A Smoked Coconut & Tamarind Curry with Charred Vegetables & Black Garlic
This curry is centered around a smoked coconut-tamarind broth, infused with South Indian spices, finished with a swirl of black garlic-coconut cream, and loaded with charred seasonal vegetables and tender lentils. It’s rich, spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet—deeply aromatic with a hauntingly smoky finish.
What Makes It Unique?
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Smoked Coconut Base: Fresh coconut is dry-roasted until charred, then blended into the sauce with roasted shallots, curry leaves, mustard seeds, and dried red chili.
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Black Garlic Coconut Cream: Black garlic is blitzed into coconut cream for a sweet umami swirl that’s unlike anything traditional.
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Charred Veggies: Think flame-kissed okra, baby eggplant, and sweet potatoes—adding depth and contrast to the creamy curry.
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Tamarind-Sambhar Finish: Tamarind pulp and a hint of sambhar powder give the curry that nostalgic South Indian soul.
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Textural contrast from a topping of crispy curry leaf shallots and mustard seed crunch.
Core Ingredients
For the Curry Base:
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1 cup fresh coconut meat (or frozen grated coconut)
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1 medium red onion, sliced
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4 garlic cloves
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1 inch ginger
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2 dried red chilies
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1 tbsp coriander seeds
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1 tsp black peppercorns
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1 tsp mustard seeds
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1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
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1 tbsp tamarind pulp
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1/2 tsp turmeric
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1 sprig curry leaves
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Salt to taste
For Black Garlic Coconut Cream:
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1/2 cup coconut cream
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2–3 cloves black garlic
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Pinch of salt
Add-ins:
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1/2 cup cooked masoor dal or toor dal
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Charred baby eggplant halves
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Charred okra or zucchini spears
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Roasted sweet potato cubes
Garnish:
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Crispy fried shallots
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Toasted mustard seeds + curry leaves
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Chopped cilantro
How to Serve
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Over steamed short-grain rice, or
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With flaky Kerala-style parotta, or even
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Poured over a roasted coconut polenta cake (for an ultra-modern presentation)
Nutritional Information
Estimated per serving, assuming a full meal with:
– 1 cup curry (with lentils and vegetables)
– 1 Kerala parotta
– ½ cup cooked basmati rice
– ¼ cup cucumber raita
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~615 kcal |
| Total Fat | 32g |
| – Saturated Fat | 19g |
| Carbohydrates | 63g |
| – Fiber | 10g |
| – Sugars | 8g |
| Protein | 14g |
| Cholesterol | 5mg |
| Sodium | 500mg |
| Potassium | ~700mg |
| Vitamin A | ~1100 IU |
| Vitamin C | ~20mg |
| Iron | ~4mg |
| Calcium | ~100mg |
