Sevai

Sevai

Sevai

Veg Vegan

Pressed rice noodles — cooked rice pressed through a cylindrical mould (sevai naazhi) to form long, thin rice noodles, steamed until cooked, then eaten plain with coconut chutney and sambar (called vella sevai), or tossed with a lemon tempering (elumichai sevai), tamarind (puliyodharai sevai), or tomato seasoning. The making of sevai requires skill; the rice dough must be at the correct moisture content to pass through the mould without breaking. Sevai is the Sunday morning alternative to idli and dosai in Tamil Brahmin households; the noodle format is lighter than a thick idli and the different seasoning options allow the same base to serve different flavour moods at a single breakfast.

Cuisines

Chettinad Tamil Brahmin Kongunadu Madras Udupi

Best for

Breakfast Lunch

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

1 cup rice
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon urad dal
1 teaspoon chana dal
2 tablespoons grated coconut
1 pinch asafoetida
2 green chilies, chopped
1 sprig curry leaves
1 salt to taste

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash and soak the rice for 2 hours.
  2. 2 Drain the water and grind the rice into a smooth batter using a little water.
  3. 3 In a pan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
  4. 4 Add the rice batter to the boiling water, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
  5. 5 Cook the batter on low heat until it thickens and leaves the sides of the pan.
  6. 6 Transfer the cooked dough onto a plate and let it cool slightly.
  7. 7 Knead the dough lightly and divide it into small portions.
  8. 8 Using a sevai press, press the dough into thin noodles.
  9. 9 Steam the noodles for about 5-7 minutes in a steamer or idli cooker.
  10. 10 In a pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds, urad dal, and chana dal.
  11. 11 Once the mustard seeds splutter, add asafoetida, green chilies, and curry leaves.
  12. 12 Add the steamed sevai to the pan and mix well.
  13. 13 Add grated coconut and salt to taste, and mix thoroughly.
  14. 14 Serve hot as a breakfast or snack.

Tips

For extra flavour, you can add a handful of roasted peanuts or cashews.