Kadambam Rice
Some dishes never fail to remind you of home, of the warmth of mom's touch - in short that luxurious comfort which we never thought we will leave. But life moves on, and so do we. The ache slowly is replaced by new responsibilities and in accommodating new changes in our lives - but BAM! a spoonful of that special dish, one fine day, teleports your memory cells back to the days bygone. And this is exactly what happened when I made Kadambam(mixture in Tamil) Sadam(rice) Usually on the last day of Pongal - for Mattu pongal, we have a custom of making flavored rice like coconut rice, lemon rice etc. Few households also make this rice. It is an excellent option esp. if you like me get this sudden urge to throw everything you have in the fridge into a pot! If you like Sambar Rice and if you like Bisi Bela Bath, then this is another likable option for you, since I think this dish is between those two dishes. This is my mom's version which was given to her by her elder sister who is an excellent cook herself.
  • Cook time:
  • Prep time:
  • Serves: 2 people
Ingredients
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1/2 cup Bengal gram (channa dal)
  • 1 cup pigeon peas (toor dal)
  • 1 tbsp tamarind paste
  • approx 3 cups of mixed vegetables chopped (ex. ladies finger, taro root, potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplants, capsicum, peas, green pumpkin, drumsticks etc)
  • 1/2 - 1 tbsp Sambar powder
  • salt to taste
  • few sprigs of curry leaves, cilantro and 1 tsp of sesame oil/ghee for garnish
Method
1.

Cook rice with 3 cups of water. Meanwhile cook both the lentils together until cooked. Set aside. Par boil the vegetables for approx 10min.

2. Mix the tamarind paste in 3 cups of water and bring to a boil in a pan. Add salt, sambar powder, curry leaves along with vegetables and let it cook for 5 min. The vegetables are par boiled since they are further cooked again here.
3. Add the lentils mixture and stir for another 2-3 min.
4. Finally add rice
5. and gently mix making sure not to mash the vegetables.
6. Garnish with cilantro and sesame oil/ghee and serve hot with papad.

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2 Member Reviews

By Buvana on Sep 21, 2011

i like your version better 

Recipe Image

By Mathi on Oct 28, 2010

This was the first time I made kadambam rice and I fell in love with its simplicity and taste! The only deviations I took were that one, I cooked the lentils along with the rice - made it simpler for me :-) and two, added a small amount of shredded coconut in the end to make it thicker. 

Thanks for this and the numerous other recipes that I have tried (but never commented until now). Looking forward to more and more!

26 Comments

By Meenakshi Pandey on Nov 30, 2012

The recipe is amazing full points to U :wink:

By Meenakshi Pandey on Nov 30, 2012

The recipe is amazing......... and easy to cook :wink: ... loved it....

By venkat on Apr 25, 2012

this looks similar to our famous karnataka receipe bise bele anna/bhat

By Aisha on Feb 23, 2012

Hey, excuse my ignorance, I do not know A-Z of cooking. What's sambar powder?

Please refer the link on the "Sambar powder" for more details about it :) --DK

By Rajee on Feb 17, 2009

Great and delicious Kadamba rice. It reminds me of my cook during my childhood days, he collected all those veggies from the fridge that we got it from friend's fresh market and make it for us. Let me try it.

By SMN on Jan 23, 2009

DK this is very close to what we make bisibele bath here. looks yum. will make it for my carry bag

By DK on Jan 22, 2009



@Veggie Belly - it really is :)

@nags - that reason got me too :)

@rekha - I dint know that. Thank you :)

@Curry - I am sure u wud have! Boy! what a meal that was indeed

@Priya - Thanks Priya

@Priya - glad to note u like it ;)

@Daily Spud - Hope u like it

@Siri - Yehyeheyeh - siri is back :-D I will send it dahling

@Gita - Thanks Gita :)

@Trupti - Thanks for being a dear and reminding me..I so forgot..mail coming right away.

@Deesha - He was bang on with the info. Its true. Do try..am sure u will love it

@Karuna - thanks dear

@Gayathri - Thanks. I appreciate it

@PG - as always waiting with open arms

@Kalai - I guess you can although I have tried making Kadambam that way! But lentils always taste yum!

@sanctified - well thats exactly what drives me to make such dishes in the first place :)

By Sanctified Spaces on Jan 22, 2009

This sadam reminds me of my moms cooking.Thanx for the post

By Kalai on Jan 21, 2009

Looks great, Dhivi! Can I use moong dal instead? Wonderful use of veggies! :)

By PG on Jan 21, 2009

looks so scruptious! I'm only going WOw looking at all the pictures.
Willbe sending you my entry to your AWED soon. :)

By Gayathri on Jan 21, 2009

The way you have posted the photos, shows the pains you have taken to give us clear picture. Really good work!!

By karuna on Jan 20, 2009

i simply love these one pot dishes. with lots of veggies. urs looks perfect

By DEESHA on Jan 20, 2009

yumm, I have never had kadambam yself but I have heard a lot abt it from my Dad. My dad grew up in a small town which was doinated by Iyengars so he grew up eating a lot of it, & he was telling me how Kadambam was originated, in olden days ppl made this at the end of the week with leftover vegetables. I would love to make this sometime.

By Trupti on Jan 20, 2009

wow DK Rice looks very delicious & easy to make.

Waiting for your entry for AFAM event.

By Gita's Kitchen on Jan 20, 2009

The picture looks awesome...even we used to make this the day after pongal...

By Gita's Kitchen on Jan 20, 2009

The picture looks awesome...even we used to make this the day after pongal...

By Siri on Jan 20, 2009

Yummmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyy ..:)) Love the last pic. I guess you can send this to this event:
http://bengalicuisine.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/announcing-event-harvest-the-festival-of-rice/

what say? ;)

Hugs,
Siri

By Daily Spud on Jan 20, 2009

Yum - that's my kind of dinner right there!

By Priya on Jan 20, 2009

Oh my god, u r making me hungry, wat a delicious dish...

By Priya Sriram on Jan 20, 2009

Kadambam rice sounds delicious. Loved the way you have explained everything step by step with snapshots. Good work!

By Curry Leaf on Jan 19, 2009

Too many different veggies,wow,have heard of this,but never ever tasted it.Thanks for the recipe.Two types of dals and rice and veggies.Sure its filling and comforting.I can hear your satisfied burp :)

By rekhas kitchen on Jan 19, 2009

wow yummy in desara 9 day s this is one of the prasadam for maa durga in vijayawada kanakadurga templenice beautiful click and looks very tempting DK

By Nags on Jan 19, 2009

bookmarked! anything with that much vegetables in it gets my vote!

By veggie belly on Jan 19, 2009

Youre right, I love bisi bela bath and I'd love this recipe too! It sounds filling and easy to make.

By DK on Jan 19, 2009

Gawd Usha! you are lightening fast! I just posted it :) Hope you enjoy ur dinner ;-) I am sure I will hear that satisfying burp tonite :) :)

By Usha on Jan 19, 2009

Sounds delicious and what perfect timing, I was just wondering what to make for dinner...now I know :-)