Chama dumpala Pulusu (Colocasia curry) - Andhra style

Chama pulusu (Chema pulusu) is an Andhra-style tamarind soup made with taro root.

First, boil taro root in the cooker. Then add cold water to cool it. Remove the skin from the pieces and cut them into medium-sized pieces (cylinders with small height). Separately, chop onions and green chillies into small pieces. Garlic too if you like it. In a small cup, soak 1/2 a ping pong ball size tamarind in water.

Heat 4 tsp oil in a frying pan. Add 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds (menthi/methi). Fry until it turns light brown uniformly. Add green chillies & fry. Then add lots of curry leaves and onions (and garlic if you want). Add jaggery & turmeric powder (pasupu). Fry until the onions turn golden brown. Then add the colocasia pieces. Keep it on low flame and stir occasionally. If you stir too often, chama will become Colgate toothpaste.

Add salt. Add a little bit of red chilli powder. Mix the soaked tamarind homogeneously in water and add it. Stir well. Cover with a lid and stir occasionally for 10 mins or until it tastes uniform.