Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Muringakolu(Drumstick) Mezhukkupuratti

Ingredients
3 drumsticks,cleaned and cut into 3 inch pieces
½ cup shallots sliced
¼ teaspoon mustard
1teaspoon kashmiri chili powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
2 sprigs curry leaves
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Salt to taste
 Method
  • Cook drumstick with shallots,turmeric powder  salt and  little water and keep aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan.Splutter mustard and add curry leaves.
  • Bring flame to low or turn  it off  and add chili powder (ensure that the chili powder should not get burnt) and mix.
  • With the flame remaining very low add the cooked drumstick.
  • Stir for 4-5 minutes and then turn off the flame.
Thats it!! Quick and tasty drumstick dish is ready to be served hot as a side dish with rice and any curry of your choice.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Kurukku Kaalan


Kaalan is a Keralite dish made of yogurt, coconut and vegetables like raw plantain (nendra kaya) and a tuber like elephant yam (chena). It is a very thick and sour dish. The yogurt used in the preparation of this dish has to be very sour, to get the typical and traditional taste of the kaalan served during the Kerala feasts (sadhya), during Onam and Hindu marriages. It tastes best when cooked in an earthen pot (manchatti) or a stone pot(kalchatti).
At home the thick and loose versions of Kaalan is often prepared. The kaalan that is typically served during sadhyas is the thicker version often known as Kurukku (thick) Kaalan. Here is the recipe of the sadhya kaalan or Kurukku kaalan.


Ingredients

1 raw plantain
100 grams Indian yam
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
3/4 teaspoon pepper powder
salt
1 liter whisked sour yogurt
1 1/2 cup grated coconut
5 green chillies
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
4 whole red chillies
1/2 teaspoon roasted and powdered fenugreek
Method
  • Peel the plantain and split into half lengthwise. Now slice each half into 1 inch semi circles and keep it aside immersed in water.(This is done to prevent the blackening of the plantain pieces)
  • Peel and wash the yam. Chop into bite sized pieces.
  • Cook the chopped yam and plantain with turmeric powder, pepper powder and salt in little water.
  • Once cooked add the whisked yogurt to it and continue cooking until all the water is absorbed and it becomes dry and thick.
  • Grind grated coconut, green chilllies and cumin seeds into a very fine paste.
  • Add this to the cooked vegetables and yogurt mix. Mix well and cook for a minute more and then remove from flame.
  • For tempering, heat the coconut oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds. Once it splutters add the red chillies broken into half. Off the flame and pour this into the prepared curry.
  • Finally sprinkle the fenugreek powder on top and close with a lid, so that the aroma lingers in the dish.
  • Serve after 5- 10 minutes with hot chembavari rice.


Friday, April 26, 2013

Soya Cutlet



Soyabeans are extremely nutritious and rich in protein. Children are mostly reluctant to have vegetarian food. Soya chunks is an excellent substitute for meat.
My daughter is a great meat lover and it’s hard to get her to eat something without meat in it. At times I prepare soya stew and she enjoys her meal assuming that it’s chicken… lol!!!!!
One of her recent school events was a healthy snack day for which I had prepared soya  cutlets and wrapped it in chapatti. You can even try it as a sandwich or in a burger bun.
Ingredients
1 ½ cup minced soya (soaked in water for 1 hour)
3 medium onions chopped
3 medium potatoes (boiled and mashed)
6-8 cloves of garlic
2”ginger chopped
4-5 green chilies chopped
1 teaspoon kashmiri chili powder
1 ½ teaspoon garam masala
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
2 sprigs curry leaves
2 eggs
salt as required
breadcrumbs for coating
oil for frying
Method
  • Wash soya bean nicely (at least twice) to get rid of its raw smell.
  • Drain water completely and squeeze to remove excess water.
  • Beat 2 eggs in a bowl and keep separate.
  • Heat 2 table spoon oil in a pan.
  • Sauté ginger, garlic, green chilies and curry leaves for 2-3 minutes in medium flame.
  • Add onions and fry until brown colour.
  • Reduce the flame and add red chili, turmeric, salt and garam masala powder and stir for a minute.
  • Add minced soya and sauté for 2-3 minutes and turn off the flame.
  • Once it is cooled add mashed potatoes and mix well.
  • Make small balls of the mixture and roll into desired shapes.
  • Dip each cutlet in beaten eggs and roll in bread crumbs.
  • Deep fry in oil until golden brown.
  • Serve hot with tomato ketchup/green chutney.



  

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Mutton Pulao

Ingredients
300 grams basmati rice
1 kilogram mutton, cut into medium sized pieces
2 big cardamoms
12-13 cloves
1 inch cinnamon stick
15-20 whole black pepper corns
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
7 tablespoons oil
1/2 kilogram onions chopped into small cubes
2 inch ginger
15- 20 garlic cloves
250 grams yogurt
8- 10 green chilies
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder(heaped spoon)
1-2 teaspoon  kashmiri  chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala powder
1 big tomato finely chopped
2 tablespoon ghee
1/2 teaspoon chili powder(preferably reshampatti chili powder)
1 tablespoon pav bhaji masala(I used Mothers recipe pav bhaji masala. You can use any brand of pav bhaji masala.It is readily available in all Indian stores)
2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
Method

  • Cook the rice in plenty of water adding enough salt. Once the rice is three-fourth cooked, drain the water completely and keep aside.
  • Put the washed and cut mutton pieces into a pressure cooker. Add 1/4 cup of water, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, whole black pepper, fennel seeds and salt. Close the cooker and keep on a medium flame  Once the cooker gives off one whistle, reduce the flame and simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes,switch off the flame and keep aside until the steam is released.
  • Once the cooker is ready to open after all the steam has been released, open and strain the mutton pieces from the stock. Do not discard the stock. Keep it aside for later use.
  • Now heat oil in a large wok. Add the chopped onions and fry until pink in colour. Once pink reduce the flame and saute for 5 minutes.
  • Grind the ginger, garlic and green chillies into a fine paste. Add this paste to the onions and fry for 1-2 minutes.
  • With the flame remaining very low add the whisked yogurt and stir continuously taking care not to curdle the yogurt.(You can even remove the wok from flame prior to adding the yogurt  After adding the yogurt and mixing well , put it back on the flame. This is done to prevent curdling of the yogurt.)
  • Fry  until oil starts leaving the sides of the wok. Then add the turmeric powder, coriander powder,chili powder and 2 tablespoons water. 
  • Continue frying until oil starts leaving the sides. Now add the garam masala powder and fry for 5-10 seconds.
  • Add half of the reserved stock and cook.
  • When the water dries up and oil again starts leaving the sides, add the chopped tomato. Fry until the tomato is mashed well.
  • Add the remaining stock, mix well and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then add the mutton and mix well. Check for salt and add more if required.
  • Cook for 3 minutes or until somewhat dry.
  • Add the cooked rice to the mutton and mix well.
  • Add 2 tablespoon ghee on top. Garnish the pulao by sprinkling 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, pav bhaji masala powder and chopped coriander leaves on top. Cook covered for 2 minutes and then switch off the flame.
  • Let it remain covered for 5 minutes and then serve hot with raita.





Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Vendakka/Ladies finger Sambar


 Vendakka/Ladies finger Sambar

Sambar is a popular dish among the south Indians.The preparations vary from place to place.There are various varieties of sambar like ulli(shallots)sambar, muringakaya(drumstick)sambar, mixed vegetable sambar and so on.
A traditional south Indian sadya is incomplete without sambar.
I have enjoyed a range of sambars, but Amma’s sambar is something which is really different...I quit all my diet plans whenever she makes it. Today I am going to reveal the secret recipe of sambar from Amma’s kitchen.Here you go…

Ingredients
1 cup toordal
8-10 ladies finger(cut into 2”pieces)
1 medium tomato sliced
150 grams shallots (if shallots are big cut into halves)
2 sprigs curry leaves
tamarind,  1 gooseberry size (soak in 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes and extract the juice)
2 table spoon sambar powder(I used eastern sambar powder)
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
Asafoetida powder as required
Salt as required
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 dried red chili
2 shallots, thinly sliced

Method
  • Pressure cook dal with salt and water.
  • Once dal is  cooked mash well and keep separate.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon  coconut oil in a pan.
  • Add shallots,curry leaves and ladies finger with a pinch of asafoetida powder and stir fry for 2-3 minutes or until the sliminess of ladies finger disappears.
  • Add the shallots-ladies finger mixture to the cooked dal.
  • Add sliced tomatoes,adequate water(approximately 1-1 ½ cup)mix well and boil in medium flame for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add tamarind extract at this stage and boil again for 2 minutes.
  • Make a paste of sambar powder, coriander powder, fenugreek powder, turmeric powder, pinch of asafoetida with adequate water.
  • Add the paste to the above mixture.
  • Mix well and off the flame once it starts to boil.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small pan.
  • Splutter mustard seeds.
  • Add shallots, dried red chili and fry until the colour of shallots turn golden brown.
  • Add this to sambar, mix and close with a tight lid to sustain the aroma of the sambar.
  • Serve hot with rice,dosa,idli or vada.

Fish Molee



Fish molee

Ingredients

500 grams fish (preferably king fish)
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1tablespoon ginger chopped
1 tablespoon garlic chopped
1 green chili, slitted
3-4 whole cardamom
4-5 cloves
1 inch cinnamon stick
3 tomatoes sliced
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 cups thin coconut milk (randam paal)
1 cup thick coconut milk
2 sprigs curry leaves
1+ ½  teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon pepper powder
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
Salt and oil as required

Method

  • Marinate the fish pieces with 1 teaspoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon pepper powder, turmeric powder and keep aside for 20-25 minutes.
  • Shallow fry in oil until light golden colour.
  • Heat 1-2 tablespoon oil in a pan.
  • Splutter cardamom, cloves and cinnamon.
  • Sauté green chili, ginger, garlic, curryleaves and stir until raw smell goes off.
  • Sauté onions until transparent.
  • Add ½ teaspoon red chili powder and stir.
  • Add  tomatoes and stir for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add medium thick coconut milk and allow it to boil.
  • Add fish pieces along with required salt.
  • Add 1 teaspoon vinegar.
  • Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes in medium flame.
  • Finally add thick coconut milk and heat for 1-2 minutes.(do not boil)
  • Serve hot with appam/rice.

*In order to make thick gravy add 1-2 teaspoon of corn flour.  



Monday, April 22, 2013

Shahi Chicken Korma

Ingredients
1 kg chicken, cut into medium sized pieces
3 large onions
8 cloves garlic
1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
2 tablespoons fresh  cream
4 tablespoons oil
10-15 almonds, blanched and skinned
1 pinch saffron dissolved in 2 tablespoon water
salt
Method
  • Grind 2 onions, almonds, garlic and salt into a fine paste. Marinate the chicken with this paste for 3 hours.
  • Slice the remaining one onion and fry it in oil until brown and crisp. Drain from the oil and keep aside.
  • In the same oil add the marinated chicken and cook until all the water that is released from the chicken dries up.
  • Add beaten yogurt, fried onions, red chili powder and coriander powder and cook for 7-8 minutes.
  • When almost done add cream, saffron, salt, garam masala and a little water and cook covered on very low flame for 8 minutes.
  • Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with chapati, nan,phulkas or plain basmati rice.


Sunday, April 21, 2013

Vazhuthananga/Brinjal Mezhukupurati

Ingredients
 250 grams small brinjals
2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon coconut oil
2 sprigs curry leaves
50 grams shallots sliced
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 large onion, sliced
2 teaspoon crushed pepper
salt
Method

  • Wash the brinjals well and then slice them into thin rounds. Soak the slices in salt water and keep aside.
  • Heat 2 tablespoon coconut oil in a pan. Add the curry leaves, shallots and garlic. Saute well.
  • When the shallots start turning brown add the turmeric powder and chilli powder and mix well.
  • To this add the sliced onion and saute until the onion becomes soft. Drain the brinjal slices from the salt water and add to the onion masala.
  • Add enough salt , mix well and cover and cook until the brinjals are  soft and cooked..
  • Sprinkle the crushed pepper, mix and remove from flame.
  • Pour 1 teaspoon of coconut oil on top and serve hot.



Thursday, April 18, 2013

Koorka-Pork ularthiyathu


Koorka-Pork ularthiyathu

Ingredients
250 grams koorka(Chinese potato)
500grams pork cleaned and cut into small cubes
2 medium onions chopped
2 tablespoon garlic
2 tablespoon ginger
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 sprigs curry leaves
3 slitted green chilies
2 ½ tablespoon coriander powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 ½ tablespoon garam masala powder
3 tablespoon crushed pepper
3 tablespoon oil
Salt as required
Method
·        Wash koorka(Chinese potato) nicely to remove all the soil particles.
·        Pressure cook koorka until it gives off one whistle.(very easy method to remove the skin of koorka)
·        Remove the skin and cut into small pieces.
·        Pressure cook pork with salt and turmeric powder.
·        Heat oil in a pan.
·        Add chopped ginger and garlic and stir until the raw smell goes off.
·        Add green chilies and curry leaves.
·        Add chopped onion and fry until medium brown.
·        Add coriander, pepper powder, garam masala and stir for 1-2 minutes in low flame.
·        Add chopped tomatoes and mix well until oil starts to appear.
·        Add the cooked meat and koorka into this masala.
·        Give a good stir until the meat and koorka is well coated with the masala.
·        Turn on flame to high and roast well until it becomes dry and attain brown colour.
·        Serve hot with rice/chapatti.

*Pork can be substituted with beef/chicken breast.
*You can make your dish more or less spicy by varying the amount of pepper powder.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Prawns Ghassi

Recipe courtesy: My friend, Reshmi Menon. Thankyou Reshmi for sharing this wonderful Goan recipe.:)))
Ingredients
20 prawns cleaned and deveined
4 whole dried chillies
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
10 peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1 cup grated coconut
2 large onion, chopped
11/2 tablespoons tamarind pulp
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
3 tablespoons oil
salt
Method

  • Marinate the prawns with a little salt and keep aside for 10 minutes.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. Saute the dried chilies, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, peppercorns and fenugreek seeds for a minute.
  • Grind this with the grated coconut, half of the chopped onion, turmeric powder and tamarind pulp, adding a little water, into a fine paste.
  • Now heat 2 tablespoon oil in a pan. Add the remaining chopped onion and saute until light brown.
  • Add the grounded paste and fry for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add 2 cups water. When it starts to boil, add the prawns and salt(very little, as the prawns are already marinated in salt) and mix well.  Simmer until cooked.
  • Serve hot with rice.




Sunday, April 14, 2013

Nurukku Gothambu Payasam/Broken Wheat Payasam (Vishu special)...


Nurukku gothambu payasam/Broken wheat payasam (Vishu special)

Ingredients
1 cup broken wheat
½ kg jaggery
4 ½ cups water
4 cups medium thick coconut milk
1 cup thick coconut milk
3 tablespoon ghee
¼ cup cashew nuts
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup bite sized coconut pieces (thengakothu) (I skipped this part)
½ teaspoon dried ginger powder
½ teaspoon cardamom powder

Method
  • Clean the broken wheat and pressure cook it by adding 4 cups water in high flame until it gives off 7-8 whistles.(make sure that the wheat is cooked well )
  • Melt jaggery in a pan with ½ cup water and strain it.
  • Combine the melted jaggery with the cooked wheat.
  • Add 2 tablespoon of ghee to the melted jaggery and stir nicely for 4-5 minutes.
  • Add medium thick coconut milk and mix well.                                                                      
  • Allow it to boil and keep stirring in between until it attains a thick consistency.
  • Add thick coconut milk and heat for 1-2 minutes.
  • Turn off the flame and add dried ginger and cardamom powder.
  • In a pan heat 1 table spoon ghee and fry coconut pieces.
  • When it turns light brown colour add cashew nuts and raisins and fry it.
  • Pour it on top of payasam.
  • Serve hot. 
















Thursday, April 11, 2013

Beetroot Potato Mezhukkupuratti...



Beetroot Potato Mezhukkupuratti
Ingredients
1 small beetroot peeled and cut into small cubes
3 potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes
1 medium onion chopped
1 teaspoon garlic chopped
1 green chilly chopped
¼ teaspoon mustard
¼ teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoon oil
Salt as required

Method
  • Heat oil in a pan
  • Splutter mustard seeds.
  • Add garlic and green chilies and stir for a minute.
  • Add onion and stir until transparent.  
  • Add turmeric powder, salt and mix well. 
  • Add the beetroot and cover the pan and cook on medium flame until the beetroot is half done.
  • Add the cubed potatoes at this stage and cook for 4-5 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.
  • Keep frying on low flame until the vegetables are completely dried. 










Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Cashew Chicken


Ingredients
500 grams chicken cut into bite sized pieces
1 onion chopped roughly
2 tablespoon tomato paste
15 cashew nuts, soaked in water for 10 minutes
2 teaspoons garam masala powder
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon yogurt
3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
1 chicken stock cube, diluted in 1 cup hot water
salt
2 tablespoon oil
Method
  • Blend the onion, tomato paste, cashewnuts, garlic, garam masala, lemon juice, salt and yoghurt into a fine paste.
  • Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan. Once the oil is hot, pour the blended spice mixture and fry stirring continuously on a medium heat for 2 minutes.
  • Add half of the chopped coriander leaves and chicken. Fry for 1 minute.
  • Pour in the chicken stock(chicken stock cube, dissolved in 1 cup hot water).Simmer and cook covered for 10-12 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
  • Off the flame, add the remaining coriander leaves and serve with steamed rice.

Prawns Achaari


Ingredients
500 grams of prawns, cleaned and deveined
10 shallots finely chopped
6-8 curry leaves
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1 tablespoon garlic paste
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon cumin sedds
1/2 teaspoon black sesame seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed slightly
1 large tomato finely chopped
6 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
3 tablespoons oil
salt and pepper to season
Method

  • Heat oil in a non-stick pan and add the chopped shallots.Stir fry until golden brown on a medium flame.
  • Add the curry leaves, ginger paste and garlic paste. Saute for a minute.
  • Add the chili powder, coriander powder, cumin seeds, sesame seeds and fennel seeds. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Fry for 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the chopped tomatoes, mix well and cook until the tomatoes are mashed.
  • Reduce the heat to a low flame and simmer this gravy for 15- 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Now add the prawns and cook on a high flame sauteing continuously for 4-5 minutes or until the prawns are cooked.
  • Remove from heat and add the chopped coriander leaves. Mix well and serve hot.





Sunday, April 07, 2013

Aloo Mutter Kheema


Ingredients
800 grams Kheema
½ cup mutter
½ cup potato cut into small cubes
2 medium onions chopped
2 tablespoon garlic
2 tablespoon ginger
2 green chilies chopped
1 ½ tablespoon chili powder
1 ½ tablespoon coriander powder
¾ tea spoon chicken masala
½ tablespoon garam masala
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon cumin powder
2-3 tablespoon yoghurt  
2 medium tomatoes chopped
½ -1 tablespoon lemon juices
2-3 tablespoon oil
Chopped coriander for garnishing

Method
  • Make a paste of chili powder, coriander, turmeric, chicken masala, garam masala, cumin powder by adding adequate water and keep separate.
  • Heat oil in a pan.
  • Add chopped green chilies, ginger and garlic and fry until the raw smell goes off.
  • Sauté onions until light pink colour.
  • Add chopped tomatoes and combine until the tomatoes are well mashed.
  • Add masala paste and stir for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add mutter and  potatoes and mix well.
  • Cover the pan and cook under medium flame for 2 minutes.
  • When the potatoes are half done, add Kheema along with yoghurt.
  • Mix well and cook for 4-5 minutes under high flame or until the water from kheema gets dried completely.
  • Finally add lime juice and combine well.
  • Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
  • Serve hot with rice or chapatti.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Marinated grilled chicken cubes



Ingredients
500 grams boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
100 ml oil
3 tablespoon white vinegar    
4 garlic cloves
1 inch ginger
1 teaspoon garam masala powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
3 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
500 ml yoghurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt to taste
Method
  • Blend together the oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, black pepper, 2 tablespoon coriander leaves, salt and yogurt.
  • Marinate the chicken cubes with the blended mixture. Cover and leave to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

                  
  • Grill these chicken cubes under a hot grill until browned. Baste the remaining marinade on the chicken pieces occasionally in between grilling.
  • Arrange the grilled chicken pieces on serving dish and squeeze the lemon juice over it.Garnish with onion rings and serve hot.