Pistachio cake with Lemon Curd Filling

Pistachio cake with lemon curd filling has wonderful flavor of pistachio and lemon. It is nutty and has a beautiful light green color. I made this cake a few days back for my hubby's birthday. To give the green color, I added a box of pistachio pudding mix along with powdered pistachio. Try this sweet,nutty and tangy cake. You will surely love it.

Ingredients
Cake flour- 2 1/2 cup
Pistachio pudding mix- 1 box (3.4 oz./9 g)
Baking powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Salt-1/2 tsp
Sugar- 1/2 cup
Egg-2
Butter- 4 tbs (1/4 cup)
Vanilla essence- 1 tsp
Milk- 1/2 cup
Pistachio crushed- 1/2 cup
( half for the cake and the rest for garnish)

Lemon curd filling ( recipe source: Joy of baking.com)
Eggs-2
Sugar- 1/2 cup
Lemon juice- 1/4 cup
Lemon zest- 1/2 tsp
Butter- 3 tsp

For the frosting
Confectionery sugar- 2 cup
Butter- 1/2 stick
Vanilla essence- 1/3 tsp
Lemon juice- a few drops
Whipping cream- 1- 2 tbs

To make the filling
Whisk together,egg,sugar,lemon juice and lemon zest. Using a double boiler method cook stirring continuously till it thickens. It will take about 7-8 minutes. Strain to remove lumps add butter and whisk till the butter melts and gets incorporated. Cover and chill till it is ready to use.

To make the frosting
Whisk sugar and butter,first in low speed and then increase the speed and beat for three minutes. Add vanilla and cream and beat for one more minute. Keep in fridge till it is ready to use.

To make the cake
Pre heat oven to 375 degree F
Whisk together, flour,pistachio pudding, baking powder and salt and set aside.
Whisk butter and sugar till pale and fluffy. Add egg one at a time and beat for three minutes till light and fluffy.
Mix in the flour mixture and the milk in little additions and gently fold in. Add half of the crushed pistachios and then transfer into prepared cake tins. Bake for 30 minutes or till a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then carefully insert the cake to a cooling rack and allow to col down completely. Cut the cake into two slices. Place one slice on the plate and gently pipe a outline with the frosting and then spread the lemon curd filling in the center. Place the second layer of the cake and spread the frosting. Garnish with the rest of the pistachios. Refrigerate for a hour before serving.

Try this
Hope you will all enjoy!

Kerala Chicken Roast

Spicy Kerala Chicken Roast is another nadan recipe and a family favorite. It is a dry version and is great accompaniment with rice, chapathi or fried rice.The chicken in this recipe is usually deep fried or shallow fried, (some times whole stuffed chicken ) and then coated with the masala. Here I have shallow fried the chicken.It tasted delicious with fried rice. Give this recipe a try...

Ingredients
1)Chicken - 1 lb
Chilly powder -1 1/2
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Powdered Garam masala-
(Two tsp of fennel powder, 5-6 cloves,2 inch stick
cinnamon, a small piece of nutmeg, 2 cardamon )
Vinegar- 1 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

For the Masala
Thinly sliced Onion- 2 medium
Thinly sliced ginger- 3-4 tsp
Thinly sliced garlic- 3-4 tsp
Chopped green chilly- 2
( I used 2 Jalapeno pepper instead of green chilly)
Coriander powder- 3/4 tsp
Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp(optional)
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Meat Masala- 1 tsp
Curry leaves
Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
oil

Dry roast the ingredients under garam masala …

Meat Ball Curry/Kofta Curry

Meat Ball Curry/Kofta Curry
Today's recipe is a delicious meat ball/ kofta curry which goes well with rice, pulao or naan. If you want to try something different for dinner try this kofta curry. This is a great dish to serve when you have friends over for dinner. Kofta curry is definitely worth a try-juicy and tender meat balls are cooked in a rich tangy mildly spiced tomato based gravy enriched with aromatic spices.

The first time I tried the kofta curry was in Delhi and it was creamy rich curry with lots of fresh cream and the meat balls were cooked over charcoal for a smoky flavor. So if you want that authentic flavor try barbecuing the meatballs before adding to the gravy. I wanted to try my own version of kofta curry and added cashew nut paste instead of cream and my family enjoyed for dinner with vegetable pulao and naan .For a richer, creamier texture you can also add cream. You can use minced mutton of beef or even try a vegetarian version of this curry with mashed pota…

Mutton Fry

Mutton Fry (updated pic)

This is a recipe for delicious Kerala style mutton fried with a blend of exotic spices and regional flavors.It is simple and quick recipe and should admit that I loved this ever since I have tasted it. This is not deep fried as the name suggest,but is first cooked and then slightly pan fried.
Ingredients
Mutton 1 1/2 lb

1) Shallots- 1 cup chopped
Ginger paste- 1 1/2 tsp
Garlic paste- 1 tsp
Pepper powder- 3/4 tsp
Garam masala- 3/4 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tsp
salt to taste

2) Onion finely chopped- 1/2 cup
Thinly sliced ginger- 1 tsp
Green chilly-1
Curry leaves- a few
Crushed dry red chilly- 1 tsp
Crushed fennel seeds- 3/4 tsp

Clean mutton and marinate it with all the ingredients listed under one (1) and keep aside for half an hour.Pressure cook the mutton with half cup of water in medium flame till four whistles and if there is excess gravy after you open the lid of the pressure cooker,continue cooking till all the water evaporates…

Kerala Spicy Mixture

Kerala Spicy Mixture
Mixture is a crispy and crunchy snack popular in India. It is a snack mix or a blend of crispy fries, nuts,chips,fried lentils and tossed with a spice powder.This is a common snack eaten anytime and at all times. You can find this in every bakery you visit, so back in India, there was no need to make it at home. This always comes handy when you have guests at home or just as a tea time snack.My Mom always stock up on mixture and there is one more reason,it is her favorite snack to this day. Because of her I also became a great fan of spicy mixture.I had never thought that one day I'll make this at home. My mom will be so proud of me when she will see this post :). I am not going to say this is easy to make,but it is definitely worth the effort. Make sure to store in air tight containers,mixture can be made and stored for a long time.
There are lot of variations for this humble snack- Bombay mix, Madras mixture, chivada,chuda- different regions have their o…

Vazhuthananga/Brinjal Mezhukkupuratti

Vazhuthananga/Brinjal Mezhukkupuratti
Quick and easy side dish for rice. Mezhukkupuratti is a spicy stir fry with vegetables,onions and spices. It is a common side dish served with rice in Kerala. You can make mezhukkupuratti with any vegetable like plantain, yard beans, yam or any other of your choice. This vegetable dish is also served in Onam/ Vishu Sadhya.Here I have used eggplant/ Brinjal.
Ingredients Eggplant- 2 (I used the Chinese long eggplant)
Pearl onions- 10-12
Garlic-1 pod
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Chilly powder-1/2- 3/4 tsp ( adjust accordance to spice preference)
Pepper powder-a pinch
Curry leaves- 2 springs
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Coconut oil and salt to taste

Cut egg plant into one inch thick slice or into thin long slices.
Crush shallots, two curry leaves and garlic using a kitchen chopper or mortar and pestle.
Heat 2 tbs of coconut oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it splutters add curry leaves and the the crushed shallots and saute till the raw smell disapp…

Chemeen Masala Varattiyathu/ Pan roasted Prawns

Chemeen Varattiyathu is a popular sea food delicacy of Kerala. It is not fried prawns but gravy with is almost semi-dry. It is a great side dish for rice. It has the enticing flavors of garam masala and coconut oil and curry leaves. It is spicy, peppery and a bit tangy due to the use of Kukum or kudampuli. You can instead add tomatoes or lemon juice. You can also add coconut pieces in the recipes and it gives a crunchy bites along with the prawns.

Ingredients
Prawns- 1 lb
Shallots chopped- 1 cup
Ginger and garlic paste- 2 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Garam masala- 3/4 tsp
fenugreek powder- 1/3 tsp
Kukum- 2-3 pieces
Fennel powder- 1/2 tsp (optional)
curry leaves
Coconut pieces( Optional)
Coconut oil

Clean and marinate prawns with salt, turmeric, pepper and fennel powder and keep it aside for fifteen minutes.
In a pan heat oil and saute shallots till lightly golden brown. Add in ginger garlic paste, curry leaves and saute for …

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Nadan Mutton Curry

April 18, 2011

Nadan Mutton curry
If you wish for some spicy non vegetarian recipes here is one to relish on...nadan mutton curry made with authentic Kerala spices. What makes this dish flavorful and inviting is the flavor of fresh ground masala, coconut oil and the fresh taste of curry leaves.In this recipe I have also added mint. I love adding fried mint in my home made mutton curry just like my mom( but it is optional). It is spicy and delicious and is a great combo with rice, ghee rice or appam

Ingredients

Mutton - 1 kg
Shallots sliced- 2 cups
Onion- 2 medium
Coconut slices- a few
Green chilly-5-6
Ginger and garlic minced- 4-5 tsp
Chilly powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 3 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala- 1 1/3 tsp
Fennel powder- 1/2 tsp
pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
clove - 2
cinnamon stick- 1 small
Curry leaves- 1 spring
Mint leaves-a few
oil
salt to taste

Cut mutton pieces into small cubes and marinate with pepper powder,salt, turmeric powder, fennel powder and a few curry leaves and set aside for …

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