Thengai sadam or South Indian coconut rice is probably one of my favourite mixed rice dishes. I had it the first time at my sister's in-law's place around the time her wedding got fixed. Amma had never made it before at home (even though we were in the land of the coconuts!) but after that day, this became an occasional treat at home. Its really a simple rice dish and something you can whip up in 10-15 mins if you have cooked rice ready.
If you love South Indian rice recipes as much as we do, then check out this tangy lemon rice recipe, super simple sambar sadam in rice cooker, and this deliciously different cabbage rice recipe.
Thengai Sadam Recipe
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
Cooked rice : 4 cups
Grated coconut - 1 cup (frozen works too)
Salt - to taste
For spice powder:
Chana dal / kadala paruppu - 1 tbsp
Urad dal / uzhunnu parippu - 1 tbsp
Dry red chillies - 2 to 3
For tempering:
Coconut oil - 1 tablespoon (or any oil you have in hand)
Chana dal / kadala paruppu - 1 tsp
Hing / asafoetida / perungaayam
Dry red chillies - 1, halved
Curry leaves - a few
For garnishing:
3 crushed appalam / papadom (optional)
How to make Coconut Rice:
1. Dry roast the ingredients for spice powder until the dals turn golden and the red chillies are nicely browned.
2. Cool and powder coarsely with salt.
3. Heat oil in a pan and add ingredients for tempering along with the coconut. When it turns golden brown, remove from fire.
4. Add the roasted coconut mixture and the spice mixture to the cooked rice and mix well. Adjust salt.
5. Add crushed fried appalam or papadom before serving.
Nandini Vishwanath
May I say great pics as always 🙂
Mriganayani
Moving finally from the sugary stuff to the fattening stuff - there is no hope for me - this looks delicious - I've never done this with powdered spices - will try sometime soon. Love the crushed appalam method!
Lena Rashmin Raj
Thengaa sadam is my favorite...this looks superb..
wonderful snap..This is what we used to get frm hostel in coimbatore.. 🙂
Mints!
looks nice and simple. will try it soon.
Divya Vikram
Comfort food! Great pics.
Poornima Nair
Looks divine...I love the popadams in it, adds great crunch.
msmeanie
Beautiful photos! I love the idea of adding coconut in the rice.
Nags
The spice powder helps to balance the sweetness of the coconut to an extend. I know there is a simpler way of making thenga sadam but this is definitely tastier!
Lisa
I recently made coconut rice too. Such a treat. Lovely images.
Kevin
I really like the sound of this spicy coconut rice.