Tamil New Year, or Puthandu, is celebrated on 14 April every year, and this year, we at The Better India bring to you the top five dishes every household in Tamil Nadu prepares to mark the occasion.
Payasam (milk-based sweet) A payasam is a smooth and creamy blend of milk, cardamom, sugar and rice or flattened rice (poha). In Tamil Nadu, it’s customary to begin the New Year meal with a sweet, and payasam is the dish of choice to mark an auspicious start.
Sambhar Tamil Nadu and sambhar are usually considered synonymous. Known for its comforting and rich flavours, sambhar is made in nearly every household on this day. Usually made with a variety of vegetables, this dish is a spicy, tangy curry made from arhar daal and other spices, and it’s often the tastiest item on the leaf during the New Year feast.
Manga pachadi Manga pachadi or raw mango chutney brings together sweet, tangy, and bitter notes in one dish. Made with jaggery (sweet), raw mango (sour) and a few beetle leaves (slightly bitter), it is usually eaten with rice.
Masala vada Masala vada are deep-fried fritters made from a spiced lentil batter. Golden, crispy, and served hot, they are a festive favourite across Tamil households. These vadas are often offered as neivedyam (prasad) to deities early in the morning on New Year’s Day.
Rasam A fragrant, soup-like dish, rasam is made with tamarind juice, tomatoes, and daal, blended with a ground mix of coriander seeds, cumin, black pepper, coconut, red chillies, and other spices. Paired with steamed rice, rasam is a must-have comfort food on Puthandu.