Kaaradaiyan Nonbu Adai
காரடையான் நோன்பு அடை
Kaaradaiyan Nombu / காரடையான் நோன்பு also known as ‘Savitri Vratham’ is an important festival for the women in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu.
On this day, married women and young girls observe this Vratham and wear Sacred Yellow Threads / மஞ்சள் சரடு and pray to Goddess Kamakshi, for the longevity and well being of their husbands, while unmarried girls observe this Vratham to get ideal person as their husband!
Kaaradaiyan Nombu is observed on a chosen day when the transition takes place between two Tamil months, namely, Panguni and Masi. It is observed at the exact time when the Tamil month of Masi ends and the month of Panguni begins. In the Gregorian calendar, this festival falls in the month of March. Women observe a strict fast on this day and special feast is prepared for the occasion.
A special kind of Sweet and Salty Adai called Kaaradai is prepared with Homemade Raw Rice flour and Black eyed peas!
The type of Rice is a special kind of Rice which is called Kar Arisi / காரரிசி, which becomes very reason for the name of this Vratham, Kaaradaiyan Nonbu!
The following is the Tamil chant while doing Neivedyam.
"Urukaadha Venneyum
Oradaiyam Naan Nootren
Orukkalum En Kanavar
Enai Vittu Piririyadhirukka Vendum!"
"உருகாத வெண்ணெயும்,
ஓரடையும் நான் நோற்றேன்
ஒருகாலும் என் கணவர்
எனை விட்டு பிரியாதிருக்க வேண்டும்!"
I'm very happy to give you the preparation of two types of this Special Kaaradai here!
Kaaradai - Sweet:
Ingredients:
Homemade Rice Flour - 1 cupBlack Eyed Peas / காராமணி / Lobia - 1/2 cup
Jaggery - 1 cup
Coconut (either grated or finely diced into tiny bits) - 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder - 1tsp
Note: We can use either White and Red Black eye peas or காராமணி (Lobia)!
Method:
Roast the Black Eyed Peas to golden brown without oil and soak it in fresh water for about 7 to 8 hours.
Prepare Rice Flour with the special kind of Rice called Kar Arisi / காரரிசி. Please refer my blog post for preparing Rice Flour!
Pressure cook the soaked peas upto 4 whistles till the peas become soft. Drain the excess water and keep aside!
Roast the Rice Flour without oil till the moisture content of the flour goes! If you can see small balls of rice flour, then you can stop roasting!
Take equal quantity of Jaggery equivalent to roasted Rice Flour. (1 : 1)
Dissolve the Jaggery in 1 : 1 measure of water and filter it to remove the impurities.
Heat the filtered Jaggery water.
Add grated / diced coconut and pressure cooked peas.
When it boils vigorously, add cardamom powder. Now add roasted rice flour slowly to make it a soft dough! Take care no lumps are formed. Switch off the stove!
Allow the dough to come to room temperature.
Prepare small lemon sized rice balls with the dough. You can add little normal water if required for making the dough more softer!
Make each ball to Sweet Kaaradai by pressing it with your fingers and make small hole in it as shown in the picture!
Cook these Sweet Kaaradais in Idli cooker for about 10 minutes!
Serve hot!
Kaaradai - Salty:
Ingredients:
Homemade Rice Flour - 1 cup
Black Eyed Peas / காராமணி - 1/5 cup
Coconut (either grated or finely diced into tiny bits) - 1/4 cup
Red Chilli - 2 or 3
Mustard - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 strand
Asafoetida Powder - 1 pinch
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp
Method:
Roast the Black Eyed Peas to golden brown without oil and soak it in fresh water for about 7 to 8 hours.
Prepare Rice Flour with the special kind of Rice called Kar Arisi / காரரிசி. Please refer my blog post for preparing Rice Flour!
Pressure cook the soaked peas upto 4 whistles till the peas become soft. Drain the excess water and keep aside!
Roast the Rice Flour without oil till the moisture content of the flour goes! If you can see small balls of rice flour, then you can stop roasting!
Heat the oil in a pan! When it is hot, add mustard seeds! When it splutters, add red chilli, curry leaves and Asafoetida Powder.
Now add grated / diced coconut and pressure cooked peas. Add water and bring it to boil! (Take 1:1 - water and rice flour!)
When it boils vigorously, add required salt. Now add roasted rice flour slowly to make it a soft dough! Take care no lumps are formed. Switch off the stove!
Allow the dough to come to room temperature.
Prepare small lemon sized rice balls with the dough. You can add little normal water if required for making the dough more softer!
Make each ball to Salt Kaaradai by pressing it with your fingers and make small hole in it as shown in the picture!
Cook these Salt Kaaradais in Idli cooker for about 10 minutes!
Serve hot!
We take these Sweet Kaaradai and Salt Kaaradai with fresh Butter!
Wishing you all a Very Very
Happy Kaaradaiyan Nonbu!
I'll be back with a healthy and delicious recipe soon!
Till then, Eat healthy; Stay healthy! Bye!
