Road-side Serva | Salna | Kurma

The Serva or Salna are usually served with Parottas or very rarely with Biriyanis. And they taste the best only on the road-side shops. The road-side shops serve the serva along with the parottas. They are also served in some country sides in TN. There is a road that goes from venkatnarayana road to T.nagar, a shop opens every night at 9.00 pm. They make wonderful variety of dosas, parottas and some days biriyanis too. In that one of them specializes in vegetarian food.

When I was talking to India, my aunt always watches the recipe program that comes in tamil channel and she makes note of few things. I give it a try, and tell her how it was and let her to try. This was one of that. But it was noted down 4-5 months back. Suddenly when I was surfing around my notepads, I saw this and I tell you it is just easy to try. As it takes basic ingredients which we will have in our daily cooking, so no big preparation is required.



Veg., Serva | Salna | Kurma
 (print this recipe)

You need

Onion - 1 big
Tomatoes - 2 small
Mint leaves - a handful finely chopped (this is the main flavoring, so do not ignore)
Coriander leaves - a handful, finely chopped
Green chillies - 5 to 6 Slit at the center
Cinnamon stick - 1" stick
Cloves - 4
Bay leaf - 2
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp (I use ex.hot, so use only 1/2 tsp)
Coriander powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Coconut - 1/4 cup
Fennel seeds - 1 1/2 Tbsp
Oil for tampering

1. Chop the Onions, tomatoes, mint leaves, coriander leaves, and chillies and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan. Once hot, add the cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaves and saute well.
3. Once done, add the finely chopped onions, green chillies, mint leaves and coriander leaves. Saute in low flame. Add little salt while sauteing so that Onions do not change much color.
4. Once done, add the tomatoes along with the other dry masalas. Mix well and cook until the tomatoes are cooked well. Now add a cup of water and let it cook.
5. While the tomatoes start to pulp, grind the fennel seeds and coconut and add to the pan.
6. Let it cook and the rawness vanishes. Once done, garnish and serve hot.

Note: Adding cooked vegetables to this will increase the nutritional value. So, you can add veggies that like Cauliflower

Serve hot to Parottas or veg., Biriyanis. In my house, they are loved along with dosas or plain rice too!