Author: Viji Varadarajan
Padmini Natarajan/
Publisher: Orient Enterprises
Year: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 112
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8190287648
Description
Annam or food is a form of the Almighty (annam parabrahma swaroopam) according to the Hindu scriptures. All beings are born and live by food and ultimately go back to the earth and merge in it to become food. Food is the supreme medicine of all (aushadham ucchyate sarvam).
Food occupies an important part in the life of Hindus. Food is offered to ancestors during rituals, to Gods during religious ceremonies and to deities in the temples. Food is served to the poor and the needy as seva or charitable service; to the animals and birds as religious duty; to one’s personal deity before eating to neutralize harmful energies contained in the food. Children are taught not to disrespect or reject food; householders are advised to store plenty of food and to entertain the atithi or guests with whatever food that has been cooked that day.
The Hindu way of life also emphasizes on eating the right kind of food that is the main source of energy for the physical body. The food that we eat has a direct effect on the three qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas in our bodies. This in turn, influences the balance of our minds and bodies.
The Hindu shastras also prescribe rules to be observed before, during and after eating food. There are specifications as to what kinds of food should be eaten, in whose company it should be eaten or avoided and what vessels should be used to eat. Alas, most of these rules are impracticable in modern times.
Contents
BOTTLE GOURD/ SORAIKKAI/ DOODHI
ASHGOURD/POOSHINIKKA/PETHA
POOSHINIKKAI KOTHU KADALAI PULI KUZHAMBU
Ash gourd brown chick peas curry
POOSHINIKKAI MOR KOOTU
Ash gourd coconut-yoghurt gravy
BITTER GOURD/PAHARKAI/KARELA
PAHARKAI THAYIR PACHADI
Stir-frien bitter gourd in yoghurt
PAHARKAI PACHAI KARI
Bitter gourd green kari
PAHARKAI URAPU KARI
Bitter gourd spicy stir-fry
PAHARKAI SAMBHAR
Bitter gour sauce
PAHARKAI PITLAI
Bitter gourd in tamarind sauce
BROAD BEANS/AVARAIKKAI/PAPDI
AVARAKKAI PARUPPU USILI
Broad beans in steamed dhal
AVARAKKAI SAMBHAR
Broad beans dhal curry
AVARAKKAI PORICHA KOOTU
Broad beans in spicy dhal
CLUSTER BEANS/KOTHEVARAIKKAI/GAVAR KE PHALLI
KOTHAVERAIKKAI KARI
Cluster beans stir-fry
KOTHAVERAIKKAI PARUPPU USILI
Cluster beans in steamed dhal
KOTHAVERAIKKAI PULI KOOTU
Spicy cluster beans curry
DRUMSTICK/MURUNGAKKAI/SHENG/SAREGOVA
MURUNGAKKAI SAMBHAR
drumstick and dhal curry
MURUNGAKKAI VENDHAYA/VATHAL KUZHUMBU
Drumstick tamarind sauce
EGG PLANT/KATHIRIKKAI/BAINGAN
SUTTA KATHIRIKKAI THUVAYAL
Grilled eggplant mash
MUZHU YENNAI KATHIRIKKAI
Stir-fried whole eggplant
VAANGI BATH
Eggplant rice
LONG BEANS/KARAMANI/CHOWLI BHAAJI
KARAMANI KARI
Long beans stir-fry
KARAMANI KOOTU
Long beans tamarind curry
OKRA/LADIES FINGER/VENDAIKKAI/BHINDI
VENDAIKKAI THAYIR PACHADI
stir-friend okra in yoghurt
VENDAIKKAI KARI
Stir-fried okra
VENDAIKKAI SAMBHAR
Okra and dhal curry
VENDAIKKAI VENDHAYA/VATHAL KUZHUMBU
Okra tamarind sauce
VENDAIKKAI PULI KOOTU
Okra sour curry
SNAKE GOURD/PUDALANGAI/CHICHINDA
PUDALANGAI THAYIR PACHADI
Snake gourd in yoghurt
PUDALANGAI KARI
Snake gourd stir-fry
PUDALANGAI KOOTU
Snake gourd in dhal
PUDALANGAI MILAGU KOOTU
Snake gourd in pepper curry
AMARANTH/KEERAI/PALAK
KEERAI MASIYAL
amaranth mash
KEERAI VADAI
Fried amaranth black gram doughnut
KEERAI SAMBHAR
Amaranth dhal curry
MOR KEERAI
amaranth in yoghurt
PULI KEERAI
Amaranth dhal in tamarind gravy
KEERAI MULAGOOTAL
Amaranth dhal and coconut curry
FENUGREEK LEAVES/VENDHAYA KEERAI/METHI BHAAJI
VENDHAYA KEERAI_MURUNGAKKAI SAMBHAR
fenugreek leaves-drumstick curry
GREEN BERRY LEAF/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI
KALAVAN KEERAI
Four variety greens kari
MIXED VEGETABLES
THIRUVAADHARAI KOOTU
RAW BANANA/VAZHAIKKAI/KACHA KELA
VAZHAIKKAI VADHAKAL
Stir-friend raw banana
VAZHAIKKAI PODI
Spicy raw banana
VAZHAIKKAI PODIMAAS
Raw Banana Crumble
VAZHAIKKAI PULI KOOTU
Raw banana and tamarind curry
BANANA FLOWER/VAZHAIPOO
VAZHAIPOO PARUPPU USILI
banana flower in steamed dhal
BANANA STEM/VAZHAITHANDU
VAZHAITHANDU THAYIR PACHADI
Banana stem coconut-yoghurt raita
VAZHAITHANDU KARI
Stir-fried banana stem in coconut
VAZHAITHANDU PULI KOOTU
banana stem and tamarind curry
VAZHAITHANDU MOR KOOTU
Banana stem yoghurt curry
FRUITS
RIPE BANANAS/VAZHAI PAZHAM/KELA NENDHRA PAZHA VARATI
Ripe banana relish
JACKFRUIT/PALAPAZHAM/KHATAL
CHAKKA KARI
Jackfruit kari
CHAKKA PRADHAMAN
Jackfruit-coconut milk pudding
PANCHAMRUTHAM
Mixed fruits in syrup
SAMARADHANAI VIRUNDHU
IDICHU PIZHINJA PAYASAM
Rice-jaggery in coconut milk
INJI-THENGAI THAYIR PACHADI
Ginger-coconut yoghurt raita
MAANGAI PACHADI
Raw mango sweet and sour relish
PUDALANGAI PARUPPU USILI
Snake gourd in steamed dhal
VAZHAIKKAI PODI KARI
Raw banana stir-fry
MANOHARAM PARUPPU THENGAI
Crispy jaggery fudge
KAARA SEVAI
Butter-pepper crunchies
KUNJA LAADU
Fried gram droplets made into sweet balls
PULIYOTHARAI
Tamarind rice
CHENAI KIZHANGU VARUVAL
Sliced yam chips/wafers
RICE
HOME MADE YOGHURT
VENDAIKKAI MOR KUZHAMBU
Stir fried okra simmered in yoghurt
KATHIRIKKAI RASA VAANGI
Dhal and eggplant curry
MYSORE RASAM
Special spicy soup
MAANGAI PESARAL
raw mango pickle
PATHIYA SAAPADU
Convalescence meal
MILAGU KUZHAMBU
Blended peppercorns in tamarind gravy
PARUPPU THOVAYAL
Dhal chutney
ANGAAYA PODI
Stir-fried cumin powder
ERICH KOOTU
burnt reduced curry
SAMBHAR PODI
an all-spice powder
PITLAI PODI
The tastemaker
NEIY
Clarified butter/ghee.