Kitchen Corner-Try It

Kaithachakka Tenga Aracha Curry Kaithachakka/pineapple tenga aracha curry is a simple curry that can be served with rice. It can also be served as a todu curry for Sadhya . Since Onam festival is next week, I wanted to share this fairly easy to make sadhya recipe.This curry is new to me. When you taste it, you will love the simplicity of this curry, plus it is easy to whip up and exotic in taste. It looks and tastes similar to pineapple pachadi , but it has dominant taste and flavor of coconut. We had this curry a few times during our recent trip to Kerala and it is curry made on special occasion. I believe it is a central Kerala style recipe. This is a mouthwatering delicacy, entirely vegan and full of flavors. It has the tangy sweetness of pineapple and flavor of coconut. I am fan of anything  made with pineapples and if you are like me please check out my other pineapple recipes. I will share the links of the recipes at the end of this post. This is a delicious pineapple c...

Pineapple Bread Pola Bread pola is a popular sweet/ snack of Malabar made with left over bread. It is an easy snack with a texture that resembles bread pudding moist and tender.The star ingredient here is caramelized pineapple.It is an egg based dessert and is slow cooked on stove top. This helps to infuse the flavor of pineapple. Try this you will surely love it. Ingredients Bread slices- 8 Eggs- 4 All purpose flour- 2 tbs Milk-3/4 cup Pineapple chopped- 1 cup Ghee- 2 tsp Cardamon powder- 1/2 tsp Sugar- 1/2 cup ( according to your sweet preference) salt- a pinch Cashew nuts- 8-10 Raisins- 2 tbs   I used an 8 inch pan for this recipe. First add the bread slices into a food processor and pulse a few times to make it course and crumbly. Set this aside. Heat ghee in a pan and fry raisins and cashew nuts. Drain and keep aside. In the same pan add the chopped pineapple and saute and fry till it changes color to golden brown for about 5-6 minutes. Add ha...

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!

Pineapple Rasam Pineapple rasam is quick and easy to make. It is tangy, sweet and flavorful. Usually at home we make the quicker version without dal. I got this recipe from vanitha magazine. Try this,you will surely love it. Ingredients Chopped pineapple- 1 cup Cooked dal (mung dal)- 1/2 cup Tomato- 1 ( or one tbs tamarind pulp) Shallot- 2  Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp Sugar- 1/2 tsp salt to taste 2)To roast and make a paste Dry green chilly- 3-4 Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds- 1/3 tsp Urad dal- 1/2 tsp Kadala parippu- 1/2 tsp Asafoetida/Kayam- a pinch 3)To temper Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds- 1/3 tsp Dry red chilly- 1 Garlic- 3 pods crushed Curry leaves- a few Chopped coriander leaves- a little Oil - 2 tsp  Cook dal/parippu till it is soft and mushy. Into the same pot add the chopped pineapple, chopped shallots,turmeric powder, sugar and salt. Add one cup of water and cook till soft. Add chopped tomatoes and cook for two to three...

Pineapple Payasam Desserts/payasam are part of every celebration and festive occasion in Kerala. There are different verities of payasams, but let me talk about some fruit payasams that are my absolute favorites. I must confess that a perfect fruit payasams we need patience, but the result is an exotic and extremely appetizing dessert.Chakka/Jack fruit, pazham/ plantain and mambazhayam/mango payasam/pradhaman are among the best of fruit payasams.  Pineapple pradhaman /payasam was new to me. I tried this for the first time at my cousins wedding. It was yellow in color and I am sure was made with sugar.It was a payasam to die for, extremely flavorful and sweet. I wanted to try a home made version of pineapple payasam and opted jaggery instead of sugar. This was part of our Vishu Sadhya ( Malayali New Year) and it was yummy. I read once that pineapple takes longer time to cook and for curries its flavor is best when it is cooked and mushy. So make sure you cook this down real...

Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice Chicken fried rice is a family favorite and a perfect Sunday meal. Add pineapple to your regular chicken or shrimp fried rice to make a more interesting. Pineapple and chicken fried rice is sweet and savory  rice busting with flavor of caramelized pineapple. You can make it vegetarian or add chicken/ shrimp/eggs. Ingredients Cooked rice- 3 cups Chicken -1/2 lb Pineapple cubes- 1 cup Celery chopped- 1/2 cup Spring onions-1/2 cup Bell pepper chopped- 1/2 cup (or vegetables of your choice) Garlic- 3 pods Turmeric powder- 1/8 tsp (or half tsp curry powder) Red chilly flakes- 1/2 tsp Pepper powder- 1/8 tsp Soya sauce- 1 tbs Oyster sauce- 1/2 tsp Fish sauce- 1/2 tsp Sugar- 1 tsp Sesame oil-2 tbs Roasted peanuts- 2 tbs Cut chicken into small pieces. Marinate for half an hour with soya sauce,chopped garlic and red chilly flakes. Roast peanuts and keep aside. Heat sesame oil in a pan and add the marinated chicken and stir fry ...

Spiced Pineapple Pickle- Kerala Pineapple Achar Pineapple pickle is a delicious pickle, fresh and bursting with tropical flavors. Pineapple pickle has a sweet and savory combination and adds a zesty kick to any meal. Do you like sweet and spicy pickles?. I love pickled, salted, and fermented vegetables and fruits . It is easy-to-make condiments and a must-have in my kitchen. My family favorites are sweet and savory pineapple chutney and spiced pineapple in salted brine. Salted pineapples are good on sandwiches, fish tacos, or roasted meat. The best part of this pickle is that you can use it just like chutney or salted pineapple. The pickle is for those who love to take the spice level a notch higher. Pineapple pickle is a tongue-tingling sweet, tangy, mildly spiced pickle. It is delicious, and the flavor and taste are irresistible. It can be paired practically with everything, but it is best with parathas and naan. This recipe is from my mother-in-law. Sweet and sour pickles a...