Showing posts with label Authentic South Indian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Authentic South Indian. Show all posts

Sunday, 25 December 2011

Tamarind Rice/ Pulihora /खट्टा चावल (Rice cooked with spices and Tamarind pulp)

Tamarind Rice
This preparation of rice is most popular in southern India. Tamarind rice is eaten in southern India with relish right from breakfast to dinner. The tangy taste tickles the taste buds and the experience is amazing. When I used to keep tamarind rice or lemon rice for my son’s lunch box, the standing order used to be please keep two lunch boxes full of it one for me one for my friends! Because of tamarind this preparation of rice does not get spoilt even for 24hrs. in summers so an good rice dish for traveling and picnic.

Preparation Time: 10min.
Cooking Time: 10min.
Servings: Makes 4 large servings.

Ingredients required for making Tamarind Rice
  • 150gm. Rice
  • 25gm. Tamarind
  • 50gm. Ground nuts
  • 1 Tea spoon Cumin seeds
  • 1 Tea spoon Mustard seeds
  • 2 Red chilies
  • 4-5 curry leaves (sweet neem leaves).
  • 1 tea spoon red chili powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tea spoon sugar
  • 5 ml. oil
  • Water. 
Direction for preparing Tamarind Rice
Step 1 
  • Wash tamarind and soak in 50ml. water for 10min.
  • Mash the soaked tamarind to pulp.
  • Pass the mashed tamarind through a sieve.
  • Discard the solid on the sieve and keep the pulp aside.
  • Pulp of tamarind is ready.
Tamarind Pulp
    Step 2
    • Wash the rice and soak it in 200ml. water for 30 min.
    • Put the soaked rice in cooker along with the water used for soaking and close the lid.
    • Cook the rice on high flame till the pressure builds in the cooker.
    • Lower the flame when the pressure builds in the cooker and cook for 3-4 min. on low flame.
    • Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
    •  If the grain of cooked rice is sticking remove the rice from cooker and take the rice in a sieve and pass running water through rice and drain nicely.
    Boiled  Rice
      Step 3
      • Take 5ml. oil in a wok.
      • Heat it on high flame.
      • Fry ground nuts till light brown and remove the fried ground nuts and keep aside.
      • To the remaining hot oil add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
      • Add cumin seeds, curry leaves and red chilies.
      • Let the seeds of cumin splutter but they should not become black.
      • Add tamarind pulp, salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder and sugar.
      Tamarind pulp being cooked with seasoning
      • Cook for 1min. so that the mixture becomes thick but not dry.
      • Add cooked rice to the mixture in the wok and mix gently to make a homogeneous mixture of rice spices and tamarind.
      Rice being cooked with seasoning and Tamarind pulp
      • Add fried ground nuts and mix.
      • Cover and cook on low flame for 5 min. with occasional stirring.
      Tangy, spicy, and a hint of sweet tasting, tamarind rice is ready. Take out in a serving plate and garnish with grated fresh coconut. ( if fresh coconut is not available you can garnish with grated dry coconut), fresh green leaves of coriander. No accompaniment is required with tamarind rice but if your family insists serve papad with it
      Tamarind Rice
      Tips:-
      • The mixture of tamarind pulp with spices can be made and kept in fridge for a week also, so for the ease of making tamarind rice you can make it and keep in the fridge.
      • You can use cashew, almonds also along with ground nuts or  replace  ground nut with cashew and almonds.
      • Tamarind mixture can be prepared and kept in fridge and used as and when required.
      • You can boil rice in a thick bottom pan also instead of cooker, I personally prefer pressure cooker as it is easy and fast.
      Suggested Variation:

      • Ground nuts can be replaced by Cashew nuts / Almonds.
      • Raisins can be added along with Ground nuts / Cashew nuts / Almonds. 

      Monday, 5 September 2011

      Pesarattu( Pan cake of green Moong Dal)

      Pesarattu with onions
      Pesarattu with out onions
      Pesarattu was my fathers favorite snack as well as break fast . At the drop of  hat he would demand pesarattu from my mom as if it would appear, if my ma would say Abra Ka Dabra :). But then my mom being a very good wife and house wife would keep the batter ready in the fridge and supply him Pesarattu as and when he wanted.Since it is made of Moong dal therefore is easy to digest and is rich in protein.
      In north India this dish is known as moong dal ka chilada and in south India it is called Pesarattu.


      Preparation Time: 10min.
      Cooking Time: 20min.
      Servings: Makes10 Pesarattu of medium size


      Materials Required For Pesarattu :
      • 200gm, Moong Dal.
      • Salt to taste
      • 1 Medium size onion
      • 1 Medium size Tomato.
      • Few leaves of coriander.
      • 1 Green chili
      • Cooking oil.
      • Water to make batter.
            Directions For Making Pesarattu :
      Moong Dal Batter
      • Wash and soak moong dal in water for at least 3-4hrs.
      • Drain the water .
      • Grind the soaked dal to fine paste.
      • Add water to make pourable batter.
      • Add salt to taste.
      • Cut onion, tomato, green chili,coriander leaves and mix them together in a bowl.
      • Take a tawa (flat iron cooking plate) and heat it on gas.
      • When hot grease it with few drops of oil.
      • Pour some moong dal batter on it and spread to a round.
        Pesarattu being cooked
      • Spread the onion,tomato,green chili,coriander mixture on it and cover, and cook for 1min.
      • Pour one tea spoon of oil from the edges in tawa and cook on medium flame for 2 min.
      • Loosen the edges and flip the pesarattu upside down.
      • Cook for another 2-3 min.
      Pesarattu being cooked on other side
      • Colorful and tasty Pesarattu is ready to be served with coconut/ ground nut chutney.
      Pesarattu with onions
      Coconut Chutney
      Tip(s):
      • Using Non stick tawa would reduce oil requirement to make the pesarattu very much less.
      • Those who do not take Onions can omit onions.
      Pesarattu without onions

      • Pesarattu makes light yet very nutritive break fast, or even light snack!!!
      Enjoy Pesarattu with Coconut / Coriander mint chutney  Chutney
      http://jyotsna-pant.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-coriander-and-mint-chutney.html
      or pickles
      http://jyotsna-pant.blogspot.com/2012/06/tangy-mango-pickle-maharashra-style.html
      http://jyotsna-pant.blogspot.com/2012/06/mango-pickle-north-indian-style.html
      http://jyotsna-pant.blogspot.com/2012/06/spicy-mixed-vegetable-pickle-less-oily.html

      Suggested Variation:
      • Since children are very fond of cheese so one or two tea spoon of grated cottage cheese / Mozzarella cheese can be sread over pesarattu along with onions and tomatoes.

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