THE UNDERRATED EID MEAL - FOOD BOARD

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Well, many of you know that biryani which is made with dedication and love on the day of Eid, eaten together as a family, and shared with the loved and needy is the star dish of the special day. But the real hero, the underrated gem of the occasion is the Eid breakfast prepared as early as dawn before rushing to prayers only to have it after our obligations are done.

 

In a Tamil Muslim household, idly with chicken curry or gravy is always the norm as far as I have known. I know that it has been the talk of the town recently but trust me when I say we have been having this combo in every Tamil household ever since. It has been passed down generations and is one of the best, criminally undervalued combinations ever to exist. To have a chunk of soft, cushiony idly dipped in the aromatic, spicy chicken curry with a soft, succulent piece of meat as the first meal of the day is a blessing. Rarely do maida or wheat parottas appear as add-ons if Ma has time and a helping hand.

 


The medu vadai - masal (paruppu) vadai duo has to exist on the table without which the breakfast meal isn't complete. It cannot be just either of the two because there will always be that one fussy sibling or cousin or niece or nephew who wouldn’t like one of them. So, it must always be made together, and people get to choose which ones they want to have. And let me tell you, both of them go amazingly well with chicken curry, as well.

 

Then comes the sweet. The first one is a warm, lingering delicacy called the semiya payasam that goes by other names in other places. A spoonful of this payasam cures the bitterness in our hearts, they say. But always be sure to limit your sugar intake. Next is the agar agar pudding which Ma makes religiously during every Eid that is usually bland, often catching the flavour of something that is added to it like rose milk, coconut milk, chocolate syrup or vanilla essence. A nutritious, filling soul food for a heavy day that is to come. Another delicacy, that is rarely made owing to its complexity is the vatalapam which is a steamed egg pudding for which I would sell my soul. This is served super hot and melts in your mouth after cooling down. Thought to have originated from Malaysia or Sri Lanka, this dish is now a common Tamil Nadu delicacy, especially during Eid.

 

Now tell me, do you still believe Biryani is the best Eid meal? 


This is a part of the #BlogchatterFoodFest

#penbooksandscalpel

 


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