Tomato chutney

Tomato medium      4

Onion Chopped      1 large

Garlic chopped        4

Chili powder           1 tsp

Turmeric powder    1 pinch

Curry leaves           2

Asafoetiada              pinch

Black Gram              2 tbsp

Oil                           3 tbsp

Mustard seed           1 tsp
Salt                          to taste

Boiled water           enough to puree

Make a paste of chili powder, turmeric,asafoetida.  Heat the oil in a pan Splutter mustard seed and black gram. fry onion garlic until onion becomes translucent. Once the onion become translucent  turn the heat down and add the  chili paste fry until the oil comes out clear. Turn the heat to high add chopped up tomatoes fry until all the water evaporates. add salt to taste. Let it cool for about 5 minutes . add some boiled water if needs for the blender.Transfer to a blender and puree well .  good for chapati , Dosa  and even on bread

Pesaha appam ( indri Appam)

Indrri Appam or Pesaha appam is unleavened bread made on MaundyThursday among Jacobite and Catholics in Kerala.As the tradition goes the head of the family cuts the apam and gives it to the other members. Oldest to the youngest. this is done in great reverence and pious atmosphere. 

I remember Kochammama (My Aunt) making the kurishappam .all of us had the meal together and Appachan cut the kurish appam after the evening prayer . To make the kurish appam you have to follow the Lent properly including fasting. During my child hood my mom makes Indri Appam every year and I continue with it.
 Another story about How the name came is the ladies wanted to name this Appam they thought about it nothing came to mind..   When they went to church one of the ladies looked at the cross and Red  INRI. She told the the others and they decided to call it "Indri Appam"

Roasted Rice flour         2 cup
Urad dal (Black gram)        1/2 cup
Coconut          2 cup
Garlic               4
Cumin seed      1 tsp
Shallots             3
Banana leaves   

Grind the urad dal , in to a smooth paste. Use little water as possible to grind. Add coconut,garlic shallots and cumin, grind until everything is combined well. Pour the the batter in to a bowl . Add salt and rice flour. Mix well to make a smooth dough. Dough should not be too watery not too dry. Cut the plantain leaves in about 5" lengths. Take a hand full of dough place it in to the banana leaves press and spread out on the leaf. fold it into three. Steam for about 15 minutes. let it cool for some time. use it with pall ( sweet gravy)

        Pall 

Coconut milk           3 cup
Brown sugar              1/4 kg
Rice flour                   1/4 cup
Banana                       1
Ground Cardamom     1/4 tsp

Dissolve the rice flour in 3 cups of coconut milk add brown sugar. cook under low heat , using a wire whisk to constantly whisking while the gravy is thickening. When the gravy reaches desired consistency add  ground cardamom and sliced banana.

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Chai

 Water           2 cup
Whole Milk   1 cup
Tea bag         2
Sugar             1 tsp or as needed
3 Cardamom or 1/4 tsp ginger or  pinch of cinnamon as per your choice.

Combine water and milk together and boil Be sure to stir  milk, to avoid Boiling over.  Turn the heat down add 2 tea bags  and cardamom. Boil for another minute  under medium heat. Remove the tea bags and cardamom. Take another container with spout. Pour the chai to each other 4-5 times. The higher you pour the better it is. This procedure take some practice. Chi in the picture is made with 2% milk.

Steel headTrout

Yesterday Saju and Rajuchayan went to fishing with the fishing Guru Peter and caught one steelhead trout. from Oak orchard river Buffalo. NY. Today I made fish curry with help of Saju. Now, it took time since I am not an expert in cutting fresh fish. I used the fish

Here is the recipe for Kerala style Steelhead Trout.

Trout 1/2 of what you see in the picture

Coconut oil 3 tbsp.
Mustard seed 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek seed 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves 4
Ginger garlic paste 2 tbsp
Heat the oil in a pan splutter mustard and fenugreek add curry leaves. add Ginger garlic paste and fry well

Garcinia (kudampuli) 5 pieces
Soak it in some water

Kashmiri chili powder 2 tbsp
Chilli powder 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp

Make a paste of all these ingredients. add to the above, turn the heat down and fry until the oil comes out clear. add Garcinia (kudampulli) and 1.1/ 2 cups of water and boil for about 15 minutes. Add fish pieces. once it stars boiling add salt and cook for another 15 minutes

Stir friedYoung Jack fruit

Last week at the indian store I saw a young jack fruit. I knew it was lot of work cuting it but since I have'nt had this in over 20 years I decided to buy it. Of course it was bit hard to cut in half. once the chopping part was over It took no time to cook and was soo good.
 I remember having a jack fruit tree back home the fruits were ripe and birds will eat half of it. No body wanted it.  I did'nt know the value of  or how tasty it  was at the time untill I spent $10 last week.

Green young Jack fruit               1
Mustard seeds                           1/2 tsp
Onion                                         1 medium
Curry leaves                                3
Green chili  sliced                        2
Red chili flakes                             1/2 tsp
Coconut oil                                  2 tbsp
Grated coconut                           3/4 cup

Wash and skin, the top skin off  of the jack fruit. cut the fruit in to half. You need a sharp knife to do this. Now chop the fruit as small as you can. if the seeds are tough be sure to peel them before chopping. The Hard part is over.
Heat the oil in a large wok Splutter mustard seeds,add 1 tbsp chopped onion curry leaves and green chili , red chili flakes fry until onion turns translucent.  add the chopped jack fruit grated coconut onion and turmeric mix well.
Add enough water cover with a lid and cook well for about 10- 15 minutes under medium heat stirring in between.

Plantain peel Thoran

Buy 6 green bananas from the store peel them . slice the bananas thin and deep fry them. Now you made banana chips. What do you do with the peel!!!!

Banana peel 6
Grated coconut 1/2 cup or more
Onion 1 small
Garlic 1 chopped
Curry leaves 2
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Green chilli 1--2 depending on how hot
Turmeric 1/4 tsp
Coconut oil 3 tbsp

Wash the and soak the banana peel in warm water for about 15 minutes to clean them well.Discard both end of the peel. chopem them as small as you can and set it aside.
Heat the oil in a pan splutter mustard seeds. add chopped onions curry leaves and chopped green chili. fry them until onions become translucent.
Add the chopped banana peel, garlic, coconut and turmeric and a 3/4 cup of water. mix all ingredients, cover and cook under medium heat until it is nice and soft and water is evaporated. Remove from the heat stir well cover and cook for another 2 minutes.

Meatballs Indian styl

1.Ground beef 2.5lb
Salt for taste
2.Fennel seed 1/4 tsp
3.Cloves 7
4.Black pepper 1tsp
5.Garlic 3 cloves
6.Cardamom 2
7.Chili pepper 1/2 tsp ( as needed)
8.Tomato puree 3 tomato

Grind 2- 7 ingredients together. Mix the spice mix and salt well with ground beef. Make a lemon size balls and fry them under medium heat. I use a non stick pan for this. You do not need to add extra oil for frying. The oil from the meat will be enough. Fry the meatballs for about 10 minutes turning as needed. Add tomato puree and fry until all the water is evaporated.
Have it with your favourite pasta.

In the picture I used spaghetti with store bought alfredo sauce