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.