Coconut chammanthi

Coconut chammanthi, a staple food of the homes in Kerala, especially when one falls sick or on a cold rainy day most of the Keralites prefer a steaming hot bowl of kanji(rice gruel) and to accompany that a nice thenga(coconut) chammanthi.

 Ingredients

1 cup grated coconut(use freshly scraped for best results)

2 tsp red chilli flakes(or crushed whole dried red chillies)

1/2 inch ginger piece(chopped)

4-5 shallots (sliced)

1 small lime sized ball tamarind

salt

1 Tbsp coconut oil

few curry leaves

Method

• In a pan heat the coconut oil. Add the chilli flakes,ginger, shallots and curry leaves and roast well for 2 minutes until a nice aroma comes.(Take care not to burn the chilli flakes). 
• Add the grated coconut and mix well. Roast for one minute(no need to brown the coconut) and then take off from heat and allow the mixture to cool.
• Grind this mixture along with the tamarind and salt. Preferably do not add water but in case you find it difficult to grind add 1 or 2 tsp of water while grinding. The consistency should be thick.
• Serve this chammanthi with rice, idli or dosa.