iCookiPost

This is a simple and delicious curry prepared using spinach stems.Green leafy vegetables like spinach,drumstick leaves contains lot of calcium,fibre,vitamin and iron.so it is healthy to have atleast one leafy vegetable in your daily diet.

Ingredients

1. Spinach stems(cheerathandu) – 1 cup
2. Tomato – 2
3. Green Chilly(slit lengthwise) – 4
4. Turmeric powder –1 tsp
5. Shallots – 4
6. Grated coconut –1 cup
7. Red chilly powder – 1tsp
8. Cumin seeds(jeerakam) –1 tsp
9. Yogurt(curd)  – 1tbsp
10. Mustard seeds – 1tsp
11. salt
12. oil

Preparation

1. Make a fine paste of grated coconut,shallots,red chilly powder,cumin seeds and yogurt.
2. In a pressure cooker, add chopped tomatoes,chopped spinach stems,green chilly and turmeric powder.cook with little water for one whistle.once it is cool, open the lid and mash it.
3. Add the coconut paste to it and mix well.let it boil.
4. Once it starts boiling,remove from fire.
5. Heat oil in a pan. splutter mustard seeds.once it is done add it to the gravy.
6. Garnish with Curry leaves.
7. Serve with rice.

Varutharacha Chicken Curry is quite popular in Malabar side of Kerala and this is mainly prepared by adding roasted coconut with spices.This tastes great with Kerala porotta or Ghee rice.

Ingredients

1. Chicken –1/2 kg
2. Onion (chopped) –2
3. Green chilly(cut lengthwise) – 4
4. Ginger – 1 “ piece
5. Garlic pods –5
6. Tomato (chopped) – 2
7. Grated Coconut -  1/2 cup
8. Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
9. Red Chilly Powder –1tsp
10. Coriander powder – 2tsp
11. Fennel seeds (perumjeerakam) –1/2 tsp
12. Shallots – 5
13. Cardamom –2
14. Cloves – 3
15. Cinnamon stick – 1 small piece
16. Curry leaves
17. Coriander leaves
18. Pudina leaves
19. Oil
20. Salt
21. Water –1/2 cup

Preparation

1. Heat a pan and dry roast grated coconut,shallots,cardamom,cloves,cinnamon till coconut becomes brown in color.Grind the mix with 1/2 with water into a fine paste.
2. Heat Pressure cooker and add oil .Saute chopped onions,green chilly,ginger-garlic paste, and chopped tomatoes.
3. Add turmeric powder,coriander powder,red chilly powder,fennel seeds powder,and saute well.once the raw smell goes,add the chicken pieces to it. Add 1 cup of water to it and mix.
4. Cover with the lid and cook for 2 whistles.once the steam is gone,open the lid and stir well.
5. Finally add coconut paste ,curry leaves,Coriander leaves,pudina leaves to it and let it boil for 2-3 minutes.
6. Yummy chicken curry is ready to serve .

If Durian is the beloved fruit of Singaporeans, a look alike Jackfruit is a traditional and sweet fruit of Kerala. Jackfruit trees are abundant and very common in most backyards of Kerala home.

Recently while shopping at a grocery shop, I discovered a pack of Malaysian Jackfruit for around S$ 4 i.e approximately 130 Indian Rupees. I was shocked to see such a price tag for just 10-12 pieces in the pack whereas the whole jackfruit (an average size would contain more than 700-800 pieces) itself would cost less than Rs.10 (approximately 10 cents) in India. I know it is not fair to compare, but I couldn’t resist myself by doing so.

Anyway, I grabbed a pack and decided to give it a try. I was very much pleased with the quality of the pieces and I should say that it was worth the trial and we all liked its juiciness and honey like sweetness. Ever since then, my hubby never forgets to pick one

I noticed that all pieces had seeds inside which reminded me one of those rare traditional Kerala curries my mom used to make. I decided to customize it a little bit in combination with some additional vegetables to make it more unique. So, read on and give it a try and do let me know your experience

Ingredients

1. Jackfruit Seeds (Chakkakuru) – 100gms
2. Drumstick(Muringakka) – 3
3. Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
4. Snake Gourd (Padavalanga) – 100gms
5. Grated Coconut – 1/2 cup
6. Cumin seeds (jeerakam) -  1/2 tsp
7. Garlic(chopped) – 2
8. Red Chilly Powder – 1 tsp
9. Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
10. Urad dal – 2 tsp
11. Dry Red Chilly – 2
12. Curry leaves
13. Oil
14. Salt

preparation

1. Clean and cut jackfruit seeds lengthwise. Boil jackfruit seeds,drumsticks,with turmeric powder,salt and required amount of water.
2. Once it is cooked, add snake gourd pieces and cook well.
3. Grind grated coconut with cumin seeds,garlic,red chilly powder into a coarse paste.
4. Heat oil in a pan. splutter mustard seeds.once it is done add dry red chilly, urad dal, curry leaves.and saute.
5. Add coconut paste to it and stir well for 2-3 minutes.
6. Finally add boiled drumstick-snakegourd mix to it and cook till dry.
7. Serve with rice and sambhar.