Sundakkai Sadam, Turkey Berry Rice

          We don't get sundakkai/ turkey berry in Bangalore, at least, where I stay, so whenever the husband goes to Chennai, this is one of the things that he picks from there. Usually I end up making kuzhambu with it, but this time I wanted to try something different, so decided to make a rice with it. There's nothing fancy to this recipe, I have cooked the turkey berries with some onion, tomato and other spices and to add some taste, I  have also added some boiled peanuts to it. The rice turned out good, serve it with some raitha and potato chips or pappads for a simple and delicious meal..

Need To Have

• Cooked Rice - 4 cups
• Sundakkai/ Turkey Berries - 1 cup, heaped
• Onion - 1 big, chopped
• Tomatoes - 2 medium, chopped
• Boiled Peanuts - 1/2 cup
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Sambar Powder - 2 teaspoons
• Red Chilly Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Fennel Seed Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Grated Coconut - 2 - 3 tablespoons
• Curry Leaves - 15
• Mustard Seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Salt to taste

Method

          Cook and cool the rice and keep. Remove the stem from the turkey berries and slit them and keep. Heat some oil, add the mustard seeds, when it starts sputtering, add the chopped onion and saute till they turn translucent. Then add the sundakkai and saute for 2 to 3 minutes, then add about 1/2 cup of water and salt, cover and cook on medium-low heat till the berries are cooked.

          Add the tomatoes, turmeric, chilly, sambar and fennel powders and mix for a minute. Then add the boiled peanuts, mix, cover and cook till the tomatoes turn mushy.

          Open the lid, add the grated coconut and keep mixing for 2 to 3 minutes, till everything comes together. Add the cooked rice and mix it on low heat and remove.

Note
One thing I felt while eating the rice is, I should have chopped the sundakkai into 2, instead of just slitting them, that way, they would have mixed with the rice better, instead of standing out.