Koorka Upperi - Chinese Potato Stir Fry

'Koorka' is also called as Sheema Kizhangu/Chivakizhangu in Malayalam. Siru Kizhangu in Tamil and Sambrali in Kannada. I searched a lot on internet about different names in different regions names and uses of Koorka. This is what I got. It is called 'Chinese Potato' in English. These are tubers which are oblong or oval in shape and are around 2“long. They are dark grey or greyish brown skin and white or cream colored flesh.

Have a look at this picture.

It’s not hard to explain what Koorka is all about to a Mallu. It is every Mallu’s favorite seasonal veggie available for 3-4 months during the winter season in Kerala.

It has got a very distinct flavor. According to me, it has got a very aromatic and earthy flavor. For me it’s hard to resist, when I see them in markets, I just grab a handful and ask my husband please please !!! At last he will say OK.

Though it is good with flavor and all, difficulty comes in handy, when it comes to the cleaning part. It is a quite messy job,needs time and patience. What we require is an old jute sack piece or any piece of cloth. Just put the Koorka inside the sack piece, hold it and beat on a hard surface until its skin peels off, then scrape off the remaining skin using a knife. You might wonder what this is? but this is a usual household task in Kerala, when we get fresh ones. But it is worth trying.

Now that’s enough let me come to my recipe of 'Koorka Upperi'.

Ingredients

1. Koorka / Chinese Potato - 1/2 Kg
2. Green chilly - 2
3. Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
4. Turmeric powder - 1/2 Tsp
5. Onion - 1 small
6. Pepper powder - 1/2  Tsp
7. Red chilli powder - 1/4 Tsp
8. Curry Leaves - 2 Sprigs
9. Mustard seeds - 1/2 Tsp
10. Dry red chilly - 2
11. Coconut Oil - 1 Tbsp

Preparation

• Wash , clean and cut koorka into small cubes and put them in turmeric water. 
• Drain i in a bowl and add grated coconut,green chilli slit, chopped onion, pepper, red chilli and tumeric powders to it and mix well with your hand/spoon.
• Heat oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds, add dry red chillies and curry leaves.
• Now add the prepared mix of koorka and 3/4 cup of water to it.
• Cover and cook until, koorka is cooked through and soft.
• Garnish with curry leaves.

Ways to clean and cook Koorka.

• Wash the koorka in water numerous times till the dirt and sand is completely gone. 

Method 1

• Just put the Koorka inside the sack piece, hold it and beat on a hard surface until its skin peels off, then scrape off the remaining skin using a knife.

Method 2

• Wash and pressure cook for 1-2 whistles and peel off the skin.
• After removing the skin wash well under running water and cut them into small cube sized pieces. Put them in water until they are ready to cook to prevent them from changing colour to brown.

Pachamulaku Thengaa Chammanthi

Ingredients

1. Grated coconut - 1/2 of a coconut
2. Green Chilli - 3- 4 nos.
3. Garlic - 2
4. Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
5. Salt - as needed

Preparation

Simply grind all the ingredients to a coarsely ground smooth paste .(It should not be a smooth paste, a bit grainy)

Notes

• Do not add water
• If you use a mixer , it gives a different taste .

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Gothambha Paayasam

Ingredients

1. Skinless Wheat/Kuthiya gothambham/Broken Wheat / Cracked Wheat - 1 cup
2. Water - 4-5  cups (or 3 1/2 cups of third extract of coconut milk + 1 cup of water )
3. Jaggery - 3/4 Kg - 1 Kg
4. Water - 1/2 cup
5. Thick coconut milk - 1 cup
6. Second extract of coconut milk - 3 1/2 cups
7. Cardamom crushed and powdered - 3-4 
8. Dry ginger powder - 1/2 Tsp
9. Cumin powder - 1/4 Tsp
10. Ghee - 1 Tbsp
11. Cashew nuts - 10
12. Raisins - 10

Curious about how it looks like? I dont know what it is exactly called in English.

Preparation

• Clean and pressure cook the broken wheat either with 4 -5 cups of water or with both water and third extract of coconut milk to 6-8 whistles. (Refer Notes).
• In another bowl melt jaggery with 1/2 cup of water. Strain the melted jaggery .
• Reduce the flame of the pressure cooker. Now slowly pour the melted jaggery to this. Also add the second extract of coconut milk to it and boil.
• When it boils add crushed and powdered cardamom.Stir well  and after 5 minutes, add thick coconut milk. Heat for few minutes. (Do not let it boil). (Refer notes)
• Remove it from fire. Add dry ginger powder and mix well.
• In a pan, heat ghee, fry cashew nuts and raisins, off the flame and add cumin powder. 
• Immediately pour this along with the ghee to the hot paayasam. Keep it unstirred for  about 10 minutes and then mix it well.
• Serve hot.

Notes

• Pressure cook broken wheat for 6 - 8 whistles. I cooked on high flame for 5 whistles, checked if cooked, and cooked on low flame for 3 whistles. If water is absorbed, do add boiling water to it. Never add normal or cold water as the cooked wheat might become hard. 
• The colour of the paayasam depends on the type of jaggery you use.
• If you boil the paayasam after adding the thick coconut milk, it ends to curdle.
• The paayasam tends to thicken when it cools. If it is too thick you can add warm milk.
• Don't fry the cumin powder as it will give a different taste to the paayasam.

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Kakkarotti - Steamed Rice Dumplings in Spicy Chicken Sauce

Kakkarotti, again here i come with yet another well known dish from Malabar.In different areas of Malabar it is called in various names as Kunji Pathiri, Kunji rotti, Kunji pathal and goes on.I tasted this dish , when i had been to my daughter's friends home, as they had invited us for Ramadan. This dish and many others were very new to me..Since i have started this blog, i am recollecting many dishes from the past. This is one of the dish i loved to make at least once a month at home.

Serves -> 3 - 4 people

Ingredients

For the dumplings

1. Pathiri Podi / Appam podi/Rice flour- 1 1/2 cups (I used pathiri podi)
2. Boiling Water - 2 cups
3. Shallots - 8 - 10
4. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
5. Fennel seeds - 1/4 Tsp
6. Salt - as needed
7. Oil - 1/4 Tsp

For the masala

1. Boneless chicken cooked with a Tsp of turmeric powder, pepper powder and salt - 1 cup- chopped
2. Grated coconut - 1 cup
3. Onion - 3 nos small
4. Green chilly - 3
5. Turmeric powder - 1/4 Tsp
6. Red chilly powder - 1 1/2 Tsp
7. Fennel seeds - 1/2 Tsp
8. Garam Masala - 1 Tsp
9. Curry leaves - 2 Sprigs
10. Salt as needed
11. Oil - 2 Tbsp

Preparation

Making of rice dumplings 

• In a mixer, add shallots, grated coconut, fennel seed and grind it.
• Take the pathiri podi in a bowl, add the grounded ingredients , salt , mix it and slowly add boiling water to it. 
• Mix well with a spatula. Mix and make a thick and smooth dough.
• Grease your palm with little oil and make small marble sized balls. Slightly press the center of the balls with your finger to give a good shape.(I just love to do this and make my daughter also help me ... also she will be behind me when i am cooking anything special.. to take down the notes and the measurements...).
• Steam this for 20-25 minutes. Transfer it to a plate and cool it. Steam the remaining balls also.

Making of the masala

• In a mixer, grind grated coconut, onion, green chilli and fennel seeds. Grind to a coarse paste.
• Heat oil in a pan, add the coarsely grind masala to it.Let the raw smell of the masala go and cook the masala.
• Add turmeric and red chilly powder to it. Adjust salt.
• Add the cooked and chopped chicken pieces to the masala. Mix well.Saute for 3-5 minutes.
• Add the rice dumplings to the masala. Mix well and add garam masala to it.Also add the stock water if needed. Cook for 5 minutes until masala is well coated and the sauce becomes thick. 
• Finally garnish with curry leaves.
• Ready and serve hot.

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Rava Dosa

Rava Dosa is crepe made from semolina and flavored with coconut,onion and curry leaves. It is a favorite dish at my home served  hot hot. If i forget to soak rice for dosa,but still need to satisfy the craving for it, then Rava Dosa is the answer as it does not require fermentation or any advance preparation.hurray!!!

Ingredients

1. Rava / Sooji / Semolina - 2 cups
2. Onion chopped - 1
3. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
4. Curry Leaves roughly chopped - 2 sprigs
5. Salt - as needed
6. Water - as needed
7. Oil/ ghee - as needed

Preparation

• In a bowl, mix rava, grated coconut, curry leaves , onion chopped and salt. Make a batter with enough water to a consistency dosa batter. Keep the batter aside for about 20 minutes. 
• Heat a tawa or a non-stick pan, stir the batter with a spoon, pour a ladle of the batter and spread in a circular motion.
• Cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle few drops of oil on top and flip dosa.
• Dosa read to be served with any chutneys.

Check out some chutney recipes
Coconut Chutney
Tomato Chutney
Peechinga(Ridge Gourd/Pottikka) Chammanthi 

Also sending this to WTML event hosted by Shailaja of Sahasra Recipes  & Gayathri's Cook 

Pazham Nirachathu / Stuffed Plantains

Today also i am posting another famous snack from Malabar "Pazham Nirachathu" / Stuffed Plantain. This is a very tasty and inevitable snack prepared for evening tea time. This is one of the important snack served during Iftar (nombhu thura/ breaking the Ramadan fast) in Malabar. This snack is prepared by stuffing a mixture of coconut , sugar, cardamom, cashews , raisins and sugar. Slit open the plantains and stuff the filling and shallow fry in oil.

Scroll down for the full recipe...

Ingredients

1. Ripe Kerala Plantain - 3 nos.(not too ripe)
2. Grated coconut - 1 1/2 cups
3. Sugar - 1/2 cup (add more if you need )
4. Cardamom pods crushed- 5-6
5. Cashew nuts roughly chopped - 2 Tbsp
6. Raisins - 2 Tbsp
7. Ghee - 1 1/2 Tbsp
8. Oil - for frying
9. All purpose flour/ Maida - 1/4 cup
10. A pinch of salt
11. Water - to make a thick paste

Preparation

• Heat ghee in a frying pan, add the chopped cashew nuts until golden brown. Transfer them to a paper towel.
• Add the raisins, let them puff up like cute little balls. Remove them to the paper towel before they get charred. Keep aside.
• To this ghee add the grated coconut, saute for 2-3 minutes add sugar and crushed cardamom. Mix the cashew nuts and raisins and keep the filling aside. 
• In a bowl mix maida , salt and water to make a thick paste to cover the slits of the banana.
• Now peel the plantains. Make a shallow slit lengthwise in the center of the plantain. The depth of the slit should be made until it reaches the center of the plantain.(Do not cut open the slit.). Now make another slit nearer to that, about 2 inches width. Remove the piece from the banana.
• Now using spoon , fill in the prepared coconut mixture into that gap. Press them tight using your fingers. Now cover it with the piece that you have removed from the plantain.Seal the gap with the maida paste.
• Repeat the same with the other plantains.
• Heat oil in a kadai/ non-stick pan for frying on a medium flame.
• Fry the stuffed plantains, until golden brown. 
• Carefully flip the sides in between.
• Drain them on a kitchen towel.
• Sere it hot with a cup of tea / coffee..

Notes :

• Do not use too ripe plantains, as it will absorb too much oil and hard to hold.
• Instead of coconut, we also use a mix of scrambled eggs, sugar, cardamom and nuts-raisins 

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Koyikkaal - 'Veggie Chicken Leg' - A Snack from Thalassery....

Don't get surprised by the name 'Koyikkal', literally means chicken legs in malayalam. I know all might be thinking what's in a chicken leg??? Why am i saying 'Veggie Chicken Leg'......, this is how we surprise our guests..., but this is a dish with tapioca dipped in a batter of gram flour and spices.This is a special snack from 'Thalassery' and is available only in Thalassery town.

This is my first try out @ home, as i got some fresh tapioca from Kerala, and my kids were wanting to have some.....That's how i ended up with this post ....

Let's scroll down to view the recipe  

Ingredients

1. Tapioca - 1/2 kg

For the batter

1. Gram flour/Besan - 1/2 cup 
2. Garlic crushed with skin - 8 - 10 
3. Red chill powder - 3 - 4 Tbsp (if you want, you can mix kashmiri red chill powder also to reduce the spice level)
4. Turmeric powder - 1/2 Tsp
5. Green chilly finely chopped - 4
6. Jeera / cumin seeds - 1/2 Tsp
7. Asafoetida - a pinch
8. Salt - to taste
9. Curry Leaves finely chopped - 2 Sprigs

Preparation

• Peel the skin of tapioca.
• Cut into half first. From one half , slit them into thin strips, approx 4 inch long and 1/2 inch broad as shown in pic.  Cut the other half too.
• Mix all the items under 'For the batter', by adding water to a consistency of dosa batter.

• Heat oil for deep frying , on a medium flame.
• Add some of the tapioca strips to the batter. Take less than a handful of mixture and shape it like in the picture with our hand and fry it in oil. 

and phew!!!!!!! plate kaali ayallo  ....it got finished???..yummy snack....

Note

• If the batter is watery, adjust with more gram flour or even fine rice powder.
• This amount of chilli powder is enough..., i would say perfect. It will be correct after frying.

Grape Juice - Refreshing.....

Got fresh grapes from 'Hyper City'.... As we wanted to have fresh juice back home... couldn't get a photo of fresh grapes....
Ingredients

1. Grapes - 1/2 Kg
2. Sugar - use as needed [depending upon the sweetness of grapes.]
3. Ice cubes
4. Water - 3 cups or as needed

Preparation

• Wash grapes in fresh water.Soak these grapes in lukewarm water for 1/2 hour. Cool it down.
• Put the grapes in a blender. Add sugar. Blend with little water in which grapes was soaked. Add 2-3 ice cubes.
• Blend it well and filter it.
• Serve with ice cubes on top.

Pachakkaya Upperi (Raw Kerala plantain) - Kerala Style

Ingredients

1. Raw Kerala Plantain - 4 Big
2. Grated Coconut - 1/4 cup
3. Green Chilli - 3
4. Pepper powder - 1/2 - 1 Tbsp
5. Turmeric powder - 1/2 Tsp
6. Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
7. Garlic Cloves - 4
8. Mustard Seeds - 1/4 Tsp
9. Dry red chilli - 2
10. Oil - 1 Tbsp
11. Salt - to taste
12. Water - 1 cup

Preparation

• Wash and cut the edges of the plantain.Slice them into thin pieces (but not as thin as for kerala chips). 
• Take some water in a bowl and add a pinch of turmeric powder. Put banana slices into it while slicing itself, so that banana won't change its colour from oxidation.
• In another bowl, add the sliced bananas,grated coconut, green chilli, pepper powder, turmeric powder, curry leaves and salt. Mix with a spoon.
• Heat oil in a kadai/ non-stick pan,crackle mustard seeds, add dry red chilli. To his add the masala mixed banana. Pour a cup of water.Mix well.
• Close the lid and cook, until the banana pieces are soft and well coated with the masala.
• When cooked, off the flame and add crushed garlic.
• Serve hot with rice, chapathi or any roti, dosa. etc..

Sending this to Cooking with Green event by savorindian

Beans Upperi / Thoran - Kerala Style

Ingredients

1. French Beans - 1/4 Kg
2. Grated coconut - 2 - 3 Tbsp
3. Onion - 1 small
4. Turmeric powder - 1/4 Tsp
5. Green Chilly - 2- 3
6. Curry Leaves - 2 Sprigs
7. Salt - to taste
8. Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
9. Dry Red Chilly - 2
10. Coconut Oil/ Oil - 1 Tbsp

Preparation

• Wash the beans in water two to three times and trim off the edges ('de-fibred'), cut into one cm length pieces diagonally. (you can also cut into square, long or very fine pieces.)
• In a bowl, mix cut beans, grated coconut, slit green chilly, chopped onion, turmeric powder and salt, along with curry leaves. Mix with our hand/spoon.
• Heat a pan/kadai, add coconut oil / oil, splutter mustard seeds, and throw in dry red chilly. 
• Add the prepared mix, mix well.
• Just sprinkle a tablespoon of water and cover and cook on low flame for about 10 minutes.
• Stir in between. Check salt. Open the lid and cook until water is all absorbed and 'upperi' is dry.
• Serve hot with rice in your lunch menu.

Sending this to Cooking with Green event by savorindian