Cinnamon
The Tamil name for Cinnamon is "Ilavangappattai" or simply "Pattai".
This is one important spice that is used for cooking veg and non-veg foods, curries and side dishes and above all desserts. Desserts are delicious and healthy and gives a unique "Indian" taste when Cinnamon is added.
In present day, Tamil cuisine and in general Indian cuisine, Cinnamon plays a major role.
In Tamil cusine, there are various ways of using "Ilavanga Pattai":
1
Cinnamon sticks:
Non-veg foods get a great taste because of cinnamon in the garam masala. If garam masala is not used then, one or two cinnamon sticks are broken (like the below) and used. Check out the usage in mutton kuruma
2
Cinnamon powder:
Cinnamon powder are used for desserts. You can mill Cinnamon into powder at home using a mixer mill.
Popular dish where Cinnamon is used:
Unlike western foods where Cinnamon is mostly used in the desserts, we use Cinnamon (usually in the stick form) in almost all non-vegetarian meat dishes.
For example: Chicken fry, Mutton kuruma.
Spelling variations in Tamil name for Cinnamon:
Pattai, Ilavangappattai, Patta
More images of Cinnamon:
Whole Cinnamon sticks
