Ethapazham Bonda/Sweet Bonda

Ethapazham Bonda/Sweet Bonda

Bonda is a perfect tea time snack, crispy deep-fried balls with a spicy masala filling. South Indians love their fried food and bonda and chutney is a delightful combo. The recipe I am sharing today is a sweet version. It is made with sweet ripe plantains and jaggery is insanely addictive. Deep-fried goodness with the enticing flavor of plantains, ghee, and cardamom- now does that not sound appetizing? These bondas are a delightful snack that you cannot stop munching. Just like regular bondas it is crispy on the sides and still quite soft inside the fitter. It goes well with hot piping tea.

This is a no-fuss recipe and is easy to whip up. Look at the list of ingredients for sweet bonda. You would usually have these ingredients in your pantry. The sweet filling is made with ripe plantains, coconut, jaggery, and semolina/rava. The batter consists of all-purpose flour and gram flour. The filling is laced with the aroma of ghee and cardamom. Good coconut oil makes all the difference. So if possible use coconut oil for authentic and homey South Indian flavor. This recipe is very similar to Kerala Sukhiyan recipe. The filling for Sukhiyan is sweet mung bean. Here we are using ripe plantains instead.

I make this whenever I have overripe plantains sitting on the counter. Yes, plantains that are overly ripe to make fitters. Well mash them up and use to make a filling for sweet bonda. It is a quick and simple one and will be loved by both young and old. Try this recipe, you will surely love it.

Recipe for Ethapazham Bonda

Cooking time- 25 minutes
Recipe type- snack
Cuisine- Kerala

Ingredients
Ripe Plantain -3
Coconut grated- 3/4 cup
Rava- 1/3 cup
Jaggery grated-3/4 cup
Cardamon -5
Cashew nuts-6-7
Raisins-  a few
Nutmeg powder- a pinch (optional)
Ghee- 2 tsp


For the batter

Maida/All purpose flour- 1/2 cup
Gram flour- 1/2 cup
Rice flour-2 tbs (optional)
Sugar-1 tsp
salt- a pinch
baking powder- a pinch
oil for frying
To make the filling

Grate plantain or mash it with your hands. 

Melt jaggery or palm sugar in a pan with two 1/4 cup water. When all the jaggery melts, switch off the flame. Strain and set aside.

Heat ghee in a pan and roast cashew nuts and raisins, drain and keep aside.

In the same pan roast Rava/ semolina and coconut till it is golden brown. Add the grated plantain and saute for about two minutes. Pour melted jaggery and let it cook and come together like a ball. Allow this mixture to cool. Add cardamom powder, nutmeg, and the roasted cashew nuts and raisins. Mix well and make small lemon sized balls and keep aside.

To make bondas

Mix all the ingredients listed under batter. Add enough water to make a smooth batter not so thick and not so thin( idli batter consistency).

Heat oil in a pan and when it's hot enough take balls one at a time and dip into the batter and carefully drop into oil. Fry till all sides are evenly browned up. Drain on paper towel. Serve as a tea time snack.

You might also like,
Pazham Pori
Ethapazham Aval Nanachathu
Ethapazham Paal Curry
Kaya Pola/ Plantain Cake
Sweet Kozhukatta
Kadachakka Ethapazham Stew


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Hope you will all enjoy

Kumbalanga Kadala Paruppu Kootu Curry

Kumbalanga Kadala Paruppu Kootu Curry

 This kootu is a combination of kadala parippu/split chickpeas/chana dal and ash gourd.In certain regions of Kerala this curry is part of Onam sadhya. You can also try other veggies like chayote sqash or snake gourd to make this kootu.Kadala paruppu adds a real texture to this dish.

Ingredients

Kumbalanga/Ash gourd- 2 cups (cubed)

Chana dal- 1 cup ( cooked)

Grated coconut- 1/2 cup

Coconut sliced- 1/3 cup

Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp

Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp

Green chilly -3

Jeera/cumin- 1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp

Dry red chilly- 2

Curry leaves- a few

Ghee/ oil- 1 tsp

Soak parippu/chana dal for an hours and cook it the dal till it is soft but do not mash it.
Note: Try cooking the parippu/dal in open pot. Cook it is soft but still retains its shape.

Cook ash gourd with turmeric, green chilly and salt. Sprinkle a little water cover and cook (do not add too much water because ash ground will shed it own water and get cooked). When it is soft and cooked add the kadala parippu/chana dal and mix well.

Make a paste of grated coconut, chilly powder and jeera. Add this into the kootu and allow to simmer for two minutes in low flame.

Heat oil/ghee in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it splutters add coconut slices and fry for a minute till it is slightly brown. Then add curry leaves and dry red chilly. Fry this for about one minute in medium flame and add to the curry. Serve with rice.

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Hope you will all enjoy..

Mutton Fry

Mutton Fry (updated pic)

This is a recipe for delicious Kerala style mutton fried with a blend of exotic spices and regional flavors.It is simple and quick recipe and should admit that I loved this ever since I have tasted it. This is not deep fried as the name suggest,but is first cooked and then slightly pan fried.

Ingredients
   Mutton 1 1/2 lb

1) Shallots- 1 cup chopped
Ginger paste- 1 1/2 tsp
Garlic paste- 1 tsp
Pepper powder- 3/4 tsp
Garam masala- 3/4 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tsp
salt to taste

2)  Onion finely chopped- 1/2 cup
Thinly sliced ginger- 1 tsp
Green chilly-1
Curry leaves- a few
Crushed dry red chilly- 1 tsp
Crushed fennel seeds- 3/4 tsp

Clean mutton and marinate it with all the ingredients listed under one (1) and keep aside for half an hour.Pressure cook the mutton with half cup of water in medium flame till four whistles and if there is excess gravy after you open the lid of the pressure cooker,continue cooking till all the water evaporates and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add saute sliced ginger, green chilly and onion. When it becomes golden brown add crushed dry red chilly and fennel seeds and saute for a minute. Add the cooked meat and mix well. Roast this in low flame for about three to four minutes or till it  gets browned up. Serve with rice/puttu/appam or parattas.

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Spinach/Palak Dal Curry

Spinach/Palak Dal Curry

Today's recipe is the classic combination of lentil and spinach.It is an aromatic and mildly spiced curry topped with the inviting flavor of thadka- the sizzling cumin and roasted garlic.In this recipe I have used mung dal which is slightly roasted to enhance the its unique flavor. It can be paired with rice/rotis.

Ingredients
Moong Dal/yellow lentil- 3/4 cup
Chopped spinach- 2 cups
Shallots- 4-5
Ginger- 1 inch thick
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Green chilly- 4-5
salt to taste

Oil- 2 tsp
Ghee- 1 tsp(optional)
Mustard seeds- 1/3 tsp
Cumin seeeds-1/2 tsp
Garlic-3 pods
Dry red chilly-2

Slightly roast the mung dal till there is a nice aroma and it slightly changes color.Pressure cook dal till it is soft and cooked.
Mash dal and add in salt, turmeric,chopped shallots,ginger and green chilly. Add water to the desired consistency. Allow this to simmer for 3-4 minutes and add the chopped spinach and mix in. Continue to simmer in medium flame for two more minutes.( you can also saute the spinach with little oil and then add)
In a separate pan heat oil and ghee and add mustard seeds and cumin. When they sizzle add dry red chilly and crushed garlic and saute till there is a nice aroma of garlic and it slightly changes color. Pour this over the dal curry and serve.

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Balushahi

Balushahi (updated pic)

Balushahi is a traditional sweet of India made especially during festivals and feast. It is popular and much loved in South India and is also refereed to as badushah. All those who have a sweet tooth will surely love this sweet.It is like fried and glazed pasty that resembles doughnuts. It is sweet and has a slightly flaky and melt in mouth texture. It is made with flour,yogurt and ghee, fried and is dropped in sugar syrup. I did not get the cute round shape but I loved the flaky texture and everyone enjoyed :)

Ingredients

All Purpose flour- 2 cup
Baking powder- 1/2 tsp
salt- a pinch
Ghee- 1/3 cup
Yogurt- 1/2 cup

For the syrup
Sugar- 1 1/2 cup
Water- 3/4 cup
lemon juice- a few drops
Cardamon crushed-3-4

Oil for deep frying

In a bowl mix flour,baking powder and salt. Add ghee/butter and rub in ghee or butter with the flour until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Add yogurt and mix lightly till all comes together into a stiff dough. Do not knead much at this stage.It will not be a smooth dough just like for chapatis but will be flaky and easily falling apart.Allow it to rest for about an hour.

Make the syrup by adding water to sugar and bring it to a boil. Allow it to simmer till it reaches two thread consistency.Add lemon juice and cardamon and set aside.

Heat oil in a pan.Knead the dough a bit to make it easy to handle and little more smooth,but do not knead much. (The edges may looks rough and and cracked but will help to penetrate the sugar syrup later). Make small balls and flatten it slightly with your thumb. Fry in low medium flame till golden brown on both sides.Take out from the hot oil and after a few seconds drop into the sugar syrup and it remain for about 15- 20 minutes in the syrup. Take out and allow the glaze to dry.

Recipe source: Vahchef

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Chemmeen Thoran/ Prawns Coconut Stir Fry

Chemmeen Thoran/ Prawns Coconut Stir Fry

Today's recipe is a traditional naadan recipe- a real nostalgia from the coastal regions of Kerala. Seafood thoran is a regional favorite and can be made with fish, prawns, clams, mussels, squid or crab. You'd be surprised at how simple and filling, this can be. What you add to it is totally up to you. You can also make a mixed seafood thoran.

Thoran is usually a quick stir fry with vegetables, grated coconut, and spices. This dish is simple and you can make thoran with almost any vegetable, meat or seafood. I assure you that you are not in for a complicated curry, but one that is simple and easy to make. Just cook the prawns or any seafood of your choice, add spices and hand full of freshly grated coconut and stir fry. This simple and easy to make a side dish and is served with steamed rice. I have already shared the recipe for chicken thoran and fish thoran. Back home mom makes thoran and peera vattichathu with small fish like sardine and anchovies.

Recently when we visited India, my mom made this chemmeen thoran. One cannot refuse good home-cooked food and we devoured every single bit of this seafood delicacy. Soft delicious prawns with the flavor and sweet crunch of freshly grated coconut, cumin, garlic, curry leaves, and coconut oil elevate the flavor profile of this dish. I have used green chilly and red chilly powder for heat. If you are a seafood lover you are going to love this dish. Try this recipe, you will surely love it.

Chemmeen Thoran Recipe

Cooking time- 15 minutes
Recipe type- side dish
Cuisine- Kerala/ Indian

Ingredients
Small prawns-1/2 kg
Shallots chopped-1 cup
Freshly grated coconut- 1 cup
Green chilly-2
Ginger- 1 inch thick
Garlic-4 - 3 pods
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Chilly powder- 1 tsp
Garam masala- 1/3 tsp(optional)
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilly- 2
Curry leaves -a few

Peel and de vein prawns and keep aside. Chop shallots, ginger and garlic into small fine pieces. Crush coconut and green chilly together in a mortar and pastel and set aside .
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and allow to splutter. Next add curry leaves  and dry red chilly and after a few seconds the chopped shallots, ginger, garlic and green chilly. Saute this till onions turn golden brown.
Add prawns, turmeric powder, chilly powder and stir fry for two minutes. You can cover and cook too. The prawns releases more water when you cover and cook. After  two minutes add the coconut mixture and garam masala and mix well. Continue to cook in low flame till all the water evaporates. Finally saute in medium high flame for one more minute. Serve with rice.

You might also like,
Meen Peera Pattichathu/ Anchovy fish with coconut
Chemmeen Mulaku Curry
Kozhi Thoran/ Chicken Thoran
Andhra style Green Chilli Chicken
Irachi Peera. Spicy Chicken with Coconut
Achinga Payar Chemmeen Thoran

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Hope you will all enjoy..

Lemon Rice/Chitrannam

Lemon rice or chitrannam is a classic South Indian rice recipe. It is also served as prasadam in temples. The tangy rice with its inviting fresh aroma is hard to resist. If you have left over rice this is a great option for lunch/dinner.Serve it with roasted potatoes, papads and pickle and it makes a  simple and elegant meal.

Ingredients

Cooked Basmathi rice- 3 cups
Chana dal- 1/4 cup
Urad dal- 1 tsp
Peanut- 1/4 cup
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Ginger sliced- 1 inch thick
Green chilly slit- 3
Dry red chilly- 3
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Hing or asafoetida 1/3 tsp
Lemon juice-  1 1/2 lemon
ghee- 1/2 tsp
oil- 2 tbs
Curry leaves- a few

For this recipe you need two cups of freshly cooked rice or left over rice.Dry roast peanuts and keep aside.Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when they splutter add curry leaves, dry red chilly and chana dal and urad dal and fry till slightly brown.Add turmeric and hing and saute for a few seconds and in goes ginger and slit green chilly and fry till there is a nice aroma of ginger.Add in the rice and the lemon juice and mix well and fry the rice for a minute. Serve with pickle and papad.

Try this..
Hope you will all enjoy..