Chettinad cuisine is one of the famous south Indian cuisines. It’s famous for it’s spiciness and the aroma. Pepper Chetinad chicken is a very famous spicy recipe in restaurants.
Bottle Gourd Fry / Sorakkai Poriyal
A simple version of kongunadu bottle gourd fry which matches well with white rice. I remember plucking fresh vegetable from our form and cooked. Those tasted really good.
Tamarind Rice / Iyengar Kovil Puliyodharai / Puli Sadam
I’ve always loved the puliyodharai served in temples and always wanted to make it at home to have it when ever I feel like. This is the closest I could getto that temple one.
The key is the masala powder and roasted peanut added to the recipe. At my home they never used to add the podi but I like it with the podi. it gives the nice aroma.
Tamarind Rice / Iyengar Kovil Puliyodharai / Puli Sadam
Author:
Ingredients
- Tamarind – big lemon size
- Rice – 4 cup
- Sesame oil – 4 tsp
- Mustard seed – 1/4 tsp
- Channa dhal – 1 tsp
- Asafoetida – 1 pinch
- Red chili – 7 nos
- Curry leaves – 1 strand
- Peanut – 1/2 cup
- Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp
- To fry and grid :
- Red Chili – 5 nos
- Channa dhal – 2 tsp
- Coriander seed – 2 tsp
- Fenugreek seed – 1/4 tsp
- Sesame seed – 1 tbsp
Instructions
PREP:
- Extract tamarind juice to not more than 1- 1.5 cups.
- Fry the items given in to fry in a pan with little oil until golden brown and the sesame seed starts crackling. Grind this to fine powder.
COOKING:
- Heat oil – 4 tbsp in a pan, when it’s hot, add mustard, channa dhal, asafoetida, red chili, peanut, curry leaves and fry this for a minute.
- Remove the fried peanut at this stage if you like it crunchy which is the way I do it. But it’s optional step.
- Add tamarind juice extract, turmeric and salt. Allow this to cook till oil separates in medium flame and stir often, it going to take around 20-30 mins.
- Add ground powder – 2 tsp and mix well. Keep it on the stove for about 5 minutes in low flame.
- Add the rice and mix gently. Taste for salt and add if required.
- Add the remaining ground powder if any now and allow the rice mix to stay for 30 min before serving.
TIPS:
- Use the whole batch of ground powder if needed for enhanced taste.
- Peanut enhances the taste
- Cashew nuts can also be added to enhance the taste.
- You can grind the podi in bulk and save it in refrigerator for future usage upto 2 months.
(*) Serve with Pappads, Applam, Vadam.
Wheat Flour Dosa / Peanut Chutney (Groundnut Chutney)
When I was young, I always go to my grand ma’s house for any holidays. She makes it for dinner almost every day with Tomato sambar and Coconut Chutney. She grinds the chutney in hand grinder and the taste used to be awesome, it is still in my tongue. Wheat dosa is very healthy one and a substitute for chapathi. The variations can be done with chopped onion, green chili and coriander leaves added to it. Best tastes with coconut Chutney, Peanut chutney or any of the fav Chutnies.
Vermicelli Noodle / Semiya Upma with Vegetables
This recipe is prepared mostly for breakfast or dinner. Any noodles can be substituted instead of Rice noodles.
Kadai Paneer
This is a very famous restaurant Punjabi recipe for naans and parotas. When you have friends gathering for parties mark this for sure, every one would like it. Store bought paneer can also be used, since paneer preparation is easy I prepared it at home and given the procedure below. Do not waste the leftover water drained from milk while making paneer, it can be used for kneading chapati or paratha dough. It makes them soft.
Bitter Gourd Fry / Pavakai Varuval
This is my mom’s specialty recipe. When this is cooked at my home, I don’t even leave any trace in my plate. Ghee along with bitter gourd mixed with white rice really tastes good.
Ghee reduces the bitter taste of it little. I bet you would surely like this if you are a fan of bitter gourd. Try it out and let me know.
