There is something very comforting about South Indian meals. They are light and wholesome and treat your tastebuds with a pool of flavours. So much so that today, dishes like sambhar rice, idli, dosa, vada etc have broken all the barriers and got to our homes across India, and abroad. Another such South Indian classic that's worth mentioning is curd rice. Also referred to as thayir sadam, it is a mishmash of rice, curd, salt and a tadka of mustard seeds, red chilli and curry leaves. But did you know this simple dish gives you enough room to go creative with the colour, texture and taste? In this article, we will take you through a few such interesting ways to amp up the dish without any effort. Let's get going.
Also Read: 6 Important Facts That No One Told You About Curd Rice (Thayir Sadam)
Here Are 5 Interesting Ways To Spruce Up Curd Rice:
1. Serve It Cold:
Curd rice tastes the best when served cold, not chilled. So, prepare rice beforehand and let it cool down. Then mix with chilled curd and add the tadka.
2. Use Ghee:
For the tadka, we suggest using ghee for added flavours. While the mustard seeds, red chilli and curry leaves go in the basic tadka, you can add a ping of hing, jeera and some chana dal to make it more flavourful.
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3. Add Nuts For Crunch:
Fry some peanuts or cashew nuts and add to the curd rice for added crunch. You can also dry roast peanuts and use them as a garnish just before serving.
4. Top With Seasonal Fruits:
Have you tried adding some pomegranate or grapes as a garnish? If not, then we highly recommend you to do so. It not only makes the dish look colourful but also adds a balance of sweetness to the dish. You can also add pineapple and soaked raisins instead.
5. Pair With Curd Chilli:
We all know curd rice goes well with papad and achar. But we suggest getting hold of some curd chilli, also known as mor milagai, sandige menasu, and mirapakaya, and frying them, along with the meal. It is a flavoured chilli preserve, often consumed as a substitute for achar.
Now that you have some fun ideas to spruce up curd rice, how about making some for a quick lunch in this scorching heat? Click here for the classic curd rice recipe.
Enjoy your meal!