Friday, April 13, 2007

Lemon Sevai

Sevai is a traditional tiffin recipe made with rice and served with potato masala on the side. The original method of making sevai is quite a tedious task wherein you grind the rice, steam it, make balls and pass it through a sevai press. I remember back in India making sevai used to be a family event where mom would make the sevai batter and my dad and brother would help make the soft fluffy sevai by passing it through a traditional sevai maker.

Of course, in today's fast paced world we do get dry rice vermicelli which can be used for making instant sevai. You can find dry rice vermicelli either in the Indian store or Asian markets. Sevai can be spiced up any way you like. One way is to use lemon, just like the recipe below. You can also season with coconut and make coconut sevai or add yogurt and make thayir sevai. This is an entry for Nupur's A to Z of Indian Vegetables and for the RCI - Tamil Cuisine Event.

Lemon Sevai

Ingredients
1/2 packet of instant rice vermicelli
1 tsp of mustard
1 tsp or urad dal
1 tsp of channa dal
1 or 2 green chillies
A few curry leaves
Fresh cilantro for garnish
2 tsp of cashews for garnish
2 tsps of lemon juice
1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
A pinch of asafoetida
Salt to taste
Oil as needed

Method1. Put a big pot of water to boil. Once the water boils add the instant rice vermicelli. Keep stirring and remove as soon as it is cooked. This takes hardly 3 to 4 minutes. Do not overcook as it will become sticky and lumpy. Drain and spread out on a plate to cool.
2. Pour oil in a pan and add the mustard. Once they splutter add urad dal, channa dal, green chillies and curry leaves.
3. Add the turmeric powder and asafoetida mix well and remove from the flame.
4. Transfer the rice vermicelli to the pan with seasonings and mix well. You can do this with your hand (clean hands of course).
5. Add salt, lemon juice and cilantro and mix till all are incorporated.
6. Garnish with roasted cashews.

16 comments:

Coffee said...

Sevai in any form is great!!!!!

Two entries from my side coming your way soon!!!!

Nupur said...

Looks delicious, Lakshmi! What a perfect brunch dish. Thanks for the entry!

FH said...

Two birds with one stone!!Clever girl!:D

Sevai looks great,almost like our chitranna but with rice noodles.Thanks for sharing LK!

Guess what's coming next week at FH?!;D

Lakshmik said...

Thanks Coffee. Looking forward to your entries.

Lakshmik said...

Thanks Nupur. I could not send in an entry for the last 2 weeks so surely wanted to do it this time.

Lakshmik said...

Thanks Asha. Yes, it is very similar to lime rice.

Viji said...

Such a comfor food. With avial it is so perfect. Viji

Lakshmik said...

Yes Viji. Sometimes I make it with vegetable kurma too. Tastes delicious.

Prema Sundar said...

I have made lemon and tomato sevai Lakshmi , a long time back ... almost a year I think.. I have to buy sevai this week and cook. ur picture has touched my taste buds and I would prepare this weekend . thanks.

Roopa said...

wow lakshmi,
SEvai looks great!

thanks for adding me to your blogroll!

Sia said...

i can eat semage/sevai for bf, brunch, lunch or even dinner:)
oh god!!! looks like i am gonna miss deadline for RCI:(

Padmaja said...

hey lakshmi!! it looks delicious!!

Lakshmik said...

Sure Prema. Buy the vermicelli and do try it out again.

Lakshmik said...

Thanks Roopa

Lakshmik said...

Hi Sia

The deadline for RCI is 25th. You still have time.

Sheela said...

looks yummy, lakshmi! your recipe reminded me a lot of my childhood when my mom would make sevai using the "sevai naazhi" contraption! and, she always makes lemon sevai, coconut sevai, sevai with korma - all three together at the same time :)