Name: Chaaru recipe by Tanuja G at BetterButter
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Lemon sized tamarind or 5-6 pods of raw tamarind; Or a small raw mango; Water to dilute; 1 teaspoon each of mustard seeds cumin seeds; 1/2 teaspoon of methi seeds; a pinch of turmeric powder; Salt to taste; oil for tempering; a sprig of curry leaves; 3-4 green chillies; 1 teaspoon of grated jaggery; 2-3 whole dried red chillies

ABOUT Chaaru RECIPE

Chaaru is a stew made with diluted tamarind extract. This is different from rasam. Rasam, usually has dal in it and many other spices. Charu is a comparatively simpler dish. Rasam is to AP and TN. Charu is to Telangana and Karnataka. Chaaru is usually tangy/sour and a little sweet in taste. Ripe tamarind, raw tamarind, raw mangoes are commonly used to make charu, though the last two are seasonal ones. The recipe is the same for these. Except that the raw varieties needs to be boiled before extracing its juices. Else, for the regular tamarind, soaking would suffice. Also, during winter season, a generous pinch of crushed black pepper or a generous pinch of dry ginger powder is added. These two give heat to the body and helps maintain body temperature during winters. Accordingly the name of the charu varies. If black pepper is used, it is miriyala charu and if sonth is used, it is sonti charu. Both these are made from raw tamarind.

Ingredients Serving: 4

Lemon sized tamarind or 5-6 pods of raw tamarind
Or a small raw mango
Water to dilute
1 teaspoon each of mustard seeds cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon of methi seeds
a pinch of turmeric powder
Salt to taste
oil for tempering
a sprig of curry leaves
3-4 green chillies
1 teaspoon of grated jaggery
2-3 whole dried red chillies

Instructions

Soak tamarind for half to one hour and extract its juice.
If raw tamarind or mango is used, boil them with just enough water. Let it cool and extract its juice.
Dilute this juice with water. This should be like water consistency and not thick like pulusu.
In a deep pan, add this diluted extract.
Add 4-5 drops of oil, turmeric powder and let it come to a rolling boil.
Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Add jaggery or sugar, salt and simmer for 5 more minutes. Turn off the flame.
Add mustard seeds, let it splutter.
Add cumin seeds, methi seeds and fry for 5 seconds.
Add green chillies, curry leaves, red chillies and fry for 10 seconds.
Add tadka to the charu prepared.

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