Kitchen Corner-Try It

 12 Best Traditional Kerala Snacks - Tea Time Snacks  Are you looking for some light bites to indulge during tea time? Well, you have come to the right place. Kerala cuisine has an exhaustive list of traditional tea-time snacks.  The list of ingredients is available in your pantry, making it possible to make these delicious snacks. Many of these snacks, can be quickly whipped up with rice flour, coconut, and jaggery. I am sharing a list of snack recommendations from Kerala that are easy to cook at home. These sweet and savory snacks are heartwarming and will make you nostalgic. It is by no means is a complete list. I am sharing some of the top picks of this blog in one space for easy reference. If you like to try, more recipes check my earlier post on 10 Quick and Easy Kerala Snacks/ Tea time snacks that you can make in under 20 minutes . Do you have any favorite snack that is simple and easy to make? I would love to hear about your favorite traditional snacks. Please s...

   Mutton Kola Urandai- Mutton Meat Balls Mutton Kola Urundai/ Mutton Keema Balls is a delicious snack that you cannot stop munching!  Are you are, looking for delightful crispy snacks for entertaining? Why not try this local delicacy of the Madhurai and Chettinadu region in South India. It is an old-fashioned, rustic meatball that is a very versatile recipe. It is often fried and then served in a number of different ways, as a snack with a cup of tea, an appetizer, a side dish for lunch, or added to gravy to make a delicious curry. It is a customizable meal for any day of the week, and this recipe is a keeper. Mutton balls are deep-fried, bite-sized finger food, crisp on the outside and soft and juicy inside. It is so addictive! Trust me, it will be gone before you realize it. Meatballs are comfort food in many cuisines, and there are so many variations. Mutton Kola Urandai is a regional specialty.   You can find it in the menu of restaurants, local canteens in...

  Pakkavada- Ribbon Pakoda  Pakkavada/ Ribbon pakoda, an old fashioned tea time snack is undeniably good, with everything you like in a snack- crispy and salty.  It's just what we crave when we want something to munch watching a favorite movie. This snack is addictive with the right balance of heat and flavor. It is made, with chickpeas flour and rice flour seasoned with a variety of savory spices. Pakkavada is a snack I grew up eating. Back home, my mom stocks up on these types of goodies almost whenever we have guests at home. I love making these in big batches and just keeping them handy. This recipe is easily customizable to taste. This snack tastes just like the store brought ones, and you will be surprised how easy it is to make them at home. So if you want a super simple snack, check this recipe! Pakkavada is perfect to munch with tea or when hunger pangs kick in. The mild spiciness and flaky, crisp texture make it addictive. The dough of the pakkavada is seasoned,...

Easy Masala Cashew Nuts/ Roasted Kaju with Ghee Masala flavored cashew nuts are a seriously addictive snack with the right balance of heat and flavor. It is a perfect combination of spicy, salty and with a touch of sweetness. Cashew nuts are one of my favorite nuts. It has a natural sweetness and milky flavor and they taste delicious. But here is an interesting twist, kick it up a notch higher with this masala flavored roasted cashew nuts. They make impressive gifts during holidays or festivals. Spiced kaju or cashew nuts are very popular in India. You can buy roasted or deep-fried cashew nuts from bakeries. This tastes just like the store brought ones and you will be surprised how easy it is to make them at home. It is a versatile recipe and you can use any nuts of your choice. It is so good for snacking at home or as a party treat. Cashews are rich in Vitamin E, Vitamin B and iron with heart-healthy fats and protein. The magic ingredients in this recipe are earthy spices, cu...

Bread Vada Bread vada can be made with left over bread, it is an instant vada. It is a yummy tea time snack and can be made in a jiffy.This recipe is inspired from Mrs. Vahchef YouTube Channel. It is soft and spongy in the inside and crispy outside. It is mildly spiced and flavored with pearl onions,ginger and curry leaves. Try this, you will surely love it. Ingredients Bread slices- 8 Rava/Sooji- 3 tbs Rice flour- 2 tbs Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp (optional) Asafoetida/Hing- a pinch Yogurt -1/2 cup Pearl Onions- 4-5 Ginger finely chopped- 1 inch thick Curry leaves finely chopped- 1 spring Green chilly  finely chopped- 3 salt to taste Oil- 2 cup to fry   In a food processor pulse the bread till it becomes a course mixture. Transfer this into a bowl and add the rice flour,rava, salt, chilly powder and hing(asafoetida) and mix well. Into this add the yogurt and mix. Adjust consistency by adding little water. Do not add too much water,just enough to moist t...

Sesame Brittle/Ellu Mittai Ellu Mittai/ sesame brittle is old fashioned sugar and nuts candy. Earlier I posed sesame ladoo recipe with jaggery. This brittle is made with sugar. It is easy to make at home and make crunchy,delightful and tasty snack. Crispy nuts with the rich caramel flavor is something that is irresistible and kids will surely love it. Here I have used sesame seeds,but you can use peanuts, cashew nuts or any nuts of your choice. Ingredients Sesame seeds- 1 1/2 cup Sugar- 1 1/2 cup Water- 3 tbs Oil- 2 tbs Ghee- 1 tsp Baking soda- 1/4 tsp salt- a  pinch Cardamon powder-  1/2 tsp   Dry roast sesame seeds till it starts popping up and there is a nice aroma. Allow this to cool down. Grease a baking pan with ghee and set aside. In a heavy bottom pan add sugar, water, oil and a pinch of salt. Put this on the stove on low medium flame and heat it. The sugar will start melting and slowly caramelize. There is no need to stir in the first st...

Rasa vada/Rasam vadai Rasa vada is a delicious tea time snack common in  restaurants and tea stalls. It is also served as breakfast in tiffin stalls in South India. Spicy, crispy parippu vada made with thuvar vada/ channa dal soaked in tangy and mildly spiced rasam smells and tastes yummy . Try this, you will surely love it. Ingredients To make vadas  Thuvar vada/ channa dal-1 cup Green chilly- 3 Shallot- 2 chopped Ginger- 1inch thick Hing/ asafotida- a pinch Turmeric powder- a pinch Curry leaves salt to taste Oil for frying-1 cup To make rasam  Tamarind pulp thick- 1/2 cup Shallots- 3-4 Garlic crushed- 2 pods Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Chilly powder- 3/4 tsp Cumin powder- 1/4 tsp Fenugreek powder- a pinch Sugar- 1/4 tsp salt to taste Asafoetida/Kayam- a pinch Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds- 1/3 tsp Curry leaves- a few Chopped coriander leaves- a little Oil - 2 tsp   To make rasam : Heat two tsp of oil in a pan. Add mustard...

Kappalandi Mittayi Kappalandi Mittayi/ Chikki/peanut ladoo is a is yummy crispy candy made with peanuts and jaggery. For sweetness you can also use caramelized sugar. This fresh home made peanut candy is kids favorite. Try this you will surely love it. Ingredients Peanuts - 1 1/2 cup Jaggery- 1 1/2 cup Water- 1/2 cup Salt - a pinch Ghee- 1 tbs Cardamon powder- a pinch Dry ginger powder- 1/8 tsp (optional) Dry roast peanut in medium flame for 8-10 minutes. Allow this to cool down. Rub with you palm to remove the skin and keep aside. Heat jaggery and water and allow it to melt. Strain and transfer the syrup into a heavy bottom pan. In medium heat allow it to thicken to two thread consistency. It will be sticky when you press it between your thumb and index finger and will form two or three threads. Reduce the flame and stir continuously for another 4-5 minutes till it thickens. To test the perfect syrup consistency drop a little syrup into water, when pressed toget...

Butter Biscuits/ Kerala Bakery Biscuits Happy New Year to all my friends and readers! This is my first post of 2015. I know I am a bit late to wish to all. Wishing you all a happy and rocking 2015! Today's recipe is a sweet treat from Kerala. It is one of my favorite treats,  Kerala bakery-style biscuits/cookies. Butter cookies are the best cookies ever- buttery, crumbly, melt in the mouth, and perfect for holidays. They are delicately crisp, flavorful, and sweet. Everything about this biscuit is good. It is addictive. Trust me on this. The Kerala-style butter biscuits have the flavor of cardamom powder and ghee. You will often find this in glass jars, in cozy old fashioned bakeries in Kerala. It brings back fond memories of childhood. It has a light melt in the mouth texture, similar to butter cookies like Benne biscuit or the nankattai.  You might be surprised to find out that it is super easy to make at home. Butter biscuits are sweet, flaky buttery goodness. To ge...

Potato Bonda Indian style potato croquettes or bondas needs no introduction. It is staple in South Indian hotel menu. It is a perfect tea time snack and is also served as appetizers during weddings and festive meals. I made some coconut mint chutney to pair with the bondas. Ingredients For the filling Potatoes cooked- 1 pound Urad dal- 1 tbs Channa Dal- 1 tbs Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Hing- a pinch Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Onion- 1/2 Curry leaves chopped- 1 spring Chopped chilly- 3 Ginger- 1 inch thick chopped Lemon juice- 1/2 lemon Cilantro- finely chopped- 2 tbs For the batter Chick peas flour- 1 1/4 cup Salt- 1/2 tsp Baking soda- a pinch Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Water- 1 cup Oil for frying Mash cooked potatoes. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when it pops add urad dal and channa dal and saute for 30 seconds. Add hing, turmeric powder,onions,ginger and chopped curry leaves and saute for a minute.  Add mashed potatoes,salt and mix we...

Chegodilu/Crispy Savory Snack Chegodilu is a crunchy and delectable tea time snack. It is ring shaped crispy snack made with rice flour and flavored with cumin and sesame seeds.It is popular Andhra snack. Ingredients Rice flour- 1 1/2 cup Water- 1 1/2 cup Sesame seeds- 2-3 tbs Cumin seeds- 1 tsp Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Hing- 1/3 tsp Salt to taste Oil for frying  Bring water to a boil. Heat 3 tbs of oil in a pan. Mix in rice flour,salt,sesame seeds,cumin seeds, chilly powder and hing in a bowl. Pour over the hot oil and using a fork mix well and evenly distribute the oil. It should resemble wet sand. Now pour over the boiling water and mix till the dough comes together.Close with a tight lid and allow it to cool down a  bit and then knead into a smooth dough. Cover with damp cloth and let it rest for ten minutes. Take small golf sized balls and roll it into a cylinder and then like a rope. Pinch the two ends together to form a circle and keep aside covered wi...

Mixed Vegetable Upma Are you looking for simple and easy to make Indian breakfast? Then this south Indian breakfast is perfect. Upma is simple yet so filling, flavorful and heartwarming. I grew up eating this and for me, it is absolute comfort homey food. The recipe I am sharing today is a mixed vegetable upma. It is made with semolina/ rava. It is made in every south Indian home, restaurants and tiffin centers in South India. Upma has a soft melt in mouth texture and has a balanced taste of salty and sweet with a kick of heat from green chilly. The beautiful aroma of melted ghee makes this dish irresistibly appetizing. Upma can be made simply with tempering and toasted nuts. Today's recipe is mixed vegetable upma. It is full of vegetables and tastes good when served warm. What you add to it is totally up to you. Peas, carrots, cauliflower, green beans seem to go well with upma. I sometimes add a very little amount of chopped pineapple, sweet plantains or dry raisin...