Ulunthu Sooru/Ulunthu Sadam /Urad Dal Rice/உளுந்து சாதம்

Urad dal rice/Ulunthu Sooru is a authentic lunch in south side .(Nagercoil,Tirunelveli , Madurai)
Urad dal / Ulunthu strengthen the back bones , So village mommy's used to prepare this during their girls puberty,periods time,after delivery.

Best side dish for ulunthu sooru is muttai aviyal(Egg Aviyal) and Malli thovayal (Whole Coriander seed thovayal).

Skinned urad dal is more healthy , usually split urad dal is used for this rice.

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup
Black split urad dal - 1/2 cup
Garlic cloves - 15 nos
Venthayam (Fenugreek seeds) – 1/4 tsp
Salt - as needed
Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
Mustard Seed - 1/4 tsp
Red Chilly - 2 
Gingly oil - 2 tsp 
Water – 4 cups
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup (Optional)

Method:

1. In a kadai or cooker,add a tsp of oil and roast the urad dal slightly till u get a nice aroma.
2. Now wash rice and dal .
3. In hot pressure cooker add oil,mustard seeds wait till splutter , add red chilly and curryleaves .
4. Add rice and dal mixture to this cooker , add fenugreek seeds and the garlic gloves.
5. Add  water to this and add salt to taste.Close the lid 
6. Cook for 2/3 whistle. Open the lid after settles.
7. Now optional you can add grated coconut at this stage.

KOOTANCHORU RECIPE / கூட்டாஞ்சோறு-Nagercoil Special

Nagercoil / South Indian famous Kootanchoru is one pot simple recipe . My mom used to make it often.Also in small kovil festival they used to make kootanchoru in temple .For long travel, picnic , family temple trips and for guests.This is one of the best food.

As It contains most of the country/garden vegtable it is healthy for adults and kids.Papadam,Malli Thovayal,Ellu Thovayal is good side dish for kootanchoru .

Ingredients:

Rice - 1.5cups (Raw rice preferable)
Toor dal - 1/2 cup
Water - 12 cups
Tamarind – Small lemon size
Red chillies – 12-14 nos
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 spoon
Coconut - 1/2 cup
Curry Leaves - 2 sprig

Vegetables:

Carrot - 2 nos
Beans -  5 nos
Drumstick - 1 no
Drumstick leaves – 1.5 cup
Sallot - 6 
Potato - 1 no 
Broad beans - 7 nos
Raw banana - 1/2 no
Yam - 10 small pieces
Raw mango - 1/2 no
Brinjal - 3 nos

Method:

1. Grind Coconut,red chilli,turmeric powder,curry leaves (1 sprig) without water into coarse form.
2. Soak tamarind in enough water.Wash and chop all the vegetables in equal size .
3. In a big vessel bring water to boil.When the water starts to boil,add washed toor dal,turmeric powder.
4. Once the dal is half cooked , add rice to the dhal . Boil it for 5 mins with closed lid. 
5. Add all the vegetables except drumstick leaves and mango ,Keep stirring whenever necessary.(Stir with back of the ladle ).
6. Add salt and tamarind extract . (If you thought water is not enough for rice to cook you can add 1 cup boiling water at this stage).
7. Now mix the coconut mixture , stir with cooked rice & vegetables  . 
8. Finally add drumstick leaves,curry leaves , mango and 1 tablespoon ghee close the lid.cook 3 more mins.
9. Highly Nutritious Kootanchoru is ready to serve .