Sambharam / Spiced Buttermilk

Sambharam / Majjige / Mor / Spiced Buttermilk

Buttermilk/Sambaram is a traditional drink of kerala, its a very good solution for midday's thirst, and very simple to make. Buttermilk is known for its hydrating and refreshing properties. In Kerala, traditional Nair families used to give mildly spiced buttermilk or Sambharam to their guests. Even Christian families are known to have pacha moru (spiced salted buttermilk) or kachiya moru (buttermilk tempered with chillies and curry leaves) with their lunch. Buttermilk is known as Majjige in Telugu, Majjige Huli in Kannada, simply Mor in Tamil and Sambharam in Malayalam.

Ingredients:

Thick curd - 1/4 glass
Green chilies (medium size finely chopped) - 1 no 
Ginger - 1/4 tbsp (grated)
Curry leaves - 1 stem
Cold water - 3/4 glass
Salt - to taste (normally 2 pinches) 

Method:

1). Beat the curd for 2 mints with a spoon. 
2). Add all the ingredients to it except water and stir well. 
3). Add the cold water and stir well.

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Manga Chammanthi / Mango Chutney

Manga Chammanthi / Mango Chutney

Ingredients:

Green mango pieces - 1 cup (peeled, sliced)
Green chillies - 5 nos
Small onion - 2 nos
Ginger - 1/2 inch
Coconut - 1 cup (shredded)
Salt - to taste

Method:

Grind all the ingredients together in a mixie jar. If the mangoes are not sour enough add 1 tsp of lemon juice while grinding or you can add some vinegar either.No need to season it. Serve with rice, thoran and curd/yogurt.

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Kerala Special FISH CURRY

Kerala Special FISH CURRY

Ingredients

1. Fish – 1/2 kg, cleaned and cut into steak pieces(I used pompano (vatta))
2. Onion – 1 medium-small, chopped
Ginger – 1 inch, thinly sliced Garlic – 2 – 3 large clovesGreen chilies – 3 – 4, slit
Curry leaves – 1 sprig
3. Tomato - 2 small or 1 large
4. Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder – 1.5 tsp
Coriander powder – 2 – 3 tsp
Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek powder – 1/2 tsp
5. Gamboge (kudam puli) – 1, soaked in enough water for 10 minutes ( Optional, use it if the tomatoes are not very sour)
6. Thick coconut milk – 1/4 cup ( I used 2 tbsp canned coconut milk)
7. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
8. Oil – 1.5 tbsp
9. Salt – To taste

Method

Heat oil in a claypot / meen chatti at meidum heat. Splutter mustard seeds. Add chopped onion, ginger, garlic, green chilies and curry leaves. Saute until onion turns lightly brown and then add chopped tomato. Saute for a few minutes and add the spice powders numbered 4. Saute well until the raw smell of the spice powders is gone. Add 1.5 cups of water, enough salt, kudampuli, if using and bring to a boil. Cook for about 20 minutes at medium heat until the fish pieces are done and the gravy is medium-thick. If you prefer a thick gravy, cook uncovered for a few more minutes. Add 1/4 cup thick coconut milk. Switch off when it starts to boil. Add 2 tsp coconut oil and a few curry leaves. Cover with a lid for 15 minutes

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Chicken Walnut Roast

Chicken Walnut Roast

Ingredients

• Walnuts, blanched ,peeled and powdered 1/2 cup
• Boneless chicken,1/2 inch pieces 400 grams
• Ginger paste 1 tablespoon
• Garlic paste 1 tablespoon
• Salt to taste
• Cumin powder 1 teaspoon
• Yogurt 1/4 cup
• Oil 1 tablespoon
• Onion ,grated 1 medium
• Tomato,pureed 1 large
• Green chillies,chopped 4
• Coriander powder 1 teaspoon
• Fresh cream 2 tablespoons
• Garam masala powder 1/4 teaspoon

Method

Place chicken in a bowl. Add ginger paste, garlic paste, salt, half teaspoon cumin powder and yogurt and mix well. Marinate the chicken for half an hour. Heat oil in a pan, add onion and saute till lightly browned. Add tomato puree, mix well and continue to saute till oil separates. Add green chilies and continue to cook for two minutes. Add coriander powder, remaining cumin powder, mix well and cook for one more minute. Add the marinated chicken, mix well, cover and cook till done. Add walnuts, simmer for two to three minutes. Add fresh cream and garam masala powder and mix well and simmer for two more minutes. Serve hot.

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Pineapple Pickle

Pineapple Pickle (പൈനാപ്പിള്‍ അച്ചാര്‍ )

Ingredients

Pineapple chopped- 2 cups
Garlic- 6-8 clovesGreen Chilly- 3-4(optional)
Curry leaves a few
Mustard- 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder- 2 tsp
(adjust according to your taste)
Fenugreek powder- 1/2 tsp
Asofetida-1/3 tsp
Salt as needed
Sugar- 3 tsp
Vinegar- 2 tsp

Method

Cut pineapple into small pieces. Mix with sugar and salt and keep aside for 10 to 15 minutes.

Strain out the liquid into a separate bowl. Bring this to a boil and add vinegar. Allow this to cool.

In a pan heat oil ( 3-4 tbs) and add mustard seeds. When they splutter add sliced garlic curry leaves and green chilly and saute till the raw flavor disappears. Reduce the flame and add the dry powders and mix. Add the pineapple and pineapple vinegar liquid. Mix well and allow to cool and transfer into air tight jar.

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Ada Pradhaman

Ada Pradhaman

Ingredients  Quantity Ada 50g  Jaggery 150g  Coconut milk 250ml  Sultanas 25g Cashew nuts 25g  Ghee 50ml  Cardamom powder 05g  Coconut 10g Method of preparation: 1. Parboil the ada and drain the water thoroughly. 2. Make syrup with jaggery, water and strain     through a muslin cloth. 3. Add the ada to the syrup and cook it well. 4. Add the coconut milk, cardamom powder and just     heat but do not boil. 5. Finish with fried sultanas, cashew nuts and coconut.  Courtesy: The Muthoot Plaza, Thiruvananthapuram

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മഷ്‌റൂം ബിരിയാണി

മഷ്‌റൂം ബിരിയാണി

ചേരുവകള്‍ 

കൂണ്‍-അരക്കിലോ
ബിരിയാണി അരി-രണ്ടു കപ്പ്
സവാള-5
ഇഞ്ചി, വെളുത്തുള്ളി പേസ്റ്റ്-ഒന്നര ടേബിള്‍ സ്പൂണ്‍
മഞ്ഞള്‍പ്പൊടി-അര ടീസ്പൂണ്‍
മുളകുപൊടി-1 ടീസ്പൂണ്‍
പെരുജീരകപ്പൊടി-1 ടീ സ്പൂണ്‍
ഗരം മസാല-1 ടീ സ്പൂണ്‍
മല്ലിയില
ഉപ്പ്
നെയ്യ്
ഉണക്കമുന്തിരി
കശുവണ്ടിപ്പരിപ്പ്

പാകം ചെയ്യുന്ന വിധം 

അരി കഴുകി പാകത്തിന് വെള്ളം ചേര്‍ത്ത് ബിരിയാണിപ്പരുവത്തില്‍ വേവിച്ചെടുക്കുക.
കൂണ്‍ കഴുകി വൃത്തിയാക്കി നീളത്തില്‍ അരിയണം. വെള്ളം മുഴുവന്‍ ഊറ്റിക്കളയണം. ഇതില്‍ ഉപ്പ്, കുരുമുളകുപൊടി, മഞ്ഞള്‍പ്പൊടി, പെരുംജീരകപ്പൊടി, ഗരം മസാലപ്പൊടി എന്നിവ ചേര്‍ത്ത് വേവിച്ചെടുക്കണം. വേവ് അധികമാകാന്‍ പാടില്ല.

ഒരു ചീനച്ചട്ടി അടുപ്പില്‍ വച്ച് ചൂടാക്കണം. ഇതിലേക്ക് നെയ്യൊഴിയ്ക്കുക. ഇതിലേക്ക് സവാളയിട്ട് വഴറ്റണം. ഇഞ്ചി, വെളുത്തുള്ളി പേസ്റ്റും ചേര്‍ക്കുക. ഇത് നന്നായി വഴറ്റി വേവിച്ചു വച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന കൂണ്‍ ചേര്‍ത്ത് നല്ലപോലെ ഇളക്കി യോജിപ്പിക്കണം.

വേവിച്ചു വച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ചോറില്‍ കൂണ്‍മസാല ചേര്‍ത്ത് നല്ലപോലെ ഇളക്കി യോജിപ്പിക്കണം.
കശുവണ്ടിപ്പരിപ്പ്, ഉണക്കമുന്തിരി എന്നിവ നെയ്യില്‍ വറുത്തതും മല്ലിയിലയും ചേര്‍ത്ത് അലങ്കരിക്കാം.

കൂണ്‍ ബിരിയാണി സാലഡ്, അച്ചാര്‍ എന്നിവയ്‌ക്കൊപ്പം കഴിയ്ക്കാം.

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മീന്‍മുട്ട ഉലര്‍ത്തിയത്

മീന്‍മുട്ട ഉലര്‍ത്തിയത് 

കുട്ടികള്‍ക്കും മുതിര്‍ന്നവര്‍ക്കും ഒരു പോലെ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്ന ഒരു തനിനാടന്‍ വിഭവമാണ് മീന്‍മുട്ട ഉലര്‍ത്തിയത്. ശരിയായ രീതിയില്‍ മീന്‍ മുട്ട ഉലര്‍ത്തിയാല്‍ തീന്‍മേശയില്‍ അവനൊരു താരമായിരിക്കും. ഒപ്പം നിങ്ങളും.

തയ്യാറാക്കുന്ന വിധം : ചീനച്ചട്ടിയില്‍ ഒരു ടേബിള്‍ സ്പൂണ്‍ എണ്ണ ചൂടാക്കി അര കപ്പ് ഉള്ളി അരിഞ്ഞതും ചേര്‍ത്ത് ചെറുതീയില്‍ മൊരിക്കുക. കാല്‍ ടീസ്പൂണ്‍ ചതച്ച ഇഞ്ചി,  നുറുക്കിയ ആറ് കറിവേപ്പില , ചെറുതായി ചതച്ച രണ്ട് പച്ചമുളക് എന്നിവ ചേര്‍ത്ത് ഏതാനും നിമിഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കൂടി വറുക്കുക. രണ്ട് കപ്പ് മീന്‍ മുട്ടയും പാകത്തിന് ഉപ്പും ചേര്‍ത്ത് 3-5 മിനിട്ട് വരെ ഇളക്കി മൊരിക്കുക. മീന്‍മുട്ട പൊടിഞ്ഞ് ഉള്ളിമിശ്രിതവുമായി നന്നായി യോജിപ്പിക്കുക.

രണ്ട് മുട്ടകലക്കിയത് ഈ ചീനച്ചട്ടിയില്‍ ഒഴിച്ച് ചെറുതായി ഇളക്കുക. മുട്ട വേകുന്നതുവരെയോ അല്ലെങ്കില്‍ 2 മിനിട്ട് വരെ വേവിക്കുക.

കടപ്പാട് : സുറിയാനി അടുക്കള ( ലതിക ജോര്‍ജ്ജ് )

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Thattukada Beef Curry

Thattukada Beef Curry

Ingredients

Beef – 1/2 kg, cut into small pieces
For Masala

Ginger – 1 tbsp
Garlic – 10 cloves
Pepper – 1/2 tsp
Chili powder – 1/2 tbsp
Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Fennel (perumjeerakam) -1/2 tsp
Cardamom – 2
Star anise (thakolam) – 1
Cinnamon – 1 small piece
Cloves – 2
Onion – 2, sliced finely
Ginger – 1 small piece
Green chili – 2
Salt
Curry leaves
Coconut oil

Method:

Grind together number 2 ingredients. Heat the oil in a pan/pressure cooker. Add number 3 ingredients and saute. When the onions become soft add ground masala & fry till the oil starts appearing. Add the beef and 1 cup of water. Cook the beef till it becomes tender and the gravy is thick.

It tastes great with parotta, roti, puttu

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Andhra Mutton Curry

Andhra Mutton Curry

Ingredients

• Mutton,1/2 cm cubes 500 gram
• Salt to taste
• Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon
• Poppy seeds (khuskhus/posto) 1 teaspoon
• Fennel seeds (saunf) 1/2 teaspoon
• Peppercorns 4
• Coriander seeds 1 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
• Cinnamon 1 inch peice
• Clove 2
• Green cardamom 2
• Olive oil 4 tablespoon
• Curry leaves 10
• Onion ,chopped 3 medium
• Ginger-garlic paste 1 teaspoon
• Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon
• Black pepper powder 2 teaspoon
• Tomato,chopped 1 large
• Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 1/2 tablespoon

Method

Pressure cook mutton pieces with two cups of water, salt and turmeric powder for six whistles. Open the lid when the pressure reduces, drain and reserve the cooking liquor. Dry roast poppy seeds, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves and green cardamoms. Cool and grind to a fine powder. Heat olive oil in kadai (wok). Add curry leaves and onions. Sauté till the onions are brown. Add ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder and half the black pepper powder and sauté for a minute. Add tomato and mutton pieces, cook on high heat till the tomato is soft. Add salt and the spice powder and simmer for five minutes. Add the reserved cooking liquor and one cup of water and bring to a boil. Simmer till all the mutton pieces get well coated with thick gravy. Add the remaining black pepper powder and stir well. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

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Naadan Mutta Kizhangu Curry

Naadan Mutta Kizhangu Curry ( Egg Potato curry)

  

Ingredients

Hard boiled eggs – 5
Potato – 1 small-medium, cooked & cut into cubes
Onion – 1 big, finely sliced
Green chilli – 4 -5, slit lengthwise
Ginger & garlic paste – 1 1/2 tsp, each
Coriander powder – 1 1/2 – 2 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Fennel powder (perumjeerakam podichathu) – 1/2 tsp
Garam masala – a pinch
Thick coconut milk – 2 cups ( refer notes)
Cashew paste – Optional (refer notes)
Coconut oil
Salt
Curry leaves

Instructions

Heat oil in a pan & add finely sliced onions & salt. When onion becomes golden brown color, add green chilli & ginger garlic paste. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the masala powders & a 1/2 tsp of oil & fry for 3 minutes. Add cooked potatoes & mix well. Add thick coconut milk & bring to boil. Reduce flame to lowest & add hard boiled eggs & cook till the gravy becomes thick, say around 5 mins. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with palappam, kallappam, puttu & chapathi.

For veg variation:

You can use veggies like carrot, beans, cauliflower, green peas etc; Cook the vegetables first & add it along with the potato. Rest of the recipe is same.

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Pepper Egg Masala

Pepper Egg Masala  

An egg dish that tastes well with steamed rice. Easy to make, this spicy dish is a personal favorite egg recipe of many foodies.

Ingredients

Oil - 1 tbspn
Garlic coves (crushed) - 2
Onion (thinly chopped) - 1
Green chillies (slit length wise) - 3
Tomato (chopped) - 1
Soya sauce - tspn
Pepper Powder - tspn
Salt, to taste
Coconut powder 1 tbspn
Water - glass
Eggs - 3
Coriander (cilantro) leaves, a few

Preparation

Heat oil in a heavy bottom sauce pan.
Add garlic and saute just until fragrant.
Add onion, green chillies and tomato and saute for a few more minutes.
Add soya sauce, pepper powder and salt.
Mix coconut powder in water and add this mixture to the prepared masala and stir.
Break the eggs into it. But do not stir after that.
Lower the heat and cook till the eggs are done.
Turn off the heat and garnish with coriander leaves

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Pepper Chicken

Pepper Chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken - 1k.g/2.2lb
Garlic cloves - 10-15
Onions, chopped - 1/2 (medium sized)
Green Chili - 4
Curry leaves - 25 individual leaves
Soya Sauce - 1 1/2 tablespoon (for dark Soya Sauce) or 2 tablespoon (for light colored Soya Sauce)
Pepper Powder - 1 or 1 1/2 tablespoon
Lime or Lemon juice - 1 teaspoon
Ghee - 1 teaspoon
Oil - 1 teaspoon
Turmetic powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Coriander or Cilantro for garnish

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6 people

Cooking Method:

1. Heat oil and ghee under medium heat in a deep frying pan or khadhai.
2. Add crushed garlic cloves. Saute and stir for 2 minutes
3. Add onion, green chillies (vertically sliced) and curry leaves to the mixture. Stir the ingredients for 2 more minutes
4. Then add chicken and mix the contents of the pan.
5. Now lower the heat and cover the pan with a lid. Allow the chicken to cook for 10-15 minutes.
6. Add tumeric, salt to taste and mix it thoroughly
7. Put the lid back over the pan and cook for 5 more minutes
8. Add soya sauce and wait for 2 additional minutes
9. At this moment all the liquid in the pan should have evaporated which indicates that the chicken is fully cooked.
Note: If there is some liquid left you can increase the heat a little and cook until no liquid is left.
10.When there is no liquid left in the pan add pepper powder, lemon juice and mix well.
11.Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
Please follow the method for preparing this recipe exactly in the same sequence as mentioned above for great tasting pepper chicken. Happy cooking!

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Watermelon Slice Jello Shots

Watermelon Slice Jello Shots

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Palak Uzhunnu Vada

Palak Uzhunnu Vada

Ingredients 

1/2 cup - Urad dhal - soaked for an hour and grind as a flour without adding water.
1 cup chopped palak leaves
1/2 cup chopped onions
a sprig curry leaves
few chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground spices - (6 pepper corns,1 green chilly,1/2 tsp cumin seeds)
1/2 cup refined oil for shallow frying

Directions

Grind 1/2 cup urad dhal which is soaked for an hour , as a flour without adding water.

Grind the spices (6 pepper corns,1 green chilly,1/2 tsp cumin seeds)

Take a bowl and add the urad dhal flour,chopped palak leaves ground spices,chopped onions,chopped coriander leaves,curry leaves and Salt.Mix it well.

Shape dough round with a hole in the centre.

Heat oil in a non stick frying pan and shallow fry the vadai on bothsides,till golden brown.

When done,Serve it hot with tomatao ketchup or chutney of your choice.

That's all.Enjoy!!!.

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Sukhiyan

Sukhiyan

Ingredients

Cherupayar(Moong Dal) – 1/2 kg
Jaggery – 1/4 kg

Coconut – 2 cups
Plain Flour – 1 1/2 cup
Gram Flour – 1 1/2 cup
Cardamom – 5 crushed
Water

Method:

Cook cherupayar in 3 cups water & drain the water completely. Make sure that it is not overcooked. Melt Jaggery by adding 1/4 cup water. When it melts add coconut & cardamom. Mix well. Add the cooked cherupayar to this mix & combine. Make sure that the mix is dry. When it is cooled make small balls with the mix. Combine plain flour & besan flour. Add little water to this & make a thick batter. Dip each of the balls in the batter & deep fry.

 

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Vendakka Curry

Vendakka Curry

Ingredients 

Okra (Vendakka) – 150-200 gms, sliced 1″ lengthwiseCoriander powder – 1 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Pepper powder – 1/4 – 1/2 tsp
Aniseed (perumjeerakam) powder – 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon – a small piece
Cardamom pods – 2
Cloves – 2
Onion – 1 medium, finely sliced
Ginger – 1 tsp, chopped
Thin coconut milk – 1 1/2 cup
Thick coconut milk – 1/2 cup
Chopped cashews – 1 tbsp (optional)
Salt
Oil
Curry leaves

Instructions

Grind all the powders and whole spices to a fine paste, by adding 1- 1 1/2 tbsp water. Heat oil in a pan and saute the sliced okra for a few mins and keep it aside.

In the same pan, add the sliced onion and chopped ginger and curry leaves. Cook till the onions turn light golden brown in colour. Add the ground paste to this and cook for 2-3 mins or till the oil appears. Add thin coconut milk and let it boil.

Add the okra and salt and simmer till the okra cooks and gravy thickens. Add the thick coconut milk and simmer for 3-4 more mins and remove from fire. Garnish with some freshly ground pepper, dont omit this. It enhances the flavour of the dish.

If you are using cashews, soak it in hot water for 5-10 mins. Grind it to a smooth paste. Add this paste to the thick coconut milk and mix well and follow the rest of the recipe.

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Oats Besan Payasam

Oats Besan (Chick Pea) Payasam

Ingredients

Milk - 3 cups
oats - 1/4 cup
Besan/ chickpea flour - 1/4 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Ghee - 3 tbsp
Cashews for garnishing

Method

Heat ghee in a kadai and roast the cashews. Take out the cashew and fry the besan in the same ghee.

In the other side boil two cups of mild and add oats to the milk.

when the besan is cooked well , a nice aroma comes, that is the time you can pour the remaining milk and stir well to avoid forming of lumps.

When the besan and milk blends together you can add the cooked oats in that.leave for few minutes , the ingredients will blend together.

Garnish with cashews and serve.

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Vegetable Kurma

Vegetable Kurma

INGREDIENTS

Onion - 1
Tomato - 1

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
peas -1/2 cup
Boiled potato - big 1
Beans - 10 to 12
carrot - 1
Cauliflower - 10 florets
red chili powder - 1tsp
salt to taste
oil, cumin seeds for tempering
Coriander leaves for garnishing

TO GRIND

Coconut - 1/4 cup
green chili - 1
saunf (Fennel) - 1 tsp

METHOD

In a cooker heat oil and splutter cumin seeds.Saute the onions till transparent. Add the ginger garlic paste.
when the raw smell goes , add chopped tomatoes and saute well.
Add chili powder, salt and chopped carrots, potatoes, cauliflower and peas. and saute well.
Combine the ingredients given under to grind in a mixer and ground to a paste. Add to the vegetable. Give 2 whistle and kurma is ready to serve.

 

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Chicken Dum Biriyani

Chicken Dum Biriyani

 

• ½ kg Chicken
• 450 gm Basmati Rice (washed & drained) 
• 3 Green Cardamoms (Elaichi) 
• ½ tsp Mace (Javitri)(ground) 
• ¼ tsp Nutmeg (Jaifal)(grated) 
• 3 Cloves (Lavang) 
• 1 Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini) 
• 2 Whole Star Anise 
• 2 tsp Garam Masala Powder 
• 2 cups thick Curd (Yogurt) 
• 4 tbsp Tomato Paste 
• 1 big Onion (sliced) 
• 2 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste 
• 2 tbsp Chilly Powder 
• a pinch of Saffron (dissolved in 2 tbsp warm milk) 
• Salt to taste 
• 8 tbsp Oil 
• 2 tbsp Ghee 
• 6 cups water

 

Method

Take curd, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala, tomato paste, chilly powder, nutmeg, mace, and salt in a bowl and mix into a paste.

• Marinate the chicken with the paste and keep it to the side for 3-4 hours.

• Put water in a pot and get it to boil.

• Heat ghee in a pan and crackle star anise, cardamoms, cloves & cinnamon.

• Stir in rice and fry it for 4-5 minutes.

• Add the rice to the boiling water, sprinkle a pinch of salt and cook until rice is ¾ cooked.

• Strain the rice using colander.

• Take 1 tbsp oil in a pan and fry onion until it is golden brown. Remove the onion and keep it to the side.

• Pour in the remaining oil into the pan and cook the chicken for 6-7 minutes or until it discharges oil.

• Mix in rice and add fried onion, ghee and saffron.

• Now cover the pan with aluminium foil and set the pan over another pan. Cook on high flame for 5 minutes.

• Reduce the flame to medium and cook for about 20 minutes.

• Take off the heat and serve hotcups Water.

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Pickled Beetroot

PICKLED BEETROOT (ബീറ്റ് റൂട്ട് അച്ചാര്‍ )

Ingredients:-

1 bunch beetroot, cooked (eg wash, place unpeeled in large saucepan, cover with water, bring to boil, simmer about an hour until tender)
Separately, simmer together for 5 mins:
2cm ginger, peeled and crushed
600ml vinegar,
200g sugar,
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 tsp mustard seeds
Then cool and strain, reserving the vinegar.

Method :-

Peel and slice or dice the beetroot. Pack into sterilized jars. Bring the vinegar to the boil and pour in to cover the beetroot. Seal.

These make yummy beetroot pickles, very much in the Australian style.

Note; beetroot can be set in a mould by warming 2 cups of this pickling liquid and mixing with 1 tbsp gelatine and poured over the beetroot.

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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.

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