Parippu Vada - Channa dal Vada

Parippu vada is a popular evening snack to have with tea in kerala. It's crunchy and mildly spicy yummy treat, traditionally made with thuvar dal. Channa dal can also be used instead of thuvar dal/toor dal. Walk into a chaayakkada (teashop) in kerala and you can have these delicacies, to go with your tea in the evening .

Ingredients

2 cups - Thuvar dal or Channa dal ( I have used channa dal )
1 small - Onion, chopped very small
4 - Green chili, finely chopped
1tbsp - Ginger , finely chopped
10 - Curry leaves, finely chopped
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil to deep fry

Method

1 ) Soak dal for 2 - 3 hours. Drain well. There should not be any water.
2 ) In a food processor or blender, add little at a time some soaked dal and grind. The dal should be ground to a coarse paste - even if some dal remains not ground, its okay. As far as possible don't add any water.
3 ) Mix the chopped onion, green chili, ginger, curry leaves and mix well. Add salt to taste.
4 ) Wet your palms and take small amount of the dal mixture and make a ball. Place in the center of the palm and flatten to a round shape.
5 ) Pour oil in a wok or kadai to deep fry. Heat oil on medium heat. When the oil is hot, slide the vada's into the hot oil and fry on both sides to a golden brown colour. Remove from oil and drain.
Serve these crisp parippu vada with tea.

Tilapia Fish Masala Curry - Meen Masala Curry

This is a spicy fish masala curry. Spices like coriander, chili, turmeric and black pepper gives it a distinct flavor. Especially for a fish like Tilapia, this masala goes very well. Other fish to try this recipe is with black pomfret.

Ingredients

3 - whole Tilapia,cut into small pieces

3 - Tomatoes, quartered

5 - Big Shallots, diced

1 inch size - Ginger, cut small

2 - Green chili, slit in center

5 tbsp - Coriander powder

1 to 2 tsp - Red chili powder ( depends on how spicy you want it )

1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder

1/4 tsp - Black pepper powder

2 cups - Water

Salt to taste

Sesame oil

Seasoning

1 tsp -Mustard seeds

10 - Curry leaves

Method

1 ) In a utensil, heat oil, add mustard. When the mustard pops, add curry leaves, shallots, green chili, ginger and stir for 2 minutes.

2 ) Now add the powders - coriander, red chili, turmeric and black pepper powder. Stir for a minute. Add Tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.

3 ) Add cut fish pieces, salt and water. Cook on medium heat till the fish is cooked and the masala has thickened.

Serve with rice or chapati.

Meen Curry - Fish Curry With Coconut

Sea food is everyday food in my house. As a curry, fried or in thoran/Upperi form. Also as cutlets for snacks. Kerala being a coastal region, is rich in seafood. This makes seafood a part of everyday food in the malayali kitchen.
Fish is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential fatty acids and is not manufactured by the human body. Here is a spicy fish curry preparation with coconut to try.

Ingredients
500 gm - Fish,cut into small pieces.
2 - Green chili, slit in center
1 inch piece -Ginger
2 - Big shallots
1 lime size - Tamarind
2 tbsp - Coconut oil
Salt to taste

To grind to paste

1 cup - Grated coconut
2 tsp - Red chili powder/Cayenne powder or Kashmiri Chili Powder
1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder

Seasoning

1 tsp - Mustard seeds
10 - curry leaves

Preparation before cooking

1 ) Extract tamarind juice from tamarind. Immerse tamarind in lukewarm water and squeeze to extract juice. Make about 1 to 1.5 cup.
2 ) Grind ingredients listed to be ground and set a side.
3 ) Dice shallots, cut ginger into small pieces and slit green chili in center.

Method

1 ) In a pot add coconut oil, add mustard and curry leaves. Then add the cut and diced ingredients.
2 ) Add tamarind juice and the ground paste. Stir and mix well.
3 ) Add fish and salt as required. Cook to a boil.
4 ) Simmer and cook for 5 minutes and take off the stove.


Serve with rice.

This is a kerala fish curry preparation. Fish curry is prepared in different ways with different spices.

Tip
To reduce spice level use kashmiri chili powder instead of cayenne powder.

Potato Kurma

This is a delicious potato Kurma. It's mildly spicy and yummy. I make this for breakfast, to have with appam, puttu or idiappam. Goes well with chapati, naan or rice dishes.

Ingredients

2 big - Potatoes, cut into small cubes
1 big - Tomato, quartered

To grind to paste

1 cup - Grated coconut
4 - Green chili's
2 - garlic flakes
1 inch piece - Ginger
1 stick - Cinnamon
4 - Cloves
1/4 tsp - Black pepper powder
1/2 tsp - Fennel seeds
1 tsp - Coriander seeds
1 tsp - Poppy seeds/ Khus-Khus
3 tbsp - Yogurt/curds

Garnish and Season

2 - Shallots,diced
1 cup - Coriander leaves, chopped

Method

1) Boil potato and tomato in enough water, till potatoes are cooked well.
2 ) In a pan, fry the 4 green chili's lightly. Now add the fried chili's into a blender/grinder, along with rest of the ingredients listed to be ground. Grind to a smooth paste with water.
3 ) Add to the cooked potato. Add more water to make a thick curry consistency. Add salt to taste. Cook to a boil. Take off the stove.
4 ) In a pan fry the shallots to a light brown colour. Add the chopped coriander and lightly fry. Garnish the potato kurma.

Tip

1 ) Add other vegetables like peas, carrot, cauliflower.....for a mixed vegetable kurma.
2 ) Boil eggs and add to the kurma.

Spices

Fenugreek Seeds

Indian names

Hindi - Methi
Malayalam - Uluva
Tamil - Venthayam
Kannada - Menthe

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Fenugreek leaves and seeds help in digestion, relieve

constipation and overcome flatulence.

Soak fenugreek seeds overnight in little water, then make a paste of it with soaked water and taken the next day morning, helps in relieveing digestive disorders.When taken daily, it lowers blood sugar level.

Cumin Seeds


Indian names

Hindi - Jeera
Malayalam - Jeerakam
Tamil - Jeerakam
Kannada - Jeerage

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Cumin is a essential part of indian kitchen. Its a good source of iron, that strengthens immunity and help boost the power of the liver. Cumin helps relieve symptoms of common cold, since its got antiseptc properties. Useful for digestive disorders, diarrhea, nausea and morning sickness.In our household we boil water to drink, in which a little of cumin is added. Cumin increases the heat in the body and thus makes metabolism more efficient. Its antiseptic properties cure sore throat.

Nutmeg


Indian names

Hindi - Jaiphal
Malayalam - Jathika
Tamil - Jathikkai
Kannada - Jaji Kayi

Bay Leaf

Indian names

Hindi - Tej Patta
Tamil - Birinji ilai
Kannada - Masala Yeli

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Bay leaves have medicinal properties that help cure external infections, skin disease, are used to treat migraines, stress and anxiety. Helps improve digestion and detoxify the system. A regular intake of these leaves in your diet, cures cold and urinary infections. With strong distinctive fragrance, this leaves can help keep bugs away from grains. The essential oil made from bay leaves has antibacterial and antifungal properties, that can cure dandruff.

As noted to me by a reader - Indian Bay Leaf (Tej Petta) is not the same as the European Bay Leaf. The former is actually Cinnamom leaf and has quite a different flavour to European Bay.

Fennel Seeds

Indian names

Hindi - Sauf
Malayalam - Perumjeerakam
Tamil - Perunjeeragam
Kannada - Dodda jeera

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Fennel contains anethole, which stimulates secretion of digestive and gastric juices. Fennel contains aspartic acid, which acts as an anti - flatulent. Chewing on fennel seeds after meals acts as a popular " after mint ".

Dry Ginger

Indian names

Hindi - Saunth
Malayalam - chukku
Tamil - Sukku
Kannada - Sonti

Kodampuli

Kodampuli is a type of tamarind, used in kerala.Mostly used

to cook Fish curry/dishes.

Nuts and Spices

Almonds

Indian names

Hindi - Badam
Malayalam - Badam
Tamil - Badaam, Vadhumai
Oriya - Badaam
Kannada - Badami



Cashew Nut

Indian names

Hindi - Kaju
Malayalam - Kasuvandi
Tamil - Mundhiri Paruppu
Kannada - Godambi, jeedi pappu


Poppy Seeds


Indian names

Hindi - Khus-Khus
Malayalam - Khus-khus, Kaskas
Tamil - Kus Kus, Kasakasa
Kannada - Gase Gase , Gasagase Beeja
Marathi - Khas Khas
Gujarati - Khaskhas
Telugu - Gasagasaalu

Mustard Seeds

Indian names

Hindi - Sarson, Rai
Malayalam - Kadagu
Tamil - Kadugu
Kannada - Sasuve , Sasive Kalu
Bengali - Sarsay
Assamese - Sarioh Guti
Oriya - Sorisha
Marathi - Mohari
Gujarati - Rai
Telugu - Aavaalu


Whole Red Chili

Indian names

Hindi - Lal Mirch
Malayalam - Chuvanna Mulaku
Tamil - Milagai Vatral
Kannada - Kempu Menasina Kayi
Bengali - Paka Lanka
Assamese - Sukan Jalakia
Oriya - Nali lankamaricha
Marathi - Lal Mirchya
Gujarati - Lal Marcha
Telugu - Erra Mirapa kayalu

Lentils

Lentils(dal/Legumes/Pulses )


Black Gram (Pulses)

Indian Names

Hindi - Urad dal
Malayalam -Uzhunnu
Tamil - Ulathamparuppu
Kannada - Uddina Bele


Yellow Split Lentil (Pulses)

Indian Names

Hindi - Arhar/ Tur
Malayalam - Thuvarapparup
Tamil -Thuvaram Paruppu
Kannada - Thugare Bele



Red Lentil (Pulses)

Indian Names

Hindi - Masoor dal
Malayalam - Parippu
Tamil - Mysoor paruppu


Whole green gram dal (Pulses)

Indian Names

Hindi - Moong dal
Malayalam - Cherupayar
Tamil - Pachai Paruppu
Kannada - Hesare Kalu


Bengal Gram (Pulses )

Indian names

Hindi - Channa dal
Malayalam - Kadala Parippu
Tamil - Kadalai Paruppu
Kannada - Kadale




Split Green Gram Dal

Indian names

Hindi - Mung dal
Malayalam - Cheru payar parippu
Tamil - Payatham parruppu
Kannada - Hesara bele

Get To Know The Ingredients - Glossary of Ingredients

Ingredients listed below form a basic guideline for Indian spices,nuts,cereals & Lentils.I will try my best to list the Indian terms for them in Hindi, Tamil,Kannada and Malayalam along with the English term.

Cinnamon

Indian Names

Hindi - Dalchini
Kannada - Dalchini
Malayalam - Karuvapatta
Tamil: Karuvapattai, Sannalavangapattai
Bengali - Daroochini
Assamese - Dalcheni
Oriya - Dalachini
Marathi - Dalchini
Gujarati - Tuj
Telugu - Dalchina Chekka

Cloves

Indian Names

Hindi - Laung/ Lavang
Kannada - Lavanga
Malayalam - Kaarambu , Karayaamboovu
Tamil - Kraambu, Lavangam

Bengali - Labango

Assamese - Long

Oriya - Labanga

Marathi - Lavanga

Gujarati - Laving

Telugu - Lavangalu

Cardamom ( Green )

Indian Names

Hindi - Chhoti elaichi
Kannada - Yelakki (Hasuru)

Malayalam - Pach Elakkaya
Tamil - Pachchai Elakkai

Bengali - Elach (sobooj )

Assamese - Ilachi (sevjia)

Oriya - Gujuratie

Marathi - Welchi (hirvi)

Gujarati - Lila Alchi

Telugu - Yala Kulu (Paachavi)

Cardamom (Big brown)

Indian Names

Hindi - Badi Elaichi , Moti elaichi

Kannada - Doddayelaki

Tamil - Periya yalam , Elakkai ( Pazhuppu)

Malayalam - Elakkaya

Bengali - Elach (Tamate)

Assamese - Ilachi (Muga)

Oriya - Aleicha

Marathi - Masala Welchi

Gujarati - Elcho

Telugu - Yalakulu

Black pepper Corns

Indian Names

Hindi - Kali mirch
Kannada- Kari menasa , Menasina Kalu
Malayalam - Kurumulagu
Tamil - Milagu

Bengali - Marich

Assamese - Jaluk

Oriya - Golamaricha

Marathi - Kale Miri

Gujarati - Mari

Telugu - Miriyaalu

Coriander seeds

Indian Names

Hindi - Sukha Dhania or Dhanya

Kannada - Kothambari Beeja
Malayalam - Kothamalli, Malli

Tamil - Koththamalli Virai

Bengali - Dhonay

Assamese - Dhania Guti

Oriya - Dhania

Marathi - Dhane

Gujarati - Dhana

Telugu - Dhaniyalu

Star Anise

Indian Names

Hindi - Anasphal
Malayalam -Takkolam
Tamil - Anashuppu

Chakka /Jackfruit puzhukku

Jackfruit tree's are found a lot in Kerala and in abundance. The fruit is consumed ripe and unripe.It's seeds are also using in cooking. When ripe it's very sweet and delicious.In kerala,the ripe fruit is used to make sweet treats like, Chakka Pradaman (pudding /payasam), Chakka Varatti(Jackfruit jam)....etc.
Unripe jackfruit is cooked as a vegetable.Chakka puzhukku is one way of preparing unripe jackfruit. Jackfruit is known as Chakka in malayalam.



Ingredients

250 gm - Unripe raw jack fruit pieces
1/4 tsp - Red chilli powder
1/4 tsp - Turmeric powder
salt

Coarsely grind
1/2 cup - Grated coconut
1 - Green chilli
1 - Shallot
1/4 tsp - Jeera / Cumin
Small piece of ginger

Seasoning
1 tsp - Mustard
Curry leaves

Method

1 ) Cook jackfruit pieces in water with red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt till done. Mash a bit of the cooked jackfruit with spoon.
2 ) Add the coarsely ground ingredients to the cooked jackfruit. Mix well and add some water to loosen up the mixture. Add salt as required.Cook for 2 minutes.
3 ) Season with mustard and curry leaves.

Serve as a side dish with rice.

Vellarikka / Cucumber Pachadi

Ingredients

Vellarikka or Cucumber / English cucumber
To grind to a paste

3- Green chili

small piece - Ginger
1/2 tsp - Mustard
1 cup - Grated Coconut
2 cups - Thick creamy yogurt (medium sour)
Salt to taste

Seasoning

1 tsp - Mustard
Curry leaves
2- whole dry red chili
Oil

Method
1 ) Peel the skin & remove seeds off the cucumber and cut into small pieces.

2 ) Cook cucumber with one to two table spoon of water and salt, covered on a low heat, till cucumber is cooked. Take off the stove. Drain off any excess water.

3 ) Grind coconut, ginger & green chili. Then add mustard and pulse for two to three times. Add little yogurt to grind to a smooth paste. Whip rest of the yogurt and set aside.

4 ) Add the ground mixture to the cooked cucumber, place on stove and just bring to a boil. Take off stove and cool.

5 ) Add whipped yogurt to the cooled cucumber pachadi and mix well. Adjust salt to taste.

6 ) Season with mustard, curry leaves and whole red chili.

Cucumber pachadi is mild in spices and not very spicy. Serve it as a side dish with rice.Yogurt made with whole milk, with all the cream, gives a delicious creamy taste to this dish. This will make a good addition to Onam sadhya.

kappa meen puzhukku - Tapioca with Fish

Tapioca, cassava or yuca is known as kappa in Malayalam.Kappa is a popular stable food in kerala.It's a tuberous root, which is starchy and rich in carbohydrates. Also reasonably rich in calcium and vitamin C.
This is a recipe with kappa and fish. Usually it's cooked with fresh fish like sardine or mackerel by my mother. I have tried this recipe with salmon. It tastes equally good, but would always prefer sardine or mackerel.

Ingredients

500 gm - Tapioca
500 gm - Fresh Fish or 1 can of salmon

(If fresh fish is used, cook fish in little water, with little turmeric powder and salt.De bone it.

Coarsely grind

1 cup - Grated coconut
2 - Green chilli
1 inch piece - Ginger
3 flakes - Garlic
1 - Shallot
1/2 tsp - Jeera
1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp - Red chilli powder

Seasoning

1 tsp - Mustard
Curry leaves
Coconut oil / Sesame oil

Method

1 ) Peel the skin off the tapioca and diced it into medium size chunks.
2 ) In a pot add the tapioca and add enough water to cover the tapioca. Add a little salt and cook till the tapioca is cooked. Do not over cook . Drain excess water,if any.
3 ) Add the cooked fish to the tapioca and mix in well.

4 )In a blender coarsely grind the ingredients listed. Add to the tapioca and fish.Add salt as required.
5 ) Season with mustard and curry leaves.

This is a wholesome meal in itself. Very filling and satisfying.

Beauty Tips and Remedies

Natural ingredients like fruits and vegetables can become a good beauty remedy. When you can get natural beauty remedies,right from your kitchen...why not give it a try ?

1 ) For improving hair - Mix one egg with yogurt,apply onto hair.Keep for 20 minutes and rinse.

2 ) To get rid of dandruff - Mix One egg, 2 tbsp - yogurt and 1/2 tsp lemon juice.Make a paste and apply to the hair and scalp. Keep for half an hour before shampooing.

3 ) For dandruff - Warm Almond oil or Olive oil or Coconut oil and mix with 1/4 th part lime juice and a pinch of black pepper powder and apply to scalp. Shampoo after one hour.

4 ) Warm almond oil and apply to the hair and scalp,massage the head.

5 ) To cleanse, moisture and condition the hair and scalp - Take 1 part vinegar (apple cider vinegar, optional) and 3 parts water. Rinse hair & scalp with this mixture.
Vinegar maintains moisture level, conditions hair and cleanses scalp.

6 ) Mint paste for pimples - Few mint leaves, few drops of lime juice and little oats powder. Make a paste and apply to the area. Let the paste dry and then rinse off.

7 ) For Pimples - Take tamarind paste, 2 drops lime juice, oats powder and channa flour.Make a paste and apply to the area. Rinse when it drys.

8 ) Rosemary oil - Rub a few drops of rosemary oil daily to your scalp. Rosemary oil is highly beneficial in revitalising,stimulating and conditioning the hair. It prevents dandruff forming, encourages new hair growth and improves scalp circulation.

9 ) Henna - has medicinal properties.Using henna leaves or powder for hair and scalp helps to improve hair growth and have a healthy scalp. But before using, test to see if you are allergic to henna.
Make a thick paste of henna leaves or powder, with amla (gooseberry) powder, lime juice, butter milk and apply to the hair and scalp. keep for 1 to 2 hours and wash.

10 ) To color the hair the natural way, henna can be used. You will get a deep reddish tint for a natural black hair person and the grey hair will turn reddish. Use tea decoction, to the above henna preparation and then apply to the hair.The paste has to be very thick.Coffee decoction can be used instead of tea.With tea decoction you will get more reddish colour than with coffee. Coffee will not change the natural colour of the hair. Apply henna to the hair and keep for more than 2 hours. More the duration you keep, deeper the colour you get. Wash hair with water. Do not apply shampoo with this wash. Oil hair and next day shampoo and condition hair.

11 ) Fenugreek - Paste of fenugreek powder applied to scalp helps to get rid of dandruff . Add fenugreek powder along with henna preparation to apply to the hair.

12 ) Papaya - Use ripe papaya pulp on face. Apply a thin paste on face and let it dry. Wash with water. Makes skin soft and bright.

13 ) Lemon / Lime - Juice of lime / lemon has bleaching effect. Apply on face, hand and rinse once dry.

14 ) Tamarind and curds / yogurt - Make a thick paste of tamarind and curds and apply on the face. Rinse once dry. Good to get rid of black / white heads. Face will brightened up with regular use.

15 ) Coconut hair oil - Heat coconut oil, curry leaves and shallots till curry leaves and shallots have browned. Cool & strain the oil. Good for healthy hair growth.

16 ) Coconut pepper hair oil - Heat coconut oil with black pepper. Cool and store. Apply to hair, massage and shampoo after 10 -15 minutes.

17 ) For facial hair - Mix Tomato and lemon juice, apply on face and keep for 20 minutes on the face and then wash. Do daily for results. It turns facial hair brownish.

• A mixture of rose water, besan, turmeric powder - mix and use this to rub the face. Do daily for good results

18 ) To remove blackness from the face - Wash face with buttermilk. Dip cotton in buttermilk and rub the face, then wash the face with cold water.

19 ) To make your hair shine - Use one beaten egg and juice of one lemon. Mix and apply to the hair.

• Use 70 ml Brandy, 70 ml warm water, 2 egg yolks - Mix all and massage into the hair. Leave it in hair for 10 minutes and then rinse.

20) For splitting hair - Use 2 tbsp almond oil, 1 tsp honey, 1 egg yolk - mix and apply on the hair for not more than 30 minutes.

21) Adding one teaspoon of honey to your bath water will rejuvenate, smoothen, soften and moisturise the skin.

22) For Dark circles - Mix lemon juice and tomato juice. Apply around the eyes. Works instantly.

23) Mix honey and powdered oats, apply on face. Leave it for sometimes and then scrub it off.

Fried Channa dal with Paneer

Ingredients

1.5 cup - Channa dal/Bengal gram dal
200 gram - Paneer,cut into cubes
1 medium size - Onion, chopped small
2 medium size - Tomatoes, quartered
2 pieces - Cinnamon
2 - Black cardamoms
4 - Cloves
2 - Bay leaves
1 - Whole red chilli
1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder
1 tsp - Red chilli powder
1 - inch piece - Ginger
3 flakes - Garlic (grind ginger & garlic to a paste)

250 ml - water ( 1 2/3 cup )

Corn oil

Salt to taste

Garnish

Few sprigs coriander leaves, chopped

Method

1 ) Wash Channa dal and soak for 2 hours. Fry the cubed paneer to golden brown colour.
2 ) Heat oil in pan and fry onions till light brown in colour.
3) Add ginger-garlic paste, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves and whole chilli and stir fry for a minute.
4 ) Add tomatoes and keep frying till oil separates.
5 ) Add Channa dal, salt, chilli & turmeric powder and fry for 5 - 7 minutes.
6 ) Add water, close the lid and cook on medium heat till Channa is well cooked.
7 ) Add fried paneer to the cooked dal.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve..........enjoy this delicious curry with rice or roti.