300 BC Briyani From Madurai
Briyani, a rice dish cooked with meat referred to as PEROONCHORU ( பேர்ஊன் சோறு) in Mathurai Kaanchi. A Sangam Corpus literature speaks about its existence in the Ancient Tamil country around Madurai.
Prem Senthil Shanmugam
Associate Professor
Australia
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புகழ்படப் பண்ணிய பேர்ஊன் சோறும் (533) (#Briyani)

Year 300 BC, According to the Chief bard Maangudi Kizhar Maruthanaar in his Mathuraikkanchi, in the marketplace around Madurai, meat cooked with rice that was praised by many was available to relish. Sea merchants from different country gathered there to enjoy a list of delicacies available on the menu, but the Biryani was the one that was praised relished by the many sailors and sea merchants. It is referred to as Peroonchoru, Per+Oon+Choru a compound word literally translated as a great rice dish cooked with meat.


MathuraiKaanchi: 

சேறும் நாற்றமும் பலவின் சுளையும்
வேறு படக் கவினிய தேம் மாங்கனியும்
பல்வேறு உருவின் காயும் பழனும்
கொண்டல் வளர்ப்பக் கொடி விடுபு கவினி .
மென்பிணி அவிழ்ந்த குறு முறி அடகும்
அமிர்து இயன்றன்ன தீம்சேற்றுக் கடிகையும்
புகழ்படப் பண்ணிய பேர் ஊன் சோறும்
கீழ் செல வீழ்ந்த கிழங்கொடு பிறவும்
இன்சோறு தருநர் பல்வயின் நுகர (527 – 535)

The exhaustive menu includes these items for consumption but the most liked one on the menu is Briyani. In this article, I have provided the exact 2000 year old menu for TC readers to choose from. If this menu inspires some foodie entrepreneurs to start up their own Sangam themed restaurant, It would be a great pleasure for me to see this 2000-year-old tradition come into existence:

1.Flavored Smoothie-சேறும் நாற்றமும்
2.Chunks of Jackfruit -பலவின் சுளையும்
3 Mango chunks-தேம் மாங்கனி
4.Fruits and Vegetables in various shapes that were grown on the vine and Fried in Ghee-கொடி விடுபு கவினி 
5.Tender sprouts-அவிழ்ந்த குறு முறி
6. Sugar/Jaggery Cubes-தீம்சேற்றுக் கடிகையும்
7. Meat cooked with rice, that was praised by many-புகழ்படப் பண்ணிய பேர் ஊன் சோறும்
8. Tubers cooked- கிழங்கொடு பிறவும்

Enjoy this Sangam meal!

 

 

Prem Senthil Shanmugam
Associate Professor
Australia
Oncologist/ Associate Professor, Qualified Chef. Exploring Cognitive Anthropology and L...
Oncologist/ Associate Professor, Qualified Chef. Exploring Cognitive Anthropology and L...
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