Cookbook:Pulikkachal (Tamil Spiced Tamarind Paste)

Pulikkachal, alternately spelled pulikachal, is a spiced tamarind paste. It is commonly mixed with rice to make tamarind rice (Puliyodharai).

Ingredients

 * 1 tsp coriander seeds (dhaniya)
 * 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
 * 1 tsp sesame seeds
 * 3 tbsp oil
 * 1 tsp urad dhal (black gram)
 * 1 tsp channa dhal (split chick-peas)
 * 4 red chiles
 * 1 cup tamarind extract
 * Salt
 * ¼ tsp asafoetida


 * Peanuts (optional)

Procedure

 * 1) Roast the coriander, fenugreek, and sesame seeds without oil. Grind into fine powder.
 * 2) Heat oil in a pan and add urad dhal, chickpeas and red chilies and fry for a few minutes. Add tamarind extract and salt. Allow it to boil. Add the ground spice powder and asafoetida, and mix well.
 * 3) Stir constantly until it becomes thick and the oil floats on the top of the mixture and it comes without sticking to the pan. Refrigerate and store.
 * 4) You can mix this with cooked rice and serve.