salt also.When done remove from fire and add milk to this curry. 

 

vaa... maa..., kolambu readyaa yirikku sapittu polammeee....:)))

Recipe Courtesy: One Aunty from Delhi in Vanamalar.