Thakkali Pachadi/ Tomato in Yogurt

Recipe No: 296
This is not a traditional Pachadi recipe, but it is something like a Pachadi and a very easy recipe that goes well with warm Rice.

Ingredients                            Serves 3

• Oil…………………….....1 ½ Tablespoons
• Mustard Seeds…......1/4 Teaspoon
• Onion……………….....1/4 Cup (Cut into thin 2 cm. long slices)
• Ginger………………….1/4 Teaspoon (chopped fine)
• Green Chilly………….1 small (sliced thin; around ½ Teaspoon)
• Curry Leaves…………1 Sprig
• Red Chilly Powder…1/2 Teaspoon
• Coriander Powder….1/2 Teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder…..a Pinch (Optional)
• Tomato…………………1/3 Cup (cut into cubes)
• Curd/ Yogurt………...1/2 Cup
• Salt and Sugar to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Heat Oil in a pan on medium heat and splutter the Mustard Seeds.
2. Add the Onion, Ginger, Green Chilly, Curry Leaves and Salt; saute till the Onion is wilted. (Don’t let it brown.)
3. Reduce the flame to low and add Red Chilly Powder, Coriander Powder and Turmeric Powder; fry for a few seconds till the raw smell is gone.
4. Add the Tomato and saute till it starts to mash. (Don’t let it mash too much.)
5. Switch off the heat and let it cool down completely.
6. Beat the Curd so that it is smooth and add the cooled Onion- Tomato mixture. Check for the Salt and add more if needed.
7. Mix in a pinch of Sugar so that the taste is balanced. (You will need a good pinch of Sugar if the Curd is too sour.)
8. Serve it with warm Rice.

Notes:

• Let the Tomato mixture cool thoroughly before mixing with the Yogurt or the Yogurt may separate spoiling the whole dish.
• The balance of sourness, sweetness and saltiness is the beauty of this dish and adding a pinch of Sugar in the end brings all of them together. Please adjust the amount of Sugar depending on the sourness of the Yogurt and your taste.

 






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Vanpayar Mezhukkupuratti/ Sauteed Red Mung Beans

Recipe No: 294

Ingredients                                             Serves 3-4

• Vanpayar/ Red Mung Beans…1/2 Cup
• Oil………………………………………2 Tablespoons
• Shallots…………………………..…..5
• Garlic cloves………………………..3 Big/ 6 small
• Curry Leaves……………………...1 Sprig
• Red Chilly………………………..…3-4 (substitute with crushed Red Chilly according to your taste)
• Salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Wash the Beans thoroughly and boil it on high heat together with 1 ½ Cups of Water. Once boiled, reduce the flame to low and let it cook until tender.
2. When you feel that the Beans is almost cooked but a bit of Water still remains, add the necessary Salt; mix well and let the Water evaporate and the Beans finish cooking. (The best way to check whether the Beans are cooked is by biting into one of them. If it is soft, it is done and don’t wait for the skin to split open.)
3. Switch off the heat and keep aside until needed.
4. Crush together Shallots, Garlic and the Red Chilly (If you are using Chilly Flakes don’t crush it; just add it to the Oil while sauteing) in a Mortar and Pestle slightly. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, do use a food processor (or just slice it thin in extreme cases), but please don’t make it too fine. (This process can be done while cooking the Beans.)
5. Heat Oil a pan or a wok on high heat and saute the crushed ingredients together with Curry Leaves for about 30 seconds. (Don’t let it burn; do stir)
6. Add the cooked Beans; mix well; reduce the heat to medium low and let it fry for about 8-10 minutes or till the required texture is attained. (I like it a bit on the crispy side.) Don't forget to stir now and then in order to avoid burning on the bottom.
7. Switch off the heat and serve it hot with Rice.

Notes:

• The extent to which the Beans should be cooked for this recipe require special mention. It shouldn’t be mashed; but cooked well enough so that it remains soft. This process will take around 20-30 minutes, so please don’t try to rush the process.
• Red Beans can be cooked in a Pressure cooker but take care not to overcook. You may have to drain the excess water in that case to prevent overcooking; but discarding the cooking liquid, which may contain the nutrition, can be avoided if cooked on stove top.
• Don’t add Salt at the beginning of the cooking process as it will increase the cooking time of the Beans. But don’t forget to add Salt before it is done cooking; otherwise the Beans will not absorb Salt.
• Coconut Oil is not a must for this recipe even though it tastes the best.

 




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Stuffed Mushrooms

Recipe No: 293
This is the simplified vegetarian version of the Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms that I posted earlier. It is easy, delicious and perfect for an appetizer.

Ingredients                                                    Serves 3

• Mushrooms…………......8 oz/ 227 Grams/ 12 small Mushrooms
• Oil……………………………1 Tablespoon
• Onion chopped………....1/3 Cup
• Garlic chopped fine…..1 big clove
• Cream Cheese…………..4 oz/ ½ Cup/ 125 grams (At room temperature)
• Bread Crumbs…………..1/4 Cup
• Butter……………………...1 Teaspoon
•  Salt and Pepper to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Clean the Mushrooms and remove the stems taking care not to break the caps.
2. Chop the stems finely and keep aside till ready to be used.
3. Heat Oil in a pan on medium high heat and saute the Onion and Garlic till slightly translucent.
4. Add the chopped Mushroom stems and saute till it is cooked for about 2 minutes.
5. Add necessary Salt and pepper and switch off the heat. Let this mixture cool to a room temperature.
6. Once the mixture is cooled, mix in Cream Cheese and make sure the seasonings are on spot.
7. Preheat the oven to 400˚F/ 205˚C.
8. Lightly salt the Mushroom Caps and fill it with the Cream Cheese mixture. It is okay if some of the filling covers the top of the Mushrooms rims especially, if the space inside the Mushroom cap is very small. Repeat this with all the Mushroom and place them on a greased baking tray.
9. In another bowl, melt Butter and mix it with the Bread crumbs.
10. Sprinkle the Bread Crumbs over the stuffed Mushrooms and bake it in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or till the Bread crumbs are slightly brown and crispy.
11. Once the Mushrooms are cooked, remove from the oven and serve hot.

Notes:

• I used Baby Bella Mushrooms (with a brown cap) in this recipe but regular white button Mushrooms will be good.
• To clean the mushrooms, I give it a light rinse and wipe it thoroughly to remove the Water. Don’t let the Mushrooms absorb too much Water while rinsing.

 


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Vazhuthananga Pulincurry (Brinjal/ Aubergine in Tamarind Gravy)

Recipe No: 290

A few weeks before a good friend of mine gave me her Mother’s recipe for Prawn in Tamarind gravy (Konchu Puli pizhinjathu).  Even though I am not a big fan of 'sourness', I like the dish so much that I started experimenting the same with many vegetables and this is one of them. Since a vegetarian loving friend of mine asked for its recipe after tasting and I promised her that I will post it in the blog, I am doing this…

Ingredients                                               Serves 4

• Oil………………………...2-3 Tablespoons (Coconut Oil preferred)
• Ginger chopped…......1 teaspoon heap
• Shallots………………....7-8 (Sliced big; about ½ cup)
• Indian Green Chilly…2 (depending on the taste; I use long ones which are less spicy)
• Curry Leaves…………..2 Sprigs
• Tomato sliced………...1/2 medium
• Brinjal…………………...2 medium (sliced into long medium sized pieces; about 2 cups)
• Red Chilly Powder…..1 Teaspoon
• Coriander Powder.….1 Teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder……1/4 Teaspoon
• Tamarind Water….…3/4 Cup (Squeeze a large Gooseberry sized Tamarind in hot Water)
• Salt as needed

Method of Preparation

1. Heat Oil in a ‘Chatti’ (an earthen cooking vessel) or a stainless steel pan (please refer the notes) on high heat and saute the chopped Ginger for 30 seconds.
2. Add Shallots, Green Chilly, Curry Leaves and Tomato; saute till the Shallots turn translucent.
3. Add the Brinjal (squeeze off the excess Water if any) and fry in the Oil for two minutes or till the Brinjal pieces changes its color slightly.
4. Mix in the Chilly Powder, Coriander Powder and the Turmeric Powder; saute for a minute. Do stir often to prevent burning.
5. Add the Tamarind Water, Salt and more Water if needed (I used ½ Cup more); mix well. Let it boil and then lower the heat to medium low and cook till Oil starts to float on top and the gravy level is reduced to a desired consistency. (This will thicken a bit when cools down.)
6. Drizzle a bit of Coconut Oil and some Curry Leaves (Break it into pieces for a stronger smell) on top; switch off the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes:

• The amount of Tamarind depends on your taste. So do taste in between adding rather than dumping everything at once.
• Tamarind will sometimes be hard; so in that case use hot Water to squeeze the pulp and do discard the seeds (if present) and the hard fibrous parts after squeezing.
• As Tamarind is extremely acidic, it can react with Aluminum and the non stick coatings; so please use a stainless steel pan or earthenware (the best) like the Chatti to make this curry. However, as prolonged contact of acid with steel is also not good, don’t store the leftovers in stainless steel containers.
• It is necessary to wash and discard some seeds from the Brinjal if the ones available contains a lot of ripe seeds. In that case use a colander which will allow the seeds to flow out throw the holes while washing.
• If you are not using Coconut Oil in the beginning, please do try to use it at the end for drizzling. This will give that appealing smell without using a lot of it.
• A note regarding the two photos: Yes... They are both the same dish .The one on top gives the exact color of the dish when done, but for me the lighting was not so good and it came out a little blurry. The one below is over lighted (I am sorry for that) but not that blurry. So if you are looking for the color of the finished dish, do check the picture on top; but if you are looking for the size and shape of the pieces when done, do refer the picture below... I apologize for the inconvenience caused...

 



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Chicken Sliders

Recipe No: 289
This is a very easy and tasty appetizer that can be converted to a full meal with the addition of some Fries and a Salad. I made this with Chicken, but you can substitute it with any meat of your choice. With a hint of Chinese taste, this will satisfy any non vegetarian palate.

Ingredients                                            Makes 8
To make the Patties

• Ground Chicken………...1 lb/ 450 grams (raw Chicken is a must)
• Red Chilly Powder….....1/2 Teaspoon
• Black Pepper powder...1/4 Teaspoon
• Ginger Garlic Paste……1 Teaspoon
• Coriander Leaves………1 Tablespoon (chopped fine)
•  Salt to taste

To fry and make the sliders

• Butter………………………2 + 2 Tablespoons
• Oil…………………………..2 Tablespoons
• Dinner Rolls………….…8 (I used Potato Rolls; but any small buns will do)

To make the Sauce

• Onion chopped fine…..1/2 Cup
• Garlic chopped fine…..2 big cloves
• Ketchup…………………..2 Tablespoons
• Chilly Garlic Sauce….1 Tablespoon (If not available, please use 1/2 Teaspoon Sambal Oelek.)
• Worcestershire Sauce...1/2 Teaspoon
• Dark Soy Sauce…….…..1 Teaspoon
• Water……………………....1/4 Cup

Method of Preparation

1. Mix all the ingredients to make the patties thoroughly. Divide it into 8 equal sized portions.
2. Make each portion into a patty approximately the diameter of your buns. Keep them aside.
3. In a wide pan on high heat, melt Butter and Oil together. Once heated, place the patties in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the patties are nicely browned on one side.
4. Turn them over and let the other side also brown for about 3 minutes. (By this time the patties will be mostly cooked through.)
5. Once browned on both sides, remove the patties from the pan and keep them aside.
6. To the remaining Oil (add a bit more if needed) add the chopped Onion and Garlic; sauté till slightly wilted.
7. Add Ketchup, Chilly Garlic Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, Soy Sauce and Water; mix well and slide the patties back into the sauce. (Add the liquid oozed out of the patties (if any) too.)
8. Let it cook for a minute on both sides in the sauce or till the sauce is reduced considerably. (A bit of the remaining sauce is good.) 

9. In the mean time, cut the dinner rolls horizontally into two, apply a light pat of Butter on the cut sides of both halves and toast them in another pan on high heat. (You have to toast them only on the cut sides.) Once slightly browned, take and keep them on a plate ready for the patties. Repeat this with all the Rolls.
10. Place the patties on the bottom half of the Rolls and spoon the remaining sauce equally on top of the patties.
11. Place the other half of the bun on top of the patty and serve hot.

Notes

• Water is an enemy in making patties. So make the minced Chicken as dry as possible. (Meaning remove all the Water content with a kitchen tissue.)
• The minced Chicken mixture is usually on the sticky side; so please rub your palms with Oil to reduce sticking.
• The patties will be mostly cooked during frying itself, but by putting them in the sauce you can ensure that it is fully cooked. Before taking it off the stove, please check at least one patty for 'doneness'. The color of the meat will change from pink to almost white when fully cooked.
• If you don't have  a pan to fry all patties at one time, please do it in batches.

 






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serve it to your family with love…

  

Vegetable Stew

Recipe No: 286
This is the vegetarian/ vegan version of the Stew (For Chicken Stew recipe click here) which we just love. Even though the best combination for this is Palappam, Bread is also an option.

Ingredients

• Vegetables cubed…………......2 – 2 ¼ Cup (I used Carrots, Beans, Potatoes and Fresh Green Peas)
• Oil…………………………………...1 Tablespoon
• Whole spices……………….......3 Cardamom pods, 6 Cloves, 1 one inch Cinnamon piece and ½ of a Star Anise; all crushed fine)
• Onion sliced thin……………....1/3 cup
• Ginger chopped fine...……....1 Tablespoon
• Garlic chopped fine...…….....1 Tablespoon
• Indian Green chilly…………..2 split into halves (Depending on your taste)
• Curry Leaves……………………2 Sprigs
• Tomato sliced…………………...1/2 small
• Thin coconut milk……………..1 1/3 cup (mix 1/3 cup canned thick coconut milk with 1 cup water)
• Thick coconut milk…………....3/4 cup
• Pepper powder……………….....1/4 Teaspoon
• Garam Masala Powder.........1/4 Teaspoon (Homemade preferred)
• Vinegar…………………………….1/4 Teaspoon
• Coriander leaves chopped…..2 Tablespoons
• Salt as per taste
• Oil…………………………………….1 Tablespoon
• Shallot sliced………………….....1
• All Purpose Flour……………....1 Teaspoon (Maida)
• Water……………………………….1/4 cup (Can use thin Coconut Milk instead)

Method of Preparation

1. Heat 1 Tablespoon of Oil in a pan on medium heat, add the crushed whole Garam Masala and saute till fragrant.
2. Add chopped Onion, Ginger, Garlic, Green Chilly and a sprig of Curry Leaf; saute till everything is wilted for about 2 minutes.
3. Add the Vegetables and continue sautéing for 2 minutes on high heat.
4. Add thin Coconut Milk. Once it is boiled, reduce the heat to medium low; add the Salt and cook till the Vegetables are almost done.
5. Add sliced tomato and continue cooking.
6. In another shallow pan add 1 Tablespoon of Oil and saute the Shallots and a sprig of Curry Leaf till brown.
7. Adjust the heat to low and add 1 teaspoon of Flour and fry till its raw smell is gone for about 45 seconds. Do stir continuously at this stage.
8. Add ¼ cup water and mix till everything is combined well without any lumps. Add this to the already cooked stew and mix well. (This will thicken the stew and give a nice taste.)
9. After a minute of boiling, add the thick Coconut Milk, Pepper Powder, Garam Masala Powder, Vinegar and Coriander Leaves. Check the seasonings and add more Salt if needed.
10. Once the stew starts to simmer along the edges, switch off the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving hot or warm with Palappam or Bread.

Notes:

• If you are using dried Green Peas in this recipe, precook it and then use towards the middle of cooking. (Cook properly, but avoid mashing.)
• Don't use too much of Carrots (Use one medium sized) for this curry, as it gives an undesirable sweetness to the dish.
• Don’t let the Stew boil once the thick Coconut Milk is added to avoid the Coconut Milk from separating.
• You can use Rice Flour instead of All Purpose Flour too.

 




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Kappa Veyichathu/ Mashed Yuca/Cassava/Tapioca

Recipe No: 284
Does this need an introduction? No matter how much we, Keralites, eat this, our mouth still waters when we see a picture or hear someone speaks about it. Every household makes a version of Kappa Veyichathu and this is mine…

Ingredients                          Serves 6

• Yucca/ Tapioca…….......1 Kilo (Weighed after cleaning and cutting)

To Grind

• Grated Coconut…………2/3 Cup (Unsweetened of course)
• Turmeric Powder…...…1/2 Teaspoon
• Onion Sliced……………..1/3 Cup
• Garlic……………………….3 Big Cloves
• Indian Green Chilly…..3-4
• Cumin Powder………….1/2 Teaspoon (Use 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds instead)
• Salt…………………….……1 Teaspoon

For tempering

• Coconut Oil………………2 Tablespoons
• Mustard Seeds………….1/2 Teaspoon
• Shallots…………………...3 (sliced thin)
• Curry Leaves…………...1 Sprig
• Grated Coconut………..2 Tablespoons

Method of Preparation

1. Grind all the ingredients given in the ‘to grind’ section to a course consistency. Keep aside till ready to be used. (This step can be done while the Tapioca is cooking.)
2. Peel the Tapioca and split it lengthwise into two. Take off the hard root like thing that runs through its middle. Slice it into thin pieces. (Making it into thin slices helps it cook  fast and mash easily.) Wash them at least three to four times and drain.

Place the sliced Tapioca in a large pot and cover it with plenty of cold/ room temperature Water. (Pieces will not cook evenly if warm Water is used; please refer the picture to see the amount of Water used.)
Let it come to a boil on high heat and continue boiling till the Tapioca is cooked properly. When cooked, the pieces will become slightly translucent. (This has a tendency to boil over, so remove the lid of the vessel once it is boiled.)
Drain it into a Colander and immediately transfer it back to the pot. (Don’t drain it really well as the residual water is needed to cook the ground ingredients; refer the picture below (the one on the upper right hand side) to see the moisture at the bottom of the vessel.)

3. Make a well in the middle of the Tapioca and place the ground ingredients. Cover it with the Tapioca pieces from the sides; close the vessel; lower the heat to minimum and cook for another 3-5 minutes or till the residual Water is all absorbed.
4. While this is happening, make the tempering. Heat the Coconut Oil in a small pan on medium heat and splutter the Mustard Seeds.
5. Add the Shallots and Curry Leaves; fry till the Shallots are golden brown.
6. Add the grated Coconut and fry again till the Coconut is golden brown.
7. Add this together with the remaining Oil, if any, to the prepared Tapioca and mash everything together until it is uniformly mashed. Check for Salt and add more if needed. (Salt should be enough so that it can be eaten alone.)
8. Serve hot/ warm with Fish Curry or Beef Veyichathu, Chicken Veyichathu or simply with Chutney.

Notes:

• It is advised to use good and fresh Tapioca as possible. If you see any blackened areas in it while cleaning, it is better to discard them.
• Tapioca contains a small amount of cyanide (Cyanogenic glucosides; ‘Kattu’ as it is called locally in Kerala which is responsible for illness in animals like Cows,if eaten in huge amounts), so it is advised to cook them in plenty of Water (and the excess water should be discarded).
• Frying the grated Coconut while tempering is traditionally done for raw Jackfruit preparation, but I love it for Tapioca too.
• It will be difficult to mash the Tapioca if cooled, so do it while hot.
• Don't keep the Tapioca for a long time after slicing and wash them only just before cooking.
• If you are buying fresh Tapioca with skin, then,  you will have to buy at least 1 1/4 Kg  from the store in order to get approximately 1 Kg of cleaned Yucca/ Tapioca. Peeled Tapioca is also available in the frozen section of Indian/ international stores.

 






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Radish Pickle

Recipe No: 282
This is one of those recipes that came into life as a desperate attempt to save some Radishes that were left behind in my vegetable bin just before we moved to Atlanta. It stayed good for a long time and was a real help during the movement.
The inspiration for this recipe is the Carrot Pickle featured in one of my favorite blog Mishmash. As Radish contains lot more Water, it requires a different treatment than that of Carrots. So here is it…

Ingredients

• Radish……...............3 Cups (wash; cut off both ends and slice into thin long pieces)
• Salt……………………..1 Teaspoon

To Saute

• Oil……………………….2 Tablespoons (I used Vegetable Oil)
• Mustard Seeds……..1/2 Teaspoon
• Garlic…….…….........2 Tablespoons (cut into thin, long slices)
• Ginger……...............1 Tablespoon (cut into thin, long slices)
• Green Chilly……......3 Tablespoons (cut into thin, long slices)
• Vinegar……………....1/4 Cup
• Sugar………………….1/4 Teaspoon

Method of Preparation

1. Mix Radish and Salt; keep aside for 20 minutes. (By this time Water from the Radish will be oozing out.)
2. Squeeze the Radish really good; discard the excess liquid and keep aside.
3. Heat Oil in a pan on medium high flame and splutter the Mustard Seeds.
4. Add Garlic, Ginger and Green Chilly; sauté for a minute or till slightly wilted.
5. Add the Radish; mix well and off the heat immediately.
6. Mix in the Vinegar and Sugar. (Add Salt only if needed; most of the Salt that was added to the Radish will go while squeezing them and the remaining will give enough Saltiness to the pickle.)
7. When cooled, store in an airtight container.

Notes:

• Even though this pickle is good to serve the day it is made, I think it tastes better the second day.
• Don't leave the Radish in the heat for a long time as it may reduce its crunchiness. 
• Do adjust the amount of Vinegar according to your taste. (But the amount given in the recipe is good for mine.)

 





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Pazhutha Thakkali/ Ripe Tomato Curry

Recipe No: 277

Ingredients                                               Serves 4
To cook

• Tomato…………….....2 Big/ 3 medium (cut into big pieces)
• Onion sliced.………..2/3 Cup (cut into slightly big pieces)
• Green Chilly slit…...2-3
• Curry Leaves………..1 sprig
• Water…………………..2/3 Cup
• Turmeric Powder….1/4 Teaspoon
• Red Chilly Powder...1/2 Teaspoon
• Coriander Powder…1 ½ Teaspoons
• Salt as needed

To Grind

• Grated Coconut……..1/2 Cup (fresh preferred;  of course,unsweetened)
• Garlic……………………2 Big/ 3 Small
• Shallots…………………2
• Ginger chopped….....1 teaspoon (1 small piece)
• Cumin Powder……....1/4 teaspoon (can use Cumin seeds instead)

For Tempering

• Coconut Oil……………1 Tablespoon
• Mustard Seeds……….1/4 Teaspoon
• Dry Red Chilly....……2 (broken into two)
• Shallots sliced……..…1
• Curry Leaves……….…1 Sprig

Method of Preparation

1. Grind all the ingredients mentioned in the ‘to grind’ section into a smooth paste using ½ Cup Water. Keep it aside till ready to be used.
2. Combine all the ingredients mentioned in the ‘to cook’ section in a ‘Chatti’ (an earthen cooking vessel) or a deep pan. Let it boil on high heat.
3. Once boiled thoroughly, add the ground Coconut mixture and allow it to boil once more. Reduce the heat to medium low and let it continue cooking for 2-3 minutes or until the raw taste of the ground Coconut mixture is gone.
4. Adjust the Salt and the level of gravy at this stage. If you add more Water, let the curry boil once more before switching it off.
5. In another small pan prepare the tempering. Heat Coconut Oil on medium high heat and splutter the Mustard seeds.
6. Add the broken Dry Red Chilly, sliced Shallots and Curry Leaves. Let it fry till the Shallots are golden brown.
7. Switch off the heat and pour the tempering (Oil and all) on top of the prepared Tomato Curry.
8. Mix well and keep the pan closed for 10 minutes before serving it hot with Rice.

Notes:

• The Onion for cooking is sliced a bit big as it should hold its shape once the Curry is done. I like a bit of crispiness to the Onion slices in the prepared Curry. If you don’t prefer that, do slice it thin.
• Don’t cook the Curry until the Tomato mashes up. Some of those Tomato pieces should be present in the Curry without disintegrating.
• This gravy has a tendency to thicken as it cools down. So adjust the thickness accordingly. (Use only boiling Water to dilute the Curry if it went too thick.)

 





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Dal/ Lentil/ Parippu

Recipe No: 275

I have to confess that I grew up in a house that doesn't use Coriander Leaves at all but married into a house which consider Coriander Leaves as a must in cooking. But why am I blabbering this now? Well, I consider this Dal as ‘the dish’ that made me fall in love with Coriander Leaves and as you know from my previous recipes, I use a lot of it now. Oh…by the way, this is my Mother in Law’s preparation and is a staple for dinner with Chappathi.

Ingredients                                            Serves 3

To pressure cook

• Thoor Dal/ Thuvara Parippu…1/2 Cup (Other Dals like Kadala Parippu/ Split Chick Peas and Cherupayar Parippu/ Split Green Gram also can be used)
• Water…………………………………...1 ½ Cups
• Turmeric Powder…………………..1/8 Teaspoon

To Saute

• Oil……………………………………..…1 Tablespoon
• Mustard Seeds……………………...1/4 Teaspoon
• Onion Chopped……………………..1/3 Cup
• Green Chilly slit…………………….1-2
• Tomato chopped……………………1 small
• Chicken/ Meat Masala…………..1/2 Teaspoon (I used store bought)
• Chopped Coriander Leaves…….2 Tablespoons
• Salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Wash the Lentils/ Dal really well (until the Water runs clear) and cook them with the all the ingredients mentioned in the 'to pressure cook’ section in a Pressure cooker till done. (After the first whistle, I lowered the heat to medium low and cooked for 5 more minutes.)
2. Once cooked, off the heat and let it cool down.
3. Heat Oil in a pan on medium high heat and splutter the Mustard Seeds.
4. Once the seeds start to crackle, add the Onion and Green Chilly; saute till translucent about a minute or two.
5. Add the Tomato and Salt; continue sauteing for another minute. (Tomatoes doesn’t have to be mashed. But if you don’t like to see them in pieces, please do wait till it mashes.)
6. Add the Chicken/ Meat Masala powder, followed by the cooked Dal (including Water if any) and mix well.
7. Add a cup of Water (add a bit more or less depending on your taste and the amount of Water left behind after cooking the Dal; but consider that this Curry tends to thicken a lot after cooling.) and let it boil. (Please refer the picture at the bottom for consistency.)
8. Add Coriander Leaves; mix well and do a taste test to adjust the seasonings. (At this point you can add more Masala (up to ¼ teaspoon) if you prefer.)
9. Serve hot with Chappathi.

Notes:

• Using a bit of Oil while cooking Dal/ Lentil in a pressure cooker may reduce boiling over/ leaking out of the whistle.
• The cooking time for the Lentil depends on your cooking conditions and the efficiency of the Pressure Cooker. So adjust the time accordingly.
• Depending on the time taken by the Lentil to cook (especially if your Pressure Cooker has a long cooking time), it may require a bit more Water. Please adjust accordingly.
• With Chicken/ Meat Masala, I mean only the spice powders that are used to cook them and it will not include Chicken/ Meat extracts (So okay for Vegetarians too). Instead of Chicken/ Meat Masala you can use a combination of Red Chilly, Coriander and Garam Masala Powder.
• As Coriander Leaves play a major role in the taste of this dish, I will not recommend avoiding it.

Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and
serve it to your family with love…

Theengapalil Patticha Kozhi (Chicken cooked in Coconut Milk)

Recipe No: 274
How many Chicken recipes can you come up with? In fact... a lot… isn’t it? Of all those different types of Chicken dishes, I consider this as ‘the Chicken Curry’ for the laziest days… It sure is fast, easy and yes, the most important thing... tasty… With a prevailing taste of Coconut Milk, it  tastes somewhat like a stew but much easier than a stew. Go through the recipe; make it and you will see how easy it is…

Ingredients                                                                  Serves 4

• Chicken…………..............750 Grams (cut into small pieces)
• Shallots…………..............12 quartered
• Ginger Garlic Paste…....1 ½ Tablespoons
• Green Chilly chopped….3-5 (I used Indian; adjust according to your taste)
• Crushed Black Pepper…1/2 – 1 Teaspoon (Adjust according to your taste)
• Curry Leaves……………..2 Sprigs
• Thick Coconut Milk…….1 Cup (If you are using Coconut cream do dilute it with some Water)
• Crushed Whole Spices…1 inch Cinnamon piece, 6 cloves, 3 Cardamom pods and ½ of a Star Anise
• Salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Mix all the ingredients given in the ingredient list in a pan; mix well; close it and allow to boil on high heat.
2. Once boiled, reduce the heat to medium low and let it cook for about 20-25 minutes or until all the liquid is evaporated and Oil starts to separate. (We don’t add any Oil but, it will separate from the Coconut Milk as it cooks down.)  Do stir now and then to avoid sticking at the bottom of the pan.

3. Once Oil starts to separate, off the heat and serve it hot with Rice, Appam or Flatbreads.

Notes:

• If you don't have Shallots or if you are too lazy to peel them, do use 1/2 cup cubed Onion. Well... did I ever mention that it is very easy to peel Shallots if you soak them in warm Water for a few minutes?
• If you doesn’t want to use (or don’t have) whole spices, please do use ½ Teaspoon homemade Garam Masala powder or ¾ Teaspoon of a good variety store bought Garam Masala Powder instead.
• If you are using thick Coconut Milk, do use 3/4 Cup diluted with 1/4 cup of Water.
• It is very important that you have to cook the Chicken until the Oil separates as it decides the taste of the dish. I like it to be a bit moist but ha… you can even fry the Chicken a bit in the oozed out Oil if you want. But in that case make sure you use a good non stick pan.

Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and
serve it to your family with love…

I am linking this post to the event Christmas delicacies hosted by Julie of Erivum Puliyum

Bhindi/ Lady’s Finger/ Okra/ Vendakka fry

Recipe No: 273
One important thing that has to be mentioned while working with Okra is its sliminess if not cooked properly. But with some care it can be reduced to a greater extend and in this recipe it is not a problem at all… I bet this will be one of the best Okra dishes that you would have ever tasted. Enjoy…

Ingredients                                   Serves 3-4

• Okra/Vendakka…….....200 Grams
• Onion………………………1/4 Cup (cut into thin, long slices)
• Red Chilly Powder……1/2- 1 Teaspoon (Depending on the taste)
• Asafoetida Powder…..2 Dashes/ a pinch (Kayam Podi)
• Curry Leaves…………..1 Sprig
• Besan/ Kadalamavu…2 Tablespoons (Chickpea Flour)
• Salt to taste
• Oil for deep frying

Method of Preparation

1. Wash and dry the Okra thoroughly. Cut them into thin long slices.
2. Add sliced Onion, Red Chilly Powder, Asafoetida Powder, Curry Leaves and Salt to the Okra pieces; mix well and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
3. Heat Oil for deep frying in a deep pan (a wok/ Cheenachatti works the best for this) on high heat. (At least a cup of Oil is needed)
4. Sprinkle the Besan/ Kadalamavu/ Chickpea Flour to the seasoned Okra pieces and toss gently.
5. Deep fry the tossed Okra in hot Oil till golden brown.
6. Once golden brown, remove this from the Oil; drain the excess Oil on a kitchen tissue and serve hot with Rice.

Notes:

• Washing and drying the Okra really good (Typically I do this part way in advance) sometime before using tends to reduce the sliminess a bit. In this recipe, Chickpea Flour also helps reduce it.
• The moisture created by the Salt in the marinated Okra pieces will help the Besan stick to them. If some Flour is left behind, please do discard them. This is to prevent the loose Flour from burning in hot Oil. (Believe me... burnt Flour does not taste good!!!)
• I never used shallow frying in this recipe and hence not so sure about the outcome.
• Deep frying should be done only in plenty of Oil. Otherwise the Okra pieces will reduce the heat of the Oil resulting in heavy absorption of Oil by them.
• As the Okra pieces are sliced thin, it will take only a few minutes for them to cook. So it is okay to fry these on high heat. Also high heat will reduce the absorption of Oil by Okra.
• This recipe is loosely adapted from a recipe by Mrs. K.M Mathew.

 



Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…

Fish Manjurian

Recipe No: 270
This is another one of my quick and easy recipe that goes well with Flat breads, Fried Rice or even plain boiled Basmati Rice. With its unique 'Indo-Chinese' touch, this is a bit different from the usual Fish preparations but very tasty and perfect for people who search variety in Fish dishes. Enjoy…

Ingredients                                                     Serves 4
To marinate

• Fish………………....................1 lb/ 425 grams (bones removed and cut into bite size cubes; I used Salmon but any Fish with thick flesh will do.)
• Corn Starch…......................2 Tablespoons (commonly called Corn Flour in India)
• All Purpose Flour/Maida….1 Tablespoon
• Rice Flour……………………….1 Tablespoon
• Egg………………………………...1/2 (Beaten well)
• Soy Sauce…………………….....1/2 Teaspoon
• Red Chilly Powder………......1/4 Teaspoon
• Salt as needed

To Saute

• Oil…………………………..........3-4 Tablespoons
• Spring Onion…………..........5 stalks (chopped; white and green portions separated)
• Garlic chopped………..........2 Teaspoons
• Onion cubed………….......….1 ½ Cups (make slightly big cubes)
• Sambal Oelek……………......1 Teaspoon (If not available use Red Chilly paste/ sauce)
• Vinegar…………………..........1/2 Teaspoon
• Soy Sauce……………….........1 Teaspoon
• Tomato ketch up…………...2 Tablespoons
• Coriander Leaves…………..2-3 Tablespoons (chopped)
• Salt as needed

•  Oil for deep frying

Method of Preparation

1. Make a batter with all the ingredients mentioned in the ‘to marinate’ section except the Fish. Marinate the Fish with the batter and let it sit for 10 minutes.
2. Heat at least an inch of Oil in a deep pan and deep fry the Fish on high heat till they are golden brown. The time for frying depends on the size of the Fish pieces and so, please do adjust accordingly.
3. Drain the Fish and let the excess Oil drain on a paper towel. Keep it aside till ready to be used.
4. In another pan (or the same pan with the Oil removed), heat 3-4 Tablespoons of Oil on high heat and saute Spring Onion Whites and Garlic till fragrant for about 30 seconds. (Please don’t brown them.)
5. Add the Onion and saute for 3-4 minutes or till it is slightly translucent. (It shouldn’t go brown. In fact I like it when the Onion is slightly crunchy.)
6. Add Sambal Oelek, Soy Sauce, Ketchup and Vinegar; mix well.
7. Add the fried Fish, Chopped Coriander Leaves, Spring Onion Greens and more Salt (if needed); mix well and serve hot.

Notes:

• Sambal Oelek is Red Chilly paste in Vinegar and are available in most of the Indian and Asian stores.
• If Sambal Oelek is not available use any Red Chilly paste and if you can’t find that use either Red Chilly flakes or even Red Chilly powder or half of both. But adjust according to the taste and heat of the Chilly. Red Chilly Garlic sauce works fine too and these are available in the Indian stores as well.
• I used dark Soy Sauce (Ching’s dark Soy), which is available in most of the Indian stores.
• While deep frying, it is better to use enough Oil for the Fish pieces to immerse fully to ensure even cooking. Don’t overcrowd the pan while deep frying and if there are more, please do fry them in batches.
• Once the Fish is fried, all the other processes will be done in minutes, so please do all the prep work before you start sauteing.
• If you want a bit of gravy for this dish, dissolve ½ teaspoon Corn starch in ½ Cup Water and add to the dish towards the end. Make sure the sauce boils before switching the flame off. (But I prefer without the gravy.)
• If you like Capsicum cut it into cubes and add it along with the Onion.
• As most of the sauces have Salt in it, add extra Salt only at the very end.

 






Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…

Salmon and Egg Rice

Recipe No: 269
This is one easy yet very delicious Rice dish that will be ready to serve in a matter of minutes, making it an excellent after work dinner or a lazy late afternoon lunch. 

Ingredients                                   Serves 3

• Basmati Rice…………….........1 1/2 Cups (Washed and drained)
• Hard boiled Eggs………….....2 (cut each into 4 pieces)

To cook the Salmon

• Salmon……………………….......300 Grams (clean and wash; but don’t cut)
• Salt…………………………......….1/2 Teaspoon
• Pepper Powder………….........1/2 Teaspoon
• Water…………………………......2 Cups

To make the Rice

• Oil……………………………….......2 Tablespoons
• Cumin seeds……………….........1/3 Teaspoon
• Onion chopped……………........1/2 Cup
• Ginger Garlic Paste…………....1 Teaspoon
• Coriander Powder……………...1 ½ Teaspoons
• Turmeric Powder……………….1/4 Teaspoon
• Garam Masala Powder………3/4 Teaspoon
• Coconut Milk……………………..1 Cup (medium thickness)
• Salt……………………………………as needed (I used around ¾ Teaspoon)
• Chopped Coriander Leaves….2 Tablespoons

Method of Preparation

1. Soak the washed and drained Rice in warm water for about 20 minutes. Drain well.
2. Combine all the ingredients in the ‘to cook the Salmon’ section in a deep pan and boil on high heat. (It is good if the Fish is immersed fully in the Water otherwise, turn it over half way through cooking.)
3. Once boiled, lower the flame to medium low and cook for 5 minutes. (By this time Fish will be fully cooked.)
4. Take the fish out of the Water and keep aside. Once slightly cooled, tear it into big bite size pieces with the help of a fork. (As Salmon is delicate it will be a bit difficult to cut them into small pieces, but you are more than welcome to do so if you want. But I preferred irregular pieces. If your husband or guests ask why, tell them that it is 'rustic'!!)
5. Measure the remaining cooking liquid and add more Water to make it up to 2 cups.
6. Heat Oil in a wide pan on medium high heat and splutter the Cumin seeds.
7. Add the Onion and saute till translucent for about a minute or two.
8. Add Ginger Garlic paste and cook till the raw smell is gone.
9. Lower the heat to low and add Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder and Garam Masala Powder; saute for 30 seconds.
10. Add the drained Rice and fry it for about 3 minutes on medium high heat.
11. Once fried, add the Fish cooking liquid (the one that we added Water to make 2 cups), Coconut Milk and the Salt (consider the fact that the Fish cooking liquid has Salt). Mix well, cover and let it boil.
12. Once boiled, reduce the heat to minimum and let it cook.
13. Once the Rice is half cooked, add the Fish; mix gently and let it cook covered till all the liquid is absorbed and the Rice is cooked perfectly.
14. Once cooked, switch off the heat; sprinkle the Coriander Leaves and mix gently.
15. Serve hot topped with Egg.

Notes:

• If you are squeezing fresh Coconut Milk, do combine 1st and the 2nd milk to make a cup for this preparation.
• The Salt for this dish should be adjusted in such a way that the Rice should have Salt if eaten without any curries.
• Cumin seeds in this dish can be substituted with Black Cumin seeds too.
• I like this dish a lot with Salmon and hence too stubborn to try with others.

 



Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…

Brinjal/ Eggplant/ Aubergine with Ketchup and Tamarind

Recipe No: 268
Ketchup and Tamarind… What sort of a combination is that? If this is what you are thinking… well, I don’t have an exact answer... but… come on…. Who cares as long as the dish is tasty? It will not make you lose your sleep, but may be at the end of the day you might think… that was one tasty dish and I am not sure but, I am slowly beginning to like Brinjal! Come on give it a try… it will be ready to eat in a matter of minutes…
Oh I forgot to mention… this is my take on a Brinjal dish that was made by a member from our Indiana church for a prayer meeting… Ahh, even though it was a crowd around 30-35, I ended up eating half of that dish… (shhh... please keep it a secret...)

Ingredients                                               Serves 3

• Brinjal…………………………….250 grams (cut into medium sized pieces)
• Oil…………………………………..2-3 Tablespoons
• Onion……………………………..1/2 cup (cut into cubes)
• Ginger Garlic paste………….3/4 Teaspoon
• Red Chilly Powder……………1/2 Teaspoon
• Coriander Powder…………...1/2 Teaspoon
• Cumin Powder………………..1/8 Teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder…………….1/4 Teaspoon
• Tomato Ketchup………………2 Tablespoons
• Tamarind juice……………….1/3 Cup (from a small marble sized Tamarind; depending on your taste)
• Coriander Leaves.................1 Tablespoon (chopped)
• Salt as per taste

Method of Preparation

1. Heat 2 Tablespoons of Oil in a pan on high heat (wait till it is really hot) and fry the Brinjal pieces with Salt until it is slightly brown here and there. Take it out of the pan and keep aside till ready to be used.
2. Add a bit more of Oil if needed and saute the Onion on medium heat for a minute or till it starts to wilt. (Doesn’t have to brown)
3. Add Ginger Garlic paste and saute till the raw smell is gone.
4. Reduce the heat to minimum and add Red Chilly Powder, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder and Cumin Powder; saute for 30 seconds.
5. Add Ketchup and Tamarind juice; mix thoroughly and add the fried Brinjal pieces.
6. Cover the pan and cook for a minute or two. (The Brinjal pieces shouldn’t be overcooked and mashed. If fried properly, this step will take only a minute.) Do a taste test and add more Salt if needed.
7. Sprinkle the Coriander Leaves; mix properly and serve hot with Chappathi or Rice.

Notes:

• I used Chinese Brinjal. It is okay to use the skin of Indian and Chinese Brinjal, but if it is American Eggplant, do take the skin off as it is slightly on the bitter side.
• You can use a bit more Oil (up to 1 tablespoon more), but don’t add too much as Brinjal is like a sponge and will absorb a lot of Oil if you put more. So it is better to stick to the described amount.
• The amount of Tamarind used should be according to your taste. (I am not too much of as sour person; so mine is less) Make pulp and add slowly, tasting in between.Don't use more than 1/3 cup Water or the gravy may become loose.
• If the Brinjal has a lot of seeds do wash by slightly squeezing them in a Colander so that the seed will escape through its holes.
• If you cut the Brinjal a bit ahead of time, do put it in Water to prevent oxidation and the discoloration that follows.
• If you wash or put the Brinjal pieces in Water prior to cooking, do squeeze the Water properly and dry it with a kitchen towel to take the extra moisture out.
• Shallow frying the Brinjal pieces in very high heat is important. It will release all the Water and start boiling rather than frying if low heat is used.

 



Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…

Whole Fish Masala

Recipe No: 264
Making whole chicken is a usual thing in many households but what about whole Fish? This is one such recipe that can be made entirely on the stove top. I used a whole Tilapia, but you can use any fish that fits in your pan but select fishes that have minimum bones.

Ingredients                                    Serves 4

• Whole Fish……………………......1 (2 1/2 – 3 lb or around 1 kg; skin removed)

To grind and marinate the Fish

• Red Chilly Powder……………...1 ½ Teaspoon
• Coriander Powder……………….1 Teaspoon
• Pepper Powder…………………...1/3 Teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder………………..1/4 Teaspoon
• Fenugreek Powder……………...1/8 Teaspoon (Uluva Podi)
• Cumin Powder……………………1/4 Teaspoon (Jeera Podi)
• Shallots……………………………..4 (Kochulli)
• Garlic…………………………………5 Big cloves
• Ginger……………………………….1 inch piece
• Vinegar……………………………..1/2 Teaspoon
• Salt as needed

To saute

• Oil…………………………………..…3-4 Tablespoons (Use Coconut oil for better taste)
• Mustard seeds…………………….1/2 Teaspoon
• Shallots sliced………………..……1 cup
• Ginger sliced thin………………..1 inch piece
• Green Chilly cut into rounds…1
• Curry Leaves………………………1 sprig
• Tomato sauce……………………..3 Tablespoons (instead use 1 big Tomato pureed after removing the seeds)
• Tomato Ketchup……………..…..3 Tablespoons
• Water…………………………….…..1 1/2 Cups
• Salt as needed

Method of Preparation

1. Remove the skin of the Fish; wash; make a few slits and pat it dry.
2. Grind all the ingredients given in the ‘to grind and marinate’ section into a fine paste.
3. Marinate the Fish with half of the ground paste and keep it aside for at least 30 minutes. Keep the rest of the marinade for later use.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons of Oil in a non stick pan (will reduce sticking and the amount of Oil used) on medium high heat and shallow fry the fish for about a minute on each side. (Doesn’t have to cook the Fish entirely, we are looking for a light brown color here and there.)
5. Remove the Fish from the pan and add the rest of the Oil (if necessary) and splutter the Mustard seeds.
6. Add Shallots, Ginger, Curry Leaves and Green Chilly; saute till it is wilted.
7. Lower the heat to medium low and add the left over marinade; saute till the raw smell is gone for about a minute.
8. Add Tomato sauce and Ketchup followed by Water; put heat on medium high and let it boil thoroughly.
9. Slide the Fish back into the gravy; lower the heat to medium low; cover the pan and let it cook for about 30 minutes. (The amount of Water will be less than the height of the Fish so it is very important to turn the Fish over once while cooking and do pour the gravy over at times.)
10. Once the Fish is cooked, check the Salt and add more if needed. If the amount of Water is more than what you need, then keep the lid open and let it evaporate.  At this point do take some gravy from the sides and baste the Fish constantly.
11. Once the amount of Water is reduced to a desired level, switch off the heat and serve it hot with Rice or Flat Breads.

Notes:

• It is very easy to remove the skin without harming the flesh, if the Fish is semi frozen. Use a bit of Salt to get hold of the skin if you lose grip.
• Tomato sauce is different from Tomato paste and Ketchup and are available in most of the grocery stores.
• As per the amount of ingredients given here the dish will be a bit on the spicy side. So adjust the seasonings according to your taste.
• You can marinate the Fish and keep it overnight in the coolest portion of the refrigerator (not freezer). But in that case let it come to room temperature before cooking.
• There are chances for the Fish to stick to the bottom of the pan while cooking, but instead to moving the Fish with a spatula which can break the Fish, do move the pan to and fro to move the Fish.
• Instead of transfering the cooked Fish with a spatula, you can slide the Fish with the gravy into a serving plate to avoid breaking the flesh.

 




Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…

Chicken n Veggie Rice/Pulav

Recipe No: 255
Most of us have that gene in us to rise to the occasion and do stuff when situation calls. On a normal day for Rice we have three sides… one Curry to pour into the Rice, one vegetable dish and one non vegetarian dish (Yes I accept... it is very difficult to run my household without that magic touch of Non-Vegetarian!!). What will you do if you have to make all these things in 45 minutes? Somehow I decided to cook all these things together and came up this wonderful recipe… Everyone except me at ours thought that the lunch was special that day and was very happy… I accepted all the comments, smiling, with a touch of regret for not telling the truth to them!!! Since then, it is one of my ‘thuruppu cheettu’ on busy days…

Ingredients                                        Serves 4

• Chicken…………………………350 Grams (bone in, cut into small pieces)
• Oil………………………………..2 Tablespoons
• Onion sliced thin…………...1 Cup
• Curry Leaves………………….1 Sprig
• Ginger Garlic Paste………...2 Teaspoons
• Indian Green Chilly………..3 (split into two)
• Red Chilly Powder……….…1 Teaspoon
• Coriander Powder………….1 ½ Teaspoons
• Turmeric Powder……………1/2 Teaspoon
• Garam Masala Powder…...1 Teaspoon
• Pepper Powder…………..….1/2 Teaspoon
• Tomato Sliced……………..…1/2 Large
• Vegetables cubed…………...2 Cups (I used Carrot, Beans, Potato and Fresh Green Peas)
• Ghee…………………………..…1 Tablespoon
• Whole Spices…………………4 Cardamom, 8 Cloves, 1 inch Cinnamon and 1 Star Anise
• Basmati Rice………………....1 ¼ Cup
• Thick Coconut Milk………..1 Cup
• Coriander Leaves......……..2 Tablespoons (chopped)
• Kasoori Methi……………..…1 Tablespoon
• Salt as needed
• ¼ Teaspoon Garam Masala to sprinkle on top

Method of Preparation

1. Wash Basmati Rice properly; soak in warm Water for 20 minutes; drain properly and keep aside till ready to be used. (Let this happen while you make Chicken.)
2. Heat Oil in a pan on medium high heat and saute Onion, Curry Leaves, Ginger Garlic Paste and Green Chilly till they are wilted.
3. Reduce the heat to medium low and add Red Chilly Powder, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder, Pepper Powder and Garam Masala Powder; saute for a minute or till the raw smell is gone.
4. Add Tomato, Chicken, Salt and 1 cup Water; cook till half done for about 8 minutes after boiling.
5. When it is half done, add the Veggies and cook completely for another 8-10 minutes.
6. Mean while in another pan on medium heat, melt Ghee and fry the whole spices till fragrant.
7. Add the drained Rice and fry really good till the Rice on the bottom of the pan starts to move on itself. Keep aside till ready to be used.
8. Once the Chicken and Veggies are cooked, remove the pieces with a slotted spoon and keep aside.
9. Measure the amount of liquid left in the pan after cooking Chicken and make it up to 1 ½ cups (use extra Water to make up.)
10. Boil together the Water - gravy mixture, Coconut Milk, Rice and some Salt (for the Rice) on high heat till boiled; then lower the heat to minimum; cover the pan and let it cook.
11. When the Water level reaches the level of the Rice, mix once; put the Chicken and the Veggies on top as a layer; sprinkle the Coriander Leaves and Kasoori Methi (Crush them between your palm before adding); close the lid and let it cook completely until all the Water is absorbed.
12. Once the Rice is cooked and the Water is all absorbed, mix it gently; check for Salt; sprinkle ¼ Teaspoon Garam Masala Powder on top; off the heat; close the pan and let it stand for 30 minutes before serving it warm with Raita.

Notes:

• If you are using dried Peas, do cook it before using. I used freshly frozen variety and hence added directly into the Curry.)
• Be very careful while mixing the Rice to avoid mashing of the Rice. I use a flat ended spatula and start from the side, scrapping the bottom and just turn it over. Do this in all of the portions; otherwise the Rice at the bottom may cook too much with less cooked Rice on the top.
• To prevent mashing and clumping of the rice, please do not try to mix this a lot while very hot.
• The amount of Salt should be enough, so that the dish can be eaten on its own.
• This dish is tastier the next day!

 




Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…