Boiled Tapioca/Kappa Puzhukku/Chenda kappa

Tapioca  is also known as Yuca root.Tapioca is known as Kappa (കപ്പ) or Poola or Maracheeni or Cheeni in malayalam,Karrapendalam in telugu, kolli in Kannada,Maravallikezangu or Kuchikezangu in Tamil.

This tapioca is used for preparing chips,tapioca pearl is used for thickening dishes and in Kerala this Tapioca and fish curry is a very common and tasty food.and also Simply boiled tapioca is also tastier with fish curry or chili chutney...

You can find this tapioca in almost all Indian/Mexican/Chinese Grocery shop..Be choosy ,otherwise it won't taste good.If the root have any black marks or splits, try to avoid that..Taste is purely depends on the quality of the product.

Here i am going to present how can we prepare the boiled Tapioca.Its commonly known as Kappa Puzhukku or Chenda Kappa.

Preparation time ;15 minute

Cost   :$0.99-1.25/Pound

Ingredients:

Tapioca - 2 nos

Salt : to taste

Water- 1 cup

How to cut the Tapioca :

Step 1 : first cut the whole tapioca into small cylinders as shown in picture

Step 2: Just make a slit into each cylinder and simply remove the thick skin.

Preparation:

•  Add the tapioca cubes in the pressure cooker.Add 1 cup of water (Usually add enough water which covers the tapioca.) Add salt to taste.

• Boil the kappa until the 2 whistle.

• Just drain the excess water and place the boiled tapioca in a serving dish...

• Have it with Chutney or Fish curry; with a cup of hot black tea. 

Try this recipe today and have a nice snack .

Points to Ponder

1.Don't add more water.

2.Usually good tapioca's will take one whistle to cook.So check accordingly.

3.Add enough salt .After adding the salt to water just taste and make sure its enough

 

Chicken Curry/ChickenRoast

This Chicken curry is very easy to cook.Usually we are buying chicken from Halal Market.HalalMarket chicken is more tastier than the usual frozen whole chicken from other grocery shops.and also halal market they will make the chicken into small pieces.So no need to waste our time.I found the tyson cornishHen also have nice taste.It will be found in almost all the grocery's frozen section.

Here i preferred the roasted chicken because  my husband doesn't like the curry version of it.My mom used to prepare the chicken curry with more gravy.You can make it according to your taste.This chicken curry is prepared without using a single spoon of water.If u add water that will make the taste difference too.So better to cook the chicken without adding water.

Today i am going to tell u how to make this delicious chicken Curry/Chicken Roast.

Cost of the Chicken -1.99/pound
Cooking time -45 minutes

Ingredients:

To Fry:

Cleaned chicken -250 gm

Onion - 1 big

Garlic -2 cloves

Ginger - medium piece

GreenChilly- 3 nos

Tomatoe  -1 no

CurryLeaves -6 leaves

For Masala:

Turmeric Powder -1 tsp

Coriander Powder -1 1/2 tsp

ChillyPowder -1 tsp

Garam Masala- 2 tsp

Salt -to taste

Fennel Seed- 1/2 tsp(not shown in the picture)

Note:Just saute these powders together for 2 minute.If u fry the masala it will make more tastier.

To season:

Mustard Seeds - 1tsp

CurryLeaves -5 leaves

Redchilly -2 nos

Preparation:

Step 1: Heat oil in a pan.Add mustard seeds,once they started spluttering add red chilly and curry leaves,then add garlic ginger and green chilly....let them fry in medium heat until it become light golden brown ,then add the sliced onion.

 

Step 2.Once the onions get light brown, add the tomato and then masala into it. (as shown in figure).Stir well .Let it fry for 2 minutes

Step3:Add the Chicken in to the masala mix.Lower the heat and let it fry for 15 to 30 minutes.In between just stir well.Do not add any water into it.If u check the chicken after 5 minutes u can see the gravy is forming from the moisture of the chicken.

 

Within minutes u will get a very tasty chicken curry.According to your taste u can dry up the gravy.For making the roast just fry it more time.

So today's dinner you can try this.....Have it with rice and Parippu,its a wonderful combination.Just try this combo also.

Points to ponder

1.clean the chicken with lime water .it will avoid the raw smell of the chicken.

2.Slice the onion in thin pieces.

3.Always cook the chicken in very medium heat.

4.Don't add water.

Fish Fry-Oven Method

 

The Fish Fry is one of the tastier food for those who loves non vegetarian food. Fish is a good source of calcium. Here in United States its quiet easy to find fish in any of the grocery store. The frozen and cleaned fillets are common in any of the grocery shop. If we get the fresh fish then the taste will be really good compared to the frozen food. Usually fresh fish is available in almost all Asian market and also in some of the Indian grocery we can find Indian Pompfret in a frozen form...

Here i used the Yellow Fin Tuna,we got it from  one of the Asian market.The best thing here is the fish will be  cleaned in the shop itself  with or without cost. Anyhow we have to wash and clean before going to use.

If we fry the fish stove top(in the pan) the smell will be a problem. Usually in India the houses are highly ventilated. But here because of the weather variations, no more ventilation. So we have to open all our windows and door for the air circulation. While frying the fish, the smell will be inside for long time if u r not doing that way. During winter season its quiet difficult to open the windows/doors for longtime ...I think the exhausted fan won't absorb all the smell.So here i use to follow the oven method.

Actually we got this idea from my husband's friend.When i tried this method its really works.No smell and the taste the exactly same as the stove fried fish...

So i am going to share how to do this and  friends just try this ,i can guarantee it will come up good...Nowadays this fish fry is a common in our menu. My husband  is fond of fish items. If its a fried one he is ready to eat as much double the amount of rice. So i am so happy always thankful to his friend for this great idea.

The cost of this fish will be 3.99/Pound. 1 fish will come almost 1 to 2 pound.

Cooking time -15 t0 40 minutes

Ingredients:

 

1.Cleaned Fish -1-2 pound (cut into the pieces shown in the picture)

2. Chilli Powder  - 2 tbsp

3. Turmeric Powder -1 tsp

4. Methi/Fenugreek powder -1/2 tsp

5. Pepper Powder -1 tbsp 

6. Salt -1  tbsp (according to the taste)

7. Ginger -a small piece

8. Pearl onion - 5 nos

9.Oil - to fry

Preparation:

Step 1

 

• Make the Fine paste of the ingredients listed from 2  to 8.
• Do not add more water just add 2-3 tbsp water.

Step 2: 

• Marinate the fish with the paste.
• Keep the marinated fish in the refrigerator for 30 minutes,it will help the fish slices to absorb the marinade.

Step 3:

• In the baked pan pour the oil
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
  

Step 4:

• Place the fish in the pan.
• Place it in the preheated oven for 30 minute.
• In between just check the fish and turn the side.

Your Fish fry is ready to eat....Enjoy...

Points to ponder:

1.Cut the fish into medium sized pieces.

2.Do not add more water for making the marinade

3.Don't forget to preheat the oven 

4.If u want to make the fish more crispy keep it in the same heat for 10 more 

   minutes.

5.If u wash the fish with lemon juice u can avoid the smell

6. Use big onion slices and tomato slices with little vinegar as a side 

Kothavarakka/Cluster beans /Gawar Beans/Kothavarakkai/Mattikayalu/Goruchikudkaya -Thoran/poriyal/stirfry

This is the Cluster bean.Its known as Kothavarakka (Malayalam),

Gawar beans(hindi),Kothavarakkai(tamil), Mattikayalu/Goruchikudkaya(Telugu).Somewhere in kerala its known as Amara Payar or Amarakka.

In our place We are used this vegettable for preparing thoran ,Sambar and Aviyal...It has a very unique taste and also good side dish for rice....Usually in Kerala we used to buy it from our vegettable market and also we can easily grow it in our vegettable garden.Here in US, we can find it in only Indian Grocery shop.The frozen version is also available.Better to go with the fresh one.

This is a favourite one for us, so its a common in our menu. Here i am going to explain how to prepare the Kothamarakka thoran/Poriyal..

Cost of this will be less than a dollar/pound.

Cooking time 15 minutes.

 

Ingredients:

For Cooking :

Kothavarakka /cluster beans-250 gm

Coconut -  1/4 cup

Turmeric Powder-1/4 tsp

Garlic- 1 pod

Green chili- 2to 3 nos

Salt - to taste

Onion/Pearl Onion -1/2 Portion/ 8 nos

For Seasoning :

Mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Red chilly :2 nos

Curry leaves : 4 leaves

Preparation

Step 1:  

• First trim the tips off the Kothavarakka  before cutting then make into small thin Pieces, as shown in figure.
• Cut the onions into small pieces (square shape).If you are using pearl onion make them into small cross-sectional slices 
• Cut the Green chilly into small pieces or slice them into 2,3 pieces.Adding green chilly give more taste as well as hot.

 

Step 2:

• Heat the pan add the cut cluster bean,green chili 
• sprinkle 2 tbsp of water then close the pan with a lid for about 5 minute.Don't use high heat ,it should be in medium level.

Step 3:

• Add the onions and stir well.Just cook that for 2 minutes.No need to add the water.with the onion's moisture is more enough to cook it nicely.

Step 4: 

• Add the coconut and crushed garlic into the cooked bean,stir well then cook for 2 minute in medium heat. Don't forget to close it with a lid.
  

 

Step 5: 

• In another pan,Add the oil once its get heated add the mustard seed after spluttering the mustard seed redchilli and curry leaves.
• Finally add the Cooked content into this  and stir ...The Delicious Kothamarakka thoran is ready to eat...

Try it today ....You will love this......

Points to ponder:

• Cut the bean into thin pieces.
• Don't add more water.In between check the thoran.Once it cooked the fresh greenish color will change to slight yelloyish color.
• If u don't like the garlic taste no need to add that....If u add, it will make  good smell as well as good for  digestion 
• If u need more spicy dish increase the number of green chillies.

Kovakkai/Tindora Mezhukkupiratti/Fry-Simple and easy dish for Rice

Tindora is also known as Tondli , kovakkai,kovakka, dondakaya ivy gourd or little gourd, is a tropical vine grown for its small edible fruits. They may be eaten immature and green, or mature and deep red.





This Tindora/kovakkai you can find in almost all Indian stores /Chinese stores.Also the frozen version is available but better to go with fresh one..If u have no other curries for rice and u have kovakkai at ur refrigerator go and try this simple recipe...Its easy and delicious..

This is one of our favorite dish.My husband used to say if we have kovakkai mezhukkupiratty we don't need any other curries.In our place we grow kovakka in our kitchen garden


Ingredients :
Kovakkai - 250gm
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
Onion/Pearl onion - one/1o numbers
Red Chilly - 3 nos
Curry leaves - 5 0r 6 leaves
Oil - 1 table spoon
Water - just sprinkle

Preparation :

Step 1:First trim the tips off the kovakkai before cutting then make into small slices,if u like make that slices into small as shown in figure

Step 2: sprinkle the water ,Turmeric Powder and the red chilli into the cut kovakka then cook for 5 minutes(check the tenderness).Don't forget to cover the pan with a lid.



Step3: Add the onion into the cooked kovakka and then heat for a while...then add the oil then fry for a while .Add the curryleaves also...Don't forget to sim the flame/low heat

Step 4: After 3-4 minute u can turnoff the heat and the delicious Kovakkai Mizhukkupiratti will be ready... Have it with rice.

Points to ponder
1.Try to cut the kovakkai into similar shape.
2.Don't add excess water.It will overcook the kovakkai.
3.Add green chillies if u need to make it more spicy.