Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Thiruvadhirai Poduthuval/Thoran




Thiruvadhirai is celebrated in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, though the rituals in both the states are very different. In Tamil Nadu, people generally, wake up very early, take a bath and prepare the offerings of Kali (a sweet rice pudding) and poduthuval (curried vegetables). I don’t know how our ancestors came up with this unusual combination of sweet and savoryJ.
Thiruvadhirai Poduthuval/thoran or kootu is a side dish that is served alsong with Kali. Every household has their own way of preparing it. Some prepare like how it like a dry curry. Some prepare like a kootu and still others prepare something like a Sambar with 5 or 7 different vegetables. Kaavathu, Mochai, Koorkai (Chinese Potato), Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Broad Beans are some of the vegetables that are generally used.
I am posting the way my mother prepares it. A special vegetable called Kaavathu is an important part of this thoran. It does not matter how much you add, even a very small piece of it would do. But according to mom, kaavathu is important. But if you don’t find it in your neighborhood, use the other vegetables and prepare this thoran.



Serves – 3 to 4
What you’ll need
  1. Pumpkin – 1.5 cup, cut into medium sized cubes
  2. Sweet potato – 1 cup, cut into cubes
  3. Broad Beans – 8 Nos, cut into 1inch pieces
  4. Green Peas – 1/2 cup
  5. Kaavathu – ½ cup, cut into cubes
  6. Fresh scraped coconut – ¼ cup
  7. Green Chilly – 1 or 2
  8. Salt to taste
  9. Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp
For tempering
  1. Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  2. Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
  3. Urad Dal – ½ tsp
  4.  Curry Leaves – 8 to 10 leaves, torn
Method
  1. Wash all the vegetables well.
  2. Toss the vegetables with salt and turmeric powder and place them in a steamer and cook till the vegetables are done. (If you do not have a steamer, place the vegetables in a vessel, toss with turmeric and salt and cook in a pressure cooker for one whistle. Do not add water to the vegetables)
  3. Once the vegetables are done, remove and allow to cool.
  4. In the meanwhile, grind the coconut and green chilly into a coarse paste without adding water.
  5. Heat a Kadai with coconut oil, add mustard seeds, once they splutter add the urad dal.
  6. After the dal become golden, add the curry leaves and cooked vegetables and mix carefully, taking care not to break the pieces. Let everything get heated up well, i.e for about 4 to 5 minutes.
  7. Finally add the crushed coconut and green chillies and mix carefully. Remove from heat after 3 to 4 minutes.
Thiruvadhirai Poduthuval is ready.

Note:
This poduthuval is dry. Some people make it like a kootu, for that, you can add about ¼ to ½ cup of water while cooking the vegetables. And follow the same procedure. Also keep aside a little rice flour of the Kali and add it to the kootu at the end. This will make it all come together.

29 comments:

Lifewithspices said...

v make kootu.. for kali.. this one looks grogeous..

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Love this...Looks super and nice explanation..

kitchen queen said...

delicious poduthuval and thanks for sharing.

Mélange said...

It's a variation of puzhukku we prepare Kaveri..new to me.Thanks dear.

Vidya Chandrahas said...

Looks very delicious and healthy.

Anonymous said...

hi kaveri,
kali looks delicious...for the reasons for cooking this sweet and savoury dish..u can chk this link...www.subbuskitchen.com
rgds
archana

Vimitha Durai said...

Healthy and authentic recipe dear. Thanks for sharing

Unknown said...

both kali and poduthoval looks very delicious....

Unknown said...

authentic recipe

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Delicious and healthy Thoran. Excellent preparation.
Deepa

Unknown said...

very nice and perfectly done!
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Unknown said...

very tempting and delicious..

PrathibhaSreejith said...

Delicious thoran, timely post :)
Advance Happy New Year Wishes to you and family Kaveri!!

divya said...

look tempting n delicious...

Nalini's Kitchen said...

Delicious thrown,we make koruna with 7 veggies,

Nalini's Kitchen said...

Mistyped kitty with 7 veggies,what is the English or Tamil name for kavatthu?

Suja Manoj said...

Looks so good,love it.

Sangeetha Priya said...

Wonderful recipe n loved the spread with kali, timely treat :-)

Julie said...

yummy platter,looks divine:)
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Priya Suresh said...

Yum,with loads of coconut am loving this thoran.

Rajani said...

Happy Thiruvadirai to you. Pics and recipe is great..

Hema said...

Very different, looks so tempting..

Swathi said...

Thiruvadhiriai pdouthvual looks delicious.Kavathu is kachil in malayalam english it is purple yam, greater yam.

Unknown said...

Never eaten this but I guess it to be delicious by the way it is made, What is paavathu? Do you have a picture of the veggie somewhere?

runnergirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com said...

Never had this before, looks good and nice pics

Prathima Rao said...

Never tried this combo before..Interesting!!! Happy new year Kaveri :)
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Vidhya said...

We usually had it with more gravy.Yours look delicious wish I can have some.Happy New Year!

Sangeetha M said...

We make it on different way, like Kuzhambu with more veggies n tubers :) this sounds very flavorful n yummy! Inviting pics Kaveri!

Anonymous said...

We call it "Ezukari" - (7) vegetables - mostly root vegs. are used. Chenai/ Raw banana/ Kavath/ Avraikai/ Sweet potatoes/ Koorka Kilangu/ & Colocosia. "Kavath" is purple yam in English and "Ritalu" in Hindi.

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