Thayir saadham / Curd rice / Dadojanam

 

When Jyoti of Panch Pakwan announced mother's day event, I am not sure what to send. I thought of many dishes which my mom makes. But nothing felt so special. I needed a dish which speaks of my moms love, which is very soothing to my heart and stomach. Atlast I decided that, this thayir saadham will be the best entry for her event. From my schooling to college, most of the days my lunch box consisted of this thayir saadham. My mom would wake up daily at 4'O clock in the morning. She prepares morning breakfast and also looks after all other petty things that has to be taken care. My dad and sister will be the first persons to leave home followed by me. Before that she has to prepare and serve us breakfast, pack our lunch box, arrange things for my dad and she has to feed our pets too :). It will be a pretty busy day for her. No servant-maid to help her too.  But at that age I never understood all that. Never helped her in anything nor did I stop complaining. I would say ' amma, everyday I have to eat only this thayir saadham, but all my friends bring many different variety of dishes'. I am sure that would have hurt her. She would try her level best to meet my demands. 

After coming here to Germany I realised the difficulty she would have undergone.  Here, I never woke up early enough to prepare and have a good breakfast. I never could pack my lunch for the afternoon too just beacause of my laziness. I spent my earlier days here skipping breakfast and munching on dry bread for lunch. During those times my eyes would fill with tears on the mere thought of my mom and her warm smile. I missed her so much. 

When I think of my mom, I  would always appreciate her patience, her warm smile even during difficult times of life, her humour sense, the sacrifices she had made for her children and for her husband, her love for animals, her willingness to help people who are in need, her humbleness and many more things. Everyone loves her. I am very proud that I am blessed to be her daughter. Even now, when I go through my share of difficult days, a phone call to her will make most of my unhappiness melt away. I feel I am charged with new energy. Her possitive energy fills me with happiness. Amma, thank you very much for being  there for me always. I have hurt you unknowingly, I have dumped my unhappiness on you and have taken your happiness with me many a time, yet you continue to love me with all your heart. Thank you very much amma and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH !!!

I wish my mom could read this because certain things can never be spoken so easily :).

Ok, coming back to this recipe...don't you think it looks yummy? It does. Fresh onions, ginger root,  green chillies  and coriander leaves imparts a nice aroma to this curd rice. With a dollop of pickle this tasty rice will fill me with warmth and happiness. I hope it does that magic to you too :).

Ingredients :

Rice- 2 cups ( either fresh or a day old rice)
Curd- 2 cups
Onions- preferably shallots, 5 nos
Ginger- a half inch piece
Green chillies, 4 nos (minced finely)
Coriander- a handful of fresh leaves minced finely
Curry leaves- 10 leaflets ( mince them into tiny pieces)
Urid dhal- 1 tspn
Channa dhal- 1 tspn
Jeera and mustard seeds- 1/2 tspn each
Asafoetida (hing) - a pinch
Oil for tempering- 3 tbspns
Salt to taste

Method :

Very simple. First mix the curd with rice. Add enough salt at this satge. Mix rice and curd with your hand very well. Add water if the mixture is too thick or too dry. Mince onions, ginger, green chillies, coriander leaves and curry leaves. Heat a pan. Add oil. When the oil is hot enough add urid dhal and channa dhal. When the lentils brown add jeera and mustard seeds. When they splutter add a pinch of asafoetida powder and minced ginger, onion, curry leaves and green chillies. Saute for few minutes until the onion is soft enough. Switch of the stove. Add fresh coriander leaves and transfer this mixture to the rice mixed with curd. Mix everything well. Serve with pickle of your choice.

Taste enhancing tips for this recipe : I would love the curd rice to be simple. You can add cashews or whatever you like. Even pomegranate is added to curd rice. Raw mango pieces definitely imparts a nice taste and flavour to the dish. When it made with leftover rice, which is soaked in water overnight, the taste  of curd rice increases several times. Happy cooking !!! and have a nice weekend ahead!!

This dish goes to Jyoti's Mother's day event. Thank you Jyothi !!! your event brought out out many happy memories burried in me :).