Thiruvathira Kali & Thalagam

Thiruvadhira nonbu is celebrated as that day when Lord Shiva is believed to have created our Universe. The dish prepared on this day is Kali and thaalagam ... Kali is a sweet dish made of rice , coconut and jaggery... Thaalagam is a spicy gravy made with odd numbered vegetable 5,7,9 etc.

For Thiruvathirai kali

   Raw rice - 1 cup

   Jaggery - 1 1/2 cup heaped

   Grated coconut -3/4 cup loosely packed

   Ghee - 1/4 cup

   Cashew nuts - 5-6

   Cardamom - 1/4 tsp

Method:

Dry roast the raw rice till slightly golden. Grind it into a coarse powder and keep aside. Heat about 2 and half cups of water and melt the jaggery in it. Filter it to remove impurities and put back on fire. Once it starts boiling add the rice powder , a tablespoon of ghee and keep stirring. Add cardamom and coconut. Once it starts solidifying take off the gas. Pressure cook this mixture for 3 whistles. Add cashew nuts fried in ghee. 

  For Thalagam  

   Mixed vegetables - 4 - 4 1/2 cups 

   Field Beans (Mochai) - 1/4 cup

   Tur dal - 1/3 cup

   Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

   Tamarind - small gooseberry size ball

   Salt needed

   Fry and grind

   Coriander seeds - 1 1/2 tsp

   Bengal gram/ chana dal  - 1 1/2 tsp

   Red chilli - 5-6

   Raw Rice - 1/2 tsp

   Coconut (grated ) -1/4 cup

   For the seasoning

   Oil - 2 tsp

   Hing/asafoetida - a pinch

   Mustard seeds- 1 tsp

   Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp

   Red chilli - 1

   Curry leaves - a sprig

Method : 

Wash and cut all vegetables( potato, broad beans, carrots, yellow pumpkin, peas, French beans & yam) into cubes. Pressure cook vegetables, tuar dal and field beans in separate containers up to 3 whistles. 

Dry roast the ingredients for grinding. Grind into a thick paste. Soak a lime size piece of tamarind and take it juice. Heat coconut oil in a pan and add seasoning ingredients. Add vegetables and tamarind water and cook till raw smell goes. Next add the ground paste, cooked dal and field beans. Add some water and cook in low gas till it comes together. Add salt as per taste. 

This gravy is to be eaten with the sweet Kali.