Pavakka Kichadi/Bittergourd in Yogurt

When I shared the  Pachadi recipe, I mentioned that there were some confusion about these Pachadi and Kichadi dishes. Both dishes are served in kerala feast.Whenever I prepared the pachadi, I always ask myself that is this kichadi? or pachadi?.. Somehow my hus given some solution( answer ) for this confused question. If you are using Mustard seed and Grated Coconut in the mixture, it is called as Pachadi, if not, it will be "Kichadi". Pachadi is usually preparing with Pumpkin, Plantain (Ethakaya) and Pineapple etc (Some of them use mango & grapes as well). You can use any veggie/ fruit of your choice but those I mentioned above are the commonly used one. Pachadi is prepared with the blend of coconut, jeera, Mustard and yogurt. For kichadi recipe we are not using the mustard as a main ingredient with the mix(as mentioned above). But some part of kerela this variation is also  known as Pachadi.

Today i am going to share with you the the Pavakka(Karela) Kichadi(Bitter-gourd in Yogurt ). Anyway do not confuse about the name. Usually we use Okra and beetroot for this kichadi preparation. There is not need to write more abt the nutritional factor of this great veggitable, right? However, frankly speaking I don't like this vegetable because of its bitterness but my hus is a die-hard fan of this veggie, love  to have any dish with this vegetable. So this one is a must buy item in my shopping list and also i used to make the theeyal, stir fry (mezhukku puratti)and this kichadi. If you are a "pavakka-hater" like me just try this dish, fried pavakka won’t have that much bitterness as the fresh one and you can also enjoy eating this kichadi. Sometimes we have to have such hatred dishes for healthy benefits. Whenever I avoid this vegetable my father used to say if you are not having this dish now,  you would need to drink its juice in future (Its juice is good medicine to lower Diabetes) . Nowadays my hus used to say the same. I am really scared of this diabetics so really having this bitter healthy pavakka.Anyway this kichadi is really a delicious and healthy one..Best combo with Rice and Thoran.

Ingredients
Bitter gourd/Bitter Melon: 1 no
Oil: for frying
Green chili: 1 no
Curd: 1/2 cup
Water: for diluting the curd
Turmeric Powder: 1/2 tsp
Salt: to taste
For seasoning
Oil: 1 tsp
Mustard seed: 1/2 tsp
Red Chili: 2 no
Curry leaves: 1 sprig

Preparation

• Cut the bitter gourd into thin round shaped pieces.Chop the green chilies
• Marinate the bitter-gourd pieces and green chili with salt and turmeric powder
• Dilute the curd by adding enough water

Procedure

• Heat oil in a pan.Deep fry the bitter-gourd pieces.Transfer the fried bitter gourd pieces into kitchen tissue(u can avoid excess oil in it)
• Add the fried pieces into the curd and mix well.Add salt as required.
• Heat oil in a pan..Add mustard seed ,once it started spluttering add the red chili and curry leaves.
• Add the curd pavakkaya mix into the seasoning.Just heat for 30  seconds.Add salt as required

The delicious Pavakkaya Kichadi is ready to serve..

Cook’s Tip

• Do not cut the pavakkaya into very thick,then it will take more oil and more time to get it fried.
• Do not over heat the curd bittergourd mix.

Vellarikka Pachadi-Cucumber in Coconut-Curd mix

The cucumber has a very important  role in Kerala cooking.. There are different kinds of cucumber(visit here for more details). Mainly there are two  types of  cucumbers: one is Kerala cucumber (yellow cucumber/dosakkai) and garden Cucumebr(we call it as salad cucumber-used for the raitha and salad preparation. good for eyes also).In Kerala cooking we use the former one. I always like to make the Pachadi with this vegetable. Actaually, the  Pachadi is a dish with curd, cocunut, jeera(cumin seed) and Kaduku(mustard seed). When Amma prepare this pachadi she does not add mustard. My brother and I doesn’t like the taste of mustard so she always prefer to make it  with no mustard.. but my hus home,  they used to add the mustard seeds Nowadays I used to prepare my mom’s and mil’s recipes... and we are calling both the dish as pachadi..(at first we have some confusion abt the name ) Today i am going to share with u guys my amma’s Pachadi recipe. I already added my mil’s recipe-Pineapple Pachadi.You can use fruit and veggies for the preparation. It is one of the important dish served for Kerala sadhya.(feast) .Anyway within weeks we all are going to celebrate our Onam festival .So do not miss to include this delicious pachadi in ur list..

Ok let me share the recipe.

Ingredients

Yellow Cucumber:1/4 portion

Green Chili: 3 nos

Salt: to taste

Curd: 1/2 cup

For Grinding

Coconut: 1/4 cup

Cumin seeds: 1 tsp

Pearl onion: 1 no

For seasoning

Oil: 1 tsp

Mustard Seed: 1 tsp

Red Chili: 1 no

Curry leaves: 1 sprig

Preparation

• Peel the skin and de seed the cuumber then cut them into very small square pieces.
• Chop the green chili
• Make a nice paste of coconut,Cumin seeds and pearl onion.Add some water for grinding.

Procedure

Step1:

• Cook the cucumber pieces with chopped green chili, salt and 1/4 cup of water for 3 minutes in medium heat.
• Add the coconut paste to the half cooked cucumber and let the mix to cook for 5 minutes or until the cucumber pieces are completely cooked

Step2: 

• Let the cooked mix to cool down.Add the curd  and mix well..

Step3: 

• Heat oil in a pan .Add the mustard seed, Once it staretd spluttering add the red chili and curry leaves.. 
• Add the cucumber-curd mix into the seasoning. change the heat level to very low and just heat it for 2 minutes...Do not boil the mix.

The Delicious Vellarikka Pachadi is ready to serve.Have it with rice.

Cook’s Tip:

• Do not add more water for cooking the cucumber 
• Do not add curd to the hot mixture
• Do not over heat the pachadi while seasoning.
• According to your taste add more chilies.
• Do not add more pearl onion.