Solkadi

Ingredients :

15 kokum pods (dried or moist)
1 large coconut scraped
2 tbsp. coriander leaves finely chopped
5 garlic flakes grated
4 green chillies slit, seeds and stems removed
salt to taste

Method :

1. Pour 2 cups boiling water over kokum pods in a vessel.
2. Cover and keep aside for 5-7 minutes.
3. Mash kokums well with hand, strain thick water, keep aside.
4. Discard residue.
5. Pour 2 cups boiling water over scraped coconut, keep aside covered for 5 minutes.
6. When cooled, grind to a fine paste in an electric mixer.
7. Strain, keep aside milk extracted, discard residue.
8. Crush together garlic and chillies, with a pinch of salt.
9. Chill a large deep bowl, pour in coconut milk, kokum extract.
10. Add crushed chilli-garlic, salt to taste, chopped coriander to garnish.
11. Serve cold.

To serve hot :
1. Add one tbsp. gramflour to coconut milk.
2. Heat while stirring continuously, till it begins to boil.
3. Add chill-garlic, salt, kokum, stir well, simmering for 2-3 minutes.
4. Pour into serving dish, garnish with chopped coriander leaves, serve hot with rice or roti.

Making time: 30 minutes
Makes: 4-5 servings