Vellarikaai means cucumber in Tamil and Malayalam. Any Tamil or Kerala festive spread is incomplete without this delicious and lipsmacking Vellarikaai Pachadi . Vellarikai pachadi is also known as Kichadi in many households .
This Kichadi shouldn't be confused with the North Indian Kichdi which is a rice + dal based preparation.
In Tamil / Malayalam pachadi or kichadi is the term used to refer to raita and is totally different from the North Indian style raita . Coconut chilli paste is mixed with thick whisked yogurt /dahi and added to the chopped cucumbers .
Bring summer ,cucumbers if included in our regular menu is very beneficial as it cools down the body apt to the idiom "as cool as cucumber".
This pachadi is really very easy to make and can be paired with the regular menu . Vellarikai pachadi was part of our Sunday lunch which had Aloo Capsicum Sambar , Tomato Rasam , Brinjal Curry and some papads .
On a hot summer night ,I love to have this pachadi with hot fulkas .It is indeed filling and also light on the stomach and Sasmita's cucumber mint lassi will be an icing on the cake to end the day's meal.
Cooking Time - 3 mins
Complexity - simple
Serves - 2 to 3
1 medium size cucumber
2 cups thick yogurt /dahi
1/4 cup grated coconut
1 green chilli
1/2 tsp jeera
Small piece ginger (skip for jain variant)
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
Pinch of asafoetida
Method
- Grind the coconut, green chilli,jeera,ginger to a fine paste using little water .
- Chop the cucumber into medium sized cubes and cook it with salt and little water until the cucumbers turn soft and the water is all absorbed. Let it cool down.
- Whisk the curd until it is thick and creamy.
- Add the ground coconut paste to the yogurt along with the cooked cucumber and mix it . Add salt if required.
- Prepare a tempering using mustard seeds and asafoetida. Pour it over the raita and enjoy with your meal.
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loving the flavours here, the cucumbers being slightly boiled here is new to me for a pachadi, but guess that's the kerala style . perfect summer dish
ReplyDeleteThis Cucumber pachadi sounds very much like beetroot pachadi. With fresh coconut going in can imagine how flavorful it must have been.
ReplyDeleteCucumber Pachadi is so simple and flavourful. Would love to try your version Priya. I love Pachadi.
ReplyDeleteCucumber pachadi sounds so flavorful and lipsmackingly delicious. Loved the tadka over it. Cooked cucumber definitely taste better than grated uncooked cucumber. I will try for sure.
ReplyDeleteI love vellarikkai pachadi - a comforting, cooling treat for the hot summer months. 😊 We make it very simply, though. I love how you have added coconut and ginger to make it more delicious. Will definitely try making this your way, next time. 🙂
ReplyDeleteVellarikai pachadi is go to one for us. I always make it raw. Cooking is also a great option and would try it sometime. Great recipe.
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