Thursday, April 26, 2007

Idli & Sambar

The word idli originates from the two Tamil words - "Ittu" and "Avi" (To lay and steam). Although the precise history of the modern idli is unknown, it is a very old food in southern Indian cuisine - Wikipedia

Sambar or sambhar (Tamil சாம்பார் (சாம்பாறு in Sri Lanka),Kannada: huli, Malayalam: സാംബാറ്, Telugu: సాంబారు), pronounced "saambaar", is a dish common in southern India and Sri Lanka, made of lentils (usually red gram, also called toor dal in North India, and thuvaram paruppu in Tamil Nadu, South India) - Wikipedia


Sunday, January 21, 2007

Vadai

Vadai is a savoury Tamil snack shaped like a doughnut and made from black lentil / black lentil.

It is served as a popular light meal along with banana at eateries in all parts of Sri Lanka.

Mouthwatering vadai and payasam on banana leaf exquisitely sums up traditional Tamil mid day meal.

"Eat vada, it is very nice. Also have some sambar, you will love it," says Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, President of India.

Vadai has also taken flight with the subcontinent diaspora, and its an increasing choice as finger food with restaurant goers around the globe.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Aadi Pirappu



















According to the Tamil calendar, Aadi is the fourth month of the year. The first day of this month, usually falling on July 16-17, is celebrated as Aadi Pandigai or Aadi Pirappu, which is an important festival to most Tamils, especially newly-weds. The Aagamas and the Vedas ascribe no special significance to the day and so it is seen and celebrated more as a traditional festival.

Aadi is also a sacred month. The birth of Aadi itself known as Aadi Pirappu, is important and on that day special food is prepared to herald the month - the aadi kool, a porridge which is served to all who may call on that day. Together with this, Aadi Sevvaai, the Tuesdays in the month of Aadi, Aadi Puram, the Puram asterism in the month of Aadi and Aadi Amaavaasai, the Amaavaasai day in the month of Aadi, are all important days. Despite all these important days, the month of Aadi is considered an inauspicious month for occasions like weddings, housewarming ceremonies etc. [Aadi Pirappukku nallai viduthalai, Poem by Navaliyur Somasunthara Pulavar]

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Vadagam


Vadagam from Jaffna, which is made of "Kohomba" (Margosa) flower. This is fried and consumed specially with rice and curry as a bite in Tamil cuisine.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Rasavalli


'Rasavalli' - "King Yam", candied/mashed, ultimate desert of Tamil cuisine

Saturday, January 14, 2006


Pongal Day

on Pongal Day


On Pongal Day

Pongal


Pongal

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Kumbam


Performing pooja to Kumbam; a pot filled with water and on the mouth of it is placed a coconut and in between the coconut and the mouth of the pot are placed mango leaves. The pot is placed on a bed of paddy or rice spread on banana leaf or tray.

Kumbam symbolises prosperity.

Friday, September 16, 2005

Panangkatti


Panangkatti

Palmyrah sugar (Panangkatti), packed in - handmade caddy, made with golden dried palmyrah leaves.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Panangkai Panniyaram - Palmyrah Fruit Sweets


Ingredients:

Fully ripened Palmyrah fruits- 2
Sugar-250grams
Salt-to taste
Thick coconut milk-1/2 cup
White coconut oil or vegetable oil-1 bottle to fry
Steamed wheat flour-250grams

Method:
Bake the Palmyrah fruits in a very low fire or grill.
When cool,wash the fruits and remove the skin.
Break the fruit and take the seeds,and
sprinkle in little water and squeeze out the juice.
Similarly squeeze all the seeds. Then put the juice
on a muslin cloth and squeeze. Thus the pieces
of husks are removed and clear puree/juice is obtained.
Now add the steamed wheat flour, coconut milk, sugar,
salt with the juice and mix well. The batter should be thick
enough that could fall from the fingers when dropped.
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, when the oil is boiling,
take some batter in the fingers and drop little by little in the oil.
The dropped batter will blow and get fried. Turn them with frying
spoon now and then. When they turn to a yellowish red colour,
collect and put them on a strainer.When drained,spread them on a
piece of paper to take off the oil.

Bottled Palmyrah puree is available in most Tamil - Sri Lankan/Asian and Indian Food Stores.

BON APETIT!

Monday, May 23, 2005

Vattrapalai Kannaki Amman

Temple Pongal and Kaavadi falls on 'Vaikasi Visakam', which is the 2nd Full Moon after the Tamil New Year in April, This year on May 23, 2005.

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