Puli Pongal

As a staple food of South India, rice is used in numerous ways. I have seen my grandmother and mom make so many dishes out of it, sweet and savory. Puli Pongal. Pongal literally means to bring to boil. I learned this recipe from my grandmother who used to make it when ever she visited us . It is broken rice cooked in tamarind water.

Ingredients:

2 cups rice, broken or cream of rice

3 cups tamarind water(1 tablespoon tamarind paste in water)

3 cups water

1 teaspoon mustard

1 teaspoon urad dal

4-5 red chili, broken

2 green chili, chopped

1 pinch asafoetida

salt to taste

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon oil

Method:

1. Run rice in a blender to break into cream of rice. Use a sifter to separate fine rice flour.

2. Heat oil in a heavy pan. Add mustard and urad dal; let it splutter. Add red chili, green chili and few curry leaves. Add turmeric powder.

3. Pour 3 cups of water and 3 cups of tamarind water. Add salt and asafoetida. Bring it to boil.

4. Stir in cream of rice. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until rice is cooked.

5. Check for salt. Stir in 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Remove from stove and serve hot.

Note:

This dish tastes good by itself. My husband and kids like to eat it with sugar.