Preparation

Peel the small onions (shallots) and garlic cloves.
If you are using a chunk of tamarind, soak it in warm water for about 10 minutes. Squeeze and extract the tamarind pulp.

Roasting Ingredients

In a pan, dry roast the sesame seeds on low flame until they release a pleasant aroma and turn slightly darker in colour. Be careful not to burn them. Once roasted, transfer to a plate and set aside.
In the same pan, Add oil, urad dal, red chillies, small onions and garlic cloves. Roast well for a minute or two until they are aromatic. Transfer to the same plate as the sesame seeds.

Grinding

Add the roasted ingredients, tamarind pulp, and coconut in a blender or mixer grinder. Grind this mixture into a coarse paste.
Now, add the roasted sesame seeds to the grinder. Grind again until you get a slightly coarse paste. The sesame seeds will release the oil, and this will help bind the thuvaiyal together. Add salt to taste and give it one last mix.

Serving:

Sesame thuvaiyal is ready to be served! You can enjoy it with hot rice, dosas, or even a spread on bread. It’s rich in calcium and has a unique nutty flavour.

Note: This thuvaiyal is quite flavorful due to the inclusion of roasted ingredients. Adjust the number of red chillies based on your spice preference.