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Jhiva for Love
I entered her world and became the brightest star in her universe. Tears, laughter, anger and amusement were a few of the expressions I would bring to her. All that she could see and think was me, loving me a little more as each day passed. She taught me to give unconditional love without expecting anything. Humility, Charity and Gratitude are few qualities she instilled in me while teaching me to be a better human everyday. Most importantly, she taught me the importance of failures in life and resilience to bounce back, taking bigger strides to move ahead. Always a part of her dreams, I carry forward her hopes and aspirations.
Amma, thank you for everything !
Amma, lost in thought and smiling to herself…
Today , I turn to her notes for this one favorite recipe of our household , Cassava root/ Karra Pendalam Vepudu and Pulusu, we just couldn’t get enough of these simple , yet superb dishes often made for a sunday brunch. The cassava was cooked so well that it was always intact but cooked inside , I cant remember a day it turned mushy and it had to be made into a pasty curry instead of a vepudu.
More about Cassava here
One important thing I was told before I started cooking this in my american kitchen was to always peel cassava and then boil , not vice versa. I follow this diligently.
Vepudu :
One Cassava Root , peeled and boiled in a pressure cook for about 1-2 whisltes.
1 /4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon jeera powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
For the Popu :
1/2 teaspoon each of urad dal, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and 1 red chili broken into pieces , curry leaves( optional)
Method :
Heat Oil in a skillet , add the popu ingredients , once the mustard seeds splutter ,add the boiled pieces , add salt , turmeric, cumin powder , red chilli powder and serve hot , We used it gobble them up just liked that, they never reached the table and we rarely at vepudu , mixed with rice!
For the Pulusu :
Boil the root as mentioned above and keep aside.
1onion sliced thin
1 diced tomato
1 teaspoon of tamarind paste
1 teaspoon of dhaniya/sambhar powder ( I prefer dhaniya powder for its milder taste)
1/4 teaspoon of turmeric paste
1 teaspoon of sugar( I add it just for a hint of sweetness)
Oil, salt to taste
For the popu , take half a teaspoon of each of urad dal , cumin seeds, mustard seeds and 2 red chillies broken , a pinch of asafoetida in a skillet and once the seeds crackle, add the Onions and saute until they turn pink, then add the tomatoes and cook until they are tender , then add the boiled cassava root , 2 cups of water , tamarind paste, dhaniya powder , salt , sugar and chili powder and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Serve hot with rice!!
This goes to our very own and dear Pedatha , and to jihva for love hosted by the wonderful and dear jigyasa and pratibha and started by dear Indira of Mahanandi. A heartfelt thanks to you for choosing such a beautiful theme and giving us the opportunity to express our love.
Update: Cooking with Pedatha is finally available in our local phoenix library. A sincere request to all pedatha fans, please recommend this book to your local library. Thanks in advance!
Comments
lovely post Dee
Raaga
April 28th, 2008
nice post!
Arundathi
April 28th, 2008
Lovely post Dee. the curry looks yumm!
Siri
Siri
April 28th, 2008
beautiful post dee… and this spread looks good n different…
swati
April 28th, 2008
Hi Dee,
Wonderful post. The way you have expressed your love for your mother is very heartwarming.
The picture looks so tempting. I simply want to pull both the curry and sambar and taste it immediately. Today I just made rice, no side dish yet. This would be wonderful.
Madhuram
April 28th, 2008
we love cassava and never tire of it. your mom is a beautiful lady. she looks serene.
bee
April 28th, 2008
Wonderful Post, excellent recipe and pictures.
Cilantro
April 28th, 2008
Beautiful post!
Tee
April 28th, 2008
Dee..you mom looks pretty!…and the dishes are simply yummy!..thanks for sharing!
Srivalli
April 28th, 2008
Lovel post n lovely pics..
DIvya Vikram
April 28th, 2008
wonderful post, Dee! the curry looks delicious.
Uma
April 28th, 2008
That is such a sweet post for your amma. And the curry looks delish! I am sure she will be proud of ya :o)
anuzi
April 28th, 2008
beautiful post!
richa
April 28th, 2008
First timer! and jolly good to come at this moment since I was wondering what to do with my cassava today. Lovely photos and a simple recipe
DK
April 28th, 2008
Hey lovely post
The dish looks really yummy!
Homecooked
April 29th, 2008
Thanks all for the wonderful comments!! Cassava is a household favorite of ours!! I will tell mom abt ur compliment bee..
Dee
April 29th, 2008
[...] Deepika of Ammalu’s kitchen about Amma and Karra pendalam vepudu I entered her world and became the brightest star in her universe…All that she could see and think was me, loving me a little more as each day passed…to give unconditional love…the importance of failures in life and resilience to bounce back [...]
Jihva for Love - Round-up « whose food we eat, their song we sing
May 1st, 2008
Hi
Nice post
Summu
May 10th, 2008