10 Best Tamil Recipes

food.ndtv.com/lists/10-best-tamil-recipes-1231500

Shivangana Vasudeva 8/22/2017

Tamil cuisine is quite incredible and it's not all dosas and sambars. The versatility of their food
reflects a meeting of cultures. Be it Kongunadu or Arcot, Chettiars or the Iyengar Community -
food assumes different characteristics across borders. Yet there's one thing that binds all, every
dish demands your attention when you sit down to savour.

I remember my time in Chennai, when my aunt cooked us a traditional spread. The aroma
coming from the kitchen was magical. From tangy tamarind to fresh turmeric to pungent pods
of chillies and curry leaves crackling in coconut oil, a symphony of tastes played out on the
palate. The Classic Anglo-Indian soup, Mulligatawny, was rich with spices and meat.
Mulligatawny literally means 'pepper water'. It was so satisfying and delicious that you could
get addicted. The Chicken 65 was red, hot and crispy. Total fire-cracker, this one. A strong dose
of Filter Kaapi, that followed, was all that was needed to soothe my tongue.

The food from down South is very different from North India - much lighter and dominated by
spices, seafood and vegetables. Rice is a staple and a type of short-grained, fluffy variety called
Ponni is used most often.Few cuisines use rice and lentils with such creativity as them. Turmeric
and tamarind find their presence in many dishes. Coastal areas are where seafood is king, you'll
find everything from King fish and Ravi fish to squids, mud crabs and prawns - the ones from
Bay of Bengal tend to be bigger in size and juicier.

Tamil cuisine in its authentic form is that of the Iyengars or Tamil Brahmins which remains true
to its roots. It originated from the ritual of Annadana, a custom of serving food to God and then
distributing it to the people in Tamil temples. The meal is pure vegetarian fare served on banana
leaves and is called Ilai Sappadu. 'Sappadu' means a full course meal that accommodates all the
six tastes - sweet, sour, bitter, salty, pungent and astringent. It consists of a never-ending array
of dishes such as Poriyal, Rice, Varuval, Pachadi, Idli, Payasam, Sambar, Thokku, Vadai, Rice,
Kuzambu amongst others.

"The Sambar from Tamil Nadu varies from other Southern regions. It's tangy and thicker with
more of lentils and local vegetables like drumsticks, brinjal, white and red pumpkins and
doodhi. It has a distinct flavour and aroma that comes from adding asafoetida or heeng. In
Kerala, they use coconut. The one from Karnataka has a subtle sweetness and in Andhra it is on
the spicier side," shares Chef Naren Thimmiaiah from Karavalli in Bangalore. The dosas are crisp
and paper-thin with a glistening golden hue.

What's Indian food without the heat? The Chettinad cuisine from Tamil Nadu is famous for its
use of spices. "Back in the day, Chettiars were a community of spice merchants. They travelled all
around world and got home exotic varieties. They use certain spices like Marathi Moggu which
has a flavour similar to that of mustard and pepper and Kalpasi flowers that you may not find in
other parts of the country. Black peppercorn and dry ginger are used to lend a hot character,
chillies were introduced to India much later," remarks Chef Manu Nair from BonSouth in
Bangalore.

Tamil cuisine is also heavily influenced by its various rulers and foreign inspirations. Angaya Podi
is a beautiful blend of spices and herbs including dry ginger, pepper, cumin seeds, toor dal,
Bengal gram, Black gram, dried manathakkali keerai, dried need leaves, coriander leaves and
mustard seeds. It was created in the royal kitchens of Pandayas and Cholas. Usually eaten with
hot rice and ghee, it serves as digestive aid. The use of sesame oil in most Tamil dishes is also
believed to be a culinary contribution of the Sangam period. Similarly, the region around
Coimbatore is popular for its bakery goods borrowing from the French cuisine. The flaky puff
pastry is an absolute delight. Together with neighboring cities of Salem, Tirupur, Erode and
Palani it forms the Kongunadu cuisine. It derives its unique flavours from the use of dry coconut,
roasted turmeric and milk in curries.

Lastly, the food from the Arcot which is a Muslim-dominated area stands apart from the others.
It boasts of rustic flavours while Tamil cuisine is generally believed to be more refined. This
region is known for its meaty preparations like the Arcot Mutton Chops and Arcot Biryani. The
Acrot Biryani is distinguished by the use of Seeraga Samba rice which is more like Arborio rice
used in risottos and its cooking technique. Unlike Hyderabadi biryanis, the meat and rice is
prepared separately and then placed in a vessel over coal to cook further on dum.

Take a culinary tour around the state with some of our Southern favourites.

1. Meen Kozhambu

Recipe by Chef Bhatt, Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, Chennai

A Kozhambu recipe to rule them all. Kozhambu is a gravy preparation with a base of tamarind,
toor dal and urad dal. This one is a fish curry is made with whole of chillies and tamarind that
makes it hot and sour in one bite.

2. Milagu Pongal

Recipe by Chef Niru Gupta

This could be a light and lovely breakfast recipe. With cumin seeds, pepper and asafetida, it
smells divine.
3. Urlai Roast

Recipe by Chef Praveen Anand, Dakshin Restaurant, ITC Park Sheraton, Chennai

Baby potatoes are roasted and cooked in a freshly grounded masala, this recipe comes straight
from the homeland.

4. Chicken 65

Recipe by Chef Velu Murugan.P, Dakshin Restaurant, ITC Park Sheraton, New Delhi

Learn from an expert how to make restaurant-style chicken 65 at home.

5. Chicken Chettinad

Recipe by Chef Kishore D Reddy

Chicken Chettinad a fantastic dish worthy of learning how to make it perfectly. Chef Nair tells me
that the traditional recipe uses a mix of 28 spices!

6. Archuvitta Sambar

Recipe by Chef Aditya Bal

In the traditional recipe, the sambar powder is made with roasted and freshly grounded spices. It
is a regular in most Iyer households.

7. Cabbage Poriyal

User Recipe by Gowtham K Karingi

A simple vegetarian side with stir-fried cabbage, mustard seeds, some roasted lentils and fresh
coconut.

8. Mulligatawny Soup

Recipe by Chef Vicky Ratnani

Apples, carrots, potatoes and red lentils simmered with coconut milk, tamarind pulp and black
peppercorns. Perfect for a cold day.
9. Medhu Vada

Recipe by Chef Niru Gupta

Serve this crisp delight as a meal with sambhar or a quick snack with coconut chutney.

10. Arisi Thengai Payasam

User Recipe by Dharmashree

A traditional Tamil Sappadu would be incomplete without the sweet, sweet Payasam. It is a
Kheer-like dessert and this one is made with rice, coconut and jaggery. Another stunner from
the Iyer community.