Neer Mor and Paanakam - Sri Rama Navami recipes

Today it is Sri Rama Navami. In South India, there is a custom to make Neer Mor and Paanakam on this day.In some parts of south, kosambari is also prepared .

I remember my mother-in-law visits Ayodhya Mandapam , a Temple in Mambalam on this special day and brings home Neer Mor, Paanakam,some paddy,hand fan along with a currency coin.

Let me give you a brief about this.Generally people don't consider Ashtami and Navami thidhi as good ones to start any new task.So God wanted to disprove this.Thats the  reason Lord krishna was born on Ashtami and Lord Rama was born on Navami.But people celebrate their birth as Janmashtami and Ramanavami.

Since Rama was born on peak summer and also during his 14  years of vanvas, he had troubles because of hot sun.When Rama came back home, On a note of celebration , King Dasaradha happily distributed Paddy and some money to the people and also to beat the heat some Neer Mor and Paanakam along with hand fan.

Having said that , lets quickly get through the recipe.

Neer Mor | Thin buttermilk

Ingredients

Buttermilk .................. 1 cup( slightly sour) * see notes
Green chilli ................. 1/2
Asafoetida .................. 1/4 tsp , divided
Ginger ........................ 1/2 tsp ,grated
Curry Leaves .............. few,divided
Coriander leaves.......... few
Water.......................... 1 cup
Salt ............................ to taste
Oil ............................ 1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds........... 1/4 tsp
Broken red chilli .......... 1

Method

1. Take buttermilk and the next 7 ingredients  and blend well.
2. Heat oil in a small pan and add mustard seeds.
3. When it crackles, add the reserved asafoetida,red chilli and curry leaves.

Paanakam | Jaggery drink

Ingredients

Powdered Jaggery  ................ 1/2 cup
Water ................................. 2 cups
Lemon juice ....................... 1 1/2 tbsp
Ginger Powder ................... 1/4 tsp
Green Cardamom .............. 2 crushed
Tulsi leaves .......................... few

Method

1. Mix jaggery and water and let it dissolve completely.
2. Filter the water  using a strainer as jaggery might have some grit.
3. Add rest off the ingrediets and mix well.
4. The more time it sleeps, better it tastes.

Kosambari

Ingredients

Grated Cucumber ............ 1/4 cup
Grated carrot .................. 1/4 cup
Green chilli ..................... 1,minced
Split moong dal ............ 2 tbsp
Grated coconut .............. 2 tbsp
salt ................................ to taste
lemon juice ................ 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves........... few,finely chopped

Method

1. Soak moong dal for 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Mix all the ingredients.