Thengai (Coconut) Thogayal ~ Day 90

Thogayal / Thuvayal is a South Indian comfort food, which is made of coarsely ground, fried dal and spices along with coconut.  You can add any vegetable to the dal mixture to make different varieties of thogayal.  It goes very well with hot steamed rice or with any South Indian tiffins, like Idli, dosai or even chapati.

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Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Yields: 2 cups

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Ingredients:

• Grated coconut (fresh or frozen) - 1 cup 
• Urad dal - 1/2 cup
• Dried red chilies - 6 or to taste
• Tamarind - marble sized
• Black peppercorns - 1/2 tsp
• Ginger - a small piece (optional)
• Asafoetida - a generous pinch
• Curry leaves - few
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Water - for grinding 

Method:

1. If using frozen coconut, thaw it in a microwave for 30 seconds.  
2. Heat oil in skillet.  Add urad dal, red chilies, tamarind, peppercorns, ginger, curry leaves, and salt.
3. Fry, over low heat, until the dal turns golden brown.  Add asafoetida and stir.  Cool slightly.
4. Place the dal mixture in a blender and add a little water and grind to a coarse paste.  
5. Add the coconut and some more water and grind into a thick paste.  The ground paste should be thick in consistency.  So don't add too much water while grinding.  
6. Serve with hot steamed rice and dollop of ghee