Purani's Kitchen: December 2016

Monday 12 December 2016

Karthigai Deepam Recipes

Courtesy: Internet

Karthikai Deepam is Festival of Lights.

The festival is observed in most Hindu homes and every temple of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and falls in the month of Karthigai (mid-November to mid-December) as per Tamil calendar. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai and Pournami.

Courtesy: Internet

Rows of Agal vilakku (Clay Oil lamps) are lit in every house. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. While the lighted lamp is important for all Hindu rituals and festivals, it is indispensable for Karthigai. This festival is also celebrated to commemorate the bonding between brothers and sisters in south India(analogous to Bhaiya-Dhuj and Raakhi). Sisters pray for the prosperity and success of their brothers and light lamps to mark the occasion.

The idea behind this festival is to keep away bad things from life and welcome the good and holy things of life.

Lamps lit with oil are a symbol of holiness in Indian culture. Karthigai Deepam is no exception. Beautifully lit lamps are found all around the home to bring in happiness to the home. All the people make merry, wear new clothes and rejoice with happiness. They exchange gifts and try to meet all their relatives during the festival.

Courtesy: Internet

According to the Tamil belief, if a person takes birth in Tiruvarur and dies in Varanasi or Chidambaam, his life is fulfilled to the utmost level. People believe that Lord Shiva appeared in Thiruvannamalai hills on this day and the people like to commemorate the situation by lighting a huge fire on the top of the hill. Ghee and camphor are used to light the huge fire to set up connection to God directly. The place looks fabulous and people shout saying Annamalaiyarku Arohara! Most people find the pleasure to watch this happening with own eyes by standing near the fire.

Karthigai Deepam is a fantastic festival of Tamil Nadu which the Tamils never want to miss out. They wait a year around to enjoy during this time. They have the mouth watering food in homes and go out to see the decorations in the streets and the homes of the relatives.

Here I'm happy to share some Karthigai Deepam festival recipes.

Nel Pori Urundai

Aval Pori Urundai

Appam

Happy Karthigai Deepam!

Sunday 11 December 2016

Aval pori urundai

Aval Pori Urundai

I'm happy to share Aval Pori Urundai Recipe with you all! This is a Karthigai Deepam Festival Recipe!

Aval Pori Urundai

Ingredients

Aval Pori - 2 cup
Jaggery - 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder - 2 tsp
Dry Ginger powder - 2 tsp
Coconut (cut into small pieces) - 1/2 tbsp
Rice flour - 1 to 2 cup

Coconut pieces

Dry Ginger Powder

Method

Clean Aval Pori by removing all dust, husk and impurities by dusting it.

Dissolve jaggery in 1 cup of water and filter the impurities. We must make a thick syrup with this jaggery water.

Add dry Ginger powder and coconut pieces to the jaggery water. Mix well. Bring this jaggery water to boil. It must boil continuously.

When it thickens, test it for right padham!

Take one tsp of this syrup and drop it in water. If you are able to make a thick ball out of it, then this is the right stage to switch off the stove.

Add cardamom powder and mix well.

Add this syrup to the cleaned Aval Pori immediately and mix well.

Grease you hands with rice flour generously (to avoid sticking of hot jaggery in your hands) and make small balls with the Pori-Jaggery mixture.

Aval Pori Urundai is ready!

Aval Pori Urundai

Note: If the jaggery syrup dissolves in water, then it should boil for some more minutes.

If the Pori-Jaggery mixture is too hard to make ball, then you can heat it slightly!

Aval Pori is different from Nel Pori!