Kitchen Corner-Try It

Vegetable Makhani Vegetable Makhani or Sabji Makhanwala is a creamy and rich vegetable curry that goes well with naan or pulao. This is a home made version of popular restaurant style makhanwala. The gravy is creamy and smooth like Kurma. It is a tomato and nut based gravy enriched by cream. Try this recipe,you will surely love it. Ingredients Paneer cubed- 100 gram Potato cubed- 1 cup Carrots small-2 Green peas- 3/4 cup Capsicum- 1/2 (add any vegetable of your choice) Onion- 1 Green chilly-2 Tomato-3 Ginger- 1 inch thick piece Garlic- 3-4 pods Cashew nuts- 7-8 Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp Kashmiri chilly powder- 1 1/3 tsp Coriander powder- 1 tsp Garam masala- 1/2 tsp Kasoori methi powder- a pinch Cream- 1/2 cup Cinnamon stick- 1 Cloves- 3 Green cardamom- 3 Coriander leaves- garnish Oil and salt to taste Boil vegetables (except capsicum) with little salt, green chilly and 1/2 cup water. Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onion, cashew n...

Unni Madhuram/ Sweet Banana Balls Unni madhuram is a sweet snack made with left over bread and ripe plantains. There are several recipes for deep fried banana balls and my personal favorite is undan pori, a popular tea stall snack.I am  loving unni mathuram because of its simplicity and taste .Both these snack are crispy and sweet and made with bananas. Unni mathuram is a Malabar snack. It is extra crunchy in the outside with a sweet spongy center.It is a quick fix snack and kids will love this tea time snack. Ingredients Ripe plantains-2 Banana/cheru pazham-2 (optional) Bread sliced- 6 Cardamom powder-  1/2 tsp Sugar- 3-4 tbs Salt- a pinch Cashew nuts -5-6 Ghee- 1 tsp Oil for frying Use dry left over bread for this recipe. You can sun dry it or lightly toast it in the oven. Cut bread into bits and add to a food processor. Pulse a few times. You will get course crumbs. Reserve two to three tbs of bread crumbs and use the rest for the recipe. Ch...

Prawns/Chemmeen Manga Peera   Chemmeen Manga peera is very similar to meen pattichathu made with small fish like anchovies, sardine etc.This  is a traditional recipe of Kerala where fish or prawns is cooked along with grated coconut . The difference in this recipe is that instead of  Kudampuli or tamarind  as a souring agent, raw mango is used. Mango imparts taste and flavor to the spiced coconut  mixture along with the prawns,smells and tastes delicious. Chemmeen peera can be served as a side dish for rice. Ingredients Chemmeen/prawns- 1 lb Raw mango- 1 medium Grated coconut- 1 cup Green chilly-4 Onion- 1 small  (or shallots- 5-6) Ginger- 1 inch thick Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Fenugreek powder- a pinch Chilly powder-1/4 tsp Salt to taste For tempering Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds- a few Dry red chilly 3 Curry leaves- one spring Two tsp of coconut oil Wash and clean prawns and keep aside. Peel...

Kadala Pradhaman/Kadalaparippu Pradhaman Kadala parippu or channa dal payasam is a traditional payasam made on special occasions like Onam and Vishu . This payasam is also an integral part of Kerala wedding feast.I made this payasam for Vishu sadhya. Parippu payasam sounds simple but believe me, it looks and taste exotic with an enticing flavor. Kadala parippu is cooked in coconut milk and jaggery and flavored with cardamom,roasted cumin, dry ginger powder and ghee.If you like you can also add chowari/cooked tapioca pearls. Try this,you will surely love it Ingredients  Channa Dal/kadala parippu- 1 cup Jaggery  powdered- 1 1/3 cup Ghee- 3 tbs Thick coconut milk- 1 1/2 cup Thin coconut milk- 3 cups Cashew nuts and raisins- a few Chopped coconut slices- 2 tbs Dry ginger powder- 1/2 tsp Roasted cumin powder- a pinch (optional) Cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp First step is to cook the channa dal. You can pressure cook it till soft ( 3-4) whistles. If the is exc...

Mutton Yakhni Pulao Mutton yakhni pulao is a  quick and delicious one pot aromatic meal. The rice is cooked in mutton stock and is very flavorful and filling meal.It is milder than biryani but is unique it its own way. Mutton is cooked till tender and later the rice is cooked in the mutton stock along with spices. Try this,you will surely love it. Ingredients Basmathi rice- 2 1/2 cups Mutton  - 1 1/2 lb Onion- 1 medium Thinly sliced onion- 1 medium Green Chilly-2-3 Ginger garlic paste- 1 1/2 tsp Chilly powder- 1 tsp Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder- 1/2tsp Kewra water or rose water- 1 tsp Lemon juice- 1/2 lemon Cashew nuts or chopped almonds- 2 tbs Chopped coriander leaves for garnish salt to taste Ghee- 1tsp oil Whole spices for rice and mutton- Cinnamon - 2 small stick,Kala Jeera/black jeera- 1/2 tsp Ajwain/carom seeds- a pinch,bay leaves- 2,cloves-6-7,Star aniseed- 2 Cardamon- 2,Black cardamon- 2   First step is to cook ...

Padavalanga Parippu Thoran Padavalanga/ snake gourd is common vegetable in Kerala. Back home it was always grown in the backyard garden and mom makes many endless varieties of curries with this veggie. Here I rarely find fresh padavalanga. So when I got some fresh ones I made this padavalanga kadalaparippu thoran.Thoran is a simple and easy side dish which goes well with rice. It is  stir fry recipe of vegetables with coconut. Ingredients Padavalanga/snake gourd- 3 cups chopped Kadala parippu/split channa dal cooked - 3/4 cup Onion- medium finely chopped Coconut- 1/2 cup Green chilly-3-4 Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Cumin - 1/3 tsp Chilly powder- a pinch Garlic - 2 pods Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Curry leaves- 2 springs salt to taste Coconut oil- 2 tbs   Cook kadala or gram until it becomes soft but not mushy and keep it aside. Chop the padavalanga/snake gourd into small pieces. In a food processor lightly crush coconut, cumin, red chilly powder( o...

Pineapple Manga Perukku Pineapple and mango perukku is a quick and easy side dish for rice. It can be served in Sadhya too. This is more like a salad and does not involve any cooking.Try this,you will surely love it.  Ingredients Chopped pineapple- 3/4 cup Chopped green mango- 3/4 cup Yogurt- 1 cup Grated coconut- 1/3 cup Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds- a pinch Green chilly-2 Sliced ginger- 1/2 tsp salt to taste For tempering Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp Dry red chilly-2 Curry leaves- a few Chop pineapple and mango into small pieces. Make a fine paste or coconut, cumin and 1/4 tsp of mustard seeds. Add this to the chopped pineapple and mango and mix in the yogurt,green chilly and salt. Set this aside. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it splutter add chopped dry red chilly and curry leaves. When it changes color, take off from the flame and pour over the salad. Mix well and serve. Try this, Hope you will all enjoy!

Crispy Calamari/Squid Rings Crispy calamari rings can be served as an appetizer or as a snack. Squid/koontal deep fried and crispy is very appetizing. I usually make the Kerala style spicy roasted squid/koontal. But this one is quick recipe and kids will enjoy eating them.This is breaded calamari, you can also try tempura batter to make them. Ingredients Calamari/squid - 1/2 lb Paprika- 1/2 tsp Garlic paste- 1/2 tsp Salt and pepper to taste Lemon juice- 1/2 tsp finely chopped parsley-1/2 tsp All purpose flour- 2 tsp Egg- 2 Bread crumbs- 1 cup Oil for deep frying Mix calamari/squid with salt,pepper, lemon juice, paprika,garlic paste and chopped parsley. Mix well and set aside for at least 10 minutes. In a bowl beat egg with two tsp of water. In another bowl put the bread crumbs.  Toss calamari with the flour. Take one ring at a time, dip first in egg and then roll in bread crumbs.Layer then flat on a tray and keep in the fridge for 10-20 minutes. Heat...

Malabar Thenga Choru Malabar Tenga Choru/ coconut rice delicious and fragrant rice. It is your simple regular rice cooked in coconut milk . I used jeerakashala/ kaima rice, a tiny aromatic rice that is common in Malabar region of Kerala. It is very simple yet exotic and perfect for any occasion. If you have sudden  guests and do not have much time to make an elaborate dinner or lunch,try this quick and delicious rice. Tenga Choru can be paired with any spicy curry. Ingredients Jeerakashala/ kaima rice- 1 1/2 cups Shallots chopped- 1/2 cup Ginger chopped- 1/2 tsp Green chilly-3 Water- 1 1/2 cup Coconut milk- 2 cup (use both thin and thick coconut milk) Grated coconut- 1/2 cup Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp (optional) Fenugreek seeds- 1/3 tsp Star Aniseed- 2 Ghee- 2 tsp For garnish Thinly sliced onion- 1/2 Chopped coconut slices- 2 tsp Wash and soak rice for half an hour,drain and keep aside. Heat oil and ghee in a deep quart pan .Add star anise...

Mango Curry/Manga Thodu Curry Recipes with raw and ripe mangoes are integral part of Kerala cuisine.Manga thodu curry/mango curry is a easy side dish for rice. This is a central Kerala style thodu curry/side dish for Sadhya. I got this recipe from my mother-in law and she calls this as Kadu Manga. It is different from the regular mango pickle and does not have shelf life like pickles. The mango used for this recipe is not sour and raw,but little sweet and slightly ripened. It should be firm to touch . Coconut is added in this curry and it has a different and unique flavor. I have already posted recipes like Kadu Manga (pickle mango) and Vella Manga Curry. Ingredients Mango chopped- 1 1/2 cup Garlic- 4-5 pods Curry leaves - a few Chilly powder- 1 1/4 tsp Fenugreek powder- 1/4 tsp  Pepper powder- 1/2tsp  Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp Mustard powder- 1/2 tsp Asafoetida/kayam/hing- 1/4 tsp Salt to taste Thick coconut milk- 3/4 cup To temper Curry lea...

Chettinad Fish Fry Fish fry is my all time favorite comfort food. We make simple fish fry often, but the Chettinadu fish masala is flavorful and tasty. Started loving this spicy and tempting fish fry. I used king fish but you can use any kind of fish or prawns for this recipe. Ingredients King Fish- 4 slices Pearl onion-2-3 Chilly powder- 1 tsp Ginger - 1 small piece Garlic-3 pods Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp Pepper powder- 1/4 tsp Fennel seeds- 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds- 1/4 tsp Rice flour- 1/2 tsp (optional) salt to taste lemon juice- 1/2 oil for frying Clean fish and squeeze some lemon juice,rub on the fish and then give a final rinse. Make a paste of shallot, ginger, garlic,cumin seed and fennel seeds. Into this mix chilly powder, turmeric powder,pepper powder and salt. Sprinkle little water and make a smooth paste. Apply this on the fish let it  marinate for 2 hours in refrigerator or at least half an hour. Just before frying sprinkle lemon juice and ...

Mango Agar Agar Pudding Mango Agar Agar Pudding is an easy chilling summer dessert. Do you like mangoes? Whenever it is mango season I crave for something sweet with mangoes. I love any dessert with mangoes and this pudding was in my wish list for long. Agar agar gives this dessert a beautiful texture. The flavor of mango,  cardamom  and rose essence take this dessert to the next level.Made this easy pudding for Easter dinner. Try this you will surely love it. Ingredients Mango puree- 2 1/2 cup Agar Agar- 15 grams Condensed milk- 1/2 cup Sugar-3-4 tbs Cardamon powder- 1/2tsp Rose essence- a few drops (or you can use vanilla essence) Cut agar agar into strips and soak in one cup of water. Set aside for 10 minutes. Make a fine puree of mangoes and mix with condensed milk, sugar, cardamon powder and rose essence and set aside. In a sauce add soaked agar agar and one cup of water. Cook in low flame till the agar agar melts down completely and the consiste...