Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Quick and easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 8 to 10 minutes
Makes: 18 to 20 servings
Recipe source:Serious Eats ,You can find the original recipe here
Ingredients:

1. Chocolate ,grated- 1 and 1/3 cup
2. Unsweetened Cocoa powder - 1 Cup
3. Cane sugar - 1 Cup
4. Corn Starch / Corn Flour - 2 tbsp
5. Salt - 1 fat pinch
6. Vanilla bean,scraped - 1(optional)

Instructions:

To prepare Hot Chocolate Mix:Combine all ingredients in a food processor/blender.Blend until it is completely powdered.Transfer to airtight container ( add the vanilla bean pod to the container ,if desired)and store in a cool,dark place for upto 3 months.

To make hot chocolate:  Add 1 to 3 tbsp of the hot chocolate mix into 1 cup of boiling milk and mix until combined.For a thicker hot chocolate, heat the mixture for about 30 seconds ,until smooth and slightly thick.

NOTES

• Increase or decrease the quantity of hot chocolate mix per cup of milk depending on how 'chocolatey' you want it . 
• To scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean,cut the vanilla bean in half along its length using a sharp knife.Scrape out the seeds with the back of the knife and add along with the rest of the ingredients.Place the  empty pod in  the chocolate mix container,if desired. 

Ari Pathiri | Malabar Pathiri | Rice flour-flat bread

Ari Pathiri

Malabar style, thin rice flour flat bread.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Ingredients:

1. Roasted rice flour /Pathiri podi - 1 cup(+ extra for dusting)
2. Water -1 cup
3. Salt - to taste
4. Oil- 1 tsp

Instructions:

Boil water with salt and oil .

Add flour to the boiling water and give it a quick stir.

Immediately cover with a lid.Reduce the flame to the lowest and cook for 1 or 2 minutes and switch off the stove. Uncover and stir well using a wooden spatula.

Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl and keep covered for about 10 minutes or till it is cool enough to touch.Knead well for about 5 minutes or until the dough turns smooth.Dust the working surface with rice flour ,take a small portion ( lemon sized)of the dough and roll it out to form a thin disc. 

Cut to a perfect round shape using a round lid /cutter.

Heat a non stick pan  over medium flame,place the pathiri on it and cook on both the sides for about 1 minute.When it puffs up ,remove from the pan.( Do not over cook,if you do so it may turn out dry.).Serve with chicken or mutton curry.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of green chilies according to your taste.
• Here are some side dish recipes for pathiri.

Varutharacha Mutton Curry

Nadan Kozhi Curry

Kerala Mutton Curry

Mutton Curry

Pepper Chicken Masala

Kerala Vegetable Stew

Cucumber Chutney | Vellarikka Chutney

Cucumber chutney.

Quick and easy cucumber chutney,perfect with dosa or idli.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Makes: 1/2 - 3/4 cup chutney
Recipe Source: Dosai by Chandra Padmanabhan.
Ingredients:

1. Urad dal/husked,split black gram - 1 tsp
2. Chana dal - 2 tbsp
3. Dried red chili - 1 or 2 ( according to taste)
4. Green chilies,finely chopped - 1 or 2( according to taste)
5. Asafoetida /hing /kayam- 1/4 tsp
6. Ginger - 1/4" piece
7. Coriander leaves,chopped - 1 tbsp
8. Cucumber,chopped- 1 cup
9. Salt - to taste
10. Oil- as required

Instructions:

Heat oil in a pan.Add urad dal,chana dal,dried red chilies,green chilies and asafoetida.Fry until it turns golden brown over medium heat.

Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.Add the remaining ingredients ( ginger,coriander leaves,cucumber and salt ) and grind to a smooth consistency.Serve with idli / dosa.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of red chilies and green chilies according to your taste.
• If desired ,peel off the skin of the cucumber using a vegetable peeler /knife.
  

How to make Ada for Ada Pradhaman / Paalada | Homemade Ada Recipe

Homemade Ada Recipe

Learn how to make Ada for Ada Pradhaman /palalda Pradhaman /Payasam.
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Makes: 1 to 1.5 cups
Ingredients:

1. Unakkalari /Raw rice - 1/2 cup( see notes)
2. Ghee - 1 tsp
3. Sugar - 1 tsp
4. Water - to prepare batter
5. Banana leaves,cut into rectangles - as required

Instructions:

Wash and soak rice in plenty of water for about 1 hour.

Drain the water completely and spread the rice on a clean kitchen towel and allow it to dry for about 30 to 45 minutes.

 

Transfer it to a blender and grind to form a fine powder.

Sieve it to remove any leftover grains.Next add ghee and sugar to the rice flour.

Add sufficient water and mix well form a smooth batter ( like dosa batter).Meanwhile boil water in a large pot.

Take a piece of banana leaf and drizzle the batter over it.Roll it gently and tie with a string. 

 

Once the water comes to a rolling boil,add the rolled banana leaves and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

Now remove the rolls from water .Peel the ada carefully.

Cut it into small squares and wash the ada if it is sticky.Soak ada in hot water until required.

NOTES

• You may  use pachari if unakkalri is not available.
• You can also use unroasted rice flour to prepare ada.In that case just add sugar ,ghee and water to the flour and mix to form the batter.
• For Ada Pradhaman ,cut the ada into slightly larger pieces.
• 

Aloo Paratha| Potato Masala Stuffed Indian Flatbread | Step by Step Recipe

Aloo Paratha

Potato masala stuffed Indian flatbread.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 6 parathas
Ingredients:

1. Whole wheat flour- 1 Cup( extra for dusting)
2. Water - as required
3. Salt - to taste
4. Oil / Ghee - as required

For Potato stuffing:

1. Potato,boiled and cubed- 2 medium
2. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
3. Onion,finely chopped - 1/4 cup
4. Green chilies,finely chopped - 1 ( or according to taste)
5. Ginger ,finely chopped - 1/4 tsp
6. Kashmiri chili powder- 1/4  tsp( or to taste)
7. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Garam masala powder- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp
9. Coriander leaves,chopped - 1 tbsp
10. Salt- To taste
11. Oil- as required

Instructions:

In a bowl,combine together whole wheat flour,salt and sufficient quantity of water and mix well.Knead to form a soft dough.Cover and keep aside for atleast 15 minutes.

Heat oil in a pan,add cumin seeds and saute for few seconds.Add onion,green chilies and ginger.Saute until onion turns golden brown.

Now add kashmiri chili powder,turmeric powder and garam masala powder.Saute for few seconds.Add potato , coriander leaves and salt to taste.

Mix well until it is smooth.Divide the stuffing into 6 equal parts.

Divide the dough into 6 equal parts and roll a portion of the dough into a circle of 4" diameter on a lightly floured surface.Place the filling ball in the center.

Bring all the sides to the center and seal tightly.Pinch off the excess dough,if desired.

Press it lightly using your finger tips to form a circle.

Dust the surface with whole wheat flour ,roll the stuffed dough lightly to form 6 to 7 " circle.(Lightly dust the parathas with flour,if it sticks to the rolling pin or the  working surface.)

Heat a nonstick /iron tawa ,place the paratha and let it cook until the color changes slightly for about 15 seconds over medium high heat.Flip the paratha and cook for few more seconds.

Drizzle 1 tsp oil over the paratha.Flip the paratha again and gently press using a spatula.Cook until golden brown spots appear on both the sides.Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.Serve hot with pickle and yogurt.

NOTES

• For best results, drizzle ghee over the parathas. 

Kerala Appam Recipe | Palappam | Kerala Laced Rice Pancakes | Step by Step Pictures

Kerala Palappam

Kerala style laced rice pancakes ( Gluten free and vegan)
Prep Time: 4 hours, + more for fermentation
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Makes: 18 to 20 palappam
Ingredients:

1. Raw rice ( Pachari) - 1.5 cups( see notes)
2. Grated coconut - 3/4 cup ,heaped
3. Cooked Rice - 1/2 cup
4. Sugar- 1.5 to 3 tbsp 
5. Yeast - 1/4 tsp
6. Water - 1.5 cups
7. Salt-  to taste

Instructions:

Wash the rice well and soak it for about 4 to 5 hours.

Grind together drained raw rice, grated coconut , cooked rice and 3/4 cup water to form a smooth batter.

Next add sugar,yeast and remaining water and blend for about 30 seconds or until sugar and yeast is completely dissolved.

Transfer the batter to a large bowl.Cover and let it ferment  for about 5 to 8 hours( depending upon the temperature conditions) in a warm place , until almost doubled in volume.

After fermentation( for about 5 to 8 hours) add salt to taste.Gently stir the salt in.Cover and keep aside for atleast 30 minutes.The batter will rise a bit and will be light and foamy.

Heat the appachatti over medium high flame.Rub it with some oil if you are using an iron appachatti.( Skip this step if you are using a non stick appachatti.) Gently pour a ladle full of batter into the pan.

Immediately swirl the pan to spread the batter in a circle.Cover and cook for about a minute or until the edges turn golden brown.

Carefully remove the appam from the pan.Serve with vegetable curry/egg curry /chicken curry.

STEP BY STEP PICTURES:

In a bowl,add rice ( i used 1 cup raw rice and 1/2 cup basmati rice)and water , rinse it well.

Soak the washed rice in plenty of water for about  4 to 5 hours. 

Add grated coconut and cooked rice into a blender.

Add the drained ,soaked rice and 1/2 to 3/4 cup water to the blender.

Grind to form a smooth batter.

Next add sugar to the batter.  

Add yeast and the remaining water ,blend until sugar and yeast is completely dissolved ,for about 30 seconds.

Transfer the batter to a large bowl.Cover and let it ferment  for about 5 to 8 hours( depending upon the temperature conditions) in a warm place , until almost doubled in volume.

The batter will look something like this,after fermentation.

Now add salt to taste.

Gently stir the salt in.Cover and keep aside for atleast 30 minutes.The batter will rise a bit.

Now the batter will be light and foamy.

Heat the appachatti over medium high flame.Rub it with some oil if you are using an iron appachatti.( Skip this step if you are using a non stick appachatti.) Gently pour a ladle full of batter into the pan.

Immediately swirl the pan to spread the batter in a circle.Cover and cook for about a minute or until the edges turn golden brown.

Carefully remove the appam from the pan.Serve with vegetable curry/egg curry /chicken curry.

NOTES

• You can also use 1 cup raw rice and 1/2 cup basmati rice ,if desired.I feel adding 1/2 cup basmati rice makes appam more soft  and fluffy.
• Adjust the quantity of water depending upon the type of rice you use.Basically the batter should be a bit watery so that the edges turn out really thin.
• Adjust the quantity of sugar according to your taste.Adding a bit more sugar will help to get the edges golden brown.
• Leftover batter can be refrigerated for upto 2 days.Bring down to room temperature before making appams.
• You may serve appam with Nadan Mutta curry, Kerala Egg curry,Egg curry with potato ,Kadala curry,Kerala vegetable stew,Mutton stew,Kerala duck curry or even fish molly.