Kanda pidupu (yam curry)

  This is a south indian special recipe.Preparation of yam curry is just like normal curry preparation. But difference is adding little bit of tamarind juice only.Do not think that it is a soup curry because we are adding only 2 flakes of tamarind.That is gives different taste and adding asafoetida gives good aroma to the curry.Adding asafoetida in the curry  increases the digestion.


Ingredients

Yam	1/4 kg
onion	1 medium size
green chillies	5
oil	2 spoons
mustard seeds	1/4 spoon
cumin seeds	1/4 spoon
chanda dal	1/4 spoon
garlic cloves	5
curry leaves	few
asafoetida	pinch
turmeric	pich
salt	to taste
red chilli power	1 spoon
jaggery	small piece
tamarind	2 flakes
coriander leaves	few

Preparation

Yam is a root vegetable.so we should take extra care than normal vegetables when it is washing .We have to wash more times in the water to remove mud or dust particles.
First soak yam in water for 30 minutes to easy to remove dust particles .
Wash the yam 3 to 5 times in running water.
Peel the upper layer of the yam.If it is difficult to peel with peeler you can use knife to peel the layer easily.
After peeling the layer once again wash  the yam with the water and cut into medium size pieces.Do not need to cut into small pieces because we mash the pieces after it is cooked.So cut into medium size pieces.
Wash onion and green chillies with the water.
Cut onion and green chillies into small  pieces.
Remove the upper layer of the garlic cloves .
Wash the curry leaves  and keep them aside.
Soak the tamarind flakes in 2 cups of water.Soak it atleast 15 minutes. 
After that extract tamarind juice from it.

Method

1.Add yam pieces in a pressure cooker and add 1 cup of water .Cook for 3 whistles.
2.After 3 whistles put off the flame.remove the lid after completely pressure comes out.
3.Strain the yam pieces from  the water.add them in a mixing bowl.
4.Mash the yam pieces coarsely (not smooth paste).add turmeric,salt,red chilli powder and jaggery .mix all very well.keep them aside.
5.Take a pan and put on the flame.put the flame in high.after heating pan immediately reduce the  flame in low.
6.Add oil in the pan.after heating the oil add mustard seeds.
7.When they started to crackle add dry chillies  and cumin seeds.
8.Next add garlic cloves and chana dal.
9.When dal and garlic cloves were fried then add curry leaves and asafoetida.
10.Add finely chopped onions and green chillies.fry for 5 to 6 minutes.
11.When onions are fried then add mashed yam which is mixed with salt and chilli powder.
12.Mix all very well .cook for 5 minutes.
13.Then add tamarind juice and mix all very well.
14.Taste the curry if salt and sweetness is enough or not.
15.You can add more salt and sugar at this time if it is require.
16.Cook it atleast for another 5 minutes.finally add coriander leaves and put off the flame.

Keep in the mind

When you  are frying the garlic cloves ,you should be careful because if you not remove upper layer of garlic cloves properly then garlic sputter out from the oil .
If you do not like sweetness you can avoid to adding sugar or jaggery.But adding little bit of sugar or jaggery in  this curries the taste must be increase.Sugar can decrease little bit of sourness of tamarind.