Tender Jackfruit Stir Fry / Idichakka Thoran

Jackfruit is of tropical origin. It is the largest tree-borne fruit.  With the exception  of its spiky exterior,every part of this fruit is edible. At the tender stage it can be cooked into tasty side dishes. When the fruit matures further, it can still be used to prepare side dishes and can also be used to make chips. The best is when the fruit ripens, the jack fruit flesh is very sweet and it has a distinctive aroma. The sweet flesh can be consumed as it is or can be cooked into various sweet dishes. The seeds of the jackfruit are also edible. Check my recipe for *Fried Jackfruit Seeds. Seeds when consumed directly prevents constipation. Good for skin.

 The raw jackfruit contains lots of vitamin A and vitamin C. It is a source of dietary fiber,potassium, iron and magnesium which helps in the absorption of calcium. Antioxidants in it can prevent cancer, especially colon cancer.

Raw Jackfruit has low glycemic index. Cooked Jackfruit dish should be consumed as main dish, once a day by diabetics along with a side dish rich in protein. It brings down and gradually normalises blood sugar, if consumed daily.

Here i am preparing idichakka thoran with half of a tender jackfruit. The tender jackfruit i purchased was around 9 inch tall when held by the stem. Remove the spiky green exterior skin. This is the hardest part in the whole process.  Things to do before cutting the jackfruit:1. spread out a sheet of paper beneath the jackfruit, so that the sticky sap coming out will not spoil your counter top, 2. apply oil on your hands as well as the knife, so that it will be easier to clean later.

Method:
Cut the skinned jackfruit into 1 - 2 inch wedges. Wash the wedges. Add half a cup of water, half teaspoon salt, a pinch of turmeric to the wedges and cook in a pressure cooker. Remove from the fire after the first whistle. Allow to cool. When cool shred the wedges, either by pressing with spoon or using your bare hands. Some use a blender for the purpose. Keep the shredded jackfruit aside.

Grind coarsely coconut, garlic, green chillies, turmeric and cumin. Keep aside,

Keep a pan on medium flame. Add split black gram, mustard seeds, finely sliced shallots,oil, red chilly pieces and curry leaves. When the shallots are light brown add the ground coconut mixture and stir well. Then add the shredded jackfruit, salt to taste and mix thoroghly. Press the mixture down using a spoon and cook on low flame. After a minute, stir the jackfruit mix, press down once more and cook for one or two minutes.OR Continue this until the water content goes. Do not allow the mixture to get burnt at the bottom. Add 1or 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and remove from the stove.

Serve with rice.

Ingredients:

Tender Jackfruit - Half of one (cut into pieces)
Coconut (grated) 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup
Green chilly - 3 - 4 (according to taste)
Turmeric- 1/4 teaspoon
Garlic - 2
Cumin seeds - a pinch
Salt
Coconut oil - 1 - 2 teaspoons

For seasoning:
Shallots (thinly sliced) - 2 table spoons
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Split black gram (urad dal) - 1 table spoon
Coconut oil - 2 table spoons
Whole red chilly - 3  (each broken into 2 or 3 pieces )
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

*   http://ashasnairrajesh.blogspot.com/2015/04/fried-jackfruit-seeds.html

Vettu Cake / Fried Cake

Fried cake or Vettu cake is a popular snack in Kerala. This is available in most of the tea-shops spotted in every nook and corner. Vettu cake, as it is popularly known is a very filling snack, very appetizing and mild. I had forgotten all about this mouthwatering snack until a classmate uploaded a picture in our Whatsapp group, asking other groupies to guess what it was. The moment one of us identified the the snack, the appetizing memories revived and i couldn't wait any more to bite into that favorite snack of mine.

Usually flour (Maida) is used in the preparation, but here i am using wheat flour, which is, i think, a healthier option.

Method:

• Sift together wheat flour, salt and baking soda. Beat the egg lightly. Powder the sugar and cardamom.
• Transfer the flour into a bowl. Make a well in the center, add the beaten egg, hung curd and powdered sugar. Mix and knead well using your hand into a very stiff dough. 
•  Roll out the dough into a one inch thick piece. Cut into one inch strips. Cut triangular pieces out of the strips. Make a cut at the base of each triangle. I got 12 pieces.
• Heat oil in a deep fry pan. Bring to a boil. Add two or three pieces at a time depending on the size of the pan,as the pieces will swell up. Cook on low flame, flip and cook ,it will take a few minutes,Cooking on low flame allows the cake to cook evenly from inside too. Remove from  oil when it is cooked and evenly browned, transfer into a paper towel. Repeat the same process with the next batch.

Ingredients:

Wheat flour -1 cup
Egg - 1
Castor Sugar - 4 table spoons
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon
Baking soda - 1/2 teaspoon
Hung curd - 11/2 tablespoon (optional)*
Cardamom - 1 - 2 nos
Oil - 2 cups for deep frying.

*Note: Instead of hung curd, one more egg can be used. But not the whole egg. Just enough to make a stiff dough. 

Vettu cake becomes tastier with time, like regular cakes. Vettu cake is soft like cake in the center and crispy outside .

Instant sesame seeds Laddu

 Sesame seeds have great health benefits. It is a great source of calcium and contains minerals like copper, magnesium, zinc, manganese, iron etc. in abundance. It is also a source of anti-oxidants, fibre and protein.

These little seeds had been a part of Asian cuisine from time immemorial. These seeds are available in white, brown and black colours.

Method:

Add all the ingredients into a mixie jar, cover with the lid. Use the whip button to mix the ingredients. DO NOT grind into a paste. Two to three pushes will be enough.Transfer the mixture into a plate. Knead lightly. Roll into small balls.

These laddus can be served immediately. Can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

If you want the laddus sweeter, more jaggery can be added. But i think, this is sweet enough. 

Ingredients:

Sesame seeds - 1 cup (lightly roasted)  approx. 150 grams
fresh grated coconut - 1cup                   approx. 80 - 100 grams
grated jaggery - 1cup                             approx. 150 grams

cardamom powder - a pinch (optional)

 

Sweet Pumpkin Erissery

Pumpkin is a very common backyard vegetable. The greatest  plus-point of pumpkin is that it is a low calorie food item. Our humble pumpkin is very rich in vitamins, especially vitamin A, antioxidants and minerals like calcium, potassium etc. 

Pumpkin is a great cholesterol controller. It is also recommended for those who are trying to reduce their weight. Pumpkin has anti-cancerous properties too. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of fibre and it is good for the heart as it contains mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA).

As far as cooks are concerned pumpkins can be converted into different variety of dishes. One can make curries, soups and desserts. Every part of the pumpkin vine can be cooked and consumed - leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds. 

Method:
1. Remove the skin from the pumpkin, wash and cut into cubes. Pressure cook the pumpkin pieces with 1 cup of water. Set aside to cool.( If you have soaked red gram, pressure cook it along with the pumpkin pieces.)
2. Grind together 3/4 cup grated coconut, cumin seeds, garlic, red chilly powder and turmeric powder into a moderately fine paste.
3. Mash the cooked pumpkin pieces, add the ground mixture and salt to taste. Bring to a boil. If it has thickened too much add a little water to loosen it. Do NOT make it watery.
4. Place a pan on the fire, pour oil, When it starts to boil add all the other seasoning ingredients and stir fry on medium flame. When the coconut turns brown, remove from fire and add the seasoning into the prepared pumpkin erissery and mix well.
Serve with rice.  

Ingredients:

• Ripe Pumpkin - 500 grams
• Soaked red gram - a handful ( optional )
• Grated Coconut - 1 cup (divided into 2 parts, use 1/4 cup for seasoning )
• Garlic - 1 clove
• cumin seeds - 1 pinch
• Red chilly powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Water
• Salt

For Seasoning:

• Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
• Mustard seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
• Shallot - 1 ( finely chopped )
• Whole red chilly - 1 ( broken into 2 or 3 pieces )
• Split black gram - 1 teaspoon
• Curry leaves - 1 sprig
• Oil - 2 teaspoons

Pepper Potato

Potato is a very common vegetable / tuber, available in abundance throughout the year. Most of us love the taste of potatoes. This is a starchy vegetable. Potato does not provide cholesterol and does not contain sodium. It is also fat-free. It contains more potassium than banana, spinach or broccoli. Vitamin C is abundant in Potato, so is vitamin B6. It is also a provider of dietary fiber. Traces of other essential minerals are also present in it. 

Method:
1. Peel, wash and cube the potatoes.
2. Combine together potato pieces, red chilly powder, turmeric powder, black pepper powder, curry leaves and salt. Set aside for 10 minutes.

3. Heat a shallow fry pan, pour oil. When the oil starts to boil add the potato mix and stir for a few seconds on medium flame. Cover with a lid and allow the potato pieces to cook. After a few minutes remove the lid and flip the pieces. Again cover and cook. When the potato is cooked, remove the lid and allow to fry. Flip a few times so that the potato pieces are evenly fried.
4. Serve hot.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes -  3 - 4 medium sized
• Red chilly powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Black pepper - 1/2 teaspoon ( crushed coarsely )
• Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
• Salt to taste
• Oil - 2 tablespoons

Green Tomato Curry

Tomatoes and potatoes belong to the same family. Like potatoes, tomatoes are available round the year. This is a low-calorie vegetable/fruit. Fresh ones are rich in potassium. Tomatoes are a rich source of anti-oxidants which protects one from various types of cancers. Lycopene, an anti-oxidant which is present only in tomatoes protects skin from UV-rays. Tomato is also good for eye-health. It is also a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and beta carotenes. 

Method: 

Wash and cut each tomato into 8 pieces. Peel the onions and slice into thin pieces. Wash and soak the gambooge in half cup of water. Slit the green chilly.

Grind together the grated coconut, chilly powder, turmeric powder and garlic with little water into a smooth paste.

Cook the tomato, onion and green chilly in a cup of water. Cover and cook in medium flame. When it is well cooked, add the coconut paste, salt and the soaked gambooge. Allow to boil. Add water to adjust the consistancy. Bring to a boil. Add a pinch of fenugreek powder and remove from flame.

Heat a pan, add all the seasoning ingredients. When the mustard start to splutter, pour the seasoning over the green tomato curry.
Serve with rice.

Ingredients:

• Green Tomatoes - 3 to 4
• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Green chilly - 3 to 4
• Onion - 1 medium sized
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Chilly powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Gambooge (kudampuli) - 1 or 2 pieces
• Roasted fenugreek powder - 1 pinch
• Salt
• Water

For seasoning:

• Mustard seeds - very little
• Whole red chilly - 1 (broken into 2 or 3 pieces)
• Shallots 1 (thinly sliced)
• Curry leaves - a few
• Oil - 1 - 2 teaspoon

Drumstick Thoran

Moringa Oleifera, is the botanical name of Drumstick. The flowers and  leaves are also edible. All these are not only nutritious, but also has great medicinal value. The drumstick which is used in the recipe is a great source of vitamin C, B-complex and MUFA. Moringa leaves are said to contain more Vitamin A than carrots, more Vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more potassium than bananas and also contains iron and zinc, which helps hair growth. 

Method:
Pulse the grated coconut, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin seeds and garlic into a coarse mixture.

Scrape the skin off the drumsticks. Wash them and cut into 3" pieces. Slit each piece through the center. Place the pieces in a pan, pour half cup of water. Cover and cook on medium flame. Add little salt halfway through cooking. Before all the water dries up add the coconut mix, lower the flame, mix thoroughly, adjust salt. Allow the water to dry up completely. Remove from flame.

Heat a pan, add all the seasoning ingredients. When the mustard starts spluttering, pour the seasoning over the drumstick and mix well.
Serve with rice.

Ingredients:

• Drumsticks - 2 (medium size)
• Grated coconut - 1/3 cup
• garlic - 1 clove
• cumin seeds = 2 pinch
• Turmeric powder  - 2 pinch
• Red chilli powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Salt
• Water

For Seasoning:

• Mustard seeds - very little
• Whole red chilli - 1 (broken into 2 or 3 pieces)
• Shallots 1 (thinly sliced)
• Curry leaves - a few
• Oil - 1 - 2 teaspoon