5 Traditional Dishes to Try Using Cold Pressed Oils

Cooking with cold-pressed oils brings the essence of tradition and health to your meals. Paripoorna Cold Pressed Oils ensure purity and nutrition, allowing you to enjoy the authentic taste of South Indian cuisine. Whether it’s groundnut oil, sesame oil, or coconut oil, these oils enhance flavor and retain essential nutrients, making your favorite dishes healthier and tastier.

Here are 5 traditional South Indian dishes you can prepare using Paripoorna Cold Pressed Oils:

1. Chettinad Chicken Curry (with Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil)

Why Groundnut Oil? Groundnut oil adds a subtle nuttiness to the curry, balancing the rich spices of Chettinad cuisine while offering high heat stability for slow-cooked dishes.

Ingredients:

• 500g chicken pieces
• 2 onions (finely chopped)
• 2 tomatoes (pureed)
• 2 tbsp Paripoorna Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil
• 2 tsp Chettinad masala (fennel seeds, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and dry red chilies)
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• Curry leaves (a handful)
• Salt (to taste)
• Fresh coriander (for garnish)

Method:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of cold pressed groundnut oil in a pan.
2. Add curry leaves, onions, and saute until golden brown.
3. Add the chicken pieces and turmeric powder. Stir-fry for a few minutes.
4. Sprinkle the Chettinad masala and cook until the spices release their aroma.
5. Add tomato puree and salt, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken is tender.
6. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot with steamed rice or dosa.

Why It’s Special: Chettinad curry gets its bold flavor from roasted spices, and the nutty richness of Paripoorna groundnut oil enhances the depth of this iconic dish.

2. Murukku (with Cold Pressed Sesame Oil)

Why Sesame Oil? Cold-pressed sesame oil adds a rich, aromatic flavor to snacks like murukku, while keeping them crisp and light.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice flour
• 1/2 cup urad dal flour
• 2 tbsp Paripoorna Cold Pressed Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp asafoetida
• Salt (to taste)
• Water (as needed)
• Oil (for frying)

Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix rice flour, urad dal flour, cumin seeds, asafoetida, and salt.
2. Add Paripoorna Cold Pressed Sesame Oil and mix well to form a crumbly texture.
3. Gradually add water and knead into a smooth dough.
4. Use a murukku press to shape the dough into spirals.
5. Heat Paripoorna Cold Pressed Sesame Oil for frying and deep-fry murukku until golden brown.
6. Drain excess oil on tissue paper and store in an airtight container.

Why It’s Special: Using cold-pressed sesame oil provides a fragrant aroma and light texture, perfect for traditional festive snacks like murukku.

3. Aviyal (with Cold Pressed Coconut Oil)

Why Coconut Oil? Cold-pressed coconut oil is a key ingredient in Aviyal, as it adds an authentic, mild coconut flavor to this wholesome dish.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, pumpkin, drumstick, and potato)
• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 2 green chilies
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp Paripoorna Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• Curry leaves (a handful)
• Salt (to taste)

Method:

1. Cut the vegetables into equal-sized pieces and cook them with salt until tender.
2. Grind grated coconut, green chilies, and cumin seeds into a smooth paste.
3. Add the paste to the cooked vegetables and mix well.
4. Stir in yogurt and cook on low flame for 2-3 minutes.
5. Drizzle Paripoorna Cold Pressed Coconut Oil and add curry leaves for the final touch.
6. Serve Aviyal as a side dish with steamed rice.

Why It’s Special: Cold-pressed coconut oil gives Aviyal its traditional flavor, while the mix of vegetables makes this dish nutritious and vibrant.

4. Pesarattu (with Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil)

Why Groundnut Oil? Groundnut oil ensures a crisp, golden finish to this protein-packed green gram dosa.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup green gram (moong dal)
• 2 green chilies
• 1 small piece ginger
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 2 tbsp Paripoorna Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil
• Salt (to taste)
• Water (as needed)

Method:

1. Soak green gram for 6 hours. Grind it with green chilies, ginger, and salt into a smooth batter.
2. Heat a dosa tawa and grease it with a few drops of Paripoorna Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil.
3. Pour a ladle of batter onto the tawa and spread it thin.
4. Sprinkle chopped onions and drizzle oil around the edges.
5. Cook until golden brown and crispy. Serve hot with ginger chutney.

Why It’s Special: Paripoorna Cold Pressed Groundnut Oil gives Pesarattu a crispy texture while maintaining its health benefits.

5. Puliyodarai (Tamarind Rice with Cold Pressed Sesame Oil)

Why Sesame Oil? The distinct aroma of cold-pressed sesame oil complements the tangy flavor of tamarind in Puliyodarai.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 2 tbsp Paripoorna Cold Pressed Sesame Oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 tsp chana dal
• 1 tsp urad dal
• 2 dry red chilies
• Curry leaves (a handful)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• Salt (to taste)

Method:

1. Heat Paripoorna Cold Pressed Sesame Oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, chana dal, urad dal, and dry red chilies.
2. Add curry leaves and turmeric powder.
3. Stir in tamarind paste, salt, and a splash of water. Cook until the paste thickens.
4. Mix the tamarind paste with cooked rice until evenly coated.
5. Serve Puliyodarai with fried papad or curd.

Why It’s Special: The combination of tangy tamarind and fragrant Paripoorna Cold Pressed Sesame Oil makes Puliyodarai a comfort food loved across South India.

Health Benefits of Cooking with Cold Pressed Oils

1. Nutrient Retention: Cold-pressed oils retain essential vitamins and minerals.
2. No Chemicals or Heat: The extraction process ensures purity and flavor.
3. Healthy Fats: They are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
4. Improved Digestion: Traditional oils aid in easy digestion and absorption.
5. Boosts Immunity: Natural oils contain antioxidants that promote overall health.

Final Thoughts

Traditional South Indian cooking is incomplete without the magic of natural oils. Paripoorna Cold Pressed Oils offer the perfect blend of flavor, nutrition, and authenticity to every dish. Whether it’s groundnut oil for curries, sesame oil for snacks, or coconut oil for vegetarian delicacies, cooking with cold-pressed oils ensures a healthy and flavorful experience.

Try these 5 traditional recipes in your kitchen today and experience the difference Paripoorna Cold Pressed Oils bring to your meals!

Visit paripoornaoil.com to explore our range of cold pressed oils.