Chemmeen Curry | Kerala Prawn Curry

Chemmeen Curry

Kerala style Prawn curry using coconut milk.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 to 40 minutes
Serves: 3 to 4
Ingredients:

1. Prawn,cleaned- 250 to 300 gms
2. Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
3. Onion,sliced - 1 large( about 1 cup)
4. Green chilies,cut into two - 1 ( or according to taste)
5. Ginger and garlic ,crushed - 1 tbsp
6. Curry leaves- 1 sprig
7. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Kashmiri chili powder- 1.5 to 2 tsp (or according to taste,See notes)
9. Coriander powder - 1.5 tsp
10. Garam masala powder- 1/2 tsp + 1 pinch
11. Tomato,chopped- 1 large (about 3/4 cup)
12. Thin coconut milk - 1 cup( or as required)
13. Thick coconut milk - 1/2 cup
14. Salt- To taste
15. Oil- as required

Instructions:

Heat  oil in  a manchatti /pan, add mustard seeds and let it splutter.Now add onion,green chilies,ginger garlic and curry leaves.

Saute until onion turns golden brown.Reduce the flame to low,add turmeric powder,kashmiri chili powder , coriander powder and 1/2 tsp garam masala powder.

Fry for about 30 seconds ,stirring continuously.Next add tomato and mix well.

Cook until tomato turns mushy and the masala starts to leave the sides of the pan.Next add cleaned prawns and salt to taste.Mix well.

Next add thin coconut milk  and stir well.Cover and cook  for about 12 to 15 minutes or until done and gravy turns thick.

Now add thick coconut milk and stir well.Cook for few minutes and bring it to just under a boil.Switch off the stove and add a pinch of garam masala and stir gently.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of Kashmiri chili powder according to your taste.I used about 2.5 tsp of Kashmiri chili powder as we wanted it a bit spicy.
• Adjust the quantity of thin coconut milk according to the amount of gravy required. 

Mutta Puttu | Egg Puttu | Steamed rice flour cake with egg masala

Mutta Puttu

Steamed rice flour cake with spicy egg masala stuffing.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Ingredients:

1. Egg- 3 small ( or 2 large)
2. Black pepper powder - to taste
3. Onion,finely chopped - 1 large( about 1 cup)
4. Green chilies,finely chopped - 1
5. Ginger and garlic ,finely chopped - 1 tsp
6. Curry leaves,chopped - Few
7. Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
8. Kashmiri chili powder- 1/2 to 1 tsp ( or according to taste)
9. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
10. Garam masala powder- 1/2 tsp
11. Tomato,finely chopped- 1/2 of a medium (about 1/4 cup)
12. Water - 1 tbsp
13. Salt- To taste
14. Oil- as required

To prepare Puttu:

1. Puttu Podi - 1 to 1.5 cups
2. Water- as required
3. Salt- to taste
4. Grated coconut- as required

Instructions:

To Prepare Puttu mixture-In a bowl,combine together rice flour and salt to taste.Sprinkle water a little at a time and mix well with your finger tips.It should look like bread crumbs and should not form a dough.( To check if it is done,take a handful of the wet puttu mixture and press it.If it holds its shape and crumbles easily when pressed again then the consistency is right.).Cover and keep aside for 10 to 15 minutes.

In a bowl,combine together eggs,salt and pepper powder to taste.Lightly beat the eggs and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan  add the beaten eggs and scramble them.Transfer to another bowl and keep aside until required.

Heat oil in the same pan,add onion,green chilies,ginger,garlic and curry leaves.Saute until onion turns golden brown.

Now add turmeric powder,Kashmiri chili powder,coriander powder and garam masala powder.Mix well and saute for about 30 seconds over low flame.Next add tomato and salt to taste and mix well.

Cook over medium heat until tomato turns mushy and masala starts to leave the sides of the pan.Now add 1 tbsp of water and mix well for few seconds .Add the scrambled eggs .

Mix well until combined.Add more salt if required.Turn off the heat and keep aside.Now to prepare puttu place 1 or 1.5 tbsp of grated coconut as the first layer in the puttu mould.

Next add 2 to 3 tbsp of the egg masala mixture .Loosely fill the remaining portion with the prepared puttu mixture.Top with  grated coconut.if desired.

Cover the puttu mould  with the lid.Fill the pressure cooker ( or the bottom vessel of the puttu maker) with water equal to half its volume.Bring it to a boil.Steam cook the puttu for about 5 to 8  minutes or until you see steam escaping from the tiny holes on the lid. Take out the mould and invert it onto a serving plate.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of chili powder according to your taste. 

Nadan Mathi Curry | Kerala Sardine Curry

Nadan Mathi Curry

Spicy and delicious Kerala style Sardine curry.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4 to 5
Ingredients:

1. Sardines /Mathi - 500 gms
2. Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
3. Ginger,crushed - 1.5" piece
4. Garlic,sliced - 5 to 6 large cloves
5. Shallots,sliced - 3 to 4
6. Curry leaves - 2 to 3 sprigs
7. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
8. Kashmiri chili powder- 2 to 2.5 tbsp (or according to taste)
9. Fenugreek powder - 1/4 tsp
10. Fish tamarind /Kudampuli - 3 to 4 small pieces( or according to taste)
11. Water - 1.5 cups( or as required)
12. Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
13. salt - to taste
14. Oil - as required

Instructions:

Crush ginger and slice the garlic .Soak tamarind in water until required.

Heat oil in a manchatti /pan,add mustard seeds and let it splutter.Next add ginger,garlic,shallots and curry leaves.

 

Saute until it turns golden brown.Reduce the flame to low and add turmeric powder ,kashmiri chili powder and fenugreek powder.Mix well until combined.

Add tamarind and cook for one or two minutes,stirring continuously or until masala turns deep maroon.( make sure you do not burn the masala or else the curry will turn bitter)

Add sufficient quantity of water ( about 1.5 cups) and salt to taste.

Bring it to a boil.Add fish and gently swirl the pan. 

 

Cover and cook until done and gravy turns slightly thick.Add asafoetida and gently swirl the pan.

Add more curry leaves and cook for one more minute.Serve with rice or tapioca.

NOTES

• If you are using regular red chili powder,reduce the quantity to 1.5 or 2 tbsp , or according to your taste.
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Stuffed Bread | Chicken Stuffed Bread

Stuffed Bread

Bread stuffed with creamy chicken filling.
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4 to 5
Recipe source: Fauzias Kitchen, You can find the original recipe here.
Ingredients:
To Prepare the Dough:

1. Yeast - 1 tbsp
2. Sugar - 1.5 tsp
3. Warm water - as required
4. Egg - 1
5. Milk Powder - 2 tbsp ( or use milk)
6. All purpose flour - 4 cups
7. Oil - 4 tbsp
8. Salt- to taste

To prepare the Filling:

1. Butter - 2 tbsp
2. Chicken,cooked and shredded -1.5 to 2 cups
3. Onion ,chopped- 1 medium
4. Black pepper powder - 1 tsp(or to taste)
5. Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
6. All purpose flour - 2 tbsp
7. Milk - 1 cup
8. Coriander leaves,chopped - 2 tbsp
9. Green chilies,chopped -4
10. Salt - to taste

Other Ingredients:

1. Egg - 1( for egg wash)
2. Water - 1 tbsp
3. Sesame seeds- as required

Instructions:

In a bowl combine together yeast,sugar and 1/4 cup warm water.Keep aside for 8 to 10  minutes or until frothy.

Beat the egg lightly,keep aside.

 

In a bowl,combine together milk powder, all purpose flour and salt.Add oil,yeast mixture and egg.

Add sufficient quantity of warm water and mix well to form a smooth dough,Knead well for about 5 to 10 minutes .Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Lightly brush the top of the dough with oil.Cover it with a clean kitchen towel and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume for about 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours.

To prepare the filling,heat butter in a pan.Add onion and saute until it turns soft.Now add salt,black pepper powder,garam masala powder and all purpose flour.Mix well until combined.

Now add milk and cook until the mixture turns thick,stirring continuously. 

Add cooked chicken,coriander leaves and green chilies.Add more salt and pepper powder if required.Allow it to cool completely.

Now punch down the risen dough with your fist.Divide the dough into 2 or 3 parts.Take one portion of the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface( or place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper or foil,so that you can transfer the bread to the baking tray easily.).Roll it to form a rectangle.

Place the filling in the center.Using a knife make  inclined cuts on both the sides to form 1" strips.

Fold the top most dough strip diagonally over the filling.Fold the strip from the opposite side to overlap the previous strip.Continue by alternately folding the left and right strips.Beat egg and 1 tbsp water together and brush this over the bread.

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top ,Transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment paper or foil. Preheat oven to 200 Deg C.Bake for about 25 minutes .After baking ,brush with butter and cover with a clean kitchen towel for  few minutes to keep the bread soft.

NOTES

• I scaled down the recipe to 1/2 as you can see in the pics.
• You can also use beef or mutton instead of chicken
• Adjust the quantity of black pepper according to your taste.
  

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