Curd rice

Daddojanam

Curd rice (on the left)
Alternative names	Yogurt rice
Place of origin	India
Region or state	South India
Main ingredients	Rice, yogurt, tempering
Media: Daddojanam

Curd rice ( Tamil: தயிர் சோறு, Kannada: ಮೊಸರು-ಅನ್ನ (mosaru-anna), Telugu: పెరుగు అన్నం) also called yogurt rice is a dish of India. The word "curd" in India usually refers to unsweetened yogurt. Unlike the Westerners, Indians mean yogurt when they say curd and what the westerners call curd is called paneer. It is very popular in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

In the state of Tamil Nadu it is so popular that this food is one of the chief offerings to the God in many Shiva and Vaishnavite Temples which is later distributed as 'prasadam' (blessed food) to devotees. Here this is called by a different name 'dadhiannam'/ "dadyodanam" (Tamil script:ததியன்னம்/ தத்தியோதனம்) Sanskrit दधि dadhi=curd + अन्नं annam = cooked rice. Such names are never used in common parlance among the non-Brahmin Tamil people and is universally known as Thayir Choru, literally curd rice.

Preparation

While it is most easily prepared by simply mixing boiled rice and yogurt, more elaborate methods can be used when needed. One of these recipes is given here: Rice is boiled so that it breaks down, becoming almost like a paste. Bring it to room temperature. It is then seasoned with fried finely chopped green chillies, ginger, and curry leaves, and sometimes along with the tadka of urad dal, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and asafoetida. Finally, milk, yogurt, and salt are added.

Alternatively, it can be prepared by mashing cooked plain rice (mostly leftovers), and then mixing it with some salt, yogurt and (a bit of milk to lessen the sour flavor of yogurt or to stop it from souring too much) garnishing it with fried urad dal, mustard seeds, green chilli and chopped cilantro.

Serving

Curd rice is often eaten accompanied by South Indian pickles such as those of mango or lime. In South Indian home cuisine, it is standard to eat curd rice at the end of lunch and dinner, which helps ease the effects of the spicy main dishes. It is also said to aid digestion.

In some areas, curd rice is served in a unique style where rice is boiled, mixed with a mild curd and salted and then tempered with a tadka (seasoning) of mustard seeds, curry leaves, dry chillies and urad dal roasted in a spoon of hot oil. Garnishings vary with region and range from grated carrots, pomegranate seeds, raisins, green and purple grapes, fried cashewnuts, grated raw mango and boondi. It can be served lukewarm or chilled. Additional options include a pinch of powdered and roasted asafoetida.

See also

• Cuisine of India
• List of rice dishes
• Rice congee
• South Indian cuisine
• Udupi cuisine

External links

• Traditional Curd Rice Recipe
• Curd Rice Recipe