Kali is often considered a simple, everyday dish. But today, we are about to witness something rare—an ancient, powerful, and deeply traditional dish known as Avarai Kottai Kali.
This isn’t just another millet porridge—this is a nutrient-rich, forgotten treasure of Tamil cuisine, packed with Avarai Kottai (Hyacinth Beans Seeds), Ragi (Finger Millet), and Jaggery. Prepared with patience and cooked the authentic way, this dish carries the taste of our ancestors and the wisdom of age-old food traditions.
Let’s dive into how this heritage food is prepared, following the true village-style method from Kootan Soru.
Ingredients for Avarai Kottai Kali
✔ 1 kg Ragi Flour (Finger Millet Flour)
✔ ¾ kg Jaggery (Vellam)
✔ Avarai Kottai (Hyacinth Beans Seeds) – soaked overnight
✔ 1.5 litres of Water
Step-by-Step Cooking Process
Step 1: Preparing the Avarai Kottai
- The Avarai Kottai (Hyacinth Beans Seeds) need to soak overnight in water. This softens them and makes them ready for cooking.
- The next morning, boil the soaked Avarai Kottai until they are fully cooked and tender.
- Once cooked, strain the excess water and set the beans aside.
Step 2: Boiling Water for Kali
- Take a large pot and bring 1.5 litres of water to a boil over a wood fire.
- Set aside 1 litre of water separately for later use.
Step 3: Mixing the Ragi Flour
- Slowly add Ragi Flour into the hot water, stirring continuously.
- Keep mixing to prevent lumps—this is crucial to getting the perfect smooth, elastic texture.
- The more you stir, the better the Kali will turn out!
Step 4: Adding Jaggery
- Now, add the crushed jaggery (Vellam) into the thickening Kali.
- Keep stirring to ensure the jaggery melts and blends into the mixture.
- As the jaggery combines, the Kali starts to become soft, elastic, and flavorful.
Step 5: Adding the Cooked Avarai Kottai
- Now, add the boiled Avarai Kottai to the Kali mixture.
- Stir well to incorporate the beans evenly.
- This step is what makes this dish unique—giving it a rich, nutty texture.
How to Eat Avarai Kottai Kali?
This isn’t your regular meal—this heritage dish deserves to be eaten the traditional way!
Take a portion of the Avarai Kottai Kali in your palm.
Dip it into Karupatti Vellam (Palm Jaggery Syrup).
Mix it with a little sesame oil (Nallennai) for an extra flavor boost.
Enjoy each bite—the taste is truly divine!
Watch the Full Recipe Video Here!
The Magic of This Forgotten Food
✔ Highly Nutritious – A combination of millets, beans, and natural sweeteners makes this one of the healthiest dishes from our ancestors.
✔ Energy-Packed – Traditionally eaten by farmers for strength and stamina.
✔ Lost in Time – A rare, almost-forgotten recipe that deserves to be brought back!
A Tribute to Kootan Soru
Thanks to Kootan Soru, we get to see the beauty of Tamil village cooking in its purest form. This recipe is not just food—it’s history, culture, and heritage. The effort, patience, and care that goes into making Avarai Kottai Kali reminds us why our traditional foods should never be forgotten.
Let’s celebrate this lost treasure and bring back the love for real, traditional Tamil food! Try it at home and experience the magic!
