The Tantalizing Tamarind Curry from Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli, a busy town situated on the banks of the Thamarabarani river was once the capital of the mighty Pandya Dynasty and home to the historic Nellaiappar temple that dates back to 700 A.D. The name Tirunelveli has originated from the three Tamil words Thiru – Nel – Veli, which means Sacred Paddy Hedge. Referred to as Nellai by the Tamilians, the town’s rich food culture is synonymous with its savoury and sweet delicacies.
Nellai’s Fantastic Food Culture
One of the most aromatic cuisines of Tamil Nadu is from the region of Tirunelveli. Many of the delicacies are named after the village or town where they have gained immense fame. The Tirunelveli halwa is one such preparation that has food lovers and connoisseurs raving about its impeccable flavours and textures not just in Tamil Nadu but also throughout India. Ironically, the halwa didn’t arrive in Tirunelveli before the 19th Century. There is more to Tirunelveli than its quintessential halwa.
Uppu (salt), Puli (tamarind), Kaaram (Spice) is the triumvirate of this region’s dishes. The Thamarabarani river also lends a distinct taste and flavour to the district’s cuisine. The distinguishable taste and aroma are also attained by blending various herbs and spices that include peppercorns, mustard seeds, curry leaves, coriander seeds, coriander leaves, ginger, garlic, green chili, coconut and so on.
In this blog, we are going to explore what’s behind the exceptional taste of Tirunelveli’s Nellai Puli Kulambu.
Tang, Spice and Everything Nice
Nellai Puli Kulambu is flavoured with the sourness of tamarind, the fragrance of spices and the sweetness of coconut to form the basic base for a lot of dishes featuring seasonal vegetables. Achieving the authentic, regional taste of this dish lies in the roasting of the spices to the right temperature and grinding it to a paste. Then this masala paste is cooked with gingelly oil, vegetables, tamarind pulp/water and coconut milk that pairs deliciously well with boiled rice.
This aromatic, tangy kulambu is absolutely delicious and has a whole lot of health benefits as well. Try out this delightful delicacy at home with Annapoorna’s Nellai Puli Kulambu masala. Our regional blend has been crafted with the right mix of aromatics and spices to bring you the traditional taste of home right on your plate.
Check out our range of signature spice blends that are steeped in the history and heritage of our land. Cook and share the joy of eating together!
