Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl : The Humble South Indian Dish

Table of Contents

`the curd rice story`

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

you might have had days where you don’t want anything fancy and want to have something that is light on stomach

no elaborately done curries or fancy side dishes or experimenting with different things

you may crave something that is cool for stomach and your mind as well 😉, mildly spiced yet very satisfying and leaving you happy

so then comes our hero recipe .. the curd rice as the saviour

everyone might have had this curd rice which is so common nowadays, nothing new in it..

but i felt like making this humble south indian curd rice as the HERO of my blog

it amazes how a dish made with just curd and rice and a few temperings and some crunchy vegetables ( if you like ) can become something quite special

have you ever wondered why this curd rice ( among the other variety rices ) holds a very special place in our indian kitchens

today, let’s give this humble dish the attention it deserves

`what's so special about the curd rice`

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

known as thayir saadam in tamil nadu and kerala, doddajanam in telugu, curd rice is a familiar preparation in south indian food traditions

what makes it different is its simplicity with simple ingredients and not so complicated cooking techniques

yet, with few ingredients coming together to create something wonderfully satisfying

`few reasons why we love the curd rice`

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

the lovely basic gut friendly two ingredients namely rice and curd

the beautiful creamy texture of the soft rice

the customisable flavorable ingredients

bringing tradition on the plate with everyday cooking

`let's make the traditional south indian curd rice`

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

Preparation

Cook the rice until it’s a little soft and a bit mushy

Curd rice tastes best when the rice is well cooked rather than firm and separate

Allow the rice to cool until comfortably warm or at the room temperature

Mash it lightly with a spoon

Add curd, salt and little milk. Mix it well until it is nice and creamy

now Heat oil in a small pan

Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter

Add the urad dal, chana dal and fry until lightly golden

Add green chilli, ginger, dried red chilli, curry leaves and hing

Switch off the flame and allow the tempering to cool slightly

Pour it over the curd rice and mix it gently until all the ingredients merge well

Garnish with coriander leaves which is optional

Your delicious curd rice is ready to serve!

A small tip: If the curd rice becomes too thick after resting, add a little fresh curd or milk and mix again

Refrigerate leftovers promptly and don’t leave curd rice sitting at room temperature for extended periods as it might go sour and bad

`little variations to the simple curd rice...`

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

there is no need to make curd rice the same way every time

simple changes like …

carrot curd rice

can add grated carrot in the tempering for that extra color and crunchiness

pomegranate curd rice

sprinkle few pomegranate seeds for that sweet tangy contrast

cucumber curd rice

adding grated or finely chopped cucumber for that fresh variation. just add before serving the dish

restaurant style curd rice

make it a little more liquidy and creamy with extra curd, a touch of milk and a generous tempering with broken kaju

`what goes well with curd rice`

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

a bowl of curd rice with a few accompaniments is enjoyable like…

homemade pickles

crispy papad or any fries

potato fry

any vegetable stir fry

references to this article

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

i have found some interesting references that gives this article more depth beyond the recipe itself

1. an article in the indian express by rajyashree sen exploring the history of curd in indian traditionn. it mentions an early reference to a curd rice preparation called karambha in rig veda

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/how-india-added-little-starter-culture-world-of-dairy-created-curd-9470229/

an interesting article in the eater archives by mehr singh under the heading, ‘ curd rice deserves its due ‘ explores the dish’s historical roots dating back thousands of years

https://www.eater.com/24259766/what-is-curd-rice-uses-ingredients-appreciation

it celebrates the humble indian preparation and its traditional role on health and its vast versatile modern adaptations

to conclude with..

Why Curd Rice Becomes Our Comfort Bowl

We live in a world where the food trends keep changing

One day it’s an exotic ingredient, the next day it’s a new cooking technique or a fancy restaurant dish

There is nothing wrong with exploring new flavours. In fact, experimenting with food can always be great fun!

But somewhere between trying everything new, perhaps we forget to appreciate what has always been on our dining tables much before

Curd rice is one such reminder

It doesn’t need an impressive presentation, a long list of ingredients or hours of preparation

A little cooked rice, some fresh curd, a simple tempering and a few favourite accompaniments are enough to make a satisfying meal

Perhaps comfort food isn’t really about the food alone. It is also about familiarity, memories and the pleasure of enjoying something without too much fuss

So the next time you prepare curd rice, don’t think of it as just another simple meal

Give it a little tempering, add your favourite topping, serve it with a lovely pickle and enjoy every spoonful

Because sometimes, the happiest meals aren’t the ones that make the biggest impression

They are the ones that make us feel right at home and at peace

And that, perhaps, is the real magic of comfort food!

do make time to read my other blogs

https://reflectwithsmitha.com/why-to-stop-comparing-and-start-living-karma-yoga-lessons-from-swami-vivekananda/