Kitchen Corner-Try It

Tawa Pulao Tawa pulao is a very famous street food delicacy in Northern India. It is spicy and aromatic and the unique flavor for this rice comes from the pav bhaji masala.Just like any street foods of Bombay this pulao will surely tickle your taste buds.Even though they call it pulao it is an Indianised version of fried rice cooked with Indian spices.It is instant recipe and can be put together if you have left over rice.Add some crunchy vegetables and masala and your dish is done.. Ingredients Basmathi rice cooked- 2 1/2 cup Onion- 1 medium Ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp Tomato small -1 Green peas- 1/2 cup Carrot and bell pepper diced- 1/2 cup turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Cumin seeds- 1/3 tsp Chilly powder-1/2 tsp Pav Bhaji Masala- 2 tsp lemon juice- 1 tsp Coriander leaves - a little Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and roast for a minute. Add onions and saute till its color changes. Add ginger garlic paste followed by tomatoes and sautes till t

Liver Varattiyathu Liver recipes is very popular in Kerala. I have already posted a chicken liver fry . This is a different preparation and is spicy and delicious with very less gravy.It is spicy and peppery. You can increase or decrease pepper according to taste and spice tolerance. It is a very quick recipe. All you do is pre-cook the liver with spices and finally roast it with little oil and curry leaves . Try this you will surely love it... Ingredients 1)Chicken/Mutton Liver- 1 lb Shallots sliced-  1 1/2 cup Ginger sliced- 2 inch peice Garlic- 2-3 pods Green chilly- 3-4 Turmeric  powder- 1/3 tsp cumin- a pinch (optional) Pepper powder- 1 1/3 tsp Coriander powder- 1/2 tsp Fennel powder- 1 tsp Clove powder- a pinch (you can also add just 3/4 tsp of garam masala instead of fennel and clove powder) 2)Curry leaves- two springs Sliced ginger- 1/2 tsp Coconut oil- 3 tsp salt to taste Cut liver into desired cubes. Rub with sal

Parippu curry or dal is one of the common curries severed with any main course meal in India. This is a real comfort food tangy and tasty made with toor dal and tomatoes and its flavor enhanced by a tempering or thadka. I usually serve this with chapatis but it also goes well with rice. This is quick version. I have cooked tomatoes and dal together and then finished off with a tempering. You can cook the dal first and saute tomatoes and onion and add to the dal along with a thadka. Try this recipe,you will surely love it. Ingredients Toor Dal- 3/4 cup Tomatoes- 3 medium Shallots- 4-5 Ginger- 1 inch thick Green chilly-4 Turmeric powder-1/3 tsp Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Salt to taste For the tempering Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Fennel seeds- 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds- a pinch Garlic- 1 pod Dry red chilly-2 Curry leaves- a few Ghee/ oil- 1 tsp Wash and soak toor dal for about 3 hours. Pressure cook this along with tomatoes, shallots, green chilly,ginger, turmeric powder and chi

Spicy Masala Eggplant fry  This is a delicious stir fried eggplant made with a flavorful spice blend and goes well with rice.Its quick and simple recipe. I got the recipe for the spice blend from here . I used the same recipe,but added shredded dry coconut too to make the spice powder. Ingredients Eggplant- 1 medium Turmeric- 1/4 tsp Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp Hing- a pinch Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Curry leaves- a few oil salt to taste For the spice blend Channa dal- 2 tsp Sesame seeds- 1 tsp Shredded coconut- 2 tsp Red chilly- 3 Cut eggplant into cubes and marinate with turmeric powder and chilly powder. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when they splutter add hing and curry leaves followed by the egg plant and stir fry. Reduce flame and close lid for a minute. Cook till half done and add salt. Continue to stir fry. Mean while dry roast the ingredients in the spice blend. First add channa dal and chilly and roast till it changes color.Now a

Chicken Biryani  Biryani is my favorite one pot meal. Biryani is so popular that there is hardly an occasion or a celebration without it. This chicken biryani is a Southern Kerala style ( Trivandrum) and is very flavorful and more spicy. I got this recipe from my mom and  is simple and easy version. Ingredients 1)For the rice Basmathi rice- 3 cups Cinnamon- 2 -3 pieces Cloves- 4 Cardamon-2 Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp Ghee- 2 tsp Rose essence- 1 1/2 tsp Salt to taste 2)For the chicken masala Chicken - 1 1/2 lb Shallots-2 cup Ginger- 2 inch thick piece Garlic- 10 Green chilly- 7-8 Tomato- 1 medium Yogurt- 1 cup Chilly powder- 1 1/2 tsp Coriander powder- 1 tsp Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp Thin coconut milk- 1/4 cup Lemon juice- 1 tsp Coriander leaves -a little 3)Masala powder( to roast and grind) Cinnamon- 1 piece, Cardamon-2, clove- 2-3 nutmeg- a small piece,star aniseed- 1cumin- a pinch,black cumin- a pinch Fennel seeds- 1

 Coconut Cake Snow-white coconut cake decorated with sweetened coconut flakes tastes like a dessert heaven. If you are obsessed with coconut just like me, here is an entire cake with your favorite flavor.Born and brought up in Kerala,the southern coastal paradise of India, coconut is an integral part of our diet. So how can I say no to such a wonderful cake. This soft and delightful cake is delicious with the rich and creamy taste of coconut. Coconut and coconut milk is the key ingredient in both the cake as well as frosting.If this wasn't good enough,here is another way you can make it even more amazing. Sprinkle sweetened coconut all over the frosting so you get to bite delightful coconut in every scoop. I made this cake for my hubby's birthday and it was an instant hit.Every member in my family is addicted to coconut,big time! The recipe inspiration is from here .I made a smaller cake with two layers and used a different filling and frosting. I have used coconu

Vegetable Kurma This is a recipe for a simple mixed vegetable kurma,Kerala style.It is mildly spiced dish but tastes exotic and is a perfect side dish with appam/idiyappam or chapatis/poori.You can add more vegetables according to your choice. Give this recipe a try... Ingredients Mixed Vegetables Potato- 2 small Carrot- 2 small Green peas- 1/2 cup Cauliflower chopped- 1 cup (you can add vegetables according to your choice) For the gravy Onion- 1 large Ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp Green Chilly - 5-6 Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Coriander powder- 11/2 tsp Garam masala- 1/3 tsp Pepper powder- 1/3 tsp Whole garam masala- cardamon-1, clove- 2 Cinnamon- 1 stick, star aniseed-1 Cashews- 4-5 Thick coconut milk- 1/2 cup coriander leaves- a little To grind Coconut grated- 1/2 cup Cashew nuts- 15 Fennel seeds- 1/2 tsp Cut potatoes and carrots into small cubes and separate cauliflower florets into small pieces. Soak cashew nuts and fennel seeds i

Tandoori Fish This is a delicious,tangy and mildly spiced fish baked in the oven.You can use any fleshy fish fillet.I used tilapia because it is a delicate fish.Tuna and cat fish also works well for this recipe.This is the best recipe for those who do not like much  of fishy flavor. Tandoori marinade seems to reduce fishy odor but at the same time makes it soft, moist and tasty. Ingredients Golden promfet -1 Kashmiri chili powder- 3/4 tsp Paprika- 3/4 tsp  Ginger- garlic paste- 1 tsp Gram flour- 2 tbs  Garam Masala- 1/2 tsp Yogurt (hung)- 3 tbs Kasoori methi powder-a  pinch Lemon juice- a few drops Oil 3 tsp To prepare the marinade heat 2 tsp of oil and add gram flour and roast it in a slow flame for about a minute till you get a nice flavor. Be very careful as it has a tendency to burn. The best way is to bring the pan to heat and then off heat and then again to heat and whisking continuously.Allow this to cool a bit.  Mix all ingredients listed i