Lychee Cashew Nut Payasam

Lychee Cashew Nut Payasam

Payasam is very popular dessert in Kerala and is made on every special occasions.Payasam is a very satisfying dessert and there are several varieties of payasam. This is a flavorful fruit and nut payasam. It is made with lychee fruit and cashew milk. Lychee is a summer fruit and  is very flavorful, and has a beautiful texture, soft ,translucent and sweet. You can buy cashew milk from the supermarket. I used Silk Creamy Cashew Milk. In addition sago pearls gives this pudding/payasam the desired creamy consistency. You can substitute it with rice or ada.Try this you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Chopped lychee-1 1/2 cup
Cashew Milk- 2 1/2 cup
Condensed milk- 3/4 cup
Cashew nut (to make a paste)- 10-12
Sago pearls/ chowari-1/2 cup
Sugar-3 tbs
Chopped cashew nuts- 8-10
Raisins- a few
Crushed cardamom-3-4
Ghee-2 tsp

First step is to cook the sago. In a heavy bottom pan add 5-6 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the sago pearls/chowari and allow it to boil. After a few minutes you can drain the first water and add fresh batch of boiling water (again 5-6 cups) and continue cooking the sago pearls till it is clear and translucent.  Strain and run under cold running water and set aside.
Peel the skin of the lychee and remove the seeds. Add this into a blender and pulse. Strain out the juice of the lychee and set aside.
Soak cashew nut in half cup warm water. Make this into a fine paste. Add this to the cashew milk and mix. Mix condensed milk and bring this mixture to a boil.
To this add the cooked chowari/ sago pearls and the strained lychee juice. Stir and cook in low medium flame for 3-4 minutes.When it starts to thicken add crushed cardamom and sugar( according to your sweet preference ) and mix. After two minutes switch off the flame. Heat ghee in a pan and roast cashew nuts and raisins. When golden brown pour this over the payasam. Serve warm or chilled.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Vadukapuli Naranga Curry/Wild Lemon Pickle

Vadukapuli Naranga Curry/Wild Lemon Pickle

Vadukapuli naranga curry/ wild lemon pickle is a traditional recipe in Kerala Sadhya. It is a tangy and spicy lemon curry.You can also serve lemon pickle,but vadukapuli naranga curry gives the authentic Sadhya taste. Wild lemon is larger in size, sour to taste and more juicer than regular lemon.It is usually made a day before Sadhya so that it sits and the flavors develop and will be perfect when it is time to serve.It does not have a long shelf life like regular pickle and is more like a spicy curry,but it can kept in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.Try this spicy condiment,you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Vadakapuli naranga- 2 medium size
Thinly sliced Ginger-2 inch thick piece
Green chilly-3-4
Shallots- 1
Chilly powder- 2 tbs
(or according to your spice tolerance)
Fenugreek powder- 1/2 tsp
Tamarind- small gooseberry sized ball
Jaggery- a small piece
Curry leaves- a few
mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilly- 2
Salt to taste
oil

Wash and wipe the lemon with a clean cloth. Gently peel the top yellow part of the lemon (make a super thin peel, the outside is thicker than regular lemon). Cut into small cubes and add salt, chopped green chilly and a pinch of turmeric. Mix and set aside for one hour.

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when it crackles add dry red chilly and curry leaves and stir fry for a few minutes.
Next add chopped shallots and thinly sliced ginger and continue to fry till slightly brown.
Reduced the heat and add chilly powder and fenugreek powder, saute for a few seconds. Now add the chopped lemon. If there is any juice you can add it too. Along with this add thick tamarind paste and salt as needed and mix.Allow it to simmer and the gravy to thicken.  When the oil seperates add some grated jaggery and mix well. Allow it to cool down completely.

Try this
Hope you will all enjoy!

Mawa/ Milk Powder Burfi

Mawa/ Milk Powder Burfi

Burfi is one of my favorite sweets and this milky fudge candy is undoubtedly one of the easiest to make. If you have mawa milk powder in hand you can make this in less than 15 minutes.This delicious milk candy/fudge is a yummy treat for any festival or holiday season. If you do not have mawa milk powder you can substitute it with full fat milk powder. Try this, you will surely love it.


Ingredients
Mawa powder- 250 grams
(or full fat milk powder)
Milk- 1 cup
Sugar- 1 cup
Cardamom- 3-4
Ghee- 3 tbs
Sliced almond or pistachios-  to garnish

Make a fine powder of sugar and cardamom and set aside.
In a heavy bottom melt butter and add milk and mawa powder/milk powder. Mix well till it well combines and there is no lumps. Keep stirring in low flame for two to three minutes.
Into this add powdered sugar and cardamon and mix. The mixture will start to loosen a bit, but it will soon thicken and come together.
Continue to stir till it leaves the edges of the pan and can be shaped into a ball.
Transfer the mixture into a greased tray and spread evenly. Sprinkle chopped nuts and press down with the back of a spoon.Let it cool down completely and then refrigerate for 4-5 five hours so that it becomes firm and you can cut into desired shapes.

You might also like,
Carrot Burfi
Chana Dal Burfi
Coconut Halwa
Dulce de leche Chocolate Burfi
Thirattipal/Palkova
Ethapazham Halwa/Banana Halwa

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Artichoke Chicken Pasta Salad

Artichoke Chicken Pasta Salad

This is a colorful,zesty and filling pasta salad perfect for lunch box, weekend lunch or potlucks.I often make pasta salad for my kid. The recipe is very simple and you can customize according to your preference. This artichoke pasta can be made in a jiffy, just  add cooked pasta, stir fried or grilled chicken,toss salad dressing and let it sit for the flavors to develop. Try this, you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Pasta- 6 oz.
Chicken- cut into small pieces- 1 cup
Shallots-1
Garlic minced- 2 cloves
Black pepper- 1/2 tsp
Artichokes hearts- 4 oz.
Chopped basil- 1tsp
Chopped parsley- 1 tbs
Chopped tomatoes- 1/2 cup
Lemon Zest -a pinch
Lemon juice- 1/2 lemon
Red wine vinegar- 2 tsp
Olive oil- 1 tbs
Parmesan cheese grated- 2 tbs
salt to taste  

Cook  pasta in boiling water, add salt and cook till soft. Drain and drizzle some olive oil on top and set aside.

Into a hot pan add butter and oil and stir fry chicken. Season it with salt an pepper and fry till slightly golden brown.Add chopped a artichoke hearts. Cover and cook for 4-5 minutes.Allow this to cool.

Into a large bowl add minced garlic, chopped shallots,lemon zest,lemon juice, red wine vinegar, chopped basil, parsley salt and pepper. Mix well and add pasta, cooked chicken and artichoke and chopped tomatoes and grated parmesan cheese. Mix well and cover and refrigerate for a few hours, preferably overnight.

Try this ,
You will surely enjoy!

Maida Butter Murukku

Maida Butter Murukku

Happy Diwali to all my friends and readers! 

Murukku is the perfect tea time snack, crunchy and savory. Murukku is often made for Diwali.In my house murukku is everyone's  favorite. This recipe is shared by my aunt Suma. It was my late grandmother's recipe. The best part of this recipe is that it is easy and can be made in a jiffy. It is made with maida and butter. With this recipe you can make 15-18 murukku. If you want a larger batch you can use half kg flour and 50 grams of butter. This is a crunchy and delicious murukku. Try this,you will surely love it.

Recipe source : My aunt Suma Padmanabhan

Ingredients
Maida/All purpose flour- 2 cups
Butter- 2 1/2 tbs
salt to taste
Sesame seeds- 1 tbs
Carom seeds/Aijwan- 1/8 tsp
Oil for frying

The first step is to steam the maida/all purpose flour. Place the flour in a thin cloth, tie into a small pouch and steam in a steamer/idli cooker for 5-7 minutes. Transfer this into a bowl and allow it to cool down.
When cool break the flour into small pieces with a spoon and sieve the flour to remove any lumps.
Into this add salt and room temperature butter. With a pasty blender or with your fingers rub it into the flour until the flour resembles course sand like mixture. (Do not add too much butter or it will crumble and will not retain shape when frying). Add sesame seeds and carom seeds and mix. Add water little at a time to make a smooth stiff  dough. Cover with a damp cloth and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.

Heat 2-3 cups of oil in a pan. Grease the inside of the murukku press. You can use the plain or star holed plate /mullu acchu. Fill the murukku press with the dough and press in circular motion into the oil or back of greased ladle. Drop carefully into the oil and fry in medium flame till it is slight golden. Drain into paper towels and allow it to cool. Fry murukku in batches.

You might also like,
Ellu Unda/Sesame Seeds Ladoo
Sweet Diamond Cuts
Chakka Vattal/Jack fruit Chips
Kappalandi Mittayi/Peanut Ladoo
Chegodilu
Aval Vilayichathu/Sweet Poha


Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Cucumber, Tomato and Avocado Salad

When I'm grilling (lemon pepper) salmon for dinner, this has been my go to salad.  While salmon is grilling, I whip up this salad and dinner can be on the table in 15 minutes.  To top it off, it's healthy!

I've made this salad several times with different tomatoes I've gotten at the farmers market.  The fresh garden tomatoes are what makes this salad so good.  Tomato season is at it's end but when grocery store tomatoes will have to do, it's still a great healthy side salad.

I've only made this for my husband and I so I haven't followed the full recipe.  I just cut up enough ingredients for the two of us then drizzled with olive oil, squeeze of lemon juice, and sprinkled with some salt and pepper.  It's that easy!

 Ingredients:  
cucumber, avocado, tomato, red onion cilantro, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper


Go here for the full recipe:  Natasha's Kitchen 

Karal Ularthiyathu/Mutton Liver Pepper Fry

Karal Ularthiyathu/Mutton Liver Pepper Fry

Spicy liver fry or masala tastes delicious.This recipe is liver/karal Ularthu, which is a kind of stir fry. The liver is cooked first and then stir fried with the masala.You can also make chicken or meat using the same recipe.Usually thin slices of coconut is added to the ularthu,but here I have used grated coconut.The star ingredients in this recipe is crushed chilly flakes  and pepper, which gives a nice spice kick. This goes well with rice and chapathi.



Ingredients

Goat liver  - 1/2 Kg
Shallots- 10-15
Ginger- 2  inch thick
Garlic-2-3
Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
(or thinly sliced coconut- 3 tbs)
Pepper powder-1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Whole red chilly-5
(or according to spice tolerance)
Coriander powder- 1/2 tsp
Fennel seeds- 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves
Coconut oil
Salt to taste

Cut liver into small cubes. Rub with salt and turmeric powder and wash liver pieces thoroughly for at least three to four times. Drain out all the excess water and keep aside.

You can use a heavy bottom pan. Add liver, turmeric powder and pepper powder and 1/4 cup of water. Do not add too much water  as liver will start oozing out water. Add salt only when liver is almost cooked other wise it can make it tough. Continue cooking till soft and all the water evaporates.

In a mixer coarsely blend dry red chilly,shallots, ginger, garlic and a few curry leaves.

Heat oil in a pan and add curry leaves. Fry coconut and fennel seeds till it changes color. Next add the onion chilly mixture and saute till golden brown.Mix all the dry spice powders and fry till oil separates. Add the cooked liver and mix well till the masala is well coated.If it is too dry sprinkle little water.Saute for 3-4 minutes and switch off the flame. Serve with rice.

 

Try it,
Hope you will enjoy!