Curd Rice: A Flavourful Blend Of Dahi And Chawal

A combination of curd (yoghurt), rice, herbs and spices, curd rice is a traditional food which is offered to the Hindu gods during pooja, especially in South India. It is a healthy and comforting summer food which keeps the body cool. The dish is preferred to enjoy as a whole meal or can be considered as a part of a meal. Curd Rice can also be served alongside a vegetable salad, podi, papad and pickle.

Originated in India, Curd rice is also known as yoghurt rice, thayir Saddam, Dahi Chawal and Daddojanam. The word "curd" in Indian English means unsweetened probiotic yoghurt. The dish is famous in a lot of South Indian states - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In South India, sweet dishes are served at the start of the meal and Curd Rice are served at the end. Also, Curd Rice is wildly served in Maharashtra.

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Servings: 2 people

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Cooked rice 

• 1.5 cups Yogurt

• 1/4 cup Milk

• 1 tsp Salt

• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds optional

• 1 tbsp Grapes  optional

 To Temper:

• 2 tsp oil or ghee

• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds

• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds

• 1/2 tsp white lentils

• 1/2 tsp chickpea lentils

• Few curry leaves

• 2 nos. red chillies

• 1.5 tsp ginger chopped

• 1 tbsp broken cashews optional

 Method:

1. Take a pan and add oil, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, lentils, red chillies and curry leaves in the pan. Saute the ingredients until mustard seeds splutter. Now, put chopped ginger and cashews in the pan. Mix them for a minute. Turn off the flame and let it cool down

2. Take a big bowl and add yoghurt to it. Whisk it well. Now add salt as per your taste and mix them

3. Now add the tempering in this bowl which was prepared earlier. Put pomegranate seeds and grapes also and mix them

4. Mash the cooked rice well and put them in the yoghurt. Also, add milk and blend all the ingredients well. Garnish the dish with coriander leaves or curry leaves

5. Healthy and tasty Curd Rice is ready to serve with salad, papad or pickle

Important Points to Note:

1. Make sure to use fresh yoghurt which is not sour

2. It is a dish which should be served instantly. If Curd Rice turns too thick add some curd to it again before serving

3. Don’t forget to add milk to compensate for the tang of yoghurt. Otherwise, the dish can become very sour.

Curd Rice is an ideal recipe for those who live alone and are always in a hurry. It is a stomach-filling instant recipe which you can cook at any time.