sourashtra

Sourashtra refers to community of people who had their origins in Gujarat but migrated down south and settled in major towns of TamilNadu. Sourashtrian cooking has a peculiarity of its own. (Though it has some influences of the southern regions of India, we have a unique touch to our dishes). Home made Oundy bhurko (Kuzhambu podi) and Sambar bhurko (Sambar podi) are widely used. Our pongal varieties, particularly Ambat bhath (Puliyodarai), Limbu Pongal (Lemon Rice), Thakkali Pongal (Tomato rice), Muddha Pongal (Ven Pongal), Thaenga Sadam (Coconut rice) are some of the best. I know how some of my school mates used to crave for these dishes! And we prepare some unique dishes which others might not know of. This blog is one humble attempt to document them all.

Find a list of Sourashtra recipes here

A bit of Sourashtra history

(Source: Wikipedia)

Sourashtra or "Sourashtras" refers to a community of people who had their original homes in Gujarat and presently settled almost in all major Towns of Tamil Nadu and are concentrated more in Madurai which is considered as their cultural Headquarters.

Oral tradition says that they have migrated on the fall of 'Somanath Temple' when Gazni Mohammed invaded and plundered Hindu Temples.

- It is said they lived for about two centuries in Devagiri and later moved to Vijayanagar Empire at the invitation of the Kings. They manufactured fine silk garments for the use of Kings and their families and were engaged in Silk trade.

- When Nayak Kings started to rule Madurai, they were invited by the Madurai Nayak Kings and were given accommodation around Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Madurai, where even now there are many Sourashtra families living. The migration might have taken place in various groups at different times and they settled in many places in Tamil Nadu.

- Later Hyder Ali invited some families from Thanjavur to settle in Srirangapattanam in Karnataka. Those people are now in Bangalore after the fall of Srirangapattanam and they are called as 'Jamkhaanadavaru'.

- Similarly some families went to Andhra and settled in Tirupati.  Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is said to house several Saurashtrian families, known as Pattusali or Saurastrian Brahmins.

They speak Sourashtra language. Their language has more similarities with Marathi and Konkani. Sourashtra language also has influences of Kannada, Telugu and Tamil. In Tamil Nadu State they are called Sourashtra Patnulkarar (silk-thread workers or weavers) or merely Palkar. 

Some of the Sourashtra words common to other languages...

Sourashtra recipes 

Visit my youtube playlist for a complete list of Sourashtra recipes / Palkar recipes 👉 CLICK HERE

 

I have tried my best to keep these recipes as authentic and as traditional as possible. If you need any particular recipe, apart from the ones listed below, drop me a message in the comments section below. I will try my best to share your requested recipe. 

1. Poovam
2. Suzhiyam / Suyyam / Susiyam
3. Losan Chutney
4. Appam - 4 ways - Nalar doodh appam / Gullu appam (Loni appam) / Nalar doodh anda appam / Gullu anda appam (Loni anda appam)
5. Sojji appam / Sujji appam / Sooji appam
6. Dhein ounty
7. Meed vado
8. Gullu appam / Loni appam 
9. Kilangu masala
10. Panim dhowlo / Meedum dhowlo
11. Sevi / Doodum dhowlo
12. Vegetarian kajali ambat
13. Javvarisi semiya pasam
14. Losto 
15. Chicken milagu varuval
16. Semiya kesari
17. Bhajji char
18. Rotti halwa
19. Kadalai maavu laddu
20. Mutton chukka varuval
21. Dhein Raito
22. Thakkali pongal - with joman chutney
23. Sweet appam / Banana bonda / Sweet bonda
24. Ambad Bhath 1
25. Ambad Bhath 2
26. Mula sambar
27. Lovule puri 
28. Joman pilchar
29. Vangi bhudith
30. Kenni paes - with pudina chutney
31. Vatha kulambu / Uskaila ounty 
32. Polte chaino
33. Thakkali chutney / Tado thakkali chutney
34. Thakkali chutney / Ghetti thakkali chutney
35. Alla chutney
36. Nalar chutney
37. Mushroom biryani
38. Kachikelo masala roast / Kachikelo fry / Kachikelo roast
39. Ragi bhairi
40. Masala vado / Aama vado
41. Congress poriyal - Carrot, muttaikoss, beans poriyal 
42. Limbu pongal
43. Khowla raito
44. Thakkali char
45. Rava kesari
46. Ambad bhajji
47. Koduk ounty
48. Daal pani
49. Thengai sadam 
50. Muddha ambad bhath / Dhowraa pongal
51. Losan kolgar
52. Seppankilangu roast / Seepankilangu fry
53. Kajali ambad / Kajali gravy / Kajali masala
54. Gullu kaapi / Gullu coffee
55. Adai - adai dosa & adai idli
56. Manga Oorugai / Manga thokku / Manga thayir pachadi
57. Rava laddu
58. Chenna belo dhida bhurko
59. Ellu dhida bhurko
60. Chaina ounty / Diwali chaina ounty
61. Limbu oorugai
62. Madurai kaara chutney
63. Love birds pongal 😍 Limbu pongal, thoop pongal, sambar
64. Sekkar aval
65. Kollu pilchar, kollu dal
66. Ragi dhido
67. Diwali legiyam / Diwali hogad / Khaaru unto 
68. Pineapple kesari
69. Mutton biryani / Chaina biryani
70. Dhowlo - Sekkar dhowlo, Meed dhowlo
71. Chenna belo sambar / Instant sambar
72. Anda ounty
73. Bela county
74. Kudi ounty 1
75. Kudi ounty 2
76. Kharu bhurko
77. Baltin bhurko
78. Pangarappan bhairi
79. Serki bath / sekki bath
80. Bun halwa
81. Udith ounty
82. Agasthir ounty
83. Mithi ounty
84. Murukku
85. Thattai
86. Kalla ounty
87. Sivja Udith
88. Polte Bhajji
89. Vaalaipoo poriyal
90. Nilam bela sambar
91. Mhali ounty
92. Vegetable biryani
93. Thakkali ounty
94. Kachikelo podimas
95. Tandu kanji
96. Nalar doodh ounty
97. Thoru bela chutney
98. Chenna dal
99. Sekkar pongal / gullu pongal