Thursday, March 3, 2011

Kurukku Kaalan


 Kurukku kaalan is a popular dish of Central Kerala. It is a delicious yogurt and coconut based dish and is made by slowly simmering cooked vegetables and yogurt and coconut paste to a thick and creamy consistency.Kurukku literally means liquid that is reduced or thickened.It is essential part of the Kerala Sadhya, and is one of my favorites among the wide range of exquisite vegetarian dishes served during Onam or other festive celebrations. The vegetable I have used here is chembu /Taro.


Ingredients
Chembu- 5- 6 medium ones
Yogurt- 2 1/2 cup
Coconut- 1 cup
Pepper powder- 1 tsp
Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Cumin- 1/3 tsp
Curry leaves
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds- 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilly-1
shallot thinly sliced-1
oil- 3 tsp
salt to taste


Cut vegetable into small pieces. Mix pepper powder in one cup of water and strain. Discard the husk. Use this water along with salt, turmeric powder and chilly powder and cook the taro till it is soft. 
Mix in thick yogurt (strain out the water using a cheese cloth) and cook a medium flame for about five to six minutes till it thickens.Stir continuously for the first two minutes and allow to simmer.
Grind coconut and cumin into a thick fine paste using very little water. Add this simmer for a minute and switch off the flame.
Heat oil and ghee in  a pan and splutter mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds followed by shallot slices red chilly and curry leaves and fry for a minute. Add this to the curry and mix well. Serve with rice.




 Try this..
Hope you will all enjoy..