Chettinad Tomato soup

Chettinad refers to the southern part of Tamil Nadu, India. Chettinad cuisine is one of the spiciest and aromatic cuisine of India. I gathered information from a couple of food blogs regarding this soup and have presented my own 'no onion no garlic' version.

Ingredients:
Tomatoes, ripe- 2
green chilli - 1
toor dal- 1tablespoon
Mung dal- 1 tablespoon
curry leaves- a string
fennel seeds- 1 teaspoon
cumin seeds- 1 teaspoon
black pepper, whole- 1 teaspoon
bay leaf- 2
cinnamon stick- 1
turmeric powder- a pinch
asafoetida- a pinch
salt to taste
corriander leaves- to garnish

Method:
Heat some oil in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds, fennel seeds, black pepper, cinnamon sticks, bay leaf .

When the cumin cracks, add green chilli, chopped tomatoes, toor & mung dal, asafoetida, tumeric powder, curry leaves and saute them for a minute.

 Add salt and 2 cups of water and steam them for atleast 3 whistles.

 Turn off the heat and wait until the pressure releases.

Then pour them in a strainer and strain them to get a clear soup.

If possibble, squeeze out the tomatoes and dal by handor a potato masher.

Garnish the spicy clear soup with corriander leaves .

Add black pepper powser if required.

Serve hot.

Tomato Channa Dhal Chutney

This recipe is from my mother-in-law. Simple to prepare. The best combination for this chutney is Kuzhi paniyaram or plain dosa. I generally do not add any seasoning for this chutney, as its taste fine just like that. I don’t grind this chutney to a smooth paste, rather leave it a little coarse.

Ingredients:

Tomato – 4
Red chillies – 3
Cilantro (coriander leaves) – 4 - 5 strands
Tamarind – a little
Channa dhal – 2 - 3 tbsp
Curry leaves – 1 strand
Asofoetida - ½ tsp
Gingely Oil – 1 - 2 tbsp
Salt as per taste

Method:

First cut the tomatoes into cubes. Heat oil in a pan, add the red chillies, channa dhal and fry them till the dhal becomes light golden brown. Next add asofoetida, curry leaves, tomato and salt. Allow the tomato to cook for 4 – 5 minutes so that the raw smell leaves and tomato becomes soft. When done add the cilantro and allow it to cool. Blend the mixture to a slightly coarse paste. Serve it with hot kuzhi paniyaram, idly or dosa.

Chettinad style Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu / Lentil Dumplings in Tangy Gravy

Chettinad is a region in southern Tamil Nadu, with Karaikudi as its capital. It is well know for its spicy culinary delicacies. Chettinad food, now is one of many reasons why people get to know about chettinad. Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu means lentil dumplings cooked in a gravy. This recipe has different versions. When I usually make this paruppu urndai kuzhambu I used to follow my mom's recipe. My huband motivated me to try the Chettinad style and briefed me what are the modifications that has to be made from my usual style. I tried and it came out really well.

Ingredient:
For the dumplings:
Chenna dal- 1cup
Toor dal- 1/4 cup
red chillies- 3
Green chillies- 1
hing- 1/4 tsp
salt to taste
curry leaves- 2 string
fennel seeds- 1 tsp

For gravy
Coconut(shredded)- 2 tbsp
Poppy seeds- 1 tsp
Ginger- 1 inch
sambar powder- 1 tbsp
red chilli powder- 1/2 tsp
tamarind- small lemon sized
tomato- 1 (medium sized)
turmeric- 1/4 tsp
salt to taste
curry leaves- 1 string
mustard seeds- 1 tsp
cumin seeds- 1/4 tsp
fennel seeds- 1/2 tsp + 1/4 tsp
hing- a generous pinch
oil- 1 tbsp

Method:
Making the dumplings:
Wash and soak the chenna dal and toor dal for 2 hours. Strain the dals and grind them coarsely along with red chilliies, curry leaves, green chillies without adding water. Add salt, hing and 1 tsp fennel seeds to the coarsely ground paste and mix well. Make small balls out of it and steam them in a pressure cooker for 5 minutes or until the dumplings are half cooked. Do not cook it fully or over cook the dumplings. This might prevent the dumplings to get fully soaked in the gravy.
Making Gravy
Soak the tamarind in 1 cup of warm water for 10 minutres and make an extract. Finely chop the tomatoes. Grind the coconut, poppy seeds, ginger, 1/4 tsp fennel seeds into a smooth paste. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard, cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp fennel seeds. When the mustard crack add hing, curry leaves, chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder and saute them until the tomatoes become tender. Add the tamarind extract, ground paste, chilli powder, sambar powder, salt, 1 cup water and allow it to boil. Drop in the dumplings and cook in a medium to low flame for 15- 20 minutes. If the gravy is too thin then break two of the dumplings in the gravy and mix well to get the right consistency for the gravy. Serve hot with rice.

Chettinad Tomato Rasam

My cousin sister made this rasam when I was there in Pollachi last weekend. I was bowled over by the taste and decided this is the first thing I am going to make for Krishna when I am back in Chennai. I managed to do it. By Krishna’s mercy it did come out well. We can actually kind of have this a different type of soup also. Here you go…

Ingredients
Tomato – 5
Red Chillies – 2-3
Corriander Seeds – 3 tsps
Jeera – 2 tsps
Pepper – ½ tsp
Thoor Dhal – 2 tsps
Curry leaves – a little
Asafoetida – a pinch
Coconut Milk – ½ glass
Oil for Frying
Mustard Seeds – a little
Urad Dhal – a little
Red Chillies – 1(For Frying)
Corriander Leaves – a small bunch

Method:

Add the thoor dhal to a pan and fry till the aroma comes and the dhal turns light golden brown. Allow it to cool.Next add the thoor dhal, red chillies, coriander seeds, jeera and pepper, make a powder and Keep it aside. Next boil the tomatoes and peel the skin and grind them to a puree. Heat the oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds and wait till they burst and add the urad dhal, red chilly, asafoetida and curry leaves. Next add the tomato puree, powdered mix, salt and add two glasses of water(You can add more water if you feel that consistency is thick) and allow it to boil till the raw smell leaves. Next add the coconut milk and allow it to cook for another 10 mins. Cut the coriander leaves and add it to the rasam. Spicy chettinad tomato rasam is ready.

Chettinad Masala

Chettinad Masala

This is a recipe i saw on some website (i dont really remember which one) and liked it. So i made a few modifications of my own and the outcome was good (i think so). Hence, i am sharing it here. Its simple to make and tastes yummy with hot paranthas, phulkas, and naan.

Ingredients:

For Chettinad Masala:

1/2 cup freshly grated coconut

1 tsp dhania (coriander seeds)

1/2 tsp jeera (cumin seeds)

2 whole dry red chillies

3 cardamom (elaichi)

1 tsp fennel seeds (saunf)

3 cloves (laung)

1" cinnamon (dalchini)

1 tbsp oil

Other Ingredients:

1 tbsp poppy seeds (khus khus)

1 tbsp cashewnuts broken

ginger

6 cloves

3 tbsp oil

3 tomatoes (medium) blanched and grated

1/2 tsp turneric powder

1/2 tsp chilli powder

4-5 curry leaves

3 cups boiled mixed vegetables

1/2 cup coconut milk

salt to taste

Method:

1. Soak poppy seeds and cashews in little hot water for five minutes.

2. Roast the masala ingredients till the aroma arises and grind them to a fine paste along with poppy seeds and cashews and keep aside.

3. Heat oil in a pan, add ginger, and grated tomotoes and add turmeric powder, salt, chilli powder and cook till tomatoes are well blended and oil begins to seperate.

4. Add ground masala paste to this tomato mixture, add curry leaves and saute for two minutes.

5. Add 1 cup water, boiled vegetables and cook covered for a few minutes till the grave thickens.

6. Finally add coconut milk, mix well, and simmer for two to three minutes.

serve hot with chappatis or phulkas.