Saturday, April 25, 2015

Chicken Chilli Dry

Chicken Chilli Dry is an Indo Chinese starter dish which is spicy and juicy fried chicken pieces cooked in sauces with onions and peppers. This dish tastes hot, sweet and sour. It is best served hot as an appetizer or with fried rice, noodles and the best combination with our own Parathas. This is my style of preparing this dish. Try this recipe and let me know your comments. Have a Great Weekend Friends :)


Ingredients:
Chicken Marination
Chicken - 500 gms (boneless)
Corn flour - 4 tbsp
Maida - 2 tbsp
Egg - 2 nos
Red Chilli sauce - 2 tsp
Red food color - a pinch
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Salt - ¼ tsp
For cooking
Oil - for deep frying the marinated chicken
Sesame oil - 3 tbsp
Garlic - 1 tbsp (chopped)
Onion - 1 large (cut to cube pieces)
Capsicum - 1 large (cut to cube pieces)
Green chillies - 4 nos (slit into half)
Soy sauce - 1 tbsp
Red chilli sauce - 2 tbsp
Green chilli sauce - 1 tsp
Tomato sauce - 1 tbsp
White Pepper powder - ½ tsp
Salt - to taste


Preparation:
- Cut, clean chicken and marinate and keep aside for 1 hour. 
- Heat oil in a kadai, deep fry the marinated chicken pieces on medium high flame till crisp. Drain excess oil on paper towel and keep aside.
- In a kadai, heat sesame oil, add chopped garlic and fry till brown in color.
- Add cut onions, capsicum and saute for a minute or two. (Make sure the onions and capsicum should be slightly crisp and soft)
- Now add the green chillies, soy, red chilli, green chilli, tomato sauces and mix well. Add white pepper powder and salt at this stage.
- Add the fried chicken pieces and mix well on high flame for a minute or two.
- Off flame and garnish with spring onions or sesame seeds (optional).
- Delicious and spicy chilli chicken dry is ready to serve with Fried Rice. 

Note:
- Adjust spice and salt as per taste.
- Adding green chillies to this dish is optional.
- Garnishing with spring onions or sesame seeds is optional.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Vishu Recipes

Vishu is an important Kerala festival celebrated in the month of "Medam" in the Indian state of Kerala and as Bisu in the Karnataka region usually in the second week of April. Vishu is celebrated with much fanfare and vigour in all parts of Kerala. The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which literally means "the first thing seen on the day of Vishu after waking up". Other elements of Vishu include buying of new clothes (Puthukodi) for the occasion, the tradition of giving money called Vishukkaineetam and the Vishu feast or Sadhya which consist of equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items.



Vishu Sadhya  is a variety of vegetarian dishes traditionally served on a banana leaf in Kerala, India. A normal Sadhya can have about 24-28 dishes served as a single course. This is the same kind of dishes served in a Onam Sadhya. Towards the north side of Kerala, specially the malabar side there is a another main delicacy served at the starting of sadhya called Pappadam Pazham Kuzhachathu (ripe banana, papad, ghee and sugar is smashed together and eaten). The main dish is plain boiled rice, served along with other dishes collectively called Kootan which include curries, side dishes and sweet dishes. 

Today I am sharing 3 different dishes for all my friends for Vishu 2015. Try and prepare these dishes for this Vishu and have a Happy and Blessed Vishu.


Muringakka Thoran (Drumstick Thoran)

Ingredients:
Drumstick - 1 small bowl (cut into 1 inch pieces)
Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp + ¼ tsp
Red chilli powder - ½ tsp
Chicken Masala powder - ½ tsp (optional)
Grated coconut - 5 tbsp
Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
Jeerakam - ¼ tsp
Dry red chillies - 4 nos
Curry leaves - 2 strings
Oil - 2 tbsp
salt - to taste


Preparation:
- Boil cut drumstick in water with ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp red chilli powder and salt. Once down, drain water and keep aside.
- Heat oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds, jeera, dry red chillies and curry leaves.
- Add ¼ tsp turmeric powder, chicken masala powder and fry for a sec.
- Now add the cooked drumsticks, salt and mix well for a sec.
- Add grated coconut and mix well till drumsticks are coated well in the coconut mixture.
- Off flame and serve delicious drumsticks with Rice and Moru curry.

Note:
For More Sadhya Recipes Visit :
http://thengachamanthi.blogspot.in/2014/08/onam-recipes.html


Olan

Ingredients:
Kumbalanga (Ash Gourd) - 3 cups (cut to thin cube size pieces)
Black eyed beans (Vanpayar) - ¾ cup
Water - 4 cups
Green chillies - 5 nos (slit to half)
Thick coconut milk - 1 cup
Salt - to taste
Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
Curry leaves - 2 string


Preparation:
- Pressure cook the vanpayar with 2 cups of water for 6-7 whistles. Once done drain the water and keep aside. (Make sure not to overcook the vanpayar.It should retain its shape).
- Cook the kumbalanga with 2 cups of water, green chillies, salt and keep aside (Make sure not to overcook the kumbalanga. It should retain its shape).
- Now add the cooked vanpayar to the kumbalanga and mix well. Add coconut milk, curry leaves and let cook on low flame for another 8 minutes.
- Once done off flame and pour coconut oil on top of the curry and serve.

Note:
For More Sadhya Recipes Visit :
http://thengachamanthi.blogspot.in/2014/08/onam-recipes.html


Pumpkin Erissery (Mathanga)

Ingredients:
Pumpkin/Mathanga - 4 cups (cut to small cube size)
Grated coconut  - ½ cup
Water - 3 cups
Jeera seeds - ¼ tsp
Green chillies - 3 nos (chopped)
Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
Coconut oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Shallots/small onions - 3 nos (sliced)
Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
Curry leaves - 2 string


Preparation:
- Cook cut pumpkin, salt in a vessel with 3 cups of water. Once done mash the pumpkin and keep aside.
- Grind coconut, green chillies, jeera seeds, turmeric powder to a semi thick paste.
- Now add the grinded coconut to the mashed pumpkin and mix well. Let cook on low flame for about 8 minutes.
- Heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds, add sliced shallots, curry leaves and fry till brown.
- Now pour this to the cooked pumpkin and garnish with curry leaves and serve.

Note:
For More Sadhya Recipes Visit :
http://thengachamanthi.blogspot.in/2014/08/onam-recipes.html


Beetroot Pachadi

Ingredients:
Beetroot - 1 cup (grated)
Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
Green chilli - 4 nos (chopped)
Curd - 1 cup
Mustard seeds - ¼ tsp (crushed)
Grated coconut - ¼ cup
Dry red chillies - 2 nos
Coconut oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
Curry leaves - 2 string
Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
Water - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste


Preparation:
- Grind coconut, two green chilli and cumin seeds to a smooth paste.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan, add the grated beetroot with two green chillies and let cook till soft.
- When the water gets dried, add the coconut paste, crushed mustard seeds and mix well. When this mixture turns to boil, add salt to taste.
- Simmer heat and add the curd to the pachadi and mix well. Off flame after a sec or two.
- In a pan, heat oil, splutter mustard seeds, dry red chillies and curry leaves for a sec.
- Add the tempering to the pachadi and mix well.
- Beetroot pachadi is ready to serve. It tastes better the next day.

Note:
For More Sadhya Recipes Visit :
http://thengachamanthi.blogspot.in/2014/08/onam-recipes.html


Inji Curry/Inji Puli - Style 2

Ingredients:
Ginger - ½ cup (peeled and cut into thin slices)
Green chillies - 5-6 nos (chopped)
Dry red chillies - 3 nos
Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
Red chilli powder - ½ tsp
Jaggery - ½ cup (4 tbsp)
Tamarind extract - 1 cup (valan puli)
Fenugreek powder - ¼ tsp
Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
Asafoetida powder - a pinch
Curry leaves - 2 strings
Oil - 2 tbsp
Oil - 5 tbsp (for frying the ginger)
Salt - ½ tsp (to taste)


Preparation:
- Peel ginger, cut into thin slices and keep aside.
- Chop green chillies and keep aside.
- Heat oil in a pan and fry the ginger slices till golden brown in color. Once done keep aside and crush in a motor or pedestal.
- Heat oil in a kadai, add asafoetida powder, splutter mustard seeds, dry red chillies and curry leaves for a minute.
- Now add green chillies and fry for a minute. Add the crushed ginger and fry for a minute or two.
- Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, tamarind extract, jaggery and salt to the ginger mixture.
- Let this mixture boil till the gravy becomes thick and oil separates.
- Now add the fenugreek powder, mix well and off flame.
- Let cool, store in a dry barani or bottle.

Note:
- Puli inji thickens as it cools and can be refrigerated for at least a month.
- Check the salt and jaggery as per taste.
- Valan puli is used for the extract.

Note:
For More Sadhya Recipes Visit :
http://thengachamanthi.blogspot.in/2014/08/onam-recipes.html

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Caramel Pudding

Caramel Pudding is a delicious traditional dessert with slight bitter creamy caramel over the custard. Caramel Pudding is one of the few custard recipes, that I am absolutely fond of. This is also called as Caramel Pudding. I am using my Idli steamer or appachembu to cook the pudding. Its easy to make and does not much of your time. The ingredients are simple and easily available in your kitchen. Have a try friends, you will love this pudding :)


Ingredients:
Milk - ½ liter
Sugar - ½ cup
Eggs - 4 nos
Vanilla essence - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 4 tbsp (for caramel)
Water - 1 tbsp


Preparation:
- Add 4 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp of water in a Custard pan and switch on flame to medium heat. Sugar will turn golden brown in color and once it reaches amber brown color, switch off flame and let cool.
- Now blend together eggs, vanilla essence, sugar and milk together and keep aside.
- Once the sugar caramel is cold and crystallized, pour the milk mixture into the vessel.
- To prepare the pudding i am using Idli vessel or Idli Steamer.
- Now place the pudding vessel into the steamer on high flame till one steam comes out.
- Next, decrease the flame to maximum low for about 12 -13 minutes. Once done, off flame and let cool for another 5 minutes (still in the steamer with lid on).
- Now place the pudding vessel to refrigerate for about an hour or two.  
- Caramel pudding is ready to serve.

Serving procedure:
- Run a knife through the sides of the custard vessel and place a vessel on the plate we are serving. Now turn the custard vessel, bottom side up and slowly pull the vessel.
- Caramel pudding is ready to serve cold.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Chemmeen/Prawns Vattichathu (Easter/Christmas Dishes)

Chemmeen/Prawns Vattichathu is a simple and delicious non-vegetarian sea food dish prepared in Kerala homes. This is a finger liking good recipe I prepare for Easter or Christmas. This is my way of preparing this delicious dish with slight variations in masala and ingredients. Enjoy this recipe for Easter this year :)


Ingredients:
Chemmeen/Prawns - 400 gms (cleaned and unveined)
Small onions - 10 nos (sliced)
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
Kashmiri Red chilli powder - 3 tsp
Corriender powder - 2 tsp
Black pepper powder - ½ tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2  tsp
Kudampuli (kukum) - 1 big piece
Thick coconut milk - 1 cup
Curry leaves - 3 string
Dry red chillies - 4 nos
Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
Coconut oil - 3 tbsp
Salt - to taste


Preparation:
- In a bowl, add cleaned prawns, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, corriender powder, garam masala powder, black pepper powder, salt and let marinate for half hour.
- Heat oil in a chatti, splutter mustard, dry red chillies and curry leaves. Add small onions, Ginger garlic paste and saute well till onions turn soft and translucent.
- Now add the marinated prawns and mix well. (Make sure not to break the prawns and prawn head)
- Pour thick coconut milk, kudam puli and mix. Add salt at this stage if required.
- Let the curry boil for a minute. Once done close lid and let cook for 5 minutes.
- Open lid, add curry leaves and let cook on low flame till you get a thick prawn masala gravy.
- Spicy and delicious Chemmeen/Prawns Vattichathu is ready to serve with rice and chapatis.

Note:
- Adding prawn head to this recipe is of choice. I love prawn head so, add them in plenty.
- Adjust salt and spice as per taste.
- This recipe can be served as a thick masala or gravy as your wish. If you need a little gravy in the dish, off flame soon after 5 minutes.