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Thengai Sadam
🇮🇳 Indian Vegetarian

Thengai Sadam

🇮🇳 Indian

Tamil coconut rice with cashews, the prasadam staple of village temples. One pot, big aroma — a full meal folded into fragrant rice. Plate with mirchi ka salan or a cooling cucumber raita.

Prep 25 min Cook 54 min Serves 4 Medium

Ingredients

  • Ginger Garlic Paste1 tbsp
  • Saltto taste
  • Onion1, thinly sliced
  • Green Chili2, slit
  • Ghee2 tbsp
  • Turmeric Powder1/2 tsp
  • Whole Garam Masala Spices2 tsp
  • Rice3/4 cup
  • Curry Leaves2 sprigs
  • Dried Red Chilies1 tsp
  • Grated Coconut1 cup

Optional extras

  • Fresh Cilantro2 tbsp, chopped

Instructions

  1. 1

    Rinse the rice in three changes of water and soak 20 minutes; drain well so the grains fry, not steam.

  2. 2

    Warm the ghee and drop in the whole spices; the moment they sizzle and perfume the kitchen, add the onions.

  3. 3

    Brown the onions properly, stir in ginger garlic paste, then bloom the powdered spices in the fat.

  4. 4

    Tumble in the grated coconut, let it soften in the masala, then add the rice and toast it for two minutes, stirring.

  5. 5

    Pour in hot water (1:1.5 for biryani-style, a little less for pulao), add salt, bring to a boil and cook covered on the lowest flame till the water is gone; rest 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

Chef's tip

If the masala sticks, add water a tablespoon at a time rather than drowning the dish.

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Watch how it's made

Video: அருமையான சுவையில் தேங்காய்ப்பால் சாதம் | Thengai Paal Biryani in Tamil | Thengai Paal Sadham · on YouTube