Puliyavu

Puliyavu, also known as Tamarind Rice, is a popular South Indian rice dish. It is a tangy and flavorful dish made with cooked rice, tamarind extract, spices, and often peanuts, lentils, and curry leaves. Puliyavu is a staple in South Indian cuisine, especially in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.

The key ingredient that defines Puliyavu is tamarind, which imparts its characteristic sourness and a reddish-brown hue to the rice. The tamarind extract is typically cooked down with jaggery, spices like mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida (hing), turmeric, and dried red chilies to create a thick, concentrated paste. This tamarind paste is then mixed with pre-cooked rice.

Variations of Puliyavu exist across different regions and households. Some recipes include vegetables like potatoes or eggplant. The dish is often prepared during festivals and special occasions, as well as being a common lunchbox item. Commercially prepared Puliyavu mixes are also available for convenience. The shelf life of homemade Puliyavu is relatively short, typically a day or two without refrigeration, due to the presence of tamarind.