Curd Rice also called Thayir Sadam or Daddojanam is a popular and traditional South Indian preparation where cooked rice is mixed with curd (yogurt) and tempered with spices, herbs. It is a staple in many South Indian households and is also made during Hindu festivals.
Rinse the rice grains a couple of times in water. Then add the rice in a 2-litre stovetop pressure cooker.
Add 1.5 cups water. Stir and mix very well.
Pressure cook rice on medium heat for 5 to 6 whistles or 8 to 9 minutes till the rice is cooked and softened very well.
When the pressure settles down on its own, remove the lid and check the doneness of rice. The rice has to be more softer than what we cook on a daily basis and look mushy.
With a spoon or vegetable masher, mash the rice. Close the cooker and allow the rice to become lukewarm or come at room temperature.
Making curd rice
When the rice becomes comes at room temperature and has completely cooled, add fresh curd and milk.
Mix again very well and break lumps if any. You can either use the spoon or masher while breaking the lumps.
Add finely chopped ginger, finely chopped curry leaves, chopped green chilies and chopped coriander leaves.
Instead of adding ginger and curry leaves to the rice, you can also fry them in the tempering.
Add salt. Mix very well. Keep aside.
Tempering
Heat a small pan or tadka pan and add sesame oil in it. You can use peanut oil or sunflower oil instead of sesame oil.
When the oil becomes hot, lower the heat. Add mustard seeds.
Let the mustard seeds crackle.
Then add urad dal. Urad dal is optional and can be skipped.
Fry on a low heat stirring often till the urad dal becomes golden.
Lastly add the add curry leaves and asafoetida. Mix very well.
Switch off the heat and immediately pour the tempering in the curd rice mixture. Again mix very well.
Serve Curd Rice topped with a few coriander leaves or pomegranate arils or grapes. You can skip the fruits too and just serve curd rice as is. You can also serve with fried sun dried green chillies or any South Indian mango pickle.
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for some hours. Better to eat on the same day.
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Notes
Curd rice is best made with rice grains that have been freshly cooked and cooled. You can also use rice that has been cooked on the same day. But avoid using refrigerated or a day old rice.
For small kids, you can skip the green chillies and ginger completely.
Some grated carrots and or beetroot can also be added. Note that beetroot will impart a pink color in the curd rice.
Use fresh curd or yogurt. Avoid adding curd that tastes very sour.
For vegan curd rice, use plant based yogurt like coconut milk yogurt or cashew milk yogurt or almond milk yogurt. Use plant based milk like thin coconut milk, cashew milk or almond milk.