Vepampoo Pachadi | Dry Neem flower pachadi

Vepampoo pachadi | dry neem flower Pachadi | Tamil new year pachadi with step-by-step pictures and video recipe. Check out the vepampoo pachadi recipeIf you like the video pls SUBSCRIBE to my channel.vepampoopachadi (7)Vepampoo Pachadi is a sweet pachadi prepared with neem flower (Vepampoo), tamarind, and jaggery. It is usually prepared on Tamil puthandu (new year).I know I am super late in posting this pachadi. I prepared this on April 14th for Varusha pirappu samayal (Tamil new year lunch). We went to Jagadish’s cousin’s house for the weekend, so I gave 3 days break to TMF. Today I was so confused about whether to post Vepampoo pachadi or wait for a year and post this next year? I already have a lot of backlog-year-old posts so don’t want to stack up the queue.I love festive special lunch. When we were in India Amma use to buy banana leaf and we enjoyed the delicious spread. We will wait for festive days just to enjoy the lunch??vepampoopachadi (2)Initially, I used to follow the same routine, preparing the widespread on special occasions, but these days Jagadish starts so early to work. If I pack and give it won’t be the same feel as eating relaxed at home. I started following a slightly different routine. Do one simple prasadam on a festive day and cook the spread on the weekend so that we can leisurely enjoy it.This time Tamil new year came on Friday as always I decided to do Payasam and prepare the spread on Saturday. Our last-minute Weekend plan changed my mind. Decided to have lunch and start.Vepampoo pachadi is generally prepared on Tamil new year’s day to add some bitterness. They say we have arusuvai (6 different tastes) in our food. We might experience mixed emotions in the coming year so to symbolize that Vepampoo pachadi was one in our traditional Tamil Brahmin new year menu.Pachadi is prepared with jaggery so it won’t be bitter but if you bite Vepampoo slight bitterness from it is tasted. I am one among the few who like dry neem flower pachadi. mango pachadi is also prepared for Tamil new yearAlso, try Vepampoo rasam vepampoopachadi (4)

 

Other pachadi recipes in TMF

Vepampoo Pachadi

Vepampoo Pachadi is a sweet pachadi prepared with neem flower (Vepampoo), tamarind and jaggery. It is usually prepared on Tamil puthandu (new year).
5 from 8 votes
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Course: Pachadi
Cuisine: Indian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 3
Author: Vidya Srinivasan

Ingredients

  • Dry neem flower - 1 tbsp + 1 tsp
  • Tamarind extract - 1 cup
  • Jaggery powdered - 1/3 cup
  • Cardamom powder - 1/8 tsp
  • Salt - pinch
  • Rice flour - 1/4 tsp
  • To temper:
  • Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Green chilli - 1 slit

Instructions

  • Add a tbsp of water to rice flour and make a paste
  • In hot 1/3 cup of water add powdered jaggery and strain for impurities
  • In a pan on medium heat add ghee, when it is hot add mustard seeds and green chilli; let it crackle
  • Add the dry Vepampoo and sauté in a low flame for minute, without burning dry neem flower
  • Add the tamarind extract and let it boil till the raw smell goes off, around 4- 5 minutes
  • Add the jaggery syrup and let it cook for 3 minutes
  • Add rice flour paste cook till the pachadi thickens

Video

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Notes

  1.  Rice flour is optional, it is added for thickness
  2.  Adjust the water according the consistency you desire
  3. Tamarind pulp can be used instead of extract. Combine 1 tbsp + 1 tsp of tamarind pulp and 1 cup of water
  4.  Jaggery powder can be used directly instead of jaggery syrup
  5. Cardamom powder is optional
  6. If you are using chunks of jaggery microwave the jaggery syrup for a minute or cook in low heat till the jaggery melts, need not cook to string consistency
  7. Adjust the sweetness according to your sweetness
  8. Fresh neem flower is preferred since I didn't have it used the dry flower
  9. I freezed the dry flower and used it for pachadi
  10.  I used small gooseberry size tamarind and extracted a thin tamarind water. Took 1 cup for pachadi and used remaining for cooking
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Ingredients Dry neem flower – 1 tbsp + 1 tspTamarind extract – 1 cupJaggery powdered – 1/3 cupCardamom powder – 1/8 tspSalt – pinchRice flour – 1/4 tspTo temper:Mustard seeds – 1/4 tspGreen chilli – 2, slitghee 1/2 tbspMethod:
  • Add a tbsp of water to the rice flour and make a paste
  • In hot water add powdered jaggery and strain for impurities
  • In a pan on medium heat add ghee, when it is hot add mustard seeds and green chilli; let it crackle
  • Add the dry Vepampoo and sauté in a low flame for a minute, without burning dry neem flower
  • Add the tamarind extract and let it boil till the raw smell goes off around 4- 5 minuteS
  • Add the jaggery syrup and salt; let it cook for – 5 minutes
vepampoopachadi
  • Add rice flour paste cook for 3 minutes till the pachadi thickens
vepampoopachadi (6)

19 Comments

  1. I like your approach to spread the dishes across the week that way it removes some of the stress from the holidays (I mean. . .how can one have fun if they are stressed trying to prepare for what is meant to be a celebration?). As for this pachadi. . .it’s very interesting. Far different from anything I have ever had.

  2. 5 stars
    This recipe sounds so intriguing! I’ve never had anything like it before but I’m keen to experiment. I’ve found jaggery available here in Australia, so my next step is to find the dry neem flower. I’m betting one of our import stores will have some, so I’m looking forward to the adventure! Thanks so much for sharing not only your gorgeous recipe and photos but the whole experience of the dish as well. 🙂

    1. It is a side dish. I generally add lot of jaggery so in our home we prefer having it as a mild dessert

  3. This recipe sounds so exotic…something I definitely need to try because I am so intrigued by some of the ingredients. Where can I find Neem flower?

    1. I got the dry neem flower from India and freezed it. During new year it is available in some Indian stores

  4. Everytime I see your recipe I want to jump right away in a plane to India! This looks once more a delightful and intriguing recipe! Some of the terms I need to learn more about… for example Neem flower I ‘m not sure it’s easy to find where I live (Spain) but the more I see your recipes the more I need to go there!

  5. 5 stars
    I cannot resist anything with tamarind and love jaggery 🙂 I’ve never tried dry Neem flower – so I am hugely intrigued! it sounds like an incredibly healthy side/dessert!

  6. Love checking out these Indian dishes. I’m a huge fan of Indian food, but always too intimidated to try making it my self. your blog gives me a little more confidence in trying to do that!

  7. This side dish has so many of my favorite flavors: tamarind, cardamom. It sounds like the counterpart to the American cranberry sauce–a little bit sweet, aromatic and bitter all at the same time. It sounds like a great accompaniment to meat dishes, especially. Is that at all the way it is eaten?

    1. Lunne,cranberry sauce is a nice comparison, we have it as a side for rice. At times I can like to put in a cup and enjoy like a dessert

5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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