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Showing posts with label SIDE DISH FOR RICE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SIDE DISH FOR RICE. Show all posts

January 25, 2019

Bitter Gourd Thokku / Pavakkai Thokku Recipe

Pavakkai thokku
Bitter gourd is one of my favorite vegetables. So I love to try varieties of bitter gourd recipes in my kitchen. Recently I tried this yummy bitter gourd thokku recipe for rice (pavakkai in Tamil, Karela in Hindi) from Sangeetha’s blog. Its basically an onion, tomato, bitter gourd curry very similar to our Tamil nadu style tomato thokku. As usual I tried this bitter gourd thokku in an easy way by using my pressure cooker. It came out so well with a combination of tangy, sweet and mild bitter taste. It was so easy and quick to make in a pressure cooker. It tastes great when mixed with plain rice drizzled with few drops of sesame oil. It goes well with curd rice and chapathi as well. The bitterness is not much visible in this recipe as we are adding tomato, tamarind and jaggery. Also slicing the bitter gourd thinly helps to reduce the bitterness. If you are a bitter gourd lover, you must try this recipe. You will love it for sure. This pavakkai thokku stays good for 10 days or more when refrigerated. If kept outside, it stays good for 2 days. So you can pack it for travel too. But use a clean spoon to handle it. Ok, lets see how to make this easy, yummy bitter gourd thokku recipe with step by step pictures.

Check out my bitter gourd poriyalpavakkai pitlaipavakkai puli kulambu, Andhra style Kakarakaya pulusu, Bitter gourd biryani, Bitter gourd chips and bitter gourd masala curry.

bitter gourd thokku

Bitter gourd thokku recipe / Pavakkai thokku


Bitter gourd thokku recipe / Pavakkai thokku

How to make bitter gourd thokku / pavakkai thokku easily in a pressure cooker.



Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Side dish for rice
Serves: Serves 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes



INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Bitter gourd - 1 no (big sized, thinly sliced)
  • Big onion - 2 nos. (finely chopped)
  • Ripe tomato - 2 nos.(finely chopped)
  • Garlic cloves - 5 (finely chopped)
  • Tamarind extract - Big gooseberry size
  • Powdered Jaggery - 1 tbsp (adjust)
  • Red chilli powder - 1.5 tsp to 2 tsp
  • Coriander powder - 1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
To Temper
  • Cooking oil or Gingely oil - 4 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Cumin seeds / Jeera - 1/4 tsp
  • Curry leaves - Few
  • Hing / Asafetida - 1/4 tsp
HOW TO MAKE BITTER GOURD THOKKU
  1. Wash and chop bitter gourd into small thin slices. It helps to reduce bitterness.
  2. Chop onion, garlic, tomato finely. Heat oil in a pressure cooker base.
  3. Splutter mustard , urad dal, cumin seeds, curry leaves and hing.
  4. Add finely chopped onion and garlic. Once transparent, add sliced bitter gourd.
  5. Add turmeric powder and salt. Mix well and saute for 5 minutes till its quantity reduces slightly.
  6. Now add tomato and saute till it becomes mushy. Add chilli powder and coriander powder.
  7. Mix till raw smell goes off. Lastly add 1/4 cup of tamarind extract, powdered jaggery. Mix well.
  8. Pressure cook in low flame for one whistle. Remove the lid after the steam is released.
  9. Mix and boil if thokku is watery. Once its thick, you can remove and cool down.
  10. Yummy Pavakkai thokku is ready ! Store in a clean box and refrigerate it. Enjoy with plain rice, curd rice and chapathi
BITTER GOURD THOKKU - STEP BY STEP PICTURES


  • Wash and chop bitter gourd into small, thin slices. Slicing thinly helps to remove bitterness. You can mix the chopped bitter gourd pieces  and salt. Keep it aside for 15 to 30 minutes. Squeeze and drain the water. It also helps to reduce the bitterness. But its nutritional value is lost. So I don’t do this way. I just chop the BG thinly. Similarly chop onion, garlic and tomato into very small pieces.



  • Heat oil in a pressure cooker base. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, hing and curry leaves.Pavakkai thokku



  • Add onion, garlic and saute till transparent. Now add thinly sliced bitter gourd, turmeric powder and salt. Saute for 5 minutes in medium flame till bitter gourd shrinks in quantity slightly.Pavakkai thokku



  • Add tomato pieces. Saute till it turns mushy. Then add chilli powder and dhania powder. Mix well till its raw smell goes off.

  • Lastly add 1/4 cup of tamarind extract, jaggery and mix well. You can add very little water if the thokku is too thick. Close the pressure cooker lid. Keep the flame high till steam comes out. Put the weight valve and simmer the flame completely. Cook in low flame for one whistle.Pavakkai thokku



  • Open the cooker lid after the steam is released. If you find there is excess water in the thokku, boil for sometime till its thick. Switch off the flame and remove in a clean bowl. Let it cool down. Store in a refrigerator. It stays good for 10 days. You can enjoy with plain rice, curd rice, chapathi, idli dosa too. Enjoy ! Pavakkai thokku
  • Note

    • Adjust the quantity of chili powder as per your taste.
    • Do not skip jaggery. It gives a mild sweet taste to this thokku.
    • Make sure there is no excess water in the thokku. It will reduce its shelf life.

    Try this easy, yummy bitter gourd thokku and enjoy !
    bitter gourd thokku recipe


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    November 26, 2018

    Indian Style Mushroom Stir Fry Recipe – Kalan Poriyal Recipe

    mushroom stir fry
    Mushroom stir fry (Kalan poriyal / Kalan varuval in Tamil) is an easy, simple, Indian style, healthy and quick side dish for rice. It can be prepared with button mushroom under 10 minutes using very less ingredients. Today I have shared a simple mushroom stir fry recipe with onion, garlic, chilli powder and garam masala powder. It is a basic South Indian style stir fry / poriyal recipe without coconut that tastes good for sambar rice and rasam rice. I got this recipe from my neighbor who taught me mushroom kuzhambu. If you like, you can have this as a stuffing for chapathi and bread sandwich. For variations, you can add pepper powder instead of chilli powder to make mushroom pepper fry. All edible mushrooms are high in protein, anti oxidants which help to improve immunity. Its low in calories and fat. So lets try to include mushroom in our diet by making this simple recipe. Now we will see how to make this simple mushroom stir fry/ kalan poriyal for rice with step by step pictures.

    Do check out my other mushroom recipes.

    How to clean mushroom

    Mushroom 65

    Mushroom pulao

    Mushroom biryani

    Dindigul thalappakkatti biryani with mushroom 

    Thala Ajith biryani with mushroom

    Pakistani biryani with mushroom


    mushroom stir fry recipe

    Mushroom stir fry recipe - Kalan poriyal recipe


    Mushroom stir fry recipe - Kalan poriyal recipe

    Easy and simple mushroom stir fry recipe for sambar rice, rasam rice.



    Cuisine: South Indian
    Category: Mushroom recipes
    Serves: Serves 2
    Prep time: 10 Minutes
    Cook time: 10 Minutes
    Total time: 20 Minutes



    INGREDIENTS

    • Mushroom / Button mushroom - 15 nos.
    • Big onion - 1
    • Garlic cloves - 10
    • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
    • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
    • Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp
    • Salt - as needed
    To Temper
    • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
    • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
    • Urad dal - 1 tsp
    • Chana dal - 1 tsp
    • Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
    • Curry leaves - Few
    • Hing/ Asafetida - a pinch
    Coriander leaves - to garnish
    Lemon juice - few drops (optional, I dint use)
    HOW TO MAKE MUSHROOM STIR FRY
    1. Wash and clean mushroom, chop and set aside.
    2. Wash and finely chop onion. Peel garlic and keep aside.
    3. Heat oil in a kadai. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, cumin seeds.
    4. Saute onion, garlic cloves till transparent.
    5. Add mushroom. Saute and add salt, red chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala powder.
    6. Saute till mushroom cooks well. Cover and cook in low flame till mushroom becomes soft.
    7. Switch off the flame. Squeeze some lemon juice if needed. Serve with sambar rice and rasam rice.
    METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
    • Wash and clean mushroom. Chop the stem and discard it. Slice into pieces. Chop the onion finely. Peel the garlic and set aside.
    • Heat oil in a kadai. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal and cumin seeds.mushroom stir fry
    • Add onion, garlic and curry leaves. Saute till onion, garlic becomes transparent. Add mushroom pieces and saute till its half cooked.
    • mushroom stir fry
    • Add the required salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala powder. Mix well. Mushroom will leave some water. So do not add water additionally.
    • mushroom stir fry
    • Cover and cook in low flame till mushroom becomes soft and well cooked. Switch off the flame. Garnish with coriander leaves. Squeeze some lemon juice if you like. Serve with sambar rice and rasam rice. Roll in chapathi or stuff in bread sandwich.
      Enjoy !

    Note

    • For variations, you can add 1/2 tsp of ginger garlic paste and saute with onion till raw smell goes off.
    • You can use sambar powder instead of red chilli powder.
    • To make it like a semi gravy consistency, you can saute 1/2 cup of tomato too.

    Try this easy mushroom stir fry and enjoy with rice ! I served with paruppu kulambu.
    kalan poriyal


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    November 21, 2018

    Mushroom Kuzhambu – Kalan Kulambu Recipe For Rice, Chapathi, Idli, Dosa

      Mushroom kuzhambu for rice, chapathi

    Indian Mushroom gravy / Kalan kuzhambu for rice and chapathi was in my try list for long time. Recently my neighbor shared this all rounder button mushroom gravy recipe with me. She told this mushroom masala kuzhambu goes well with rice, roti, idli and dosa too. I was so excited and tried it immediately. It came out so good and truly flavorful. I must call this gravy as mushroom kurma kuzhambu. The taste and flavor of this gravy is awesome. You will love it for sure. 

    My house was completely filled with the aroma of this kuzhambu which made us eat more. Even though I buy mushroom rarely, I try to make some different and interesting Indian style mushroom recipes. Glad I tried this yummy mushroom kulambu recipe. This recipe is sure a keeper. I will make it very often. If you like, you can add boiled potato cubes along with mushroom. Ok, lets see how to make this easy, flavorful mushroom kuzhambu recipe with step by step pictures.

    Do check out my other mushroom recipes.

    How to clean mushroom

    Mushroom 65

    Mushroom pulao

    Mushroom biryani

    Dindigul thalappakkatti biryani with mushroom 

    Thala Ajith biryani with mushroom

    Pakistani biryani with mushroom

    Mushroom kuzhambu recipe


    Mushroom masala kuzhambu recipe for rice, chapathi, idli, dosa


    Mushroom masala kuzhambu recipe for rice, chapathi, idli, dosa

    Mushroom kuzhambu / kalan kulambu recipe for idli, dosa, chapathi



    Cuisine: Tamil nadu
    Category: Mushroom recipes
    Serves:  4
    Prep time: 10 Minutes
    Cook time: 20 Minutes
    Total time: 30 Minutes



    INGREDIENTS
    1 cup - 250ml
    • Mushroom / Kalan - 15 nos.
    • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
    • Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
    • Cloves - 2
    • Cardamom - 1
    • Black stone flower / Kalpasi - 1
    • Big onion - 1
    • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
    • Sambar powder - 1 tsp
    • Red chlili powder - 1/2 tsp
    • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
    • Salt & water – as needed
    To saute & grind
    • Ripe tomato - 1
    • Big onion - 1
    • Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
    • Cashew nuts – 4 no.
    • Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
    • Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
    • Cooking oil – 1 tbsp
    HOW TO MAKE MUSHROOM KUZHAMBU
    1. Wash and clean mushroom. Chop and set aside.
    2. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute fennel seeds, onion, tomato till mushy.
    3. Add cashew nuts and mix well. Let it cool. Add coconut and coriander leaves,grind to a smooth paste.
    4. Heat oil in the same kadai. Saute whole garam masala. Saute onion till transparent.
    5. Add ginger,garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes off. Now add the chopped mushroom, red chilli powder, sambar powder and salt. Mix well.
    6. Add the ground tomato paste and required water. Boil till oil floats on top.
    7. Switch off the flame. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with plain rice, idli, dosa and chapathi.
    METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

    • Wash and clean the mushroom. Pat it dry. Chop into thick slices. Wash and chop onion, tomato and keep aside.
    • mushroom kuzhambu
    • In a kadai, heat oil. Saute fennel seeds, onion till transparent. Add tomato and saute till mushy. Lastly add cashews and mix well. Switch off the flame and cool down. Add coconut, coriander leaves. Grind to a smooth paste adding enough water.
    • mushroom kuzhambumushroom kuzhambu

      • In the same kadai, heat oil and add in cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and black stone flower. Saute onion till transparent. Then add ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes off. (Refer the above picture).

      • Add chopped mushroom and saute for a minute. It will leave water. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, sambar powder and salt. Mix for a minute.
      • mushroom kuzhambu
      • Add the ground tomato paste and required water.  Mix well and boil in low flame till oil floats on top. Gravy leaves a nice smell too. Switch off the flame. Garnish with coriander leaves. This kuzhambu thickens when it cools down. So add water to adjust the consistency. Check for salt too. 
      • Mix with plain rice and enjoy with papad. I served with potato curry. To serve as a side dish for idli, dosa dilute the gravy like sambar by adding some water. Boil and serve. For chapathi, you can make it in kurma consistency. Enjoy !mushroom kuzhambu

      Note

      • For variations, you can add boiled and cubed potatoes along with mushroom.
      • Adjust the quantity of chilli powder and sambar powder as per your taste.
      • Do not add more tomato. If you add more, gravy tastes tangy. Mushroom itself has mild tanginess.  So please be careful.
      • For variations, you can replace sambar powder with red chilli powder and dhania powder 1 tsp each.
      • For best taste and flavor, this gravy should boil till oil floats on top.

      Try this easy, yummy mushroom kuzhambu for rice, roti, idli and dosa. You will love it !
      Kalan kuzhambu recipe

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      November 16, 2018

      Cabbage Masala Curry Recipe For Rice, Roti - Muttaikose Curry

      Cabbage masala curry recipe

      Recently I tried this Cabbage masala curry recipe as side dish for rice and roti. Generally I make South Indian style cabbage curry with coconut/ muttaikose poriyal or cabbage sambar for rice. For a change, I tried this easy cabbage masala curry adding onion, tomato, ginger, garlic and garam masala powder. It came out flavorful and tasty. Many people hate cabbage because of its smell.

      Cabbage masala curry can be prepared in both North Indian and South Indian style. But there is no much difference in the ingredients and recipe. If you temper cumin seeds alone and add boiled potato in this recipe, it is of North Indian style. But I have used shredded cabbage and frozen green peas. Also I made in a pressure cooker directly to ease my job and save time. Just pressure cook cabbage adding little water in high flame for one whistle, its is done under 10 minutes. I am sure this curry helps you save time during busy morning hours cooking. 

      Friends, do try this easy cabbage peas masala curry for rice and roti. If you like, you can even use this masala as stuffing for samosa and bread sandwich. I served it with rice and paruppu kuzhambu / South Indian dal. Ok, lets see how to make cabbage masala recipe / muttaikose curry in detail with step by step pictures.

      Check out my Cabbage peas biryaniCabbage vada, Cabbage sambar ,  Cabbage poriyal ,

      Purple cabbage poriyalPurple cabbage salad if interested.

      Cabbage masala recipe

      Cabbage masala curry recipe for rice, roti


      Cabbage masala curry recipe for rice, roti

      Easy, Indian cabbage masala curry recipe for rice and roti.



      Cuisine: Indian
      Category: Curry recipes
      Serves: Serves 4
      Prep time: 10 Minutes
      Cook time: 10 Minutes
      Total time: 20 Minutes



      INGREDIENTS
      1 cup - 240 ml
      • Chopped cabbage - 2 cups
      • Frozen green peas - 2 tbsp
      • Big onion - 1 no. (chopped finely)
      • Ripe tomato - 1 no. (chopped finely)
      • Ginger - 1/2 inch piece (-do-)
      • Garlic - 5 cloves (-do-)
      • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
      • Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
      • Coriander seeds powder - 1 tsp
      • Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
      • Salt – as needed
      • Water – As needed ( I used 2 tbsp)
      • Coriander leaves - to garnish
      • Lemon juice - few drops (optional)
      To Temper
      • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
      • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
      • Urad dal - 1 tsp
      • Chana dal - 1 tsp
      • Curry leaves - Few
      HOW TO MAKE CABBAGE MASALA
      1. Wash and chop cabbage, onion, tomato, ginger and garlic finely.
      2. Heat oil in a pressure cooker base. Temper the above said ingredients.
      3. Saute onion, ginger, garlic till transparent. Add tomato, saute till mushy.
      4. Add chopped cabbage, green peas and cook till it reduces in quantity.
      5. Add the spice powders, salt mix till raw smell goes off.
      6. Sprinkle 2 tbsp water. Pressure cook in high flame for 2 whistles.
      7. Open the cooker, boil and drain excess water. Add lemon juice if needed.
      8. Garnish with coriander leaves.
      9. Serve with rice or roti. Enjoy.
      CABBAGE MASALA CURRY - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
      • Wash and chop cabbage into small pieces. You can also grate or shred cabbage. Finely chop onion, garlic, ginger and tomato. Set aside.
      • Cabbage masala recipe
      • In a pressure cooker base, heat oil. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal and curry leaves. Add finely chopped onion, ginger and garlic. Saute till onion becomes transparent.

      • Add the finely chopped tomato pieces and saute till mushy. Then add in the grated cabbage. 
      • Saute till it shrinks in size and reduces in quantity. 
        • Cabbage masala recipe
      • Now add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander seeds powder, garam masala powder, salt and a pinch of sugar. Mix well till raw smell leaves off.
      • Cabbage masala recipe
      • Lastly add 2 tbsp of water if you are making in pressure cooker. Do not use more. Cook in high flame for 2 whistles. Remove the lid after steam is released. Cabbage will be cooked perfectly soft. 
      • Fluff it gently using a fork. If you feel there is excess water in the bottom, just boil in high flame till water evaporates. Mix gently to avoid cabbage becoming mushy. 
      • Suppose if you make this masala in a kadai or pan, sprinkle little water, cover cook in low flame till its done. 
      • Toss it once or twice in the middle.

      • After the masala is ready, garnish with coriander leaves. Sprinkle few drops of lemon juice if needed. Mix well and serve with rice.
      • Cabbage masala recipe
        Enjoy !

      Note

      • Do not add more water if you use pressure cooker.
      • For variations, you can use 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste instead of chopped ones.
      • You can replace red chilli powder and coriander seeds powder by sambar powder.
      • If you are using dried peas, you should soak it overnight and then add to the masala. But frozen green peas can be used instantly.
      Easy, yummy cabbage peas masala is ready to enjoy with rice and roti !
      Cabbage masala for rice
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      November 10, 2018

      South Indian Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe – Thuvaram Paruppu Kulambu Without Coconut

      Paruppu kuzhambu recipe
      Paruppu kuzhambu is a Tamil nadu style (South Indian) simple, healthy, protein rich, easy to make one pot kuzhambu recipe that can be prepared under 10 minutes using a pressure cooker. If you are looking for a simple kuzhambu recipe without tamarind and coconut to prepare during busy morning hours paruppu kuzhambu is the best choice. This recipe would be helpful for bachelors and working women. You can also call this as paruppu kadaiyal. 

      When I came across this recipe in YouTube video, I was so happy to try it as Sendhil and Raksha loves dal based gravies without tamarind. This recipe looks similar to North Indian Dal tadka. But this kuzhambu recipe is of Tamil style. Its completely different from South Indian Sambar too. 

      In Tirunelveli, we make paruppu for rice (tempered dal) and paruppu kuzhambu but its with coconut. Soon I will try to share that version later. For variations, you can use moong dal / Paasi paruppu instead of toor dal / thuvaram paruppu. This paruppu kuzhambu tastes the best when mixed with hot rice drizzled with few drops of ghee. 

      Potato curry or spicy brinjal curry would be the best side dish for this simple dal recipe. But I served it with carrot beans poriyal. Finally side dish is your choice ! Ok, lets see this simple paruppu kulambu recipe with step by step pictures and video.

      Check out my 50+ kuzhambu varieties for rice !




      Paruppu kulambu recipe


      Paruppu kuzhambu Recipe / Toor dal gravy for rice


      Paruppu kuzhambu Recipe / Toor dal gravy for rice

      Simple and quick South Indian style paruppu kuzhambu recipe for rice.



      Cuisine: South Indian
      Category: Kuzhambu Recipes
      Serves: 3
      Prep time: 10 Minutes
      Cook time: 20 Minutes
      Total time: 30 Minutes



      INGREDIENTS
      1 cup - 250ml
      • Toor dal / thuvaram paruppu - 1/2 cup
      • Ripe tomato - 1 no.
      • Big onion or small onions - 1 no / 10 nos.
      • Green chilli - 1 no.
      • Garlic cloves - 5 nos.
      • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
      • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
      • Cooking oil - Few drops
      • Water & Salt - as needed
      To Temper
      • Cooking oil or ghee - 1 tbsp
      • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
      • Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
      • Hing - 2 pinches
      • Curry leaves - Few
      • Red chilli - 1 no. (pinched into two)
      • Coriander leaves – a handful (to garnish)

      HOW TO MAKE PARUPPU KUZHAMBU
      1. Wash and take toor dal and other ingredients except “To temper” in a pressure cooker.
      2. Add required water and pressure cook in low flame for 2 whistles.
      3. Open the cooker and mash it well.
      4. Temper mustard, urad dal, hing, curry leaves and red chilli in ghee.
      5. Add to the mashed dal, required salt. Garnish with coriander leaves.
      6. Roll boil for one minute. Serve with plain rice adding ghee.
      METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
      • Wash and take toor dal/ thuvaram paruppu, chopped onion, tomato, green chilli, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, few drops of cooking oil and 2 cups of water.

      • Paruppu kuzhambu
      • Pressure cook in very low flame for 2 whistles. Open the cooker lid after the steam is released. Mash the cooked dal using a whisk. Garnish with coriander leaves and set aside.
      • Paruppu kuzhambu
      • Heat ghee in a small kadai. Temper mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, hing and red chilli. Add to cooked dal.
      • Paruppu kuzhambu
      • Mix well, add required salt. Roll boil for a minute till the desired consistency is achieved. This kuzhambu thicken when it cools down. So make it thin or thick as you like. I made it slightly thin. Serve hot with plain rice adding few drops of ghee. Tastes the best with potato curry or spicy brinjal curry as side dish. I served with carrot beans poriyal. Enjoy !

      Note

      • Add more green chilli for spicy paruppu kuzhambu.
      • For variations, you can add 1 tsp of tamarind extract while roll boiling the cooked dal.
      Easy, yummy paruppu kuzhambu is ready . I served with carrot beans poriyal and papad.
      Paruppu kulambu without coconut
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      October 4, 2018

      Chow Chow Kootu Recipe – Chayote Kootu Recipe In Pressure Cooker

       chow chow kootu recipe
       Chow chow kootu (Chayote in English) is one my most favorite kootu recipes. Basically chow chow is a vegetable with rich water content. It doesn’t have any particular smell or taste. Generally we Tamil people make this chow chow kootu at least once in a week in our regular lunch menu. Its a good side dish for vatha kuzhambu and puli kulambu. In my family, both mom and MIL make chow chow kootu with small variations. My MIL adds moong dal whereas my mom adds chana dal along with coconut, green chilli paste. Usually we add small onion while grinding coconut but this kootu can be prepared without onion as well. It tastes and smells good in both the ways. 

      My mom adds little milk at the end to give a rich taste and to look white in color. I combine my mom and mil’s recipes and make this kootu in a pressure cooker directly to ease my job. For variations, this kootu can be prepared adding sambar powder too. In that case, kootu looks orange in color. Ok, lets see how to make chow chow kootu / Chayote kootu with step by step pictures in an easy way using pressure cooker.

      Do check out my other kootu recipes too.

      how to make chow chow kootu

      Chow Chow kootu recipe / Chayote kootu recipe


      Chow Chow kootu recipe / Chayote kootu recipe

      Chow chow kootu recipe with moong dal, coconut and green chilli. Its a good side dish for vatha kuzhambu / Puli kulambu.



      Cuisine: South Indian
      Category: Kootu recipes
      Serves: 2
      Prep time: 10 Minutes
      Cook time: 20 Minutes
      Total time: 30 Minutes



      INGREDIENTS

      1 cup - 250ml
      • Chayote / Chow chow - 1 no.
      • Moong dal or chana dal - 1.5 tbsp
      • Salt & water - as needed
      • Boiled milk – 2 tbsp (optional)
      To grind
      • Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
      • Green chilli - 1 to 2 nos.
      • Small onion or big onion - 2 nos / 1/4th
      • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
      • Rice flour - 1 tsp
      • Water - to grind
      To Temper
      • Coconut oil - 2 tsp
      • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
      • Curry leaves - Few

      METHOD

      1. Wash and peel the skin of chayote / chow chow and chop into small pieces.
      2. Grind coconut, green chilli, cumin seeds, onion and rice flour to a smooth paste.
      3. Heat coconut oil in a pressure cooker base. Splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves.
      4. Add the chopped chow chow. Saute for a minute. Add moong dal, ground coconut paste.
      5. Add the required water and salt. Mix well and pressure cook in low flame for one whistle.
      6. Remove after the steam is released. Add the milk, little water if needed. Mix well and give one boil.
      7. Serve hot with vatha kuzhambu or puli kulambu sadam and sutta appalam. Tastes yum!

      METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

      • Wash and peel the skin of chow chow / Chayote using a peeler. Remove the seed. Chop into small pieces and set aside.
      • chow chow kootu recipe
      • Grind coconut, green chilli, small onion, cumin seeds and rice flour to a smooth paste adding required water. Set aside.
      • chow chow kootu recipe
      • Heat coconut oil in a pressure cooker base. Splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves. Add the chopped chow chow pieces. Saute for a minute.
      • chow chow kootu recipe
      • Add moong dal and mix well. Add the ground coconut paste, required salt and mix well. Add 1/2 cup of water. Close the pressure cooker and keep the flame high. As soon as the steam comes from the nozzle, put the weight valve and reduce the flame to low completely. Pressure cook in very low flame for one whistle.  It takes 8 to 10 minutes.
      • Switch off the flame after one whistle. Remove the cooker lid after the steam is released. Mix well, add milk and check the consistency. If the kootu is too thick, add 1/4 cup of water, give one boil. If its watery, boil for few minutes to reach the desired consistency. Switch off the flame.
      • chow chow kootu recipe
      • Serve with vatha kuzhambu rice or puli kulambu rice. Tastes great with sutta appalam / roasted papad. If you like, you can mix this kootu with plain rice adding ghee. Enjoy !      chow chow kootu recipe

      Note

      • Do not add more green chillies. Kootu will become spicy.
      • Do not add more water in the pressure cooker. As this vegetable itself is rich in water content, it will cook easily in less water.
      • Do not skip cumin seeds while grinding coconut. It adds a nice flavor.
      • You can avoid onion while grinding if you are making this kootu on vrat/ fasting days.
      • For variations, chana dal can be used instead of moong dal. Soak chana dal for 15 minutes for perfect cooking. 
      • Similarly sambar powder can be used in place of green chilli. One chopped tomato can also be used in the cooker. In that case, kootu looks orange in color. 

      Try this easy, yummy chow chow kootu in a pressure cooker and enjoy with rice.

      Chayote kootu


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      September 28, 2018

      Kerala Tomato Curry Recipe – Kerala Thakkali Curry With Coconut Milk

      Kerala tomato curry recipe
      When I was looking for a Kerala style side dish for appam apart from vegetable stew, I got to know about this Kerala style tomato curry recipe / thakkali curry with coconut milk. It is an yummy side dish for appam, dosa and rice. This is the first time Iam making tomato curry with readymade coconut milk powder. I used Maggi coconut milk powder to make thin coconut milk and used in this recipe. Tomato curry came out very tasty and tasted more like kurma with mild masala flavor. Raksha and myself loved it with appam and dosa. I tried this recipe after watching few YouTube videos. In the video, this curry was prepared for rice. But I had it with appam and dosa. Hope it tastes good for idiyappam too. Friends, if you love tomato based side dish recipes, you must give this a try. You will love it for sure. Ok, lets check how to make Kerala style tomato curry for rice, appam with step by step pictures.

      Check out my Potato paya recipe, Vegetable stew recipes too.

      Kerala tomato curry recipe


      Kerala style tomato curry recipe - Side dish for rice, appam


      Kerala style tomato curry recipe - Side dish for appam

      Kerala style tomato curry recipe with onion, tomato and coconut milk.



      Cuisine: Kerala
      Category: Side dish for appam
      Serves: Serves 3
      Prep time: 10 Minutes
      Cook time: 20 Minutes
      Total time: 30 Minutes



      INGREDIENTS

      1 cup - 250ml
      • Coconut oil - 3 tbsp
      • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
      • Curry leaves - Few
      • Big onion - 1 (Finely chopped or sliced)
      • Green chilli - 2 nos.
      • Ripe tomato - 2 nos.
      • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
      • Kashmiri chilli powder - 1 tsp
      • Coriander seeds powder - 1 tsp
      • Coconut milk - 1 to 1.5 cups ( I used Maggi coconut milk powder)
      • Coriander leaves - to garnish

      KERALA STYLE TOMATO CURRY RECIPE

      1. Wash and chop onion, tomato into small pieces.
      2. Take Maggi coconut milk powder packet. Follow the instructions and make thin coconut milk.
      3. Heat oil in a kadai. Splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves.
      4. Saute onion, green chilli and tomato. Add salt, spice powders and saute well.
      5. Lastly add the coconut milk. Boil for few minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves.
      6. Serve with rice, appam or dosa. Tastes yummy !

      KERALA TOMATO CURRY - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

      • Wash and chop onion, tomato into small pieces. Slit green chilli and set aside

      • Take the readymade coconut milk powder. Add water as per the instructions given on the pack. I added 3 tbsp of water for 1 tbsp of powder. Make 1 cup of coconut milk and set aside.
      • Kerala tomato curry recipe
      • Heat coconut oil in a kadai. Splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves. Saute onion and green chilli till onion becomes transparent.
      • Kerala tomato curry recipe
      • Add tomato pieces, salt and saute till tomato becomes mushy. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder and coriander powder.
      • Kerala tomato curry recipe
      • Mix well till raw smell goes off. Lastly add the coconut milk and boil the gravy for few minutes till it reaches the desired consistency.
      • Kerala tomato curry recipe
      • Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice, appam or dosa.
        Enjoy !

      Note

      • Adjust the quantity of spice powders and green chilli as per your taste.
      • Add more coconut milk if you wish.
      • This tomato gravy tastes tangy if you don’t add the required amount of chilli and spice powders.

      Try this yummy Kerala style tomato curry and enjoy with rice or appam !
      Kerala thakkali curry with coconut milk


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