Kurukku Kaalan-Kerala Sadya Special

Kurukku kaalan is a traditional Kerala sadya(feast) dish.It is a combination of raw plantain(pacha kaya),elephant yam(Chena) and yogurt.Kurukku kaalan is very thick.

Ingredients:

Raw plantain(Nendra kaya/Ethakka) - 100 gm

Elephant yam(Chena)  - 150 gm

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tbsp

Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Yogurt / curd - 2 cup

Water - as required

Salt - to taste

Curry leaves - few

To grind:

Coconut - 1 no(grated)

Green chillies - 4 nos

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

For seasoning:

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Fenugreek seeds(uluva) - 1/2 tsp

Red dry chillies(vattal mulaku)- 4 nos.

Coconut oil

Method:

•  Wash and remove the skin of vegetables.Cut into small pieces.Beat the yogurt and keep aside.Grind the grated coconut,green chillies,cumin seeds and make a thick fine paste.Keep aside.

1) Cook the vegetables with turmeric powder,chilli powder and enough water till the water dries. 

2) Now add yogurt and salt.Reduce the flame.Stir well continuously.Then add coconut paste and curry leaves.Mix well.Cook for few minutes.Remove from fire.

3) Heat oil in another pan fry mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds and dry red chillies.Add this to kurukku kaalan.Serve with Rice.

Simple Chicken Biriyani-Kerala Style

Ingredients

1)Biriyani -  Rice 1kg       

2)Chicken-1kg

For the grinding

3)Ginger-15 gm

   Garlic-15 gm

   Green chilly-7 no.

   Coriander,mint leaves-25 gm

4)Tomato-2

Onion-300 gm

Chilly Powder-2 tsp

Turmeric Powder-2 tsp

Coriander powder-3 tsp

Yogurt-25 gm

Garam Masala-10 gm

Salt-To taste

Ghee-4 tbsp

Raisins,Cashew nuts - 15 no.(each)

Cinnamon,Clove-2 no.(each)

Lemon-1

Water-7 cups

Method

1)Grind ginger,garlic,greenchilly,coriander and mint leaves into a paste.Add yogurt and salt to this paste.Marinate chicken pieces with this paste for minimum 30 minutes.

2)Heat 2 tbsp of ghee in a cooking vessel,fry cashew nuts,raisins,1 sliced onion separately till golden brown and keep aside.

3)Mix sliced tomatos,remaining finely sliced onions,chilly powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder,garam masala and salt to taste.

4)To this add marinated chicken pieces and cook it well.

5)Take another cooking vessel and add 2 tbsp of  ghee,cinnamon,clove, drops of lemon into water and boil it.Put rice and salt(as needed).Cook it covered till the water is absorbed by the rice completely.

6)Mix the rice with cooked chicken and garnish with fried onion,cashews and raisins.

7)Serve chicken biriyani with salad,mint-coconut chutney and pickle.

    

Pachadi / Cucumber Pachadi-Kerala Onam Sadya Recipe

 Pachadi is a traditional Kerala sadya recipe.Pachadi can be made with a variety of              vegetables.It is a very simple dish.In this recipe I used cucumber with coconut and yogurt.

Ingredients:

Cucumber - 1small(chop into small pieces)

Yogurt/curd - 1/2 - 3/4 cup

Salt

Water

For Grinding:

Grated coconut - 1/2 cup

Green chillies -2-3 nos. 

Ginger - 1 piece

Crushed Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp

For the seasoning:

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Dry red chiilies-2

Curry leaves

Coconut oil

Method:

1) Grind together grated coconut,green chillies and ginger to a fine paste.Mix crushed mustard with coconut paste. Cook cucumber with salt and enough water.Add the coconut paste to the cooked cucumber.Mix well.Cook on low flame for 3-4 minutes and remove.

2) Add yogurt and adjust salt.Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds,when they start to crackle,add curry leaves and dry red chillies.Add it to the pachadi.

Kerala Fish Biriyani(Malabar style)

Malabar style biriyani is very tasty and used in special occasions.In Malabar area khaima rice/jeerakasala rice(short grain) is used to prepare biriyani.In this recipe I used Sear(Ayakoora) fish.

Ingredients

For marinating Fish

Sear fish(Ayakoora)-500 gm

Chilli powder-2 tsp

Turmeric powder-1 tsp

Fish masala-1 tsp

Lemon juice-1/2 tsp

Salt-to taste

For fish masala

Onion-2

Tomato-2 no,chopped

Ginger-1 piece

Garlic-8 no

Green chilli-6 no.

Coriander,Mint leaves-half handful(each)

Yogurt-2 tsp

Chilli powder-1 tsp

Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp

Coriander powder-2 tsp

Garam masala-1 tsp

Ghee/Oil-as needed

For Rice

Khaima rice(Biriyani rice)-2 cups

Cinnamon-3 stick

Clove-6 no.

Cardamom-3

Ghee-2 tbsp

Lemon juice- 1 tbsp

Water-4 cups

Salt-to taste

For garnishing

Raisins-15 no

Cashew nuts-15 no

Onion-1/2 cup (thinly sliced)

Chopped coriander leaves-half handful
Ghee-as needed

Method

1)Marinate fish with above mentioned marinated ingredients.

2)Grind coarsely ginger,garlic,green chilly,mint and coriander leaves.

3)Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the fish.
4)In same frying pan add sliced onion,once color start to change add ginger-garlic-green chilli mixture.Then add chopped tomatoes,saute for few seconds.
5)Add chilli powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder ,garam masala and mix well.
6)Add fried fish and yogurt and mix well.Cover and cook on low flame for about 4-5 minutes.Fish masala is ready.

7)Take another cooking vessel and add 2 tbsp of ghee,cinnamon,clove,Cardamom and 1 tbsp of lemon juice into water and boil it.Put washed rice and salt(as needed).Cook it covered till the water is absorbed by the rice completely.
8)Heat 2 tbsp of ghee in a cooking vessel,fry cashew nuts,raisins, sliced onion separately till golden brown.

9)Mix the rice with cooked fish masala and garnish with fried onion,cashews,raisins and chopped coriander leaves.

Aviyal

Aviyal is a traditional Kerala dish.It is a tasty vegetarian recipe.Aviyal is a part of Kerala onam sadya.

Ingredients

(1) Drumstick-1

     Carrot-2

     Cucumber-1 piece

     Beans-5 nos.

     Elephant foot yam-1 piece

     Raw plantain-2

(2)  Turmeric Powder-1/2 tsp
       Chilli Powder-1/2 tsp
       Salt-To taste

For the grinding

(3) Green Chilli-5
     Cumin Seeds(jeeraka)-1 tsp
     Greated coconut-11/2 cups
(4) Yogurt-1/2 cup
(5)  Curry leaves-3 sprigs
       Coconut oil-3tsp

Method

1) Wash all vegetables and cut in to 2 inch long piece.Cook all the vegetables with turmeric ,red chilli powder and salt.
2)Coarsely grind coconut,green chillies and cumin seeds.Mix it with cooked vegetables and cook for a few minutes.Remove from flame.
3)Add yogurt and mix well.Finally add coconut oil and curry leaves.Serve with  rice.