Chakkera Pongali and Pulihora

[ Chakkera Pongali:

*Rice - 1 glass
*Mung Dal - 2 tbsp (roasted lightly)
*Water - 3 glasses

Cook these in pressure cooker until soft.

Fry Cashews, Sultanas, Coconut flakes in Ghee and add it to above along with Cardamom Powder.

Do sugar syrup - u need for every 1 glass of rice add 1 and 1/2 glasses of sugar. add small amount of water to sugar and cook until the sugar is slightly sticky.

Add this sugar syrup to the pressure cooked rice and mix well and switch off. ]

Aava pettina Pulihora

[ Aava pettina Pulihora/ Tamarind Rice with Mustard Twist:

*Rice - 3 rice cups (preferably ponni rice or any white rice but not basmati)
*Water - 6 and 1/2 rice cups
*Turmeric - 3/4 th - 1 tsp

Cook these in electric cooker before hand.

*Tamarind - 2 big lemon size

Soak tamarind in water (just to the level of tamarind) overnight. In the morning take out pulp
as much as u can from the tamarind. Add this tamarind juice in a small skillet and cook it until water evaporates on very low heat. Keep stirring and keep the lid ajar. Cool this mixture and keep aside.

For seasoning:

Oil - 6 - 7 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 and 1/2 tsp
Sesame seeds - 2 tsp
Peanuts - 2 handful
Chana Dal - 4 tsp
Urad Dal - 2 tsp
Red Chillies - 10 no. (split)
Green Chillies - 10 no. (cut length ways)
Curryleaves - 3 sprigs
Ginger - 1 inch (cut finely)
Asaefoetida (hing)- a pinch

My secret formula for pulihora:

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp, powder this in pestle and add 1 no.lemon juice to it and keep a side.

Proceed:

1) Add Rice in a big wide bowl, remove any lumps which may form by separating it with your fingers.

2) Add cooked Tamarind paste to the rice and mix (be careful while adding this u can still add a bit later too)

3) Do seasoning in the order given under seasoning ingredients and once finished, add this seasoning to point 1, along with secret mix which I mentioned and salt to taste and mix everything well. Check for salt and tartness.

For serving:

You can serve it with Bangaladumpa vepudu or Potato fry (Indian style) and yoghurt on side, I eat just as it is. Good for picnic, train journey, festivals and for those unexpected guests.

Meanings:

Aava = Mustard paste

Pulihora = Tamarind Rice ]

Chakkera = Sugar

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu