Before the invasion of fast foods or ready-to-eat snacks into our kitchens, the healthiest lunchbox recipe for any self-respecting Tamilian would be Curd Rice or Thayir Saadam. Accompanied by pickle, this hearty meal made its way into thousands of people's tummies in the heat of the afternoon - for both office and school goers, and no one complained :) No tummy upsets, no reason for indigestion. The uber cool curd rice was the perfect antidote to the scorching sun, and it also made perfect sense for the probiotic bacteria from the yoghurt to soothe the tummy. How simple life was then ? Till we landed with unknown and foreign terms like lactose intolerance, nuts allergy, lacto-ovo-vegetarian !! Whew ... Wonder if our forefathers also suffered similar maladies but never had names to express.
Anyways, back to today's post. I have put together an authentic Iyengar recipe - Dodyonam (aka Curd Rice or Thayir Saadam). This is generally served at South Indian temples (esp Srivaishnava temples) as prasad, post the day's offerings to the Lord. I particularly remember S telling me, at the beginning of our married life to make "Anjaneyar Kovil Dodyonam". I am like what ?? When MIL visited us few months later, I was to learn about this one fascination S has about this semi hot, gooey concoction with simple ingredients and heavenly to taste. Of course in temples, the quantity one gets is limited and sans pickle too. But this tastes heavenly with lemon pickle & Orange Peel Gojju (both my fav!!)
Am already drooling about eating this today afternoon, while even posting this recipe :)
Am already drooling about eating this today afternoon, while even posting this recipe :)
Sending this to:
- Blogging Marathon
- My own event - Valentine Fest : Served with Love
- Healthy Eating event - HITS - by Sangee
- Gayathri’s WTML
Prep time : 5 - 10 mins
Cook time : 15 mins
Serves : 3
Ingredients:
- Rice - 2 cups (cook slightly mushy)
- Milk - 1/2 cup (I used low fat)
- Curd / yoghurt - 2 cups
- Salt - to taste
- White unsalted Butter - 1/2 tsp (optional)
- Oil - 1 tsp
- Mustard seeds, Grated ginger (1 tsp), Urad Dal (1 tsp), Channa Dal (1/2 tsp), Broken dry red chillies (4 -5), Curry leaves (few), Asafoetida / Hing - a generous pinch.
- Coriander leaves - for garnish
1. You may use green chillies or even Molaga Vathal (dry pickled chillies) instead of red chillies
2. Milk and butter are optional, but add to the creaminess of the dish
3. Use only short grained rice for best results.
Method:
1) Wash and cook rice till slightly mushy (4 -5 whistles - use only short grained rice)
2) Cool thoroughly and spread in a large plate (called Tambalam in Tamil). Prepare tempering and pour onto the rice
3) With your hands, mix in the tempering with salt nicely. Add yoghurt little by little and start incorporating it into the rice. You may use more or less yoghurt according to your liking
4) If not serving immediately, add the milk and butter and keep for 1 - 2 hours.
5) Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with lime pickle !
Looks divine Kalyani, curd rice has such a calming effect anytime
ReplyDeleteMy favorite comfort food. Yummy.
ReplyDeleteVardhini
Event: Sweet Luv
Event: Strawberries
Yummy rice..
ReplyDeleteCuisine Delights
My First Event - "COLOURFUL HOLI".
Since I've been asked cut dairy from my diet this is one food I miss the most... Soy curd doesn't really make up for this authentic taste...
ReplyDeleteReal Comfort food kalyani!!!! Very Tempting bowl there!!!
ReplyDeleteagree with u- thayir sadam according to me is the panacea for all ills- slurp & very hearty bowl there
ReplyDeleteyour point about how our elders had no trouble in digestion etc i agree with that and now we come up with various terms and god knows what.
ReplyDeletecoming back to this dish it looks yummy from here and i m reminded of one dish my mom used to make with left over rice. mix rice in curd then add temperings and add a bit of besan to it. perfect for evening snack. i have actually forgotten this would ask mom again. she calls it khatta bhaat
Thair sadam anytine for a madrasi like me. Pics are too goo kalyani
ReplyDeleteThe best way to end a meal..
ReplyDeleteLooks so inviting!
ReplyDeleteKalyani if I would be in Mumbai...I wud definitely self invite myself for tese yum yum..rice..but tell me if you pack these dont they go sour...?I mean specially for kids...
ReplyDeletecan't do without curd rice...I add raisins and/ or cut grapes which takes this simple curd rice onto another level!
ReplyDeletethis is completely new to me...looks so creamy...like a savory rice pudding!
ReplyDeleteThis looks totally delicious..I would love to try this..Bookmarked.
ReplyDeleteAarthi
http://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/
Favorite comfort food.
ReplyDeletethis is my ever favorite comfort food!....i think i am going to make myself some!
ReplyDeleteComfort food at its best.. a must have recipe.. :)
ReplyDeleteSuper delicious !!!
ReplyDeleteOngoing Event - CC-Dish For Loved Ones
all time fav...looks more inviting!!
ReplyDeleteSpicy Treats
OnGoing Event:Show Me Your HITS~Healthy Delights
We love it too Kalyani.
ReplyDeleteLove it Kalyani.
ReplyDeleteVery delicious saadam. Looks absolutely divine...
ReplyDeleteAnytime comfort food ...
ReplyDeletenice comfort food
ReplyDeleteAwesome....
ReplyDeletevisit @my blog for my first event in ur free time :-)
Preeti
Ongoing Event--Color n Sweet-HOLI FEST
Preeti's Kitchen Life
I love tempered curd rice... simple and comforting... nice click
ReplyDeleteMy fav too...
ReplyDelete