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March 27, 2009

Mugga Dali Kheeri for Yugadi



Most of my posts are on auto publish these days. The posts were written over many weekends when I had little else to do. While I tend to post every alternate day (so that I won't suddenly find that my pipeline has gone dry), just for today, I decided to play around with the schedule. I usually do that when there's something special I want to talk about. A birthday or a festival usually makes it to the list.

This blog hasn't seen too many "festival" specials. There are many reasons for that. The biggest reason is probably the time lag between the making and the posting. And honestly, I don't even "make" that much. Is it a sign of the times, is it a sign of my laziness, is it just me asking the question why? Each time, I'd probably pick "lazy". Then again, I have a job that keeps me at work for more than 9 hours a day and the commute usually takes up another 4. So, if I even manage to "make" anything festival related on the actual date of the festival, I would be too tired to talk about it here. After a few days or weeks, it seems so out of place. Maybe I should talk about them the following year. Like I remember taking pictures of our Pongal feast last year. I managed to sneak one of those pictures into this year's post.

While I am not in favour of celebrating every festival around the weekend closest to it (I mean, what is the point?), I have to resort to doing just that, at times. Often, I make one dish that is part of the meal for that festival and leave it at that. Something is better than nothing, right? As this new year begins, I am caught between the past, the present and the future. Will the traditions of my family carry on? Growing up, I had to contend with Konkani festivals and Tamil festivals. Now I have added a third dimension, Telugu festivals. I'm glad that many of them coincide. It is the new year for us (on my mother's side of the family) as well as for S' side of the family. (And for all of you out there who call this the Telugu New Year, please, please, I beg you to stop doing that. It is the New Year for anyone who follows the lunar calendar in India.)


My MIL said that the sweet dish that they make for today is Bobatlu (Punpolo in Konkani, Poli in Tamil, Puranpoli in Marathi). Among other things, Saraswats make this kheer with green gram dal. It is anyone's guess which I'd pick to make today. Much as I'd love to eat the Bobatlu, I'm not even going to think about making it on my own today. (I have made it a couple of times in the past. Feels like a different life though!) Today it has to be Mugga (Moong) Dali (Dal) Kheeri (Kheer). We also make panak (I shall blog about it later as we make it for a different festival too - same as the Tamil Panakam) and usli.


Here's the recipe:


1 cup Green Gram Dal (Moong Dal)
1/2 cup Coconut Milk
2 tsp Ghee
3/4 cup Jaggery
1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder


Heat the ghee in a pressure pan. Add the green gram dal and fry for a few minutes. Add about 3 cups of water and and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Add the jaggery and cook for 5-7 minutes. Blend in the coconut milk and the cardamom powder.


There you go. There couldn't have been a simpler way to make kheer. And there isn't a sweeter way to usher in the New Year. I don't have access to Neem leaves and flowers and as a result, I am not making the Telugu Ugadi Pachadi or the Konkani equivalent (which is very similar to this and has raw mango as well) . For today, I will just have to make do with this bowl of kheer. May you and yours enjoy a lovely year.

11 comments:

FH said...

Happy Ugadi, enjoy the Payasa. I am on to my cooking too, just started this morning. Looks delicious, love the color! :)

Finla said...

I have not had payasom for long, well i had them when i was in India last time.
Wish i had this payasom.

Ashwini said...

Hi Raaga!!

I was browsing for Konkani dishes for Sansaar Padwa and came across your post. I am a konkani too. I like the way your blogs are descriptive and well explained. I will try your kheer some day. Today I've prepared Kheer and Bibbe Upkari. Happy Gudi Padwaa!!

Please visit my blog at www.konkanifoodie.blogspot.com.

Regards,
Ashwini.

Divya Kudua said...

Happy Ugadi-Sansaar padvo to you Raaga!!I just made a simple sheera today,had too many leftovers from yesterday to finish[bday feast!].I just couldnt let this day pass without making any sweet,hence the sheera.Every year,I make Madgane with mooga dali,this year is an exception.Glad to see it here..lovely bowl!!

Cham said...

Happy Ugadi and the payasam is perfect for the festival!

Deepthi Shankar said...

Happy Ugadi to you Raaga. Loved the payasam, but its definitely new to me

Archana said...

Hey, nice one - always have it at mom's place, never made it myself..
Trying your coriander buns today, hope they come out well - am pretty new to baking..

sra said...

A Happy New Year to you!

Chitra said...

Happy ugadi, looks nice,have moong dal, will sure give a try!!

Priya Suresh said...

Happy Ugadi raaga, Kheer look marvellous!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

A very belated Ugadi to you. As usual, I'm late in catching up with things blogging! :)

I think its great that you can call so many celebrations your own. And I like payasam with jaggery, coconut milk and lentils. I made one when Sra came down.
Btw, is "panak" the samer as "panagam"?