This particular dish is one of those authentic Andhra dishes that has been forgotten by most people. For whatever reason, most families do not make this any more. Indeed, most people have forgotten this dish completely!
The use of pepper in this dish is very unusual in Andhra cooking. Most of our dishes are filled with chilli (green or dried red), and pepper is usually restricted to rasam, and as an added flavour to some rice dishes such as katte-pongali.
Aratikaya Pindimiriyam
Ingredients:
1 large aratikaya (plantain/ raw banana)
2 tsp Coriander seeds (dhaniyalu)
2tsp Chana dal (senaga pappu)
3tsp pepper (miriyalu)
1/2tsp urad dal
1tsp rice
1 cup grated coconut
4-5 dried red chillies
lime-sized ball of tamarind
3/4th cup of toor dal
Tadka:
mustard seeds, urad dal
Method:
- Peel, chop and boil the aratikaya, and set aside
- Cook the toor dal, add 1tsp salt & 1/4 tsp turmeric and keep aside
- lightly roast the dhaniyalu, chana dal, pepper, red chillies, urad dal & rice
- grind together with the tamarind and grated coconut
- Mix the resultant mixture with the dal and aratikaya.
- You can add in a pinch of hing, curry leaves and coriander for added flavour.
- Roast the tadka in a small wok with 1 tsp oil and add to the pindimiriyam.
- Cook till done. This isn’t very difficult to figure out. The room will fill with the rich smell of the pindimiriyam.
Serve hot, with rice.
Related Article:
Vegetarian Cuisine from South India 