Potato Curry

Amma saw this potato curry on Lakshmi Nair's cookery show. She tried it and we all liked it. This curry can be had with vellepam,Chappathi or rice.

Ingredients:

1 tsp cumin seeds

2 onions chopped

2 slit green chillies

3/4 tsp chilly powder

1 pinch turmeric powder

1 tomato chopped

2 cups thin coconut milk

4 tbsp cashew paste

salt to taste

To shallow fry:

2 potatoes cubed

1 tsp turmeric powder

salt to taste

3 tbsp oil

Preparation:

1.Marinate the potato cubes with turmeric powder and salt and keep aside for10 minutes.

2.Heat oil in a pan and fry the potatoes in the oil. 

3.Remove the potatoes and keep aside.

4.To the same oil add cumin seeds.

5.Add the chopped onion and green chillies.Saute for 2 minutes.

6.Add the turmeric powder and chilly powder. Saute well.

7.Add the chopped tomatoes and mix well.

8.Mix in the coconut milk and cashew paste.

9.Add the potato into the gravy and cook till the mixture boils.

10.Garnish with coriander leaves. 

Beef Varutharachathu

Amma made this varutharacha beef curry and puttu for my friend Noora. Preparing this curry may take more time than the normal meat curries.But the results are worth the effort spent.

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo beef

To marinate:

1 onion sliced

1/4 cup coconut sliced

1 tsp chopped ginger

1 tsp chopped garlic

1 tbsp chilly powder

1 1/2 tbsp coriander powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp meat masala powder

3 green chillies split open lengthwise

salt to taste

To roast and grind:

1/2 cup grated coconut

one shallot chopped

1 tsp chopped ginger
1 tsp chopped garlic

1/2 tbsp fennel seeds

1 sprig curry leaves

1 tbsp coconut oil

To temper:

1 tbsp coconut oil

4 shallots chopped

1 spring curry leaves

Preparation:

1.Marinate the beef with the ingredients mentioned under 'To marinate' and keep aside for 30 minutes.

2.Add half cup water to the beef and pressure cook till 3 whistles.

3.Add coconut oil to a pan and roast the coconut and rest of the ingredients mentioned under 'To roast and powder' till coconut turns brown.Grind it to a smooth paste.

4.Add the paste to the cooked beef and mix well.Switch off the flame when the curry starts to boil.

5.Temper the curry with fried shallots and curry leaves.

Ulli Chammanthi

Amma makes this ulli-thakkali chammanthi for idli. This can be be made easily and quickly with ingredients that will always be available in your kitchen.

Ingredients:

2 onion chopped
1 tomato chopped
1 tsp chilly powder
2 tbsp coconut oil
salt to taste

Method :

1.Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan and add the chopped onions and salt.Saute well for 3 minutes.
2.Add chilly powder and saute on low flame.
3.Add tomato and saute till it becomes paste.
4.Grind the mixture to a smooth paste in a mixer and add the remaining oil to the top.

Pork Ularthiyathu

Yummiest pork fry is made in christian households of Kerala during Christmas. They serve it as an appetizer or with rice. Amma learned this recipe from a christian friend of hers.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg pork cut into medium sized pieces
1 plantain(nenthra kaaya) cut into medium pieces
1 chopped onion
4 green chillies slit open lengthwise
1/4 cup grated coconut
1/4 tsp fennel seeds(perumjeerakam)
4 cloves of garlic
2 tsp chopped ginger
1 sprig curry leaves
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Powders:

1 tsp chilly powder
1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp meat masala

Method:

1. Dry roast the powders.
2.Add pork,powders,1 tsp chopped ginger,2 chopped garlic,curry leaves,salt and 1/4 cup water into pressure cooker and mix well.Cook for 2 whistles.
3.After the pork cools down drain off the excess fat.
4.Add the plantain into the pork and cook it.
5.In a pan add 1 tbsp oil and saute grated coconut,fennel seeds,curry leaves,1 tsp chopped ginger,2 chopped garlic till golden brown.Coarsely grind this mixture.Keep aside.
6.Add 1 tbsp oil in pan and saute the chopped onion,green chillies and curry leaves.
7.Add pork to the pan and saute till it becomes dry.
8.Add coconut mixture to the pan and mix well.