ONAM SPECIAL 2012 - Appalam Thair Pachchadi - Papadum In Spicy Curd

ONAM SPECIAL 2012 

APPALAM THAIR PACHCHADI 

 A lot of time, a lot of patience and a little bit of innovative mind are the accessories required to prepare an elaborate festive meal. While sweets, chips and pickles are usually prepared beforehand to save time, side dishes like appalams, fruit salads and pachchadis are reserved as the last minute items to be prepared. Appalam Thair Pachchadi is one such last minute side dish usually prepared in a hurry. The innovative cook grabs a few fried appalams. Crushes them, and mixes them with curds and a portion of the unused coconut paste prepared for the Koottucurry. There! An instant and delicious Appalam Thair Pachchadi is ready, as the banana leaves are being spread out for the feast! 

 Here is a recipe for a delicious Appalam Thair Pachchadi with a simple makeover using a few extra ingredients.

 INGREDIENTS 

Fried Appalams - 2 

Thick Curds - 1 cup 

 Finely chopped tomato - 1 

 Salt - 1/4 tsp 

Coconut gratings - 2 tbsps 

Green chillies - 1 

Fresh ginger - 1" piece 

Fresh coriander leaves ( chopped )- 2 tbsps 

Coconut oil - 1 tsp 

Mustard seeds - 1 pinch 

METHOD 

1. Wash and chop tomato finely. 

2. Grind coconut gratings, green chilly, salt, fresh ginger and fresh coriander leaves into a smooth paste. 

3. Combine the coconut paste, tomatoes and the curd gently. 

4. Heat the oil, splutter the mustard seeds and pour over the pachchadi. 

5. Crush the fried appalams and mix into the pachchadi just before serving. 

Enjoy the crunchy Appalam Thair Pachchadi with the rest of the Onam Sadya delicacies.

ONAM SPECIAL 2012 - Koottucurry - Vegetables Cooked With Chilly & Coconut Paste

ONAM SPECIAL 2012 

KOOTTUCURRY 

I have always been interested in food related topics that cropped up during conversations among family members and friends. After I became a food blogger my interest in traditional recipes intensified double fold. I picked up some Kerala recipes from my Sambandhi (son - in - law's mother) during a casual chat, when she rattled off about her childhood in Kerala and about the festivities and the delicacies of God's Own Country. Here is a simple yet delicious recipe of Koottucurry which is one of the numerous curries traditionally prepared for the Onam Sadya during the festival of bounty called 'Thiruvonam'.



 INGREDIENTS 

Split Bengal gram dal - 1 cup 
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch 
Chayote/ Chow Chow vegetable - 2
Carrots - 2 
Fresh coconut gratings - 1 cup 
Rice flour - 1tsp 
Green chillies - 4 
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp 
Salt - 1 tsp 
Curry leaves - a few 
Coconut oil - 1 tbsp 
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp 
Split Black gram dal - 1/2 tsp 
Red chillies - 2 ( broken ) 

METHOD 

1. Wash, peel and cut the chow chow and carrots into big cubes. 
2. Wash and drain the Bengal gram dal and add 1 1/2 cups of water and turmeric powder. 
3. Top the dal with the cubed vegetables and pressure cook up to three whistles. 
4. In the mean while grind the fresh coconut gratings, green chillies, cumin seeds and rice flour together into a smooth paste. 
5. When the pressure subsides remove the cooked dal and vegetables from the cooker. 



6. Add the ground coconut paste, salt and curry leaves, and cook till all the ingredients blend well. Take care not to mash the dal too much. 



7. Heat the coconut oil and add mustard seeds. 
8. When the mustard seeds splutter, reduce flame and add the black gram dal and fry till it turns golden in colour. 
9. Add the broken red chillies and fry till the chillies become crisp. 
10. Pour the seasoning over the Koottucurry.



Enjoy the delicious Koottucurry with the sumptuous ONAM SADYA.

Soraikai Dosai / Bottlegourd Dosa | Idly Dosa Recipes

I could not decide what to make for our Serve It - Griddled event until now. Adai, Romali Roti and paratha were under consideration but it was this Suraikai dosa which made it at the end. This is a simple to make easy breakfast/dinner dish. The batter can be prepared and reserved in the fridge and used for upto one week. Just a boon for those time-crunched-whats-for-dinner days.


Ingredients: