CHARU-Gayathri Vantillu

Charu Podi:

Ingredients:

• Pigeon Peas – 3/4Cup (50ml Cup)
• Coriander Seeds – 1 Cup (50ml Cup)
• Fenugreek Seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Black Pepper – 1tsp
• Mustard Seeds – 1/4tsp
• Cumin Seeds – 3/4tsp

Procedure:

Take pigeon peas on a paper plate & microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Add coriander seeds, black pepper, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Mix all the seeds with a spoon and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Stir again with a spoon and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Cool the roasted ingredients for a while and finely powder them in a mixer grinder. Store the charu podi in an airtight jar.

Charu:

Ingredients:

• Tomatoes – 3 (200gms)
• Drumsticks – 2
• Water – 600ml
• Sugar – 1/2tsp
• Turmeric Powder – 1/8tsp
• Salt to Taste
• Tamarind – marble Sized
• Red Chilies – 2
• Fenugreek Seeds – 4 Seeds
• Mustard Seeds – 1/2tsp
• Cumin Seeds – 1/2tsp
• Curry Leaves – Few
• Asafoetida – 1/8tsp
• Ghee – 1tbsp
• Charu Podi – 1tsp
• Chopped Coriander – 2tbsps

(Online Conversion utility to convert Gms to Cups & Temperatures etc)

Preparations:

Wash and clean tomatoes. Chop one tomato into small pieces and place them in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the chopped tomato on high power for one minute stirring once after 30 seconds. Cut the remaining 2 tomatoes into big pieces and keep aside. Wash drumsticks and cut them into finger length pieces. Take the cut drumstick pieces into a microwave safe bowl and add some water. Microwave the drumsticks on high power for one minute, stir once and again microwave on high power for one more minute. After one minute standing time remove the drumstick bowl from oven. Take tamarind into a microwave safe bowl, add some water and soak for some time. Microwave tamarind for 30 seconds, cool it and grind it to a fine paste. Break red chilies into pieces and keep them aside.

Method:

Take 600ml water in a bowl and heat it. Add sugar, salt, turmeric powder and tomato pieces to the water and let it boil. When the tomato pieces are three-fourths done, add the cooked tomato and tamarind paste. Stir with a spoon and add cooked drumsticks. Let the charu boil for a while and add charupodi and mix. As soon as we add the charupodi the charu at once boils. Season the charu.

For seasoning heat a pan and add ghee to it. When ghee is hot add fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Fry till the seeds splutter and add red chili pieces, curry leaves and asafoetida. Add this seasoning to the charu and immediately cover the vessel. After few minutes transfer charu to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot with plain rice and muddapappu.

Points to Remember:

In this recipe we are cooking one tomato till soft so that the sourness gets mixed with the charu. We are adding the remaining tomatoes to the charu by cutting them into big pieces. Some like to see, feel and eat pieces of tomatoes. Those who are interested can mash these tomatoes while eating to get extra sourness.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C & Vitamin A and drumsticks have Multi-Vitamins and are known for controlling mal-nutrition among poor children. When we add these vegetables to the charu that flavor is something special which cannot be described in words but can be felt by smelling it.

After adding charupodi to the charu observe the water comes to boil as soon as the charupodi gets mixed with water. So use a deep vessel while preparing this charu to avoid spillage of charu after adding charupodi.

Seasoning the charu with ghee fills the space with a nice aroma.

Charu is a good appetizer. When a person is suffering from cold, sore throat or fever Charu is the right food to be served which gives relief to the patient. It is light on stomach and taste buds enjoy the sour taste of Charu.