Karadaiyan nombu adai is usually prepared on nombu day. Vellam (sweet) Adai and Uppu (Savory/Salt) Adai are offered with butter. Typically Adai is prepared by using homemade rice flour. Rice is soaked, strained and dried in cloth. Here is a instant version with store brought rice flour.
Story I was told about karadiyan nombu. I asked Amma/referred Internet. Pls correct me if I missed something or mentioned anything wrong. The Karadayan Nolumbu (nombu) is performed to recollect and celebrate the epic story of Savithri regaining her husband from Lord Yama.
Nombu is usually celebrated at the last few minutes before the end of Masi (Kumbam) month and before the beginning of the month of Panguni (Meenam). Sumangali women participate in the pooja along with the girls in the family. Karadaiyan nombu adai are offered in banana leaves with butter.
For each lady/spinster/girl in the house Karadaiyan nombu adai are offered along with one extra leaf for god.
Put kolam and keep the banana leaves over the kolam. Serve Karadaiyan nombu adai and butter.
In a thambalam keep Vettilai, Pakku and banana along with yellow threads.
One yellow thread for god + one for each girl/women doing the pooja.
For married women husband tie the yellow thread in neck. For spinster/ girl mother tie the thread.
The following Tamil slogam is chanted
“Urukaadha Venneyum oradaiyam naan nootren Orukkalum en kanavar ennai vittu pririyadhirukka vendum”
“உருகாத வெண்ணெயும், ஓர் அடையும் நோற்று உனக்கு நான் வைத்தேன், எந்நாளும் என் கணவர் எனை விட்டு நீங்காத அருள் தருவாய்”
Meaning,
“I have offered you unmelted butter and One Adai, Please bless me so that my husband will be with me forever”
Also this Slogam is chanted,
Dhram gruhnami subhage sahardhraam
Dharami aham bharthu
Ayushya Sidhartham supreethabhava sarvadha
Meaning,
Oh pleasant goddess, I am taking the thread with affection, and I am wearing it for my Husband long life. I wish he is always pleased with me.
Generally many women do fasting this day and have food after pooja.
March 2020 karadiyan Nombu
USA
13- March -2020 night
It is a practice in certain homes to worship goddess Kamakshi by calling a priest . In our house Ammas do the pooja. I also do the same. Nombu starts with sangalpam followed by pooja.
Karadaiyan Nombu is a traditional festival celebrated in our community. Ever since childhood I have a big fascination when it comes to nombu because of the yellow thr ead. I always ask my Mom I not married why are you tying this over my neck, my mom used to say this is a different thread. Even in school I hide this thread as I don’t want my friends to think I got married:-)
Specialty of nombu is preparing Karadaiyan nombu adaiand tying yellow thread. Myself and sis enjoy Adai with a big chunk of room temperature butter. I can talk about how I enjoyed for the entire post, but let me get into the recipe:-)
General steps:
- Dry roast 2 cups of rice flour for 2-3 minutes and keep aside
- Dry roast the black karamani for 2-3 minutes and soak in warm water for 3-4 hours or overnight in room temperature water, strain it. Add twice the water and pressure cook for 1 whistle. Avoid mushing the karamani
Having a sweet tooth, I always prefer Sweet Adai over savory, so Sweet Adai recipe first😄
Sweet Adai
Method:
- Soak jaggery in 1 cup + 1/2 cup of hot water. Since I had big chunks of jaggery it took a while, but to speed up the procees, jaggery can be cut into small pieces or cooked with water
- After the jaggery completely melts in water, strain the impurities.
- In a pan, add jaggery syrup and bring to boil. Add the coconut, black eyed beans and cardamom powder; mix well. Add the rice flour
- Cook till it comes to non sticky dough consistency. Cover the dough with a damp cloth, as it tends to dry soon
- When the dough is cool enough to handle, make small spheres, flatten it and gently make a small dent in center. Since rice flour is gluten free, they tend to be sticky, so greasing hand with sesame oil helps to make Adai
- Steam in greased plate for 10-12 minutes

Karadaiyan Nombu Adai Sweet
Ingredients
- Rice flour - 1 cup sieved
- Grated Coconut Fresh/Frozen - 1/4 cup
- Jaggery - 1 cup
- Karamani - 3 tbsp
- Warm Water – 1 cup + 1/2 cup keep 1/4 cup warm water separately
- Cardamom powder -1/4 tsp
- Salt - a pinch
- Sesame oil - to grease
Instructions
- Soak jaggery in 1 cup + 1/2 cup of hot water. Since I had big chunks of jaggery it took a while, but to speed up the procees, jaggery can be cut into small pieces or cooked with water
- After the jaggery completely melts in water, strain the impurities.
- In a pan, add jaggery syrup and bring to boil. Add the coconut, black eyed beans and cardamom powder; mix well. Add the rice flour
- Cook till it comes to non sticky dough consistency. Cover the dough with a damp cloth, as it tends to dry soon
- When the dough is cool enough to handle, make small spheres, flatten it and gently make a small dent in center. Since rice flour is gluten free, they tend to be sticky, so greasing hand with sesame oil helps to make Adai
- Steam it in a greased idli plate for 10-12 mins
Notes
2. If you feel dough is dry, add 1 tbsp of water else no need to add. Water added should be boiling hot water, so its better to keep 1/4 cup hot water separately
3. Color of the Adai depends on the jaggery color
4. I use udupi rice flour
5. Covering the dough with damp cloth to prevent the dough from getting dry
Savory Adai
Method:
- Add oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, temper with mustard seeds, channa dal, ginger, green chilli, curry leaves and asafoetida. After it splutters, add 1 cup + 3/4 cup of water and salt. Bring to boil. Once the water starts boiling add coconut, karamani and rice flour
- Cook till it comes to non sticky dough consistency. Cover the dough with a damp cloth, as it tends to dry soon
- When it is warm make small balls and flatten it into patties and make small holes in the middle as we do for pinwheels.
- When the dough is cool enough to handle, make small spheres, flatten it and gently make a small dent in center. Since rice flour is gluten free, they tend to be sticky, so greasing hand with sesame oil helps to make Adai
- Steam it in greased idli plate for 10-12 mins

Karadaiyan Nombu Adai Savory
Ingredients
- Rice flour - 1 cup sieved
- Grated Coconut Fresh/frozen - 1/4 cup
- Karamani - 3 tbsp
- Salt - as needed
- Water - 2 cups keep 1/4 cup warm water separately
- Sesame oil - to grease
- For tempering
- Coconut oil – 1 tsp
- Mustard Seeds – 1/4 tsp
- Green Chilli – 1 chopped (Adjust according to your taste)
- Channa Dal – 1/2 tsp
- Ginger -1 tsp peeled and finely chopped
- Curry leaves – 1 sprig chopped
- Asafoetida – a generous pinch
Instructions
- Add oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the ingredients under "to temper" and let it splutter
- Add 1 cup + 3/4 cup of water and salt ; Bring to boil. Once the water starts boiling add coconut, karamani and rice flour
- Cook till it comes to non sticky dough consistency. Cover the dough with a damp cloth, as it tends to dry soon
- When the dough is cool enough to handle, make small spheres, flatten it and gently make a small dent in center. Since rice flour is gluten free, they tend to be sticky, so greasing hand with sesame oil helps to make Adai
- Steam it in greased idli plate for 10-12 mins.
Notes
2. If you feel dough is dry, add 1 tbsp of water else no need to add
3. Water added should be boiling hot water, so its better to keep 1/4 cup hot water separately
4. Covering the dough with wet damp cloth prevent the dough from getting dry
These sound delightful!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanku Justine:-)
Heard about these adais but never gotta chance to taste them. Bookmarking them to try someday.. They look yummy Vidya..
Thanku Arasi:-)
Happy Nonbu.. 🙂 Yummy adais
Thanku Sri:-)
Super adai’s Vidya, have been hearing a lot of this adai…Looks so nice!!! I will try it sometime.
Thanku Malar:-)
Yum! these look great and so easy to make!
Thanku:-)
What a cute story! this really looks amazing. I love the cardamom flavor too. I’ll have to give this a try one day.
Thanku Amanda:-)
Wow this adai looks crazy good V…. never tried sweet version, tempting… yummmm
Thanku Chitra:-)
Yum yum yum…Keep two for me pleaseeeeeeeee
Sure:-)
looks good perfectly done Vidhya
Thanku Veena:-)
tempting adai. well explained.
Thanku Gayathri:-)
Karadaiyan Nombu Adai looks delicious! I need to try them! Thanks for sharing!
Thanku Marcela:-)
Looks like donuts! 🙂
Oh ya it didn’t strike me:-) thanku
I hope you had a nice Nonbu, Vidya. Always makes it more interesting when we blog about it and share thoughts. 🙂
Yes Apsara:-) hope u too had a nice nombu
Look delicious. Wow! Two versions of the dish. Yumm..
Thanku Skd:-)
cute and yummy adai’s dear..
Thanku Far in:-)
Looks delicous Vidya! Wish I could steal some.. 😉
Hope you’re doing well. 🙂
Hey Radhi,longgg time.. Hru and hope things are going good at your side.. Miss u.. Waiting to c you back in action
These look so good Vidya! The remind me of Chinese rice cakes. Do you happen to know of any good online places to find Indian ingredients? I have very limited knowledge of Indian ingredients but would like to learn more! 🙂 Thanks!
Thanku Bonnie:-) here in Us I buy Indian stuff in Indian stores. Laskhmi and SWAD are the brand I buy
I happened to post recipe for these adai’s too 🙂 your adais look delicious 🙂
I saw ur version and they looks perfect
Thank you 🙂
Karayadan nombu adai looks delicious, I made only sweet adai this time as savory no takers at home.
Thanku Swathi:-)
Hi Vidya,I showed your to my blog Mom…she liked your blog and your recipes….Even this Karadaiyan vadai we have’nt tasted so far…Must try this during this holiday….
You made my day dear:-) convey my thanks yo Aunty.
Hi Vidya,I showed your blog to my Mom…she liked your blog and your recipes….Even this Karadaiyan vadai we have’nt tasted so far…Must try this during this holiday….
yummy adais….
Thanku Smitha:-)
Yummy!
Thanku Saritha:-)
traditional recipe!! looks yummy!!
Thanku Sundari:-)
Yum <3
Thanku Charu:-)
Yummy adais, heard of them but never tried. Bookmarking to try, neat explanation Vidya!
Thanks pa:-)