Kitchen Corner-Try It

Chemmeen Thoran/ Prawns Coconut Stir Fry Today's recipe is a traditional naadan recipe- a real nostalgia from the coastal regions of Kerala. Seafood thoran is a regional favorite and can be made with fish, prawns, clams, mussels, squid or crab. You'd be surprised at how simple and filling, this can be. What you add to it is totally up to you. You can also make a mixed seafood thoran. Thoran is usually a quick stir fry with vegetables, grated coconut, and spices. This dish is simple and you can make thoran with almost any vegetable, meat or seafood. I assure you that you are not in for a complicated curry, but one that is simple and easy to make. Just cook the prawns or any seafood of your choice, add spices and hand full of freshly grated coconut and stir fry. This simple and easy to make a side dish and is served with steamed rice. I have already shared the recipe for  chicken thoran  and fish thoran. Back home mom makes thoran and  peera vattichathu...

Butter Bun/ Cream Bun- Kerala Bakery Style There is always a nostalgic feeling when it comes to cozy old fashioned bakeries. They appeal to all ages and the goodies and confectioneries they offer are a die for! The cottage-style bakery near my home in India always invokes fond memories, especially those irresistible treats that adore the glass shelves. They are intriguing and capture your imagination as a child. Do you feel the same about your favorite bakery? Today's recipe is a delicious bakery snack.  It brings back fond memories of childhood favorite snacks. Over the years I have tried several sweets and desserts and oftentimes overlooked this simple snack for fancier ones. But during my trip to India last year, we stopped by at the old bakery. Freshly made butter buns behind the glass shelf's looked so tempting and it rekindled my childhood love for butter bun. I could not stop munching. Now I have one more reason to try it at home. My kiddo is now a fan of this sim...

Beef Kothu Parotta/ Kothu Roti- South Indian Street Food Today's recipe is absolutely comfort food- it is street food at its best, satisfying, and delicious. Kothu Parotta is a South Indian street food delicacy and is popular in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. A variation of kothu parotta is  Kothu Rotti  popular in Sri Lanka from where this recipe originated. It is a humble dish, but one of the most innovative street food delicacies and an exciting way to use up leftovers. The platter may not be aesthetically pleasing- here you have in front of you heaping bits of chopped flatbread soaked in spicy gravy, topped with vegetables, meat, or scrambled egg. But it is seriously addictive, aromatic, and heartwarming. You will be coming back for more! But the best experience is watching the street vendor make kothu parotta. It is hard to not notice the musical rhythm of experienced chefs while making kothu parotta. It is cooked on a hot flat griddle, using heavy spatulas that rese...

Chakka Pazham Pori- Chakka Appam/ Ripe Jack Fruit Fritters Today's recipe is a snack made with ripe jack fruit. It is a deep-fried jack fruit fritters gently laced with the flavor of cardamom. This snack is very similar to the ever-popular street food of Kerala - Pazham pori , made with ripe plantain. I make pazham pori all the time, yet this one with chakka or jack fruit is so unique in taste. It is extremely flavorful and absolutely delicious-a die for! There is a beauty in the simplicity of traditional tea-time snacks. We often refer to them as  naadan palaharam . Some recipes make you nostalgic and we keep coming back to it time and again. It brings back memories of some distant times. I don't even remember this existed until my mom reminded me of chakka pazham pori. I am so happy I tried this again and along with it came a flood of childhood memories :) This is a sure winner if you have sudden guests at home. The flavor of ripe jack fruit dipped in sweet c...

Ennai Kathikkai- Baby Eggplant/Brinjal Masala Ennai Kathikkai is a traditional South Indian curry made with baby eggplant/ aubergines/ brinjal. A quintessential dish from the Tamilian cuisine, this curry is absolute comfort homey food, best served with steamed rice. Tamil cuisine is famous for its lip-smacking kulambu/ gravies and you will be hooked to this curry. Ennai Kathirkkai means eggplant in oil. There are two reasons why it is called so, first, the baby eggplant/brinjal is sauteed or fried in oil, and secondly, the gravy of roasted masala is slow-cooked and simmered till oil separates. This may sound complicated, but it is an easy recipe. It is the slow simmering of the roasted gravy along with the fried eggplants that does all the magic! Ennai Kathikkai is a tangy and spicy gravy. It is somewhat similar to the Kerala eggplant theeyal with onions, coconut, and tamarind. It is the right balance with coconut, turmeric, chilies, earthy spices, onion paste, and tamarind- ...

Zucchini and Mushroom Chicken Today's recipe is a copycat Panda Express style zucchini and mushroom chicken. It tastes almost like your favorite take out meal. Now, my friends, I am not claiming this is the exact spot on a recipe, but it tastes delicious and is your ticket to a tasty weekend meal in a jiffy. Your family will love this every time you make. My long time favorite had been Panda express Beijing beef, but sometimes I find it too sweet. This one is my recent favorite, simple and unassuming, with a balanced taste and a subtle peppery heat. The sauce is a light ginger-flavored sauce and it tastes delicious with steamed rice- delightfully crispy and delicious chicken bites with sauteed zucchini and mushrooms. The added benefit is that it has loads of veggies too. What you add to it is totally up to you. Here it is zucchini and mushrooms. Mushrooms add a depth of flavor and zucchini is crisp and tender. It is irresistibly appetizing. You'd be surprised at how simp...