Cabbage Daal Curry

Cabbage Daal curry is a delicious and easy to make dish. Combination of daal and vegetable makes this curry nutritious.

INGREDIENTS:

• Toor daal - 2 tbsp
• Chopped onion - ½ cup 
• Chopped cabbgae - 1 cup
• Green chilly - 2  nos
• Tomato - 1 no
• Turmeric powder -¼ tsp
• Grated coconut -½ cup 
• Garlic -1 nos
• Cumin seed -¼ tsp
• Coconut Oil- 1tbsp
• Curry leaves-a few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook toor dal with water, chopped onion, green chilly and turmeric powder in a pressure cooker for 5-6 whistle. 
• Add chopped cabbage and tomato along with salt and let it cook.
• Grind coconut, garlic and cumin seeds to a fine paste.
• Add this paste to the cooked dal and vegetables and let it boil. 
• When it starts boil, turn off the stove and add coconut oil and curry leaves.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice / Chappathi / Dosa / Poori

Carrot Cherupayar Thoran / Carrot Green Gram Stir Fry

Carrot and Green gram are good for health. The combination of these two results in a delicious and nutritious dish also.

INGREDIENTS:

• Finely chopped Carrot – ½ cup
• Finely chopped Onion – 3 tbsp
• Roundly cut Green Chillies - 6 nos
• Grated Coconut – ½ cup
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Moong Daal / Cherupayar - ½ cup
• Cumin seeds- pinch
• Garlic - 1 nos
• Chilly powder - ½ tsp
• Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
• Red chillies - 2 nos
• Coconut Oil - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Moong Daal/ Cherupayar in a Pressure cooker with Turmeric Powder and Water for 3 -4 whistle.
• Crush Coconut, Cumin seed, Chilly Powder and Garlic.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and Red Chillies, allow to splutter.
• Add Onions and Green chillies , sauté until transparent.
• Add carrot into it.
• Add turmeric powder,little water and salt.
• Slow down the flame and cover the pan and let it cook for 5 -7 mins .
• Add Cooked Beans/ Moong Daal to it and mix well.
• Cook Carrot and Beans together for 2 - 3 minutes.
• Add the crushed Coconut and mix well.
• Add Curry leaves and stir for 2 minutes and remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: It can be served with Rice / Chappathi.

Vendakka Thoran / Okra Stir Fry

Okra / Ladies Finger is an ideal vegetable for weight loss.The fiber of okra has many superior qualities in maintaining the health of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Vendakka Thoran / Okra Stir Fry is a delicious thoran which can be served with rice.

INGREDIENTS:

• Chopped Vendakka/ Ladies Finger / Okra- 1 cup
• Green Chilly (slit) - 2 nos
• Chopped Onion - 2 tbsp
• Grated Coconut - ¼ cup
• Curry leaves - 1 stem
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Red Chilly- 2 nos
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Salt - As required

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat Oil in a pan.
• Add Mustard seeds and Red Chilli and let it splutter.
• Add Chopped Onion and saute till translucent.
• Add chopped Okra and Green Chilli and saute it.
• Add Salt and Turmeric powder to it.
• Stir well and slow down the flame and let it cook.
• When Okra is cooked well add grated coconut and curry leaves.
• Stir for 2 minutes and remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice

Soya Biriyani

INGREDIENTS:

• Basmati rice – 2 cup
• Soya Chunks - 2 cup
• Chopped onions – 2 cup
• Tomato (chopped) – 1 no
• Diced Carrot and Peas– 1 cup 
• Green chilly – 2 nos
• Chopped Ginger - 1 tsp
• Chopped Garlic – 1 tsp
• Chilly powder – 1 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - ¼ tsp
• Coriander powder – 1 tsp
• Fennel seed Powder - 1 tsp
• Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon – 2 one inch stick
• Cardamom – 3 nos
• Cloves – 3 nos
• Bay leaves – 2 nos
• Finely chopped coriander leaves - 1 cup
• Ghee - 3 tbsp
• Thinly sliced Onion - ½ cup 
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Wash and soak rice for 10 mins and then drain it. 
• Soak soya chunks in hot water for 15 minutes.
• Drain the chunks and put them in cold water.
• squeeze the chunks out of water and keep aside.
• Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a heavy bottomed Pan.
• Fry thinly sliced onions(for garnishing) until golden brown and remove it and keep it aside.
• Add the remaining Ghee and fry cinnamon, cardamom and cloves together for a minute. 
• Crush  chopped Garlic and Ginger with Green Chillies .
• Add this to the pan along with chopped Onion and saute till translucent.
• Add chopped tomato and saute well.
• Add chili powder, coriander powder, fennel seed powder, turmeric Powder and garam masala and saute till the raw smell goes.
• Add Soya chunks, carrot and peas to it.
• Add ¼ cup water and salt to it and let it cook for 5 minutes.
• Add mint leaves and cilantro to it and cook for a minute.
• Add drained rice into it and mix well.
• Add 4 cups of water, salt(to taste) and mix well.
• Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook.
• Remove from fire when the rice is cooked and all water has been absorbed.
• Garnish the Biryani with fried onion and chopped corriander leaves.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Chicken Curry / pickle.

Mambazham Pachadi / Mango Pachadi

Ripe Mango can be used to make Mambazha Pachadi.

INGREDIENTS:

• Ripened Mango(Finely chopped) - 1 cup
• Grated coconut - ½ cup
• Green chillies(roundly cut) - 4 nos
• Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
• Curd - 2 cup
• 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 mango and green chilly in water along with salt. 
• Mash the cooked mango with a spoon.
• Grind the coconut and cumin seeds to a fine paste.
• Add this paste to the cooked Mango.
• 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.

Beetroot Cherupayar Thoran / Beetroot Moong daal Stir Fry

Beetroot Cherupayar thoran is a nutritious thoran.

INGREDIENTS:

• Finely chopped Beetroot – ½ cup
• Moong Daal / Cherupayar - ½ cup
• Finely chopped Onion – 3 tbsp
• Roundly cut Green Chillies - 2 nos
• Grated Coconut – 1 cup
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Cumin seeds- pinch
• Garlic - 1 nos
• Chilly powder - ½ tsp
• Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
• Red chillies - 2 nos
• Coconut Oil - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Moong Daal/ Cherupayar in a Pressure cooker with Turmeric Powder and Water for 3 -4 whistle.
• Crush Coconut, Cumin seed, Chilly Powder and Garlic.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and red chillies, allow to splutter.
• Add onions and green chillies , sauté until transparent.
• Add beetroot into it.
• Add turmeric powder,little water and salt.
• Slow down the flame and cover the pan and let it cook.
• Add Cooked Beans/ Moong Daal to it and mix well.
• Cook Beetroot and Beans together for 2 - 3 minutes.
• Add the crushed Coconut and mix well.
• Add Curry leaves and stir for 2 minutes and remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: It can be served with Rice / Chappathi.

Vanpayar kaya Mezhukkupuratti / Read beans &raw banana stir fry

This is a delicious side dish for rice. Its rich in protein and iron.

INGREDIENTS:

• Red Beans -  ½ Cup
• Raw Banana(cut into small pieces) - ½ Cup
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp.
• Chilly Powder - ½ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chilly - 2 nos
• Sliced Shallot - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves - A few
• Coconut Oil -1 tbsp 
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Red Beans/ Vanpayarr in a Pressure cooker with  Water for 3 -4 whistle
• Cook Raw Banana in little water along with turmeric powder, Chilly powder and salt.
• Heat Oil in a Pan.
• Add Mustrard seeds and Red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• Add sliced shallot, Curry leaves and fry it.
• Put the cooked beans and cooked banana into it and fry utill it turns crisp.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.

Amarapayar Carrot Thoran / Gour Beans and Carrot Stir Fry

Cluster beans / Gour Beans / Amarakka have several health benefits. Gour Beans contains Vitamins, folate, iron and potassium. Cluster beans are rich in the protein and fiber which regulate the bowel movements and relieve constipation.

cluster beans have a little bitter taste, but the sweetness of carrot and the bitter taste of beans gives this thoran a delicious taste.

INGREDIENTS:

• Finely chopped Carrot- ½ cup
• Finely chopped Amarapayar / Gour Beans - ½ cup
• Roundly cut Green chillies - 6 nos
• Finely chopped Onion - ½ cup
• Grated Coconut - 1 cup
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Red Chilly- 2 nos
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 1 stem
• Salt - As required

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Carrot, Onion, Amara Payar / Gour Beans and Green Chilly with turmeric powder and salt in little Water.
• Add Grated coconut and mix well.
• Heat Oil in a pan.
• Add Mustard seeds and Red Chilli and let it splutter.
• Add Cooked Vegetables and Curry leaves.
• Stir well and slow down the flame and cook it for 2 mins.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice

Cauliflower Mutta Thoran / Cauliflower Egg Stir fry

Combination of Egg and Cauliflower results in a delicious thoran.

INGREDIENTS:

• Finely chopped Cauliflower- 1 cup
• Onion(finely Chopped)- 1 nos
• Green Chilly(roundly cut) - 3
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Grated Coconut-¼ cup
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Egg - 3 nos
• Salt – to taste
• Oil - 2 tsp
• Curry leaves- few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Cauliflower in little water, Turmeric powder and Salt.
• Beat the Eggs and keep aside.
• Heat Oil in a pan and allow Mustard seeds and Red chilly to splutter.
• Add Chopped Onion and Green Chilly and saute well.
• When Onion turns transparent, add the beaten egg,  grated Coconut and salt and stir continuously.
• Add Cooked Cauliflower along with Curry leaves  and saute well.
• When the thoran becomes dry, remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice / Chappathi / Dosa.

Red Beans and Raw banana stir fry / Vanpayar Kaya Thoran

This is a delicious thoran which can be a good side dish for rice. Its rich in protein and iron.

INGREDIENTS:

• Red Beans -  ½ Cup
• Raw Banana(cut into small pieces) - ½ Cup
• Grated Coconut – 1 cup
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Cumin seeds- pinch
• Garlic pod - 1 nos 
• Chilly powder - 1 tsp 
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chillies - 2 nos
• Coconut Oil - 1 tsp 
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Red Beans/ Vanpayar in a Pressure cooker with Turmeric Powder and Water for 3 -4 whistle. 
• Crush Coconut, Cumin seed, Chilly Powder and Garlic. 
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Cook the banana with Turmeric powder, Salt and Water.
• Once the Banana is cooked well, add crushed Coconut mix and cooked Beans.
• Mix well.
• 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.

Mint Chutney / Pudina Chutney

Mint leaves have a pleasant warm, fresh aromatic flavour with a cool after taste.Mint leaves can be used to prepare teas, syrups and side dishes like chutney or chammandi.Mint leave's extract is good for stomach.

INGREDIENTS:

• Mint leaves - ¼ cup
• Grated Coconut - 1 cup
• Green chilly - 1 nos
• Tamarind - 1 gooseberry ball size
• Pearl Onion - 1 
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Channa Daal - 1 tsp
• Urad Daal - 1 tsp
• Oil - 2 tsp
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat 1 tsp Oil  in a Pan.
• Add Channa Daal, Urad daal and fry it.
• Add Mint leaves and saute for a minute.
• Grind Mint leaves, fried daal, Tamarind, Green Chilly, Pearl Onion, Coconut and Salt together to a fine paste.
• Heat  1 tsp Oil and splutter Mustard seed and Red Chilly.
• Add this to the Chutney. 

Recommended Combination: Serve with Idli / Dosa.

Chicken Pakora

Pakoras are delicious snacks , often served as appetizer.Bone chicken pieces can be used to prepare delicious Chicken Pakoras.

INGREDIENTS:

• Boneless Chicken Pieces - 250 gm or  ½ lb
• Besan Flour - 3 tbsp
• Corn Flour - 2 tbsp
• Ginger & Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Corriander powder -  ½  tsp
• Red chilly powder -  ½  tsp
• Garam Masala Powder -  ¼   tsp
• Egg - 1 nos
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Pepper Powder - ¼ tsp
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Mix all the ingredients together .
• Marinate the chicken and keep it aside for 5 minutes.
• Heat Oil in a Pan
• When the oil is hot put each pieces slowly and deep fry both sides to a golden brown colour.

Recommended Combination: Serve with sauce.

Veluthulli / Garlic chammanthi

Including Garlic to our diet through variety of dishes is a healthy practice. Garlic  is generally good for our stomach and will help digestion.

INGREDIENTS:

• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Garlic - 2 nos
• Red Chilly  - 4 nos
• Curry leaves - 2 -3 leaves
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Crush all the other ingredients together.

Recommended Combination: Garlic Chammandi can be served with Kappa Puzhukku.

Apple Banana Milk Shake

This ia  variety and tasty milk shake prepared using apple and banana.

INGREDIENTS: 

• Chilled Milk - 1 cup
• Rippened Plantain - 1 no
• Apple - 1 no
• Sugar - 1 tbsp
• Cashewnut - 5 nos
• Almond - 5 nos

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Peel the Skin of  the Apple and cut it into small pieces.
• Chop the Plantain. 
• Blend Plantain, apple, sugar, cashewnut and almond smoothly.
• Add chilled milk and blend together.
• Pour it into a glass and serve.

Nei Choru / Ghee Rice

Nei Choru or Ghee rice is popular in kerala, in northern part. The taste of ghee and spices in this rice is equally enjoyed by kids and adults.

INGREDIENTS:

• Basmati rice - 2 cups
• Sliced Onions - 1 small 
• Cloves -4
• Cardamom -4 
• Cinnamon -2 inch long 
• Ghee - 4 tbsp
• Cashewnut - 12 nos
• Raisins - 2 tbsp
• Thinly sliced Onion - 1 small(for garnishing)
• Salt to taste
• Water- 4 cups

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Wash the rice and drain it.
• Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pan 
• Fry cashews and raisins and keep it aside.
• Add 1 tbsp Ghee and fry the thinly sliced onions(for garnishing) until golden brown and remove it.
• Add the remaining Ghee in the same pan and saute all the spices for 2 minutes.
• Add sliced onions and saute the onion until translucent.
• Add the drained rice to the pan .
• Stir continuously and fry for 3-4 minutes.
• Add water and salt to the pan.
• Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook.
• Remove from the fire when the rice is cooked and all water has been absorbed .
• Garnish the rice with fried Onion, Cashewnut and raisins.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Chicken Curry / pickle.

Milk Shake

Milk shake is a refreshing beverage which is often served chill. It is made using  chilled milk, nuts, health drink and fruits.

INGREDIENTS: 

• Chilled Milk - 1 cup
• Rippened Plantain - 2 no
• Horlicks / any chocolate health drink - 1 tbsp
• Sugar - 1 tbsp
• Cashewnut - 5 nos
• Almond - 5 nos

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Blend Plantain, health drink mix, sugar, cashewnut and almond smoothly.
• Add chilled milk and blend together.
• Pour it into a glass.
• Now it is ready to serve.

Kappa Vattal Varuthathu / Tapioca Chips

Kappa Vattal Varuthathu is a kerala naadan tea time snake.It can be made easily at home.

INGREDIENTS:

• Kappa(Tapioca) -1 big
• Water- required for cooking
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Peel the Kappa / Tapioca and cut it into pieces.
• Boil the Kappa / Tapioca with Salt and Water.
• Drain the water when it becomes soft.
• Slice the cooked Kappa / Tapioca and spread it in a large plate or a flat surface.
• Dry it in sunlight for 2 hours. 
• (if you want to store it for longer then you may have to dry it completely.)
• Heat Oil in a Pan.
• Put the dry slices into it. 
• Fry until it turns golden colour and crisp.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Tea or Coffee

Mulaku Chammandi

This is a very tasty chammandi which goes together with Kappa Puzhukku.

INGREDIENTS:

• Green Chilly -2 nos
• Shallot / kunju ulli - 6 nos
• Salt to taste
• Coconut Oil - 1 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Crush Chilly,Shallot and Salt together.
• Add Coconut oil and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Mulaku Chammandi can be usually served with Kappa Puzhukku.

Mulappicha Payar Mezhukkupuratti / Sprouted beans Stir Fry

Sprouted Beans is healthy food rich in protein. Sprouted beans Stir Fry is very delicious and can go as a side disk with Rice.

INGREDIENTS:

• Sproted Beans - 1 cup
• Green chilly(slit) - 2 nos
• Turmeric Powder -  ¼ tsp
• Sliced Pearl Onion - 3 nos
• Coconut Oil - 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Sproted Beans with Turmeric Powder and Salt.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and Red chilly and allow to splutter.
• Add Pearl Onion and fry it.
• Add Beans and Curry leaves and fry it.

Recommended Combination: Sprouted Beans Stir Fry / Mulappicha Payar Mezhukkupuratti can be served hot with rice.

Asparagus Theeyal

Theeyal is a traditional kerala dish. We can prepare Theeyal using a variety of vegetables including Asparagus.

INGREDIENTS:

• Sliced shallots(Pearl Onion) - 20 nos
• Slit Green Chilly- 4 nos
• Sliced Asparagus- ½ cup
• Grated Coconut- 1½ cup
• Red Chilly Powder - 1½ tsp
• Coriander Powder- 1½ tsp
• Turmeric Powder-¼ tsp
• Fenugreek Powder- a pinch
• Tamarind - A gooseberry sized ball
• Water - ½ cup
• Curry Leaves - a few
• Salt to taste
• Oil - 2 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan add grated coconut and saute till brown.
• Add chilly powder and coriander powder and stir for a few minutes.
• Remove from fire and allow to cool.
• Grind it to a fine paste.
• Soak tamarind in ¼ cup of warm water and take the extract from it.
• Heat remaining oil in a pan.
• Add sliced onions, green chilly and saute, till they turn golden brown colour.
• Add sliced Asparagus and saute for another 3 minutes.
• Add turmeric Powder,salt and water,allow to cook.
• Add tamarind juice and allow to boil.
• Add coconut paste and let it to boil till the gravy thickens and oil seperates.
• Remove from the fire and add curry leaves.
• Sprinkle fenugreek powder and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Asparagus  Theeyal can be served with Rice.