Readymade Kootu Podi

Whenever I visit India...I bring lot of podis back with me...they are simple and easy to make...but still it is always nice when someone does it for you, packs it and gives it to you...ready to be used when you get back here. They are so handy. Though I like to use my own podis which are fresh...I tend to get lazy about it...mostly I end up using the kootu podi I get from India. Since they grind it in the mill they have a very good texture to it rather than what we grind using a mixie/blender. For my non Tamil speaking friends who peep into my blog...kottu means vegetable and dhal cooked together with spices added to it.

Ingredients:

Urad Dhal 1/2 Cup
Kadala Paruppu (Bengal Gram) 3/4 Cup
Red Chillies 5 - 7
Milagu - 5 Teaspoons (25 Gms)
Hing

Dry roast the above ingredients and grind it in a mixie in the form of powder. You may dry roast the coconut and add it along with the other ingredients and grind it for making kootu podi. You can store it in ziploc covers/airtight container in the freezer for months together!

Note: If you are using the componded hing (not the powder one)..then roast it in oil and then add it while grinding.

PS: The measure shown in the photo does not depict the exact quantity as set out in the ingredients section. It was just done for the photo.

Mango Rice

Today is a very important day it is - "Pournami - Full moon day" and "Vaikasi Visakam - Swami Nammazhwar's Tirunakshatram"....so I was extremely happy to perform my Satyanarayana Pooja and comine it with Azhwar's Thinakshatram. I had a Gruhapravesham to attend this morning so it was kind of hectic preparing the prasadam and getting things started  for lunch. Prasadam was my favorite Akkaravadisal and for lunch I decided to make Mango rice  and sambhar...I had got mango planning to make pickle...but that did not work out. You must be wondering what sort of a combo this is...but the sambhar was for my son's lunch and tonight's side for dosa or idli ...my batter has not yet fermented hence I am not able to come up with what to make fortonight!!

In India, this month is jam packed with things like making vadam, veththal (solar energy being put to use) and pickle...that too with mango. Summer months are known for mangoes...you find them every where.. - hence moms and aunts keep themselves busy by making different types of pickle with this wonderful mango (the raw one)....you know there are so many varieties of it ...each one famous for its region. They keep them busy with these things and start the chores early in the morning inorder to beat the heat... but it is still hot though at that time too...I wonder how they manage to make all these despite the sweltering heat ...amazing isn't it... The family, friends, relatives exchange their vadam, vethal and pickle...we bring it here too....and we get to enjoy them all through the year!! Hence, I am also joining them ...but not by making vadams or pickles  but by posting a recipe with mango as the main ingredient..it is simple yet delicious!

Mango rice can be made in different ways..some people grate it and do it the way we make lemon rice by frying the grated  mango and temper it spices and add it to the rice... but I do it little bit different. Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients
1 Cup Raw Rice
1 Medium Size Raw Mango
1/2 Tsp Mustard
1/2 Tsp Methi Seeds
1/2 Tsp Channa Dhal
1/2 Tsp Urad Dhal
Hing
Curry leaves
Roasted Peanuts
Oil for tempering

For Grinding:
4 Red Chillies
1 Tsp Zeera
4 Tsp Grated Coconut
1 Tsp Mustard (optional - use it depending upon your taste)
Grated Mango

Cook the rice and allow it cool. Separate the grains with fork.

Peel the skin and grate the Mango. First grind the red chillies, zeera, grated coconut and mustard. After grinding it add the grated mango (reserve some for frying) and grind it well.

Take oil in a pan. Temper it with mustard, methi, urad dhal, channa dhal, hing (perunkayam) and curry leaves. Add the grated mango (1/2 cup) after frying it for a while add the grinded mango with the spices to it and fry it well. Then add the rice slowly and mix it. Garnish it with roasted peanuts and cilantro. How much easier can it be?? This goes well with a side of chips....enjoy!!