The first day of the Chithirai month, which also is the first day of the Tamil calendar is popularly called Puthandu and celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu as the Tamil New Year. This day holds a lot of importance and significance in every part and amongst all the people of Tamil Nadu. Falling on around the second week of April every year as per the Gregorian calendar, April 14 is the day for the celebration of this religious occasion and festive day. Up north, it is celebrated as Baisakhi since farmers observe it as the beginning of a new harvesting season.
Also Read: Pongal/Sankranti: Delicious And Wholesome Recipes To Celebrate The Harvest Festival
The origins of Puthandu can be traced back to the era of the Chola dynasty that ruled Tamil Nadu during the 13th century. Observed with a whole lot of grandeur, from decorating homes to making delectable food, people look forward to celebrating the day with their families, friends and loved ones. Everyone greets each other saying Puthandu Nalvalthukal or Happy New Year. It is believed that the first thing a person sees on the morning of Puthandu decides his course of action and his good fortune for the rest of the year. Thus, Tamilians wake up early, bathe, offer fruits, flowers in temples and pray on this special day. On this auspicious occasion, food becomes essentially an important part of the festival. Special dishes including pongal and mango pachadi are prepared and eaten together in groups.
This year as you invite prosperity and happiness into your homes, relish these special delicious easy recipes that can be prepared in a jiffy and will add to the grandeur of the occasion.
Millet Ghulabi Kheer
Ingredients
5 tbsp little millet
3 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp rose water
Salt to taste
10 pistachios
1 tsp clarified butter
½ cup of water
Method
Take pistachios and soak them in water for around an hour
Once done peel the skin off the pistachios
Finely chop them finely and keep aside
Wash the millet a couple of times
Drain the water completely and keep aside
Put a pressure cooker on a medium flame and pour ghee/clarified butter
Once the ghee is warm transfer the millet into the cooker
Roast the millet on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes
Add milk to it while stirring
Once the millet and milk get mixed well, add little salt to it
Pressure cook for one whistle on a high flame and then put the flame on low
Pressure cook for the next 3 whistles on a low flame
Open the cooker once the pressure is released naturally
Add water and sugar to it
Heat the mixture for two to three minutes on a medium flame
Sprinkle the rose water and mix well
Serve the dish after garnishing it with the finely chopped pistachios
Nutrition
Pistachios are loaded with fibres, minerals, and unsaturated fat that can help keep your blood sugar, and blood pressure in control. It also helps in reducing bad cholesterol in the body. Millet has potential health benefits and helps to manage inflammation in the gut.
Panakam
Ingredients
½ cup chopped jaggery
2 cups water
¼ tablespoon dried ginger powder
½ teaspoon green cardamom powder
1 pinch edible camphor (optional)
¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
1 pinch salt
4 basil leaves
Method
Take the jaggery in a bowl and add 2 cups of water to it
Let it soak in the water for next 30 minutes
Once dissolved, filter this solution to get a fine syrup
Add the dried ginger powder
Add green cardamom powder and mix well
Add a pinch of edible camphor to the syrup (optional)
Add black pepper powder
Shift the syrup to a serving bowl
Top up with the basil leaves
Panakam is ready to be relished with your family and friends
Nutrition
Jaggery present in this recipe is good source of vitamins and minerals. It also contains cleansing properties which helps in keeping lungs clean. Basil leaves have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to keep overall health and immunity levels strong.
