Tamrind Rice / Puliyogare

Puliyogare is a very popular South Indian rice variety. It is distributed in most south indian temples as prasadam also.
Today I am sharing this recipe which I learnt from my mom as requested by my friend. So here's the recipe.


Ingredients:

For Puliyogare Paste:

1 cup           Tamrind Pulp
2 tsp             Jaggery
1 tsp             Mustard Seeds
6                   Red Chillies
1/2 tsp          Asafoetida or Hing
2 strands      Curry leaves
1-2 tsp         Chilli powder
2 tsp            Salt
4 tbsp          Oil

For Tamrind Rice:

2 cups       Cooked Rice
1 tsp          Mustard Seeds
4 strands   Curry leaves
1/2 tsp       Asafoetida or Hing
1/4 cup      Groundnuts
3-4 tbsp     Puliyogare Paste
2 tbsp        Oil

Salt           As per taste

Method:

For Puliyogare Paste:

Soak tamrind in 2 cups of water for 2 hours, blend in a mixie and strain to get tamrind pulp.
Heat oil in a pan, add mustard and allow to splutter. Add curry leaves, red chillies and asafoetida.
Fry and add the tamrind pulp. Allow to boil well and keep in low flame for 10 minutes, stirring occassionally. Add salt, chilli powder and jaggery and keep stirring.
Taste a portion of this paste and add more tamrind, chilli powder, salt or jaggery as needed.
Allow the mixture to boil in low flame, stirring occassionally until you get a thick paste. (This takes around 15 to 20 minutes).
Puliyogare paste is ready. You can mix it with rice right away or allow it to cool and store it in an air tight container in fridge for months.

For Tamrind Rice or Puliyogare:

Cook rice and spread in a large bowl or plate.
Add the puliyogare paste prepared above to rice and mix well.
Make a seasoing by heating oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, ground nut.
Add the seasoing to rice along with some salt and mix well.
Tamrind Rice or Puliyogare is ready!!!!