Manga thokku is one of my favs. It’s kind of pickle and goes well with curd rice, rasam rice and can also be eaten with idili, dosa etc. My Friend’s mom used to prepare this and pack it to me when I was in school. Since the first time I had it at her house I just loved it. I was pestering her to give the recipe for long time and here I got it from my friend recently.
Brahmin Special
Kothavarangai Paruppu Usili / Cluster Beans Channa Usli ( Iyengar )
Cluster beans are good source of lot of vitamins. We used to cook rarely at my houses. I was searching for recipe other than regular fry, found this recipe. We liked it, something different from usual.
Tomato Thokku / Thakali Pachadi / Tomato Pickle
Tomato Thokku is many of our favorites and this is a tamilnadu style thokku. The moment we get remained it’s mouth watering and tempts everyone. What does not go with this should be the question ? It is the best combo for idili, dosa, Chapathi, rice, curd rice, bread spread or anything matches with this. Best part is it can be prepared in bulk and can be stored.
Thakali thokku should be kept in any Air tight container and refrigerating increases it’s stay period. This can stay upto 15 days if it’s carefully sealed and used dry spoon to take it out.
Tamarind Rice / Iyengar Kovil Puliyodharai / Puli Sadam
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.