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Kerala Squid/ Kanava Roast


Kerala Squid/ Kanava Roast

Squid is a popular seafood and almost as versatile as shrimp. They make good curries, fries, roasts, and excellent in soups and salad. In Kerala, the spicy squid roast is a popular seafood delicacy. This pan-fried squid is tender and finger-licking good. Fried squid rings are slow-cooked, in a delicious tomato onion gravy with earthy spices. The spicy tomato masala that coats the squid is delicious. It is a perfect accompaniment with rice. For an exotic eating experience, try pairing this squid roast with neypathal, pathiri, appam, or fresh bread. This version is so simple it takes less than half an hour to prep and cooks the squid roast. You got yourself an incredibly delicious dinner recipe. It is an impressive dish, perfect for entertaining.

Squid is a staple in many seafood restaurants. It is also a popular street food in several south Asian countries. Squid is abundant in the coastal belt of South India, especially in Kerala and Tamilnadu. In Kerala, squid is called koonthal or Kanava. Squid is not regularly available at the fishmonger stall, and we only buy them when they are cheap. My mom makes delicious squid recipes. It was always curried, but once in a while, we get excited when squid roast and fries appear at the dinner table. This recipe is from my mom.

 

Squid has a mild flavor and gentle sweetness and marries well to any flavor and taste of your choice. We are going for minimum seasoning so that the flavor of the squid stands out. There is pepper powder and garam masala, but for me, the crowning touch is the flavoring of sweet fennel seeds and two to three tablespoons of thick coconut milk. 
The squid must be cooked fast over high heat, not more than three minutes on each side. In this way, you can avoid it turning chewy and rubbery. They are tough if overcooked. You can use fresh or frozen squid. Find it at your seafood market or Asian market. Baby squid has very tender meat and yields the best results. If you get cleaned squid, from the market, you are good to go. Give this recipe a try, you will surely love it.

Kerala Squid/ Kanava Roast


Ingredients
Cleaned Squid-1 lb
(Cut into rings or squares)
Onion- 1 medium
Pearl onions- 15
Tomato-2 medium size
Ginger- 1 inch thick
Garlic- 4-5
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Bell pepper thinly sliced- 1/2
Kashmiri Chilly powder- 2 tbs
Pepper powder-1/2 tsp
Garam Masala- 1/8 tsp (optional)
Fennel powder- 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves-1 spring
Coconut Oil-2-3 tbs
Salt-to taste

Marinate the squid with turmeric powder, salt, and pepper powder and set this aside for 10- 15 minutes.
Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the squid for one and a half to two minutes on either. Do not overcrowd the pan. Try frying in batches. Set this aside.
Add shallots, ginger, and garlic into a food processor. Pulse a few times to get a coarse mixture.
Heat the rest of the oil in a pan that you fried the squid. Add the chopped shallots, ginger garlic mixture, and saute till golden brown. Now saute thinly sliced onion and curry leaves till golden brown.  Add chopped tomatoes and saute till they get mashed up and soft. Add thinly sliced bell pepper, turmeric powder, chilly powder, pepper powder, fennel powder, and garam masala. Add 1/4 cup of water and let the masala cook. Alternatively, you can add coconut milk instead of water. When the gravy thickens, add the fried squid and mix well. Cover, and cook for two minutes. Gently roast till all the masala gets coated on the squid. Serve with rice, ghee rice, pathiri, or bread. Enjoy!


You might also like,

Crispy Salt and Pepper Squid
Kanava/Stuffed Squid- With Spicy Prawns Filling
Kerala Fish Fry/ Chala/ Sardine Fry
Mathi Puliyum Mulakum/Sardine Fish Curry
Karimeen Pollichathu/ Kerala Pearl Spot Fish Fry

Try this..
Hope you will all enjoy

Comments

  1. I was about to sleep. You are tempting me with such yummy looking roast dear.. Wish I could get some in my dream.
    Perfectly done. Lovely click too.

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  2. Congrats on your well deserving award suja.. wish u many many more 2 come.. also belated anniversary wishes :)
    The squid roast looks perfect .

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  3. Congratts!! on ur award.. wish u to earn lot more awards... u really deserve it... thank u so much for sharing dis award with me... really very happy dear...very tempting dish.. feels like taste it now

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  4. This recipe is much new to me...i even don't know whats squid.......Congo and many thanx for sharing the award...keep cooking and enjoy every bite in life :)

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  5. Lovely squid roast chehci..kandittu kothy varunu..njanipol lunch kazhiche ullu, onnude ethu nokki erunu kazhikan thonunud ketto..

    Congrats on the awards and thx a lot for sharing...

    Love
    Suji

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  6. Congrats on your awards and thanks a lot for sharing it with us :)

    Kanava roast looks super yummy, tempting click!!

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  7. Congratts on ur award.. wish u more awards to come..u really deserve it.. thank u so much for sharing this award with me .. thanx a lot... vry tempting dish luks delicious...feels like to taste it

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  8. Congrats on your awards...looks so spicy and delicious....

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  9. Congrats on your well deserving award suja.. wish u many many more 2 com...

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congrats on your award. Love the squid curry!

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  11. Suja thanks a looooooooooooot for the award...that was incredibly sweet of you.
    Squid is a fav of my husband like all other seafood...have always had it batter fired..never like this..shud give this prep a go once i get hold of some squid

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  12. There is an award waiting 4 u in my blog, plz come n collect it dear :)

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  13. Thanks all for stopping by and the sweet comments.
    Aipi..thanks dear..so sweet of you to share this lovely award with me :)
    Nisha, do try this..it tastes great.

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  14. Such a droolworthy and tempting squid roast, makes me hungry...Congrats on ur award..keep rocking..

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  15. Congrats for the awards and thanks for sharing it...squid roast looks adipoli...

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  16. Thats so deliicous kanava roast.. perfectly done. and squid is one of my favorite seafood.. good one da.
    Happy anniversary wishes to u.. treat eppola
    suja congrats on ur awards.happy to know abt ur interest..
    Thanks for sharing the awards with me.sure post with my next recipe..

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  17. The dish is looking so yammy...and tempting..many a times I have thought of bringing squid and cook ..but my hubby does not preffer it much..but i love squid...congrats on your award.....

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  18. Wow Squid roast looks so perfectly done!

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  19. Yummyyy Kanava roast.adipoli ayittundu.
    Congrats on ur awards and thanks for sharing da:)

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  20. Squid roast looks lovely. Belated happy marriage anniversary dear. And congrats on your awards. Thanks a lot dear for passing it to me

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  21. Kidilam Kanava Roast... sherikum vallam varanu kandituu... Thanks a lot for sharing the award with me Suja..

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  22. i have never tasted squid but it looks really nice....congrats on your awards suja and thanks a lot for sharing it with me

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  23. delicious dish, congrats on your award and you deserve it

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  24. wow wow wow..i have no words to say ...u have tried my recipe.....tahnk you soooo much dear......its realy a great encouragment from you...your rost is more delisious and super presentation...any way happy to know that you have enjoyed it.......and thanks for the award..

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  25. Congratulations !!! I have never tried this fish (!!!). But the dish looks very yummy :)

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  26. Congrats on your awards dear..

    The squid roast looks delicious...

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  27. My Fav....i have one coming soon :) control pokunnu ithu kandittu...
    Congrats on the awards..thank for thinking of me...and nice knowing more about you...

    ReplyDelete
  28. Please collect your award from my space too ...

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks all for the sweet comments
    Thanks Nitha and Satrupa for sharing this lovely award..incredibly sweet of you..Thanks:)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks suja...so kind and sweet of u...hugs...
    dish looks very very tempting and yummmm

    ReplyDelete
  31. Dish looks delicious..Thank you so much for sharing award swith me dear..that is so thoughtful of you.

    ReplyDelete
  32. squid recipes are not that common.. nice one!

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  33. The dish is fantastic! And congratulations on your awards and to those you have awarded as well:)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Not tried this fish but looks yummy...
    Hearty congratulations on ur awards dear:)

    ReplyDelete
  35. The squid looks awesome :) Congrats on ur awards.. wish you would be bumped with many more awards :), and thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete

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