Solarium torvum (Turkey Berry), is a bushy, erect and spiny perennial plant used horticultural as a root stock for eggplant. People used chunadakka (the fruit of chunda or sunda) as a vegetable that goes into Sāmbhar and individual curries. People also used to preserve this wild-looking fruit by first soaking in curd as an Ayurveda herb, it has sedative, diuretic and digestive properties. It used in the treatment for coughs. It is a tonic for liver.
Traditional way of cooking Sundakkai though, would be more elaborate as in Sundakkai VathalKozhambu, which makes for a beautiful classic dish in itself.
In Iyengar cuisine, Sundakkai Vathal is an important part of the Dwadashi Thaligai (the menu for this day is specifically geared towards leveling the acidity and getting the digestive juices flowing –simple menu).
This Sathuamuthu is easy to make and its very tasty also.
Ingredients:
Tamarind – 1 small lemon size
Salt – to taste
Asafetida – ¼ tsp.
Curry leaves – a few
Tomato – 1 no
Ginger grated – 1 tbsp.
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp.
FOR THE POWDER:
Coarsely grind the following into a powder. No roasting is required.
Pepper – 1 tbsp.
Cumin seeds – ½ tsp..
Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp.
Tovar dhal – 1 tbsp.
Red chilies – 2no
FOR THE SEASONING:
Ghee – 1 tsp
Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp
Black Pepper – ¼ tsp
Jeera – 1/8 tsp
Rasam Powder – 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves
Red Chilies –2 no
Sundakkai vatral 2 tbsp.
Chopped coriander leaves – 1tsp
METHOD:
- Soak tamarind in warm water and extract the juice.
- Add salt, Asafetida, tomato pieces, turmeric powder, and ginger and curry leaves.
- Boil until the raw smell disappears.
- Grind the five ingredients into a slightly coarse powder.
- Add the powder and add water immediately to make one liter of rasam.
- Boil for few more minutes in low flame.
- Cover it with a lid to preserve flavor.
- Switch off flame when the rasam is just about to boil.
- Heat ghee and fry the seasoning and add to the rasam.
- Garnish with Coriander leaves.
Source: sadhanas kitchen
General guidelines for healthier food – Both body and mind:
- One should be thinking about Perumal (Nama Smaranam) while cooking, and the purpose should be to offer the preparation to Him.
- Once the food is prepared, it should be offered to Perumal first. While offering, one should make sure that the food is neither too hot nor cold. It should be offered with love and affection.
- Please do not offer either pre-cooked food bought from outside or any pre-consumed food.
- Please follow thiruvaradanam kramam as instructed by your respective acharya. (http://anudinam.org/2012/03/08/bhagavad-tiruvaradhanam/)
- Follow ahara niyamam as much as possible. Atleast make sure that onion and garlic are not used at all.(http://anudinam.org/2012/06/11/srivaishnava-ahara-niyamam/)
- Please ensure that food which are not prasadams are not consumed.
