Tamil Sappadu Thali

Elaborate meal from Tamil Nadu

The satisfaction of finishing a Tamil Sappadu! Haa!

The word Sappadu means boiled rice and since rice is the primary source of diet in Tamil Nadu, this Thali is the Tamil Sappadu Thali. The tradition of serving a variety of dishes on one plate and savoring each in a dutiful order, I think, probably originated in southern India.

In weddings and fests in Tamil Nadu, the Sappadu is the essence. Seriously, learn to eat from us Indians!

At mealtime in the afternoon, almost all restaurants offer the limited or unlimited ‘Sappadu’. Banana leaves or large plates heaped with rice and surrounded with bowls of steaming hot curries, vegetables, condiments and dessert. 

I mean, if you don’t think ‘How one earth am I going to finish this?’,it is not a Thali.

The meal, at any cost, has to be eaten with hands, because, the lingering sambhar smell on fingers after completing the meal and washing hands, is what…satisfaction smells like!

Last Sunday was the Tamil New Year. We don’t enjoy elaborate meals very often (for obvious reasons) and so, when we had the once-in-a-blue-moon kinda festival, falling on a Sunday, I knew this was my only chance!

What you’re seeing is 3 hours of hard work in the kitchen (that is including everything…right from soaking, cutting, cooking to cleaning). And of course, if anyone’s wondering how I manage all this alone, I have a very enthusiastic husband who loves to help me in the kitchen J!

The choices of dishes might vary in different households and sub-cultures, but that’s only minor. I checked out the ingredients in my refrigerator before putting this menu together. Overall, a wholesome meal with all six elements of taste is what makes this so perfect!

I put together a menu with 2 main gravies to be eaten with rice and yogurt, 3 side-dishes, 2 fried snacks, 1 dessert, 1 fruit, 1 pickle and obviously, to eat all of the above with, R-I-C-E.  

1. Kathrikkai Sambhar (Aubergine /Eggplant Sambhar)

Aubergine thick gravy made with tomatoes, yellow lentils, tamarind extract and a specific mix of spices (sambhar powder). 

2. Milagu Rasam (Pepper Rasam)

Soup-like spicy gravy made with tomatoes, tamarind extract, and garlic and of course lots of pepper powder.

3. Thayir (Yogurt)

4. Pineapple Pachadi

Sweet-sour condiment made with pineapples, jaggery, chilies and tamarind extract mainly. 

5. Carrot-Beans-Cabbage Poriyal

Stir fried vegetables with curry leaves and grated coconut.

6. Vazhekkai Fry (Raw Banana Fry)

Pan-fried raw bananas, coated with spices.

7. Paruppu Vadai 

Deep fried, lentil fritters.

8. Appalam

Deep fried, crispy lentil breads (like chips).

9. Lemon Pickle

10. Pazhaa-Pazham (Jackfruit)

11. Paruppu Payasam

Dessert made with mung lentils, tapioca seeds, jaggery and coconut milk.

12. Sappadu (Boiled Rice)