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Padma Lakshmi turns to curd rice as heat grips US
The recipe offers a step-by-step demonstration of one of South India's most widely enjoyed everyday dishes.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 08, Jul 2026
- 18:55 EDT
- 27
Padma Lakshmi / Instagram
As the temperature in the US continues to climb, Padma Lakshmi, a TV host and author, shared the recipe for South Indian curd rice, saying that it is a summertime staple in her family.
In an Instagram post accompanying the recipe video, Lakshmi wrote, “Curd rice is a staple in my house, especially as Summer heats up. You’ll be familiar with this recipe if you’ve been following me for a while, or if you’re South Indian! Let me know if you have tried making it!”
Also Read: Padma Lakshmi gets mom’s approval on Indian recipe
In the reel, Lakshmi prepared the dish using about four cups of day-old plain rice and an equal amount of yogurt, seasoned with salt. She said she typically does not measure ingredients but did so for the demonstration.
Explaining the traditional preparation, Lakshmi said that in Tamil the dish is called “pisainja saadam,” referring to rice mixed by hand. She demonstrated gently breaking down the rice while combining it with yogurt before preparing a tadka, or tempering, with spices.
“When you're tempering spices in oil, things go very fast. So it's important to have all of your ingredients lined up,” she said, adding that the mustard seeds should be allowed to pop before the tempering is poured over the yogurt rice.
Lakshmi noted that the recipe is forgiving and can be made with leftover plain rice, including takeout rice. “Any South Indian would know this recipe. It's very common and easy. And makes for a quick, delicious, cool meal on a hot summer day like this,” she said.
Curd rice, also known as yogurt rice or thayir sadam, is a traditional South Indian dish made with cooked rice, yogurt and a tempered mix of spices. It is commonly served as a light meal or as the final course of a traditional lunch, particularly during the warmer months.
Beyond its cultural significance, the dish is also valued for its nutritional benefits. Yogurt contains probiotics that support gut health and digestion, while its combination with rice makes for a light, cooling meal that is easy on the stomach. The fermented dairy also provides calcium and protein, making curd rice a simple, nourishing dish that has remained a staple in many South Indian homes for generations.
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