Anent to my post on Thirukarthigai Vadai - திருக்கார்த்திகை வடை
As the name itself reveals, that this special vadai is made only on Karthigai deepam and is famous between Vaathimals, in Thiruvannamalai, North Arcot and Kanchipuram districts. This Karthigai vadai is made of Urud Dal with Skin and hence it has its own taste and aroma. Since this Vadai takes more than normal time in prepration, the practise of making this Special Vadai has slowly come down and instead, people started making of Adai with some changes in the ingredients and method. This change has been seen for the past 20 to 30 years only.. Previously, this Vadai was made in Banana leaves and served in banana leaves, very hot. The chemical reaction when hot food is placed in banana leaves, makes a good change in our health system. Once can see that this recipe does not contain Pepper or Jeera. Only Ginger, Green chilly and Asafoetida is used and offered as Neivedhyam to God. Today let us see how to make this Special / Authentic / Traditional Thirukarthigak Adai. I got this recipe from a Maami from Tanjore who hails from TVmalai Dist and setted in Tanjore for more than 5 decades who is 80+ now.
Ingredients required : Whole Urud dhal 200 gms, Channa Dal 50 gms, and Paasi Paruppu 50 gms. Ginger a big size. Green chilly 5 to 7 nos or extra according to your spicy level. (Normally 5 to 6 would be good enough for spicy level. Else the taste of the ginger would be lowered, and one would find difficult to eat with much spicy level) Curry leaves, Chopped corianders leaves, 2 tsp of Aaharam Asafoetida, Salt as required Oil for deep fry.
Preparation Method as given by Granny : Soak Urud dal for 4 hours with skin. Drain water, so that half the skin are removed and other half skins are retained. Grind this after 8 hours with 3 green chillies, and 1/2 ginger asafoetida, salt without adding water to a coarse paste. Keep ready. Just 2 hours before grinding... Soak Channa dal and Paasi paruppu for 1 and half hours, drain water, spread on a white cloth and drain excess water. Now add this dals to the grinded batter, add remaining chilly finely chopped, remaining ginger, again finly chopped, add salt if required, chopped curry leaves and chopped coriander leaves and mix well with hand only.
In a wok, add Oil and bring to heat. Take a ball size batter, make it into vadai shape in Banana leaf, make a hole in the middle and dip in the oil. Let the flame be in medium. Turn around in constant intervals so that Vadai's are cooked well. If you want, you can poke the vadai with a skewer so that all the interiors are well cooked. Normally it takes 15 to 20 mins for cooking in medium flame, so that the vadai turns very crispy outer and inner batter is well cooked. Remove from flame and serve in Banana leaves only.
Your special / authentic / traditional Thiru-Karthigai Vadai is ready.
Serve with Joy / Serve with Pride.