Erisseri

As the Onam is so near, thought of sharing some onam recipes.

Onam falls in Chingam; the first month of malayalam Calendar.

It marks the annual visit of King Mahabali and since it is in the harvesting season, there is abundance of all produce.

It is said; "Attam 10,onam".Starting from attam day 10 days are onam and the 10th day is Thiruonam.

The beauty is all keralities celebrate onam.

Memories of onam brings into mind the sumptuous vegetarian feast(onasadhya),floral designs(attapovu),boatraces(vallamkali),plays and games(onakkalikal),new dresses(onakkodi) and a lot associated with it.

Onasadhya consists of a variety of dishes including upperi,sarkarapuratti,erisseri,pulisseri,olan,kalan,inji curry,pachadi,thoran,avial,kootu curry,pradhaman, the list goes on.....

Below is the recipe for erisseri. This is usually done with a combination of vegetables.

Pumpkin and red beans or Yam and raw banana or even using one of these. The procedure is same for all.

Since I didn't have red beans in hand i used black eyed beans. It gives the same taste, but red bean will give a more good colour appeal.

Pumpkin - 2 cups(cut in cubes)

Red beans or black eyed beans - 1/2 cup

turmeric powder -1/4 tsp

coconut - 1/2 cup grated

cumin seeds -1 tsp

dry red chilli - 3 or 4

salt to taste

for seasoning:

oil - 2tsp

mustard seeds - 1 tsp

dry red chilli - 1 or 2

coconut grated - 2 tbsp

Soak the beans and cook them with salt .

Cook the pumpkin too with salt and turmeric powder.

Add to the beans.

Grind together coconut, cumin seeds and dry red chilli and add the the pumpkin and beans.

Mash them lightly or finely depending on the consistency you like.

Check for salt.

For seasoning, heat oil , splutter mustard, add dry red chilli and coconut and fry until coconut is brown.

Pour over the pumpkin bean mixture. Done.

Rava Idli

Below recipe will give 10 to 12 rava idlies. Easy to make and healthy as well.

Rava - 1 cup

yogurt - 1/2 cup

water - around 2 and 1/2 cups

carrot grated - 1/2 cup

cilantro leaves chopped - about 2 tbsp

baking soda - a pinch

salt to taste.

Beat 1/2 cup yogurt with 1/2 cup water and add to rava.

Add salt and mix.

Let it rest for 1/2 to 1 hour.

Now add grated carrot,cliantro,1 cup of water,baking soda and mix.

Check for consistency of batter. It should be like idli batter.

Pour into greased Idli moulds and steam for 10 minutes.

Oven fried Chicken Legs

Chicken leg pieces - 5 (i left the skin on)

oil - 2 tsp

for marinating:

turmeric powder -1/4 tsp

chilli powder -1/2 tsp

salt to taste

for coating:

breadcrumbs - 1/2 to 1 cup

some dry parsely leaves

chilli powder -1/4 tsp

cumin powder -1/4 tsp

salt to taste

First make a brine bath for the chicken. This will make the chicken tender and helps the salt to get inside the meat.

In a bowl take enough cold water to cover the chicken. Add a little turmeric powder,chilli powder and more than enough salt.

Immerse the chicken legs in this water and keep in refrigerator for 1 or 2 hours.

After that take it and drain.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Take 2tsp of oil and massage it on the legs.

In a bowl mix all the ingredients for coating.

Coat the chicken legs well in the breadcrumbs mixture.

Keep it apart in an oven safe tray.

Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350F. Let is bake another 15 minutes.

Done.

Beef Ularthiyathu or Beef fry kerala style

beef - 2 lbs

onions - 3 or 4

ginger - 2 tbsp minced

garlic - 2 tbsp minced

turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

chilli powder - 1 to 1&1/2 tsp[according to the heat]

coriander powder - 3 tsp

garam masala - 1/2 to 1 tsp

pepper powder - 1 tsp

curry leaves - 2 sprigs

salt to taste

mustard - 1tsp

oil

Cut beef into bite size pieces.

Marinate with ginger,garlic,turmeric, chilli and coriander powder and salt. Let it rest for 1 hour.

Cook the marinated meat with 1/2 a cup of water in a pressure cooker until done.

In a pan add 2 or 3 tbsp of oil, splutter mustard and add curry leaves.

Now add the onion and saute until light brown.

Add the cooked meat, followed by garam masala and pepper powder.

Keep sauteing until its dry.Done.

Veggie delight Rotini Pasta (Low fat)

This recipe can be used with any type of pasta with your choice of vegetables.

This is my pairing.

Rotini Pasta - 2 cups or any pasta of your choice

spinach - a bunch chopped [or any dark leafy vegetable]

carrot - 2 or 3 sliced

onion - 1 small finely chopped

tomato - 1 finely chopped

green chilli - 1 finely chopped

Yoghurt - 1 cup

mayonnaise - 2 tbsp

pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

some fresh or dried parsley leaves and oregano

garam masala - 1 tsp

salt to taste

Cook pasta in boiling water with salt. Drain and keep. Reserve some cooked pasta water.

In a pan saute carrot with a tsp of oil until cooked. Take it out.

To the same pan add chopped spinach and saute . Add little turmeric powder and salt. When done remove from heat.

Now mix together yoghurt,mayo,pepper powder, parsley,oregano,garam masala and salt. Add a little more salt than what u think is needed for that much sauce.

Now add the cooked vegetables to the pasta, followed by freshly chopped onion,tomato and greenchilli.

Then add the sauce mixture. Mix everything well and warm it through.

Done.

Meatballs

Meat balls are a very versatile dish, This can be used in different ways. I prefer baking them because that retains the moisture and softness more.

Any ground meat - 1lb [i prefer 80% lean beef]

eggs - 1

breadcrumbs - 1/2 cup

milk - 1/2 cup

onion - 1 medium

garlic - 4 cloves

cheese [romano or parmesan or monterey jack] - 1/2 cup

some dry or fresh parsely and basil leaves.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cooking oil on a baking sheet or dish.

Finely chop onion, garlic and leaves if using fresh(For a finer texture grate onion n garlic).

Saute them in a tsp of oil.

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Make small balls and place on the baking dish.

If the mixture feels too loose to hold balls, add a little more bread crumbs.

Bake in oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

Enjoy as such as an appetizer or add it to pasta sauce and pour over spaghetti or any of your favourite pasta.

Or make a meat ball curry. You can use my Chicken Curry recipe, substitute chicken with meat balls. Viola!! Enjoy!

[if you dont have an oven, pan fry them in medium heat with a couple of teaspoons of oil]

Low fat Rotini Pasta

For this recipe I have used rotini pasta, you can use what ever you have in your pantry.

Trying to make it more healthy, included spinach and low fat cheese. You can add more vegetables of your choice.

Rotini pasta - 2 cups

onion - 1

80% lean beef - 1 lb

spinach - 1 bunch

garlic - 3 or 4 cloves

1% low fat cottage cheese - 1 cup

yoghurt - 1/2 cup

chilli powder - 1/4 tsp

garam masala -1 tsp

some dried or fresh parsely and oregano.

Any low fat italian cheese - 1/2 cup grated.

salt to taste.

Boil water, add salt and cook pasta or 10 to 12 minutes.

Wash and chop spinach and onions.

In a pan, add a little oil, saute onion, garlic followed by spinach.

Add the meat, chilli powder, garam masala, salt and dry leaves.

Let it cook for 10 minutes.

Blend cottage cheese smooth.

Add it and the yoghurt.

Add drained pasta and grated cheese and heat it through and serve.

Eggless Pound cake -Dressed Up

This is an egg-less pound cake with whipped topping and a pineapple filling in between.

For Egg-less pound cake:

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all purpose flour - 2 1/4 cups

butter - 1 1/2 sticks or 3/4 cup

condensed milk - 1 1/2 cup

baking powder - 1 1/2 tsp

baking soda - 1/2 tsp

vanilla essence - 1 tsp

plain soda water- 1 1/2 cup

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease the baking tray with butter.

Take the flour, baking powder and baking soda and sieve then together.

In a wide mixing bowl, whisk together softened butter and condensed milk until smooth.

Add some flour, some soda and whisk it well, repeat until all flour and soda are done. Do not add them all at once .Add them in 3 or 4 additions.

Whisk in vanilla essence.

Pour into the prepared dish and bake it for 35 to 40 minutes.

For whipped cream

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heavy whipping cream - 2 to 3 cups

vanilla extract - 1 tsp

sugar - 2 tbsp

Take whipping cream into a bowl.

Start whipping slowly until soft peak forms.

Now add sugar and continue whipping until thick peak forms.

Once done keep covered with a plastic wrap in refrigerator unit ready to frost.

For pineapple filling

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1/2 of a pineapple chopped small

sugar - 1 cup

Cook the pineapple over medium heat.

Keep in low flame,add sugar and keep stirring until dissolved.

Let it cool.

Assemble and decorate

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Bake the cake and let it cool.

Cut into 2 layers. Spread pineapple filling in between.

Frost outside with whipped cream.

For a simple decoration I have made a flower out of jelly bean rolled out and some chocolate dress ups.

Vazhakka Moru Curry or Moru Kalan

This is a dish from Kerala. The thicker version of this is called Kurukku Kalan which is one item for sadhya[a vegetarian feast]. For that its the same recipe except that u may double the coconut grated and add less water. Thinner version is what I'm giving below.

Ingredients:

Raw banana - 1

turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

curd - 1 cup

curry leaves - a sprig

mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp

dry red chilli - 1 or 2

oil- 2 tsp

salt to taste

for grinding:

grated coconut - 1/2 cup

cumin seeds - 1 tsp

green chilli - 1 or 2[add more if u want it more spicy]

Method:

Peel the skin of the banana and chop into small pieces.

Cook it with a little turmeric powder and salt and some water.

Beat the curd and mix in a cup of water and keep.

Grind together grated coconut,cumin seeds and green chilli.

When the banana is cooked add the coconut mixture and curd in very low flame.

Add some water if desired and keep stirring until heated. Do not let it boil.

Check for salt.

In a small pan heat oil, splutter mustard followed by fenugreek seeds, dry red chilli and curry leaves.

Pour this over the prepared curry.

Done.