Kovil Kadambam - A Traditional One Pot Meal With Vegetables,Whole Grains And Lentils

KOVIL KADAMBAM FOR LORD SRI RAMA
When mixed vegetables, legumes, lentil and rice are cooked together with an aromatic blend of spices it transforms into a nourishing and flavoursome one pot meal known as KADAMBAM. It is a special neivedyam offered to Lord Vishnu at certain temples hence the name Kovil Kadambam. I happened to taste an authentic version of this delicious dish at a friend's place in Portland. Sudha, my young friend was very happy to share the recipe. Thanks to her, my first attempt won accolades from my family members. Ever since I have been making Kovil Kadambam regularly.


INGREDIENTS
Rice - 1 cup
Split yellow pigeon peas/Tuvar dal - 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Vegetables - Ivy gourd, Ladies' finger,brinjal, pumpkin, beans, carrot, chow chow (washed, peeled and chopped to make 2 cups)
A mixture of chick peas(kondai kadalai),black eyed beans(karamani), green gram(Pachai payaru) and red kidney beans(rajma) - 3/4 cup (Soaked overnight)
Tamarind - A small plum size ball (soaked and juice extracted)
Salt - 2 tsps
INGREDIENTS FOR THE KADAMBAM SAMBAR POWDER
Split blackgram dal - 1 tbsp
Red chillies - 8
Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
Sesame seeds - 2 tbsps
Asafoetida - 2 pinches
FOR THE SEASONING
Sesame oil - 2 tbsps
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - a fistful
Peanuts - 2 tbsps
METHOD
1.Wash rice, tuvar dal and the soaked ingredients separately using the three pressure cooker utensils.
Add two cups of water to the rice, 1 cup of water and turmeric powder to tuvar dal, and very little water to the soaked ingredients.


2.Place the three separators one on top of the other and pressure cook up to three whistles.
3.Heat a drop of oil in a kadai and roast all the Sambar powder ingredients one by one till you get a very pleasant aroma. Powder the roasted ingredients in a mixer and keep aside.


4.Heat the remaining oil in the kadai and add mustard seeds.
5.When the mustard seeds splutter add the peanuts and roast till they crack.
6.Add asafoetida and curry leaves.
7.Add the chopped ivy gourd to the seasoning followed by the chopped ladies finger.


8.Add all the other vegetables one by one and saute together for two or three minutes.


9. Pour in the extracted tamarind juice, add salt and cook till the vegetables are almost done.


10.Add the cooked legumes and the cooked tuvar dal.
11. Blend in the Kadambam sambar powder and cook for a few more minutes.
12. Reduce heat, add the cooked rice and stir well so that no lumps are formed.


KOVIL KADAMBAM is ready to be offered to Lord Sri Rama. Share and enjoy the nutritious and flavoursome prasadam with family and friends.

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