BBQ Pulled Jackfruit

INGREDIENTS

• 3-20 oz. cans jackfruit in water or brine
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• ½ onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1½ tsp. liquid smoke
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• ½ cup vegan BBQ sauce (your favorite store bought or homemade kind)
• Buns for pulled pork sandwiches or corn tortillas for gluten-free pulled jackfruit tacos

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat the over to 400 degrees.
• Drain and rinse the jackfruit, remove the core and cut each piece in half. As you do this, remove the seeds. 
• BBQ Pulled Jackfruit 
• Saute the onion in olive oil over medium heat for about 7 minutes or until translucent, then add the garlic and saute a minute or so longer.
• Add the jackfruit, sugar, spices, and liquid smoke. Stir until the jackfruit is evenly covered.
• Add the vegetable broth, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes until all liquid is absorbed.
• Use a spatula to mash and divide the jackfruit until it looks similar in appearance to pulled pork.
• Spread the jackfruit out on a baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes. 
• Remove from oven and cover with bbq sauce.
• Return the jackfruit to the oven and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until the jackfruit is lightly browned. 

Serve and enjoy!

NOTES

*Use only jackfruit in water or brine, NOT in syrup.

*The seeds of the canned jackfruit are soft and won't hurt anything if you leave them in, but they throw the texture off a bit.

*For gluten-free, the pulled jackfruit is delicious on corn tortillas with sliced avocado.

(peta.org)

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Tomato Biryani

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice - 2 cups
• Oil - 3 tblspn
• Cinnamon / Pattai - 2 inch stick
• Cardamom / Yelakai - 4
• Fennel Seeds / Sombu / Saunf - 2 tsp
• Onion - 1 large sliced thinly
• Green Chilli - 2 pricked with a knife
• Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tblspn
• Tomatoes - 4 large Chopped finely
• Kashmiri Chilli Powder- 1 tblspn ( optional, used for colour )
• Normal Spicy Chilly powder - 2 tsp
• Turmeric Powder / Manjal Podi - 1 tsp
• Garam Masala Powder - 1 tblspn
• Salt to taste
• Sugar - 2 tsp
• Coriander Leaves - 1/4 cup finely chopped
• Mint Leaves - 1/4 cup finely chopped
• Thick Coconut Milk - 1 cup (same cup you used for measuring rice)
• Water - 2 cup / 500 ml (same cup you used for measuring rice)

Method:

Wash and soak basmati rice for 30 mins. Drain and set aside.

Heat oil in a kadai. Add in cinnamon, fennel and cardamom. Let them sizzle for a min.

Now add in onions and green chillies. Saute them till golden brown.

Add in ginger garlic paste and saute for a min.

Add in all the spice powders, salt and sugar. Give them a 30 seconds stir.

Now add in the chopped tomatoes and mix them all with the yummy masala.

Let them cook for 5 mins till the tomatoes turn mushy.

Add in coriander and mint leaves and give a quick stir. The masala is done.

Now take your rice cooker bowl. Add this masala in it, along with drained rice, coconut milk and water. Mix well. Taste the water to check the seasoning.

Now put the bowl in your electric rice cooker and switch on it. Cook till done.

Once done, fluff it up and serve with raita.

STOVE TOP METHOD:

Once your tomato masala is made, add the drained rice and give a quick stir. Now add in coconut milk, water and bring everything to a good boil. Now simmer the flame and cook covered till the rice has absorbed all the water. It will take around 15 to 20 mins. Now turn the stove off and let it sit covered for 5 mins. Open the lid and fluff the rice. You are done..

(yummytummyaarthi.com)

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Rasam

Ingredients

• Water that was used to boil the dal for the sambar 1 ½ litres
• Tamarind extract 15 ml
• Water 15 ml
• Turmeric powder 1 tsp
• Chilli powder 1 ½ tsp
• Asafoetida 5 g
• Jaggery a little
• Cumin seeds ½ tsp
• Fenugreek seeds ¼ tsp
• Tomatoes (chopped) 50 g
• Curry leaves a few
• Salt to taste 
• Sambar masala paste (refer sambar recipe, Vinayaka Cateres) 2 tbsp
• Coriander leaves (chopped) 25 g
• Coconut oil 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds ½ tsp
• Dry red chillies 4
• Curry leaves 2 sprigs

Preparation

Add water to the tamarind and then add the turmeric powder, chilli powder, asafoetida, jaggery, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, chopped tomatoes, curry leaves and salt.
Boil it well till the liquid content reduces and it thickens.
To this, add the dal water kept aside earlier when preparing the sambar, and also add the chopped tomatoes.
Add the sambar masala paste and when it bubbles well, add the chopped coriander leaves.
Heat coconut oil, add the mustard seeds, dry red chillies, and curry leaves.
Fry well, add it to the pan contents and mix well.
If required, roast a little pepper, coriander, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Powder it well and add one small spoon of it into the rasam for extra flavor.

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Jack fruit Dosa

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups raw rice
• ¾ cups jaggery
• 12 pieces jack fruit
• 1 tbsp powdered cardamom
• 4 cups water
• Ghee, as required to make dosas
• Salt as required
• A pinch of dried ginger powder

Preparation

Wash and soak the rice in water for 2 hrs

Wash well again and drain the water 

Add salt and jack fruit pieces

Grind to a smooth paste and keep aside

Place jaggery in ¼ cup of water in a pan and stir over low heat until the jaggery melts

Remove from heat, strain and allow to cool

Mix this with the batter. Add cardamom powder and dried ginger powder

Stir the dosa batter well

Grease a non stick dosa pan and once it's hot, make the dosas

(by Saraswathy Viswanathan)

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Aloo Poha

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Poha (Beaten Rice)
• 1 Potatoes
• 1 Onions
• 2 Green Chillies
• 1 tsp Chana dal
• 1 tsp Urad dal
• 1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
• 1 sprig Curry leaves
• 2 tsp Peanuts
• 4 tblsp Oil
• 1 pinch Turmeric powder
• 1 Lemon
• Few Corainder leaves
• Salt to taste

How to make aloo poha:

Soak the poha in water. Wash and drain all the water.
Add some salt , turmeric powder , keep aside.
Peel and cut the potatoes into small cubes, chop the onions, chillies, corainder leaves.
Heat oil and put chana dal, urad dal, mustard seeds, peanuts, curry leaves and fry until they crackle.
Add potatoes , saute for few minutes, then add chopped onions, chillies.
Cook till they are done. Add the poha, corainder leaves and stir.
Keep it on slow flame for 5- 7 minutes.
Let it cool for sometime and add then lemon juice.

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Smiley Fries

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 3-4

Ingredients:

• 2 potatoes
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup flour
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 egg
• 1 48-oz bottle vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Peel the potatoes.
2. Cut them into cubes.
3. Put the potatoes in a pot and fill 3/4 with water. Boil for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
4. Mash the potato cubes with the cornstarch, flour, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.
5. Add an egg and mix together. The dough will be very moist, but you can add more flour or breadcrumbs to dry it out.
6. Put a sheet of parchment or plastic wrap on the counter and liberally sprinkle it with flour. Put the dough on the parchment, sprinkle it with more flour, and place another sheet of parchment or plastic wrap on top.
7. Roll the dough between the parchment to about 1/4 inch thick. Carefully peel off the parchment on top.
8. Cut out circles of dough.
9. Use a straw to make the eyes and a spoon to make the mouth.
10. Fry the circles in a pan filled with 2 inches of oil at 350°F for about 15-17 minutes or until crispy. Flip them once in the middle.
11. Place them on paper towels to drain.

(by Arden Sarner via: Spoon University)

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Vegetable Biryani

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2 tbsp Vegetable Biryani Masala Mix 
• 1½ cup Basmati Rice
• 2 Onions (thinly sliced)
• ¼ Cauliflower (cut into florets)
• ½ Capsicum 
• 1 Carrot (cut-up)
• 2 Tomato (chopped)
• 1 Potato (de-skinned & cut up)
• A few Peas
• ½ cup Curd 
• A few Beans
• A few Coriander leaves
• A few Mint leaves
• 2 Green Chilli 
• 1 Cinnamon 
• 2 Cardamom
• A few Cloves
• 1 to 2 tbsp Ghee 
• Salt to taste
• 2 glass Water

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• PREPARATION TIME: 1 hour

METHOD:

1. Soak the basmasti rice for ½ hr in water
2. Pour(in a pressure cooker ) 2 tbsp ghee, add some cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
3. Add the onions and green chilies. Sauté the onions to a light brown color.
4. Add the tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, beans & cauliflower.
5. Now add 2 tbsp of Vegetable Biryani Masala Mix, mix it well.
6. Then Add capsicum, peas, coriander leaves, mint leaves and salt.
7. Finally add curd/yogurt. Pressure cook the vegetables for 5 minutes.
8. Its time to add Basmati rice with the cooked vegetables and close the lid. Pressure cook it for another 5 -7 minutes.
9. Delicious Vegetable Briyani is ready to serve with raitha.

(via:VentunoHomeCooking)

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Kulcha (Punjabi Flatbread)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of all purpose flour (plain flour or maida)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 tablespoon yogurt (curd or dahi)
• Approx. 1/4 cup milk use as needed

Also need

• 1/4 cup of all purpose flour for rolling
• 1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalaunji)
• 1 tablespoon cilantro chopped (hara dhania)
• 1 tablespoon clarified butter, ghee

 Method

In a bowl mix all the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar, and sieve the flour to make sure even mixing.
Add oil and yogurt to the flour and mix it well, add milk as needed to make soft dough. Dough should be soft but not sticking to hand. Knead the dough to make smooth and pliable.
Cover the dough and let it sit for about 2 hours.
Knead the dough for few seconds and divide into four equal parts, roll them into patties. Take one patty press it in dry flour from both sides and roll in about 6” circle, if dough  start sticking to the rolling pin or rolling surface dust little more dry flour.
Heat the skillet (iron skillet works the best) on medium heat. Skillet should be moderately hot. Wipe the skillet with few drops of oil.
Place the kulcha over skillet. Sprinkle few drops of water. Sprinkle few nigella seeds and little cilantro over the kulcha while kulcha is still wet, and press it with the spatula.
When the kulcha start to change color and start bubbling flip it over. There will be some golden brown spots. Wait about a minute and flip it over again.
Kulcha should have golden brown spots from both sides. Kulcha should not be cooked on high heat otherwise it will not cook through.
Kulcha is ready, butter the kulcha before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Traditionally kulchas are served with punjabi chole or serve with any rich gravy based side dish like palak paneer or dal makhani.

(via: Manjulas kitchen)

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Bread Potato Rolls

Ingredients:

• 4 bread slices, (bread should be firm)
• 2 medium size potatoes boiled peeled and mashed (this will make about 1-1/4 cup mashed potatoe)
• 1/4 cup green peas, boiled
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon mango powder (amchoor)
• 1 tablespoon Cilantro (hara dhania), finely chopped
• 1 green chili (hari mirch) minced; adjust to taste
• 1 teaspoon ginger (adrak),finely chopped
• Oil to fry

Method

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the cumin seed. When the cumin seed starts to crack, add green peas, green chili, and ginger, and stir for a few seconds.
Add the potatoes and all the spices (chili powder, mango powder, salt, cilantro) and stir-fry for a minute. Turn off the heat.
Taste the mixture; it should be a little spicier than you like, as it will taste milder inside the bread. Set aside
Trim the edges of the bread slices and cut them into two pieces. Set aside.
Roll 1½ tablespoons of the mixture at a time into an oval shape. Make twelve rolls. (The size of the potato rolls will depend on the size of the bread).
Fill a small bowl with water to wet the bread. Dip one side of a slice of the bread lightly in the water. Place the slice between your palms and press, squeezing out the excess water. This makes the bread
moist.
Place the filling in the center of this bread and mold the bread to completely cover it all around, giving an oval shape. Repeat to make all the rolls. Before frying, let them sit for about five minutes. (This
will evaporate some of the water from the bread so that it absorbs less oil while frying; also making the bread rolls crisper).
Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium high heat. Drop the rolls slowly into it, taking care not to overlap them.
Fry the bread rolls until they are golden brown, turning occasionally. This should take about two to three minutes. Take them out over a paper towel.
Serve them hot with hari cilantro chutney and tamarind sweet and sour chutney.

(Manjulas Kitchen)

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Vegetable Biriyani

Ingredients:

• Basmathi Rice – 1 kg
• Ghee – 5 tsp
• Cashew nut / dried grapes
• Half boiled Green peas / carrot and beans – 2 cup
• Salt – To taste
• Biriyani Masala – 3 tsp
• Cinnamon – 3 (cut into small pcs)
• Cardamom – 4 nos.
• Pepper – 8 nos.
• Ginger & Garlic paste – 1 tsp

Preparation

Steam the rice. In a pan heat the ghee and add the Cashew nut and Dried grapes into it and roast for some time. Then add the half boiled vegetables into it and roast for some time. (The mix is readily available in the market) Once the mix get roasted add cinnamon, pepper, cardamom and ginger/garlic paste and masala powder and roast for one minute.

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Mango Peera

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw mango, sliced into long pieces
• 1 cup grated coconut
• 4 green chillies, slit
• 1 onion sliced fine
• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp mustard
• 2 sprigs curry leaves
• 2 dry chillies
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Splutter mustard seeds in oil
Add dry red chillies and curry leaves
Add onion and green chillies and saute
Add coconut and mangoes and continue cooking for five minutes on low heat
Mix well and take off the flame

by Mrs K. M. Mathew

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Erissery

Ingredients

• Yam 25 g
• Raw banana 1
• Pepper powder 1 tbsp
• Water 1 ½ cup
• Turmeric powder 1 tbsp
• Salt€“ to taste
• Coconut (grated) from one half of a coconut
• Cumin seeds 1 tsp
• Coconut oil 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds ¼ tsp
• Coconut (grated) from one half of a coconut
• Ghee 1 tbsp
• Cumin seeds ½ tsp

Preparation

Chop the yam into small pieces and place it in water.
Slice the skin from the banana and draw four equal slits lengthwise. Now slice each piece diagonally into smaller pieces and place it in water.
Dissolve the pepper powder in water and stir it well. When the powder settles, drain out the liquid.
Once again, add water and strain it through a muslin cloth.
Add the yam, turmeric powder and salt to this water and boil it well.
When the yam is three fourths cooked, add the chopped banana pieces and continue to cook till it is done.
Mix the grated coconut and the cumin seeds and grind well. Add this paste to the cooked vegetables and keep it all to boil.
When it boils well, remove from the flame.
Heat coconut oil in a frying pan, and add the mustard seeds. When it splutters, add grated coconut from one half of a coconut, mashed well by hand without adding water.
Keep stirring well all the time.
When the coconut is well fried, add the ghee and mix well. Next remove a small amount of coconut from the centre and make a small hole.
To this add the cumin seeds. When it splutters, remove from the flame and add the contents to the cooked yam mixture.
Mix well and serve.
Take care to keep the flame at the minimum or lowest possible, when frying the coconut, to prevent it from burning.

(by M. Anantharaman)

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Puliyinji (Tamarind and Ginger Chutney)

Ingredients

• Tamarind – 50 g
• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• Chilli powder – 1 tbsp
• Asafoetida – 20 g
• Jaggery – 75 g
• Curry leaves – as needed
• Coconut oil – 3 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Dry red chillies (chopped) – 3
• Curry leaves – a few
• Ginger (Peel the skin and chop very finely) – 75 g
• Green chillies (chopped) – 10 g
• Fenugreek seeds – 1 tsp

Preparation

Soak the tamarind well in two and a half litres of boiled water, squeeze, strain and keep aside.

To this squeezed tamarind, add one litre of water, turmeric powder, chilli powder, asafoetida, jaggery and curry leaves. Boil the mixture well.

When it begins to boil, add one small spoon of coconut oil.

Heat coconut oil in a small pan (similar to an uruli, but not made of iron) and add the mustard seeds.

When they splutter, add the chopped dry red chillies and curry leaves.

When it is well fried, add the finely chopped ginger and the green chillies and fry well.

Fry until the ginger is slightly more than three-fourths cooked, keep stirring it continuously on a low flame.

When the ginger is done well, remove the pan from the flame.

Take the three and a half litres of tamarind water that was prepared earlier and kept aside, place it on the flame and allow it to boil.

Keep boiling until it is reduced to a little more than one and a half litres.

To this tamarind, add the prepared ginger and mix well.

Roast the fenugreek seeds and powder it well.

Add this to the ginger, mix well and serve.

(by M. Anantharaman)

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Pachadi

Ingredients

• Coconut (grated) – from one quarter of a coconut (for the coconut milk)
• Coconut (grated) – from one half of a coconut (for the paste)
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Green chillies – 10 g
• Pumpkin, ripe – 15 g
• Pineapple – 25 g
• Banana, ripe  1
• Tomato – 20 g
• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• Chilli powder– 1 tsp
• Salt – to taste
• Curry leaves – a small bunch
• Jaggery – 25 g
• Curd – l ¼ cup
• Raisins – 10 g

For Seasoning

• Coconut oil – 2 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Dry red chillies (whole)  1 or 2
• Curry leaves – 2 sprigs

Preparation

Add ¼ litre of water to one quarter of a coconut grated, mash it well together and then squeeze out the coconut milk.
Next, mix the grated coconut (from one half of a coconut), mustard seeds and green chillies together and grind it well into a paste.
Chop the ripe pumpkin into very small pieces, wash and keep aside.
Chop the tomatoes, pineapple and banana into small pieces.
To these pieces, add one litre of water, turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt and curry leaves and cook till done.
When it is cooked well, add the jaggery and continue to heat until it is dry.
To this, add the coconut milk that was prepared earlier, the coconut-chilli paste and curd, and allow it to boil.
When it boils, remove from the flame and add the raisins.
For seasoning, heat the coconut oil and add the mustard seeds. When they splutter, add the dry red chillies and the curry leaves. Saute for a short while and add it to the curry.

(M. Anantharaman)

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Kalan

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup raw banana, diced
• 4 green chillies, slit
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup coconut, grated
• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 cups curd, lightly beaten

For the seasoning

• 1 dsp refined vegetable oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds2 pinches of fenugreek seeds
• 3 dry red chillies 
• 2 sprigs of curry leaves

Preparation

In a vessel, cook raw banana with enough water, turmeric powder, chilli powder, green chillies and curry leaves
Grind together coconut and cumin seeds
Once the mix is cooked, add salt
Add to it the ground coconut mix
Once the banana has cooled down, add the beaten curd to it
Simmer and mix well, stirring it in one direction
Once steam emanates from the gravy, take it off the flame
Do not let the kalan boil, as it will curdle then
For the garnish, splutter mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds in oil
Add curry leaves and red chilli flakes to it
Pour the garnish over the prepared kalan

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Spinach Rice

Ingredients 

•  Spinach (palak cheera) - 1 bunch
•  Green Chillies - 3-4 nos.
•  Grated ginger - 1 teaspoon
•  Garlic cloves - 3-4 nos.
•  Basmati rice - 3-4 cups
•  Onion (savala) - 1 (chopped length wise)
•  Cashew nut - a few
•  Kismis - a few
•  Salt
•  Water
•  Garam masala - 1 teaspoon

Preparation Method

Chop the spinach finely and cook it in a vessel for a minute. Don't add water. Now keep this aside to cool.

Grind this with green chillies, ginger and garlic into a fine paste.

Now, take a pressure cooker. Heat some oil and add chopped onions into this. Once it is golden brown, add garam masala. Now add cashew and kismis and fry them until golden brown.

To this, add the spinach paste and sauté until the water content from the spinach disappears. Now add basmati rice and fry it for 2 minutes. Add water and salt and pressure cook it on a medium flame until the first whistle blows.

Please note that the water you take should be exactly one glass minus the double of the rice you used. For example, if the rice you took is 3 cups, then the water that should be used to cook it should be 3+3-1=5 glasses.

Also, when you add salt, remember that the spinach is also going to suck up some salt. So add it diligently.

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Soybean Chunks Fry / Meal maker Fry

Ingredients 

• 1Cup Soy chunks
• 2Medium sized Onionthinly sliced
• 1Tbspn Ginger Paste
• 1Tbspn Garlic Paste
• 1large sized Tomatofinely chopped
• 3-5Numbers Green Chilly
• 1Tsp Lemon juice
• 1/4Tsp turmeric powder
• 1Tbspn Kashmiri chilly powder
• 1/4 Tsp Pepper powder
• 3/4Tsp Coriander powder
• 1Tsp Garam Masala powder
• 2Tbspn Coconut oil
•    Coriander leaves
•    Curry leaves
•    Salt

Instructions

1. Soak the dried soy chunks in hot water for 30 minutes.  Drain and wash it. Squeeze out the water well. Slice into thin pieces.
2. Marinate this with ½ tsp of ginger – garlic paste, turmeric powder, chilly powder and salt. Keep it for 10-15 minutes.
3. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wide pan at medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, curry leaves, green chilly, onion and some salt. Saute it well until the onion becomes transparent. 
4. Then add tomato and let it mash. When tomatoes are mashed up, add turmeric powder, kashmiri chilly powder, pepper powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder. Sauté a while. 
5. Transfer the marinated soy chunk pieces to the pan, mix well with masala.  Pour enough amount of water and 1 tsp. of lemon juice, close the lid and cook it well.  Add some more salt if needed.
6. Cook it for 8-10 mins. in medium flame and allow the gravy to become thick. Sprinkle some coriander leaves, Saute well in between and allow it to dry.  
7. Now our tasty soyabean chunks fry is ready to serve. Serve this delicious soya chunk fry with steamed rice. Enjoy!!!!

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Mango Perukku

The perfect accompaniment to rice this summer, 

this mango curry dishes out the optimal flavor 

for the season—tangy, salty and slightly sweet.

Ingredients

• 1 big green mango
• ½ a coconut, grated
• ½ tsp jeera
• 5 green chillies
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• ½ cup curd
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 dried red chillies
• 2 sprigs of curry leaves
• ½ tsp mustard for garnish

Preparation

Remove the skin of the mango, chop it into small pieces and crush it lightly
Grind into a coarse paste the coconut, jeera, green chillies and mustard seeds with a little water

Mix the chopped and crushed mango with the curd and the ground paste
Make a garnish with the oil, mustard, curry leaves and dried chillies
Add this to the mango-curd mix and serve

by Anandavalli Thekkinkattil

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Pavakkai Pitlai (Kodum Pitlai/Pagarkkai Pitlai)

Ingredients

Bitter gourd (Pagarkkai, Pavakka) - 1 large 
Tamarind - small lemon sized ball 
Coriander seeds - 1 tsp 
Chana dal - 1 tsp 
Dry red chili - 2-3 
Black pepper - 4-5 
Salt - to taste 
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp 
Oil - 2-3 tbsp 
Grated coconut - 4-5 tbsp 
Toor dal (Split Red Lentils) - 1/2 cup 

For Tempering

Grated coconut - 1 tsp 
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp 
Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp 
Curry leaves - 1 sprig 
Asafoetida (hing) powder - 1/4 tsp 

Method

1. Wash and slice the bitter gourd (pavakka) into thin slices. 
2. Heat oil in a kadai and saute the bitter gourd pieces till it becomes crisp. Keep it aside. 
3. In the same kadai, fry the coriander seeds, chana dal, red chili, black pepper, grated coconut. Cool and grind it to a smooth paste. 
4. Boil the toor dal separately till it becomes soft and keep aside. 
5. In the kadai, add the pavakka, turmeric powder, salt and boil till the raw smell goes off. 
6. Add the ground masala, boiled tuvar dal and bring it to a boil. 
7. Temper with ingredients mentioned above. Switch off. 

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Chakkakkuru manga curry (Jackfruit seeds and mango curry)

Ingredients

2 cups jackfruit seeds, de-skinned retaining the red skin, pound lightly in a pestle and mortar

To grind 

1 cup grated coconut

1 tsp jeera

1 tsp turmeric powder

3 green chillies

To season

2 dsp oil

½ tsp mustard

1 sprig curry leaves

2-3 dried red chilli

Preparation

In a pressure cooker, cook the jackfruit seeds and mango pieces, along with water and salt for 20 minutes. Wait for 2 whistles

Once it is cooked, crush the jackfruit seeds with a ladle inside the cooker

Grind together, grated coconut, jeera, shallots and turmeric powder

Add this ground mix to the cooked jackfruit seeds curry Take off the flame

For the seasoning, heat 2 dsp coconut oil in a pan, and add mustard, red chillies and curry leaves to it

Pour it into the jackfruit seed mango curry and relish it with hot rice

(by Mrs K. M Mathew)

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