• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Padhuskitchen


  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • VIDEOS
  • USEFUL TIPS
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • FESTIVAL RECIPES
    • Avani Avittam
    • Pongal Festival
    • Vinayaka Chaturthi
    • Thiruvathirai
    • Navratri Recipes-Navratri Sundal Recipes
    • Varalakshmi Vratham
    • Karadaiyan Nombu
    • Tamil New Year
    • Adi Perukku
    • Krishna Jayanthi
    • Diwali
    • Karthigai Deepam
    • Christmas
    • Onam
  • CONTACT
  • Side Dish For Chapati

Ulli Theeyal Recipe-Kerala Style-Ulli Theeyal with Thengai Sadam

September 1, 2014 by PadhuSankar 16 Comments

Theeyal is a typical Kerala dish very similar to the South Indian kuzhambu. Ulli theeyal is prepared with pearl onion. It goes well with rice. In some parts of Kerala, theeyal is included in the traditional sadya menu. (source wiki). It can be prepared with bitter gourd, brinjal, okra. I personally love ulli theeyal with coconut rice. Every time I prepare coconut rice, the side dish is usually ulli theeyal and pappadam.  Today we will learn how to prepare ulli theeyal following this easy recipe with step wise pictures.

Ulli Theeyal
Thengai sadam and Ulli theeyal 

Ulli Theeyal Recipe-Kerala Style


Ulli Theeyal-Kerala Style

 Prep Time : 15 mins

 Cook Time : 20 mins 
 Serves: 3-4
 Recipe Category: Side dish
 Recipe Cuisine: Kerala

   Ingredients needed

   Oil -3 tbsp
   Mustard seeds -1 tsp
   Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
   Fenugreek seeds-1/4 tsp
   Red Chillies -2
   Pearl onions-3/4 cup
   Garlic cloves -5
   Curry leaves – few
   Tamarind -small gooseberry sized ball

   Spice Powder

   Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
   Coriander powder -2 tsp
   Cumin powder -1 tsp
   Red chilli powder -1 1/2 tsp
   Salt needed

   Fry and grind

   Oil -2 tsp
   Fenugreek seeds (uluva) -1/4 tsp
   Cumin seeds (jeeragam)-1 tsp
   Whole black pepper (Kurumulaku) -1 tsp
   Coriander seeds (malli) -2 tsp
   Grated coconut -1/3 cup

   For garnishing

   Finely chopped coriander leaves

Preparation

Heat a tsp of oil, fry fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, whole black pepper and coriander seeds until you get a nice aroma. Remove from kadai/pan.

preparations for Ulli Theeyal

In the same pan, fry coconut until golden brown stirring continuously over low flame. Now grind both together to a smooth paste adding little water and keep it ready.

Peel shallots/pearl onions. I know peeling pearl onions is a time consuming work. Tips to make it easier – trim the head (root side) and tail of the onion and soak it in cold water for 15-20 minutes. The skin will come off easily if you peel it after that. Peel shallots and keep it ready. If it is too big, cut it into 2-3 pieces.

Soak tamarind in hot water and extract 2 1/2 cup of tamarind juice, discard the pulp.

Method


Heat coconut oil, add mustard seeds, jeera seeds, when it sizzles, add fenugreek seeds, red chillies, curry leaves, pearl onions and garlic.

Saute nicely on medium flame until it turns transparent.

Add chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder and salt needed. Saute for a few minutes.

sauteing pearl onions

Add the ground paste and saute for a further 2-3 minutes.

how to make ulli theeyal

Add tamarind water and boil until it thickens and oil separates.

Ulli theeyal recipe

Serve with plain hot steamed rice or coconut rice.

Note -Use good quality coconut oil for authentic Kerala taste. I used virgin coconut oil for this recipe. You can  Buy KLF Nirmal Virgin Coconut Oil from Flipkart.com

Do not miss my lovely collections of Onam Sadya Recipes.

If you found this post useful, I would really love it, if you pin it or share it with your Facebook fans or Twitter followers or Google+ circles today. All it takes is a simple click on the “pin it” “like,” “share,” “tweet,” or Google+ buttons below the post. It will keep me motivated. Thank you!

Related posts:

Steamed Rice Balls with Brinjal Gosthu
Kollu Rasam-Horse Gram Rasam Recipe (Soup)-Ulava Charu
Ribbon Pakoda-Ribbon Murukku Recipe-Diwali Snack Recipes
Akkaravadisal Recipe-Sweet Milk Pongal

Filed Under: Kuzhambu Varieties, Side dish, Uncategorized Tagged With: Coconut, Kerala recipes, Uncategorized




Previous Post: « Varutharacha Sambar Recipe-Kerala Style-How to make Kerala Sambar
Next Post: Cabbage Thoran Recipe-Kerala Style-Cabbage Stir Fry Kerala »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Madhuvanthi Ramasamy

    September 1, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    Looks so good. I was looking for this recipe for a long time. Thanks for sharing .

    Reply
  2. Mala

    September 12, 2014 at 7:45 am

    Wow! Tempting! Gonna cook tomorrow Padhu.

    Reply
  3. Asmita

    July 23, 2015 at 10:41 am

    Is your kadhai a clay one? Looks gorgeous.

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      July 23, 2015 at 3:04 pm

      Yes, my mother got it for me. It is great for making all types of kuzhambu.

      Reply
  4. Sudha Sekhar

    February 16, 2016 at 6:54 am

    The picture shows theyal in a different colour but
    Preparation pics brings another color

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      February 17, 2016 at 7:48 am

      Both are the same. One was taken in the kitchen where there is not much lighting. The main picture was taken near a window where there is natural sunlight.

      Reply
  5. Saranya Subramanian

    August 28, 2016 at 2:17 am

    Thanks for the recipe,all ur recipes are simple n good.U r really doing a good job.

    Reply
  6. sj

    September 9, 2016 at 4:25 am

    You are sooooooooo talented Padhu!! love your recipes

    Reply
  7. PRADEEP PANICKER

    October 18, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    Absolutly Great.
    Perfect taste.
    Precise mixing ratios.

    Keep it up.

    Reply
  8. Mahalakshmi Balasundaram

    November 8, 2016 at 8:16 am

    Thank you so much padhu for all ur recipes ��I am learner in cooking daily wit ur recipes only my days are running. Today I made ulli theeyal my husband loves it I was so happy

    Reply
  9. Vevel

    November 14, 2016 at 11:57 pm

    Hiiii padhu ..I m not getting pearl onions , is it okay to use big white onions ???

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      November 15, 2016 at 5:17 am

      White onions will not give the taste as pearl onions. Pearl onions is the highlight of this recipe. You can try with white onion but it will not taste as authentic ulli theeyal.

      Reply
    • Vevel

      November 16, 2016 at 6:01 am

      Thank u so much . U take pains to reply and clarify readers doubts . ALL appreciation for u . Keep it up.

      Reply
  10. Jaiprabha P

    December 8, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    Hi.. can you let me know how to include bitter guard in this recipe?

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      December 9, 2016 at 5:56 am

      You can reduce the pearl onions and add bitter gourd after seasoning or you can omit pearl onions totally and add bitter gourd alone after seasoning.

      Reply
  11. Gopinath LR

    October 17, 2017 at 7:58 am

    My wife prepared this recipe.. awesome taste. Love it whenever she prepares it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About the Author

Meet Padhu, the Chef, the photographer, recipe developer and web designer behind Padhuskitchen which features Simple Indian Vegetarian recipes, healthy recipes, kids friendly recipes, Indian festival recipes, traditional South Indian Vegetarian ...

Read More

Padhuskitchen Recipes on YouTube

Padhuskitchen Youtube

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

Browse by Cuisines

Kerala Recipes
Punjabi Recipes
Andhra Recipes
Gujarathi Recipes
Maharashtrian
Tamil Brahmin Recipes
Karnataka
International
Indo Chinese Recipes

Browse by Categories






Recent Posts

  • Ragi Masala Dosa-Finger Millet Masala Dosa Recipe-Kelvaragu Masala Dosai
  • Girmit Recipe-North Karnataka Style Masala Spicy Puffed Rice Chaat
  • Poha Sweet Snack-Breakfast-Kerala Aval Vilayichathu-Sweetened Rice Flakes
  • Kuska Biryani-Kuska Rice-How to Make Biryani without Vegetables or Meat
  • Soft Poha Idli-Aval Idli Recipe-Instant Beaten Rice Idli

Baby Recipes

Baby Recipes

https://youtu.be/ObMz4uI5zUc

Copyright © 2023 Padhuskitchen