By Niruba Sathish: This nutritious dish is best prepared and eaten during the month of Karkidakam. I learnt to prepare this dish from my mother-in-law, who in turn learnt to prepare it from hers.

What you need

Ural (white) dal: half cup

Rice: one and a half cup

Chukku (dried ginger): 1 small piece

Garlic: 5 cloves

Freshly grated coconut: 2 tbsp

Ghee: 1 tbsp

Salt: to taste

Method of preparation

Fry ural dal until it turns aromatic. Wash it along with rice. Crush garlic and chukku. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Fry crushed garlic and chukku. Pour four cups of water. Add salt, grated coconut and rice. When the whistle comes, simmer it for 15 minutes. Serve hot with ‘Malli thuvaiyal.’

Malli thuvaiyal (Coriander thuvaiyal)

In a pan, sauté one cup grated coconut, one tbsp coriander seeds, two red chillies without oil until it turns dark brown. Grind all with salt and tamarind to taste.