Aval Nanachathu

Aval /Rice flakes is easily digestible form of raw rice.It is used to prepare snacks such as
Aval nanachathu,Aval Varattiyathu etc.

INGREDIENTS:

• Aval/Rice Flakes -1 cup
• Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
• Jaggery/Sugar -1/4 cup

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Squeeze all the ingredients using hand.   
• Keep it aside for 10 minutes to get the Aval soft

Recommended Combination: Serve with Pazham

Achappam

Achappam is a Kerala snack. It is prepared using a special mould (Achappam mould). The mould is dipped in the batter and fried in Oil.
Beat the eggs and sugar well.

INGREDIENTS:

• Raw rice powder -2 cup
• Sugar(powdered) - 6 tbsp
• Thick Coconut milk - ¼ cup
• Eggs - 2 nos
• Cumin seed - ½ tsp
• Sesame seed - ½ tsp
• Salt - pinch
• Oil for frying

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Mix together rice powder, Salt and beaten egg.
• Add Codonut Milk, Sesame seed, Cumin seed and mix to make a batter.(like dosa batter)
• (add little water if the batter is thick)
• Heat the oil and dip the achappam mould.
• Once the mould is hot enough, dip 3/4th of mould into the batter.
• Dip it in oil again and shake the mould so that the achappams will come out easily.
• When it turns golden brown, turn and cook the other side and remove from Oil

Recommended Combination: Serve with Tea or Coffee

Semiya Payasam

Semia Paayasam is made of fried Vermicelli cooked in milk and Cardamom powder, seasoned with fried Cashew nuts and Raisins.

INGREDIENTS:

• Semiya/ Vermecilli - ¼ cup
• Milk - 3 cups
• Sugar - 1 ¼ cup
• Water-1 cup
• Ghee -2 tsp
• Cardamom Powder- 2 pinch
• Cashew nut - 10 nos
• Raisins - 10 nos

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a pan.
• Fry raisins and Cashew nut and remove from the pan and keep aside.
• Add one more tsp of ghee.
• Add vermicelli and stir till it becomes golden colour.
• Add water and 1 cup of milk to Vermicilli,let it boil and keep stirring occasionally.
• Once the Vermicilli is half cooked add Sugar, Cardamom powder and remaining milk and stir the mix.
• Reduce the heat, cover the pan and cook the payasam in low heat for 45 minutes.
• Turn off the stove, add fried Cashewnut and Raisin and mix well.

Recommended Combination:Served hot or cold

Paalada Pradhaman

Paalada Pradhaman is yet another popular paayasam served during auspicious occassions in family.
It is made up of Rice Ada cooked in Milk with Sugar.

INGREDIENTS:

• Rice ada(ready made) - ½ cup
• Milk- 4 cups
• Sugar- 1 cup
• Ghee - 2 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Soak rice ada in boiling hot water for 10 minutes and rinse them in cold water.
• Heat a pan and add ghee.
• Add Ada in to the ghee and saute for 2 minutes.
• Add Milk and Sugar into it,let it cook and keep stirring occasionally.
• Once the Ada is cooked, reduce the heat.  
• Cover the pan and cook the payasam in low heat for 45 minutes.
• (you can add cardamom powder if you like the taste)
• Remove from fire.

Paal Payasam

Paal Paayasam is a popular one which is made of rice and milk. Its tasty and is made during auspicious occassions in the family.

INGREDIENTS:

• Milk - 3 cups
• Sugar - 1 ¼ cup
• Raw Rice - 6 tbsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Add Milk, Rice and Sugar in a Pressure cooker and stir well.
• Close the cooker with the weight on it.
• Cook the payasam in low heat for 1 - 1.5 hr.
• Turn off the stove, open the cooker after 10 minutes we can see the payasam in Rose colour.

Recommended Combination: good to serve with sweet Boli.

Custard

Custard, a popular dessert item is prepared using fruits and custard mix. We can use any fresh nicely cut fruits while making this dessert.

INGREDIENTS:

• Milk -2 cup
• Custard powder- 2 tbsp
• Chopped Fruits -1 cup
• Sugar - ¼ cup

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Apple, pear,Banana and Strawberry cut in to small pieces.
• Mix Custard powder in ¼ cup cold milk and keep aside.
• Boil remaining Milk with Sugar.
• Add Custard milk and let it boil for few minutes.
• Remove it from fire and let it cool.
• Mix it with fruit and refrigerate and use. 

Recommended Combination:Served cold.

Carrot Halwa

Carrot Halwa is a dessert prepared using grated Carrot cooked with Milk, Ghee and Sugar.

INGREDIENTS:

• Grated Carrot -2 cup
• Milk - 2 Cups
• Sugar - ½ cup
• Ghee - 3 Tbsp
• Cashewsnuts - 12 nos
• Cardamom powder - pinch

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat ghee in a Pan.
• Lightly fry cashewnut and remove from ghee.
• Add the grated carrots and stir fry on medium heat till the carrots change the colour.
• Add milk and cook till the milk gets completely absorbed.
• Add the sugar and stir well.
• Add the cardamom powder and cook in low heat till the ghee oozes out.
• Remove from fire and let it cool.
• Garnish with fried Cashew nut and cut it in a desired shape.

Thakkali Achar / Tomato Pickle

Tomato Pickle is a dry side dish served with Rice or other breakfast items like Dosa or Idly.
It is prepared using Tomato puree sauted along with other spices till the water dries off.

INGREDIENTS:

• Tomato - 10 nos
• Garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Ginger paste - 1 tsp
• Chilli Powder- ½ tsp
• Turmeric Powder - tsp
• Fenu greek powder - ¼ tsp
• Asafoetida - ¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Sesame oil - ¼ cup
• sugar - 1 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Salt to taste
• Put Tomato in boiled and peel the skin.
• Grind tomato into pulp.
• Heat oil in a Pan.
• Add mustard seeds, when it starts to splutter add Ginger paste, Garlic paste, curry leaves and fry it.
• Add asafoetida stir for a minute.
• Add Tomato pulp, Turmeric powder, Chilli powder and Salt and cook it.
• When the water dries up add fenugreek powder and sugar and stir well.
• Stir well till the Oil oozes out and remove from fire..

Recommended Combination: Serve with Chappathi, Dosa, Idli, Rice.

Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken can serve as a tasty snack or can go as a side dish with any meal of the day. This is a very simple recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• Chicken Drumsticks -5 nos
• Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp
• Ginger Garlic Paste- 1 tsp
• Chilly Powder- ½ tsp
• Corriander Powder- ½ tsp
• Aniseed(Perimjeerakam) Powder- ¼ tsp
• Turmeric Powder - ¼ tsp
• Pepper Powder - ½ tsp
• Salt to taste
• Oil - for deep frying

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Mix all the ingredients into a fine paste and marinate for 3 hours.
• Heat Oil in a Pan.
• Put Drumstick in to the hot oil.
• Deep fry the chicken pieces until it is golden brown .and tender.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice / Chappathi / Paratta.

Koon Mutta Thoran / Mushroom Mutta Thoran

Mushtoom can be used in combination with Egg to prepare delicious thoran.
It can be served with any dishes during any day time of the day.
The main ingredients for Mushroom Mutta Thoran are Onions, eggs and Mushroom.

INGREDIENTS:

• Eggs - 4 nos
• Finely Chopped Onion - 1 nos
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Pepper Powder - pinch
• Finely chopped mushroom -2 ½cup
• Green Chilly(Chopped) - 3 nos 
• Grated coconut - 4 tbsp
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Curry leaves - few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Beat the eggs and keep aside. 
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and Red chilly and allow to splutter.
• Add the chopped onion, green chilly and saute well till the Onion turns transparent..
• Add chopped mushroom , turmeric powder, salt and allow to cook.
• Cook the mushroom well and when water has dried up.
• Add coconut and mix well.
• Add the beaten egg and scrambled it well.
• Stir continuously till the egg is well cooked and dried up.
• Add curry leaves, pepper powder and stir well.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice / Chappathi

Avocado Salad

Avocado is rich in fiber, monosaturated fat and Vitamins such as B, K and E.
One of the recepies include mashed Avocado salad, similar to Guacamole, which is popular around the world.

INGREDIENTS:

• Ripe avocados - 1 big
• Finely chopped Garlic - ½ tsp
• Chopped onion - 1 tbsp
• Chopped Tomato -1 tbsp
• Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
• Chopped Corriander leaves - 1tbsp
• Salt - to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cut avocados in half.
• Remove seed and scoop out avacado from the skin.
• Mash the Avacado.
• Add Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Lemon juice, Corriander leaves and Salt and mix it well. 
• Refrigerate before using

Recommended Combination: Serve with Chappathi or tortilla chips

Vendakka Kichadi / Okra / Ladies finger Kichadi

Okra is also known as lady's finger.It is an ideal vegetable for weight loss.The fiber of okra has many superior qualities in maintaining the health of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Okra Kichadi is made of fried Okra in Curd.

INGREDIENTS:

• Thinly sliced Okra - 1/2 cup
• Curd - 1 cup
• Roundly cut Green Chilly -4 nos
• Curry leaves
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying 

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Fry the Okra slices, Green Chilly and Curry leaves till it is brown and crisp.
• Add Fried items into curd.
• Add salt and mix it well.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice

Vellarikka Pachadi / Cuccumber Pachadi

Vellarikka Pachadi is typically made of cooked Vellarikka and Green Chilles added in Coconut paste and Curd.

INGREDIENTS:

• Chopped cuccumber- 1 cup
• Grated coconut - ½ cup
• Green chillies - 4 nos
• Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
• Curd - 2 cup
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chilly - 2 nos
• Water - ¼ cup
• Fenugreek Powder- a pinch
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt - to taste
• Coconut Oil -1 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook chopped cuccumber and green chilly in water along with salt.
• Grind the coconut and cumin seeds to a fine paste and crush ½ tsp mustard.
• Add this paste and crushed mustard to the cooked cuccumber and allow to boil.
• When it starts boil,turn off the stove and allow to cool.
• Add curd to the mixture and stir well.
• Heat oil in a Pan.
• Add mustrard seeds and red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• Pour the seasoning over the pachadi and add Curry leaves.
• Sprinkle fenugreek powder, add curry leaves and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice.

Mathanga Pachadi / Pumpkin Pachadi

Mathanga Pachadi is made of cooked Pumpkin and Green Chilles added in Coconut paste and Curd.

INGREDIENTS:

• Chopped Pumpkin - 1 cup
• Grated coconut - ½ cup
• Green chillies(roundly cut) - 4 nos
• Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
• Curd - 2 cup
• Turmeric powder - -¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chilly - 2 nos
• Fenugreek Powder- a pinch
• Water - ¼ cup
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt - to taste
• Oil -1 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Chopped Pumpkin and Green Chilly in water along with salt and turmeric powder.
• Mash the cooked Pumpkin with a spoon.
• Grind the coconut and cumin seeds to a fine paste.
• Add this paste to the cooked Pumpkin and allow to boil.
• When it starts boil,turn off the stove and allow to cool.
• Add Curd to the mixture and stir well.
• Heat Oil in a Pan.
• Add Mustrard seeds and Red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• Add this to pachadi.
• Sprinkle Fenugreek Powder, Curry leaves and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice.

Ethappazham Pachadi

Ethappazham Pachadi is typically made of cooked Ethappazham and Green Chilles added in Coconut paste and Curd.
It tastes sweet and sour.

INGREDIENTS:

• Ripened Banana(Finely chopped) - 1 cup
• Grated coconut - ½ cup
• Green chillies(roundly cut) - 4 nos
• Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
• Curd - 2 cup
• Turmeric powder - -¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chilly - 2 nos
• Sliced Shallot - 1 tbsp
• Fenugreek Powder- a pinch
• Water - ¼ cup
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt - to taste
• Coconut Oil -1 tsp 

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Chopped Banana and Green Chilly in water along with salt and turmeric powder.
• Mash the cooked banana with a spoon.
• Grind the coconut and cumin seeds to a fine paste.
• Add this paste to the cooked Ethappazham .
• When it starts boil,turn off the stove and allow to cool.
• Add Curd to the mixture and stir well.
• Heat Oil in a Pan.
• Add Mustrard seeds and Red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• Add sliced shallot and fry it.
• Pour the seasoning over the pachadi and add Curry leaves .
• Sprinkle Fenugreek Powder and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice.

Vazhakoombu Thoran / Banana Flower Thoran

Vazhakoombu means Banana Flower.
Its rich nutritious dish and is very tasty.
This thoran is prepared using finely chopped Banana Flower with black-eyed beans. Its a dry dish.

INGREDIENTS:

• Blackeyed Beans(Van payar) - ½ cup
• Finely chopped Banana Flower - 2 cup
• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Cumin seeds- ¼ tsp
• Garlic pods - 2 nos
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Chilly powder - 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad Dal - 1 tsp
• Red chillies - 3 nos
• Salt to taste
• Coconut Oil - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves - A few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Beans in a Pressure cooker with water for 3 -4 whistle.
• Put chopped Banana flower in water for 15 minutes.
• Rinse and squeeze Banana flower from water.
• Cook Banana flower along with the cooked beans, Turmeric powder and Salt.
• Crush Coconut, Cumin seed, Chilly Powder and Garlic.
• When the banana flower is cooked well and water dries up, add Coconut mix and cook for 2 minutes.
• Remove from fire.
• Heat Oil in a Pan.
• Add Mustrard seeds and Red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• When it starts to splutter, add the Urad dal and fry it.
• Add Thoran and Curry leaves and stir for a minute and remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.

Vazhaakka Thoran / Banana Thoran

Vazhakka Thoran is a tasty nadan dish.
Banana and Grated Coconut are the main ingredients for this thoran.

INGREDIENTS:

• Diced Raw Banana - 2 nos
• Green Chilly -3 nos
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Grated Coconut- 1 cup
• Cumin Seed - ¼ tsp
• Garlic -2 nos
• Salt – to taste
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad Dal - 1 tsp
• Red chillies - 3 nos
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves- few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook the banana with turmeric powder, salt and water.
• Crush Grated Coconut, Cumin seed, Garlic and Green Chilly.
• Once the Banana is cooked well, add crushed Coconut mix and mix well.
• Remove it from the fire after 2 minutes.
• Heat Oil in a Pan.
• Add Mustrard seeds and Red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• When it starts to splutter, add the Urad dal and fry it.
• Add Thoran and Curry leaves and stir for a minute and remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice /Kanji.

Palak Thoran / Spinach Thoran

Spinach is an source of many vitamins,minerals and anti-oxidents.There are different types of Spinach.Kerala Spinach is red in colour and has less water content . Palak is green in colour.
Spinach thoran is made up of Spinach,Grated Coconut and garlic.It is very delicious and easy to make.

INGREDIENTS:

• Finely Chopped Spinach - 2cups
• Grated coconut - ½ Cup
• Chilly Powder - ½ tsp
• Red Chilly -2 nos
• Rice - 1 tsp
• Garlic - 1 nos
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Oil - as needed
• Salt - to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat a pan and add spinach, salt, turmeric powder and mix well.
• Cover the pan and cook for 2 mins.
• Crush coconut, garlic and chilly powder and add to it.
• Mix well and slow down the flame and stir well till the water dries up completely.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and red chilli and let it splutter.
• Add rice and fry it.
• Once rice becomes crispy add cooked spinach and mix well. 
• Remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.

Urulakizhangu Thoran / Potato Thoran

Potato thoran is a tasty dish. It is easy to make.
Potato,Onion and Grated Coconut are the main ingredients for this thoran.

INGREDIENTS:

• Diced Potato - 1 ½ cups
• Diced Onion- ½ cup
• Grated Coconut - 3/4 cup
• Chilly Powder - 1 tsp
• Corriander Powder - ½ tsp
• Aniseed Powder -½ tsp
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Red Chilly - 2 nos
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Black gram -1 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Potato and Onion with Turmeric powder, Chilly Powder, Corriander Powder, Aniseed Powder and Salt in water.
• Add grated coconut to the cooked Potato and mix it well.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add Mustard seeds and Red chilly and let it splutter.
• Add Black gram and fry it.
• Once Black gram becomes brown add Cooked Potato and Curry leaves.
• Stir well and slow down the flame and cook it for 2 mins.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.

Padavalanga Thoran / Snake Gourd Thoran

Padavalanga Thoran is a tasty dish. It is a combination of cooked vegetable and toor dal.
Snake gourd,Toor Dal and Grated Coconut are the main ingredients for this thoran.


INGREDIENTS:

• Chopped Snake gourd/Padavalanga - 2 Cup
• Toor Dal/Thuvaraparippu -¼ cup
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Chilly powder - ¼ tsp
• Grated Coconut-3/4 cup
• Cumin Seed - ¼ tsp
• Garlic -2 nos
• Urad dal/Black gram - 1 tsp
• Mustared Seed- 1 tsp
• Red Chilly - 2 nos
• Salt – to taste
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves- few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Soak Toor dal in water for 15 minutes(for easy cook).
• Cook the Chopped Padavalanga and toor dal with Turmeric powder, salt and little water.
• Crush Grated Coconut, Cumin seed, Garlic and Chilly powder.
• Once the Padavalanga and toor dal is cooked well, add Crushed Coconut mix.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add Mustard seeds and Red chilly and let it splutter.
• Add Urad dal and fry it.
• Once Urad Dal becomes brown add Thoran and Curry leaves.
• Stir well and slow down the flame and cook it for 2 mins.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.