South India's Fragrant Gem: Toasted Garlic & Lentil Rice (Poondu Sadam)
Details
Aromatic rice tossed with a crunchy, nutty garlic-lentil spice powder.
Ingredients
Instructions
Make the Spice Powder
Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the chana dal, urad dal, coriander seeds, and dried red chilies. Sauté for a couple of minutes until the dals turn light golden and aromatic. Add about 5-6 garlic cloves and continue to fry for another minute. If using, add the grated coconut and roast for 30 seconds more until fragrant. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool completely. Once cool, grind it into a coarse powder using a spice grinder or blender. Set aside.
Fry the Garlic
In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the rest of the garlic cloves (about 10-14) and fry until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove the fried garlic with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Temper the Spices
In the remaining oil in the pan, add the mustard seeds. Once they begin to pop, add the curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds until they are crisp.
Combine
Reduce the heat to low and add the cooked rice to the pan. Sprinkle the ground spice powder and salt over the rice. Gently toss everything together, ensuring the rice is evenly coated with the spice mix without breaking the grains.
Finish and Serve
Stir in the reserved fried garlic cloves, reserving a few for garnish if you like. Mix gently and cook for another minute. Serve the Poondu Sadam hot, garnished with the extra fried garlic, and paired with raita (yogurt dip) or papadams for a complete meal.
Recipe reviews
Leave a review
Sign in to share your review.
Reviews
More recipes
Creamy Sri Lankan Garlic Curry: An Authentic Sududu Maalu Recipe
Forget everything you think you know about garlic. In this classic Sri Lankan curry, whole cloves of garlic are simmered in a fragrant coconut milk bath until they become impossibly creamy, sweet, and tender. This isn't a dish with a hint of garlic; this is a celebration of it. Aromatic pandan, curry leaves, and a touch of spice create a deeply comforting and surprisingly mellow curry that will transport you straight to a warm evening in Colombo. It's the perfect side dish to intrigue and delight, turning an ordinary meal into a memorable feast.
Aussie Garlic Prawns: The Perfect Recipe for the Barbie
Fire up the barbecue for the ultimate social food. These Aussie garlic prawns are fast, impressive, and ridiculously tasty, leaving you with a buttery, garlicky sauce that's pure gold. This is the recipe you pull out for sunny afternoons, good company, and creating a bit of delicious drama with minimum fuss.