Red Sorrel Leaves Pickle/Pulihora Gongura

Gongura is a leafy vegetable grown in India and very popular in Southern India.This is a traditional dish of  Andhra.This is a pickle variety on the lines of "Aavakai"(raw mango pickle).These greens are used to prepare Dals,Stews and pickles.This dish is prepared with White sorrel leaves .But if not available you can use red sorrel leaves.The recipe of which I am posting ,source is "Amma"(my mother) who prepares excellent authentic Andhra pickles.

Ingridients:

• White/Red Sorrel leaves-1 big bunch
• Tamarind-3 lemon ball sized
• Turmeric-1/4tsp
• Chili powder-5tsp ( I used "Aashirvad" Chili powder)
• Salt-2&1/2 tsp
• Oil-4tsp for frying and seasoning
• Oil-1/2cup again to mix the pickle.
• Mustard seeds powder-1/4 tsp
• Urad dal-1/2tsp
• Bengal gram-1tsp
• Dry red chillies-3
• Fenugreek powder-1/4tsp
• Asafoetida-1/4tsp

Preparation:

• Take 1 big bunch of White/Red Sorrel leaves.Separate its leaves,Wash them and dry on a cloth.
• In meantime soak three lemon size tamarind in a sufficient water for 15 minutes and extract its juice.
• When leaves are dried,Heat a pan add 2tsp oil,when it turns heat add the Sorrel leaves and mix nicely.
• Let this fry nicely.When it is fried switch off the stove.
• Now add chilipowder,turmeric,Fenugreek powder,salt and mustard seeds powder on top of it.
• When this mixture gets completely cooled ,grind it in a mixy jar.

For Preparing Pulusu:

• Take another pan add oil and heat it,do seasoning by adding Urad dal,Bengal gram,Dry red chillies and Asafoetida.
• Now add Tamarind extaract and turmeric .Let this boil nicely and it should become thick.(Like how we prepare pulusu for "Tamarind Rice").switch off the stove.
• After 5 minutes add grinded sorrel leaves mixture in tamarind mixture and mix well.
• In bowl heat 1/2 cup oil and switch off.When it is cooled add to Gongura mixture and mix well.
• Transfer the contents to a Air TightContainer/ plastic bottle .
• It is better to store this pickle in freeze and will be good for 1 month.

Note:

• If you are using Red sorrel leaves ,only one Lemon sized Tamarind is sufficient.