Pundi Gatti, Tomato Saaru and Virgin Coconut Oil

Ingredients

• 0.25 cup Toor Dal (rinsed thoroughly)
• 4 medium Tomatoes (ripe and roughly chopped)
• 0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1.5 cup Water (for pressure cooking)
• 1 inch piece Tamarind (seedless)
• 0.5 cup Warm Water (for soaking tamarind)
• 2 tsp Rasam Powder (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 tsp Jaggery (grated or powdered, adjust to taste)
• 1.25 tsp Salt (or to taste)
• 1 tbsp Ghee
• 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
• 0.5 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 0.25 tsp Hing
• 2 whole Dried Red Chilies (broken into halves)
• 10 leaves Curry Leaves
• 2 cloves Garlic (lightly crushed, optional)
• 2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (finely chopped, for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   Pressure Cook Dal and Tomatoes

   • In a 2 or 3-liter pressure cooker, combine the rinsed toor dal, chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, and 1.5 cups of water.
   • Secure the lid and pressure cook on medium heat for 4-5 whistles, or for about 12-15 minutes, until the dal is completely soft and mushy.
   • Allow the pressure to release naturally before opening the cooker.
2. 2

   Prepare the Saaru Base

   • While the dal is cooking, soak the tamarind piece in 1/2 cup of warm water for 10 minutes. Squeeze the tamarind well to extract all the pulp into the water, then discard the fibrous solids.
   • Once the pressure cooker is safe to open, use a whisk or an immersion blender to mash the cooked dal and tomato mixture into a smooth puree.
   • Transfer this puree to a medium-sized pot. Add the prepared tamarind water, rasam powder, jaggery, salt, and 2 additional cups of water. Stir everything together until well combined.
3. 3

   Simmer the Saaru

   • Place the pot on the stove over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
   • Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. The saaru is ready when a light, aromatic froth forms on the surface.

Ingredients

• 4 pcs coconut (large, mature brown coconuts)
• 4 cup water (warm, for extracting milk)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the coconut: Break the coconuts in half and carefully scrape out all the white flesh using a coconut scraper. You should have about 6-7 cups of grated coconut.

2. 2

   Extract the coconut milk: Transfer the grated coconut to a blender. Add 4 cups of warm water. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth placed over a large bowl. Squeeze the pulp firmly to extract as much milk as possible. Discard the pulp.

3. 3

   Cook the coconut milk: Pour the extracted coconut milk into a heavy-bottomed pan or a traditional Kerala uruli. Place the pan over medium heat and bring the milk to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Once it starts simmering, reduce the heat to low.

4. 4

   Separate the oil: Continue to cook on low heat, stirring every 5-10 minutes to prevent the solids from sticking and burning. After about 30-40 minutes, you will see the oil starting to separate from the milk solids. Keep cooking until the solids turn a deep golden brown and the oil becomes clear and fragrant. This will take about 45-60 minutes in total. Turn off the heat and let it cool down completely.

5. 5

   Strain and store the oil: Once cooled, carefully strain the oil through a clean cheesecloth or a fine metal strainer into a dry, airtight glass jar. Press the solids lightly to get any remaining oil out. The leftover brown solids (kalkan) are edible and can be mixed with sugar as a snack. Store the Virgin Coconut Oil at room temperature. It will solidify in cooler climates.