Shunti Tambli

"Firstly, wishing all a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010"

Initially, the sole purpose of this blog was to publish simple, easy, home cooked vegetarian recipes. However, I have been cooking and posting more desserts and bakes than what the blog originally called for. I see myself deviating from what was meant to be a simple Veg Bowl, love for life and simple good food... going the vegetarian way. I think I should reconsider renaming this blog for another one. Probably a Dessert Bowl or a Bake Bowl, yeah?

This blog has unfolded new facets of cooking to me and I am enjoying it thoroughly with every passing day. It has been fun working in kitchen trying new stuffs which were tried and tested by my mum long back but not by me. She is taken by surprise the way I have been evolving into a daring baker! I ought to continue with the bouquet of surprises for her :)

Recently, we were craving for some simple food. The Christmas gala and the New Year bash must have seen most of us diving into an array of heavy fat loaded food and creamy, fancy desserts, that now we ought to give rest to our tummies. So I made these simple yet, flavorsome ginger tambli/tambuli to accompany rice for our afternoon meal today.

Tambli or Tambulis are supposedly coolants and are commonly made in summers to beat the South Indian heat. They are best had with steaming hot rice. They are had as starters over steaming hot rice accompanied with pickles and papads. Varieties of these tamblis can be made from different ingredients ranging from ginger, garlic, various herbs, asafeotida or even methi seeds (fenugreek seeds). They are simple and easy to prepare and are generally coconut and yogurt based.

These were very common at home. Amma makes varieties of these. I am an ardent lover of these and can have them as is, even as a refreshing drink. Amma generally makes another gravy curry and a dry subzi whenever she makes tambli. They make great food for patients suffering from fever as they are very easily digestible. This will make you hungry within few hours if not accompanied by side dishes.

Shunti Tambli

INGREDIENTS

3/4 inch ginger pod
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 cup thin yogurt/buttermilk
2 Green chillies
1 tbsp Grated Coconut
Salt to taste

For tempering:

1 tsp oil
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
2 Red chillies
A pinch of asafoetida

DIRECTIONS

Grind the ginger, green chilli, coconut & cumin seeds to a smooth paste. Add thin curd or buttermilk along with salt to this & mix it well. Adjust the consistency by adding more water to this. Tamblis have a thin consistency. So add water if preferred.

For tempering, heat oil in a temper pan. Add mustard Seeds, 2 whole red chillies and a pinch of asafoetida. Fry till it begins to splutter. Add this tempering over the prepared tambli and close immediately.

Serve with steaming hot rice, papads and pickles. Enjoy!