Tambuli

I came across this soothing dish when it was served in a friend’s house in Aloor (in Kundapura, Udupi). 

I would say it is South Indian version of the North Indian raita. Tambli or tambuli is derived from the word thampada + huli. Thampada translates to "cold" and huli is a general name for gravy recipes in Kannada language. It is a healing, nourishing cold yoghurt curry which can be prepared from a wide variety of leaves (coriander leaves, ajwain leaves, spinach, spring onion, brahmi etc.,), hibiscus flowers, ginger and shallots. Here I have used punarnava leaves.

Ingredients

A small bunch of washed and cleaned punarnava leaves

2 tbsps grated coconut

2 cups yoghurt

Salt to taste

1tbsp oil

¼ tsp mustard seeds

Instruction

-          Grind the leaves with the grated coconut into a fine paste

-          Beat the yoghurt and add the ground leaves and salt. Mix well

-          Season with the mustard seeds and serve with steamed rice.