01
Coconut Rice
With Rice
Thengai Sadam - Tamil for coconut rice, a South Indian temple classic.
Fresh grated coconut fried in a mustard-dal seasoning with sambar powder, mixed into rice.
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AMMAMMA'S NOTES.
Rice
1 cup
Oil
3 spoon
Coconut
3/4 cup
Mustard
1 spoon
Urad dal
1 spoon
Chana dal
1 spoon
Sambar powder
1/2 spoon
Curry leaves
few
Salt
a little
01
Cook 1 cup rice as usual; remove from the cooker and let it cool.
02
In a pan, add oil.
03
Add mustard, urad dal, chana dal, and coconut; fry until the coconut turns light brown.
04
Add sambar powder and curry leaves.
05
Add this mixture to the rice.
06
Add salt and mix everything well.
Lemon Rice
Lemon rice with mustard, urad dal, green chilli, ginger and curry leaves — a lunchbox favourite.
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Tamarind Rice
Puliyodarai - Tamil/Kannada for tamarind rice, a temple prasadam classic.
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I REMEMBER KEEPING KALANDA CHADAM (MIXED RICE) ON THE TERRACE FOR THE CROWS TO FEAST ON — WAKING UP EARLY, HALF ASLEEP, TO ROLL BALLS OF RICE FOR CROWS IS ONE OF MY MOST PAINFUL MEMORIES UNFORTUNATELY. THE RICE STUCK TO YOUR HAND, YOUR EYES KEPT CLOSING, AND IT WAS BITING COLD OUTSIDE IN BANGALORE AT 5AM. AMMAMMA WOULD GENUINELY GET UPSET IF A CROW DIDN'T EAT HER RICE ON THOSE DAYS. THE BEST PART CAME AFTER, WHEN WE GOT TO EAT ALL OF IT FOR LUNCH AFTER SCHOOL.
YAMINI VENKATESAN
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH, 2026