Vathals or Sun-dried vegetables of quality are available in very few places. They are believed to have a lot of nutritional value and can be easily included in your meal as a side dish, main ingredient or even as a powder. Here are a few home-remedies and food preparations that may interest you –

Kinds of Vathals – Sundakkai (Turkey Berry), Manathakali (Wonder Cherry), Gorikai (Cluster Beans), Bevina Huva (Neem flower)

1. Traditional Home-remedies –

• Sundakkai is traditionally used as a home remedy for urinary infection and pittha imbalance.
• Manathakali is traditionally used as a home remedy for ulcers
• Bevina huva – traditionally used for deworming

1. Recipes -

• Fry Sundakkai, rest it for a minute to ensure its crispy and add as a side dish for your meal. Tastes very good with Rasam rice & Curd rice. (Manathakali can also be used in the same way)
• Fry Sundakkai, powder it with hand, add ghee and mix with rice (Manathakali can also be used in the same way)
• Sundakkai, gorikai, manathakali – fry and add to sambhar to give a unique taste.
• Alternatively, you can easily make vethalkozumbu with Loveluck’s special Vathal Kozhumbu powder. All you need to do is add the powder to water and boil – Voila, hot and delicious kozhumbu is ready (can add a tsp of rice flour for thicker consistency). If you want to add vegetables, Sambhar onions are a great choice. Adding Sprouts also adds to the flavour.