Daddojanam, thayir sadam, bagala bath are the other South Indian names to this traditional tempered curd rice. I have already shared a simple curd rice recipe, the way it is made in most homes for their everyday meal. Today I am sharing how to make curd rice in temple style for naivedhyam . This is most commonly made during Dasara Navaratri as an offering to Godess Durga.

Different temples have their own way of preparing Naivedhyam foods and are specific to particular region and state. The method shared here is usually followed in very big temples where a large number of devotees come over through out the day and the prasadam is offered till late noon. The preparation of curd rice begins very early in the morning and the rice keeps good without turning sour till evening.

It is the method of preparation that keeps the daddojanam fresh for long hours. Ingredients like green chili, red chili and ginger are not used in this Naivedhyam food. Instead pepper is used. However we can find red chilies being used in many temples.

This method is very much suitable to make curd rice for lunch box and even while travelling since the rice doesn’t turn sour for long hours.

How to make temple daddojanam

1. These are the ingredients to use. If you are not making this for offering to God, then you can also use slit green chilies and half tsp of grated ginger.

2. Wash rice a few times and soak it for about 20 minutes. You can skip soaking and cook the rice for longer. Pressure cook it until soft and mushy. I pressure cook for 2 whistles on a medium heat.

3. Once done, open the lid and mash the hot rice very well.

4. When the rice is still very hot, add boiled milk. Using boiled milk instead of unboiled will keep the rice good for longer. The milk can be very hot to warm.

5. Mix up everything very well. The rice has to look very moist at this stage. If needed you can add in more milk. If the rice is aged, then it usually needs little more milk. Set this aside to cool completely.

6. When the rice is cooled, you will see the milk has been absorbed completely and it looks dry. Add salt at this stage.

7. Then the curd.

8. Mix up everything well. Rice must not be dry, it has to be gooey and creamy. Add in more curd if needed.

9. Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard and cumin.

10. When they begin to splutter, add chana dal and urad dal. Fry until the dals turn golden.

11. Add curry leaves, pepper and hing. Switch off the stove.

12. Cool down & Pour this over the curd rice. Mix very well.

Temple style daddojanam is ready. After offering to the Goddess, I garnished with some pomegranate seeds. You can also use grated carrots and cucumber.