Senai kizhangu curry is a simple stir fry made with chopped elephant yam cooked along with spices. Perfect accompaniment for South Indian lunch.
I never realized that I loved this senai kizhangu curry when they used to serve in our lunch at our hostel mess (SRC, Trichy).
But after I finished my studies, when ever I used to remember this curry I started to crave for this.
We never made it this way in our home. We make senai kizhangu in dosai kal (Elephant yam roast recipe) otherwise a curry similar to that and mami makes this senai kizhangu chips every time.
So I always wanted to try this at home. Since vj is not a big fan of this, I never buy elephant yam.
This time, I really wanted to try this, so bought and made this curry. It was different from what I used to eat at my hostel, as I made it in my way.
I loved the lunch with this curry and will make it often here after when ever I get a chance.
By curry, I mean the South Indian style 'kari' or a dry stir fry and not a gravy.
Instructions
- Soak tamarind in hot water for 30 minutes and extract juice. Peel off the skin of the yam and chop it finely as shown in the picture.
2. Wash it with water and boil with salt, turmeric and tamarind water. Cook until done.
3. Drain and keep aside. Heat a pan with oil and temper with the items given under 'To temper' table, in order.
4. Add cooked yam, sambar powder, fennel powder and sprinkle little water. Mix well.
Fry for 2 minutes and drizzle over some oil while turning. When the masala powders wafts aroma, transfer to the serving bowl.
Notes
- Buy elephant yam and let it sit in shelf for few days to avoid too itchy yam. As it gets older, less its itchy property.
- While chopping, you can smear your hands with oil or lemon juice to avoid itchy feeling.
- Cooking in tamarind water is must to avoid itchiness.
- You can temper with fennel and avoid the powder.
- Instead of sambar powder, you can replace it with red chilli powder 1 teaspoon and coriander seeds powder ½ tsp.
- If you dont like fennel smell, avoid it and add a pinch of asafoetida powder while tempering.
Serve as accompaniment for rice. Goes well with any sambar and rice.
Recipe card
Senai kizhangu curry
Ingredients
- 1 & ½ cup Senai kizhangu chopped (elephant yam)
- 1 & ½ Sambar powder
- ½ teaspoon Fennel seeds powder
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Tamarind tightly packed
- Salt
To temper
- 2 tablespoon Oil - 2 tbsp
- ½ teaspoon Mustard
- 2 teaspoon Urad dal
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
Instructions
- Soak tamarind in hot water for 30 minutes and extract juice.
- Peel off the skin of the yam and chop it finely as shown in the picture.
- Wash it with water and boil with salt, turmeric and tamarind water. Cook until done.
- Drain and keep aside. Heat a pan with oil and temper with the items given under 'To temper' table, in order.
- Add cooked yam, sambar powder, fennel powder and sprinkle little water. Mix well.
- Fry for 2 minutes and drizzle over some oil while turning.
- When the masala powders wafts aroma, transfer to the serving bowl.
Notes
- Buy elephant yam and let it sit in shelf for few days to avoid too itchy yam. As it gets older, less its itchy property.
- While chopping, you can smear your hands with oil or lemon juice to avoid itchy feeling.
- Cooking in tamarind water is must to avoid itchiness.
- You can temper with fennel and avoid the powder.
- Instead of sambar powder, you can replace it with red chilli powder 1 teaspoon and coriander seeds powder ½ tsp.
- If you don't like fennel smell, avoid it and add a pinch of asafoetida powder while tempering.
Ramya Venkateswaran says
my favorite varuval
Daily Meals says
Hi! Haven't tasted it...looking yummy...
jeyashri suresh says
This is my favorite, suresh doesn't like this much and i always make this only for me. Beautiful clicks
Durga Karthik. says
Senai kizhangu masiyal is also a good recipe.
esther says
My favourite. Superb clicks as usual..
Kurinji says
my huby's fav one...looks yummy...
Anonymous says
Tradotional and yummy side dish
kutty says
very nice
Dp :-) says
Nice one, raks! What is the reason behind boiling it in tamarind water instead of normal water?
-Divya
Raks anand says
It removes the itchy property in the senai kizhangu
Girish says
Hi Raji, Just an add-on.... Adding coconut oil at the end, before bringing it off the stove gives a divine taste to this Senai curry. Do try it. Preetha
S&Scancook..!! says
Another shortcut is to cook entire yam with skin in cooker 1 whistle. The skin peels off super quick. No itching and Can be chopped in a jiffy. Since cooker is shut off in 5 mins the senai ia swmicooked and just do tadka with spices n cover for few mins
Siri says
Can we cut and soak overnight
Raks Anand says
Hi, yes you can.