Pavakka Varuthathu/ Fried Bitter Gourd

Pavakka fry is quick and easy side dish and goes well with rice and sambar.I know it is one of the less loved vegetable because of its bitter taste..for some reason I have always loved them.Usually I make mezhukkuvaratti or pachadi but this fry is something I love to have occasionally. Try this crispy and spicy pavakka fry, you will surely love it and believe me,you will not feel the bitterness :)

Ingredients
Bitter Gourd/Pavakka- 2 medium
Onion sliced- 1 medium
Green chilly- 3
Coconut sliced- a few
Chilly powder- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
salt to taste
Rice flour-1 tsp (optional)
Corn starch- 1 tsp( optional)
oil for frying

Cut bitter gourd into thin slices and mix in green chilly, coconut slices, chilly powder, turmeric powder and salt. Set this aside for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a pan. Mix in corn starch and rice flour into the marinated bitter gourd just before frying. 
When the bitter gourd starts changing color to golden brown add in sliced onions and fry them all together till crispy. Use paper towels to drain off the excess oil.Serve with rice.

Try this...
Hope you will all enjoy..

Kadala/Black Chickpeas Curry

Today's recipe is a classic Kerala breakfast that you will never get tried of- Puttu/Steamed rice cakes and Kadala Curry.The combo is so delicious, that it makes this humble breakfast one of the  quintessential of malayali cuisine. It is the most common and favorite breakfast in Kerala and is made in every home throughout Kerala. Kadala curry/ black chick peas curry is an authentic Kerala recipe and this is a spicy and tasty dish for breakfast. Soak the chick peas over night and cook it till soft and tender.
Star ingredient in both puttu and kadala is coconut. Roasted coconut adds a unique flavor and crunch to the kadala curry. Grated coconut is mixed with rice flour to make puttu or steamed rice cake.Coconut is very healthy food and if  you are looking for some healthy options,try incorporating coconut in your diet.
Puttu and kadala curry are so popular that it is an integral part of the menu in every restaurants and tea stalls in Kerala.Kadala curry also goes well with appam or chapathi.Get your ingredients together and try this recipe,you will surely love it.



Ingredients
Kadala/Black chickpeas- 1 cup
Onion- 1 medium
Tomato- 1 medium
Coconut- 1/3 cup
Ginger garlic paste- 1 1/2 tsp
Coconut sliced- a few
Dry red Chilly 4-5
Coriander seeds- 1 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Garam masala- 1/2 tsp

Green chilly- 2
Curry leaves
salt to taste
oil- 2 tsp

Soak chick peas for 4-6 hours or overnight and cook with enough salt,two green chilly and half the sliced onion in a pressure cooker( Three whistles).
Dry roast coriander seeds, chilly,and coconut till slight brown.Allow to cool and make a paste.
Heat a pan and saute coconut slices till golden brown and add onion and fry till it is almost caramelized and light brown. Add ginger garlic paste and curry leaves and saute for one more minute followed by finely chopped tomatoes. When it is cooked and oil separates add the cooked kadala along with its water  and the coconut paste . Sprinkle garam masala and cook and cover for two minutes and allow the gravy to thicken. Serve with puttu.

Try this..
Hope you will all enjoy...