Shanthi's Cookbook

~~~~~Happy Ugadi ~~~~~

Ugadi is called the New year's day for the people of South India. People from this region celebrate the festival with great fanfare and have gatherings of the extended family with a sumptuous feast . The day, however, begins with bath followed by prayers, and then the eating of a specific mixture of -

• Neem Buds/Flowers for bitterness
• Raw Mango for tang
• Tamarind Juice for sourness
• Green Chilli/Pepper for heat (yes, and that's a proposed solution to the world's heating problems. Eat green chilli/pepper on cold days, and you don't neet to turn the heat on...)
• Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness
• Pinch of Salt for saltiness

This mixture with all six tastes (షడ్రుచులు), called "Ugadi Pachhadi" (ఉగాది పచ్చడి) : Symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise) , which should be accepted together and with equanimity.

Ingredients:

Raw Green Mango - 1 (small)

Tamarind Pulp

Grated Jaggery ( found in Indian stores. Also called as sugarcane sugar)

Salt

Red Chilli Powder

Fenugreek seed powder ( Great Substitute for Neem leaves)

Procedure :

1. Peel and chop raw mango into small pieces. Take it in a medium mixing bowl.

2. Combine small amounts of Tamarind pulp, grated jaggery, Salt and Red chilli powder. Add it to the mango pieces.

3. Just add a pinch of Fenugreed seed powder ( too much of it makes it bitter). Mix everything together and serve. If you desire you can add 1-2 tsp of water.