Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Ugadi Feast!!!

Until I was in India, I never used to take festivals, tradition and culture so seriously. For me festivals were to just eat delicious food and enjoy the whole day sitting at home or watch special TV programs. It used to be a day of enjoyment. That was because there were elders to do all the poojas and cooking stuff, so we didn’t have much responsibilities. Now it’s all over and here I am trying my best to carry over the traditions and values to another generation and to do it the way my mother and grandmother had done. I think we all wouldn’t have given so much importance to festivals and traditions if we were in our own land. It’s the distance, which has brought about the difference in me and most of us. I have never seen so many crowds at the temples in India during festivals like I see here. Its only when we got away from where we were (India), we start realizing what we miss.

Ugadi is celebrated as New Year in Andhra and Karnataka. In Maharashtra it’s celebrated as Gudi Padwa. A new month called the chaitra masam(March/april) begins. The flowers start blooming, birds chirping, spring lingers with the start of this month, which is called Vasanth ritu.
In Andhra it’s the season for mangoes and all women at home make avakaya in this season. My mother-in -law makes great avakaya (mango pickle) for all of us.



Ugadi Pachadi

Ugadi Pachadi is a special dish made on Ugadi day. This pachadi has got different taste like sweet, hot, sour, tangy and bitterness. It symbolizes different phases in life like happiness and sorrow one has to face in the coming years.

Ingredients

1 cup raw fresh mango finely chopped along with skin
1 tbsp of margosa flowers (neem flowers)
½ cup of grated jaggery
3 -4 tbsp tamarind juice
chilli pwd
salt to taste


Preparation


Mix up all the ingredients into a semi liquid form and enjoy. Each and every ingredient spreads its own flavors and is a real feast to the tongue.
We had been to the temple on ugadi and they served this pachadi as “Prasadam”. Oh it was a heavenly taste, not only to the tongue but also to the soul. They added Bananas too. Couldn’t get enough of it and no wonder they call it Prasadam (prashad).


Mango Pulihara


Ingredients

1cup grated fresh raw mango
2 cups cooked rice
½ tsp mustard seed
½ tsp chana dal(Bengal gram dal)
½ tsp urad dal (black gram dal)
1tsp groundnuts (peanuts)
4-5 cashew nuts
2tbsp raisins
1tsp chopped fresh ginger
1tbsp chopped green chillis
Curry leaves and cilantro.
Turmeric
Salt to taste.
3tbsp oil

Preparation

In a frying pan add oil. Add mustard seed, chana dal, urad dal, groundnuts, and let it get a golden brown color. Then add cashews, raisins, chopped ginger, curry leaves, chillis, turmeric and fry in medium heat. Once the aroma rises out of these ingredients, add grated mango as shown in the picture and fold them all together. Simmer the heat and add cooked rice and salt. Fold them all together gently. Now garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve.











Aam ras - mamidi charu (Mango Rasam)



Ingredients

Whole Mango (the left out mango with the seed from the pulihara )
3 cups of water
1tsp Rasam powder
½ tsp turmeric
Salt
Fresh cilantro

For tempering

Mustard seeds
Cumin seeds
Asafoetida
Ghee (Clarified butter)
Curry leaves.

Preparation

In the water add the whole mango. The mango should be as a whole with the seed. I took the left out one from the pulihara. Along with it add salt, turmeric, rasam powder and let it boil till the mango gets cooked. It spreads the whole house with its aroma and your stomach starts growling. Once the mango is cooked, temper with the given ingredients and garnish with fresh cilantro and Enjoy!!






Obbatlu (Pooran poli)



Ingredients



For the dough

1 cup Maida (all purpose flour)
1 cup whole-wheat flour
4tbsp oil
salt
water

For pooran(stuffing)



1cup boiled and mashed chana dal (Bengal gram dal)
½ cup sweetened coconut flakes (normal grated coconut can also be added)
½ cup Grated jaggery
1 tsp crushed cardamom
Oil

Preparation



Prepare the dough like it’s done for chapattis but a little loose. Keep it aside closed. The dal has to be cooked in pressure cooker and after removing the excess water out of the dal, it is blend in to paste in a mixer or by hand. Remember not to add water to the dal.
Prepare the pooran by mixing the mashed dal, coconut, jaggery and cardamom powder.
Now stuff the dough with pooran and gently roll it with rolling pin (like we do for aalu parathas) or pat it with hands if you are good at it. If patting with hands, spread some oil on your hands. Make it as thin as possible and fry it on the tava on medium heat like we usually do for aalu parathas. Serve it hot!!

Dry fruit Laddu!!





Ingredients


1cup cashew nuts
1 cup raisins
1 cup Apricot
1 cup dry or fresh Figs
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 cup almonds
1 cup dates
4-5 tbsp honey

Preparation


Chop cashews, almonds, and dates into medium size. Make sure not to crush them. Soak apricots and figs in warm water for 15 minutes. Drain out the water and chop the Apricots. Split open the figs and spoon out the seeds inside it and discard the outer skin. I am using the seeds only.
I popped the skin in to my mouth(No wasting please). Figs are usually good for digestion purpose as they are a good source of fiber. It also cures stomach ailments. Now add honey and mix up all these fruits together.
Make into laddus and place them in muffin pans. Bake them for about 15 minutes at 250 degrees. Delicious dry fruit laddus are ready. It’s highly nutritious and healthy. You can add more dry fruits if desired with all your creative thoughts. I think these dry fruit laddus are better than any sweet granola bars!!

The baking part is only for increasing the shelf-life of the laddus. It can be kept in the fridge if it is not baked, for more shelf-life.

38 comments:

Rajani Rayudu said...

Hi Sharmi,
Happy Ugadi to u too. Liked your ugadi feast they are all yummy. We add banana and putnalu pappu to pachadi aswell. Photo teese lope finish chesesa nenu. Wiil try your dry fruit laddu looks delicious. Thanks for posting.
cheers
rajani

Pravs said...

Happy Ugadi Sharmi,
Wow ! you have a great blog here....all mouth watering recipes and pics. I did try to check out your blog before and didn't get access. I am happy you directed me to the right blog of yours.

Latha said...

Oh my Sharmi! What a spread! Happy ugadi to you and your family too!
You know u are so right! I was just like you. Now I miss the festivals more and am more religious and patriotic! I think distance has made the difference in me.
Your meal looks deliicous! Wish I was your neighbour!
Cheers
Latha

Deepa Hari said...

Ugadi Feast luks great...Nice presentation...Happy Ugadi Sharmi...

TNL said...

lovely feast you had..I had the Pachadi at the temple On Sunday, it is indeed heavenly! and they served many South Indian dishes...I enjoyed it so much!

Love that dry fruit laddo...very nice.

Sia said...

what a feast!!!! i am amazed...
just sitting here and staring at ur screen:)

Indira said...

Many thanks for the wishes and for your kind words at Mahanandi, Sharmi.

Wishing you and your family a happy and prosperous Ugadi!

Best wishes,
Indira

Swapna said...

Dear Sharmi,
A very Happy Ugadi to you and your family!
The feast looks delicious. You are right about feeling more for the culture when you are away from home. Same is the case with me.
Swaps

Malar Gandhi said...

Belated Ugadi Wishes. Dry fruit Laadu...sounds yummy. Will give a try soon!

Seema Bhat said...

Sharmi,
Belated happy Ugadi to you and your family. Where in NJ are you from? I will jsut drop by to your place if you have some left-overs....Lovely looking dishes ....all of them...really they are all indeed feast to our eyes. Thanx for sharing
-
Seema

sra said...

Hi Sharmi, very unusual that you added raisins to pulihara, and I've never heard of maamidi charu, even! Thanks for visiting my blog.

sunita said...

Wow Sharmi, what a spread!!! having a sweet tooth myself, found the laddoos irresistable...got any left?...all the recipes look amazing...thanks.

FH said...

Beautiful feast Sharmi.Each one of them looks mouthwatering!:))
I made very few,was tired after all the party:))

Sharmi said...

Rajani, same thing happened with me and prepared it again for the pic. thanks dear!

Pravs!! thank God you found the right blog.

Latha, You are always welcome!

thanks Deepa!

Trupti,glad you got to taste the pachadi.

Sia, dont stare at the screen, Try it out dear!

Thanks Indira for visiting my blog.
and for the wishes.

Hey swaps, good now we value our Culture!

Thanks Malar, seema, Sunita and Asha.

Sra, You noticed it right. I add raisins which tastes great.
thanks for the visit.

Lakshmik said...

Wow Sharmi. Delicious festival spread. Thanks for all the recipes.

Surya Hith said...

I am here by the comment you left on mine.what a great feast sharmi,everything looks mouthwatering and yummy.I will try to get some mango during my next grocery shopping.I have to try your mango recipes.Thanks

Richa said...

Such a feast to the eyes! Many a times I go thru cookbooks to admire such yummy spreads and was so glad to see it here. Will definitely make the laddu.
thanks sweetie for the recipes.

Kausum said...

Belated Happy Ugadi. Nice mouthwatering blog

Mishmash ! said...

Ho Sharmi I agree with u on ur thoughts about our festivals and traditions and how we all try so hard to carry on that once we re out of our country. hmm...so u had a great feast, huh ?:)

Shn

Priya said...

Ugadi Shubhakanshuku Sharmi ! I missed the last 3 posts and should I say I am hungry and missing home now :(( :(( :((
My roommate and I prepared a near plate meal too for Ugadi and invited friends in the hope of recreating the atmosphere at home. I had to watch the Ugadi special serials on the internet to actually get the feel of Ugadi in the otherwise boringly routine day here ...hehehe

marriedtoadesi.com said...

Happy Ugadi! Amazing site you have here...I'm really impressed!

Unknown said...

Hello Sharmi,

I posted a comment yesterday but it seems it didnt work..

Wishing you and your family a very Happy and prosperous Ugadi.

Needless to say you have offered delicious Neivedyam to God , just like the beautiful weblog "Neivedyam" you have here...

Dry fruit ladoo looks delicious...

Sushma
http://www.sunkiran.com

Prema Sundar said...

Happy Ugadi to u and ur Family Sharmi. Lovely spread and I was really taken aback by the dry fruit ladoos. They look so lovely and mouth watering.Delicious...

Unknown said...

Happy ugadi sharmi..That's a mouthwatering feast..esply..the mango dishes.I love pooran poli and tried it so many times.Will give your version a try soon.I loved the mango pacchadi ...yummy..

Viji said...

Hi sharmi, Happy Ugadi, The plate looks awesome. All are well presented. Nice dishes. Hope you enjoyed it too. Viji

sailaja said...

Wow what a spread, Sharmi. Awesome!!
Those dry fruit ladoos are absolutely irrresistable!

Sailaja

J said...

What a nice feast this is! And those dry fruit laddoos are so easy to make huh? Definitely better than granola bars. :)

Sharmi said...

Thank you so much Lakshmi, Surya, Richa, Kusum, shn, Priya, Kanchana, Sushma, Prema, Mahi, Viji, Sailu and Jyo. So nice of you guys. very moving comments. Makes me work harder for the blog.
thanks again!
sharmi

Maneka Nirmal said...

wowwww.. that was a real big feast...happy ugadi sharmi..

Shivapriya said...

Hey Sharmi
Happy Ugadi, Even I made Mango Pulihora. My son was sick so could do much. Your festival meal looks delicious.

Dr. Soumya Bhat said...

Lovely treat for this good occation wish i could have joined you.

bee said...

wow. i will definitely try those dry fruit laddoos.

Bong Mom said...

Happy Ugadi Sharmi and what a feast. I really liked the idea of the Pachadi with all the tastes, saw same in swapna's blog too
The Laddu and the rasam and everything looks delicious and festive

Hyderabadi's said...

Happy Ugadi to u too :)
I like ur dry fruit ladoo recpie, will give a try. Thank u for sharing...

Raji said...

mamidi charu nenu eppudu vinaledu sharmi garu,
thats smt i vl try
and ugadi pacchadi chustunte
naku malli tinalani vundi :)

Priyanka said...

oh wow!!! wat a coincidence- i have two raw mangoes lying in my fridge- i was thinking of making the usual fare and some panha but thesse dishes look real yummm.... thats wat i m making for this evenings dinner. Will let you know how it turns out.

sajith90 said...

Happy Ugadi to all friends. May this Ugadi brings you luck and prosperity

Regards
Prasad

N.B:- Please visit us to send ugadi cards to your friends and relatives

sushma said...

Thankyou so much for all the delicious detailed list of neivedyam.This is my first ugadi after my marriage.So gonna prepare alone without my mother-in-law's help