Curd Curry

Kachiya Moru

Ingredients:

• Yoghurt/Curd - 500 gms/ml
• Shallots - 4 or 5, sliced (If you do not have shallots, use half of a small onion, finely chopped. But shallots taste better)
• Chopped garlic - 1 tsp
• Chopped ginger - 1 tsp
• Green chilly - 2, chopped
• Dry red chilly - 1 or 2
• Curry leaves - a sprig
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Salt
• Oil - 1 tbsp (preferably coconut oil)

Preparation:

1. Add water to curd and beat it well to the required consistency. It should be thicker than buttermilk. Add salt to it and keep aside.
2. Heat oil and splutter mustard seeds followed by fenugreek seeds.
3. Add shallots, dry chilly, ginger, garlic, green chillies and curry leaves and saute well till you get a nice aroma.
4. Lower the flame to medium-low. Add turmeric powder and the curd and mix well. Switch off the stove when the curry is warm. Do not bring to boil as the curd gets separated.

Serve with rice.

Naan

Homemade Naan

Ingredients:

All purpose flour / Maida - 2 cups + extra for rolling the dough
Active dry yeast - 1 tsp + 3/4 cup of luke warm water
Sugar - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Baking soda - a pinch
Oil - 2 tbsp
Yoghurt/Curd - 3 tbsp
Butter - to brush on naan

Preparation:

1. Mix the yeast in luke warm water and keep aside for 10mins till it becomes frothy.
2. Add maida, sugar, salt and baking powder in a bowl and combine well.
3. Add oil and yoghurt to this mix and combine well to form a crumbly mix.
4. Add the yeast water and knead to form a very soft dough. Cover the bowl with a lid and keep it for 2-3 hours till the dough almost doubles.
5. Knead the dough a little more and make 6 equal portions. Roll out each portion to thin oval shape. I rolled them on a plastic sheet to make it easier.
6. Heat a non stick pan / tawa and when it is really hot, transfer the naan. When it starts puffing up, flip over. Cook on both sides till brown.Brush a little butter on top.

Serve hot.

Prawn pickle

Prawn pickle / Shrimp pickle

Ingredients:

Small prawns (Cleaned, peeled and de-veined) - 250 gms
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Oil - 1/4 cup

Ginger finely chopped - 1 tbsp
Garlic finely chopped - 1 tbsp
Green chillies - 3, finely chopped
Curry leaves - a sprig
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Kashmiri chilly powder - 1 tbsp
Vinegar - 3 tbsp + more if required
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp

Preparation:

1. Wash the prawns well and drain the water completely. Marinate the prawns along with turmeric powder and salt for atleast half an hour. Choose the smallest prawns available. The weight given above is after cleaning and peeling.
2. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the prawns till they are golden and crisp. Drain and keep aside in a glass bowl.
3. In the same oil, add ginger, garlic, green chillies and fry till brown. Add curry leaves and fry it too. Turn off the stove and add chilly powders. Take care not to burn it. Transfer the contents immediately to the bowl of fried prawns.
4. Warm the vinegar and add it along with enough salt to the bowl and mix well.
5. Splutter mustard seeds in a tsp of oil and pour it to the bowl.
6. Dry roast fenugreek seeds and powder it. Add the powder to the bowl and combine well. Keep the pickle in the bowl for a day. If it gets very thick, boil about 1/4cup of water and combine with the pickle. The prawns absorb the liquid and pickle gets thicker.
7. Store in airtight glass jars after the pickle cools downs completely.

Use after 3-4 days...............

Jackfruit Chips

Chakka chips

These chips replace banana chips during summer season in Kerala households. Even if they are identified as snacks for an evening tea, chakka chips are being served in a family meal too.

Ingredients

 1 cup flesh of the jackfruit

 2 cups refined oil

 1/2 tbs salt

Preparation

1. Cut the jackfruit flesh into long pieces. Mix salt in some water and rub the cut pieces with salt water.

2. Heat the oil in a thick bottomed vessel or ‘kadai’. When the oil is hot, pour a handful of the jackfruit pieces into it and deep fry.

3. Remove the fried ones using a strainer. This would drain the oil and transfer the fried chips to your plate.

4. Repeat these steps until all the cut pieces are fried.

Egg Fried Rice

Egg Fried Rice

Ingredients :

• 1 and 1/2 cup basmati rice - soaked in water for 15 mins
• 3 eggs - scrambled
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1 cup chopped spring onion
• 1/2 cup capsicum - cut into thin strips ( i have used red and yellow bell peppers)
• 1/4 cup onion - cut into thin strips
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp pepper powder - according to your need
• 2 tsp soya sauce
• 2-3 tsp tomato-chili sauce
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp cooking oil

Method :

• Soak basmati rice in water for 15 mins. Cook 5-6 cup water in a vessel till it boils. Take the soaked rice and drain the water completely. Add rice to the boiling water. Add salt and 2 tsp oil. Mix well and cook it uncovered on medium flame for 10-15 mins till the rice is 90% cooked.
• Remove from the heat and drain the water completely. Spread rice on a plate and keep aside.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a heavy bottomed kadai . Add minced ginger and garlic. Saute a while.
• Add chopped onions and fry for few seconds. Add chopped carrot, capsicum and spring onion. Cook for 2 mins.
• Add scrambled egg and saute a while. Add soya sauce and tomato-chili sauce. Cook for few seconds.
• Add pepper powder and salt to taste. Adjust the salt  in it. Add cooked rice and stir well. Cook for 2 mins on medium flame. Check the salt and adjust it. Sprinkle chopped spring onion and serve hot.

Video

Egg Roast

Egg Roast

Ingredients:

Boiled eggs - 2 or 3
Onion - 3 medium sized, chopped
Finely chopped ginger - 1 tsp
Finely chopped garlic - 1 tsp
Tomato - 1 large, chopped
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 to 3 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves - to garnish
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp (You may add jeera/cumin seeds too)
Salt
Oil

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.
2. Add onion, ginger, garlic and curry leaves and saute till onions are soft and turning light brown.
3. Add turmeric, chilly and coriander powders and saute.
4. Add tomatoes and saute till the are soft and oil starts appearing.
5. Add a cup of warm water and enough salt and combine well. The gravy thickens on boiling.
6. Add the boiled eggs, pepper powder and coriander leaves. Mix well.

Side Dish for. Paratha , Appam , Chappathi etc..

Yam fries

Yam fry

Yam known as Chena in malayalam is widely used in Kerala cuisine. This is a simple fry which resembles french fries, but has a spicy touch.

Ingredients:

• Yam - 500g
• Turmeric powder - pinch
• Chilly powder and Pepper powder - to taste
• Salt
• Oil to deep fry

Cooking Method :

• 1. Peel and wash the yam. Cut it to thin long strips like french fries. 
• 2. Add salt, turmeric, chilly and pepper powders to yam and combine well. Keep aside for 30 mins.
• 3. Deep fry till the yms are cooked, brown and crisp.

Meen Peera

Meen Peera / Fish Thoran

Ingredients:

Anchovies / natholi fish - 500 gms
Curry leaves - a few
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Kudampuli or fish tamarind - 1 or 2 pieces
Salt to taste


To grind

Shredded coconut - 1 cup
Green chillies - 4 or 5
Ginger - a half inch piece
Garlic - 2 or 3 cloves

shalots- 2 or 3
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Preparation:

1. Soak kudampuli in 1/2 cup warm water for 10-15 mins.
2. Remove the head and tail of the fish and clean it. No need to cut the fish as we use small fish for peera.Keep aside.
3. Grind the ingredients listed above to a coarse mix without adding water. Keep aside.
4. Heat oil in an earthern pot or pan and splutter mustard seeds. Add the ground paste and curry leaves and give it a mix. Now add fish, the tamarind along with the water used for soaking. Add enough salt and cover and cook till fish is done. 

Banana chips

Banana chips

Ingredients:

Raw plantain / Banana - 4
Turmeric powder - 1 tbsp
Salt
Coconut oil for deep frying

Preparation:

1. Add turmeric powder and salt to a bowl of water. Peel the plantain and slice it very thin with a slicer or knife and keep it in the turmeric-salt water for sometime.
2. Heat oil in wok and when it is real hot, add the sliced plantain. Stir once so that they dont stick to each other. Fry the chips on a high flame, till they are crisp and golden.
3. Drain to kitchen tissue. Let it cool and then store in airtight container.

Tomato Chutney

Tomato Chutney

Ingredients:

Onion - 1 chopped
Tomato - 2 chopped
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder - 1.5 to 2 tsp
Shredded coconut - 2 tbsp
Oil - 1 to 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves 

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add onions. Saute till they are soft.
2. Add turmeric powder and salt and mix well.
3. Add chopped tomatoes and saute till tomatoes are cooked well.
4. Add chilly powder and mix well.
5. Add shredded coconut and saute for a minute.
6. Let it cool. Grind it to a smooth paste. I generally add no water for grinding.
7. Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.
8. Add curry leaves and then add the ground paste.Saute for a couple of minutes.

CHICKEN 65

CHICKEN 65

               Chicken 65 is a spicy, deep-fried chicken dish originating from Tamil Nadu, India, as a bar snack, entree, or quick snack.The flavour of the dish comes from ginger, cayenne pepper, mustard powder and vinegar although the exact recipe can vary. It can be prepared using chicken on or off the bone. Curry leaves play an important role in the flavor.

Ingredients

Oil for deep frying

Yogurt  1 small cup

Salt to taste
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp

coriander leaves

marination

boneless chicken thighs 250gm
chilli powder 1tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tspblack pepper 1tsp
lemon juice 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - large pinch

Salt to taste

To coat chicken that has been marinated
Egg - 1
Cornflour - 1 1/2 tbsp
Rice flour - 1/2 tbsp

• Marinate bite sized pieces of chicken in the ingredients called for marinade for 1 hour.
• In a bowl, mix yogurt, salt to taste, turmeric powder, red chili powder and coriander powder. Keep aside.
• After marinating the chicken, add egg, cornflour, salt to taste and rice flour to coat the chicken. Add a tbsp of water if required.
• Heat oil for deep frying. Once the oil is hot, add a few chicken pieces into the oil without crowding the vessel and cook on medium flame. Once the chicken is almost cooked, increase flame and deep fry the chicken pieces till golden brown.
• Remove onto absorbent paper. Keep aside. Repeat with rest of the chicken pieces.
• Heat a cooking vessel, add a tbsp of oil. Add garlic and ginger and saute for a few seconds. Add curry leaves and green chilies. Saute for a few secs. Add the deep fried chicken and toss well and cook for 2 mts.
• Add the yogurt mixture and cook on low to medium flame, mixing the contents well. Toss the chicken till the yogurt dries up and the chicken absorbs the yogurt mix.
• Remove onto a serving plate. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Masala Dosa

Masala Dosa with Cocont Chutney

Ingredients

 Dosa

plain rice     - 2 cup
uzhunu dal   - 1 cup
cooked rice - 1/2 cup
salt

Masala filling

potatoes 4 big
onion 2 big  sliced
green chillies 5-7
garlic sliced - 5
turmeric powder -1/2 tsp
mustard 1 tsp
curry leaves
oil
salt to taste

Coconut Chutney

grated coconut 1/2 cup
green chillies - 3
mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
red chilles 2 (vattal mulaku)

curry leaves
oil
salt to taste

Preparation

• Grind the shredded coconut,green chillies and salt to a paste that is not very fine just before that .
• Temper the chutney ,by heating oil in a pan,splutter mustard,dry red chillies,curry leaves and add into the chutney.

Masala Preparation 

•  Chop all veggitables ,boil and mash the potatoes.Keep aside.
•  Heat oil in a kadai and saute onions till light brown.
• Add in the curry leaves,green chillies, sliced garlic .Saute again for 5 minutes.
• Add in the turmeric powder,mashed potatoes 
• Add in the salt if required after diluting it in 2tsp of water.

Masala Dosa Preparation

• Grind the rice and urad dal  separately.Grind the cooked rice and make a fine paste.
• Add in salt and leave for fermentation for 6 hours.If the weather is cold outside,leave it near the stove or in the oven.
• After fermentation,take out the batter make it thin if required.
• Heat a nonstick frying pan / tawa and pour a ladle of batter in the center and spread outwards with the same ladle till you can reach the end.
• Wait till it starts to have bubbles and the sides are crispy,flip it the other side and leave for a minute.
• Flip back again,take a spoonful of masala and place it in the centre.Fold it from both sides towards the center.
• Repeat the same for other dosas.
• Serve it hot with  coconut chutney.!!!!!!!!!!

Green Tomato Stir fry

Pacha Thakkali Thoran

Ingredients

tomato green   5-8 medium sized chopped
shallots 8 (medium size ) sliced
grated coconut 1/3 cup
green chillies 4-6
turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
salt
oil 2 tsp
curry leaves 

Preparation

Heat oil in a pan ,splutter mustard seeds.
-Add in the shallots ,green chillies and curry leaves.Saute till translucent.
-Add the turmeric powder.
-Add in the chopped green tomatoes,grated coconut and salt.
-Cover and cook for 7 minutes.Uncover the lid,toss again.
-The tomatoes are wilted and coked by then.Dry up the water content if any and serve hot with rice..........