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Soul Kadhi



In an ideal world, you would read a recipe and buy just the ingredients you need. What actually happens is that I buy a few hundred grams where I use a teaspoon. Just finished a kitchen sanity check, and I count five souring agents. That's just the dry spices, even before I count vinegars. I know what to do with most of them, but kokum presents a challenge. It's not what I use in anything except one recipe I tried, and I don't know what to do with the rest of it.

On to google for "kokum recipe" and all of first page says sol kadhi. Interesting concept, lovely color and you know I happen to have coconut right now. So sol kadhi it is!

Start with 1/2 cup of grated coconut. Add a smashed garlic clove and a small chopped green chilli and blend for a few seconds with a cup of warm water. Strain to get a thick coconut milk. Put the grated cocunut milk back in the blender with another 1/2 cup water, blend and strain again. This time, the coconut milk will be thinner so the two batches together will be just the right consistency. Oh! and you can cut all this out and just buy coconut milk.

Soak 4 kokum pieces in a little water (about 3 tbsp) for 10-15 minutes. Strain and add to the cocunut milk. Add a pinch of salt, mix well and garnish with chopped cilantro. Chill for a couple of hours and serve as a drink. Or, in true konkani style, serve with rice and fish curry.

I loved it as a drink. But since this is my first time drinking sol kadhi, I had to pass on the taste test to a konkani friend. And he says it passes muster, but should be more tangy. More kokum next time. After all, I still have so much left.

PS: If you must know, the other four souring agents I have right now are tamarind, amchur, anardana and sumac. And I have six kind of sugars, and four salts. Is it normal, or is it just me?

Comments

Rachel said…
It is very very normal atleast to me.
sharada said…
normal for me too.
Nice space u have here.
Sol kadhi is always prepared @ our place.Yours looks perfect.
Alka said…
well i have chaat masala and lemon juice too,so tht makes it six...lolz
Sol kadhi looks lovely and refreshing
Siri said…
My pantry shelf was filled with all kinds of stuff right before my stint to go 'a week without shopping' Simran. Now, its better. I just have dals, quinoa, couscous and some other condiments. I never tried kokum though. I wonder if its available here in US. the kadi looks so 'soulfully' delicious ;)

Cheers,
Siri
notyet100 said…
never tried KOKUM,..HVE HEARD ABOUT IT A LOTZ,..soul kadhi looks yum,..
Purva Desai said…
This is ideal for summers....
suvi said…
Love the colour of that sol kadhi - i love sol kadhi, in fact just posted on my blog last month. And I will beat you on the souring agents - I have 2 types of kokum, plus all the other you mentioned and chaat masala and dried lemon!
Biswajit said…
seems perfect for these hot summers.
Laura said…
Haha you should see my pantry. That spice drawer was only the tip of the iceberg.
Sunshinemom said…
My favourite kadhi Sim, and coconut milk does not do justice to this preparation! Normal, dahling:)
Raaga said…
Simran: I found this picture of yours on this guy's site. There seem to be loads of copied pictures: http://adukkula.blogspot.com/2009/07/solkadhi.html

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