Coconut Rice (Thengai Sadam)

by Kamala on November 16, 2009

Coconut Rice is a traditional dish of south India and comes in the group of variety rice. It is cooked with grated coconut and with some spices. Among all the variety rice, I feel this can be called as the king of variety rice for its rich taste. Some people use dried coconut (copra/kopra) but fresh coconut gives a better taste with some nuts.

Coconut rice is also prepared on special occasions and during some festivals. It is also a preferred dish of children for lunch box.

Some of the other variety rice are: Brinji Rice, Capsicum Rice, Chitranna, Jeera Rice, Paruppu Sadam, Tomato Rice, Vangi Bath (Kathrikai Sadam), Vegetable Pulao.

Serves: 4 to 5

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Cooked rice – 4 cups
Grated coconut – 2 cups
Chopped onion – 1 (optional)
Red chilli – 2 no
Green chilli chopped – 2 no
Bengal gram – 1 tea spoon
Urad dal – ½ tea spoon
Mustared – ½ tea spoon
Ginger chopped – ½ tea spoon
Cashewnut – few (optional)
Curry leaves – few
Asafetida – generous pinch
Salt – as per taste
Sesame oil/any oil – 2 tea spoon

Method

Cook rice making sure the grains are loose and separated (not sticky); if not add few drops of oil, toss it, keep for 5 minutes and then use.
Heat a pan with oil, add mustard and let it splutter well; add urad dal, bengal gram, cashew nut, red chilli, asafetida fry and for few seconds; add green chilli, ginger, curry leaves and fry for few secods; now add onion, salt and fry for few minutes till onion is fried to golden colour; now add grated coconut and fry for few minutes; switch of gas, add cooked rice and mix well.