Green Chilly Sauce

Chilly sauce

Have you tried making any sauce at home? Here in this post, I'll share the recipe to make green chilly sauce.

Ingredients

1. Vinegar- 9 tsp
2. Sugar-1/2 tsp
3. Green Chillies- 4
4. Soya sauce-1 tsp
5. Salt to taste

Method to make Green chilly sauce

• Mix all the above ingredients 
• Heat for 3 mts
• Remove from stove and cool it.
• Use it along with Chinese food.

If case you're looking to learn and explore on homemade sauce, then check this online class on sauce making. 

Pork Vindaloo

Pork Vindaloo St Andrews Recipe

Pork Vindaloo St Andrews Style

I still wonder the similarities between Goan and St Andrews food. Many people in St Andrews, Trivandrum regularly make Pork Vindaloo, a dish popular in Goa. The similar food traits could have been bought in by Portuguese or by Christian missionaries.

More details on our patron St. Andrew.

Here's a simple Pork Vindaloo recipe popular in St Andrews locality, Kazhakuttom, Trivandrum. It's a variant of Goan Pork Vindaloo, with a Kerala touch.

Ingredients to make Pork Vindaloo

• Pork or Mutton - 1/2 kg
• Turmeric -3/4 inch
• Cumin seed - 1tbsp
• Red chillies-12
• Ginger-1" piece
• Garlic- 1 whole
• Mustard seeds -1 tsp
• Vinegar -1/2 cup
• Salt as per taste
• Oil -3 tbsp
• Curry leave -few
• Onion-1

Method to make Vindaloo

1. Grind  Turmeric, cumin seed, red chillies, ginger,garlic and mustard to a fine paste.
2. Heat oil, brown sliced onions and curry leaves.
3. Add the masala and fry for 2 mts
4. Now add meat and mix well.
5. Add enough water to cook the meat
6. Add salt and vinegar
7. Cook till the meat is soft and gravy fairly thick.
8. Serve hot with rice or bread.

Try out this hot and tangy Pork Vindaloo and let me know how it came out. Check the Pork Vindaloo I made for Xmas.

Love,

Marina.

Egg-less sponge cake

Egg less Sponge Cake in Baking Tray

Simple Recipe to make Eggless Sponge Cake 
At my first attempt, this ake came out so well. Even though it didn't match the taste of the usual cake, it came close to this taste.

If you're a a die-hard vegetarian, then you can try out this eggless cake recipe.

Ingredients for Eggless sponge cake:

• Plain flour - 2 cups
• Milk maid - 1 tin (400gm)
• Butter -200gm
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Soda Bicarbonate - 1 tsp
• Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp

Step by Step Instructions for Preparing Eggless Sponge Cake:

1. Preheat oven in 180C for 5-10 minutes
2. Mix butter, milkmaid and essence , beat well using a hand blender
3. Sieve soda, baking powder and flour thrice so that it will mix well
4. Add the flour to the butter mixture
5. Mix slowly using a spatula without letting the air bubbles go down
6. Pour the batter into the baking tin
7. Bake for 30min

Bingo! 
After 30 min of baking, here's comes your first egg less sponge cake.

Eggless Sponge Cake Class in Bangalore:
If you require one-to-one cake baking class, then you can contact me for Eggless Sponge Cake class. 

I've  put up close to Shiridi Sai Baba Temple, Cambridge Layout, Bangalore. You can reach me at Ph# 9379398865 ( Marina). or email me at mennasdelight@gmail.com.

Muffins pack for birthday gift

When was the last time you gave a gift made out of your hand? Well if you haven't done in the recent past, here's the chance to kindle that thought. This post is all about that...

Going with the norm, I was about to buy a gift from the shop the baby girl's first b'day. On a second thought, I decided to make muffins and gift it to the happy family. At first I had apprehension about gifting muffins. But then I set aside the doubts and went ahead with the muffin gift idea.

At the b'day party, I stood in the sidelines of the party hall looking at the glossy gifts given by the invitees. In between I got time to sneak this little gift to the jubilant young mom.

Yes, she was delighted to get this gift pack. She too remarked the gift as something unique, and personal. Yes, it reassured me.

So, what are you waiting for. Next time you head for a party, make something from your own hands. It could be a muffin packet or a cake or a trinket or a sweater.

There is more love in such effort than buying some ready-made stuff from the store. Well, it's matter of choice and thought.

Next time give it a thought

Regards,

Marina

Christmas Cake Gifts

Rich Plum Cake 

Here's the picture of rich plum cake in the gift warp. I gave these little packets of joy as my Xmas gift. It was not much, but it was all I could do this Xmas.

Usually I buy Xmas from Nilgiris ( Bangalore) or buy from St Michels (Trivandrum). But this Christmas, I decided to make Xmas cake in my oven. This decision saved a good deal of money and gave me the pleasure of gifting home made cakes. This year cake packets were small. Next year, (2011 if all goes well, I'll increase the size of my gift (cake).

If you know baking you can follow suit or learn Xmas cake baking. Gift your friends and relatives Xmas cake for next Xmas. Hand made gift makes your gift personal, joyful and meaningful. 

Basic preparation, cooking and serving of Salads

There should always be a place in our diet for salads as they are delicious, healthy and nutrituous.

Salads are ideal accompaniment to a wide range of dishes, both hot and cold. You can use raw vegetables, lightly cooked vegetables and pasta as well as fruit and nuts to give varied and interesting flavours and textures.

Basic preparation, cooking and serving.

Beetroot
Prepare: Use raw, peeled, grated, cooked, cubed.
Cook:Boil or steam whole. Peel when cold.
Serve: Raw or cooked in dressings or mayonnaise.

Broccoli
Prepare: Trim stalks quite short.
Cook: Blanch in boiling salted water, 3-4 minutes, drain and rinse in cold water and cool it.
Serve: With dressings or mayonnaise

Cauliflower
Prepare: Separate into florets, cut off longer stalks. Wash in cold water and drain it
Cook: Boil florets in salted water 4-5 mts drain and rinse in cold water
Serve: Boiled florets in dressing or mayonnaise, allow 30 mts for flavors to blend.

Cucumber
Prepare: Wipe clean, trim off ends, peel lengthwise in strips or can shredded, cut in slices or cubes.
sprinkle with salt and leave it on kitchen paper to draw out excess moisture. Rinse and dry throughly.
Serve: Slices, sticks, cubes, shredded in dressing

Tomatoes
Prepare: Wipe clean, remove stalk, may be skinned, sliced, cubed.
Serve: Stuffed as a starter or main salad, tossed with dressing and herbs.

How to make a good tea

How to make a Good Tea
Take Fresh Water
Heat water till it boils, remove kettle from fire.
Rinse out tea pot with hot water
Quickly put into teapot one teaspoonful of tea for each person.
Add one extra teaspoonful for the teapot
Quickly pour boiling water into teapot and infuse tea for 3-5 mts
Pour the tea into cups, add milk and sugar to taste
Enjoy the tea with Biscuits

Grilled Brinjal

Grilled Brinjal( Grilled Kathrika)
Another veg dish experiment in my OTG ( grill) came exceptionally well. This quick grill Bringal (eggfruit) got over in less than 15 min. I used very less oil for grill. Due to this, it had spicy charred taste along with all nutritional value of Brinjal.

Ingredients to make Grilled Brinjal

1. Brinjal -4
2. Turmeric powder -2 pinch
3. Pepper powder -1/2 tsp
4. Red chilly flakes -1/2 tsp
5. Gram Masala-1/2 tsp
6. Crushed garlic -4
7. Olive oil -2 tsp

Method to grill the brinjals

• Slice brinjal in a a round shape (Do not peal or make it too thin)
• Marinate with all the above masala and keep it for some time
• Smear little olive oil in the baking tray and little on the brinjals
• Grill for 10mts and it's ready to go...
• Serve hot and crispy.

Finally, surprises, surprises...

I'm sure even vegetable haters will melt when the spicy brinjals charred and spiced from the oven make over. Best of all, it required very little effort. This quick dish is recommended for non-cooks, bachelors or those reluctant with bringals. .

Love, peace, and brinjals,

Marina.

Basic Omelete

Are you limiting yourself to scrambled eggs? If yes, then here the next small step you can take a step towards learning Omelete.

Best way to prepare Omelets is in a greasy sauté pan. Usually I add onion, green chilly, tomato and coriander leaf to add flavor. You can try out other ingredients like ham, cheese, mushroom, onions, and pepper.

Ingredients for Omelette:

1. Egg 2
2. Green Chillie- 2
3. Tomatoes-2
4. Onion-1
5. Pepper powder -1/2 tsp
6. Salt
7. Milk -1 tbsp
8. Coriander leaves

Method to make the egg veg omelette's 

• Beat egg and milk together , beat well
• Chop Tomatoes, onions and green chillies
• Add them to the mixture
• Now add pepper powder and coriander leaves
• Mix well
• Take a tava and pour little oil and when hot
• Pour the egg veg mixture to the tava
• Spread it well and cook for 2 mts
• Now turn around and cook the other side also.
• Serve hot with bread 

      Oota enjaay maadi!

      Marina

P.S. You can also try out this Egg curry 

Chicken Cutlet Starter

Fried Chicken Cutlet

                                                                        
Here's the Chicken Cutlet in the delivery pack from a recent order. Don't they look crisp, and ideal as a starter!


Chicken Cutlet Starter
If you're in Bangalore, you can order chicken cutlet from me. I bet you'll love the unique taste of this chicken cutlet, packed with chicken keema, potato and spices.


Order Chicken Cutlet in Bangalore
Contact me ( give 24hrs) time for large cutlet order at Ph # 9379398865. If you want to have a sample cutlet, you can give me a ring. For larger orders for reception, parties, I can fry it at your place. 

Ingredients:

1. Chicken Mince-500 gms
2. Onion chopped -1/2 cup
3. Boiled Potatos - 500gm
4. Chilly 6 chopped
5. Ginger chopped 1/2 tsp
6. Pepper powder 1/4 tsp
7. Vinegar 1/2 tsp
8. Bread crumbs
9. Egg 3
10. Oil
11. Coriander leaves

Method to make chicken cutlet

• Take a pan heat oil and add chopped onion, chilly, ginger and pepper powder, saute well.
• Then finaly add the minced mixture and saute well till it turns dry.
• Add vinegar and then cover it and cook till it is done.
• Separate the egg white from the yolk.
• Once the mixture is cool and the mashed boiled potatoes and coriander leaves and shape them into flat round shape
• Dip it in egg white and coat it with bread crumbs.
• Fry it in oil and serve hot

( you can add the salt and chilly as per your taste after mixing the potatos)

Enjoy Making Chicken Cutlet,

Regards,

Marina

NB: Serve Chicken Cutlet hot. 

Mixed Sizzler

Assorted Sizzler

Here's another blast from the past. This assorted meat sizzler had chicken, mutton, sausages, macaroni, paner, egg, boiled veg, hash brown potato and garlic bread. This assorted sizzler had continental food along with desi stuff. I'll give detailed recipe for this sizzler in another post.

Till then Sizzle,

Marina

Idly with Coconut Chutney

How to make South Indian Idly - Ingredients

1. Rice - 3 cups
2. Black gram dal - 1 cup
3. Salt to taste

Method to make Idly

• Soak the rice and black gram dal separately for 4 to 5 hours
• Clean the rice and dal throughly and drain.
• Grind the rice to a thick paste, adding a little salt to the dough.
• The rice paste should be little coarse to touch.
• Grind the soaked dal to a very fine smooth paste.
• Mix both the paste throughly in a large vessel and keep overnight to ferment.
• Pour batter in Idly cooker and steam well.
• Serve hot with sambar or coconut chutney.

Buhari Trivandrum

          Mutton brain, bone at Buhari Trivandrum

                                                  
Hotel Buhari, Eastfort, Trivandrum
Someone remarked Buhari as the official "Puttu Kada" of Trivandrum. I would certainly second that. The taste of mutton chaps or curry has the unique Buhari touch. I heard about Buhari from my cousin and then from my hubby. All these fellas ends their long day with his friends at Buhari.

Puttu and mutton in Buhari
As night life extends in Trivandrum, the midnight maniacs descends the bright lit Buhari for its steamed rice cake ( puttu) or Kerala Parata or fresh dosa. One best combo would be to have puttu + mutton + biriyani chaya.

These days I see many ladies and kids in Buhari. Of course, escorted by big belly guardians. Once I went with my friend Sandya. We enjoyed Buhari's special food, but it was laced with cold stares from drunk fellas.

Where is Buhari and how to reach Buhari?
Buhari is opposite to MP theater, at Attakkulangara,Trivandrum. Tell any auto driver with these keywords and you'll reach Buhari's 'foodsteps'. There are similar hotels in Trivandrum which you can try for a change, Paradise Hotel, Vayalil etc.

After 10:00, it's mostly man's world. Most of the fellas who visit Buhari are in inebriated state. Yes, you can instantly make it out by the wild shouts and gregariousness.

Cheers to Buhari,

Marina

P.S: For Fish lovers in Trivandrum, there is Hotel Mubarak. 

Mubark at Trivandrum

                                                        Mubark Hotel - Trivandrum

                                                     Prawns, Mussels & boiled rice at Mubarak
Mubarak at Eastfort is a haven for fish lovers from Trivandum. This December I revisited this fishy joint to get closer to the Fish haven.

Here's a report in Hindu on Mubarak hotel.

Every time I reach Mubarak I end up waiting for the turn. It's hard to get a seat for lunch. Even when you get seat, people stand behind your back waiting for a chance. It kind of makes me uneasy, forcing me to finish my fish spread in a hurry.

This time we were directed to another room, where I had prawns,  mussels, sear fish fry...

Why don't we have more such places in Trivandrum. I'm sure, people crowd this place for it's price, the big serving on fish and variety. A negative about this place is the fish smell. Maybe, it's part of the Mubarak you'll have to accept.

Kidilam..

Marina.

Mutton Briyani

Mutton Biriyani 


Taste, flavor, ingredients of Biriyani is different from one place to another. For instance, this Kerala Biriyani is different from Malabar Biriyani or Calicut Biriyani. This one is distinctly touch of Trivandrum or it could be a Universal Biriyani. .

I got this Biriyani recipe for my Mom, who got it from her Mom. So, technically it's from Granny's Biriyani recipe. Of course many things has been added or subtracted as the recipe changed hands.

Despite all those changes, this Biriyani came as big hit with the guests. Sometimes, the taste and flavor surpasses my own expectation.  Has it happened to you?

Now steam ahead with this Biriyani recipe.

Ingredients for Mutton Biriyani 

1. Mutton large pieces - 1kg
2. Basmathi Rice-1 kg
3. Onions sliced finely -500gms
4. Ginger -50gms
5. Garlic ground-50gms
6. Green Chillies crushed - 100gms
7. Poppy seeds powdered - 2 tsp
8. Coriander leaves - 1 bunch
9. Mint leaves - 1 bunch
10. Curd - 1 cup
11. Lime juice - 1
12. Ghee - 250gms
13. Raisins and Cashew nuts - a handful
14. Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
15. Jeera - 1/2 tsp
16. Saunf - 1/2 tsp
17. Shahjeera-1 tsp
18. Mace-2-3 petals
19. Nutmeg-1/4 piece
20. Cinnamom-2 1/2" piece
21. Cloves-8
22. Cardamom - 6

Method for cooking the rice and meat

• Clean,wash and drain the rice. 
• Heat half the ghee and fry half the onions till golden brown
• Remove and set aside.
• Fry nuts and raisins and set aside.
• Add the rice to ghee and fry for 4-5 mts and add double the quantity of water.
• Add salt and cook till rice is soft and water absorbed.
• Remove from fire and set aside.
• Heat the remaining ghee 
• Add the onions and fry till transparent.
• Add ginger garlic paste, poppy seed paste and green chillies and fry for a few minutes
• Add Mutton and fry for few mts
• Now add salt and enough water to cook the meat.
• Pressure cook the meat for 20-30 mts till it is tender.
• Add beaten curd,lime juice and chopped leaves.

For setting the Briyani

• Take a deep vessel and put in  the meat.
• Sprinkle a little garam masala powder on top
• Spread 1/2 the rice over the meat.
• Sprinkle gram masala,fried onion, nuts and raisins.
• Repeat this process with the remaining meat and rice.
• A little saffron or yellow color mixed in milk and some rose water sprinkled on top enhance the flavor(This is optional)
• Cover with foil and put into a preheated oven for 20 minutes.
• Serve hot with raita and pickles.  

In the end, don't blindly go with this recipe. Add few or minus few to get the fragrance and taste of Biriyani of your dreams. Anyway, I would like to know your comments, suggestions or kickbacks/brickbats after trying out this spicy delight.

Your's through biriyani,

Marina

Puttu

Ingredients

1. Coarse roasted rice flour - 1 cup
2. Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup
3. Salt to taste

Method to make puttu

1. Add salt and sprinkle water on the flour and gently moisten it.
2. Care should be taken to avoid formation of lumps.
3. The flour should be evenly moistened.
4. Boil water in the puttu kudam
5. Take the puttu kuthi and sprinkle grated coconut at the bottom
6. Put a handful of flour over the coconut.
7. And again sprinkle a layer of coconut and then a handful of flour
8. And finally the grated coconut on top
9. Cover the puttu kuthi and place it on top of the puttu kudam
10. When puttu is cooked steam will be coming through the holes on the lid.
11. Steam for 2 mts
12. Then push the puttu out of the puttu kuthi using a stick.
13. Serve it hot with payar pappadam or sugar and banana.
14. Enjoy this Kerala Breakfast...

Appam Recipe

Appam Ready to be Served

After I wrote the earlier post on stew, it's time to write on Appam. Appam and stew is a great combo that still invokes in me the good old Sundays.

To the less initiated ones, Appam is circular, fluffy, crisp-edged dish that is made from rice flour fermented with a small amount of toddy. But in places like Bangalore where you don't get toddy, you can use yeast. So, are you ready to learn appam recipe?


How to Make Kerala Appam?
In this blog post you'll learn to make Kerala Appam. Follow this simple appam recipe to make lip smacking Appam at your home.

Ingredients to make Appam:

1. Boiled rice -1/2 cup
2. Raw rice - 1 cup
3. Scraped coconut - 1 cup
4. Salt - 1 tsp
5. Sugar - 1 tsp
6. Yeast - 1/2 tsp

Method to make Appam

• Soak both rice for 4 hours
• Grind with coconut to a fine paste- appam batter
• Add salt, sugar and yeast
• Keep it overnight
• In the morning add water to the appam batter
• Place Appam chatty (pan) in gas
• Grease the pan and pour a spoonful of the batter.
• Let it set for few seconds
• Then twist the pan round for the batter to spread out the pan
• This forms a lace border of 1/2 inch all round.
• Cover the appam pan with the lid and cook for 3 mins
• Open the lid to check if its cooked

Serve appam along with chicken stew or fish mole. 

Appam Tips:
1) Cast iron pan ( Cheenachatty) is better than non stick ones.

P.S. I teach Appam and stew in my one-on-one cooking class in Bangalore. If you're outside Bangalore, you can learn Appam making through my online cooking classes. Mail me at mennasdelight@gmail.com or call me at #9900114982.

Pork Pepper Roast

Pork Pepper Roast

Pork Pepper Roast - Trivandrum Special

I  learned this yummy pork pepper roast from Rose Aunty, Trivandrum. She gave me the detailed recipe to make this spicy Pork Pepper Roast.

I tried this dish for my in-law and to my surprise I got a nod of approval from her.:-)

Ingredients for Pork Pepper Roast

1. Pork - 1kg
2. Dry chillies -9
3. Turmeric powder -1 tsp
4. Pepper - 1 tsp
5. Green chillies - 6
6. Onion -4
7. Vinegar - 1 tblsp
8. Coriander powder - 3 tsp
9. Jeera powder - 2 tsp
10. Ginger - 2" piece
11. Clove-10
12. Full Garlic - 2
13. Cinnamon - a few pieces
14. Salt to taste
15. Curry leaves

Method to make Pork Pepper Roast

• Cut meat into big pieces and boil with some clove, cinnamon and salt till soft.
• Slice the meat into small pieces
• Grind all the masala in vinegar.
• Heat oil and fry meat till brown
• Remove meat and curry leaves and fry the masala in the left over oil.
• Stir constantly for few mts then add meat and gravy to the masala
• Cook till the gravy become thick and meat is soft.
• Serve hot with Bread or Fried rice

Servings - 6 - 8
Prep time -15 - 20 minutes
Cooking time - 45 min


Try out this easy and deliciously quick pork pepper road to spice your gourmet.

Ciao,

Marina.

P.S
View other Pork Recipes: Pork Vindaloo

Goan Thali

Goan Thali with Fish fry at a restaurant in Goa

Delightful Goan Fish Thali
Absolut delight to have Goan thali at Starlight, Baga. Mr John who rents two wheeler suggested this hotel. This hotel is popular with the locals and we had a lip smacking Goan thali to our heart's delight.

No second thoughts about an authentic Goan thali. Next time when you're in Goa (Baga side), then try out Starlight restaurant for authentic Goan thali.

Regards,

Marina.

Mixed Fruits Cocktail Pastry

For the Cake

• Flour 1 cup+2 tbsp(150g)
• Baking powder ¼ tsp
• Eggs 5
• Vanilla essence 1 tsp
• Powdered sugar 1 cup+ 1 tbsp(150g)
• Pre heat the oven at 180 degree for 10 minutes, Sieve flour and baking powder thrice.
• Beat eggs well. Add essence and sugar. Beat till it is light and fluffy.
• Fold in flour. Pour into a greased 8” pan.
• Bake at 180 degree centigrade for 30 minutes and cool.
• Cut the cake into two layers soak it with the syrup. Cover with cream and sprinkle fruits cocktail pieces. Repeat layers. Chill and serve

How to Make Syrup for mixed fruits Pastry

• Pineapple,Strawberry,Orange chopped 1 Cup
• Water 1 Cup
• Sugar ½ Cup
• Mix the fruits water and ½ cup sugar. Boil for a minute. Cool and add essence(or use mixed tin fruits)

Icing Part of Mixed fruits cocktail Pastry

• Cream 200gms
• Icing sugar 4 tbsp heaped
• Whip cream and icing sugar till it forms soft peaks

Chill the pastry and enjoy it cold....

Strawberry Muffins

Strawberry Muffin Time
Isn't time to add new a flavor to your muffins. This time try out Strawberry muffins. The steps and recipe for this muffin is same as plain muffin, except for the Strawberry essence.  If you like to make with real Strawberry in your muffin, then it's kind of different.

All it takes is just 20min of your time, and you can make such exciting flavors for your kids or for for your evening snacks. Next time avoid the packed muffins from department stores. Make homemade muffins in your kitchen.

Personlised baking class in Bangalore
If you require classes to add finesse to your baking, then contact me at 9379398865. I take personlised baking class in Bangalore and for others I've online baking class.

Muffin Variations:
Heart Shaped Muffins
Chocolate Muffins

Chocochips Muffins

Chocolatechips Muffins is another beautiful variant in the muffin family. As you inferred from the name, it has chocolate chips in it. This simple addition lifts the taste of muffin to chocolate heights.

If you're in Bangalore, you can buy chocolate chips from Nilgris ( Brigade road) or from ICBLR, Bangalore.

Chocoholic Bombastic Muffins - What's so Special!
As you munch these chocolate muffins, you'll meet the rich taste of chocolate bits along with the delicate taste of muffins. If you made vanila muffins or chocolate muffins, then you can try choco-chips muffins for a change. I'm sure you'll get lot's of 'WOW' from your kids and loved ones.

Learn to make muffins
If you've any doubts on Chocochips muffins, call me at 9379398865. I'll be happy to explain to you or you can join for a one-to-one muffin baking class in Bangalore. If you're not from Bangalore, then you out can learn baking through my online baking classes.

Marina

P.S. Muffins with icing

Aloo Methi / Potatoes with Fenugreek leaves

Fresh Methi Leaves 

                                                                      Aloo Methi is ready

Ingredients for Aloo Methi

1. Potatoes - 4
2. Chopped onions - 1/2 cup 
3. Fenugreek leaves -4 small bunches
4. Green chillies - 5
5. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
6. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
7. Turmeric powder -  1/4 tsp
8. Oil

Method to make Aloo methi

• Boil the potatoes and  cut into large pieces
• Chop the green chillies and slice the onions.
• Wash and cut the fenugreek leaves and not  the stem
• Heat oil , add  mustard seeds, cumin seeds,chillies and  onions.
• Add turmeric powder, stir for 1 to 2 mts
• Add fenugreek leaves and salt , stir for 2 mts.
• Now  add the potatos.
• Cover and cook for 5 to 10 mts.
• Serve hot with chappatis  or rice and dal

Kerala Food Cooking in Bangalore

Fully Loaded Kerala Lunch 

Kerala Food Ensemble - Food for thought and soul
Are you a big fan of Kerala food? Do you like to learn the exotic varieties of vegetarian dishes in a Kerala sadya? Or do you enjoy the taste of authentic Kerala fish curry prepared in mud pan ( Chatti)?

Learn Kerala Cooking in Bangalore 
Whether you're a serious home cook or a newbie interested in Kerala recipe, my 'Kerala Special' cooking class will put give you first hand experience in authentic kerala recipes.

If you're keen to learn Kerala cuisine in Bangalore, then here's an opportunity to learn with one-to-one Kerala cooking class.Get practical know-how, tips with do-it-yourself class where you get first hand experience learning and making Kerala recipes.

. You can learn these recipe and more:

• Kappa and Meen curry ( 4 types of fish curry + fry)
• Puttu and Kadala curry
• Appam and Stew 
• Avial, Thoran and Mezhukkupuratty
• Vindaloo, fish molee, mapas
• Orappam, payasam
• and more...

How to learn Kerala Cooking in Bangalore
Contact  me - Marina  Ph # 9379398865 or send me a mail at mennasdelight@gmail.com to know more about customised Kerala cooking class or find Kerala recipes.

Here're the other popular Kerala cooking lessons:

• Ball, fish molee
• Kerala Chicken Roast, Curry
• Vegetables ( Avial, Thoran, mezhukkupuratti- Stir fried)
• Fish curry ( Coconut gravy)

Online Kerala Cooking Lessons
If you're outside Bangalore, you can learn these wonderful kerala recipe through my online cooking classes. My online cooking class, will help you turn you into an experienced home chef. Now you can learn Kerala cooking at your convenience, at your home with online kerala cooking lessons.

Call up at 9379398865 for details on online cooking through webcam.You reach me at mennasdelight@gmail.com with your query. .

Niranja Snehathode Nanni, ( Love with Thanks) or ( Thanks with love)

Marina.

Kerala Lunch Bangalore

Typical Kerala items for luncheon 

Kerala Dish Spread Out
One of these days, I made fish curry, fish fry, keera thoran, avial, sambar for lunch. Apart form serving for the family, I deliver typical kerala lunch at offices at Cambridge layout, Bangalore.

You can order similar kerala lunch for your office or for your house function. If you're close to Cambridge Layout, I'll be more happy to serve you. For details contact # 9379398865.

Mutton Brain Pepper fry

Muttun Brain with Pepper
Here's another quickie dish you can prepare under 10min. It just takes a much time as heating a pan.

Most people are turned off with brain curry. It got something to do with the 'brainy' looks. Well, if you can cast away that thought, you can have a taste close to the egg yolk. That's the way I feel after tasting mutton brain.

Buy Mutton Brain in Bangalore 
In Bangalore, I've found many restaurants serving mutton brain. You can buy mutton brain from any of the Mutton stalls in your neighborhood. It's just Rs 20/- for a piece. Fair price for this delicacy. Mutton brain serves best as a starter to a nights aerated party.


Ingredients

1. Mutton Brain - 500 gms
2. Turmeric -1/2 tsp
3. Pepper powder - 1 tsp
4. Shallots - 1/2 cup (chopped)
5. Ginger - 1 small (chopped)
6. Curry leaves
7. Salt

Method

• In a pan pour 1/2 cup of water
• Add brain, salt, pepper and turmeric
• Cook for 5 mts.
• Pour 1/2 tsp of oil in a pan and chopped shallots, ginger and curry leaves
• Stir them till they are brown
• Add the cooked brain into this
• Stir for 2 mts
• Serve hot with bread

Your's to a brainy feast,

Marina

Kondattam and Pappadam

Kondattam - Little Big Accompaniment 
Exotic combination of fresh papadam and molaku kondattam is a definite YES to spice your lunch. Today I fried the kondattam given by the next door Amma. These little accompaniment made my lunch spicy, complete and happy.

Kondattam - Vegetables marrinated in curd & salt. It's then dried in sun. Most popular are Mulaku and Kaipakkam. kondattam. Here's how to make mulagu kondattom.

Happy weekend!

Marina

Netholi Peera Vattichadhu

Netholi ( anchovy) peera is popular in many houses in Kerala. We make peera curry with mathi ( sardines and netholi. This dry or semi dry fish dish brings the best taste of coconut, mingled with the ginger, tumeric and shallots.

Ingredients 

1. Netholi-250 gm
2. Red chilly powder-1 1/2 tsp
3. Raw Mango-half (cut into cubes)
4. Turmeric-1/2
5. Ginger - one small
6. Coconut 1 cup
7. Shallots 7
8. Green Chilly- 5
9. Salt to taste
10. Curry leaves

Method

• Clean Netholi and wash with rock salt and clean well.
• Mix grated coconut, chillie powder, turmeric, ginger, shallots and green chillie.
• Crush all the above well and crush curry leaves at last.
• Take a meen chatti add the fish, mango and the masala
• Mix well with your hand by adding salt and one cup water.
• Cover it and cook it for 5mts or till the fish is cooked.
• Now add the coconut oil and curry leaves
• Serve hot with boiled rice. 

Netholi Chammanthi

Ingredients:

1. Dry netholi - 1/2 cup
2. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
3. Red chillies - 5
4. Shallots - 3 to 4
5. Tamarind- a small piece
6. Curry leaves 
7. Salt 

Method

• Wash and clean the netholi 
• In a pan roast red chillies on a low flame.
• When they turn crispy, cool it 
• Grind netholi,roasted chillies, grated coconut,shallots,curry leaves,tamarind and salt.
• It should not be a paste but a coarse mixture
• Serve with hot steaming rice.

Vegetable Noodles

Ingredients

1. Noodles -100gm
2. Cabbage-100gm
3. Onions -100gm
4. Carrots-100gm
5. French Beans -100gm
6. Capsicum-1
7. Soya Sauce-1 tsp
8. Oil -4 table spoon
9. Salt to taste
10. Red chilly -3

Green chillies in vinegar and chillie sauce to serve

Method

• Boil the Noodles in 1 liter of water for 4-5 mts.
• Drain off water and cool by passing cold water.
• Again drain the water throughly.
• Cut the vegetable into long thin strips.
• Then heat the oil add the vegetables and salt.
• Cover and cook on high flame for 3 to 4 mts
• Now add soya sauce ,red chillies and the cooked noodles and cook for 2 mts.
• Serve hot with chillies in vinegar and chillies sauce.

 Note
For non vegetarians you can add 3 eggs, 100 gm of prawns and 100 gm of chicken (all cooked separately     with salt and pepper) add them along with the cooked noodles and soya sauce.

Vellarika Pachadi / Cucumber with Curd

I learned this recipe from my mother in law...


Ingredients

1. Cucumber- 1 medium size finely chopped
2. Coconut grated - 1/2 cup
3. Green chillies - 3
4. Mustard - 1tsp
5. Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
6. Curd - 1 cup

Seasoning

1. Curry leaves
2. Mustard seeds
3. Red chilly
4. Oil

Method

• Heat oil in a pan add the chopped cucumber with salt and water
• Cover and cook till the cucumber is done.
• Grind coconut,green chillie, mustard and cumin, make them a paste.
• Add this paste to the cucumber and cook for 3mts in medium heat
• Water can be added if required, it should not be thick
• For seasoning heat oil add mustard seeds, red chilies and curry leaves.
• Add the seasoning to the cucumber and remove it from the stove.
• When it cools down beat the curd throughly and add to this mixture.
• You are now ready to serve your vellarika pachadi....

Easy Lunch Pack Ideas

Every day I wonder what to pack for his dinner. I think there are many ladies out there, who pack tiffin boxes for school-going kids & for dear ones. Those who carry these tiffins look forward to the homely touch in food packs and the familiar taste.


Today I made a easy veg stir fry and roti for dinner. You can use a mixture of different vegetables like carrots, beans, capsicum, cabbage, cauliflower etc.

Cut all the vegetables in the same size to make your dish look inviting, or you can make with 2 or 3 types of vegetables.


Ingredients

1. Mixed vegetables chopped – 1 cup
2. Onion -1
3. Green Chillie-2
4. Pepper powder -1tsp.
5. Salt as per your taste
6. Oil

Method

• Heat oil in a pan
• Add onions and stir 2 mts
• Add the pepper powder and stir for 1 mt
• Now add all the chopped vegetables and salt 
• To make the vegetable soft add a table spoon of water then cover and cook for 4 mts   
• Add Green chilly at last and cover and keep it so that the flavor will remain.
• Remove from the stove and pack it along with the rotis.

Tips:

You can make it spicy by adding chilly powder and gram masala.

If you've better idea to spice up lunch packs, pls share it. Your lunch recipe ideas will help me to improvise the taste as well as add variety in the lunch pack. Best of all, the school kid or office goer they will love variation and surprise!

Cherio!

Marina

Churul Appam / Coconut Filled Crepes

Churul appam as we call it, is a popular morning or evening snack. In Trivandrum this is common dish among Christian families. I used to relish this dish while I was at school. It was kept ready for me when I come back after school. Now after many years, I made Churul Appam for evening snack.

Most people call this as Mutta Kuzhalappam, or in English it's coconut filled Crepes. I read in another blog about Chural appam. Some people call it by the name  'love letter'. Why love letter for Churul appam? Find  it out.

Here's the recipe I used to make Churul appam/Crepe

Ingredients

1. Maida – 1.5 cups
2. Water – 2 cups 
3. Egg – 1
4. Sugar – 1 tbsp
5. Salt – A pinch

Filling

1. Grated Coconut – 1 cup
2. Sugar – 1.5 tbsp
3. Cardamom Powder – 1/2 tsp

Mix all the above things together for the filling and keep it aside.


Follow these steps to make churul Appam:

• Beat egg thoroughly 
• Add maida, water,sugar and salt.
• If you feel the batter is thick add more water to make the batter thin
• Heat a tava and pour one spoon of the batter in it and spread well like dosa but should be very thin.
• When one side is cooked flip it over and cook the other side
• Remove it from the tava and place it in a plate.
• Spread the filling in the center and roll it.
• Serve it hot or cold you will love this snack

Churul Appam For Snacks
Churul Appam is a delicious,sweet and easy snack for your kids or for seniors. Kids will love the sweet taste of sugar laced coconut syrup in Chural Appam. Who can resist the temptation of sugar laced crepe. 


Love and Lollies,


Marina

Check out other Kerala Tea Time Snack - Scone: