Avial recipe, Kerala Aviyal recipe

Aviyal | Avial is a popular dish in Tamilnadu and Kerala. Avial is a must one in the Onam sadhya menu. I have already posted the avial which we make at home. I wanted to learn about the Kerala Aviyal and finally got the perfect recipe from my mami's sister Viji. As i mentioned in my kurukku kalan post, she is very sweet and answered all my silly doubts with smile. We all loved this Kerala style aviyal. I just enjoyed with plain rice and papad. Try out this Kerala style Aviyal and let me know how it turned out. Check out my collection of Onam sadhya recipes.

Kerala Aviyal recipe

  Preparation Time : 15 mins | Cooking Time : 15 Mins |Serves: 5-6

     Mixed vegetables*  5 cups
     Coconut   1/2 cup
     Turmeric powder  1 tsp
     Salt  as needed
     Cumin seeds | jeera  1 tsp
     Yogurt | Thick curd   1/4 cup
     Green chili  4
     Red chili powder  1/2 tsp
     Coconut oil  3 tblsp + 2 tsp
     Curry leaves  few  
*I used carrots, yam, Raw banana (vazhakkai),drumstick, potato,cucumber, white pumpkin(poosanikaai), drumstick, beans and snake gourd(pudalangai). 
                                            Video on how to make Kerala Avial

              
Method:

• Chop the veggies lengthwise.
• In a wide pan add 2 tsp of oil. Slit 2 green chili and layer the vegetables one by one. 
• Add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder and salt. 
• Add 3/4 cup of water and cover this.
• Cover this and let this cook in a low flame. Once the steam starts coming out, open the lid and mix it well.
• Cover this again and cook. Mix in between.
• Grind the coconut, 2 green chili, jeera,red chili powder and 1/2 tsp turmeric powder into a coarse paste.
• Once the veggies are cooked, add this coconut paste to it.
• Do not cook the veggies till mushy. It should be cooked but should retain its shape.
• Mix well.
• Whisk the yogurt and add it to the veggies.
• Mix well and switch off the flame.
• Add 3 tblsp coconut oil and fresh curry leaves.
• Kerala Aviyal is ready to serve.

     

Method with step wise pictures:

• Chop the veggies lengthwise.
• In a wide pan add 2 tsp of oil. Slit 2 green chili and layer the vegetables one by one. 
• Add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder and salt. 

• Add 3/4 cup of water and cover this.
• Cover this and let this cook in a low flame. Once the steam starts coming out, open the lid and mix it well.
• Cover this again and cook. Mix in between.

• Grind the coconut, 2 green chili, jeera,red chili powder and 1/2 tsp turmeric powder into a coarse paste.

• Once the veggies are cooked, add this coconut paste to it.
• Do not cook the veggies till mushy. It should be cooked but should retain its shape.
• Mix well.

• Whisk the yogurt and add it to the veggies.
• Mix well and switch off the flame.

• Add 3 tblsp coconut oil and fresh curry leaves.
• Kerala Aviyal is ready to serve.

Notes:

1. Do not use sour curd, use fresh thick curds.
2. My mom always add curd to aviyal just before serving, so that you can avoid getting the sour taste.
3. Do not grind the coconut mixture into a fine paste. Just pulse it twice and add.
4. You can add raw mango too, if adding skip the yogurt.

    

Kurukku Kalan recipe, Kerala kalan recipe

Kerala Kurukku Kalan recipe is a  coconut based yogurt gravy, usually take in Onam sadhya menu. I haven't explored much into authentic Kerala recipes, but this time i wanted to try out some popular Onam sadhya recipes. My mami, from whom i learnt chakka varati recipe, whose cousin i met in India during a wedding. She is basically from Cochin and shared with me few authentic Onam sadhya recipes. Later i clarified my doubts over phone before trying out the recipe. Thank you so much Viji for sharing the recipes and patiently answering my queries. Let's learn few more Kerala style recipes in this week.
Traditionally Kerala kalan is made with yam and nendram banana. Since i didn't get the Nendram banana nearby my place, i added only yam. You can add raw banana(vazhakkai) too.
Check out some collection of Kerala Onam sadhya recipes from Jeyashris kitchen.

Green apple pickle | Instant pickle recipe

Instant green apple pickle is an easy pickle recipe, tastes similar to the raw mango pickle. Though i tried this few times, happened to post this in Jeyashri's kitchen Instagram few weeks back. Many asked for the recipe of green apple pickle. Though it is similar to the instant mango pickle, i wanted to make a separate post for the recipe of Green apple pickle. This goes well with curd rice and sambar rice too. If the apple is sour, you can go ahead and make pickle. I have scheduled this post for next week as i have guests coming up next week. But there was some issue with my camera and few step wise pictures which i took for today's post went missing. So i thought of publishing this recipe today. Will post Onam sadhya recipes from tomorrow.

Onam Sadhya Recipes | Kerala Onam Sadhya recipes

I have some collection of Onam sadhya recipes in Jeyashri's kitchen. Also will be posting few more Kerala Onam Sadhya recipes in the coming up week, as Onam 2017 is on September 6. I have posted few basic Kerala Onam recipes such as Chakka varati, Olan, Erissery, Thoran, Kerala paal payasam, ada pradaman and few more. Click on the pictures for recipes. Stay tuned for Onam sadhya recipes coming up on Jeyashri's kitchen.

Shahi Coconut modak, Easy Ganesh chaturthi recipes

Shahi coconut modak is an easy to make Prasadh for Ganesh chaturthi. Generally many people keep the Ganesha at home for a week after Ganesh chaturthi. They offer Prasadh for Ganpathi everyday. We used to celebrate this in one of our friend's house and we all will make prasadh everyday for Lord Ganesha. Even kids love to cut eggless cake for Ganesha too. This shahi coconut modak is a similar to the easy coconut ladoo recipe, shaped in modak shape. I have added some nuts to make it more rich. I used modak mould to shape this shahi coconut modak. Thanks to my friend Sonali for sharing the modak mould with me. Check out my Chocolate peda modak recipe too. Wish all my a very happy Ganesh Chaturthi. May Lord Ganesha shower his blessing on you always.
Check out my full collection of Ganesh chaturthi recipes.

Modagam using Desiccated coconut , Ganesh chaturthi recipes

Modakam | modagam | Kozhakattai, the traditional modakam is made using coconut and jaggery stuffing. Generally we use fresh coconut to make the coconut jaggery poornam. But some people may not have access to fresh coconut in their country. We can easily make poornam with desiccated coconut. The taste is almost the same and even you can replace jaggery with brown sugar also. Celebrate this Ganesh chaturthi with varieties of modak and other recipes from Jeyashri's kitchen.
Stay tuned for one more delicious Mahatrastrian style modak using desiccated coconut.

Modagam using desiccated coconut

  Preparation Time : 20 mins | Cooking Time : 20 Mins |Makes: 16

     For the outer cover
Idiyappam flour  1 cup
Water as needed
Sesame oil  few drops
   For the poornam| stuffing 
Desiccated coconut  1/2 cup
Powdered jaggery  1/4 cup
Cardamom powder  a pinch
Water 1-2 tblp

Sesame oil   to grease idli plate and grease hands

Method:

• In a pan add the desiccated coconut, jaggery and cardamom powder.
• Add 1-2 tblsp of water and mix well.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes till the jaggery melts and it gets incorporated with the desiccated coconut.
• Poornam | stuffing for modak is ready.
• Let's make the outer cover.
•  We can make the outer cover in 4 ways. 
• Add idiyapam flour or home rice flour in a wide bowl. 
• Boil water with few drops of sesame oil.
• Once it comes to a nice rolling boil, add the water to the flour. If using home made or store bought rice flour,add a pinch of salt to the water.
• Mix well with a spoon and keep it covered for few minutes.
• Once it is warm, grease hands with sesame oil and knead into a soft dough, without any cracks.
• Keep it covered all the time.
• Make it into equal lemon sized balls.
• Take one portion of the dough, using fingers make a small cup.
• Place 1/2 tblsp of filling into this.
• Gently close it and make it into modak shape. 
• You can check my video on how to shape modak 
• Repeat this for the rest of the dough .
• The dough and the stuffing is just perfect for the outer cover.
• I finished both the dough and the stuffing for making 16 modakams.
• Grease an idli plate and place the modakams.
• Steam for 10 minutes. You will see the shine in the modaks and it is the right time to switch off the flame.
• Let this cool for 2 minutes.
• Take out the modaks from the pan and the desiccated modaks are ready for neivedyam.

     
     

Method:

• In a pan add the desiccated coconut, jaggery and cardamom powder.

• Add 1-2 tblsp of water and mix well.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes till the jaggery melts and it gets incorporated with the desiccated coconut.

• Poornam | stuffing for modak is ready.
• Let's make the outer cover.
•  We can make the outer cover in 4 ways. 
• Add idiyapam flour or home rice flour in a wide bowl. 
• Boil water with few drops of sesame oil.
• Once it comes to a nice rolling boil, add the water to the flour. If using home made or store bought rice flour,add a pinch of salt to the water.
• Mix well with a spoon and keep it covered for few minutes.

• Once it is warm, grease hands with sesame oil and knead into a soft dough, without any cracks.
• Keep it covered all the time.
• Make it into equal lemon sized balls.

• Take one portion of the dough, using fingers make a small cup.
• Place 1/2 tblsp of filling into this.
• Gently close it and make it into modak shape. 

• You can check my video on how to shape modak 
• Repeat this for the rest of the dough .
• The dough and the stuffing is just perfect for the outer cover.
• I finished both the dough and the stuffing for making 16 modakams.
• Grease an idli plate and place the modakams.
• Steam for 10 minutes. You will see the shine in the modaks and it is the right time to switch off the flame.

• Let this cool for 2 minutes.
• Take out the modaks from the pan and the desiccated modaks are ready for neivedyam.

Notes:

1. Adding water is necessary while making the poornam but do not add too much. First add 1 tblsp and if needed add 1 more.
2. The sweet is just perfect for the stuffing, if needed more add 1-2 tblsp of extra jaggery powder.
3. Always keep the dough and the prepared modak covered. 
4. If using modak mould check out my video on how to shape modak using mould. 
5. If using brown sugar, add water only if needed.

     

Sweet potato modakam, Ganesh Chaturthi recipes

Sweet potato modakam, Ganesh Chaturthi 2017 is coming up on august 25. I have posted many varieties of modak recipes including our traditional Modakam with thengai poornam. Last year itself i wanted to post this Sweet potato modakam but couldn't post as i had posted other kozhukattai varieties. It turned out so well and we all loved the taste of sweet potato in modakam. If you want to make a different variety of modakam try out this one and also my jackfruit modakam too.
Check out my full collection of Ganesh Chaturthi recipes 

Kothamalli ammini kozhakattai , Kozhukattai recipes

Ammini Kozhakattai is always made at our place during Vinayagar chaturthi, using left over Kozhakattai maavu. Some times amma makes kozhakattai on normal days too as it's our family's favorite. Right from my childhood, i used to love the modakam and these cute mini ammini kozhakattai. This ammini kozhakattai can be had as a healthy snack too. You can substitute rice flour with wheat flour, ragi flour or millet flour too. I have tried curry leaves ammini kozhakattai once and loved it very much. Try out this flavorful Coriander leaves | Kothamalli ammini kozhakkatai at home. Check out my full collection of Ganesha chaturthi 2017 recipes. 

Mexican chaat recipe , Fusion recipes

Mexican chaat, is a fusion chaat recipe, similar to the popular Indian chaat Bhel puri. Yesterday when Varsha was telling about some Cooking without fire competition in school, i gave her this idea. Today morning i sent all the ingredients to her for the competition and kept one more portion for my post too. As most of the kids like Doritos |nachos, this chaat will be a sure winner among kids. I have given few variations for this recipe in the notes section. Scroll down to see it. This chaat recipe is a perfect one for parties, you can keep everything ready and just mix everything at the time of serving.

Wheat flour sweet seedai, Gokulashtami recipes

Sweet seedai is a very simple seedai made with wheat flour, sugar and few other easy available ingredients. I have posted Vella seedai recipe where we add jaggery for sweetness. For beginners if you are still not confident  of the consistency of vella paagu for vella paagu, you can make this sweet seedai. This is a no fail, no burst seedai recipe. I saw this recipe of sweet seedai in a youtube video and made few changes in that. We all loved the sweet seedai.
Actually my plan was to post Milagu seedai but unfortunately it popped. I think the home made pepper powder is not so fine and thus this disaster. So found this recipe so easy and attempted it. Check out my full collection of Gokulashtami recipes.

Besan Murukku recipe, Gokulashtami recipes

Besan murukku | Kadalamaavu murukku is a easy an instant murukku recipe made with store bought rice flour and store bought gram flour. I have given this recipe for Aval Kitchen 2 years back, for Diwali recipes. Later i fwill orgot to post the recipe of besan murukku  here. As Gokulashtami 2017 is on Aug 14, i thought i post the recipe of this easy murukku recipe. Check out my full collection of Janmastami recipes. I have posted the recipe of this murukku with a video.

Coconut Badam ladoo ,easy laddu recipe

Coconut Badam ladoo is an easy sweet recipe, made with almond(badam) powder, desiccated coconut, sugar and ghee as the main ingredients. During our India trip in June, my brother in law passed me a packet of almond powder to me and told to try some recipes with that. This week i thought i will post some Janmashtami | Krishna jayanthi recipes, also realised that today is Raksha bandan too. I first wanted to post Rava coconut ladoo. Then when i opened my freezer,saw this almond powder and tried this badam coconut laddu. It turned out very well and got ready in 20 minutes. Check out my full collection of Janmastami| Krishna jayanthi recipes and Raksha bandan recipes.
Scroll down till the end for tips and badam coconut laddu with step wise pictures.

Spicy Pomegranate raita with Alvas Natural Yogurt

Alvas Yogurt - A review

Yogurt|Curd|Thayir, we Indians include in our everyday meal, either in the form of curd rice or buttermilk or masala chaas.  I got a mail from Alvas, an Indian Diary Producer in Singapore, to  write a review on their yogurt. I readily accepted it and they sent me their products in 2 days.

Alvas Natural curd comes in 3 different sizes, 200ml, 500ml and 1litre. 

Alvas Natural Yoghurt is available in Sheng Shiong outlets, FairPrice shops and Mustafa Center in Singapore. I felt the availability of the yogurt is quite reachable to all, as we have Sheng Shiong and FairPrice outlets island wide. Apart from these places, it is available in all Indian Mini marts. Coming  to the price, the 200 ml is priced 1.20 SGD , the 500ml is 2.80 SGD and the 1 litre is priced 5.40 SGD. 

This review is based on my personal opinion. I am not paid by the company to write the review. I was given only the yogurt by Alvas Natural. 

Chakka unniyappam | Jackfruit uniappam recipe

Chakka unniappam with video
Chakka unniyappam or jackfruit neiappam, is generally made using chakka varati.  We make unniappam | nei appam for aavani avittam, Gokulashtami and Karthigai deepam. After making jackfruit modagam, i wanted to try jackfruit poli and ela adai this year. Ela adai , few days back my friend's mom taught me while she was making it. But today due to some urgent work, i didn't have time to make poli or ela adai.  During our India trip in June, we attended a wedding in Kerala and came to know that they make nei appam with jackfruit. So i thought i will give it a try. It tasted so awesome, if you are a jackfruit lover then you will love it for sure. The nei appams were crispy outside and soft inside. Check out my

• Karthigai appam
• Wheat flour appam