Curd Rice 

You may think what is the need for recipe to make  a curd Rice. But believe me Making Curd and Curd Rice has some tips and tricks.

The recipe I have given will work if you plan to pack Curd rice for lunch or you plan to make it ahead and keep, If it is for immediate consumption you can use as much as curd as required curd and 2-3 Tablespoon of Milk.

Ingredients

Cooked Rice - 1/2 Cup
Curd - 4 Tablespoon
Milk -  1/4 Cup
Oil - 1/4 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 Teaspoon
Cashew-nuts - 6 (Optional)
Pomegranate - 3 Tablespoon
Ginger - 1 Inch (Finely Chopped)
Green Chillies - 1 (Finely Chopped)
Green Coriander - Few Sprigs ( Finely Chopped)
Salt - To taste

Method 

• Add required salt to the Rice and using a ladle mash it well.
• Then add the milk and mix well.  Adjust Milk according to the consistency. 
• To this add the curd and mix well.
• meanwhile heat a tadka pan and heat oil.
• Once the oil is hot add mustard seeds and allow it to splutter and then add cashew nuts and switch off the flame.
• After switching off the flame add Green Chillies and Ginger and give it a stir.
• Add this to the prepared Rice and then add Chopped coriander Leaves, Pomegranate seeds. 

Notes:

• Wash and soak rice for 30 minutes in 1.5 cups of water and cook for 6 whistles . I usually use 2.5 cups of water to cook rice regularly and I cook for 5 whistles. 
• So take extra water and cook as we want the rice to be cooked well. 
• Adding Milk and curd will ensure that the curd rice is not sour when you serve it. 

Vellai Poosani Mor Kootu - White Pumpkin in Buttermilk Gravy 

I don't know why, but we don't buy so much of White Pumpkin as the Yellow Pumpkin? So I decided to buy it and make this Yummy dish. The recipe is from my mom. It was such a easy dish to prepare.

 Ingredients
White Pumpkin - 250 Grams (Peeled, diced into 1 inch square)
Curd - 1 Cup
Turmeric - A pinch
Salt to Taste
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Oil - 1/2 Teasoon (I used Coconut Oil)

To make a Paste:
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Green Chillies - 3-4
Coconut - 1/4-1/2 Cup (Depending on your taste, I added 1/2 Cup)
Rice - 1 Teaspoon (Soak it in water for 10-15 minutes prior to grinding)

Method:

• Grind the soaked rice and then add other ingredients given under 'To make a paste' and grind into a smooth paste.
• Mix this paste with the Curd and keep it. 
• Add very little water and cook the ash gourd. Add turmeric also.
• Cook till the Ash gourd is done.
• Once it is done, reduce the flame to low and add the Yoghurt- paste mixture and cook till the raw flavour of the paste is gone.
• It may take 5-8 minutes.
• In a tadka pan, add little oil, splutter the Mustard seeds and add it to the prepared curry. 

Vendakkai Morekuzhambhu - Ladies Finger in Curd curry

I really love Morekuzhambu, it is tangy and refreshing. I believe this is basically a Kerala Dish. This gravy can be made with Capsicum, Ladies finger, White Pumpkin etc.

It tastes great with Rice and Arbi Fry.

Ingredients
Ladies Finger - 15 (Cleaned and cut into 2 inches )
Whipped Curd - 1 Cup
Turmeric Powder - a pinch
Coconut - 1/4 Cup (Read notes)
Green Chillies - 6
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Coconut Oil - 1 Tablespoon
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 Teaspoons
Curry Leaves - Few
Salt - To Taste


Method

• Clean the ladies finger and roast it in a kadai with little oil.
• Roast it well and add a pinch of turmeric powder in the end and keep it aside.
• The Ladies Finger should be cooked during this roasting.
• If the Ladies finger does not cook while roasting then sprinkle some water , close it with a lid and cook it.
• Make a paste of Coconut, green chilly,salt and Cumin seeds.
• This paste has to be smooth.
• Place the roasted Ladies finger and the prepared paste in a kadhai and cook till the raw flavor is gone.Do this on low flame.
• To this add the whipped curd (keep the stove on low flame) and switch off the stove when the gravy starts bubbling.
• Now place a tadka pan on stove and add coconut oil and once the oil is warm add Mustard seeds and once they splutter add curry leaves.
• Pour this over the prepared Gravy.

Tips:

• The curd should be little sour for this Gravy or Kuzhambhu.
• Whip the Curd well using a hand whisk or pulse it in a mixer.
• The quantity of coconut is directly proportional to the sourness of the curd (More sour, more coconut)
• The consistency of the gravy should be Thick.