Drum Stick Stir Fry / Muringakka upperi

Drumstick is a commonly used vegetable in South Indian cooking. It is inevitable in Kerala& Tamil  Nadu Sambar recipe. Here is a quick drum stick recipe which goes well with rice.

Ingredients:

1. Drumsticks 4 cut small to finger length
2. Shallots 10 -12
3. Crushed chillies 1 tsp
4. Curry leaves few
5. Oil
6. Salt

Method:

1. Cook drumsticks in pressure cooker.
2. Saute shallots in oil.
3. Add crushed chillies and curry leaves.
4. Add cooked drumsticks and saute well till no more water remains.

Kerala Style Quail Roast / Nadan Kada Roast

Quails are definitely a healthier alternative to chicken. There is even a famous saying in Kerala which goes like this,

"Aayiram kozhikku ara kada" .. meaning..1/2 a Quail is equal to 1000 chickens

Ingredients:

1. Quail 4 average sized
2. Onion 2 (If you replace with shallots it will be tastier)
3. Ginger chopped 4tsp
4. Garlic chopped 8tsp
5. Coriander powder 3tsp
6. Kashmiri chilly powder 4tsp
7. Green chillies 4
8. Tomato 1
9. Curry leaves few
10. Coriander leaves 3-4 strans
11. Garam Masala powder 1 tsp

Marinate:

1. Ginger 1 small piece
2. Garlic 3 pods
3. Coriander leaves, chopped fine - few
4. Salt
5. Pepper 1/2 tsp
6. Garam masala -1/4 tsp
7. Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
8. Kashmiri chilly powder 1/2 tsp

Method:

1. Make a paste with all the ingredients for marination. Apply well over the cleaned quails.
         I have used the whole quails here. If you prefer you can cut them small.
    Keep aside for atleast for 30 mins;
2. Cook the quails in pressure cooker, as you cook a chicken. Allow 2 whistles. If there is water, boil it off       and let the chicken absorb everything.
3. Saute onions till golden fry. Add salt as it helps the onions to get sauted fast
4. Add ginger, garlic, green chillies, curry leaves, one by one, sauting in between.
5. Add chopped tomato and saute well for 2 mins.
6. Add 1/2 of the coriander leaves.
7. Add coriander powder, chilly powder and garam masala powder.
8. Add the quails and saute them well so that all the masalas get coated over the quails.
9. Roast it well for 10 mins.
10. Garnish with the remaining coriander leaves.
11. Enjoy with hot rice, appam or bread.

Basic Custard

Fruit custard is a thick and creamy dessert, loaded with fruits. It is very kids friendly as you can make the kids eat milk, eggs and fruits in a go.

Ingredients:

1. Egg 2 (optional)

2. Milk 2.5 cups

3. Custard Powder 2 tbsp

4. Vanilla essence  1 drop

5. Sugar 4 tbsp (or more as required)

Method:

1. Beat eggs, adding sugar, till fluffy.

2. Add little milk to the custard powder and make a fine paste without any lumps.

3. Start boiling milk, by constantly stirring,

4. Now add in the eggs, again stirring. 

5. Add the drop of vanilla essence.

6. Slowly add the custard paste.

7. Continue stirring till the custard is thick.

8. Allow to cool and refrigerate.

9. Enjoy with your favourite fruits.

Pazham Nirachathu/ Stuffed Banana

Pazham nirachathu is a very tasty snack from the Malabar Cuisine. It is the best fit if you are searching for a quick, simple, nutritious, healthy, kids friendly dish.

Ingredients:

1. Ripe plantains 2
2. Coconut 3/4 cup
3. Sugar  3tbsp
4. Cashews, broken 1 tbsp
5. Cardamom powder a pinch
6. Raisins
7. All purpose flour 2 tbsp
8. Oil/ Ghee

Method:

1. Heat ghee in a pan. Melt the sugar completely. Now add coconut, cashews and raisins. Mix and saute well for few mins (2-3).
2. Cut the bananas half and make 3 slits without reaching the ends. Optionally, you can do this with the full bananas.
3. Fill in the coconut cashew mixture into the slits.
4. Make a paste with the All purpose flour, sugar and salt.
5. Stick up the slits with the paste.
6. Fry in oil.
7. Enjoy with your evening tea.

Chicken Stew/ Chicken Ishtu

Chicken stew is an excellent combo curry with Appam. This combination is very important in Christian cuisine. It goes well with idiyappam, chappaty, Roti, etc. Cooked with vegetables like carrot, beans, potato, green peas and chicken, it is a very healthy dish.

Ingredients

1. Chicken 200gm

2. Carrot 1 small

3. Potato 1 small

4. Beans 3 or 4 sliced to small pieces

5. Curry leaves 1 strand

6. Green Chillies slit lengthwise

7. Cardamom 2

8. Cinnamon 1 small piece

9. Pepper corns few

10. Cloves 2

11. Garlic 2 pods

12. Ginger 1'' piece

13. Coriander leaves 2 or 3 strands

14. Turmeric powder(optional) a pinch (do not use if you like your stew white)

15. Oil, Salt

16. Onion 1 medium sized sliced a bit coarsely(not too fine)

17. Thin coconut milk 1.5 cup

18. Thick coconut milk 1 cup

19. Garam masala 1 pinch(optional)

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan.

2. When hot, add curry leaves and saute.

3. Add the masalas, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, pepper corns, and saute.

4. Add garlic, ginger, green chillies, one by one, sauting in between.

5. Add onion and saute well for about 4 mins.

6. Add turmeric if you are using.

7. Add the chicken pieces. Make them small. You can use boneless or with bone. Its your preference.

8. Saute well for 7 to 8 mins.

9. Simmer and add thin coconut milk and let it get cooked for 8 mins (or until it gets cooked.. Try eating a piece)

10. If you feel a lack in flavour, you can add a pinch of Garam Masala.

11. Add sliced potatoes.and carrot.

12. Let it get cooked in lowest flame.

13. When everything is cooked, add the thick  coconut milk.

14. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Enjoy your yummy and healthy chicken stew.

Thakkali Curry / Easy Tomato Curry

The Tomato curry is the easiest of easy curries in Kerala Cuisine. This is a great tasting dish that comes first comes to our mind when we are in a hurry. Also, it is a regular at our home when we are short of vegetables.
All you need are some fresh tomatoes, onion, curry leaves and green chillies. Adding few coriander leaves will get you a herby flavour. But this is truly optional

Ingredients:

1. Tomato 3 medium sized
2. Onion   1 medium sized sliced
3. Green Chillies 4
4. Curry leaves 1 strand
5. Salt
6. Oil

Method:

1. Cut tomatoes into pieces each.
2, Heat oil in a pan and add sliced onions. Saute well.
3, When the onions are transparent, add green chilies, curry leaves and salt.
4. After 2 mins, add tomatoes, saute well.
5. When tomatoes start mashing down, cook them covered in low flame for 4 - 5 mins.
6. Saute it well and get the tomatoes mashed down completely.
7. You can add little water, if you prefer it in loose consistency.
8. Garnish with coriander leaves.