Nadan Beef - Potato Curry

Nadan Beef - Potato Curry 

Ingredients:-

Beef - 1 kg ( I used stew meat)

Bowl 1 :-To marinate Beef

Red chilli powder - 1 to 1.5 tea spoon

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tea spoon

Garam Masala(Homemade) - 1 tea spoon

Lightly crush - 3 cloves of garlic , a small piece of ginger and 1/2 to 1 tea spoon black pepper ,in a mortar and pestle.

Salt to taste

Vinegar - 1 to 1.5 tea spoon

To saute :-( Increase or decrease the spices and powders as per your tolerance)

Oil - 2 -3 table spoons

Fennel seeds - a large pinch

1 cinnamon stick , 3-4 cloves , 1 bay leaf , 2-3 cardamom and a handful of curry leaves

Onion finely chopped - 2 medium or shallots chopped 1 cup

Garlic chopped - 4-5 cloves

Ginger chopped - 2 cm piece

Green chili chopped - 1or 2

Coconut cuts ( thenga kothu) - 1/2 cup

Tomato chopped - 1 small

Red chili powder -  1 tablespoon

Coriander powder - 1.5 to 2 tablespoon or as per your taste level.

Garam masala( Homemade) - 1/2 to 1 tea spoon

Potato - 2 medium peeled and diced

Water - 2-3 cups

Black pepper - 1/2 tea spoon , lightly crushed

(An update :- A friend of mine made this  and made a suggestion to increase the qty of chili and coriander powder . he added 2 tablespoons of red chili powder( marinated with 1 tablespoon and added while sauteeing one tablespoon) and 3 tablespoons of coriander powder in total . so if you are that spice loving person, use these measurements. Thanks Sarah for the tip :) )

Method:-

Clean and cut the beef into 1 inch pieces. Rinse well , till the water runs clear .

Marinate the beef cubes with all the ingredients in Bowl 1 and keep aside for at least 30 minutes. If keeping for more time , refrigerate it.

1) Heat oil in an  cooking pot that can be used in oven also ( for baking) or any heavy cooking pot or     claypot ( for stove top method) or pressure cooker ( a le creuset cast iron enameled pan or martha stewarts' works best for making in oven and stove top)

2 ) Add fennel seeds , whole spices and curry leaves, fry for a minute or two.

3 ) Add chopped onion and saute for 5-7 minutes , add ginger and garlic and saute till brown.

4 ) Slide in coconut cuts and fry for a couple of minutes and add chopped tomato and saute for 2 minutes.

5 ) Add chilli , coriander and garam masala powder ,and the marinated beef ,cubed potato, combine everything well and saute for 3-5 minutes.

6) Add 2 to 3 cups of water( depends on your cooking pot) , bring to boil and let it stand on medium flame for 10 minutes.

Stove top method :- Let it cook covered for 1 hour in a low-medium flame , giving one or two occasional stir.Uncover it check water and add more if needed and add 1/2 tea spoon crushed black pepper.

Cook it again for another 30-45 minutes in low flame, checking in between for salt and water. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 15 minutes before serving!

Pressure cooker method:- Add only a cup of water or less and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles or more depending on your cooker. Uncover it , add pepper , salt and water if needed and cook on low flame for another 20-30 minutes .

Oven method:- Preheat oven to 350 degree F , while you start cooking.

Increase the temperature to 375 degree F .After boiling for 10 minutes in Step 6 , transfer the oven proof cooking pot to the oven and cook covered for 1 hour ..( Don't forget to cover it with the lid).After 1 hour take it out , give a salt check , add 1/2 tea spoon crushed black pepper , add 1 more cup of water if needed and return to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes or until its is soft . Remove from oven and let stand for another 15 minutes before serving.

Notes:- 

• Know the strength of your gas flame , before making this and adjust the cooking time thus!
• Using heavy bottomed cooking vessel is very important for slow cooking , else the water will be  absorbed fast.
• Check for water in between to avoid curry sticking to the bottom!
• I made in a cast iron cooking pot or Dutch oven which can be used both in oven and stove top!
• Add spices as per your taste and the recipe calls for medium spicy beef curry.
• Those who cant handle the heat , substitute chilli powder with kashmiri chilli powder or paprika

(Source: Sarah Naveen)

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Kaduku Manga Achar / Kerala Mango Pickle

Ingredients:-

Raw Mango / Green Mango - 1/2 kg ( or 1 large mango )
Salt - 1/4 tea spoon
Gingelly oil / nalenna / sesame oil - 2 table spoon + 2 table spoon
Mustard seeds - 1 tea spoon
Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tea spoon
Garlic sliced - 6-7 cloves or 1 whole pod( i add a lot , since i love the bite of it )
Ginger julienned - a thumb sized piece( adjust ginger n garlic as per your choice)
Green chili chopped - 2
Curry leaves - a handful
Turmeric powder - 1/8 teas poon
Red chilli powder -1.5 to 2 table spoon ( I add more than 2 table spoon , add as per your heat level)
Kaayam /hing - a large pinch
Vinegar 2 tea spoon ( optional)
Salt to taste

Directions :-

Clean and cut the mango into small pieces with the skin.

Add salt and combine well. Keep it a jar overnight or for a day or two.( This step is optional , but i do it all the time ) ...When you are ready to make the pickle -

Heat 2 table spoon of gingelly oil ( i use idayam nalenna) in a pan and add mustard seeds. When they pop up add fenugreek seeds ( or you can use 1/8 th tea spoon powdered fenugreek at the end) and curry leaves.

Add sliced garlic, ginger and green chiles and saute till the raw smell disappears.
Make a paste with red chili powder by adding some water and add to the pan , or you can add directly as powder.

Then add turmeric powder and combine well. Add 1/4 cup hot water and bring to boil. Simmer till it is thick.

Switch off the flame and add Hing/ kaayam and if you are using fenugreek powder add now.

Add the mango pieces when it is still hot and mix well. You can add vinegar if you are using .

Leave it in the pan for couple of hours and then transfer to a glass jar with tight lid.

Heat 2 table spoon of gingelly oil and add to the pickle. ( i love it be oily ). You can keep it outside for a couple of days and refrigerate it to last long.

Notes:-

As i have already said , this is a family recipe , and it may not be the way you make it .
I add a lot of ginger and garlic in pickles , just because we love it and its really good for your health. I love my pickle to be spicy , and add spices as per your taste level .

(Source: Sarah Naveen)

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Kerala Beef Pickle - Irachi Achar ( Dry version)

Kerala Style Beef Pickle

Ingredients:-

Bowl 1
Beef - 1/2 kg ( I prefer stew meat )
Meat Masala - 1/2 tea spoon
Turmeric - a generous pinch
Ginger - Garlic paste - 1/2 to 1 tea spoon
Vinegar - 1/2 tea spoon
Salt to taste

To fry meat

Oil - 2 tablespoon

To make masala

Gingelly oil / Sesame oil - 2-3 tablespoon
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tea spoon
Fenugreek seeds - a large pinch
Curry leaves - lots
Garlic chopped - 10 cloves
Ginger sliced - a thumb sized piece ( adjust ginger and garlic as per ur likes)
Green chili chopped - 3-4
Kashmiri Red chili powder - 1.5 tablespoon( if using hot chili powder 1 or 2 tea spoons would be enough)
Vinegar - 1 -2 tablespoons ( add more if you like more, I prefer 2 tablespoons of the normal white distilled one or red wine vinegar)
Whole Black peppercorns - 1 tea spoon
Garam masala - a pinch
Salt to taste

Method :-

Clean and cut the beef into bite sized pieces. Marinate with all in Bowl 1 and keep aside for 20-30 minutes. Pressure cook in a medium flame with 2 tablespoons of water , for 2-3 whistles or until done.

Drain in a colander and reserve the stock( 1/2 cup maximum)

Heat 2 tablespoons of any cooking oil in a non-stick pan and fry the beef pieces till brown.

Meanwhile , heat 2-3 tablespoons of gingelly oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When they pop up add fenugreek seeds , fry for 10 seconds , followed by curry leaves, garlic, ginger and green chilies. Fry till the raw smell is gone. I love them to be a bit crunchy.

Make a paste with 1 tablespoon of reserved stock , vinegar and red chili powder and add to the pan and fry till the oil separates. Add the remaining stock , bring to boil and add the fried beef pieces along with any oil in the pan . Crush the whole black peppercorns in a mortar and pestle and add to the pan , along with a pinch of garam masala. Simmer for a couple of minutes , stirring often , till it is thick or dry as you like it . Let cool , transfer to clean glass jars and keep in cool dark place or in the fridge.

Notes:-

For more shelf life add more vinegar ( i say not more than 1/4 cup ), & 2 more tbsp of sesame oil.

I don't add coriander powder or shallots to any of the pickles ; it tastes different the next day.

In hot and humid area , better keep this dry version in fridge.

To make gravy , increase the vinegar and stock qty .

Instead pf pressure cooking and frying the meat, you can bake it @ 375 degree for an hour or more and proceed with the process

(Source: Sarah, Vazhayila)

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Lentil + Banana Blossom Stir fry - ചുണ്ടും പരിപ്പും തോരന്‍

Chundum Parippum Thoran - Lentil + Banana Blossom Stir fry

Recipe for nadan vazhachundu - thovara parippu thoran

Serves - 4

Total cooking time - 30 minutes

Ingredients:-

Vazha Chundu / Banana Blossoms - 1 medium

Oil - 1 tea spoon

Yellow Lentils - 1/2 cup

Oil - 1 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tea spoon

Curry leaves

Shallots chopped - 4

Green chili chopped - 4-5

Garlic chopped - 2 cloves (optional)

Ginger chopped - a small piece (optional)
Turmeric - a pinch

Salt to taste

Bowl - 1

Grated coconut - 1 cup

a pinch of cumin 

a pinch of turmeric

Directions :-
Clean, rinse and soak yellow lentils for at least 2 hours , drain and cook with a pinch of salt and just enough water and keep aside. Clean and remove the outer layers of the banana flower until you get the heart . I smear a lil oil on my hand, knife and the flower and remove the thread kind of thing as I mince it . Put it in a bowl of water and wash well.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds , when it splutters add curry leaves , chopped shallots , green chili , ginger and garlic and saute till the raw smell disappears. Add a pinch of turmeric the minced blossoms , salt to taste and saute for a minute.Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water , keep everything to the center of the pan and cook covered for 3-5 minutes in a medium flame.

Crush all in Bowl - 1 lightly in a food processor or mixie and add to the pan along with the cooked lentils. Combine everything well , simmer for 4-5 minutes , stirring often until it is done and dry.

(Source: Sarah, Vazhayila)

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Kuttanadan Meen curry - Country style Red Hot Fish curry

Ammachi's special Kuttanadan Meen curry( Nadan Meen vevichathu ) 

Serves - 4-6

Total cooking time :- 30 minutes

Ingredients:-

Fish - 3/4 - 1 kg

Tamarind(Kudampuli) - 4 medium pieces

Salt to taste

Coconut oil - 2 tablespoon

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Fenugreek seeds - a large pinch

Bowl 1

Curry leaves - 7-8

Shallots - 10 nos chopped

Garlic chopped - 6-7 cloves

Ginger chopped - an inch piece

Green chilly - 2-3 slit slightly

Bowl 2

(Kashmiri) Red chilly powder - 1 - 2 table spoon( if u r using hot chili powder , use as per ur tolerance level , I sometimes add up to 3 tablespoons of Kashmiri red chilli powder)

Coriander powder - 1/2 to 1 tea spoon( optional, I prefer not to add this if you are keeping this for more than a day )

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Method :-

Clean and cut the fish into medium size pieces.

Soak Kudampuli in a cup of warm water  and keep it aside

In medium heat , heat oil in a wide mouthed pan or manchatti( clay pot) and add mustard seeds.When the mustard seeds start to splutter add fenugreek seeds , fry for 10 seconds .

Add all ingredients in Bowl 1 and saute till the raw smell disappears.

Make a paste with all ingredients in Bowl 2 adding 3-4 tablespoons of water; add to the pan and fry on a low heat till the oil separates. ( grandma says when u cough you know its done )

Add the soaked Kudampuli and water and if you want add 1/2 more cup water .Bring it to boil Add the Fish pieces and cook on a medium heat till the fish is cooked( around 20 minutes) and the gravy is thick . Remove from heat

Let it stand covered for 30 minutes for all the flavors to blend in , before you serve

(Source: Sarah, Vazhayila)

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Nadan Kappa + Beef Curry( Kappayum Erachiyum)

Nadan Kappa + Beef Curry (Kappayum Erachiyum) 

Recipe for Nadan Kappa Vevichathu

Serves - 2-3

Total cooking time - 30 minutes

Ingredients:-

Kappa/Tapioca - 1 kg

Salt to taste

Bowl 1

Grated coconut - 1/2 cup

Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

Shallots - 1

Garlic - 1 clove

Green chiles  - 4

Cumin seeds - a large pinch

Curry leaves - 3

Salt to taste

Method :-
Clean and cut the kappa into small pieces. Cook it with and salt, for 20 minutes or until it is well cooked. Drain and set aside.

Grind all in bowl 1 to a coarse paste . Combine the coconut mix with kappa using the back of a wooden spoon and mix well.Drizzle a spoon of coconut oil too.

Recipe for Simple Kerala Beef curry

For the marinade 

Beef - 1 kg 

Chili powder - 1 tea spoon

Meat masala - 1 tea spoon

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tea spoon

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tea spoon

Salt to taste

Vinegar or lemon juice - 1 tea spoon

For the Gravy

Onions chopped - 2

Curry leaves - lots

Lightly crushed 3 cardamom , 3 cloves and 1 star anise

Tomato chopped - 1(optional)

Coconut cuts - 1/4 cup

Chili powder - 1  tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Garam masala - 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Bowl 1

Green chili - 3

Ginger - a small piece

Garlic - 4-5 cloves

Black Pepper corns - 1 tea spoon

Fennel seeds - 1/4 tea spoon

Method:-

Combine all the ingredients for the marinade and rub it with the beef and set aside for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Pressure cook the marinated beef for 3-4 whistles , by adding a couple of tablespoons of water.

Heat oil in a pan and add crushed spices and curry leaves,add the coconut cuts and fry it 4-5 minutes. 

Stir in the chopped onions and saute for 5-6 minutes, or until soft.

Crush all in Bowl 1 in the small jar of mixie or coffee grinder and add to the pan , saute till the raw smell disappears. Add tomatoes and saute for couple of minutes. Add chili powder,coriander powder , fry for a minute , followed by the cooked beef and liquid if any, garam masala and salt to taste.( add 1/2 to 1 cup of hot water or coconut milk , if you need more gravy )Simmer for 10-15 minutes, remove from heat and serve warm.

(Source: Sarah, Vazhayila)

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Nadan Kappa Biriyani

Nadan Kappa Biryani 

Ingredients:-

Kappa/Tapioca - 1 kg

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Small onion - 2

Chopped green chiles - 2

For the Meat curry

Meat ( Beef , Pork ,lamb or chicken)- 1/2 kg

Chopped onion - 2

Chopped tomato - 1(optional)

Coriander powder - 2 tsp

Chili powder - 1 1/2 tsp

Crushed ginger and garlic - 2 tsp

Crushed star anise , black peppercorns and Cardamom - 1 tsp

Garam masala - 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

For Garnishing

Curry leaves

Red chiles

Raisins- 2 tsp

Chopped onion - 1 small

Mustard seeds

Method 

Wash , clean and cut kappa into small pieces. Cook it in a heavy bottomed vessel by adding turmeric powder, salt and enough water to cover it .When it is done drain and add crushed small onions and green chiles.mix it well using a heavy spoon.

To make the meat mixture :- Marinate the meat pieces with chili, coriander, all crushed masalas and ginger and garlic and salt. Pressure cook it for 3-4 whistles by adding no water or if you want add 1/2 cup water.( depends on the meat you are using, if it is chicken 1-2 whistle is good, but beef , pork or lamb needs more time to cook).

Heat oil in a pan and chopped onions. saute for 8-10 minutes and add chopped tomato and fry it for another3 minutes. Add the cooked meat , along with the liquid if you have any and mix it well.Add garam masala..let it stand on a medium flame for another 10-12 minutes for the gravy to run dry or thick.Add this meat mixture to the prepared kappa and combine it well, so that the meat mixture gets mixed well with the Kappa.

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. when they pop up add curry leaves, red chiles, raisins and chopped onions.fry till golden and pour over the Kappa Biriyani. and Serve warm

Cheers!!!!

(Source: Sarah, Vazhayila))

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