Banana fritters

Ripe Banana fritters or pazhampori as we call in Kerala is a very famous and traditional snack. You will get to see this item even in small restaurants/hotels when you are in Kerala. Most  people make this with maida. But here, I am making it  with besan, which is more healthy.

Basic info about the recipe

Cuisine                                           - South Indian

Serves                                            - 3-4 people.

                                                

Ingredients:

1.   Ripe bananas             - 2 nos

2.   Besan/gram flour        - 2 cups

3.   Salt                               - a pinch

4.   Sugar                           - 2 tsp

5.   Turmeric powder        - ½ tsp

6.   Oil                                 - for frying.

Method: Peel the bananas and cut into equal halves. Cut each half again into thin long pieces. You can cut each half into three. (Can make 6 pazhamporis with 1 large banana)

Make a batter with besan, salt, sugar and turmeric. The consistency should be that of dosa batter.

Heat oil in a kadhai. Dip each banana piece in the batter and fry both sides flipping in between till golden brown. ( when the oil is hot you can reduce the flame)

Take out the pazhamporis from the oil to a tissue or paper towel which will absorb the excess oil. Serve hot.

Note: To make it more crispy add a spoon of rice flour to the batter.

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Mango Payasam

No treat in Kerala is complete without payasam.  Even though, there are some traditional varieties of payasam that are prepared during festivals and marriages, people always like to try payasams with different ingredients depending on the seasonal vegetables and fruits available in the market. It is  summer now and the mango season is on. Why not try mango payasam?

Basic info about the recipe

Cuisine                                                     - South Indian

Serves                                                      - 3 people.

Ingredients:

1.   Ripe mango                          - 1 large

2.   Jaggery                                 - 150 gms

3.   Coconut milk(thick)              - 1 cup

4.   Ghee                                     - 2 tsp

5.   Cashew nuts                        - 10 nos

6.   Kismis                                   - 8 nos

7.   Roasted coconut pieces     - 2 tsp

Method: Peel, wash, cut and grind the mango pieces to form a puree.

Melt jaggery with little water. Strain and keep aside.

Add water to the coconut milk powder to form a thick watery consistency.

Heat a pan and add the melted jaggery. Let it boil for 2 mts.

Add mango pulp and cook both together. Stir continuously till it reaches a thick consistency.

 Add coconut milk and stir well for a minute. Switch off the gas. (Coconut milk might split if brought to a boil)

Heat another pan and add ghee. Roast the cashews, raisins and coconut pieces and pour this on the top of the payasam. Delicious mango payasam is now ready to be served. It can be served hot or chilled.

Note: I have used Coconut milk powder to make coconut milk. You can make fresh coconut milk from coconut also.

Sweetness can be increased/ reduced depending upon your taste buds.

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Onion Chutney

Chutneys are great accompaniment with almost all breakfast items and snacks. Different varieties of chutneys can be made. Onion chutney goes well with idli, dosa, uthapam and vada.

Ingredients:

1.   Onions                               - 2 large

2.   Dry red chillies                  - 2nos

3.   Salt                                     - to taste

4.   Coconut oil                                 - 2 tsp

5.   Kashmiri red chilli pwdr    - 1 tsp

Method: Keep a pan and add 1 tsp oil. Fry onions and red chillies adding salt and kashmiri red chilli powder.( kashmiri red chilli powder gives nice colour to the chutney.)

 Grind them and transfer to a bowl.

 Add 1 tsp coconut oil on top and serve.

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Wheat Dosa

This recipe is for my North Indian friends who feel making dosa batter with rice a really tough task. Wheat dosa is easy to make, requires no fermentation and is made with the wheat flour that is readily available at your homes. It can be served with sambar, coconut chutney or gun powder.

Basic info about the recipe

Cuisine                                                     - South Indian

Serves                                                      - can make 4-5 dosas

Ingredients:

1.   Wheat flour                           - 2 cups

2.   Salt                                        - to taste

3.   Water                                     - required to form a batter.

4.   Oil/ ghee                               - 1 tsp per dosa.

Method:  Mix wheat flour with salt and water to form dosa consistency.

Heat a pan and pour a ladle of batter in the centre.

Spread in circular motion.

Pour a tsp of oil and wait till it cooks on one side.

Flip to the other side and cook till golden brown.(everything has to be done on low flame)

Remove from tawa and serve hot.

Note: I have provided a basic recipe. You can make variations like adding some onion, tomatoes or green chillies to the batter or some veggies like carrot, capsicum and dhania.

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Egg Cheera Bhurji

Red Spinach or the cheera as we call in Kerala is an excellent source of fibre, nutrients , vitamins and iron. It is combined with some spices and coconut to make the very famous dish of Kerala “ cheera thoran”. But, how about a dish without coconut and with a twisted flavor.  Lets try the egg cheera combination. Hmmm, its yummy.

Basic info about the recipe

Cuisine                                                               - South Indian

Serves                                                               - 2 people

Ingredients

1.   Red spinach                                   -  300  gms

2.   Egg                                                 -  1 or 2.

3.   Onion                                              - 1 large

4.   Tomato                                           - 1 medium

5.   Green chillies                                 - 3 nos

6.   Oil                                                    -  3 tsp

7.   Salt                                                  - to taste

8.   Curry leaves                                   - 7-8 nos

9.   Turmeric powder                           - ½ tsp

Method: Clean, wash and cut the spinach.

Beat the egg and keep aside.

Heat a pan and add 1 tsp oil. Put spinach with little salt and turmeric and cook well.( No need to add water. Spinach will get cooked in its own water.)

Transfer this to a bowl.

In the same pan add 2 tsps of oil and fry onions till golden brown.

Add tomato, curry leaves and green chillies and stir fry.

Add turmeric and salt.           Now add the beaten eggs and keep stirring until its cooked.

Transfer the spinach back to the pan. Stir and cover the pan with a lid allowing the egg and the spinach to mix well. (check salt at this stage)

Delicious egg cheera bhurji is now ready to be served with hot steamed rice.

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Masala Idli

Masala idli as the name suggests is  idli with some flavours added to it. It is the best way to utilize the left over idlis. It can be served as an evening snack.

Basic info about the recipe

Cuisine                                                      - South Indian

Serves                                                       - 2 people.

Ingredients

1.   Idlis(cooked)                         - 6 nos

2.   Oil                                          - 2 tsp

3.   Coriander leaves                 - few sprigs

4.   Salt                                        - to taste

5.   Onion                                    - 1 large

6.   Capsicum                             - 1 small

7.   Carrot                                    - 1 small

8.   Tomato sauce                      - 2 tsp

9.   Turmeric powder                  - ½ tsp

10.                       Red chilli pwdr            - 1 tsp

11.                       Coriander pwdr           - 1 tsp

Method: Cut idlis into 6 small pieces each.

Chop onion, capsicum and carrot and keep aside.

Heat a pan and pour 2 tsp of oil.  Fry the onion till golden brown.

Add the capsicum and carrot and stir well for 2 mts.

Add turmeric, red chilli and coriander powders and stir again.

Add tomato sauce and salt and mix well.

Add the idlis and stir well till the masala coats the idli.

Sprinkle some coriander leaves on top and serve hot

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Banana Shake

Shakes are loved by all during summers. Banana shake is easy to make and needs no cooking time.Bananas are inexpensive and readily available in the market. It is also the best way to make use of the ripe bananas with dark skin which everyone refuses to eat.

Ingredients

1.   Banana                                                    - 1 no:

2.   Sugar                                                        - 2 tsp

3.   Milk                                                           - 1.5 cups

4.   Vanilla ice cream                                     - 1 scoop

5.   Ice cubes                                                 -4-5 nos

Method: In a blender, blend all the ingredients together.

Thick, delicious banana shake is ready to be served.

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