Avarekalu in Kannada, Mochai in Tamil, Lima/Hyacinth beans in English, Surati Papdi in Gujarati and Popati/Vaal in Maharashtra are the few names that I know of. These beans are very popular in Karnataka. I was introduced to them just prior to my marriage by my MIL. I had not realised then that these are very popular in Karnataka and a lot of preparations made with them. These are so popular there that in Bangalore a place where these are sold abundantly is called avarekalu square. You can see many women sitting there separating the beans from the pods and selling them on the roadside. They are normally abundantly available in the winter. These beans have a distinct flavor which is thoroughly enjoyable.![smile_tongue](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t7e-g_80qoZbjhnS3swt5ouY6I3wd3UbGgYoQXtsdXXqSx-FcBwGZaEBdOlRq29QM0Zu96JRpaluiwxwBxqY23k0Z2GyVmQn6vVKC2ri57nmuOVjZhPZJe=s0-d)
During my recent visit to B’lore I bought them and stored them in the freezer as these are not available here. S is a die hard fan of these seeds…I guess all Kannadigas are. I will be posting the recipes gradually as and when I cook with them.
This weekend when I made this Upma my first step was to call MIL and ask her to repeat the recipe. One big change in now her telling me the recipes is, she does not tell me any proportions unlike earlier when I would ask her for each and every ingredients quantity and ratio. I guess she has realised I have finally found a grip on Kannadiga way of cooking….
Though she has found a confidence in me, I am the one a little apprehensive preparing them as somewhere in my mind it’s there will I be able to make it as good as her?…will S like it? By God’s grace I have normally succeeded in making things as good as her, so S does not complain.![Smile](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u0Of-GTIlEvba8fzNB6phgfusdt6eSD55l46ZRM80PBbPWX_4Sy7r1wzQEFGhHwBg2NyedW6CWsnppNYRaz6YQD1pqIr7RUsz-f0Y8fxTO7dSRLaMPTdG66T0_vJkTW7aXEdTP49sHSuAyqZg1ERJFGs-wyA=s0-d)
The Upma turned out really tasty and to my understanding S overate the stuff so much that he ate very little for the lunch. It is one such preparation that can be had for breakfast, lunch, dinner or brunch too, as it’s quite filling. I will stop praising the dish now and give you the recipe…………
Ingredients
1 cup raw rice (any brand)
3-4 spoons pigeon peas/arhar dal
1 cup avarekalu
1 cup fresh coconut
3-4 tbsp chopped cilantro
7-8 green chilies finely chopped
2-3 strings of curry leaves finely chopped
oil to cook
2 tsp mustard seeds
3 tbsp mix of urad and chana dal (black lentil and bengal gram)
salt to taste
a dash of ghee for taste
Method
Thaw the avarekalu.
![P1010380 P1010380](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6m4yLMseI/AAAAAAAACsg/vCRNrNiGULg/P1010380_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Grind together the rice and pigeon pea to a semolina like texture.
![P1010382 P1010382](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6m7Es4PfI/AAAAAAAACso/wvub6sN3lvQ/P1010382_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Heat oil add the mustard, followed by the urad-chana dal, roast till golden brown in color. Now add the chopped chilies, curry leaves and cilantro.
![P1010383 P1010383](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6m9RQ2MLI/AAAAAAAACsw/e8V7xd21TeI/P1010383_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![P1010385 P1010385](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6m_QD2JsI/AAAAAAAACs4/9OIcS5jPGJI/P1010385_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Add the rice-dal powder and saute them in oil for a few minutes.
![P1010386 P1010386](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6nBd9LouI/AAAAAAAACtA/1hEtBPPPryM/P1010386_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Add the avarekalu and mix.
![P1010387 P1010387](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6nDXsupMI/AAAAAAAACtI/VIwAonCXc04/P1010387_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![P1010388 P1010388](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6nFrj3M4I/AAAAAAAACtQ/idTgwb6KrBk/P1010388_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Add freshly grated coconut and mix properly. Add the salt and mix again.
![P1010384 P1010384](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6nHQns2VI/AAAAAAAACtY/SF2Aprre6Uw/P1010384_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Keep about 4 cups of water to boil.
![P1010390 P1010390](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6nzGC9JkI/AAAAAAAACtg/cjXGzBlOlDU/P1010390_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![P1010391 P1010391](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_aFMcjwAILRc/Su6n1Nfr1wI/AAAAAAAACto/8Ug25WdeCW8/P1010391_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Add water gradually and keep mixing, add water based on the quality of rice. I required about 3-3/4 cups of water. Cover and cook till done.
Mix a large spoon of clarified butter/ghee before serving.
Sending this to Steady Pulse…Beans and Legume recipe you can count on.to EFM - Variety rice series conducted by SriLekha
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMe5cGYRWGv95KVaH9au5FlGtRz4OIBUyKiqLtP4KnUgSu4Ybg6eqNBEW93Nc_u89144zHQePzBkJMWdrQ98uLMbrtL7_Ey8T_LSo2ef-4BJ7pFzQ7T_0-MuuvxWcrejfG-SjrRso7l72_/s320/rice.jpg)
37 comments:
Co-incidence or What !!!
I had upma yesterday morning without val papdi, and today afternoon lunch was val papdi sabzi !
Anyways this upma with valpapdi is totally new to me, will surely give it a try :)
hmm..proper kannadiga dish haah?/
I know avarekallu have die hard fans in bangalore..
Even though I m not a great fan of it but I do relish those dishes sometimes...
Hi pari...hope ur feeling much better now...This type of upma sounds really interesting,seems delicious too..will surely try when i find that averekalu
A very different rice item dear..looks so wonderful and comforting :)
Looks wonderful... Something new too...
This is a new recipe for me..Looks simply yummy!!!
Never heard of this..Nice recipe.
new to me.nice step by step pics :)
interesting....very healthy
hope u feeling better....glad u have become as good as your mil....carry on the good job! The upma looks really tasty and filling!
Oh wow, this is one of my favorite. Unfortunately we don't get avarekalu here in Germany. Would love to try this when i'm back in Bangalore. Looks delicious! Our tastes definitely looks similar ;)
Wow... what a great and authentic recipe! I'll will now search for the Tamil name of avarekalu :-)
avarekalu upma sounds nice, will try this now. How r u feeling now?
Delicious Upma Pari and a nice and new combination. Will try this!
Upma looks delicious...I don't think I've ever had the beans before, but it sounds great.
I love averakalu upma so much but miss the fresh seeds here. Never tried with rice Pari always have eaten with sooji ... looks delicious and also nice filling. Will definitely try once I find them.
wow!! a very new and innovative dish.
Looks very filling and healthy!
Looks yummy and unique recipe!!Nice presentation..:)
Such a delicious and new dish for me..looks yummy!!
Interesting recipe..sounds healthy..:-)
never tried out this.....looks very tempting
this tuvar gives so much flavor to whatever you do..rice with it...wow..sounds gr8 :)
This dish is new to me. They look great. Gotta try it soon!
I'm not fond of upmas but this one is tempting and delicious! I loved the way you mentioned the recipes with step by step methods!
never heard of this. upma looks so delicious.
We do upma with rice & dal, but adding lima beans is really innovative idea. Nice dish.
very new to me! sounds too good :)
wow1 looks delicious!
Hi Guys, I am recuperating, glad to know that you liked the preparation.Do give it a try if you get hold of the avarekalu.
I swear I left a comment here, right after you sent me the entry, God knows where it went!
This looks so yumm...thanks a lot for participating
Ohh great very Nice recipe i really enjoy your blog good job.
I am also from south India and this blog has brought water in my taste buds really a goog blog
Really liked your blog worth sharing, very delicious
WILL definitely try this I liked your blog very much. please do write more blogs
Well said, keep up the writing
Yummy look delicious, Thank you for sharing this.
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