Idli

Idli is a popular food throughout South India.
Idli is a fermented food which is prepared by steaming fermented black gram (Urad Daal) and rice batter. It makes an important contribution to the diet as a source of protein, calories and vitamins, especially B-complex vitamins, compared to the raw unfermented ingredients.

INGREDIENTS:

• RawRice -2 cups
• Urad Daal - 1 cup
• Water - as required
• Salt - 1 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Soak rice and Urad daal separately for 5 hours.
• Nicely grind rice and Urad daal separately in water.
• Mix together rice, daal and salt.
• Keep it overnight to ferment.
• Spread oil on the idli mould.
• Pour the batter in the mould .
• Steam the vessel for about 8- 10 minutes.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Sambar or Chutney.

Chappathi

Chappathi is the traditional Indian bread, It can be eaten at any meal of the day usually eaten with curries or cooked vegetables. It is made from wheat flour, cooked on a tawa.

INGREDIENTS:

• Wheat Flour - 2 cups
• Hot Water - 1 cup
• Ghee or oil - 1 tsp
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Mix Oil or Ghee, Salt and Flour.
• Slowly add warm water.
• Knead the dough with hands gently until it becomes soft and keep aside for 30 minutes.
• Make the dough into Small balls.
• The dough is rolled out into thin discs with help of dry flour .
• Heat a flat pan or Tava
• Place the chappathis in the hot tava and cook until both the sides turns to golden brown.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Podimas,Parippu,Vegetable Curry,Egg Curry, Chicken Curry.

Battura

Battura is made of Allpurpose flour, Curd, Sugar knead to make a soft dough and deep fried in oil.

INGREDIENTS:

• All Purpose flour/ Maida - 2 cup
• Baking powder - pinch
• Sugar - ½ tsp
• Rava / Semolina - ¼ cup
• Curd / Yogurt- 3/4 cup
• Oil -for frying
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Mix Flour, Salt, Baking Powder and Sugar.
• Add Rava/ Semolina and Curd to it and mix well.
• Knead flour mix into a soft dough by adding little water.
• Cover the dough with a wet cloth and keep aside for 2 hours.
• Make the dough into Small balls and roll into a flat round shaped Battura.
• Heat Oil in a pan.
• Fry Battura till it turns golden brown on both sides.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Channa Masala

Thakkali Chutney / Tomato Chutney

Chutney is often served fresh as a side dish with breakfast, lunch and dinner. It often contains strong flavoured ingredients like dry hot chillies, green chillies, pearl onions, Curry leaves and other spices.
Tomato Chutney is a fine paste made with Tomato along with other spices. It is a good side dish for Dosa and Idly.

INGREDIENTS:

• Tomato (chopped)- 2 nos
• Onion (chopped) - 1 small
• Chopped Garlic - 1 tbsp
• Chilly Powder - 1 tsp
• Red chilli - 3 nos
• Asafoetida powder- ¼ tsp
• Fenugreek powder - 2 pinch
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Gingely oil - 3 tbsps
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat oil in a Pan.
• Add onions and garlic and saute`till the onion turns transparent.
• Add chopped tomatoes, chilly powder and saute well .
• Add salt and mix well.
• Grind them into a paste.
• Heat 1 tsp oil in a Pan.
• Add mustard seeds and Red chilly, let it splutter.
• Add asafoetida, fenugreek powder and curry leaves.
• Add the paste to it and mix well.
• Let it cook for 4-5 minutes and remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Dosa / Idli

Thenga Chutney / Coconut Chutney

Chutney is a most popular side dish in South India.It always serve with Idli and Dosa.
Chutney is a fine paste of Coconut, chilly and Pearl Onion.

INGREDIENTS:

• Grated coconut - ½ Cup
• Green Chilly - 3 nos
• Pearl Onion/Shallot - 1
• Chopped Ginger -½ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red Chilly - 2 nos
• Salt - to taste
• Coconut Oil-1 tsp
• Curry Leaves -few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Grind Coconut, Chilly, Shallot, Ginger into fine paste.
• Heat Oil in pan.
• Add Mustrard seeds and Red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• Pour the Coconut paste and Salt into it,mix well and allow to boil.
• When it starts boil,turn off the stove and add Curry leaves. 

Recommended Combination: Serve with Dosa/ Idli

Thenga Chutney / Coconut Chutney

Chutney is a fine paste of Coconut, chilly powder and Pearl onion.

INGREDIENTS:

• Grated coconut - ½ Cup
• Chilly Powder - ½ tsp
• Pearl Onion/Shallot - 1
• Chopped Ginger -½ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red Chilly - 2 nos
• Salt - to taste
• Coconut Oil-1 tsp
• Curry Leaves -few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Grind Coconut, Chilly, Shallot, Ginger into fine paste.
• Heat Oil in pan.
• Add Mustrard seeds and Red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• Pour the Coconut paste and Salt into it,mix well and allow to boil.
• When it starts boil,turn off the stove and add Curry leaves.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Dosa / Idli.

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.

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

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.

Koon Thoran / Mushroom Thoran

Mushrooms are very low in carbohydrates.It is a good source of niacin containing as much as in meat .
Mushroom thoran is made up of Mushroom, Onion, Coconut,and garlic.

INGREDIENTS:

• Sliced Mushroom - 2cup
• Onion(Chopped) - 1 nos
• Chilly powder - ½ tsp
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Grated Coconut - ½ cup
• Garlic -1 nos
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Salt – to taste
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves- few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat oil in a pan and allow Mustard seeds and Red chilly to splutter.
• Add Chopped Onion into it and saute well.
• When Onion turns transparent add sliced mushroom along with Turmeric powder and Salt.
• Cover the pan with a lid and cook well.(no need to add water)
• Crush Grated Coconut,Garlic and Chilly Powder.
• Once the Mushroom cooked well and water dries up, add crushed Coconut mix.
• Remove thoran from the fire after 2 minutes.
• Add Curry leaves and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.

Koon Maasala Thoran / Mushroom Masala Thoran

Mushrooms are very low in carbohydrates.
It is a good source of niacin containing as much as in meat .
Mushroom thoran is made up of Mushroom, Onion, Coconut and Masala.

INGREDIENTS:

• Sliced mushroom- - 2 cup
• Onion(Chopped)- 1 nos
• Green Chilly(roundly cut)-2 nos
• Chilly powder- ½ tsp
• Corriander Powder- ½ tsp
• Aniseed(Perimjeerakam) Powder- ¼ tsp
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Pepper Powder - ¼ tsp
• Grated Coconut-¼ cup
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Salt – to taste
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves- few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat oil in a pan and allow mustard seeds and Red chilly to splutter.
• Add Chopped Onion, Green Chilly into it and saute well.
• When Onion turns transparent add sliced mushroom along with turmeric powder and salt.
• Cover the pan with a lid and cook well.(no need to add water)
• Crush Grated Coconut, Aniseed(Perimjeerakam) Powder, Corriander powder and Chilly Powder.
• Once the mushroom cooked well and water dries up, add Crushed Coconut mix.
• Add Pepper powder and mix well.
• Remove thoran from the fire after 2 minutes.
• Add Curry leaves and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice / Chappathi

Muringakka Thoran / Drumstick Thoran

Muringakka Thoran is a dry dish. It is prepared using cut Drumsticks with grated coconut.

INGREDIENTS:

• Drumstick Cuts - 1 cup
• Chilly powder- ½ tsp
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Grated Coconut- ¼ cup
• Cumin Seed - ¼ tsp
• Garlic -1 nos
• Red Chilly -2 nos
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Black gram -1 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - few

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Crush Grated Coconut, Cumin seed, Garlic and Chilly Powder.
• Cook Drumstick along with turmeric powder, salt in little water.
• Cover the pan with a lid and cook well.
• Once the Drumstick cooked well and water dries up, add Crushed Coconut mix.
• 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 Thoran and Curry leaves.
• Stir well and slow down the flame and cook it for 2 min

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.