PULI AVAL / SPICY IMLI POHA /TANGY RICE FLAKES

Here's another comfort food from my Grandmother's kitchen....

Puli Aval is a tasty, nutty,tangy and spicy dish- Rather a meal in a dish  which can be prepared with minimal effort and readily available ingredients.....which are really healthy....

INGREDIENTS

• RICE FLAKES(THICK VARIETY) -2 CUPS
• TAMARIND - A LIME SIZED TAMARIND BALL
• PEANUTS-3/4 CUP
• URAD DHAL-1/2 TEASPOON
• CHANNA DHAL-1/2 TEASPOON
• DRY RED CHILLIES-4-6
• TURMERIC POWDER-1/2 TEASPOON
• ASAFOETIDA POWDER-1/4 TEASPOON
• SESAME OIL-3 TEASPOONS
• CURRY LEAVES-FEW
• SALT TO TASTE

METHOD

• Dry roast the rice flakes/aval/poha in a kadai.
• Crush them roughly.(This can be made and stored in an air tight jar in advance).
• Soak the tamarind in warm water and extract the puree.
• Mix the salt and turmeric powder with the tamarind puree.
• Add the crushed flakes to this puree.mix well.Leave it aside for 30 minutes till the puree is absorbed by the flakes.
• Heat the oil in a kadai.
• Fry the mustard seeds,dhals, peanuts,red chillies and curry leaves.
• Add the soaked rice flakes and stir well.Cook for a few minutes  and add the asafoetida powder.Mix well.
• Serve hot .
• This is a regular dish made in many a Tamil Brahmin  homes.
• As far as I know ,this tasty dish is not usually available in any famous restaurant in Tamil nadu,I don't know why....