Pulikuthi Upperi

Pulikuthi upperi or pulikuthi upperi is a dish prepared in iyer homes. It is used as a side dish for molagootal. Since molagootal is a mild dish, the combination with this upperi is very tasty. Some people also mix it with rice and eat. It goes well with rasam as well.Here is the recipe.











Ingredients:
Raw banana - 1 cup
Mustard - 2 tsp
Urad dal/black gram lentil - 2 tsp
Red chillies - 2
Coconut oil - 2 tbsp
Curry leaves - 6
Tamarind - small lemon sized
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Jaggery (optional) - small piece

To grind:
Red chillies - 2
Rice - 3 tsp
Fenugreek seeds/methi - 2 tsp


Method:
Fry rice (till it is brown), red chillies and methi without oil separately. Grind them together into a coarse powder and keep aside.
Extract the tamarind pulp by soaking it in 1/2 cup water.
Cut the banana into long slices.
Cook them in the tamarind water by adding a little salt and turmeric.The tamarind water should be just sufficient to soak the cut pieces. And after boiling, very little watery portion should be there.
Heat coconut oil in a pan. Add red chillies and then the urad dal. When it turns brown add mustard. When mustard splutters add the curry leaves and then add the cooked banana and the ground powder and mix well. Cook this till it becomes semi solid. Serve hot as a side dish to molagootal or rasam.

Preparation time: About 20 min.
Serves: 2 people