Smartika Thalippu Vengaya Vadagam (sun-dried onion seasoning balls) is a home-made specialty from the house of Smartika. This traditional, authentic recipe is applied only during a specific season of the year to get the best of the flavor, taste and aroma. As these are sun-dried, they can be used for more than a year.
From procurement of ingredients through the packaging of the final product, it is a 20-day process in which e ingredient goes through specific treatments before they are brought together to form a sticky granular mix, which is then rolled into balls and then sun-dried for about 10 days. Strong flavor comes from the main ingredient, shallots (pearl onions) which are hand-pounded in stone mortars.
Smartika vadagams are prepared with great care under safe & hygienic conditions with premium quality ingredients to achieve Smartika guarantee.
These sun-dried black seasoning balls used in Tamilnadu to prepare curries like sambar, kootu, porial, kara-kuzhambu, rasam, chutney, etc. Adding a half-teaspoon of vadagam as seasoning gives a unique flavor to the dish.
Smartika onion vadagam is a great compliment to non-vegetarian recipes like Mutton / Chicken / Fish / Egg curry and chicken/mutton chukka etc. In fact, there are delicacies that have gained fame because of this ‘secret’ ingredient around Salem district.
Ingredients Used:
❖ Pearl Onions ❖ Garlic ❖ Mustard Seeds ❖ Fenugreek seeds
❖ Cumin seeds ❖ Turmeric powder ❖ Urad Dhal
❖ Channa Dhal ❖ Curry Leaves ❖ Iodised salt ❖ Gingelly Oil ❖ Food Grade Castor Oil
How to use?
For about 1 kilogram of meat add a small amount, say the size of a shallot an elevating the dish. Add vadagam while sautéing the meat in the beginning.
Or, give your regular curries or veggies a makeover with a dash of our vadagam.
Storage Tips
As vadagams have salt content in them, it is advisable not to store in silver containers. Vadagam stays best when stored in mud/earthen pots or glassware