Tomato Chutney

Tomato chutney

Tomato chutney -My Indian Kitchen ,Hari Nayak.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 to 20  minutes
Makes: 1 Cup
Recipe Source : Plateful
Ingredients:

1. Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
2. Curry leaves- 1 sprig
3. Dry red chilies,torn - 2
4. Garlic ,finely chopped- 1 tbsp
5. Onion,finely chopped - 1 small( 1/4 to 1/2 cup)
6. Paprika or Kashmiri chili powder - 1/2 to 1 tsp ( or according to taste)
7. Tomato,chopped - 1.5 cups
8. Tomato paste - 2 tbsp
9. White vinegar- 2 tbsp
10. Water - 1/2 Cup
11. Salt - to taste
12. Oil - 2 to 3 tbsp

For masala powder:

1. Coriander seeds-1 tbsp
2. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
3. Black peppercorns- 1/2 tsp

Instructions:

Grind coriander seeds,cumin seeds and black pepper to a fine powder.Keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds and let it splutter.Next add curry leaves ,dry red chilies and garlic ,saute for about 15 seconds.

Add onion and saute for about 1 minute.Now add paprika /Kashmiri chili powder and the prepared masala powder.Cook for about 2 minutes,stirring continuously. 

Next add tomato,tomato paste vinegar and water.Mix well and bring to a boil over medium flame.Reduce heat to low and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or until oil starts to separate .Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Add salt to taste and mix well and switch off the stove.Serve with dosa,idli or rice.

NOTES

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for upto 6 weeks.
  

Mushroom Fried Rice | Step by step recipe

Mushroom Fried rice

Quick,easy and delicious mushroom fried rice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients:

1. Long grain rice- 3/4 cup
2. Garlic,finely chopped - 1.5 tsp
3. Green chili,finely chopped - 1( or according to taste)
4. Spring onion whites,chopped - 1 tbsp
5. Onion,finely chopped - 2 tbsp
6. Vegetables,finely chopped - 1 Cup( use carrot,cabbage and green beans)
7. Mushroom,sliced - 1 cup
8. Capsicum,chopped - 1/4 cup
9. Soya sauce - 1/2 to 3/4 tsp
10. Black pepper powder- 1 to 1 and 1/4 tsp( according to taste)
11. Spring onion greens,chopped - 1 tbsp
12. Salt - to taste
13. Oil - as required(i used olive oil)

Instructions:

Wash the rice , soak for about 15 minutes and cook  just until done.Fluff it up using a fork and allow to cool completely.

Heat oil in a pan.Add garlic and saute for few seconds and then add green chili,spring onion whites and onion.Saute until onion turns translucent.

Now add carrot,cabbage and green beans and saute for about  1 minute.Now add mushrooms and  and saute until it is done.

Add capsicum and saute for 2 more minutes.Next add soya sauce,pepper powder and salt to taste.Stir continuously for about 1 minute.

Now add cooked rice and gently mix until combined.Garnish with spring onion greens.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of black pepper powder according to your taste.
  

Pavakka Fry | Bitter Gourd Fry

Bitter Gourd Fry

Kerala style Bitter Gourd fry.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4 to 5
Ingredients:

1. Pavakka / Bitter Gourd ,sliced (1/4" thick )- 2 Cups( 2 medium)
2. Rice powder - 1/2 cup
3. Kashmiri chili powder - 1 to 1.5 tsp(or according to taste)
4. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
5. Black pepper powder - 1/8 to 1/4 tsp( or according to taste)
6. Asafoetida /Kayam podi - 1/8 tsp
7. Salt - to taste
8. Water - as required
9. Oil - For deep frying

Instructions:

Slice bitter gourd into 1/4" thick pieces.In a mixing bowl combine together rice powder,kashmiri chili powder,turmeric powder,black pepper powder ,asafoetida and salt to taste.Mix well until combined. 

Add sufficient quantity of water and mix well to form a smooth,medium thick batter .( like dosa batter).

Dip the bitter gourd slices in the prepared batter .(If the batter turns thick ,add few tsp of water and mix well.If it turns too thin to coat the slices,add few tsp of rice powder to adjust the consistency .)

Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the bitter gourd slices in batches.After about 40 to 50 seconds gently stir so that the pieces don't stick to each other.Fry until it turns brown and crispy.Transfer onto a clean kitchen towel.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of Kashmiri chili powder according to your taste.

Karimeen Masala Roast | Kerala style Pearl Spot Roast

Karimeen Masala Roast

Kerala style fried Pearl spot with spicy onion masala.
Recipe source: Magic Oven,Lakshmi Nair
Prep Time: 20 minutes+ 30 minutes marination
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 3 to 4
Ingredients:

1. Karimeen /Pear Spot- 3 medium( or 4 small sized)
2. Ginger ,finely chopped - 1 tbsp
3. Onion,finely chopped - 1 medium
4. Shallots,sliced - 1/4 cup
5. Green chilies,chopped - 2 to 3( or according to taste)
6. Curry leaves - 3 to 4 sprigs
7. Water - 1/2 cup
8. Salt - to taste
9. Coconut oil - as required

For Masala paste:

1. Dry red chilies - 20 to 25( or according to taste ,see notes)
2. Shallots /chumannulli - 8
3. Garlic- 10 small cloves
4. Whole black pepper - 1/2 tsp
5. Vinegar - 1 tbsp
6. Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
7. Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp

Instructions:

Soak dry red chilies in water for about 15 minutes .In a blender combine together soaked( drained) red chilies and the rest of the ingredients listed under ' For masala paste'.Grind to form a smooth paste.Add salt to taste and mix well. 

Make deep slits on the cleaned fish.Take half of the prepared masala paste and rub it well on to the fish.Keep aside for atleast 30 minutes.

Next to prepare onion masala- heat oil in a pan,add ginger and saute for few seconds or until raw smell leaves.Now add onion,shallots,green chilies and few curry leaves.

Saute until onion turns golden brown.Next add the remaining masala paste and cook,until oil starts to separate.Stir well in between to avoid burning.

Add water and salt to taste.Mix well and cook until the gravy turns thick and spreadable.

Next heat oil in a pan and add 2 sprigs curry leaves.Shallow fry the marinated fish until it turns brown on both the sides,turning once in between.Transfer the fried fish onto a serving plate and spread an even layer of the prepared onion masala on both sides of the fish..(Cover and keep aside for atleast 15 minutes before serving for the flavors to mingle.)Serve with rice or chapathi.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of dry red chilies according to your taste.If you want it less spicy, remove the seeds before preparing the masala or you can use dry Kashmiri red chilies instead of  dry red chilies. 
  

Chicken Puttu | Erachi Puttu | Step by Step Recipe

Chicken Puttu

Steamed rice flour cake with spicy Chicekn masala stuffing.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Ingredients:

1. Chicken,cooked and minced- 3/4 cup
2. Onion,finely chopped - 1 ( about 3/4 cup)
3. Curry leaves - Few
4. Ginger and garlic ,finely chopped - 2 tsp
5. Green chilies,chopped - 1( or to taste)
6. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
7. Kashmiri chili powder- 1 to 1.5 tsp ( or according to taste)
8. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
9. Garam masala powder- 1/2 tsp
10. Fennel powder- 1/4 tsp
11. Tomato,finely chopped- 1/2 of a medium (about 1/4 cup)
12. Grated coconut - 1 tbsp
13. Salt- To taste
14. Oil- as required

To prepare Puttu:

1. Puttu Podi - 1 to 1.5 cups
2. Water- as required
3. Salt- to taste
4. Grated coconut- as required

Instructions:

To Prepare Puttu mixture-In a bowl,combine together rice flour and salt to taste.Sprinkle water a little at a time and mix well with your finger tips.It should look like bread crumbs and should not form a dough.( To check if it is done,take a handful of the wet puttu mixture and press it.If it holds its shape and crumbles easily when pressed again then the consistency is right.).Cover and keep aside for 10 to 15 minutes.

Heat oil in a pan  add onion and curry leaves.Saute until it turns translucent.Next add ginger,garlic and green chilies and mix well.

Saute until it turns golden brown.Reduce the flame to low and add turmeric powder,kashmiri chili powder,coriander powder,garam masala and fennel powder.Saute for few seconds.Add tomato and salt to  taste,mix well.Cook over medium flame until it mushy and masala starts to leave the sides of the pan.

Now add the minced chicken and mix well.

Mix well until combined.Cook for few more minutes.Now add grated coconut.

Mix well until combined.Add more salt if required.Turn off the heat and keep aside.Now to prepare puttu ,place 1 or 1.5 tbsp of grated coconut as the first layer in the puttu mould.

Next add 2 to 3 tbsp of the chicken masala mixture .Loosely fill the remaining portion with the prepared puttu mixture.Top with  grated coconut.if desired.

Cover the puttu mould  with the lid.Fill the pressure cooker ( or the bottom vessel of the puttu maker) with water equal to half its volume.Bring it to a boil.Steam cook the puttu for about 5 to 8  minutes or until you see steam escaping from the tiny holes on the lid. Take out the mould and invert it onto a serving plate.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of chili powder according to your taste. 
  

Easy Chicken Pepper Fry | Kerala Chicken Kurumulaku Fry

Easy Chicken Pepper Fry

Spicy kerala style chicken pepper fry.
Recipe source:Taste of Kerala
Prep Time: 30 to 40minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Ingredients:

1. Chicken,cut into small pieces - 400 to 500 gms
2. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
3. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
4. Lemon juice- 2 to 3 tsp
5. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
6. Coconut slices - 1/4 cup
7. Black Pepper powder- 1.5 to 2 tsp( according to taste)
8. Garam masala powder - 1/4 to 1/2 tsp
9. Fenugreek powder- 1 pinch
10. Sliced onion- 1 or 2 tbsp ( optional)
11. Salt- to taste

For masala paste:

1. Shallots - 6 to 7
2. Ginger - 1.5" piece
3. Garlic - 4 to 5 cloves
4. Tomato,diced- 1 small
5. Green chilies- 2

Instructions:

Combine chicken with turmeric powder ,curry leaves ,lemon juice and salt to taste.Marinate for about 30 minutes.In a blender,combine together all the ingredients listed under " For masala paste" and grind to form a  paste.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan /non-stick pan.Add the masala paste and cook for about 5 minutes or until the raw smell leaves.

When the masala is cooked add the marinated chicken and mix well.Cook for about 5 minutes,mixing well in between.Add more salt as required.

Now add coriander powder and mix well.Cover and cook until chicken is 3/4 cooked and gravy coats the chicken pieces.

Now add the coconut slices and mix well.Cook until chicken is done and turns slightly darker in colour.

Now add black pepper powder to taste and mix well.Cook for few more minutes,stirring gently in between until the chicken pieces are browned evenly.

Next add garam masala and stir gently until combined.Finally add fenugreek powder and mix well.

Switch off the stove.Add sliced onion ( if desired) and mix well.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of black pepper powder according to your taste.For best results use freshly ground pepper powder.
• I used 400 gms chicken.For best results use chicken thigh cut into small pieces.