Friday, April 23, 2010

Back to the Grassroots of South Indian Cuisine with a simple side-dish

"Cruciferous vegetables have it all: vitamins, fiber, and disease-fighting phytochemicals"...so says WebMD...Here is a simple dish from the Southern part of India using Cauliflower, one of the Cruciferous "Super-foods" Vegetables. This is a very traditional dish in South India - Podimaas, to which I have given a simpler twist, to accommodate my quick cooking sensibilities.  The other vegetables that could be substituted in place of Cauliflower here, could be potatoes or raw plantain."Podimaas" means mashed and stir-fried vegetable...but here I have just finely chopped the vegetable and then stir-fried it. 

The traditional version of this recipe involves some more steps of roasting and powdering spices to add to the dish(I shall post that one of these days as well). The very traditional South Indian chef may frown upon this "quick version" of the famous side-dish, which is served at many festive meals in Southern India...but I love this...plus my kids seem to have taken a liking to this simple, tangy recipe!!! What do you know???!!! So that is why I thought it might be worthwhile to share with you all...no taste test better than that of critical, head-shaking, food-sniffing kids, I guess:))

This recipe for the South Indian Cauliflower Side-dish goes to Yasmeen's Cruciferous Challenge.
This side-dish would be great to serve with Flatbreads, Naans, Chapathis or steaming, hot rice!

Recipe for South Indian Cauilfower Side-dish(aka Cauliflower Podimaas)
Serves: 2 or 3
Prep/cook time: 15 - 20 mins
Ingredients:
Cauliflower - 1 head finely cut into very small florets or grated
Ginger - 1 to 2 inch piece minced or grated
Green chilli peppers - 2 or 3 finely cut or minced( I used the Thai chillies, sometimes I do use Serrano peppers)
For seasoning: Black mustard seeds, Salt, Turmeric - a pinch, Black Pepper, Lemon Juice - 1 to 2 tsp, Asafoetida(aka hing) - a pinch, a few sprigs of curry leaf and/or cilantro
Optional Garnish: Grated coconut(unsweetened) - 1 to 2 tsp
Cooking Oil - 2 to 3 tsp

Note: All ethnic ingredients are available at Asian Indian grocery stores or in the Asian section of most supermarkets.

Method:
In a pan, add the cooking oil and the black mustard seeds...when they start to crackle, add the finely chopped/grated cauliflower and salt and turmeric alongwith the minced green chilli peppers and minced/grated ginger.

Let cook for a few minutes( takes about 8 - 10 minutes) until the vegetable turns soft.

Finally add the remaining seasoning ingredients one at a time. Stir well. You could optionally garnish with grated coconut.

This is a great side-dish that is wonderful served warm or can be refrigerated for 3 - 4 days as well.

 

27 comments:

  1. Meena,,,cauliflower podimas looks superb n perfect dear,,,i like this cauliflower poriyal very much n it goes well with rasam rice...hmmm yum yum poriyal..

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  2. Cauliflower podimaas looks fantastic and makes me hungry Meena,..

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  3. looks delicious meena..simple and nice

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  4. Hy Meena,
    That looks so good n inviting. I wanna try this. Thanks for the recipe dear.

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  5. Wow.. simple and delicious... looks inviting.. :)

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  6. Cauliflower side dish looks awesome! Will go well with Sambhar Saatham!

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  7. cauliflower side dish looks yummy and delicious...perfect with hot rice.....

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  8. thats really nutritious.. perfect entry for the event..

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  9. OO! my fav one.. sounds yumm and it reminds me I need to try this recipe soon.

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  10. That looks superb...a perfect side dish for rice and sambar..yummm

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  11. Meena,

    Podimas looks really good

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  12. I too made the same for lunch today :) yours looks delicious dear...lovely click too!

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  13. Cauliflower podimas looks so beautiful and delicious meena.

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  14. If you can get your kids to love cauliflower, you know it's a great recipe.

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  15. Cauliflower dish looks healthy and delicious.

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  16. Sometimes simple and quick is necessary, but it can also be delicious too! As in this dish. This sounds perfectly seasoned. I love cauliflower!

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  17. Hi meena,
    looks gr8..nice click..

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  18. This looks really yummy! I love cauliflower as it picks flavours nicely! Yummy!

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  19. Now this is making me REAL hungry....

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  20. Cauliflower podimas looks perect and very tempting dear :-)

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  21. Haiii dear,,did u posted any new one now ,,i cldnt get the pagelink dear..

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  22. Hmm sound sipme yet dilious recipe dear.

    Shared some awards with you do collect it from by blog.

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  23. Thanks for taking the challenge Meena.I love the tangy touch of lemons in the cauliflower podimas :D

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