Pulikachal (Tamarind lentil mix)

Hope you have all been fine and enjoying the early spring. I have not been able to blog for quite sometime- with prep for going to India and my moving and all the chaos of packing. Here is a simple recipe for you.
Pulikachal is a ready-mix recipe. Pulikachal can be stored in a cool place for a few days and in the refrigerator for a few weeks. It is a very simple recipe and takes less than 20 minutes. You can eat this by either mixing with rice or as a side dish for curd (yoghurt) rice.

Ingredients:

* Kadugu (Mustard seeds) - 3 tsp
* Nalennai (Gingelley oil) - 4 tbsp
* Kadala paruppu (Channa dal) - 1/2 cup
* Ulatham paruppu (Urad dal) - 1/4 cup
* Dry red chillies - 7
* Karugapillai (Curry leaves) - 7-8 leaves
* Puli (Tamarind paste) - 4 tbsp
* Perungayam (Asafoetida) - a pinch
* Manjal podi (Turmeric powder) - 1 tsp
* Salt to taste




Preparation:

* Heat oil and splutter mustard. Add chana and urad dal, saute till light brown.
* Add red chilles and curry leaves.
* Add tamarind paste (thick paste available in stores), and add water to this.
* Add turmeric powder.
* Let this cook for sometime and reduce (water will evaporate, not completely)(see image)
* Add asafoetida and salt.
* Now pulikachal is ready. Mix it with rice and eat with potato chips.

Note:

* If you need you can add peanuts (groundnuts).
* I sometimes add half cooked vegetables while cooking and call it- vegetable pulikachal (see image below)
* My measurement is 2 dry red chilles for every tbsp of tamarind paste (store bought)


The above image is of Vegetable pulikachal rice. I made this from ready pulikachal recipe.

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