01
Vanni
Comfort
Vanni - a mixed vegetable and mango curry, served alongside kanji and puzhuku as part of a traditional meal.
Vegetables and raw mango cooked with turmeric, finished with ground coconut, curd, curry leaves and coconut oil.
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AMMAMMA'S NOTES.
Mixed vegetables and raw mango
as needed
Coconut
1/2 cup
Red chilly powder
1 spoon
Coconut oil
3 spoons
Curry leaves
as needed
Curd
1/4 cup
Salt
to taste
01
Cook the mixed vegetables and mango with water and turmeric.
02
Add salt and chilly powder.
03
Add ground coconut.
04
Add curd.
05
Finish with curry leaves and coconut oil.
Puzhuku
Cooked horse gram mixed with a vegetable, ground coconut, chilli powder and a little jaggery, finished with coconut oil.
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Kanji
Kanji - a watery rice and moong dal porridge, eaten together with vanni and puzhuku as part of a traditional meal.
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THE CLASSIC MEAL ON ONAM AND ALL SUNDAY SADHYAS. THATHA ONCE TOLD US AS WE WERE APPLAUDING HER FOR THE FOOD, THAT KANJI IS ACTUALLY A VERY NORMAL-PERSON FOOD, WHICH MAITHREE AND I REFUSED TO BELIEVE. KANJI, DRIZZLED WITH GHEE, WITH AMMAMMA BRINGING US HOT WATER FROM THE KITCHEN SO IT WOULD BURN OUR INSIDES SO PLEASANTLY, TOPPED WITH VANNI, PUZHUKU AND SOME THOGAYAL — A MEAL THAT ALWAYS FELT LIKE A WARM HUG.
YAMINI VENKATESAN
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH, 2026