Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Avisaaku kura/ Agathikire curry/ Bakphool curry/ Agasta curry

Avisaaku or agathi khire are leaves generally cooked in Tamil nadu, Karnataka and Rayalseema regions of AP. These leaves are also found in Assam and Maharashtra and known more for their medicinal importance. The leaves are referred to as Bakphul in English, Bakphool in Assamese and Bengali, Agastha in Marathi and Hindi, Agathi kire in Tamizh, Avisaaku in Telugu and Agise soppu in Kannada.

Avisaaku kura or agathi khire curry is particulary made on the dwadasi day of Kartika maasam early in the morning to break the previous day’s ekadasi fast. The Kartika ekadasi fast is one of the most pious and important rituals believed to be a prayer to Lord Shiva. Avisaaku or agathi khire because of its medicinal qualities is the ideal food to break the fast on dwadasi day.

Preparation time: 10-15 mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

Agasta leaves (Bakphool/agathi khire/avisaaku) 2 bunches
Refined cooking oil 1 tbsp
Black gram (urad dal/uddipappu) 1tsp
Mustard seeds 1tsp
Cumin seeds (jeera/jeelakarra) 1tsp
Red chillies 2
Green chilli 1
Curry leaves 4-5
Jaggery (gud/bellam) (optional) 1tsp
Pinch of Asafoetida (hing/inguva)
Salt to taste

Fresh and grated coconut for garnishing

Method:

Wash and shred the Avisaaku. Slit the green chilli.

Heat a tbsp oil, add mustard seeds and as they pop, add black gram, cumin seeds, red chillies, green chilli, curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida.

Once the seasoning is done, add the avisaaku, salt to taste and jaggery and leave to cook for around 2 mins. (In Karnataka, jaggery is added to compliment the slightly sour taste of the avisaaku. Its optional and the curry tastes great without that as well).

Within 2 mins the leaves get cooked into a dry mixture. Garnish with grated coconut.

Avisaaku kura is generally a rice supplement but tastes good with Indian bread as well. So For this kartika dwadasi , the menu at home has been decided: Avisaaku kura.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

the pic is inviting me closer to the screen..
I hope ur family had a good feast,,,
cheers

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