Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe | Thiruvathira Kali

Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe | Thiruvathira Kali with step by step pics and a short Youtube video. Thiruvathirai Kali is a sacred offering prepared for Lord Shiva on the auspicious Arudhira Darshinam day. This delicious dish is made with raw rice, moong dal, jaggery, cardamom, cashew nuts, and coconut. Some of you may think the ingredients look-alike Sweet Pongal, it’s true, but the preparation method, the taste, texture, and ghee count everything differ. It is served along with 7 Kari Kootu or Thiruvathirai Kootu, which is really a divine combo.

Significance of Thiruvathirai Kali, read more here:

There is an interesting story behind this Thiruvathirai Kali. Cendanar from the village Naukoor was a disciple of Pattinathu Adigal. He used to eat only after feeding some Saiva devotees. Due to the constant bad weather, he could not get all the essentials for a proper meal. He had no option but to mix water with flour and prepare a mashed paste. Lord Shiva understood his situation and wanted the people to know how sincere his devotee was to him. Therefore, he disguised himself as a Shiva devotee and visited Cendanar’s hut. Shiva enjoyed what was given to him as food. The temple attendants saw the premises scattered with the mashed paste the following morning. Inquiries led to an understanding of Cendanar’s devout nature and he was thereafter bestowed with all due respect. This incident took place on a Margazhi Thiruvathirai day. This is why Thiruvathirai Kali is prepared as an important Prasad on this day.

Check Lord Shiva favourite food Recipes like
1. Panchamrut / Panchamirtham
2. Thandai
3. Sabudana Kheer / Javvarisi Payasam
4. Fruit Chaat
5. Milk Kheer / Paal Payasam
6. Panakam

Thiruvathira Kali Recipe

Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe | Thiruvathira Kali

Priya Santhamohan

Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe | Thiruvathira Kali is a sacred offering prepared for Lord Shiva on the auspicious Arudhira Darshinam day. Some of you may think the ingredients look-alike Sweet Pongal, it's true, but the preparation method, the taste, texture, and ghee count everything differ.

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Divine Recipes, Sweet

Cuisine Tamilnadu, South Indian

Servings 3 People

Calories 170 kcal

Equipment

• Pressure Cooker
• Kadai / Pan
• Mixer

Ingredients

  

1 Cup = 250 ML, 1tsp = 5 ML

• ½ Cup Raw Rice / பச்சைஅரிசி
• 2 tbsp Moong Dal / பாசிப்பருப்பு
• 2 Cups Water / தண்ணீர்
• ¾ Cup Jaggery / வெல்லம்
• 3 Pods Cardamom / ஏலக்காய்
• 2 tsp Ghee / நெய் Link for Homemade Ghee
• 5 to 6 Cashew / முந்திரி
• ¼ Cup Grated coconut / துருவிய தேங்காய்

Instructions

 

• Keep the raw rice and moong dal ready. To a pan, add the raw rice and dry roast on low flame till the rice pops up. Ensure not to burn it, else the kali smells bad. Transfer the roasted rice to a dry mixer.
• To the same pan, add the moong dal and roast till the nice smell wafts. Transfer the moong dal to the same mixer.
• Pulse it once or twice roughly, not to a smooth powder. Transfer the rice-moong dal powder to a pressure cooker.
• Pour 1.5 cups of water and a pinch of salt (don't skip the salt, it enhances the taste) Pressure cook for 3 whistles till soft and fluffy.
• To a pan, add the jaggery, crushed cardamom pods, and pour 1/2 cup of water.
• Just give a boil till the jaggery dissolves completely and no string consistency is needed. Break the cashews and grate the coconut.
• Heat 2 tsp of ghee in a pan, then add the cashews and grated coconut. Fry till golden color and keep aside. To the cooked rice-dal, filter the jaggery juice.
• Cook for 2 to 3 minutes till it thickens.
• Add the roasted cashews and coconut. Mix everything well.

  Try this Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe for this coming Arudhra Darshan festival.

Video

Notes

Tips for Thiruvathira Kali

1. Use raw rice only not any other variety to prepare this Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe.
2. Roasting the rice and moong dal lends a nice flavor. Also, don't burn it else the kali smells bad.
3. Just pulse the rice and dal once or twice to bigger particles. Don't grind it to a fine powder, else the texture will be lost.
4. Ensure to pressure cook the rice-dal with the mentioned quantity of water till soft. If you add the jaggery juice to the uncooked rice-dal, it turns hard and chewy.
5. Rice - dal may look sticky after pressure cooking, once it cools down it becomes separated and this kali is meant to be like this (fluffy) not like our usual kali.
6. Always filter the jaggery and then use it to remove the impurities. No string consistency is needed, just melt it.
7. I used 'Paagu Vellam' so got a bright and vibrant colour.
8. Don't reduce the jaggery quantity, else the Thiruvathira Kali tastes bland.
9. The addition of roasted cashews makes the kali rich, so don't skip.
10. For a more divine flavour, 1 pinch of nutmeg powder or edible camphor can be added. But don't add more else the kali tastes bitter.
11. Instead of grated coconut, you can use finely chopped coconut bits as well.

Keyword Thiruvathira Kali, Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe

Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe

Method for Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe

1. Keep the raw rice and moong dal ready. To a pan, add the raw rice and dry roast on low flame till the rice pops up. Ensure not to burn it, else the kali smells bad. Transfer the roasted rice to a dry mixer.

2. To the same pan, add the moong dal and roast till the nice smell wafts. Transfer the moong dal to the same mixer.

3. Pulse it once or twice roughly, not to a smooth powder. Transfer the rice-moong dal powder to a pressure cooker.

4. Pour 1.5 cups of water and a pinch of salt (don’t skip the salt, it enhances the taste) Pressure cook for 3 whistles till soft and fluffy.

5. To a pan, add the jaggery, crushed cardamom pods, and pour 1/2 cup of water.

6. Just give a boil till the jaggery dissolves completely and no string consistency is needed. Break the cashews and grate the coconut.

7. Heat 2 tsp of ghee in a pan, then add the cashews and grated coconut. Fry till golden color and keep aside. To the cooked rice-dal, filter the jaggery juice.

8. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes till it thickens.

9. Add the roasted cashews and coconut. Mix everything well.

Try this Thiruvathirai Kali Recipe for this coming Arudhra Darshan festival.

How to make Thiruvathirai Kali