Puli Sevai / Tangy Tamarind Rice Noodles

Hi everyone, I am back (kind of!). For those who sent me mail or left scrap wondering where the heck i was, i am here and alive :-) Thank you for checking on me. It was way too hectic in may, both at work and at home. I keep checking on all your recipes in my reader whenever i get a chance, but i could not leave any comments nor could i post anything in my own blog. I usually blog or blog-hop after my kids goto sleep. I could not do it as i was extremely tired and i tried to post something few times before their bedtime, but everytime my little one sees me in front of the pc, he squeezes himself between me and the pc and asks for hai potayo (Wiggles Hot Potato) or the big comfy couch and both the songs keep ringing in my ears all day that i am scared i might sing it out loud at work one day!! :D

I will be out next week, so no blogging or blog-hopping again for another week. Are you thinking i'm nuts for coming out of a break to say i'll be taking another break? :-) But, before i go into the silent mode again, i'll post a yummy, quick and easy recipe..

Ingredients :

Instant Sevai Mix or Rice noodles - 250 gms (I always use 777 brand)

Red chillies - 3

Tamarind paste - 1/2 spoon

Turmeric powder - a pinch or two

Mustard seeds, Urad daal, Channa daal, Curry leaves and Hing for seasoning

Salt to taste

A handful of roasted peanuts and Cilantro - for garnishing

Method :

Boil water in a large pan. Add the Instant sevai or Rice noodles in the boiling water and let it sit for 5 minutes. Drain the water and chop the noodles with kitchen scissors. In a pan heat little oil, pop mustard seeds, add turmeric powder, urad daal, channa daal, chillies, curry leaves and fry till the daals are golden brown. Add some water (approx. quarter cup) to the tamarind paste, dilute it and add this tamarind water let it boil till the raw smell goes and it thickens. Now, turn off the stove and Add the boiled noodles and salt. Mix well. Garnish with cilantro and roasted peanuts.

Sending this to MM:Ravishing Rice hosted by Nags and started by Meeta.

See you all soon!

Ven Pongal and an Award

Hema (Adlaks) has passed me the inspiration award. Thank you hema, for thinking of me. I feel very happy and honored to receive it from you.


Now, to the ven pongal recipe. I love it for the simplicity. I wanted to send it for Rice Mela, but somehow missed it. We make this on the 1st day of Margazhi (a tamil month) and also for Pongal. I make some variation to it by adding vegetables to it while cooking the rice and daal. Makes it a one pot dish for kids and it's nutritious too. It's so easy to sneak vegetables like cauliflower or brocolli and my kids don't even find it. They don't touch these two vegetables otherwise :)

Ingredients :
Rice - 1 cup
Moong daal - 1/2 cup (or little more)
Black pepper - 1/2 spoon
Cumin seeds - 1 spoon
Chopped vegetables - 1 cup (optional) - Picture is without vegetables.
Cashews - a handful





Method :
Wash and cook rice and daal together in Pressure cooker.
In a pan, heat some oil (traditionally ghee is used :)) add crushed pepper and cumin seeds.
I grind the pepper as my kids and husband dont like to bite into pepper.
Fry for a minute. Add cashews and fry till they are golden brown. Add to the cooked rice and add salt to taste and mix well. Forkids, i add ghee just before serving.

Tastes yum with Gotsu or Sambar, Chutney or Puli inji.

As i mentioned earlier, i add chopped cauliflower and broccoli and call it CAB rice and my first kid thinks it's a funny name and eats it without any fuss. He asked me what CAB stands for and i said i just came up with a funny name and didn't mention the word Broccoli to him :D
The other vegetables that i add are peas and carrot.

Entries for Rice Mela and Thank u Indrani

I am going to send the following recipes to Srivalli's Rice Mela.

To make it simple, i combined all the recipes in one post. Please click on the names to view the recipes.



1. Thattai






2. Tomato Rice

3. Lemon Sevai

4. Thakkali Aval / Tomato Poha

5. Simple Veg. pulao

6. Puli Aval / Tamarind Poha

6. Mor Kali

7. Oatmeal Poha

Along with this, i want to thank Indrani for passing me the following awards -

Hardworking blogger, Kreative Blogger, Great Buddy Award, Butterfly (coolest blog) Award, Inspiration Award, Chocoholic Bear, Perfect Blend of Friendship, 360 degree foodie, good job.

Thank you Indrani. I feel very happy and honored to receive it from you.