Name: Karivadagam recipe by Tina Francis at BetterButter
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Small onions- 1.5 cup; Garlic - 1/2 cup; Curry leaves - 2 tbsp; Urad dhal - 1/4 cup; Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp; Thoor dhal - 1 tbsp; Cumin seeds - 1.5 tbsp; Methi seeds - 3/4 tbsp; Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp; Turmeric powder - 1 tsp; Salt; Castor oil - 2 tsp; Hing - 1 tbsp

ABOUT Karivadagam RECIPE

Tamil Nadu's traditional tempering ingredient. This adds flavour to the curries and gravies. Summer is the suitable season to prepare Karivadagam.

Ingredients Serving: 4

Small onions- 1.5 cup
Garlic - 1/2 cup
Curry leaves - 2 tbsp
Urad dhal - 1/4 cup
Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp
Thoor dhal - 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1.5 tbsp
Methi seeds - 3/4 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt
Castor oil - 2 tsp
Hing - 1 tbsp

Instructions

Peel off the onions and garlic and chop the curry leaves.
Soak the urad dhal for 30 minutes.
Mix all the ingredients together in a blender to make a coarse paste.
Now keep this mixture in a large bowl for 24 hours till it's semi dry.
On the 2nd day, add some castor oil and make balls of this mixture, then keep it in the sun. Next day take the castor oil in your palms, tighten the balls and continue this process for 4 days.
After the 4th day, simply keep the balls in the sun for 2 days.
Castor acts as preservative. Keep these balls in air tight containers.