Tamarind Pulihora

 

Tamarind Pulihora, a traditional favorite among South Indians. It’s a  tangy rice dish covered with spices, roasted peanuts and aromatic curry leaves. When the taste of pulihora touches your toungue with its addictive flavours, you crave for more.

Ingredients for Tamarind pulihora:

 

Rice – 1½ cups

Tamarind paste – 5 tsp

Green chillies – 8 -10 nos

Red chillies – 2 nos

Groundnuts  – ½ cup

Cashew nuts – 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1 tbsp

Bengal gram – 2 1/2 tbsp

Black gram- 2 1/2 tbsp

Asafoetida – 2-3 pinches

Turmeric powder – ½ tsp.

Curry leaves – 6-8

Salt to taste

Oil – 1- 2 tbsp

 

Method for the preparation of tamarind pulihora:

 

• Cook rice and see to it that each grain is separate.
• Heat oil in a pan and fry red chillies, Bengal gram, black gram, mustard seeds, groundnuts and cashews.
• When the mustard seeds splutter add asafoetida, curry leaves and green chillies
• Now add tamarind paste and turmeric powder. Stir frequently till the oil floats on the top and the mixture reduces to a fairly thick consistency. Switch off the flame
• Add salt and add this mixture to the already cooked rice along with the sesame powder
• Tamarind pulihora is ready. Serve hot.

 

Tip: 1. Sesame powder is made by roasting sesame seeds and grinding it to a powder, adding salt and red  powder.

Tip 2. If you add some extra oil to the mixture while boiling tamarind then it can be preserved for long period. When ever required just add the mixture to rice.

 

Nutritional Values of Tamarind pulihora:

 

• Tamarind contains many minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber.
• It is also rich in many vital vitamins including thiamin, vitamin A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-C
• Cashew nuts have a high energy density and high amount of dietary fiber
• The cashew nut’s high magnesium content also takes the credit for its healthy heart qualities
• High copper content in cashew nut, helps the body utilize iron, eliminate free radicals, develop bone and connective tissue, and produce the skin and hair pigment melanin.
• Groundnut is helpful in reducing excessive menstruation bleeding in women.
• Groundnuts are rich in anti-oxidants