Tamarind Rice (Puliyogare/Pulihora)

Tamarind Rice Recipe – A Tangy & Flavorful South Indian Classic
Tamarind Rice, also known as Puliyodarai or Pulihora, is a beloved South Indian dish packed with bold, tangy, spicy, and nutty flavours. Made with tamarind pulp, fragrant spices, and crunchy peanuts, it offers the perfect balance of taste and...
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2cupsmedium-grained rice
- 10cupswater
- 30gtamarind
- 5tbspoil
- 1/2cuppeanuts
- 1tbspurad dal
- 1tbsptoor dal
- 1tbspchana dal
- 1tspmustard seeds
- 4piecedry red chillies
- 1/3cupsliced coconut
- 1sprigcurry leaves
- 1tspchilli powder
- 1tbspsugar
- salt to taste
- fresh coriander for garnishing
How to make Tamarind Rice (Puliyogare/Pulihora)
Prepare Tamarind Pulp
Soak tamarind in 1 cup of warm water for 30 minutes.
Squeeze out the pulp, strain through a fine mesh sieve, and set aside.
Cook the Rice
Rinse the rice and toor dal under cold water until the water runs clear.
In a deep pot, bring 10 cups of water to a boil.
Add the rinsed rice and toor dal to the boiling water and cook for 7-8 minutes until tender yet slightly firm. Drain well, let it rest for a few minutes, and fluff with a fork.
Prepare the Tamarind Base
Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed wok over medium-high heat.
Add peanuts, urad dal, toor dal, and chana dal. Sauté until golden brown.
Add mustard seeds, dry red chillies, sliced coconut, and curry leaves. Stir for a few minutes until the mustard seeds splutter.
Add salt, chilli powder, sugar, and the prepared tamarind pulp.
Stir well, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer until the raw tamarind smell fades.
Combine with Rice
Add the boiled rice to the wok and mix well.
Cover and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the flavours.
Garnish with fresh coriander.
Tips & Tricks
Adjust the tamarind quantity based on your taste preference.
This recipe works well with leftover cooked rice. Simply skip the boiling step and mix the tamarind spice mixture directly into the rice.
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Leena Kohli
(@leenakohli)
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