Pulihora (Tamarind rice/Tangy flavored rice)

Pulihora, tangy rice dish mixed with spices and garnished with roasted peanuts or cashews and curry leaves is a sort of one course meal when you take it for outside picnics etc. It is usually served with raita which is made by adding cucumber/coconut/tomato etc to curd (yogurt) and seasoned. The aroma of pulihora is enticing and brings memories of mother's or grandmother's kitchens!

Pulihora tastes best after sitting for a couple of hours from the time of preparation.

Cooked rice after adding salt and turmeric:

Seasoning frying in a pan:

Seasoning ready after tamarind paste is cooked:

Ingredients:

•      1 cup long grained rice
•      1 tsp turmeric powder
•      2 to 3 tbsp tamarind paste
•      Salt to taste

For seasoning:

•      5 tbsp oil
•      3 to 4 red chilis
•      1 tsp chana dal
•      1 tsp urad dal
•      1/2 tsp mustard seeds
•      Pinch of hing (asafetida)
•      4 to 5 green chilis cut into long pieces
•      1/2 inch ginger cut into small pieces
•      A few curry leaves
•      1/4 cup roasted peanuts/ cashew (optional)
•      2 tsp roasted sesame powder (optional)

Directions:

1.      Cook the rice so that the grains separate and rice is not overcooked.
2.      Add some oil, turmeric powder, salt and a few curry leaves.

Seasoning:

1.      ** In a heated pan, add 3 tbsp. of oil.
2.      When oil is hot, add red chilis and the seasoning.
3.      When the mustard seeds splutter, add ginger, green chilis, curry leaves and peanuts.
4.      Add tamarind paste.
5.      Add a pinch of turmeric and 1/2 tsp salt.
6.      Let it cook till oil separates (when the tamarind loses its raw smell).
7.      Add this paste to the rice mixture.
8.      Mix thoroughly.
9.      Add sesame powder and mix well.

Note:

The tamarind mixture (pulikachal) can be kept in a bottle for later time use. Great as an
instant pulihora mix while traveling!
The same mixture can be added to washed and moist poha (flat rice). To make instant poha pulihora, add the mixture, salt and mix well.