Puttu is a hugely popular breakfast dish (it is also served at lunch or dinner) from Kerala. From homes to roadside stalls to restaurants, puttu is available all over Kerala. Very healthy (it is steamed) and tasty, it is often served with kadala curry (black garbanzo beans, kala chana). There are several variations to the…
Tag: #Kerala
Vazhaithandu Thoran (Banana Stem Stir Fry)
The banana tree is a wonderful one. All it’s parts are edible, including flowers, raw banana, ripe banana and stem, Cleaning the flowers or stem, however, is a cumbersome process. In the case of the banana stem, the outer layers must be removed to reach the tender inner stem. These are then chopped into thin…
Karamani Katharikai (Eggplant and Cowpeas, Baingan Lobia Curry)
This is one of my favourite eggplant dishes. Though a typical Palakkad dish, not very many people know about it. Several people have told me that they have never heard of this dish or tried this. Goes to prove that there are variations in recipes from household to household. This dish is not spicy at…
Pavakai Pachadi (Bittergourd Salad, Karela Raita)
Bittergourd may not be everyone’s favourite vegetable. It, however, comes packed with numerous health benefits. It is its sharp, bitter taste that most people dislike. Several recipes try various techniques to lighten or remove the bitter taste. But many of the recipes that I prepare does not taste bitter at all – with no extra…
Idichakka Thoran (Kathal, Jackfruit With Coconut)
As I have mentioned before, there are several types of jackfruit. Most commonly, idi chakka (tender jackfruit) and kada chakka.(breadfruit). One of the most iconic dishes of Kerala is the dish prepared from tender jackfruit. It tastes divine. I make this quite often in season, since tender jackfruit is available all over the country. It…
Chena Mezhukuperatti (Jimmikhand, Elephant Yam Roast)
I tend to use elaphant yam, at least once a week, in my cooking. Either on its own or in combination with other vegetables. Especially raw bananas. There a number of recipes using this root vegetable, all of them incredibly tasty. But many people hesitate to buy it as, in its raw form, it can…
Payaru Mezhukuperati (Long Beans Stir Fry)
Several different types of vegetables can be used to make mezhukuprati. I have explained the meaning of this term in my post on raw banana and elephant yam mezhukuperati. These stir fry dishes are indeed tasty and pair well with rasam or morkootan (yogurt and coconut curry). This dish is very bland, unusual for Indian…
Payaru Thoran (Long Beans & Coconut)
Thoran is an extremely common dish in Kerala. A typical meal in South India invariably consists of rice and a wet dish, The wet dish is mixed with the rice while partaking. To accompany this combination, other wet or dry dishes are prepared. Thoran is one such dry dish, It is bland but extremely tasty….
Rasavangi
Rasavangi is a typical Palakkad dish. It is very similar to Arachu Vitta Sambar (please refer my post on Shallot Sambar). However, the spices used are different and therefore, the taste too. I doubt this dish is made in homes other than those of Palakkad Iyers. This should not be so as it is a…
Chenai Vazhakkai Mezhukuperrati (Elephant Yam And Raw Banana Stir Fry)
Mezhukuperrati is an iconic dish for most people from Palakkad. And many people from this region of India consider a bowl of curd rice, with a mezhukuperrati as an accompaniment, as a gourmet meal. Mezhuku means fat (in this case, oil) and Perrati means stir fry. Practically any vegetable can be used to make a…
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