Sweet Potato Puzhungiyathu with Thenga and Mulaku Chammanthi

  Have you guys tasted sweet potato before? I never knew these light orange colored starchy sweeties were this tasty, until I ate them recently. I used to buy them from the stores thinking that I will use them to make different cakes, scones and other baked goods but it never ever made it into my oven as I could never imagine tasting a cake or any other bake with sweet potatoes! Poor sweet potatoes, every time I look at them they would have grown older and older and would end up sprouting, making its way to the trash :-(. But something changed after I had this sweet potato puzhungiyathu and thenga chammanthi at my friend Manju’s place. I really loved the sweet and spicy combination and the next day itself I went for shopping these beauties and prepared the same.  My hubby too liked it and you know what, its one of our regular evening snacks these days. These chutneys goes really well with kappa puzhungiyathu/ kappa puzhukku also and they tastes best only when fresh. Sweet potato is one of the most nutritious vegetables around with loads of antioxidants. That gives you one more reason to try this recipe. Check out its health benefits here.Try and enjoy!!

Sweet Potato Puzhungiyathu

Wash and trim both the ends of the sweet potato and cut them into two. Steam them in an idli maker or in a rice cooker. It will take about  20 – 30 minutes. Peel off the skin. Serve hot or warm with thenga or mulaku chammanthi.

Thenga Chammanthi

1. Coconut – 1/4 – 1/2 cup
2. Pearl onion – 2 – 3
3. Green chillies or kanthari mulaku (birds eye chilli) – 3 or to taste
4. Curry leaves – 2 – 3
5. Salt – To taste

Coarsely grind all the above ingredients in a mixer.

Mulaku Chammanthi

1. Pearl onion – 5 – 6
2. Green chillies or kanthari mulaku – 5 – 6 , seeded ( I usually seed the green chillies. The hottest part of a chilli is the white membrane that connects the seeds to the flesh. Removing the seeds and membrane before cooking gives a milder flavour.)
3. Curry leaves – 2
4. Coconut oil – 2 tsp
5. Salt – To taste

Crush all the ingredients except coconut oil and salt in a mortar and pestle or a mixer. Traditionally it is crushed in a mortar and pestle. If you are using a mixer, add green chillies first. Give it a pulse and then add the pearl onions and curry leaves. Pulse it again, do not grind the mixture, just crush it. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl. Add enough salt and coconut oil. It tastes best only when fresh.