Today's lunch box features my Athamma's cooking. She is an enterprising lady who can quickly change ingredients based on their availability at hand. The result has always been outstanding. But one disadvantage I found was, we never can predict what she adds to the dish. Also, if I want to recreate the same thing, I may not be able to judge by simply eating it or remember it by asking her. This happened with my lunch box when she packed Chitrannam or Lemon Rice. This was not her usual Chitrannam but tasted very different but very good and the Urllagadda (potato) gojju added spice to the Chitrannam.

I normally don't prepare Chitrannam but prefer eating what Amma or Athamma make and this one sure made me ask for the recipe.This is Chitrannam with a twist.

Today's lunch was

Chitrannam
Urllagadda gojju
Curd Rice
Mangoes

Chitrannam with a twist

Chitrannam is usually prepared in temples as prasadam and also for traveling as this is one of those dishes which stays on travel. Chitrannam, this time, had tamarind, garlic and coconut as Athamma couldn't get enough lemon!

Serves: 2
Preparation Time: 15 min (includes cooking time for rice)
Cooking Time: 5 mins
Cuisine : Andhra

Ingredients needed:

Rice - 100 gms
Lemon - 1 half
Tamarind - 1 tsp
Turmeric a pinch
Oil- 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

For the paste:
Fresh Coconut - 1 tbsp
Garlic - 4 pods
Green Chillies - 4

For Seasoning

Bengal Gram - 1 tbsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad Dal - 1/2 tsp
Ground Nuts - Hand full
Cashew Nuts - 5 - 10
Green Chillies - 1 slit
Curry Leaves a few

Method to prepare:

Soak rice for 10 mins and pressure cook it Once it's done, transfer to a bowl and let it cool. The grains should be separate.

Meanwhile, take coconut, chilies, garlic and run it in a mixer to get a coarse paste.

Take juice of half a lemon and pulp from tamarind. Keep it aside.

Heat oil, add all seasoning items, saute for 2 mins, then add the ground paste and fry till it changes to light brown in colour. Add the lemon juice and tamarind pulp and Turmeric. Add salt and cook till the raw smell goes away.

Finally, add the rice to the pan and mix well. Adjust the sourness according to your taste.

Urlagadda Gojju (Potato with medium gravy)

Potato is so very liked and often prepared in our cuisine. This is reflected by the fact that this has 3 different names to be called by. Bangaladumpa or Urlagadda or alu is the easiest and frequently prepared Vegetable.

Since Chitrannam is quite dry, we prefer to make some gravy along with it. Yet the side dish is never running gravy but rather Veggies with medium liquid.

Potato gravy is an all-time ultimate combo with rice varieties like Chitrannam, Pulihora and other varieties.

To make this we need

Ingredients Needed

Potatoes - 250 gms

Green Chillies - 3

Onions - 1 big

Curry leaves

Mustard Seeds

Salt to taste

Oil for cooking

Water - 1 cup

Method to prepare:

Boil and peel potato. Cut into pieces, keep it aside

Chop Onions, slit chillies.

Heat oil in a kadai, add seasoning and then Onions, Chillies. Fry till they are golden in colour.

Then add boiled potatoes, salt. Sauté well and add water. Bring to boil.

Curd Rice and MangoesUnlike the other variety, this time, I just took the Mangoes along with the curd rice. This also tastes great. We just eat mangoes when we have curd rice. Great way to end the lunch.

Recipe

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Lunch Box Series : LBS#3

Course Main Dish - Gravies, Main Dish - Rice

Cuisine Andhra Pradesh

Author Srivalli

Tried this recipe?Mention @cooking4all or tag #cooking4all!

Comments

Laavanya says

July 03, 2007 at 12:50 pm

Hi Srivalli, That's an interesting twist on Lemon Rice and it definitely looks yummy with the potato gravy.

Suganya says

July 03, 2007 at 5:41 pm

Lemon rice is indeed with a twist. I have never seen it being prepared with coconut and tamarind (in addition to the lemon juice). I am gonna HAVE to try this. Thanks!

archana says

July 04, 2007 at 2:40 am

Nice menu. Liked the twist in the rice 🙂

Coffee says

July 04, 2007 at 6:18 am

Same here..... never seen it with tamarind and coconut. I am sure they would be adding lovely flavour to it! 🙂

Srivalli says

July 05, 2007 at 5:09 am

Thanks everybody for taking time to drop in. Yes it was indeed very tasty. Do try if you get time and give me feedback. Thanks once again.

ushaprashanth says

July 26, 2007 at 5:12 pm

Hi!
curd rice with mangoes looks lovely!!!! and the potato curry goes well with pooris too i think!

Chandra sharon says

June 20, 2016 at 5:20 am

Wen to add the coconut paste?

Srivalli says

June 20, 2016 at 10:41 am

Chandra Have updated the method, thanks!

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Lunch Box Series : LBS#3

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