Keera - Nuvvula Pachadi

Recipe Source: Prabha Gandlur

I can't shy away from posting a 'pachadi' (chutney / pickle) recipe while posting Andhra specials. J Can I ? And so here we go with a  quick cucumber - sesame seeds chutney today. The combination of cucumbers and sesame seeds in chutney may sound preposterous to some. Or to many, it may seem like a combo that never works. I must mention that I was in the second category until I tasted this and had to change my mind.
I got hold of this recipe while casually chatting online with a family member. With BM in mind, I had asked her for some simple, Andhra recipes though I hadn't expected that she would surprise me with such an interesting recipe. This chutney is a simple and quick one besides being unusual. The original recipe needs only five ingredients but I tweaked the recipe a little bit by adding the sweetener and a flavorful tadka of hing. Everyone at home admired it and so here I am sharing this yummy chutney recipe. J

Ingredients:
1 cup very finely chopped cucumber
1/4 sesame seeds
10 - 12 red chillies
Small ball of tamarind soaked in water and juice extracted
Jaggery to taste
Salt to taste
For tadka: 1 tsp oil, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp uraddal (split blackgram), few curry leaves and a little asafoetida

Method:
* Toast sesame seeds and red chillies together on low flame and let cool.
* Heat oil and add the tadka ingredients. When urad dal starts turning reddish, turn off the stove.
* Dry grind the sesame seeds, red chillies, jaggery and salt together finely. Then add the tamarind juice (about 2 -3 Tbsp or to taste) and run the blender again to mix. There is no need to add water even if the mixture appears not well combined or seems very dry. The moisture from the cucumbers is enough to bind. In fact, the paste turns liquidy after combining with cucumbers. Combine this ground paste and the tadka to the finely chopped cucumbers and mix well. Leave aside for 5 - 10 minutes.
* Serve with hot steamed rice and ghee.

Check here for other version of keera / cucumber pachadi.

Now let's check what the other marathoners are cooking today, during this Blogging Marathon #6.

Comments