Kitchen Corner-Try It

Happy Vishu to all my friends and Readers! How is the Vishu Sadhya planning coming along for everyone? For all my Malayalee friends who are planning to celebrate this joyous festival, I am sharing a guide to preparing an easy  and tasty Sadhya. Vishu celebrations are real nostalgia, the fully blossomed Kani Konna trees (Cassia fistula), Vishu Kani, new clothes, and Sadhya. Vishu Kani is beautifully arranged the night before, and the sight you see on the morning of the New year brings luck throughout the year. Vishu celebration is not complete without the traditional vegetarian feast- Sadhya. It is served on a banana leaf, and there is a colorful array of vegetarian curries, rice, and desserts. Vishu Kanji, vishu katta or ada is served for breakfast. Sometimes non-vegetarian food is also part of the feast in some regions. In Southern Kerala, Vishu Sadhya is not so elaborate as the Onam sadhya. It is cooked with simple ingredients and seasonal vegetables. Mango, golden cucumber, ja...

Pavakka Kichadi Today's recipe is kichadi which is a yogurt-based side dish served with rice. Kichadi is also an integral part of Onam and Vishu Sadhya. I have posted other versions of kichadi with beetroot and okra. Kichadi with pavakka/bitter gourd is tasty and easy to make.  Bitter gourd is a staple vegetable in Indian cuisine. Bitter gourd or bitter melon as the name suggests is bitter. But there are some dishes with bitter gourd that you should give a shot before you write off this bitter vegetable completely. And the best part of pavakka kichadi is that does not taste bitter. Thinly sliced bitter gourd is deep-fried in good flavorful coconut oil, till crispy and then mixed into spiced yogurt. The spiced sour yogurt and the bitter pavakka mix in and combine to construct a flavor profile that makes your taste buds happy! I have always loved this vegetable and I should thank my mom and her endless list of recipes with bitter gourd. She makes pavakka theeyal, puli...

Chena Varuthathu/Yam Fry Yam fry/chips is deep fried crispy and yummy snack. It is quick and easy and can also be served as a side dish with rice like crispy potato fry.In some regions of Kerala it is served along with banana chips for sadhya. Give this spicy fry/chips a try,you will surely love it. Ingredients Yam thinly sliced- 2 cup Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Salt to taste Curry leaves - a few Dry red chilly- 3-4 coconut oil- 1/2 cup Cut yam into thin slices. Mix it with turmeric powder, salt and a few drops of coconut oil. Keep aside for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a pan and add curry leaves and the yam. Fry in medium heat for 3-4 minutes till it is crispy. Drain into paper towels. Serve with ric. Try this Hope you will all enjoy!

Inji Thayir Inji Thayir is a healthy side dish that can be served with rice or as a dipping sauce. It is spiced yogurt flavored with ginger. This can be serve with sadhya meal.Sadhya requires elaborate cooking and sometimes quick fix recipes like these are real time savers.  Try this, you will surely love it. Ingredients Ginger-1 inch thick Yogurt- 11/2 cup Green chilly- 2 Grated coconut- 1 tbs curry  leaves- 2-3 Salt to taste Using mortar and pastel make a course mixture of coconut, ginger, green chilly and curry leaves. Mix this with yogurt and salt and serve. You can also do a tempering with 1 tsp oil, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Pour this over the inji thayir. Note: the one with tempering is served in different regions along with sadhya and is called also inji kichadi Try this Hop you will all enjoy!