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August 17, 2016

Easy Hotel Sambar Recipe – How To Make Restaurant Style Idli Sambar

Easy hotel sambar recipe for idli

This is an easy version of hotel sambar recipe for idli without making hotel sambar powder. Usually I make Tamil nadu Hotel style idli sambar adding freshly roasted and ground spices. To make my job easier, I started making Idli sambar powder in bulk and use it to my need. Few months back, I watched Venkatesh Bhat’s hotel style idli sambar recipe in Samayal Samayal cookery show. It is a simplified & quick version of restaurant style idli sambar without any grinding job. As I had already tried Kerala ulli sambar recipe (Vengaya sambar), I found this recipe very close to it. So I tried it confidently.

As expected, it came out really well. I started making it regularly with my own modifications. This has become Raksha’s favorite idli sambar. It tastes good for all tiffin recipes like Idli, dosa, vada, Pongal and rice upma as well. For variations and to make it more healthy for your kids, you can add vegetables like potato, carrot & use few pieces of pumpkin instead of jaggery to give a natural sweetness in sambar. This sambar tastes mildly tangy and spicy which makes it drinkable. So you can dunk your idlis in this sambar and enjoy eating it ! If you like the taste of this sambar, you can use this sambar recipe for making mini idli sambar and sambar vadai. Try this easy version of idli sambar and prepare a quick side dish for idli, dosa during busy morning hours. Ok, lets see how to make hotel style idli sambar in an easy way !

Check out my other Idli Sambar varieties too !

restaurant style idli sambar


Hotel Style Idli sambar Recipe


Hotel Style Idli sambar Recipe Hotel style idli sambar recipe - Quick version
Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Side dish For Idli, dosa
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Toor Dal - 1/4 cup
  • Moong dal - 1 tbsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Cooking oil - few drops
  • Water - 2 cups
  • Big onion - 1 no (cubed) Or shallots/small onion - 10nos
  • Ripe tomato - 2 nos (Small sized, Do not chop it, use whole tomato)
  • Asafetida/Hing - a big pinch
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Grated jaggery - 1/2 tsp
  • Besan flour – 1 tsp
To temper
  • Cooking oil or ghee - 1 tbsp ( Use ghee for best taste)
  • Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  • Methi seeds - 1/8 tsp( 5nos)
  • Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Sambar powder - 1 tbsp
  • Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Dhania powder – 1 tsp
Ghee  - 1 tsp & coriander leaves - to garnish

** Skip onion to make no onion, no garlic idli sambar
** Use 3 pumpkin cubes along with dal to get natural sweetness in sambar.
**Add mixed vegetables like carrot & potato with dal to make it more healthy.Use one tomato if its bigger in size or sour in taste .
         
HOW TO MAKE HOTEL SAMBAR - METHOD

  • Wash and take the toor dal, moong dal in a pressure cooker base. Add 2 cups of water and let it soak for few minutes till you chop onions. Chop the onion and add to the cooker. Add 2 small or one big whole tomato ( Do not chop the tomato because dal may not cook mushy), turmeric powder, curry leaves, hing and few drops of cooking oil. Add enough water and cook the dal in low flame for 2 whistles. Remove the lid after the steam is released. Mash the dal + tomato very well. Make sure dal is well cooked and mashed well.
Hotel style idli sambar recipe
  • Dilute besan flour in 1/4 cup of water and add to the cooked dal ( ** Adding besan flour helps to get a creamy texture to this sambar and blends well with dal).  Add jaggery. Mix well. In a kadai, heat ghee.  Keep the flame low. Splutter mustard seeds, methi seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds & sambar powder, red chilli powder and dhania powder. Saute for few seconds without burning sambar powder. Do not change its color. Add the mashed dal + besan flour mixture to the kadai. Boil the sambar for  few minutes by adding chopped coriander leaves and 1 tsp ghee. Check for taste, Add salt or red chilli powder if  needed for spicy taste. Boil for one more minute. Switch off the flame ,cover the sambar with a lid and give a standing time of one hour before serving. This sambar thickens when it cools down.So add 1/2 cup water to adjust its thickness and check for salt. Reheat it if you wish and then serve.
    Hotel style idli sambar recipe
  • Enjoy with hot idli, dosa & pongal. Drizzle a tsp of sesame oil or ghee if you like !

Try this easy version of hotel idli sambar at home and enjoy with piping hot idlis !
You will love it !
restaurant style sambar for idli

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August 16, 2016

Vazhaipoo Dosai Recipe – Banana Flower Dosa

Vazhaipoo dosai
Recently I tasted vazhaipoo dosai / vazhaipoo uthappam in Salem Saravana bhavan – Aasai Dosai restaurant. It was very tasty and I din’t have the feel of eating vazhaipoo/ banana flower. As its a healthy dosa, I wanted to try at home. I was able to guess the ingredients of the masala(topping) and recreated the same. It came out very close. Sendhil loved it a lot. 

Most of us make Vazhaipoo usili, vazhaipoo vada  and even vazhaipoo adai at home. This vazhaipoo dosa is sure a welcome change from them. The consumption of banana flower would be more in this dosa. Make this dosa for your husband and ask him to guess the ingredients. He would love its taste for sure and definitely becomes surprised to know it is a vazhaipoo recipe. This dosa tastes the best with coconut chutney

Make sure you use fresh banana flower and its not bitter to taste. For variations, you can make thin dosa and stuff this masala in the center. You can make it as vazhaipoo masala dosai. Ok, let see how to make restaurant style, healthy vazhaipoo uthappam recipe for your breakfast/dinner with step by step photos.

Don’t forget to check out my how to clean vazhaipooVazhaipoo kuzhambu, Vazhaipoo vadai, vazhaipoo poriyal, Vazhaipoo usili and vegetable uthappam recipes.

Banana flower dosa

Vazhaipoo dosa/ Banana flower dosa recipe


Vazhaipoo dosa/ Banana flower dosa recipe Vazhaipoo/Banana flower dosa recipe – Healthy dosa variety for breakfast/dinner
Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Main - Breakfast
Serves: 7
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 25 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
For the masala
  • Vazhaipoo/Banana flower - 1 no
  • Big onion - 2 nos
  • Green chillies - 2 nos ( thinly sliced)
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Ginger,garlic paste - 1 tsp 
  • Chilli powder or sambar powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
  • Lemon juice – few drops (optional)
  • Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp 
To temper
  • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • fennel seeds or cumin seeds - 1 tsp
  • Hing/Asafetida - a big pinch
HOW TO MAKE VAZHAIPOO DOSAI - METHOD

  • Wash and clean the vazhaipoo ( Refer this post on how to clean vazhaipoo). Chop it finely and keep them immersed in water till use. Finely chop the onion and green chillies.
Vazhaipoo dosai
  • In a kadai, heat oil and splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds OR fennel seeds. Add finely chopped green chillies and saute till its color changes. Add onions, curry leaves and ginger garlic paste. Saute till onion turns transparent.
  • Vazhaipoo dosai
  • Now add the turmeric powder, chopped vazhaipoo, red chilli powder or sambar powder, required salt and garam masala powder (If adding). Mix well. Mix well until vazhaipoo shrinks and cooks well. Cover the kadai with a lid and simmer the flame. Let the vazhaipoo cook soft. Stir it once in the middle. Switch off the flame and add few drops of lemon juice if needed. Check for taste.
Vazhaipoo dosai
Vazhaipoo dosai
  • Heat a dosa pan and pour 1 ladleful of batter. Spread it slightly for making uthappam. After you see the bubbles over the dosa, spread the vazhaipoo masala over the dosa and drizzle a tsp of gingely oil over the dosa. Flip the dosa carefully and cook for a minute.

Vazhaipoo dosai
  • Remove the dosa and serve hot with chutney or sambar ! Enjoy !
Vazhaipoo dosai
Note :  Add more green chillies or chilli powder as per your wish.

Yummy, healthy vazhaipoo dosa is ready to serve with coconut chutney and sambar !
 Vazhaipoo dosa


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August 12, 2016

Poornam Boorelu Recipe – How To Make Poornalu – Andhra Burelu

Poornam boorelu
Poornam Boorelu/Poornalu/ Burelu (In Telugu) is one of the most important Neivedyam /Prasadam recipes for Varalakshmi Vratham in Andhra. Most of the people make this during Diwali and Ganesh chaturthi too. Boorelu is very similar to Tamil nadu style Suzhiyam/Suzhiyan recipe but the ingredients used for the outer covering is different. In suzhiyan, maida and rice flour is used for the outer covering whereas boorelu needs rice + urad dal batter (Just like dosa batter) for the covering. Otherwise, the procedure for making Pooranam is one and the same. Pooranam ( Stuffing) can be made with Senaga pappu ( Chana Dal ), Pesarapappu ( Moong dal ) or Kobbari ( Coconut). This morning I tried it for pooja and of course to post this special recipe on this Varamahalakshmi festival day. Even though its my first attempt, it came out very well and I am happy with the result. For this recipe, I asked my neighbor Sowjanya who is from Andhra. She told, on Varamahalakshmi, they make a count of 9 boorelu/poornalu and offer to God. It should be consumed only by the family members after the pooja. So its a must and should sweet recipe to be made for them during this festival.She shared her recipe along with some useful tips too. Thank you Sowjanya for the perfect recipe. We all loved it. Do try this Andhra special sweet recipe for festivals and have a great celebration. Ok, Lets see how to make Pooranam Boorelu ( Poornalu) with step by step pictures.
Andhra boorelu

Pooranam Boorelu Recipe


Pooranam Boorelu Recipe Pooranam Boorelu - Andhra style senagapappu boorelu recipe
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sweet
Serves: 9 nos
Prep time: 5 Hours
Cook time: 3 Minutes
Total time: 5H03Minutes


INGREDIENTS
For the stuffing/Pooranam
  • Chana dal - 1/2 cup
  • Grated jaggery - 3/4 cup
  • Water - 1/3 cup
  • Cardamom - 2 nos
  • Grated coconut - 1//4 cup
For the outer covering
  • Raw rice - 1/2 cup
  • Round white urad dal - 1/4 cup
  • Water - as needed
  • Salt - A pinch
  • Sugar - 1/2 tsp
  • Cooking oil - to deep fry
METHOD

  • Wash and soak the rice and dal together for minimum 4 hours. Over night soaking is also fine. Grind it to a slightly coarse paste in dosa batter consistency adding required water. Make sure batter is not too thin. Set the batter aside for one to 5 hours. But I used it immediately without resting time.
  • Wash and pressure cook chana dal adding enough water. Chana dal should be blossomed and retain its shape ( i.e when you press the dal, it should become mushy) Do not over cook the dal. Grind it to a coarse paste without adding water or mash it with a ladle.
Poornalu - Poornam boorelu
  • In a pan, melt jaggery adding water. Strain it to remove the impurities using a metal strainer. Boil the syrup till it becomes frothy or reaches one string consistency. Add the ground chana dal paste, cardamom powder and grated coconut. Mix well till it becomes a whole mass and leaves the sides of pan. Switch off the stove and let it become warm. Make balls of golf balls size and arrange in a plate.
 Poornam boorelu
 Poornam boorelu
  • Heat oil to deep fry. Test the oil temperature by dropping a pinch of batter. If it rises to the top, oil heat is just right. Simmer the flame completely.Take the ground batter, add sugar, mix well. Dip a stuffing ball into the batter using a spoon. Wipe the excess batter in the sides of vessel and deep fry the balls in medium flame till it turns slightly golden with brown spots.Do not fry for long time. Remove in a tissue. Offer to GOD and get the blessings. Enjoy  eating!
 Poornam boorelu
 Poornam boorelu
 Poornam boorelu
NOTE : You should make 9 or 5 balls and offer to GOD. It should be eaten only by the family members.Do not give this as prasad to others.

Tip 1 : Adding sugar in the batter gives a mild sweet taste to the outer covering too. So it won't taste bland.
Tip 2 : Poornam should be thick and there should not be any moisture content in it else it will disperse in oil when you deep fry the balls.So add besan flour if needed to make the stuffing thick.
Tip 3 : If the batter is thin, you can add some rice flour to bring the right consistency.


Note
  • You can use the remaining batter to make dosa or punugulu.
  • While cooking dal , if u add more water , drain the excess water and grind to a smooth paste. 
  • If there is more moisture in the cooked dal, you can add some besan flour to thicken the stuffing quickly.
  • It stays soft and good for 1-2 days.
Enjoy this delicious traditional Andhra sweet at home !
Pooranam boorelu
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August 9, 2016

Andhra Pulihora Recipe – How To Make Chintapandu Pulihora Pulusu

Chintapandu pulihora
Andhra Pulihora also known as Chintapandu Pulihora in Telugu is a must try recipe during festival time. As Varalakshmi Vratham is fast approaching, I thought of sharing some Andhra style neivedyam recipes for this festival. This morning, I was asking my friend Megha about Varalakshmi Vratham special recipes as her MIL belongs to Andhra. She suggested recipes like Boorelu, appalu, Garelu and Pulihora. As our family is a big fan of tamarind rice, I started with this recipe. The ingredients and preparation of Andhra Pulihora is completely different from our Tamil nadu style Puliodharai. Its a very simple recipe without any grinding job. In the traditional temple style pulihora recipe, they add sesame seeds powder or mustard powder. But I made the basic version as told by Megha and watched Attammaa TV YouTube video recipe too for more reference. This Puliogare paste i.e. Pulihora Pulusu can be quickly made in minutes if you have readymade tamarind paste in hand. Its an ideal choice for quick lunch box recipe. Raksha loved it a lot and asked me for second serving as well. But this pulihora needs a standing time of minimum 2 hours for all its flavors to blend well. So friends do prepare this rice at least two hours before serving to relish its actual taste and flavor. Now lets see the step by step recipe of how to prepare Andhra Pulihora / Chintapandu pulihora in detail.

Check out my Tamil nadu style Puli Sadam and Pepper Puliogare recipes too.
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August 6, 2016

Eggless Banana Cake Recipe - No Butter, Moist, Soft

Eggless banana bread recipe
I had few over ripen banana in hand. First I thought of making banana appam for Aadi friday Neivedyam. But then I changed my mind to make an eggless, butter less, moist banana bread recipe with yogurt. I have already shared eggless banana walnut muffin and eggless vegan banana cake recipes. But still when I came across this cake recipe with yogurt and cooking oil, I got tempted to give a try. The result was a perfect, moist banana bread. The aroma of the bread while it bakes was awesome and we were badly waiting to taste it soon after baking. 

As I expected, it was a very big hit with Sendhil and Raksha. I am so happy to share an easy, interesting, bread recipe with banana. You can replace maida with wheat flour, plain sugar with brown sugar and use walnut for healthy options. Do try this cake in this weekend and enjoy your teatime with this bread recipe! I have shared a quick, short video too. Check it out.. Ok, Lets see how to make eggless, butterless banana bread recipe with yogurt.

Video recipe 

Eggless banana bread recipe

Eggless banana bread recipe


Eggless banana bread recipe Eggless, butter less banana bread recipe with yogurt and cooking oil !
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Baking- eggless
Serves: 10 
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 40 Minutes
Total time: 50 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Maida/All purpose flour - 1 cup ( Wheat flour can be used)
  • Sugar - 1/2 cup ( Use brown sugar)
  • Baking powder - 1 tsp
  • Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
  • Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt - a pinch
  • Ripe banana - 3 nos ( Small)
  • Cooking oil - 1/4 cup
  • Yogurt - 1/4 cup
  • Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp
HOW TO MAKE EGGLESS BANANA CAKE - METHOD

  • In a wide bowl, mix the dry ingredients – Maida, baking powder, baking soda, a small pinch of salt. You can either sieve them or just mix with a ladle well.
Eggless banana bread
  • Take the banana, peel the skin and mash it well using your hands or back of spoon.Set aside.
  • In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients i.e. Cooking oil, yogurt, vanilla essence, mashed banana and mix well.
Eggless banana bread
  • To this mixture, add the maida mix. Use a ladle and mix well thoroughly. The batter would be very thick, sticky and looks like a thick paste.
Eggless banana bread
  • Grease a baking pan with cooking oil generously. Pour the batter and spread it evenly. Stud in some walnuts or choco chips if you wish.
Eggless banana bread
  • Pre heat an oven in convection mode at 180c. Bake the bread for 30 minutes. Actual recipe called for 40 minutes baking time. But mine took just 30 minutes. So keep an eye after 25 minutes. Insert a toothpick or back of a spoon to check the cake. If it comes out clean, its done else bake for another 5 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool down for 5-10 minutes. Loosen the sides of the bread using a sharp knife and invert the baking pan over a plate.Bread will come out easily. Make slices and serve it warm. Enjoy !
Eggless banana bread


Note
You can replace maida with wheat flour and sugar with brown sugar or honey.
Adjust the quantity of sugar as per your taste. Check the sweetness of batter before baking and add more sugar if needed
Cinnamon powder gives an awesome aroma to this bread. Do not skip it.
Adding vanilla essence is optional.

Eggless banana bread recipe
Try this easy, eggless, butterless banana bread at home and enjoy with your family !
Eggless banana bread
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August 3, 2016

Fine Vermicelli Masala Upma Recipe– Fine Vermicelli Recipes

Vermicelli masala upma
Most of us make kheer/Payasam using fine vermicelli. Me too no exception. Recently I bought a big pack of fine vermicelli to make sheer korma during Ramadan festival. I had nearly 1/2 kg of fine vermicelli leftover in hand and I wanted to try some interesting and a different recipe with it. I asked our blogger friend Lubna Karim to suggest some fine vermicelli recipes. She shared Khara vermicelli masala upma recipe from her blog. I tried it for our breakfast and shared the picture in my Instagram and facebook pages too. After that, I have made this upma twice but I couldn’t make a post here. This morning I made it just for blogging sake. The list of ingredients may seem more. But its very easy to make and cooks faster than our regular vermicelli. So you can prepare this upma for breakfast or dinner in just 10 minutes. This dish is ideal for bachelors and working women. It tastes like semiya pulao and resembles Idiyappam(Rice noodles) with mild masala flavor. You can add mixed vegetables and make it more colorful and healthy. You can try this upma with thick vermicelli too. But water quantity varies.This upma stays soft for hours.So it can be packed for lunch box too. Kids would love it for sure. I liked it with coconut chutney as side dish whereas Sendhil & Raksha loved it with onion raita. Do try this masala upma with fine vermicelli and share your feedback. Soon I must try fine vermicelli kesari too. Also check out my Fine vermicelli Payasam Recipe.

NOTE : In Bangalore, you can find Fine vermicelli in Nilgiris, Jayanagar 4th block BDA complex Pooja materials shops, MK Ahmed stores.

Vermicelli upma with vegetables

Fine vermicelli Masala Upma Recipe


Fine vermicelli Masala Upma Recipe Vermicelli masala upma recipe - Easy and quick breakfast recipes
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Breakfast recipes
Serves: Serves 2
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Fine vermicelli - 2 cups
  • Water - 1.25 cups ( add more based on the need)
To Temper & saute
  • Cooking oil - 3 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Chana dal - 2 tsp
  • Cinnamon - 1 small piece
  • Cloves - 2 nos
  • Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Big onion - 2 nos ( medium sized)
  • Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tsp
  • Ripe tomato - 1 no (big)
  • Green chilli -  1no
  • Mixed vegetables - 1/4 cup ( Carrot, peas, potato)
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Salt - as needed
Ghee – 2 tsp
Coriander leaves – to garnish
Lemon juice - few drops (optional)
METHOD

  • I have tried this upma with & without vegetables.So the step by step pictures  slightly differs from the main picture.
  • Wash and slice the onion, chop the tomato, slit the chilli and finely chopped vegetables ( If adding).
Fine vermicelli upma
  • Heat a kadai with oil. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, Chana dal, Cinnamon, cloves and fennel seeds. Saute and add sliced onion, green chilli and ginger-garlic paste. Saute well till the raw smell of g&g paste goes off.
  • Now add the chopped tomato pieces,mixed vegetables ( If using). Saute until tomato turns mushy and veggies are half cooked.
Fine vermicelli upma
  • Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder,  garam masala powder, required salt and mix well. Add  1.25 cups of water and cover the kadai. Let the vegetables cook for 2 minutes.
Fine vermicelli upma
  • Break the fine vermicelli strands into two.Add them to the boiling water and mix well. You may feel water quantity is less for vermicelli. Don’t worry. As soon as you mix the vermicelli with the water, it will absorb all the water and becomes soft. So keep tossing and flipping it gently. If possible,  use a fork like ladle to avoid vermicelli turning mushy. Keep the flame minimum and cover the kadai. Let it cook for 2 minutes. If you feel the vermicelli looks too dry and not cooked properly, you can add 1/4 cup of water at this stage and mix well. ( Water quantity is the key to get perfectly cooked,fluffy upma. If you add more water, it will turn to vermicelli khichdi. So please use less water and add more only if needed). This vermicelli turns fluffy and separate when it cools down.  Lastly add 2 tsp of ghee and garnish with coriander leaves.  Sprinkle some lemon juice if you like. Mix well and serve hot.
Fine vermicelli upma
Fine vermicelli upma
  • Enjoy with coconut chutney & onion raita !


Try this easy to cook, yummy fine vermicelli masala upma for breakfast/dinner. You will love it like me.
Vermicelli masala upma
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August 1, 2016

Aadi 18(Pathinettam Perukku) - How To Celebrate Aadi 18

Aadi 18/Aadi perukku
Aadi 18/ Aadi Perukku is a festival observed on the 18th day in Tamil month Aadi. It is also known as Pathinettam perukku or aadi perukku in Tamil. This year 2023, it falls on August 3rd, Thursday. Aadi perukku is a unique South Indian festival that marks the beginning of Tamil festivals in Tamil nadu. It is observed on the 18th day of Tamil month Aadi. In this post, I have shared the significance of Aadi 18, What to do on Aadi 18, its rituals, how to perform aadi pooja and how to celebrate this festival at home along with the list of Aadi 18 recipes lunch menu / Neivedyam recipes links and our celebration pictures in detail for your reference. 

Last year I shared the celebration procedures for most of the important Hindu festivals to help beginners and to keep a record for my future reference. But I couldn’t make a post about our first festival, Aadi perukku celebration in a detailed manner. So this year I wanted to share it with my last year’s celebration pictures. Please go through them and have a happy aadi 18 celebration. Hope beginners would find this post useful.

Wish you all a very happy Aadi 18 !!


Disclaimer : All the pictures & celebration procedures I have shared is based on my family's tradition. It may vary from place to place. Beginners, please keep this as reference. Consult the elders in your family and follow it :)

Aadi 18/Aadi perukku pooja


SIGNIFICANCE OF AADI 18

Aadi 18/ Perukku is a festival observed on the 18th day in Tamil month Aadi. It is also known as Pathinettam perukku or aadi perukku. In Tamil, ‘perukku’ means ‘rising'. The rising here indicates the overflowing of Kaveri river due to the monsoon rains. It is celebrated near river basins, water tanks, lakes and wells of Tamil Nadu. Devotees take bath in the river & worship mother cauvery in the form of Amman. 

I have heard about the grand Aadi 18 celebration in Kooduthurai, Bhavani. This festival is celebrated by farmers and people who depend on the rivers and monsoon rains for their life. Special prayers and puja are done in temples. People pray to River Cauvery and Rain God Varuna Bhagavan for a good harvest, constant supply of water and hassle free monsoon.

On this day, all the family members along with their friends and relatives make a trip to the riverbank by preparing a special lamp using rice flour and jaggery (maavilakku), mulaipari and several rice varieties ( Chitranna). Maavilakku is placed on mango leaves along with flowers, turmeric and a yellow thread. Then the lamp it is lit by the women and they float the lamps along with the mango leaves and other accompaniments in the river. The riverbank or seashore picnic is a major event in some districts of Tamil Nadu on this day. We call this as Vandi katti poradhu in Tamil :)


Some regions in Tamilnadu have the tradition of inviting the newly married couple to home and son-in-law is given gifts on the day. Some people also have the practice of  adding a gold coin in the thali of bride. During Aadi month, the newly wed girl spends the month at her parent’s home for some scientific reasons.

Source : http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/07/aadi-18-perukku-in-2008.html

how to celebrate aadi 18

AADI 18 POOJA INGREDIENTS - REQUIREMENTS
  • Flowers
  • Turmeric, Kumkum
  • Thread greased with turmeric powder( Yellow rope/Manjal kayiru)
  • Raw Rice & Jaggery
  • Coconut,betel leaves & nuts
  • Banana & Locally available Fruits
  • Blouse bit, new dress(Saree or any girls dress)
  • 1 Mirror
  • Bangles, gold jewels, Kaatholai Karugamani ( Small black bangle, refer the above pic)
  • 1 Lemon
  • Banana leaf for keeping neivedyam
  • Other pooja items like oil, ghee, camphor, incense stick and sambrani/Dhoop.
  • Ingredients for making Rice varieties like Ellu sadam, Tamarind rice, Sweet Pongal, Curd rice, coconut rice & Sundal.
Check out my in-laws blog Learn Kolam for kolam ideas.

OUR CELEBRATION

Usually Aadi 18 is celebrated in River banks or near water bodies. So my MIL celebrates this festival near water tank in Salem house by drawing a square shaped box with sand ( We call it as “Manal veedu”). Make small Pillayar with sand, keep all the Pooja items in front of Pillayar and do the neivedyam. Refer the picture shared below from my in-laws blog "Learn Kolam". Then she drops the flowers, lemon, turmeric into the water tank. But I celebrate in my apartment in my pooja room in a simple manner as suggested by my MIL.

Aadi perukku pooja

HOW TO CELEBRATE AADI PERUKKU / AADI 18 AT HOME

The previous day to the festival, wash all the lamps. Keep turmeric, kumkum dots, put oil, threads /wicks and keep the lamps ready. Clean the house. Wipe the doors, windows clean and keep turmeric, kumkum dots. Prepare Pulikachal / Puliogare paste, Ellu podi, coconut rice mix for making variety rice the next day. Draw Rangoli/Kolam at night. Draw with rice flour paste/ Arisi Maakolam or rangoli powder/Kolam maavu. Check out my in-laws blog Learn Kolam for kolam ideas.

The next day early morning around 5 am, take bath and get things ready for doing pooja. We should do the neivedyam before 6am or at least before 7am. You can also do in the auspicious time in morning as per the calender ( Nalla neram) or panchangam. Decorate the pooja room with flowers. For morning pooja, make 2 manjal pillayar ( One as Lord Ganesh and other one as Amman) and place it in a wooden plank, light two lamps on the sides. Keep this setup in front or inside your pooja room. 

To make manjal pillayar, take 1 tbsp of turmeric powder, add little water and make 2 small cones. Keep a kumkum dot. In front of the manjal pillayar, place coconut, betel leaves, betel nuts, all fruits, flowers, Yellow rope in a plate or banana leaf. In another plate, keep turmeric, kumkum, sandal powder or tablet, one mirror, bangles, one lemon, your gold jewelries, one new blouse bit, a new dress ( saree or any girls dress) if you have in hand, Katholai karugamani( small black bangles, available in pooja stores). You can also keep some new dress and jewels ( new or used ones) if you have in hand.  Please refer the below picture for reference. 

how to celebrate aadi perukku


In a bowl/Sombu, fill water till its brim ( Its considered as Kaveri water) & keep it. In a small bowl, mix raw rice and jaggery. This is for neivedyam. Light lamps and do the pooja by showing Dhoop, dheep and mangala harathi. After doing the pooja, tie the yellow rope around your neck by yourself. Tie the rope in hands for small girls at home. Take the manjal pillayar, mix with some water, put the katholai karugamani, lemon, flowers and pour everything in a plant pot or tree. After sometime, take the lemon after sometime & use it in your cooking. This is our morning pooja.

In the afternoon, in an auspicious time ( avoid rahu kalam & Yama gandam), do the pooja with 5 rice varieties and pepper vada/Milagu vadai. I make chana sundal too.

AADI 18 LUNCH MENU  / AADI PERUKKU LUNCH RECIPES

Every year I prepare Lemon rice, tamarind rice, Coconut rice, sweet pongal & curd rice. Sometimes we make payasam with jaggery instead of sweet pongal and make Ellu sadam or milagu jeeraga sadam to make a count of 5.  My mom used to say we have to make 18 rice dishes for aadi 18 ;).  I don’t know how far it is true & is it possible to make 18 rice varieties. 

I have shared the links of all variety rice recipes , sweet pongal & payasam recipes &  vadai ( two versions) below. Please check it. Making this aadi 18 lunch menu is very easy if you have prepared Pulikachal paste, ellu podi, lemon rice paste on the previous day. You can also grind the vada batter and refrigerate it till use. Please refer the video given below on how to prepare 5 rice varieties for Aadi 18 easily.





NEIVEDYAM RECIPES / AADI PERUKKU RECIPES 


aadi 18 recipes

OR

Please visit THIS PAGE for more aadi recipes. 

Try these recipes and have a great Aadi 18 celebration !!

aadi 18 celebration
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