Puliodarai prepared with homemade gojju/paste and that’s what I am going to share today. But there is a small twist. :-) Puliodarai is a great recipe to sneak in some additional legumes. Check what bean or legume I used and how I make and pack this tamarind rice for the kiddo.
I know there are zillion lunch box ideas, but if you ask me what’s my favorite lunch box recipe, without any second thought, I would say Tamarind Rice / Puliodarai and Curd Rice / Thayir Saadam. When I posted my Dill Dal Kichadi, I mentioned that I had a jaw searching moment for one more recipe and that is this tamarind rice. Vaandu is not a big fan of curd rice yet, but I am not complaining. I am happy to see him relish this tamarind rice.
I took this opportunity of redo my Puliodarai Gojju post. We usually prepare the puliodarai gojju aka tamarind rice paste well ahead. This gojju stays good for ten days when refrigerated. I typically cook this over the weekend and stock it up. Wondering how to get that kovil puliodarai taste? The secret ingredient is the Rasam Powder. Oh yeah, you read it right. Adding a small amount of rasam powder and jaggery enhances the flavor very much. You can check the detailed recipe here.
What am I going to share today then? How I pack it for vaandu with black chickpeas. I do add black chickpeas while mixing the puliodarai. The crunchiness of peanuts with black chickpeas and appalam is heavenly. This is a great way to sneak in those legumes too. I know it is not a significant source of protein, but I believe something is always better than nothing.
So here is the tamarind rice recipe. You can get the homemade pulikaichal mix recipe here. As I mention I have updated it with new pictures. :-)
Tamarind Rice | Puliodarai
Puliodarai prepared with homemade gojju/paste with the addition of black chickpeas. A perfect recipe for lunch as well as picnics and parties.
Ingredients:
- Puliodarai Paste – 3 to 4 tbsps
- Cooked Rice – 3 cups
- Sesame Oil – 1 tbsp
- Salt – 1/2 tsp
- Cooked Black Chick Peas – 1/4 cup
Prep – Work:
- Cook the rice and allow it too cool. Mixing hot rice makes it all mushy. So always mix the puliodarai in the cold rice.
- Boil the chickpeas and drain the water and set aside. Do not overcook the chickpeas.
Steps:
- In a big bowl (I used the vessel in which I made the puliodarai) add the rice, oil, and salt.
- Then add the cooked black chickpeas. Mix them all.
- Now add the puliodarai paste and mix.
- That’s it. Serve it with appalam or vadagam.
Notes:
- Instead of black chickpeas, you can use garbanzo beans, cowpeas. I haven’t tried any other beans. These three go well in puliodarai.
- You need 1 tbsp of sesame oil. But if you feel it subsides the spice, you can add more puliodarai mix or reduce the oil.
Tamarind Rice | Puliodarai
Ingredients
- Puliodarai Paste - 3 to 4 tbsps
- Cooked Rice - 3 cups
- Sesame Oil - 1 tbsp
- Salt - 1/2 tsp
- Cooked Black Chick Peas - 1/4 cup
Instructions
Prep - Work:
- Cook the rice and allow it too cool. Mixing hot rice makes it all mushy. So always mix the puliodarai in the cold rice.
- Boil the chickpeas and drain the water and set aside. Do not overcook the chickpeas.
Steps:
- In a big bowl (I used the vessel in which I made the puliodarai) add the rice, oil, and salt.
- Then add the cooked black chickpeas. Mix them all.
- Now add the puliodarai paste and mix.
- That's it. Serve it with appalam or vadagam.
Notes
- Instead of black chickpeas, you can use garbanzo beans, cowpeas. I haven't tried any other beans. These three go well in puliodarai.
- You need 1 tbsp of sesame oil. But if you feel it subsides the spice, you can add more puliodarai mix or reduce the oil.
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My elder one is a big fan of tangy puliyodharai, i try to make this often for him!!! your dabba looks very inviting dear!!
Thanks a lot, Priya
This is my go to dish when I wake up late and have to pack the kids lunch box. I always make sure there is this gojju in the fridge.
Same here. Pulikaichal is such a life saver.
tamarind rice is one of mine fav version of Andhra rice.. perfect with curd.
Thanks Preeti. I always love it with some papad or fried items. :-)
Lovely choice for the letter ‘T’. Such a classic dish but comes handy on a busy morning with the gojju paste made in advance.
Thanks Suma. :-)
Tamarind rice is one of the staple travel food and lunch box rice to carry. My husband loves this and will never complain to take tamarind rice. Beautiful choice for the alphabet!
Thanks and very true about tamarind rice and travel. :-)
Tamarind rice is my favorite too, love it for lunch or dinner. Your lunchbox looks so sinful, I wish it was mine.
Thanks Sapana
Delicious box of tamarind rice. When I was working and had to take lunch box, my favorite food to pack would be variety of rice or sandwiches. I would not like to take roti and sabji. Rice dishes are so much easier to prepare especially if you have leftover rice.
I agree. I also prefer rice for my lunch box. Thanks, Mayuri.
That’s a great looking dish to pack Srividhya, we love it too and can have it for any meal..such a fantastic idea to include chickpea..wonderful choice for the letter!
Thanks :-)
I will never no to good Tamarind rice — one of my all time favorite dish. Your version with boiled black chana sounds absolutely delicious. Will try this recipe next time I make tamarind rice and luckily my kids LOVE it too.
That’s great. When they like this kind of dishes, it makes it easy for us to naa.
Puliodharai tops my must eat dishes and yours looks super tempting. Trust me, I am drooling here looking at the pulikachal and the rice photos. Adding rasam powder is genius, will try it next time when I make it. Also the kadalai is such an innovative idea..
Thank you so much, Gayathri. :-)
Puliyodharai was my favorite lunch box during the college days and always i would carry one extra lunchbox whenever amma makes puliyodharai to share with all. This post reminds me of those days!!! Such a comforting lunch box recipe and adding chickpeas make it more healthy !!!
Thanks, Sandhiya. Always puliodarai brings back some nostalgic memories.
What a brilliant idea to add black chickpeas in tamarind rice. Nothing beat this tamarind rice, am a crazy of this tangy rice. Next time i wont forget to add chickpeas in Tamarind rice.
Agree, nothing can beat this tamarind rice. :-) Thanks.
inge oru dabba anipi vayingo.. looks super yum :)
Kandippaga.
Nice pics dear.. And that tip of rasam powder is really useful :)
Thanks Chitra. :-)
Nothing can beat this dish ,though we try so many royal lunch recipes, Tamarind rice always have its place.. You gojju looks so tempting im craving for some now!!
Very true da.
Adding rasam powder in pulihora mix is a new one for me. I shall try it out next time. Also adding black chickpeas in pulihora makes it super cool. I always feel that pulihora lacks the protein component and here you are with this brilliant idea. Thanks.
Thank you. :-) Glad you liked it.