Paruppu Sadam Aka Dal Rice

Paruppu Sadam Aka Dal Rice

(Disclaimer: Hey guys this is a highly contextual post in the sense tamilians aka sams who eat parrupu sadam will be able to appreciate it alone. Also I have used "Aka" many a times in this post as I have taken a liking to it. It is the short form for "Also Known As".)

From the day I started to think, my most favourite dish has been Parruppu Sadam Aka Dal Rice.

Mom used to daily give me paruppu sadam before I went to school.

The day I was put in hostel in 11th class, I discovered to my utter dismay that they did not serve paruppu sadam daily. It was once in a week and infact was termed as "special".

The day I reached home for my first vacation, the first thing I wanted is paruppu sadam made my mom.

Then I realized that this happened every time I returned home for vacation.

I realized that Paruppu sadam is not an ordinary thing. Eating paruppu sadam became a very sacred thing for me and without my knowledge I almost gave it a divine status.

In spiritual parlance they say that "Eat to live and not live to eat." Yeah that is true but lets' keep that aside for a while.

Eating parrupu sadam is an art in itself. This is how I enjoy my paruupu sadam. I get up in the morning, do my usual round of exercise. This kindles the hunger and sets the appetite right.

I then have bath and come to the kitchen. I am as fresh as whatever comparison you can think of. My hair is slightly wet. The sun is streaming into the kitchen and the sunlight just kisses my plate.

Mom lays down a stainless steel plate. First there is a helping of parrupu aka Dal which is slightly blended with a pinch of salt. Then comes a serving of hot hot rice and then comes the icing on the cake.. ooops I meant here comes the ghee on the sadam ( aka rice ). I can smell the ghee and even as I breathe in the smell of the fresh ghee I am mixing the paruppu, sadam and the ghee.

Even as I am mixing these ingredients, my mouth has watered fully in the anticipation of consuming the first morsel.

And then I place the first morsel in my mouth. The moment the first morsel touches the tongue,

the feeling is like one that cannot be described in words. It is supreme bliss. I simply close my eyes enjoying each and every bite. If you look at me having paruppu saadam I guarantee that you will attain moksha aka liberation.

The feeling is like say you have done penance for a hundred years and finally you reap the fruits of your penance.

It is like your life has been fulfilled. And then the subsequent morsels simply add to the intoxication....

Paruppu Sadaam has assumed an iconic status amongst the south indian food lovers. There are other dishes like Vengaayam vethakozhambu, Saambar, Pal Payasam, Mambazham Mor Kozhambhu, Vadam, Thayir Saadam (tasty tasty creamy creamy). I could write a blogpost on each of them but I could not help but dedicate a blog post to the king of all and that is Parrupu Saadam

Now for some gyaan guys, we enjoy food and there are millions who are deprived of it. We may not be able to provide for them but we can surely pray for them. The least we can do is to avoid wasting food.