Unniyappam - Vishu Special

As malayalis popular harvest festival Vishu is approaching, I am here to share the traditional and very popular kerala snack unniyappam,which is an unavoidable item in any festival or family gatherings. These small sweet dumplings made of rice,jaggery,banana etc are very easy to make and delicious.

Ingredients:

1. Rice powder(roasted lightly) : 1 cup
2. Jaggery : 1/2 cup
3. Small Ripe Bananas (Palayankodan pazham): 2
4. Coconut bits : 1/2 cup
5. Black sesame seeds : 1 teaspoon
6. Cardamom powder : 1/2 tsp
7. Coconut Oil
8. Ghee

 Method :

• Melt the jaggery adding small amount of water and drain impurities
• Mix the rice powder with the jaggery solution and make a batter
• Mash the bananas well using hand and mix in the batter
• Heat ghee ,add coconut bits and fry till brown 
• Add coconut bits,sesame seeds,cardamom powder in the batter
• If the batter is too thick , add little water to get the required consistency and keep aside for 2-3 hours
• Heat oil in the unniyappam pan (half each round).
• Pour the batter in each round till half and fry in medium flame by turning sides
• Pour oil whenever needed.
• Drain them into paper towels,allow to cool
• Serve

Ready,Serve,Enjoy!!!!

Sweet Banana Cutlet

We all familiar with spicy cutlets. Here's a sweeter version of cutlets using ripe bananas. The ingredients,method of making, and even  the taste is almost similar to Unnakai, the special iftar sweet snack of Malabar.

Ingredients :

1. Ripe Plantains : 2
2. Coconut grated : 3-4 tbsp
3. Crushed nuts and raisins : 2 tsp
4. Ghee : 1 tsp
5. Sugar : 1/2 tsp
6. All purpose flour(Maida): 1/2 cup
7. Rice Powder : 1-2 tsp
8. Oil

Method :

• Steam cook the plantains well.
• Slit lengthwise and remove the inner black portion.
• Grind it in a mixer without adding any water and keep aside.
• Heat ghee in a pan and roast the grated coconut,crushed nuts and raisins, and sugar together for 1-2 minutes in medium flame.
• Add this into the mashed banana.
• Now add the flours in it and knead into a smooth,non sticky dough.
• Make flattened balls out of them and deep fry.

Ready!!!!!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!!Enjoy!!!!!!!!

Parippu Vada / Chana Dal Fritters

These flattened ,crispy Dal fritters are one of the perfect evening tea time snacks in Kerala.
Have a bite and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients :

Channa Dal : 2 cups

Onion : 1 (chopped)

Ginger chopped : 3/4 tsp

Green Chilly (chopped): 2-3

Curry Leaves(Chopped) ; 1 spring

Salt

Oil

Method :
Soak Dal in water for 2-3 hours and drain it completely.Make sure that the water should be drained off completely
Crush them in a mixie without adding any water.
Mix the crushed dal with the chopped onion,ginger,green chilly and curry leaves.Add required salt also.
Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.
Make small balls and flatten using our palms. Wet our palms for easy flattening.
Deep fry them in medium flame.

Ready!!!!!!!!Serve with a hot tea.....

Unnakai - Stuffed Plantain Fry

I think no one needs any introduction of this sweet,soft and crunchy snack.It is a very common and popular snack in Kerala. Before it was a malabar speciality only...But nowadays it is available and very famous in every part of  Kerala. Very easy to make and the taste is really awesome!!!!!!!!

Ingredients :

1. Semi ripe banana : 3   
2. Grated Coconut : 1/2 cup
3. Cashew nuts(Chopped) : 2 tbsps
4. Raisins : 1.5 tbsp
5. Sugar : 2 tbsp
6. Ghee : 1 tbsp
7. Oil for deep frying 

 Method :

• Heat ghee in a pn
• Roast the cashew nuts and when it turn brown add raisns also.
• Now add the grated coconut and saute for a couple of minutes.
• Switch off the flame and transfer the mix into a plate,mix sugar in it.
• Stem cook the bananas till it is soft.
• Peel the outer skin and remove the black seeds by running a knife through it.
• Grind into smooth paste without adding any water.
• Make a lemon size ball out of the dough (ground banana) and flatten inside our palm.
• Fill them with the sweet coconut filling and close it gently
• Make into a shape as shown in the pic.
• Heat oil in a pan (medium flame)and fry thee unnakkas till become golden brown colour.
• Drain and serve

Have!!!!!Enjoy!!!!!

Egg Puffs

Here I'm serving the delicious,flaky puffs,those are very easy to make and yummy as well......

Ingredients :

1. Puff pastry sheets(square) : 4
2. Eggs : 2
3. Onion : 2 small/ 1 big
4. Curry leaves : 4-5 leaves 
5. Chicken Masala(I use eastern ) : 1.5 tsp
6. Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
7. Pepper powder : 1/4 tsp
8. Salt
9. Oil

Method :

• Boil the eggs and cut them into halves.
• Heat oil in a pan ,saute the sliced onion well.
• Add the curry leaves and saute well.
• Add all the powders,salt and saute till the raw smell goes.
• Switch off the flame.
• Fill the puff pastry sheet with an egg topped with the masala and fold into the desired shapes.
• Brush them with the beaten egg white.
• Arrange them in the baking tray greased with little oil.
• Bake it for 15-20 minutes until the top part becomes golden brown

Ready!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!!!!!

Kinnathappam - Traditional Steamed Sweet Cake

Kinnathappam is a very popular traditional steamed sweet cake made of rice and jaggery.The recipe I got from my mom-in-law. She used to make it in Ramzan season . The ingredients and the taste differ from region to region. Here I use the ground white rice  sweetened  with jaggery and spiced up with cardamom powder and fennel powder...But in most of my searches I found that cumin powder is used for flavouring this kinnathappam...But with fennel powder also it tastes very delicious .......

This is my second trial..But this time also my 'H' did not admit that the taste is as best as his mom's......    

Every wife has a day.right????????

Ingredients :

1. Raw rice/White Rice : 1 cup
2. Jaggery : 3 cubes(medium size)
3. Cardamom Powder : 1 tsp
4. Egg : 1
5. Fennel seeds : 3/4 tsp
6. Shallots : 2-3
7. Coconut grated : 1/2 cup
8. Cashew nuts (few) for garnishing

Method :

• Soak rice in water overnight .
• Melt the jaggery cubes in half cup of water and allow to cool.
• Grind the soaked rice with grated coconut,fennel seeds, shallots and the beaten eggs well
• After grinding,add cardamom powder and melted jaggery and mix together.The batter consistency is like dosa batter.....(neither too thick nor too watery)
• Grease a steal plate(kinnam) with ghee..
• Pour the batter into it,place it in a steamer and steam cook for 15-20 minutes, until a fork inserted into it comes out clean.
• After cooling cut into the desired shapes..

Ready!!!!Serve!!!!!!

Chicken Puffs

Puffs are the most common and fast moving bakery items in Kerala.This is such a great starter which can be made very easier and the taste is awesome.

Ingredients :

1. Chicken breast  : 1 (cut into small pieces)
2. Red Chilly Powder : 1 tsp
3. Turmeric Powder : 1/2 tsp
4. Ginger Garlic paste : 1 tsp
5. Black pepper powder : 1 tsp
6. Garam Masala : 1/2 tsp
7. Onion(chopped) : 1 or 2
8. Coriander Leaves (Chopped) : 1 tsp
9. Oil
10. Egg : 1
11. Puff pastry sheets : 8(square)

Method :

• Marinate the chicken pieces with the ingredients 2,3,4 and salt.
• Separate the egg white and beat it well.
• Shallow fry the chicken pieces(little oil) and drain them
• Mince them using a wooden spoon.
• Add the chopped onion in the same oil and saute till the onions become transluscent.
• Add the black pepper powder and stir for some time.
• Add the minced chicken into it and combine well.
• Finally add the chopped coriander leaves and garam masala
• Switch off the flame.
• Fill the puff pastry sheet with  1-2 tsp of chicken masala and fold into the desired shapes.
• Brush them with the beaten egg white.
• Arrange them in the baking tray greased with little oil.
• Bake it for 15-20 minutes until the top part becomes golden brown

Ready!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!!!!!

Chicken Ulli Vada (An on the spot recipe)

This tasty and spicy chicken ulli vada was born accidentally, while I was planning to make ulli vada last day..I was very lazy to make something fried for Iftar and  at last I planned to make some ulli vadas.When I opened  the gram flour container oh...it is full of bugs and I had to discard it. Then the next idea is to substitute it with all purpose flour (maida)...Then came another idea...some left over chicken curry is in fridge..only 4-5 small pieces...shredded them and added in the dough to make this easy, crispy chicken ulli vadas.

Here comes the recipe

Ingredients :

1. Chicken (shredded) : 4-5 pieces from the left over chicken curry ( otherwise we can cook the born less chicken pieces with some masala powders like meat masala,turmeric powder,salt etc.)
2. Onion : 2 small (sliced lengthwise)
3. Green chilly : 2-3 (chopped)
4. Ginger (Chopped) : 1 -2 tsp
5. Curry leaves : 2 springs(chopped)
6. Coriander leaves : 1 tsp(chopped)
7. Salt
8. All purpose flour (Maida) : 1/2 cup
9. Cooking Oil

Method :

• Combine all the ingredients except oil and keep it for half an hour

• Heat the oil and deep fry them

Ready!!!!!serve!!!!!!

Kalthappam

Kalthappam is a famous snack from the Muslim Cuisine. There are two versions of it.Sweet and spicy versions. I have made this in the sweet form.It is very easy to prepare and so  delicious. In the original recipe there are lots of coconut slices are used..But I don’t have coconut slices and I use grated coconut in the dough mix. And the taste was awesome…Next time I’ll update with this post with the new snap with crunchy  coconut flakes..

Ingredients :

1. Basmati Rice/White Raw Rice : 1 Cup
2. Water : 1 Cup(for grinding)
3. Jaggery : 2-3 medium size cubes
4. Cardamom crushed : 2-3(without outer skin)
5. Salt : a pinch
6. Coconut grated : 1 cup
7. Coconut Oil : 2 tsp
8. Cashew nuts : a handful
9. Small onions(sliced): 5-6
10. Baking Soda : ½ tsp

Method :

• Wash and soak the rice for half – 1 hour.
• Grind smoothly with a pinch of salt, and cardamom powder.
• Melt the jaggery in half cup of water and pour into the ground rice mix.
• Put the grated coconut and baking soda  also into this and keep it for half an hour
• Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add sliced onions and cashew nuts.
• After frying well, add the rice mixture in it and close the lid without  weight.
• Keep it in high flame for 1-2 minutes and then reduce it to very low.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes.
• Check with inserting a tooth pick into it. If it comes out clean,without sticking..it will be ready and serve……
•  

Chicken Spring Rolls

Very easy and tasty snack and a great option for Iftar..

Ingredients :

1. Boneless Chicken : 3-4 medium size pieces
2. Turmeric Powder : 1/2 tsp
3. Meat Masala Powder : 1.5 tsp
4. Onion : 1-2 (Sliced)
5. Ginger Garlic Paste : 1 tsp
6. Green Chillies : 2(Chopped)
7. Salt
8. Oil
9. Spring Roll Pastry Sheets : 7
10. Egg: 1(Beaten well)
11. Bread Crumbs : From 1 bread.

Method :

• Defrost the pastry sheets for 30 minutes.
• Cook the chicken with the powders and salt
• Shred it into fine pieces.
• Saute sliced onions, green chillies and ginger garlic paste together.
• After sauteing add the chicken shredded and mix well.

• Fold the rolls as shown below

• Dip the rolls in the egg beaten and roll in the bread crumbs.

• Deep fry in medium hot oil

• Ready!!!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!!!

Try it out dear friends..............

Kayippola / Pazham cake / Banana Cake

This sweet dish is  a traditional and yummy Malabar Recipe.
This no bake cake which is a mixture of ripe plantains and eggs,  is famous among Malabar Muslims. They usually prepare this during Ramadan days...

Take this...........and eat........

Ingredients :

1. Ripe Banana :1
2. Eggs :2
3. Sugar : 3tbsp
4. Ghee : 2tsp
5. Cardamom Powder : 1/2 tsp
6. Cashew Nuts : A handful
7. Raisins : A handful

Method :

• Cut the banana lengthwise twice and slice into small pieces.
• Beat the eggs well with sugar with a fork.
• Heat half of the ghee in a pan and shallow fry the bananas well.
• Mix the bananas,half of nuts and raisins, cardamom powder  with the egg mixture well.
• Heat a thick bottom pan and spread the remaining ghee in the bottom and sides.
• Pour the banana egg mixture into it and cover tightly
• Cook it in low flame for about 10-15 minutes.
• Fry the remaining cashews and raisins for garnishing..

Serve !!!!!!!!!

Chicken Samosa

Samosas are a great starter as well as an Iftar Speciality with lot of  variations on its fillings. It is a very common snack and all time favourite of mine...
I dont like the ground meet filling..I use fried versions of chicken/ any other meat and it tastes good......The filling recipe is same as  that of my erachi ada recipe.........

Ingredients :

For the filling

1. Chicken : 4-5 medium size boneless pieces
2. Red Chilly Powder : 1 tsp
3. Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
4. Salt
5. Ginger Garlic Paste : 1 tsp
6. Onion : 2 small
7. Coriander leaves : 2 tbsp(chopped)
8. Oil

Method :

• Marinate the chicken pieces with the ingredients from2-5 and keep aside for half n hour.
• Fry the chicken pieces well.
• After taking them from the oil, mince the chicken pieces with a knife and cutting board.
• Now we got a cup of crispy minced chicken pieces.
• Again heat little oil in another pan and add onions
• Saute the onions well and add the minced chicken pieces and combine well
• Cook for 4-5 minutes and finally add the coriander leaves.

The filling is ready

The folding of samosa sheets is well shown in a youtube video...Check it out..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SLujRT0OIk

Egg Kabab

A simple and easy to make tea time snack / starter

Ingredients :

1. Eggs(Hard Boiled) : 2(Cut lengthwise into 4 pieces)
2. Onion : 2 small
3. Ginger Garlic paste : 1 tsp
4. Curry Leaves(Minced) : 1 spring
5. Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
6. Meat Masala (I use Eastern) : 1 tsp
7. pepper Powder : 1/2 tsp
8. Salt
9. Oil
10. Coriander leaves : 2-3 leaves
11. Maida : 1/4 Cup
12. Bread Crumbs : 2 breads

Method :
For Masala Covering :

• Heat oil in a pan
• Saute onion chopped, Ginger Garlic paste and Curry Leaves
• Add all the powders, salt and saute till the raw smell goes.
• Remove the yolk from each egg and mix it with the masala

• Cover eggs with the masala well
• Make maida batter(medium thick) by applying little water,a pinch pepper powder and salt
• Dip each covered egg in the maida batter and roll it in the bread crumbs

• Deep fry them in medium flame.

Erachi Ada/Erachi Puri/Meat Pockets

I dont know exactly  what is the name of this meat filled pastries.....I call it sometimes as Erachi Ada and my son call it as Erachi Puri and we can Internationally call it as Meat Pockets..Agree!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients :

For the filling

1. Chicken : 4-5 medium size boneless pieces
2. Red Chilly Powder : 1 tsp
3. Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
4. Salt
5. Ginger Garlic Paste : 1 tsp
6. Onion : 2 small
7. Coriander leaves : 2 tbsp(chopped)
8. Oil

Method :

• Marinate the chicken pieces with the ingredients from2-5 and keep aside for half n hour.
• Fry the chicken pieces well.
• After taking them from the oil, mince the chicken pieces with a knife and cutting board.
• Now we got a cup of crispy minced chicken pieces.
• Again heat little oil in another pan and add onions
• Saute the onions well and add the minced chicken pieces and combine well
• Cook for 4-5 minutes and finally add the coriander leaves.

The filling is ready

For the dough (Outer Covering)

1. All purpose flour(Maida) : 1 Cup
2. Wheat Powder : 1/4 cup
3. Rice Powder : 1/4 cup(for rolling)
4. Salt
5. Lukewarm water : For kneading

Method:

• Combine maida,wheat powder,salt and lukewarm water and knead well like a chapathi dough.
• Make lemon size balls out of it.
• Roll the balls with spreading the rice powder.
• After rolling out a big chapati cut it into half.
• Place the filling on each side and fold it(From one chapati we get two erachi ada)
• Shape the edges of the Puris using a fork

Frying:

• Heat oil in a pan
• Add the puris one by one and deep fry it.

Ready!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!!!

Kozhukkatta

It is a traditional Kerala Sweet made of Rice Flour, Coconut and Jaggery.
A good tea-time snack and very easy to make.....

Ingredients :
For the dough

1. Rice Flour : 1 Cup
2. Water - 1.5 Cup
3. Salt

Method:

Boil water with salt and pour this into the rice flour.Knead well to a smooth dough like Idiyappam dough. Divide this into a big lemon sized balls

For the Sweet Mixture :

1. Coconut Grated : 5-6 tbsp
2. Grated Jaggery : 5-6 Cup
3. Cardamon Powder : 1/4 tsp (Combine well the above three ingredients to make the sweet mixture inside.)

Method :

• Apply little oil/water in your palm.
• Flatten one ball , put the sweet mixture inside and again make into a ball.
• Steam the balls for 10-15 minutes.

Fish Balls

Ingredients

1. Fish (Fleshy): 250gms
2. Ginger Garlic paste : 1/2 tsp
3. Green Chillies : 2(Chopped)
4. Coriander Leaves - 1tsp(Chopped)
5. Turmeric Powder :1/2 tsp
6. Red Chilly Powder : 1 tsp
7. Coriander Powder : 1 tsp
8. Salt
9. Lime Juice : 1/2 tsp
10. Egg White : 2 eggs
11. Flour(Maida) : 1/4 cup
12. Bread Crumbs : 2 Breads
13. Oil

Method:

• Cook the fish with the ingredients from 2 to 8 with 2 -3 tbsp of water (low flame) and keep aside
• Mash the cooked fish with hand
• Combine maida,half of egg white,half of bread crumbs and lime juice with the mashed mixture
• Make balls from the mix.
• Dip in the remaining egg white and roll in the bread crumbs
• Heat oil in a pan
• Deep fry the balls until golden brown

Ready!!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!

Tuna Fish Cutlet

So easy to make and with the spices and masalas it tastes like chicken or any other meat..Hard to tell it's fish..Tastes awesome with tomato ketchup.

Ingredients :

1. Canned Tuna : 2 tins
2. Potato - 1 large
3. Onion-2(minced)
4. Green Chilly - 2(minced)
5. Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tsp
6. Curry Leaves : 1 spring
7. Coriander Leaves - 2 tbsp(chopped)
8. Turmeric Powder - half tsp
9. Meat Masala (I use Eastern) - 2 tbsp
10. Pepper Powder- 1 tsp
11. Garam Masala : A pinch
12. Lime Juice : half tsp
13. Egg - 2
14. Bread Crumbs - 2-3 breads
15. Salt
16. Oil

Method :

• Cook the potato and mash it well.
• Heat oil in a pan and add onion sliced,green chilly and curry leaves.
• Saute well and add ginger garlic paste and saute again for 2-3 minutes
• Add the lime juice followed by all the powders and salt except garam masala.
• Now add the drained tuna and mix well with the masala
• Add the mashed potato, combine well ,sprinkle garam masala and switch off the flame
• Beat the eggs well.s
• Make cutlets(any shape u desire).
• Dip in the egg beaten and roll in the bread crumbs.
• Fry the till golden brown

Ready!!!!!!!!!Serve!!!!! (Heavenly accompaniment with a hot tea and a light raining)

Chicken Nuggets(For Kids)

Ingredients

1. Chicken Breast : 2pieces(cut into nuggets sized pieces)
2. All purpose flour(Maida) - 2-3 tbsp
3. Salt
4. Egg- 2
5. Pepper Powder - half tsp
6. Bread Crumbs - 3-4 breads

Method:

• Combine all purpose flour , eggs, pepper powder and salt together.
• Dip chicken pieces into it and combine well
• Keep it in fridge for some time(2-3 hour)
• Before frying roll in bread crumbs .
• Fry in medium heat oil till golden brown

Serve!!!!!!Enjoy!!!!!

Uzhunnu Vada & Chutney

Ingredients:

1. Uzhunnuparippu - 2 cup
2. Pearl Onion- 4 (chopped)
3. Green chillies - 2 nos(chopped)
4. Pepper corns - 1 tsp
5. Curry leaves - 1 spring(chopped)
6. Ginger - 1 medium size piece
7. Rice powder - 1 tsp
8. Baking Soda - 1/4 tsp
9. Salt - As req
10. Cooking Oil

Method:

• Soak black gram dals for 3-4 hours
• Grind it ,  better if u don`t add water.
• Add salt and grind again.
• Add the rest of the ingredients to this ground dal and mix well.
• Pat hands with water.
• Make Vadas.
• Deep fry it in oil till golden brown in colour.

 Serve hot with chutney .

Ingredients

1. Coconut - 1 cup
2. Pearl Onions - 3-4
3. Ginger - a small piece
4. Green Chilly - 2-3
5. Salt
6. Coconut Oil
7. Mustard seeds - half tsp
8. Curry Leaves - 2 springs
9. Dry Red chilly -2

Method:

• Grind the ingredients from 1-5 into a smooth paste
• Heat oil in a pan
• Splutter mustard seeds, add curry leaves and dry chillies
• Pour it into the chutney
• 
  
• Enjoy!!!!!!!!!