Puliyotharai / Tamarind Rice

 Tamarind Rice / Puliyotharai ( புளியோதரை )

                                      
                 

Ingredients:
Tamarind  - 2 lemon size
Peanuts     - a handful
Turmeric powder  -  1 tsp
Salt to taste
For Seasoning:
Mustard seeds  :  2 tsp
Split Urad dhal  :  2 tsp
Channa dhal  : 4 tsp
Dry red chilies  : 5 to 6 (halved)
Curry leaves  :  2 twigs
Asafoetida  :  1 tsp
Sesame ( Gingelly) oil  - 1/2 cup


To Mix with:
Cooked rice  -  2 cups ( as required)

For the spice powder:
Dry red chilies  : 4
Coriander seeds  :  4 tsp
Black pepper  : 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds  :  1 tsp

                 

Dry roast the ingredients separately. Let it cool, grind to a fine powder.

Dry roast the peanuts in medium flame. Let it cool, remove the skin.

Soak tamarind in warm water for minimum 15 min. Using less water each time, extract the juice. May be 3 or 4 times. Keep the dilute one, extracted at the end, separately for sambar or other use.

Heat oil in a heavy bottom pot. Add the seasoning. Pour the thick tamarind juice followed by turmeric powder and salt.
As it boils and reduce to half, add the ground spice powder. Continue boiling in medium flame until the mixture becomes thick and oil begins to separate from the boiling mixture.
Add the roasted peanuts and switch off the flame.

Allow the cooked rice to cool. Add 2 tsp sesame oil. Add 2 tbsp or desired amount of the cooked tamarind mixture. Mix well.

Notes:

Puliyotharai, as the tamarind rice is called in Tamil, is the hot favourite among the mixed rice varieties like coconut rice, lemon rice, etc..
A salivating dish, especially when it is in the lunch box of the person next to you ;))
Puliyotharai is synonymous to temple prasadam especially at Perumal Kovils.
In earlier days and even now in some families, when a trip is planned one can expect this dish for a meal during the journey.Because of the tamarind and the method of preparation, it can stay fresh longer. A daytime train or bus journey is never complete without puliyotharai.
There are 6 to 7 variations of this recipe. I have given the version  prepared generation after generation by the women in our family.
In our home town, I remember the elders use coconut pieces and raw small onions (சின்ன வெங்காயம்) as an accomplishment. I have  got into the habit and surprised that my elder son also likes it. Tamarind is considered to be a 'heaty' food and I guess to balance that,onions are consumed.

There is a popular song, sung by the character Gadothgajan in the Tamil movie Maya Bazaar about this - Puliyotharayum sorum veguporuthama samabrum / புளியோதரையும் சோறும் வெகு பொருத்தமா சாம்பாரும்.. meaning sambar is the appropriate accomplishment for Puliyotharai. Some people prefer sambar.
Mostly vathal / vadagam is served (homemade rice crackers). Chips comes handy in today' busy world.
Whenever the woman in the family has to go outstation and leave the kitchen to the gents of the household, tamarind mixture / புளிகாய்ச்சல் is prepared beforehand and given  for  their convenience. My home is no exception. My younger son' favourite with loads of peanuts in it. Recently I made before leaving for a short trip to India.

This mixture can be mixed not only with cooked rice but also with Idiyappam / string hoppers.
Shall post the steps to make Idiyappam using rice flour later.

Meantime enjoy the yummy Puliyotharai with a side dish of our choice.  :)