It was an ordinary Monday evening…Raji and I were at office cafeteria eating snacks. Raji was enjoying her Kulfi as it was served in our office after a long time and as usual, I was thinking about my dinner that night. My husband prefers Chapathis with fresh veggie dishes with mild spicy taste for dinner.
“Tell me a recipe with perugu (Telugu word for Curd)” I asked Raji.
“What veggies do you have in the fridge?” She asked.
I smiled at her and told “I have only some Green leafy veggies at home. Nothing else. ”
“Prepare Thotakura Perugu Pachadi (Thotakura is Mulaikeerai in Tamil)” Raji said.
I looked at her as if she is blabbering something…because I never heard of this pachadi.
She was laughing…”Really Mani... Prepare Thotakura perugu pachadi…”
“Call Amma and confirm with her… you are making fun of me”, I said
Raji immediately called her Mother. Uh…I should say about Raji’s mother…. She is one of the best cook and I am a great fan of her cooking. All her recipes will be good. I always tell Raji that she should have a blog to post her recipes. I always call her if I want to try any new Andhra recipe.
As usual, Raji got the preparation details of the recipe over the phone from her mother and translated to me in English.
Here are the recipe details.
I used Microwave Oven for cooking.
• Take 4 or 5 bunches of Mulaikeerai cut into small pieces. Soak it in salt water for 10 Mins and wash it thoroughly.
• Take an Oven bowl, put this washed Mulaikeerai and cook it in the Oven for 4 minutes.
• Then allow it to cool completely.
• In the same container, wipe it if there is water. Add 1 tea spoon of oil. Put Mustard, Urad dal and Jeera. Keep it in the oven for 1 or 2 minutes. You will get a nice aroma coming out of this Thalippu.
• Then put 3 Green Chilies sliced length wise, little Coriander leaves and add little Asafoetida.
• Keep it in the Oven for 20 secs and take it out and allow it to cool completely.
• Take a big cup of curd and once everything is cooled down, Mix cooked Mulaikeerai, and the Thalippu with curd and add salt to taste.
Yummy, healthy Mulaikeerai Thair pachadi is ready.
To know more about this leafy vegetable, visit this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth
This is fresh, very healthy and tasty dish. Hope you all try it soon. Please leave your comments on this dish.
