Kitchen Corner-Try It

Vellarikka Manga Curry/Cucumber Mango Curry Today's recipe is a common curry for lunch in Kerala and reminds you of its regional flavor and taste. Moru curry or yogurt curry with cucumber or ash gourd is a favorite curry that is served over rice. Coconut based curries and lentil curries are also served with rice. This is a simple combo of cucumber and green mangoes.  This is a coconut based curry. Try this,it is yummy with rice, fish fry and thoran. Ingredients Green Mango- 1 Cucumber- 1 medium sized Tomato-2 small Shallots- 5-6 Ginger- 1 tsp chopped Garlic- 1 clove(optional) Fenugreek powder- a pinch Cumin seeds- 1/3 tsp Green chilly- 4 Coconut-1 cup Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds- 1/3 tsp Dry red chilly -2 Curry leaves- 1 spring  Peel off skin and discard seeds of cucumber and  mango and chop into cubes. Add one cup of water , green chilly, garlic,turmeric powder, chilly powder and salt. Cover and  c...

Padavalanga Chemmeen Varutharacha Curry/ Snake Gourd Prawns Curry Padavalanga/ snake gourd is a very common vegetable in Kerala. Padavalanga was always grown in our backyard at home and mom always made different kinds of recipes with snake gourd. It is a healthy vegetable and is used in recipes like aviyal, sambar,theeyal etc. I already posted a parippu recipe and a thoran with snake gourd. Combination of prawns and snake gourd is also super yummy. Try this,you will surely love it. Ingredients Prawns- 250 grams Padavalanga/snake gourd- 1 medium Green chilly-1 Tomato-1 medium Ginger chopped- 1 tsp Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp Salt to taste To roast and grind Coconut-1 cup  Pearl onions-5-6 Fenugreek seeds - a few Chilly powder-  1 1/2 tsp Coriander powder- 2 tsp mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Pearl onion sliced-1 curry leaves oil   Clean prawns and set aside. Thinly slice shallots and ginger. Gently scrap the snake gourd.Cut lengthwise and r...

Chena Thenga Aracha Curry/Yam Coconut Curry Chena/Yam curry is a healthy and yummy curry that can be served over rice.It is a coconut based mildly spiced and tangy curry.   You can also add dried prawns and convert this dish into  non-vegetarian. Serve this with steamed rice, vegetable stir fry and fish fry to make a complete Kerala style lunch. Ingredients Chena/Yam- 250 grams Green chilly-4-5 Chilly powder-1/2 tsp Tomato- 1  Tamarind pulp- small ball Chopped ginger- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Salt to taste To make the paste Shredded Coconut- 1 cup pearl onion- 4-5 (or a small piece of onion) Garlic -2 cloves Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp For tempering Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Coconut shredded- 2 tbs Dry red chilly-2 Curry leaves- a few Cut yam into cubes.Cook this along with tamarind pulp,green chilly, turmeric,chilly powder,chopped ginger,salt and half cup of water.. When the yam is almost done add cubed tom...

Vazhuthananga Thairu Curry/Eggplant Yogurt Curry Today's recipe is a quick side dish for rice made with eggplant and tempered yogurt.  Give this recipe a try ,you will surely love it. Ingredients Eggplant - 1 medium sized ( or 6-7 small ones) Yogurt- 1 1/2cup Onion- 1/2 Green chilly-3 Curry leaves- 1 spring Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Fenugreek powder- 1/4 tsp Cumin powder- 1/4 tsp Hing/asafoetida- a pinch Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Oil- 2 tbs salt to taste Cut egg plants into cubes and mix turmeric, chilly powder and salt. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it splutter add onions, green chilly, curry leaves and saute for a minute. Not add the eggplant and saute for two minutes in high heat. Cover and cook in low flame and till eggplants gets slightly roasted. Switch off the flame and allow it to cool down a bit. Mix yogurt with fenugreek powder, hing,cumin powder and salt. Pour this over the roasted eggplant and ge...

 Kanava/Koonthal Fry Squid  or Kanava fry is a yummy side dish for rice.This is a quick and easy squid stir fry and it is spicy too. Squid is part of the menu in every seafood special restaurant and I always enjoy the crispy fried squid rings. But I also love squid roast and roasted coconut and squid curry. Squid is enjoyed in the coastal belt of south India especially in Kerala and Tamilnadu.In Kerala squid is known as koonthal or Kanava.This regions  is blessed with abandon variety of seafood and is a paradise for seafood lovers.Seafood curried or fried with rice, vegetable curries are quintessential for our lunch.  Squid has a mild flavor and can goes well with any flavor. Some are intimidated when it comes to cooking squid.The first time I made it turned chewy and rubbery. But soon I realized my mistake.Squid must be cooked fast over high heat,not more than four to five minutes. This recipe is   pan fried, but if you like it crispy try deep...

Thakkali Pachadi Today's recipe is a simple and lightly tangy pachadi made with tomatoes. It is a comforting side dish with tomatoes and cumin-spiced yogurt. Does it sound simple? And yes it is a simple curry. If you are on a time crunch, this is a perfect recipe for you. Tomato is the star ingredient. There are so many recipes that use tomatoes, but with all the different flavors and masalas it is hard to appreciate the taste of tomatoes. But in this tomato yogurt pachadi you get the sweet and tart flavor of tomatoes. Yes! an intense tomato flavor! Thakkali pachadi is a bright and creamy curry and a great side dish for steamed rice and chapati. I sometimes make tomato fry for chapathi and appam. But in this pachadi you add a spiced yogurt coconut paste. There is a beautiful balance between the sweetness and acidity of tomatoes, sweet nutty taste of coconut and the sourness of spiced yogurt. Cumin, curry leaves and coconut oil adds to the flavor. In some regions of Ke...

Mambazha Kalan Kalan is an important dish in the Kerala sadhya menu. It is a flavorful yogurt and coconut based curry.I have already posted the traditional sadhya style kalan. This one is flavorful sweet and sour version with ripe mangoes or mambazham. Kurukku Kalan/katti kalan with vegetables is a specialty in Central Kerala. It has a thick consistency and is served as side dish. It is also popular in South Kerala where it is a thinner gravy and is served over rice. Ingredients Ripe Mangoes -2 Pepper powder- 1 tsp Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Ghee- 1/2 tsp Salt to taste Yogurt- 1/2 liter Fenugreek powder- 1/3 tsp To make a paste Coconut- 1  1/2 cup Cumin- 1/2 tsp Green chilly- 3 Curry leaves-2-3 For the tempering Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds- 1/3 tsp Dry red chilly- 2 Curry leaves  a few Oil- 2 tsp   Cut mangoes into small pieces.Mix pepper powder with little water and strain it with a thin cloth. In a pot add this water alo...

Egg Curry/Nadan Mutta Curry  A classical Kerala breakfast of appam/idiyappam and mutta curry/egg curry is irresistible and filling too. I love this egg curry,it is simple and a perfect accompaniment with rice and chapathi too. The creamy gravy of this curry comes from a generous use of thick coconut milk. This curry can be made mildly spicy,if you do not like a spicy dish for breakfast. Ingredients Eggs- 5 hard boiled Onions thinly sliced-3 medium Tomatoes-2 Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp Curry leaves - a few Thick coconut milk- 1 cup Thin coconut milk- 1 1/2 cup Fennel powder- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Chilly powder- 3/4 to 1 tsp Pepper powder- 1/8 tsp Coriander powder- 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon stick - 2 peices Clove- 3 Boil egg for three minutes and set aside. Heat oil in a pan and add cinnamon sticks and clove and saute till fragrant. Add curry leaves and ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw flavor disappears. Add onions and fry till golden brow...

Ethapazham Erisseri  Wishing all my friends and readers a very happy and prosperous Onam! Erisseri is an important dish in Kerala Sadhya . Since it is Onam I thought of sharing this recipe. Erisseri is  mildly spicy curry with one or a combination of  vegetables and lentils. It is  seasoned with roasted coconut, fried curry leaves which adds to its unique flavor and taste to the curry.  This one is made with ripe and slightly sweet plantain. I brought a batch to make banana chips but the skin turned yellow. So I had to abandon the idea of making chips and made this erisseri instead. It has a slight sweetness like the pumpkin erisseri  is a flavorful and quick dish. Try this for Sadhya ,you will surely love it. Ingredients Plantains/Ethakka- 3 medium Black eye beans- 3/4 cup (or you can use red beans/vanpayar) Shredded Coconut- 3/4 cup+ 1/2 cup Turmeric- a pinch Chilly powder- 3/4 tsp Jeera/cumin -1/3 tsp Curry leaves Coconut ...

Muringakka/ Drumstick Curry Today's recipe is a charu curry and is served over rice. This is a vegetarian favorite a simple and flavorful curry. The curry base is ground coconut and the flavor is from drumstick,curry leaves and fennel. You can also add prawns or small fish like anchovies and smelt and convert this dish into  non-vegetarian. Try this simple dish,you will surely love it. Ingredients Drumsticks- 15-20 pieces Onion- small finely chopped Ginger- 1 inch thick Coconut grated - 1 cup Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp Chilly powder- 3/4 tsp Coriander powder- 1  tsp Fennel seeds- 1/2 tsp Curry leaves- a few Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds- 1/3 tsp Dry red chilly-2 Salt to taste Make a fine paste of coconut and fennel seeds and keep aside. Scrap the skin of drumstick or very  gently peel it off and cut into 2 1/2 to 3 inch pieces. Heat oil in a pan and add chopped ginger and onion and saute till it changes color to golden brown. Add...

Green Peas Egg Curry Egg and peas taste delicious, and this simple, breezy curry is my best go-to curry for breakfast. In Kerala, egg curries are always made for breakfast and relished with soft spongy appam, idiyappam, chapathi, or bread. Every home has its easy egg curry, and it goes with almost anything. The recipe I am sharing today is mildly spicy curry flavored with coconut milk. It adds flavor and creaminess to the gravy. Kerala-style egg peas curry is made with dried green peas/ Pattani. The fresh tender green peas (garden peas/ English peas) are sweet and mild, but they are seasonal. The dried green peas are matured green peas pods with complex flavors. It is protein-rich, with a sweet nutty taste. Eggs are also protein-rich. So here you have a perfectly healthy breakfast that keeps you satisfied till lunchtime. I often do meal preps for the week to help reduce cooking time, on busy mornings. Peeled hard-boiled eggs are super easy food you can prep each week. They a...