PUTTU - Kerala Breakfast Food

PUTTU RECIPE - South Indian Food Recipe

TIME:

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min

INGREDIENTS:

Rice Flour – 2 cups
Grated Coconut – 1 cup
Ghee - 1/2 tbsp, melted
Water – as required (approx 2/3 cup)
Salt – to taste.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• In a large bowl, place the puttu powder. Add salt to taste to 2/3 cup of water and slowly add about 2 tbsps at a time to the puttu powder and mix it. Do not add all the water at once. It should be a bread crumb consistency and not form a dough. Add melted ghee and mix. Normally 1/2 cup to 2/3 rd cup of water is sufficient to wet 2 cups of puttu powder.
• The right consistency of puttu powder is achieved when you take the prepared flour in your fist and close it to form shape. Leave aside this prepared rice mixture for an hour or two at room temperature. When the mixture sits, water is absorbed. After sitting time of 1 or 2 hours, if you find that the mixture is slightly dry, add a little more water and mix.
• Add 2 cups water to the bottom vessel of the puttu maker and allow to simmer till hot. Wet the puttu mould and lightly grease it. Place the round perforated disc with holes inside the puttu mould such that it fits well at the bottom of the mould. Place 2 tbsps of grated coconut at the bottom of the puttu mould. Carefully and slowly pour about 6 tbsps of the puttu powder from a height followed by another layer of 2 tbsps of grated coconut. Again layer with 6 tbsps of puttu powder and finish off with 2 tbps of grated coconut on the top. Place the lid over the puttu mould annd place the mould over the water vessel.
• Steam on high medium flame for 5-6 mts and 4 mts on low flame. Turn off heat and wait for 2 to 3 mts before removing the puttu from the mould with the help of a wooden ladle or skewer. Hold the puttu mould parallel to the serving plate and with the help of a long ladle gently push the bottom disc such that the puttu slides onto the plate. Serve warm with Kadala curry or banana and pappadam.

NOTES:

• A tsp of cumin seeds can also be added to the puttu mix.
• Addition of ghee yields soft puttu.
• Once the puttu mixture is prepared, leave it aside for a minimum of half an hour to 2 hours.
• Once the puttu is steamed, remove the mould and leave it aside for 3 minutes and then gently push the finished puttu onto a plate.
• Store bought puttu podi/powder can be used right away.
• If using store bought rice flour, you need to roast it on low flame for 5-7 minutess before using it to prepare Puttu.

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PAZHAM PORI | ETHAKKA APPAM | RIPE PLANTAIN FRITTERS

INGREDIENTS:

1. Etahakka /Nendrapazham ( ripe plantains)- 2 nos
2. All purpose flour-1/2 cup
3. Rice flour-1 to 11/2 tbsp (optional)
4. Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
5. Cumin seeds- 1 pinch (optional)
6. Salt-one pinch
7. Water -As required
8. Coconut oil- for deep frying

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Peel plantains and cut it  vertically into two.Cut each slice again into two .Keep aside.
• Combine all purpose flour,rice flour,turmeric powder,cumin seeds,salt and water in a mixing bowl to form a thick batter.
• Heat oil in a frying pan.Dip the sliced banana in the batter and deep fry until golden brown.Drain onto a kitchen towel and serve with tea/coffee.

NOTE:

• You can also use rice flour instead of all purpose flour ,if you like it to be really crispy on the outside.

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APPAM / PAALAPPAM

APPAM / PAALAPPAM (അപ്പം) | Kerala's Tasty Snack 

TIME:

• Prep time: 20 min
• Cook time: 45 min

INGREDIENTS:

• Raw rice - 1 1/2 cups (any rice like sona masuri) soak in water for 4-5 hours
• Grated coconut - 3/4 cup
• Cooked rice - 2 tbsps (optional)
• Salt - 1 tsp
• Sugar - 2 tsps
• Baking soda - 1/4 tsp

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Drain the rice and grind it along with grated coconut and cooked rice in a mixer grinder. Add water little by little while grinding. You can add upto 3/4 cup of water. The ground batter need not be too smooth. When you run the batter between your fingers, it can feel a little coarse but not too coarse. Even if the batter is super smooth, its fine.
• In a stainless steel vessel, add 1/4 cup of the ground batter and 3/4 cup of water. Place it over very low flame and go on stirring constantly. It will begin to thicken, continue stirring vigourosly till it appears like a transparent thick mixture. Turn off heat and bring to room temperature.
• Add the cooled cooked batter to the remaining ground appam batter and mix well such that there are no lumps. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water, if necessary. This batter should not be too runny like rava dosa batter not thick like a masala dosa batter. It should be a slightly thick pouring consistency.
• Place lid and ferment this batter overnight. It will almost double in size on fermentation.
• At the time of preparation, add salt, sugar and baking soda. Mix well but do not over beat the batter.
• Heat the non-stick appam pan on medium flame for 2 mts. There is no need to add oil while preparing appams. Add 2 to 3 drops and use a tissue to grease the pan all over. Lower flame, pour a ladle full of batter or a little more than 1/4 cup of batter in the center of the pan.
• Lift the pan (off the flame of the stove) and twirl the batter in a clock wise direction so that the batter spreads out in a circular shape. Do not twirl more than twice. There will be more batter in the center than the sides, which is fine. Place back the pan on stove, cover with lid and cook on low flame. Check after two mts and if it is done, remove from pan, otherwise continue to cook with lid for a little while longer. It should cook within 2 1/2 mts to 3 mts.
• The edges will be crisp and will slowly leave the sides of the pan. Use a flat spatula to lift the appam off the pan and place on serving plate. You can cook for a while longer for browner edges but I prefer pure white appams.
• Prepare appams with the rest of the batter. There is no need to add oil for preparing appams in a non stick pan.
• Serve warm appams with vegetable or chicken stew, egg roast or sweetened coconut milk.

NOTES:

• Left over fermented batter can be refrigerated upto 2 days and not beyond that as it has coconut.
• If using toddy, add 1 cup toddy instead of water.
• If using active dry yeast instead of cooked appam batter, add 1 tsp yeast to 1/4 cup of luke warm water and 2 tsps sugar. Leave aside for 15 mts and the yeast will dissolve, froth and double in size. Add this to the ground appam batter and mix well. Place lid and let it ferment overnight in a warm place. Next add morning, add salt to the fermented batter, mix and prepare appams.
• There is no need to flip the appam to cook the other side.
• Left over batter that has been refrigerated and used on the second day can be sligthly diluted with very little water.

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POROTTA | South Indian Porotta

POROTTA | South Indian Porotta (Paratha)

TIME :

• Prep time: 60 min
• Cook time: 30 min

INGREDIENTS:

• Maida - 4 cups (plain flour or all purpose flour)
• Salt - 1 tsp
• Sugar - 1 tsp
• Oil - 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup, approx
• Water - as required

INSTRUCTIONS:

• In a bowl, add maida, salt and sugar and mix well. Slowly add water and make a soft dough. Add a tbsp of oil and mix into the dough. Cover the dough with a lid and allow to rest for at least 2 to 3 hours.
• Grease your work surface and your hands with oil and pinch dough to make smooth round tennis sized balls. Place the balls on the greased work surface and grease the balls with oil.
• Take each ball and roll it like a thick roti (approx 4"-5") in diameter using a rolling pin and place the rolled out rotis on the greased work surface. Place them each next to each other. Grease the thick rotis well. Allow to rest for 10 mts.
• Take a rolled out thick roti and spread it out thin using a rolling pin or using your palms and fingers to stretch out into a thin sheet. The key is to spread it out super thin and as large as you can. Keep smearing oil as your spread the sheet. The shape is really not important. Even if there are a couple of tears, it is completely fine.
• Now using the fingers, slowly lift up one end of the sheet and make pleats moving towards the other end.
• Once its pleated hold one end of the long strip and roll it towards the other end to create a rosette and tuck the end under the rosette. Prepare with the rest of other thick rotis and keep the rosettes greased at all times. Allow to rest for 10 mts.
• On the greased work surface, place each rosette and roll into a thick parotta, smearing oil as your roll out. Ensure the parottas are well greased.
• Heat a tawa on high flame. Once the tawa heats up, place the thick parotta on the tawa and cook on both sides till golden brown on medium high flame. Drizzle oil as your roast them on the hot tawa.
• Prepare parottas with rest of the rosettes in a similar fashion. Now take each parotta, place on the work surface and using both your hands, crush them together similar to clapping action. This helps to open up the layers of the parotta.
• Repeat this action with all the roasted parottas. Serve parotta with vegetable salna or chicken salna.

NOTES:

• At every stage, the shaped out dough - tennis sized balls/rolled out thick rotis/thin sheets/rosettes/rolled out parottas should be well greased at all times.
• Allow to rest for at least 10 mts at each stage of the parotta making process.
• Crushing the hot off the stove roasted parotta is essential step that is not to be missed.

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ELA ADA | STEAMED RICE FLOUR PARCEL | ഇല അട

ELA  ADA ( ഇല അട ) | STEAMED RICE FLOUR PARCEL

INGREDIENTS:

1. Rice flour- 1 cup
2. Boiling water- as required
3. Salt- 1 pinch
4. Banana leaves/Parchment paper- cut into rectangles 

For filling

1. Grated jaggery-1/4 to 1/2 cup
2. Water-2 tbsp 
3. Grated coconut-3/4 cup
4. Cumin powder-1 pinch (optional)
5. Cardamom powder-1 pinch

INSTRUCTIONS :

• Melt jaggery with 2 tbsp water over medium low heat.Switch off the stove and add grated coconut,cumin  powder and cardamom powder .Mix well and keep aside.
• In a large mixing bowl ,add rice flour and salt.Pour boiling water and mix well using a wooden spatula.Allow this to cool slightly and knead well to form a soft dough.
• Take a lemon sized portion of the prepared dough and place it onto a piece of  banana leaf and flatten it using your finger tips to form a thin and even layer of dough on it.(If the dough is sticking to your fingers ,dip your finger tips in water once in between)  
• Place a tablespoon of the prepared filling onto one half of the prepared layer and fold over the other half and press the sides gently to seal the edges.Repeat the process with the rest of the dough.
• Place this in a steamer and steam for about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Allow it to cool slightly before serving.

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KAKKA IRACHI THORAN |  CLAMS STIR-FRY WITH COCONUT

Kerala style clams stir-fry with coconut.

TIME : 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 people 

INGREDIENTS:

1. Kakka irachi /clams (cleaned)- 1 cup
2. Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
3. Curry leaves-1 sprig
4. Fennel ,powdered-1/4 to 1/2 tsp
5. Salt-to taste
6. Water-as required
7. Oil-as required

FOR COCONUT PASTE:

1. Grated coconut- 1/2 cup
2. Ginger,chopped- 1/2 tsp
3. Garlic,chopped-1/4 tsp
4. Green chilies-1 or 2 nos( according to taste)
5. Shallots-2 to 3 nos
6. Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
7. Kashmiri chili powder-1/4 tsp
8. Black pepper powder-1/4 tsp
9. Salt-to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Grind together all the ingredients listed under ' for coconut paste ' to form a coarse mixture.

Heat a pan/ manchatti add kakka irachi/clams, crushed coconut mixture and curry leaves.Mix well.Add one or two tbsp of water ,cover and cook until done.

Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds,let it splutter.Now add more curry leaves , cooked clams and fennel powder.Saute for 2 to 3 minutes on medium flame.Add more salt if required.Serve with rice.

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Lime Juice : നാരങ്ങാ ജ്യൂസ്‌

LIME JUICE  / നാരങ്ങാ ജ്യൂസ്‌ Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• Lime - 100g
• Water - 1 litre
• Sugar - 8 tablespoon

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Squeeze juice out of lime and set aside. May 100g lime yields 100cc of juice.
2. Dissolve sugar in water.
3. When syrup is cooled, add in lime juice and mix.
4. Serve chilled.

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IDIYAPPAM | ഇടിയപ്പം | Nool Puttu - Sevai

 IDIYAPPAM | ഇടിയപ്പം | Nool Puttu Recipe

TIME :

Preparation time: 10 minutes 
Cooking time: 10 minutes 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups of rice flour
• 2 to 2.5 cups of water (more or less)
• To taste: salt
• 3-4 tbsp of grated coconut

INSTRUCTIONS: 

1. Mix the rice flour and salt together. Heat the water until bubbles start appearing at the bottom of the pan. When the water is just about boiling, add to the rice flour a cup at a time.

2. Start mixing vigorously with the back of a spatula until the rice flour is coming together to form a moist dough. Add more rice flour if your dough is too watery and sticky and add more water if it's too dry.

The dough should be just moist and you should be able to form a small ball easily without it sticking to your fingers.

3. Working quickly while the dough is still warm, Take a fistful of it and form into a log.

4. Place firmly into your idiyappam press or mould.

5. Sprinkle some coconut over the tray or plate you are going to use to steam the idiyappam. Suma uses a banana leaf which she places on the steamer plate and it lends a wonderful flavour to the idiyappam.

6. Start pressing the idiyappam onto the tray or banana leaf in a concentric circle

... until you have a not-too-thick mound of idiyappam

Make sure it's not too thick otherwise it won't steam properly. PS: you can totally use your idli mould for this. The idiyappam pieces will just be much smaller

7. Place on streamer.

8. Steam for about 10 mins.

9. Open, unmould, and enjoy hot with some Kerala potato stew.

NOTES :

1. All measurements for this recipe are approximate since Suma just dumped the flour and water together before I could measure it exactly. Please take care while mixing the dough, that's the trickiest part and takes a little bit of practice
2. Don't use boiling water since that will cook the rice flour and make it hard to press. The water just needs to be very hot
3. If the idiyappam dough is too dry, it won't be easy to press
4. Use regular rice flour or those marked as idiyappam flour. If the rice flour is too glutinous, the idiyappam won't taste good
5. Sprinkle more coconut on top before serving if that makes you happy

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BANANA CHIPS - ഏത്തക്ക ഉപ്പേരി

KERALA BANANA CHIPS - ETHAKKA UPPERI RECIPE

TIME :

Preparation time: 30 minutes 
Cooking time: 15 minutes 
Recipe Source: Amma

INGREDIENTS :

• 3 unripe plaintain (ethakka)
• 1 tsp of turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp of salt
• 4-5 cups of coconut oil

INSTRUCTIONS :

1. Make grooves into the skin of the plaintain and peel it off gently. Save the skin for a thoran (waste not!)
2. Mix the turmeric powder in a bowl of water and immerse the peeled plaintain in this. Let it rest for 30 mins
3. Heat oil in a pan and let it reach almost-smoking point
4. Pat the soaked plaintain dry using kitchen towels, it's ok if it's a bit moist
5. Using a slicer, slice the plaintain into thin discs. You can directly do this into the hot oil (which needs more practise) or do this into another bowl and then add it to the hot oil
6. The chips will sizzle A LOT and then start to brown a bit. Don't let it turn too red, that will spoil the taste. The sizziling will almost subside when the chips are ready
7. Mix the salt in about 2 cups water and keep ready
8. Sprinkle this salt water over the chips when they are still in the oil but ready. Be careful while doing this since the oil is hot - just sprinkle, don't pour
9. Give it a mix and then drain the chips to a kitchen towel to soak up the excess oil
10. Fry all the banana pieces, let cool, and store in airtight containers. Since coconut oil tends to go rancid pretty quickly, finish off the chips within 2-3 days or store in the refrigerator for up to a month

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Paal Payasam | Rice Kheer

Paal Payasam Recipe | Rice Kheer Pecipe | പാല്‍ പായസം 

Preparation time: 5 minutes 
Cooking time: 1 hour 
Serves 4-6
Recipe source: amma (payasam in picture made by bedhamma, her sis)

INGREDIENTS  :

• Milk - 500 ml (2 cups) 
• Sugar - 1/2 cup (adjust to taste) 
• Raw rice/ Unakkalari - 1/4 cup

INSTRUCTIONS : 

• Add 2 cups water to the milk and bring to boil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Once the milk boils, add the sugar and simmer until it reduces to half. 

• Add the washed rice and continue to cook on very low flame, stirring frequently until the milk thickens further and the rice is cooked soft. 

•  Remove and serve warm / chilled. 

NOTES :

• For a quick paal payasam (rice kheer), just add all ingredients (don't add water) to a pressure cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles. When the pressure leaves, open the lid, add 2-4 tbsp of condensed milk and bring to boil before removing from fire and serving. Adjust sugar accordingly since the condensed milk will make it too sweet if you use the same amount of sugar used otherwise
• Adding anything else to the payasam like cardamom pods or cashew nuts will distract you from the actual flavour that's meant to be pure milk so keep it simple folks

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