Solai's True Chettinad kitchen

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Showing posts with label chettinad vegetable curries. Show all posts

Friday, October 18, 2013

Whatever may be the color of cabbage you choose to cook,you are not wrong.Both are very low in calories and high in fiber and nutrients.

But red cabbage has 10 times more vitamin A than the green one and it has double the iron than green cabbage

This recipe is the new found by chettinad cooks .In a marriage last month I happened to taste this curry and was impressed by its taste. The cook engaged for that wedding was one of the best chettinad cooks.I slowly enquired him what it was and its preparation.As we were the groom's people he couldn't refuse to tell. It is a simple recipe,the usual cabbage fry and instead of grated coconut paneer is added.But the smell of cabbage was not there in this recipe and it tasted different

Ingredients

Red cabbage minced -250 gms

big onion minced-1

green chili-4

paneer shredded-100 gms

Method

Wash the cabbage and keep aside.keep the kadai in the stove.In one table spoon of cooking oil season the fry with a teaspoon of mustard and urudh dhal along with little curry leaf.Add the minced onion and green chilies.Saute for a minute.Now add the washed cabbage.keep the fire in medium.The water in the washed cabbage will be enough for it to cook. Mix well and close the kadai. After five minutes check whether the pieces are cooked. If not add the salt needed and sprinkle some water and cook for three more minutes.Once it is cooked to your desired level add the shredded paneer and cook for two more minutes.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

There are innumerable health benefits for this vegetable. But memories about this recipe runs back to my college days.I was doing my master of Economics in Kerala that time.I have a friend called Lakshmi who studied with me from Ist grade.We used to have exams in the month of April-May in college .Since we lived in Factory quarters allotted mainly for managerial category,I have to come to the nearby town Perumbavoor to meet my friends and of course my best friend Lakshmi.My mother used to drop me in the morning in her house and we will do combined study and will have lunch in her house and return back home in the evening.Lakshmi's mother was a music teacher and since it was holiday time for school kids she will have music classes till 12.As is the case ever we will be hungry all the time when we have to study.So we will be waiting for that 12'o clock so that she will start cooking. She will come and sit near us with a poosanikkai or big cucumber and a big coconut.She will cut one full vessel of the vegetable and grate the whole coconut.Next 15 minutes she will be grinding the coconut in the Ammi ,that time itself the taste of the gravy seasoned in fresh coconut oil will make me more hungry.While grinding coconut she would have put the vegetables along with onion in the stove (viragu aduppu) so that when the grinding is over the vegetables would have cooked.she will make the gravy in a big vessel. That will be the only item made for lunch along with chutta papad.I have no words to explain the taste for the hungry stomach.The rice in Kerala will be big but no matter the the taste of the gravy overtook everything. So even today whenever I cook this My memories go back to those golden days.It is nearly 20 years I met her.she was in Bangalore that time.Since there was not much communication facilities like mobile phones or networking sites,we couldn't maintain our contacts.That is the usual case of people of our generation.Today you guys are blessed to have so much means to have contacts with your friends.I will be very happy if I can get her contacts back through this post.

Here is the recipe.I don't know whether it will tickle the taste buds of all like it did for me.But friends please give it a try and respond with your comments.

I have made it like koottu.she used to make it little watery like gravy.Anyway both will be aw some.

This vegetable is widely available.I have seen this poosanikkai cut into small portions and neatly wrapped in paper in Korean stores in US.

Ingredients

Possanikkai -cut pieces 2 cups

onion minced-1

Thick curd-1 tablespoon

small onion minced-10

coconut oil-2 table spoons

To grind

Cocunut grated -2 table spoons for koottu for gravy you can use even a full coconut depends on qty needed

cumin seeds-1 table spoon

green chili-4

Procedure

Cook the poosanikkai pieces in a kadai adding a cup of water, a teaspoon of turmeric powder,onion and little salt. Once the pieces are well cooked add the grounded paste.If you want it as gravy mix the grounded paste in two cups of water and add.Add the salt needed along with a table spoon of fresh coconut oil.let the gravy boil for 5 minutes. Add 1 or two table spoons of curd just before switching off. Switch off the stove.Now season the curry in a separate kadai .For seasoning in a table spoon of coconut oil add a teaspoon of cumin seeds(small jeera) and curry leaf.Pour it on top of the gravy.Don't mix it now.Mix while serving.

Monday, August 5, 2013

It is one of the abundantly available vegetable in South India since it is very easy to grow and the plant does not need too much care.The harvest also will be in plenty as the name suggests it will be grow in clusters.A single plant itself will yield a lot of beans.Though it is abundant it will not find a place in the menu of many households.There may be many reasons for that.whatever it may be I know that it tickles the taste buds of many if properly cooked.My husbands loves this gravy. This recipe is dedicated to those fans of cluster beans.

Ingredients

Kothavarangai -1/4 kg

Small onion minced -10

Tomato -small 1

Thoor dhal-3 table spoons

Sambar powder-1 table spoon

Tamarind -half the quantity used for sambar

Procedure

Cut the vegetable as shown in the snap.Cook the thoor dhal in a small cooker.In a pan season the pachadi with a teaspoon of mustard seeds and cumin seeds and little curry leaf.Saute the minced onion and tomato.Now add the kothavarangai and saute in medium fire for 3 to 5 minute. This will remove the little bitter taste the veg has. Now transfer this into the cooker with thoor dhal .Add the sambar powder,turmeric powder,salt and tamarind.The curry should now look as if all the vegetables are inside the dhal.If not add little water. Adding tamarind now will help the vegetable not to be over cooked.Close the cooker and cook for 2 whistles or for 6 minutes in medium fire.Garnish with coriander leaves while serving.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

For long I wanted to post this recipe for its invaluable health benefits and mouth watering taste. cleaning and cutting the flower is little time consuming..But once you are used to its taste and health benefits ,I am sure you wont mind the strain.The most surprising thing for me is that I found the flower in US Korean stores too.

Health benefits
              This flower is known to increase progesterone levels and there by reduce blood flow
during mensuration.
               It is a good source of Vitamin A &C
               Known to be a good lactating agent and hence good for feeding mothers
               Good for heart patients and for patients suffering from stroke,

Ingredients
Banana flower -1 (cleaned and minced)
Murungai keerai-2 hand fulls (It is totally optional. Murungai keerai goes excellent with vazhai poo)
Small onion-15 minced or big onion-1 (minced)
Green chili-4
Red chili-1
Grated coconut -2 table spoons
Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon

For seasoning
Mustard seeds-1 teaspoon
Urudh dhal-1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds-1 teaspoon
Channa dhal-2 teaspoons

Procedure
Clean the flower by taking out the part shown in the snap
Mince nicely.
Pressure cook the minced flower in a cooker adding a cup of water and turmeric powder with little salt for 1 whistle or 5 minutes.
keep the murungai keerai ready (only leaves).It is optional.
Once the pressure goes open the cooker.Strain the excess water.
Keep the kadai in the stove.In one table spoon of oil season the fry with the item given for seasoning.
Add the chillies and minced onion and saute for 2 minutes.
Now add the cooked banana flower.
Add the salt needed too.Remember u have added little salt while cooking the flower.
Cook for 2 minutes mixing nicely
If you have murungai keerai,add now.
Cook in slow fire closing the kadai now and then for 5 minutes so that the keerai gets cooked.
Finally add the grated coconut and mix nicely
Before switching off check for the salt taste.if needed sprinkle some and mix nicely.
This fry goes well with rasam as well as curd rice.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

All vegetarians have to be satisfied with some specials made out of this veg when the non veg lovers treat themselves with chicken or mutton.Good spicy dishes can be made out of this.Cauliflower will attract worms and so should be boiled with a pinch of salt first. This vegetable is known to be gassy and should be avoided by new and lactating moms.

This recipe is a very easy and tasty one.It goes well with the soup rice which I blogged yesterday (Thakkali Soup).It will be excellent with curd rice also and will hardly take 10 to 15 minutes to cook.

Ingredients

Cauliflower- broken florets(20)

Tomato Big-1

Big onion-1

kuzhambu milagai thool-1 tablespoon or red chili powder-3/4 tablespoon

Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon

Ginger garlic paste-1 teaspoon (optional)

To season

Cinnamon-2 small pieces

Bay leaf-small piece

cloves-2

Fennel seeds-1 teaspoon

Curry leaf-little

Procedure

Boil the cauliflower florets nicely for 5 minutes along with a pinch of salt.Mince the onion and tomatoes.In a kadai add 1 table spoon of cooking oil and season the curry with the items given for seasoning.Now add the onion minced along with a pinch of salt and saute till the onions become translucent.Now add the minced tomato pieces and saute will smashing the tomatoes with the ladle When the tomatoes Get smashed add the milagai thool and turmeric powder along with the salt needed.Mix well.Now add the boiled cauliflower florets and mix well so that all the florets get coated with the masala. Cook for 5 minutes like that.Now sprinkle a handful of water and close the kadai keeping the flame in medium.After 5 minutes check for the taste and see to it that the pieces are well cooked .If not cook for few more minutes else increase the flame and mix everything well and see to it that there is not much water content.When the oil separates switch off the stove.If desired you can garnish with coriander leaves .

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

we are almost on the look out for some good soup recipes, since soup is an indispensable item in all households .This is a simple soup which can be given even to small babies This soup can be had with rice also if made little hot and spicy.For bachelors this is a good recipe as it is simple and can serve dual purpose.This soup will go well along with papad for rice.

Ingredients
Tomatoes-2 (big)
Big onion-1
green chili-2
Broken green gram (pasi paruppu)-2 table spoons
Thoor dhal(thuvaram paruppu)-2 table spoons
Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon
Pepper powder-1 teaspoon

To season
Pepper-1 teaspoon
clove-2
fennel seeds-1teaspoon(big jeera)
cinamon-2 small pieces
bay leaf-1 small piece
Curry leaf-little
Coriander leaves for garnishing

Cut the tomatoes into fine pieces. Mince the onions too.Slit the chilies.In a small pressure cooker add little cooking oil and season the soup with the items given for seasoning.Now add the dhals and saute for 30 seconds so that its raw smell goes(if you roast for long then the dhals will get roasted and will not get cooked.so be careful) now add the tomatoes and onion pieces along with the green chili.Add turmeric powder and the salt needed.Pour 2 to 3 cups of water.Close the cooker and cook for 7 minutes or for 2 whistles.Once the pressure goes open the cooker and pour the contents into a stainless steel strainer or any good strainer.Squeeze off the contents nicely with a laddle.Now add as much water or Arisi mandi(rice washed water) to get the desired consistency.Check for the hot and salt taste.If you are going to have it as soup for drinking then the salt and hot taste can be less.Keep the cooker again in the stove.Now add the pepper powder and without closing the cooker bring the soup to a boil or cook for 5 more minutes in medium flame.Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves while serving.

Friday, May 18, 2012

It is mango season and it is a mega time for the mango lovers. This vella pachadi out of mango will be made on Tamil New year day to bring out the sour and sweet taste in lunch. People who love this will be really crazy of this dish. This time when I went to Chettinad, I tasted this almost everyday since this was prepared in my periamma’s house or in our house each day. Here I want to mention about the houses in Chettinad for the knowledge of others. Houses there will be very big running to the whole of a street .My home especially in Kanadukathan is very big. The front side of the house is one street and the backside another street .Those who are interested in seeing chettinad houses can have a view of my home by clicking this link http://chettinadumansion.com/. Part of the house is converted into a heritage home and is taken care of or rather managed by my father and brother. Coming back to vella pachadi, when we go home for holidays to chettinad it will be real treat, since we will have lot of items during lunch, dinner or breakfast. The houses will be big and will be shared by grandfathers brothers and hence so by dads brothers too. Each family will have a kitchen and whenever anybody living outside from anyone of the family comes to the house all will get excited and will try to prepare something special. So food will be shared between all kitchens and all will have lot of items. But now a days people living in Chettinad are few and hence in our house too we have only my dad’s elder brothers family there. I have already mentioned about my periamma living there almost 78 years, but still very active cooking her own food since all her children are outside. She is very good in cooking like my mom and now she is very enthusiastic in sharing her rare recipes with me .she is very happy that my blog is very useful for her grand daughters.

This vella pachadi will be loved by those who like sweet taste with rice. To be frank, none in my family is a big fan of this and that is why I did not blog this recipe though requested by many readers. My mom prepared this especially for blogging and showed me how to cook this.

Ingredients

Mango -1 (peel off the skin and make it into thin slices)

Jaggerry-100 to 150 gms (according to taste)

Pasi paruppu -4 table spoons (roast a little before cooking the dhal)

Green chili-1or2

Turmeric powder-1/2 teaspoon

For seasoning

Mustard seed-1 teaspoon

Curry leaf-little

Red chili-1

Procedure

Pressure cook the dhal and keep aside.

Pressure cook the mango pieces adding half cup water (use the minimum water needed ) along with the green chili, little salt and turmeric powder.

Remember the dish is sweet so don’t use too much salt.

Pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Open the cooker. Add the cooked dhal also.

Now add the jaggerry checking in between for correct sweet taste

Cook for 3 to 4 minutes smashing everything together with a ladle.

Finally season the pachadi with the items given in ‘to season’

The question in everybody’s mind now is why can’t we cook the dhal and mango together. I will tell you the reason. Roasted dhal itsef will take little long time to cook. Next point is that dhal will not get cooked fast with anything sour.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

This recipe is for those living in rural areas where jack fruits are abundant. In kerala and in Neyveli it is very common. So I am used to good preparations out of this seed. Palakottai murungakkai kuzhambu also will be very tasty. Little bit of patience is needed to cook this as we have to take of the outer white skin first.Cut it into two halves, then it will be easy to peel off the white skin. This seed is said to be little gastric. So avoid taking it too much. But this fry is very tasty and will go well with sambar, rasam and curd rice

Ingredients

Palakottai-30

Sambar powder-2 teaspoons

Turmeric powder-1/2 teaspoon

Procedure

Pressure cook the kottai with half cup water and little salt for 5 minutes. Open the cooker ,I f you have time peel off the brown skin too. Keep the kadai in the stove. In a teaspoon of oil,season the fry with little mustard seed. Add the chili powder and salt needed to the cooked kottai and put it in to the kadai. Fry everything together for 6 to 7 minutes without adding water

Monday, May 7, 2012

This is a green with innumerable medicinal effects and at the same time can be cooked with good taste. Pon agum kaan nee is the one word which includes all the benefits of this keerai. If taken regularly the body will glow like gold is what is believed.

For the sake of my readers I have browsed and found some benefits of this green.

There are two varieties of this keerai – local and ‘foreign’. Native variety is a super green plant. In Tamil we call the foreign one as seema ponnanganni. All of us would have seen that little bushy pink plant in parks and gardens planted as borders.

Uses

The word ‘Pon’ is the vernacular name of the plant ( Ponnanganni) means ‘gold’. This plant is thus as valuable as gold. Fried in ghee with a little pepper, salt and taken for 48 days it promotes the beauty of the body, imparts a golden glow, cools the eyes.

Lean people can gain weight and strength by eating this green leaves, cooked with Thoorr dhal, and ghee.

Regular intake of this green thrice a week increases production of breast milk in lactating mothers.

It improves the function of the liver.

If eaten with white garlic, Ponnanganni cures chronic constipation. Piles also can be cured.

Some people have ‘hot’ body. Such people can take two ounces juice of this plant mixed with 4 ounces of goat or cow’s milk. The body then gains strength.

Ponnanganni juice 30 ml mixed with goat’s milk (30 ml) may be taken empty stomach early morning. This reduces body heat and nourishes the body. If goats milk is not available, use cow’s milk.

Ponnanganni in any form – food or Thailam is good for the eyes.

This keerai can be made a poriyal like aria keerai or can be made in koottu form. Thoor dhal will be good for this green.

Ingredients

Ponnanganni keerai – 3 cups cut

Chopped onion-1

Sambar powder-1 ½ teaspoon

Very small tomato-1

Garlic pods-4

Thoor dhal- 3 to 4 table spoons

Procedure

In a small cooker pressure cook the dhal. Once cooked open the cooker add the green ,onion, sambar powder and the tomato into the cooker itself. Mix well. No need to add more water.Close the cooker and cook for 5 minutes or for one whistle in medium fire, After the pressure releases open the cooker and add the salt needed .season the koottu with a teaspoon of mustard and small jeera. Cook for 5 more minutes without lid. This green needs to be cooked very soft. So pressure cooking will make the job very easy.

Friday, April 27, 2012

All of us are in the look out for good keerai recipes to impress our children as we find it difficult to give them. We all know its nutritional value and its importance in our menu. If this poriyal is prepared with care,I fee it can be given to children without much difficulty. we have to be changing the recipes often so that they don’t feel that they are being given the greens often. I find it difficult with my elder one in giving her keerai even now. It is time that she should have started giving it to her son.

The same poriyal can be prepared with other keerai like mulai keerai sirukeerai etc.Try out with the greens you get in your region and update.

Ingredients

Keerai- 1 bunch (cleaned,cut and washed) -4 cups

Chopped onion-1/4 cup

Red chilies-4

Grated coconut-2 tablespoons

To season

Mustard seed-1 teaspoon

Kadalai paruppu-2 tablespoons (optional)

Procedure

Keep the kadai in the stove.Season the poriyal with the items given in to season. Add red chilies and then onion.now add the greens and stir. In a few minutes it will become small in quantity. There will be water in itself enough for cooking else sprinkle some water.Make the flame low.Close the kadai.Check after 5 minutes. Add the salt needed. Once you feel the green is cooked and the water content has gone add the grated coconut and switch off the stove.Serve hot to children .This can mixed with rice along with little ghee and fed to small ones.

This gravy will be mouth watering for those who love the combination of hot, sour, sweet and salt taste. This gravy is mainly prepared when there is a mass gathering like temple function or free Anna dhans. I think the reason behind is that a whole pumpkin will give lot of cut pieces needed for the crowd. Moreover pumpkin is reasonably cheaper than other vegetables. I don’t find any other reason. If anybody know any other reason can let me know.

This is a veg normally harvested during pongal season and will be very cheap that time. In our community it is a must item to be cooked on Mattu Pongal day. One thing to be remembered by the youngsters is that the pumpkin has to be cut along with the outer skin. The skin should not be peeled off.

Ingredients

Pumpkin pieces-1 cup

Small onions-20

Garlic pods-20

Tamarind –a small lemon size

Tomato-1

Curry leaf-little

Gingerly oil-3 table spoons

Kuzhambu milagai Thool-2 table spoons

Coriander powder-1 table spoon

Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon

Jaggerry-A small piece

Procedure

Keep the kadai in the stove. In three tablespoons of gingelly oil season the gravy with a teaspoon of fenugreek and fennel seed each. Add curry leaf also. Now add garlic pods.Wait for it to turn color. Now add onions and then tomatoes and parangikkai pieces. Once they are sauteed add milagai thool, coriander powder and turmeric powder keeping the flame low. Add the tamarind and salt dissolved in three cups of water. Close the kadai. Let the gravy cook in slow fire for 15 minutes. Once you see oil on sides of the gravy add the jiggerry. Increase the flame. Cook for 5 more minutes and switch off the stove. Serve after 2 to 3 hours for great taste.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Many feel that a tasty and mouth watering dish cannot be prepared out of this vegetable. But this is a very commonly used veg in Chettinad. Chettiar ladies make simple and tasty koottu and poriyal with this. In some parts of Tamilnadu they make poricha koottu with this.
This koottu can be mixed with rice and be given to kids who have started taking rice as it is easily digestible. It is good for those recovering from illness and is an excellent dish for the newly delivered moms.

Please note that excess of dhal will lessen the taste of the vegetable

More medicinal value of the vegetable can be had in this link

http://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/snake-gourd-glory.htm#ixzz1bKCLYYRg

Ingredients
Snake gourd -1 medium size
Broken green gram (pasi paruppu) -2 to 3 table spoon
Bengal gram (kadalai paruppu)-1 table spoon
Small onion-2 or 3 (1 table spoon of minced big onion)
Green chili-2
Sambar powder-1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder-1/2 teaspoon
For seasoning
Small jeera-1 teaspoon
Broken urudh dhal-1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaf-little

Procedure
I always prefer cooking green gram in a kadai since I feel that the dhal gets a sticky texture if pressure cooked. Those who are used to cooking the dhal in the cooker please give this a try. Moreover the dhal will get cooked very fast even in a kadai.
In a kadai cook both the dhal together along with the turmeric powder
Once the dhal is cooked well, add the cut snake guard, onion, green chili and sambar powder.
Make sure there is 1 to 1 ½ cups of water in the kadai for the vegetable to get cooked.
In half way stage add the salt needed.
Cook for 10 minutes in medium fire.
Before switching off make sure of the consistency.
If you are going to feed the child with this then the consistency should be little watery else you can have your desired consistency.
This koottu has to be seasoned in the end preferably in ghee. Ghee gives the extra bit of taste and flavor for the curry.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

My most favorite recipe out of ladies finger is this masala. The main reason is that ,I can give it as a side dish or a spread or a mix which can be mixed with rice. Ladies finger fry for sure will be tastier but it can serve only a single purpose as a side dish. Now a days we search for recipes of this sort only and so this will be very useful for youngsters especially bachelors. The procedure is more important than ingredients.

Ingredients
Ladies finger (tender ones) -1/4 kg
Chopped onion -1
Chopped tomato -1
Sambar powder- 2 teaspoons
Turmeric powder -1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaf-little
Curd-2 teaspoons
Coriander leaves-little
For seasoning
Mustard seed-1 teaspoon
Broken urudh dhal-1 teaspoon
Small jeera-1 teaspoon
Curry leaf-little

Procedure
Keep the kadai in the stove.
In 1 table spoon of oil season the curry with items given for seasoning.
Now add the onions and sauté well.
After the onions get sauted, add the tomatoes and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the sambar powder, turmeric powder and the salt needed and mix well.
When there is not much of water content (water from tomato ) add the cut ladies finger pieces.
Mix everything well.
Keep the stove in medium fire.
When you feel that the ladies finger has reduced in qty add the curd and mix well.
Cook for 5 minutes stirring regularly.
Now sprinkle 2 table spoons of water and mix well.
Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
Check for the taste now.
If anything is missing, it can be added now
Again add 2 table spoons of water and mix well.
Cook for a minute.
Now you will find that your curry is like a masala.
Keep in mind that the flame should be in medium all the time else the curry will get burnt.
When the curry is in desired consistency, switch off the stove
Garnish with coriander leaves

Monday, May 3, 2010

Another vegetable which made me curious in US is the fresh Chick peas ,right from the garden inside the pod. I found this in one of the big korean store called Lotte Plaza. I broke one pod and tasted the pea. It was tender and tasted like fresh peanut in the shell. I thought there will be at least 2 chick pea in each pod but in almost every pod there was only just one pea.

chick pea curries are always very tasty and will go well with roti, chappathi, curd rice etc.I decided to make the traditional chettinad pirattal with the chettinad masala. The curry turned out very tasty. Those who don't want the masala can make the curry adding a teaspoon of sambar powder alone

Ingredients
Chick peas-200gms(shelled out)
Big onion-1
Tomato-1

Ingredients for the Masala (optional)
coconut grated-2 table spoon
Red chili-4
Small jeera-1 teaspoon
Fennel seed-1 teaspoon
Ingredients for seasoning
Mustard seed-1 teaspoon
Fennel seed-1 teaspoon
curry leaf-little
Procedure
Take out the chick pea when you have time and store it in the fridge. Mince the onion. In the mixie or blender smash the tomato little so that it will get cooked fast. Keep the kadai in the stove.In a table spoon of cooking oil season the curry with the items given in 'To season'. Saute the onion and the smashed tomato.If you choose not to grind coconut paste, add 1 teaspoon of sambar powder( kuzhambu milagai thool)to the sauted mixture.When the sauted mixture boils add the chick peas and close the kadai. Check in between that there is enough water for the chick pea to get cooked. It will get cooked within 10 minutes.Once the chick pea is cooked soft , add the salt needed and the grinded masala.Cook in medium fire till the masala gets cooked and oil starts separating

Saturday, May 1, 2010

I loved the soup made with Asparagus by one of my daughter's friend Amudha's mom in DC. Her mother Mrs Vasantha Achi is a permanent resident of Singapore. She makes lovely soups and some other items right from the scrap. I was really impressed by the soup. Since it does not require any white sauce or such other things, it is very easy to make and at the same time good for kids. So with her permission to blog the recipe, I made it at home. Those who don't get Asparagus need not worry. They can substitute it with beetroot or any other veg. Beetroot will give better colour for the soup. She uses vegetable stock cube bought from the stores like Wegmans.We can substitute it with the real stock made at home like chicken or mutton stock. I had mutton stock which I saved while cooking mutton for podimas.

Ingredients (For 4 to 5 cups)

carrot-1

Big onion-1

Asparagus-Half bunch

Tomato-1

Green chili-1

pepper powder-1 teaspoon

Vegetable stock cube -1 (Bouillon without msg).Any brand that you get can be used.

Procedure

Cut off the bottom and top portion of Asparagus and cut into 1 inch pieces. Cut the onion,tomato and the carrot also. Keep a small cooker in the stove. In a teaspoon of butter saute the onion,tomato,carrot,chilli and asparagus. You can add any other vegetable that you like also. Add a pinch of salt and a cup of water. Close the cooker and cook for just 1 whistle(5 minutes). Once the pressure is released allow the vegetable to cool and grind the strained vegetables in the mixie till you don't find any fiber in the asparagus. Usually this will get grounded in a minute if your asparagus is good. Now keep the kadai in the stove and pour the grounded soup into it along with the water strained. Mix the vegetable stock cube in a cup of water and add to the soup. If you have some other chicken or mutton stock that can be substituted in the place of this stock cube. Add water to the consistency you like. Add the salt and pepper to your taste. Allow the soup to boil for 5 minutes.

Monday, April 19, 2010

I was really excited when I saw this vegetable in the H mart,since this is one of the rare vegetable found only in big towns like Trichi, Chennai ,Coimbatore, Madurai etc in Tamil Nadu.The people who conduct big functions like weddings manage to get these from the nearest big city like Trichi. The chettinad cooks make tasty dishes out of kalakkose like pirattal,Kuruma etc.

In my first visit to the hmart itself I got this vegetable. I first made kuruma out of this and I was not very much impressed. I think I overcooked the veg. Next I tried the traditional pirattal and it turned out very tasty. My daughter who hates the smell of cabbage was happy that she can taste something similar to cabbage without the smell of cabbage which many dont like.

This dish can be mixed with rice and can be packed for lunch for those who are not big fans of curd rice. This will go very well with curd rice as a side dish.

Ingredients

Kalakkose-10 to 15

Big onion minced-1

Tomato-1 minced

To grind

Grated cocunut-1 table spoon

Small jeera(cumin seed0-1 teaspoon0

Big jeera or sombu(fennel seed)-1 teaspoon

Pottukadalai-1 table spoon or cashews-6

Red chili-3 to 4

To season

Those who dont want it spicy can season with a teaspoon of small jeera and big jeera.

cinamon-1 small piece

Clove-2

Cardomom-2

For parties you can make the dish spicy else season it simply.

Procedure

Cut the brussel sprouts into 4 pieces. Mince onion and tomatoes.Grind the items given in to grind to a smooth paste adding water. Microwave the veg for 2 minutes in a microwavable vessel for 2 minutes. Now add little salt for the veg and again microwave for a minute. Those who dont use microwave can cook the veg in a kadai with water till the vegetable is three fourth cooked.

Keep the kadai in the stove. Add a table spoon of cooking oil.This curry tastes good with little extra oil.Season the curry. Add onions and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle some salt to the onions which will help the onions to get sauted fast. Now add the tomatoes.If you feel that the tomatoes you are using is not very ripe and tender grind it for a second in the mixie. Saute the tomatoes till they are really smashed. While sauting you can smash it with a laddle to help it get smashed fast. Once the onion and tomatoes are smashed like a gravy add the grinded masala into the kadai and cook in low fire stirring continously for 2 minutes. Add little turmeric powder and the salt neede for the masala also. Now add the cooked kalakkose along with the little water in the microwaved bowl. Cook in low fire till the masala gets coated in the veg. You can switch off in the consistency you like.Make sure that the veg gets enough time to get cooked in the masala.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Anybody from chettinad, who were blessed to live there for sometime (many from chettinad now are in a category as very rare visitors during functions) would have tasted this curry prepared with atmost care by their grand mother or mother. I had my childhood days in kerala and I have seen this plant on the road side grown as a wild shrub because of its rapid spread as a weed in disturbed lands,I don’t think there was any taker for this wonder vegetable there. The tamilians there would have used it. But this was a very special vegetable in chettinad and the cooks at home used to make tasty pachadi out of it when we visited chettinad during the holidays.
More than the taste of this curry, It has got wonderful medicinal value. I have to mention one thing here, coming to home remedies whenever I tell my mom that somebody is having cough at home she will tell fry chunda vathal powder it and mix it with hot rice and give.If I tell some body is having stomach problem, the same remedy. If I tell her any of us is aneamic again she will tell take lot of chundakkai.I used to think Oh God Amma has only this answer for all ill. But as we are used to listening to our parents without much question on these home remedies, I too used follow what she told.

But when I started browsing I understood that she is correct and that it is used in many Ayurvedic treatments as a medicine.It is used in the treatment of cough and as a tonic of liver.It is very good in controlling blood pressure .In Tamil Nadu, the fruit is consumed directly or as cooked food like Sundakkai Sambar, Sundakkai Poriyal, Sundakkai pachadi. We all have seen sundakkai vathal used in vatha kuzhambu.After soaking this veg in curd and drying, the final product is fried in oil as Sundakkai vattral.

I am not sure whether this vegetable is available in the market in all places. But it is very simple to grow this in our kitchen garden if you manage to get the seeds of this plant or a small plant itself.
Morethan for its medicinal value, all in my home love its taste.It should be cooked with much care and dedication to bring the full taste. Tender sundakkai is to be used for pachadi.The tough ones can be used for making sambar.

Ingredients
Sundakkai-1 cup(tender ones)
Small onion chopped-20
Tomato-1
Sambar powder-1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon
Tamarind paste-1 teaspoon
Cooked Thoor dhal-1/4 cup
To season
Musrad seed-1 teaspoon
Small jeera-1 teaspoon
Curry leaf-little
Corriander leaves to season

Procedure
Select tender sundakkai while cutting. Split into 4 and put into water. Mince onion and tomatoes. Cook thoor dhal one whistle less than you cook for sambar. Keep the kadai in the stove. Season the pachadi with the items given in to season in 1 table spoon of oil.Add the onion and tomatoes and saute for 3 minutes. Now add the cut sundakkai and saute in medium fire for 5 minutes.If sauted nicely,there will be no bitter taste in the curry. After sauting add the water that is there on top of the cooked dhal.(If there is not much water in your cooked dhal, add a cup of water into it, mix it lightly and take out that water.).Add turmeric powder. Half close the kadai and cook for 6 to 7 minutes in medium fire till the Sundakkai cooks soft. Now add little more dhal water and sambar powder.cook for 3 minutes. Add the salt needed and the tamarind paste now. When the curry boils add the cooked thoor dhal left and cook for 5 more minutes. You should not cook long after adding dhal as the curry will turn very thick. Garnish with coriander leaves. This gravy will be semi solid .This can be mixed with rice as well as used as a side dish for curd rice.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Many a times we get bored of the regular sambar and want something else for a change. Any thing prepared out of drum stick will tickle the taste buds of vegetarians. This dish is a good substitute for the regular sambar.Children generally dislike sambar.So if you pack lunch with this kara kuzhambu,it will be a welcome change for them. Another advantage of this gravy is that packed rice will not turn thick and hard like sambar rice by noon. Today afternoon my husband was telling me during lunch that kuzhambu tastes different and good. He couldn’t make out that it is not sambar.My daughter also was telling after coming from school ‘lunch was too good today amma’.So you people have a try at this recipe
Though the name is Kara kuzhambu, don’t add too much karam (chili powder) or puli (tamarind).Now a days we add tomatoes, so very little tamarind is enough.Cocunut also should be used less. If you add little soaked and cooked Mochai to this gravy while cooking, it will be excellent.Thatta payaru also can be added.Brinjal can be substituted for drum stick. As I didn’t plan the previous day, I didn’t have mochai or thattai payaru ready

Ingredients
Drum stick-15 pieces
Small onion-15
Garlic-10 pods
Tomato-1
Curry leaf-little
Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon
Tamarind-Very small piece (little less than the qty used for sambar)

To grind
Coconut grated-2 table spoons
Sambar powder-2 teaspoons
Coriander powder-1 table spoon
Fennel seed-1 teaspoon
Procedure
Cut the drum stick into pieces as shown in the snap. Mince the onion, garlic and tomato. Place the kadai in the stove. In a table spoon of oil season the gravy with a teaspoon of mustard, urudh dhal, and fennel seed and curry leaf. Sauté the onion, garlic and tomato pieces one by one. Add the drum stick pieces. Cook the drum stick in a cup of water in medium fire for 6 to 7 minutes. Mean time grind the items in ‘to grind’ Soak the tamarind and salt needed in two cups of water and add once the drum stick pieces are almost cooked. if you add tamarind and salt in the beginning, the vegetable will not get cooked fast. Allow the gravy to cook for 5 more minutes and then add the grinded masala mixed in half cup of water to the gravy. Mix every thing well and allow the gravy to cook for further 5 minutes or till the gravy turns to the consistency of sambar.

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