This simple onion Cranberry Sauce Vathal Kuzhambu is prepared with cranberry sauce. The homemade cranberry sauce is used as a tamarind replacer.
South Indian Fusion Recipe
When I prepared my slow cooker cranberry sauce, I wanted to try a fusion recipe with it. Given the fact that it is sweet and tart, I was planning for a savory recipe. I had sufficient amount, so used my sauce for the cheesecake and with the remaining I experimented quite a few recipes. And one of the most successful recipes was this Cranberry Sauce Vathal Kuzhambu or cranberry sauce gojju.
My hubby, who is also interested in cooking, helped me in these experiments. I had some fresh cranberries too and when I was contemplating if I should prepare some recipes with fresh ones or the home made sauce, M suggested trying recipes with the sauce.
As we were discussing, we thought of replacing tamarind with this cranberry sauce in the gojju and we tried that right away. Oh boy, it turned out super awesome. It’s the same onion vathal Kuzhambu/gojju recipe sans tamarind and jaggery. After trying this recipe, I started to use the cranberry sauce as my tamarind replacer.
Cranberry Health Benefits
Cranberries are a very good source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and manganese, as well as a good source of vitamin E, vitamin K, copper and pantothenic acid. So I don’t mind using them in my day-to-day cooking. :-)
Cranberry Sauce Vathal Kuzhambu Recipe
Ingredients:
- Chopped Onion – ½ cup
- Oil – 1 tbsp
- Mustard Seeds – 2 tsps
- Methi Seeds – 1.5 tsps
- Hing – ¼ tsp
- Water – 2.5 cups + ½ cup + ½ cup
- Cranberry Sauce – 3 tbsps
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Sambar Powder – 1.5 tbsps
- Salt – 1.5 tsps
- Curry leaves – 1 strand
- Rice flour – 1 tsp
Steps:
- Heat the kadai and add oil.
- Once the oil is hot add the mustard seeds, methi seeds and hing.
- As they start to splutter, add the chopped onions and cook until the onions turns translucent.
- Meanwhile mix the three tbsps. of cranberry sauce with 2.5 cups of water and set aside.
- When the onions are translucent, add the cranberry sauce water to the onion mix.
- Add salt and turmeric and let it simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Then mix the sambar powder and half cup of water and add it to the simmering mix. You can directly add sambar podi but make sure there are no lumps.
- Let it simmer again for 5 minutes. If you prefer thin consistency, add curry leaves and turn off the heat.
- If you prefer thick consistency, then mix 1 tsp of rice flour with ½ cup of water and add it to the Kuzhambu and bring it to boil. Finally add the curry leaves and turn of the heat.
That’s it. Kuzhambu is ready. Serve hot with rice and curry.
Notes:
- Along with onions, you can include veggies like drumstick, brinjals, lady’s finger.
- If your cranberry sauce is too tart, add about 2 tbsps. Adjust the measure as per the tartness.
- Adjust the salt and spices as per your preference.
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Have you made this recipe?
If you’ve made this vathal kuzhambu with cranberry sauce, please share your photos with me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter – I will be delighted to see your results!
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Sauce Vathal Kuzhambu
Ingredients
- ½ cup Chopped Onion
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 2 tsps Mustard Seeds
- 1.5 tsps Methi Seeds
- ¼ tsp Hing
- 2.5 cups Water + ½ cup + ½ cup
- 3 tbsps Cranberry Sauce
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- 1.5 tbsps Sambar Powder
- 1.5 tsps Salt
- 1 strand Curry leaves
- 1 tsp Rice flour
Instructions
- Heat the kadai and add oil.
- Once the oil is hot add the mustard seeds, methi seeds and hing.
- As they start to splutter, add the chopped onions and cook until the onions turns translucent.
- Meanwhile mix the three tbsps. of cranberry sauce with 2.5 cups of water and set aside.
- When the onions are translucent, add the cranberry sauce water to the onion mix.
- Add salt and turmeric and let it simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Then mix the sambar powder and half cup of water and add it to the simmering mix. You can directly add sambar podi but make sure there are no lumps.
- Let it simmer again for 5 minutes. If you prefer thin consistency, add curry leaves and turn off the heat.
- If you prefer thick consistency, then mix 1 tsp of rice flour with ½ cup of water and add it to the Kuzhambu and bring it to boil. Finally add the curry leaves and turn of the heat.
- That’s it. Kuzhambu is ready. Serve hot with rice and curry.
Notes
- Along with onions, you can include veggies like drumstick, brinjals, lady’s finger.
- If your cranberry sauce is too tart, add about 2 tbsps. Adjust the measure as per the tartness.
- Adjust the salt and spices as per your preference.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
divinespice says
Sure, I will ?
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Love eating cranberries and this rasam looks and sounds so comfy and delicious, Srividhya. But first, I will have to try your cranberry sauce — that sounds yummy too! Have a great weekend.
Srividhya G says
Thanks Anu. :-)
vidya says
Looks tasty recipe. Liked it. Thanks for the recipe.
Srividhya G says
:-) Glad you liked it. Thanks
divinespice says
This is so unique and sounds delish !! Can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing?
Srividhya G says
:-) Please do try and let me know how you liked it.
divinespice says
Sure, I will ?
Preethi's Cuisine says
Love the idea of using Cranberries in Kuzhambu.Would love to try this awesome fusion recipe Vidhya.
Srividhya G says
Please do try Preethi. :-) Thanks