Chicken spring roll

Spring rolls are a popular appetizer in parties these days. Its mainly eaten during the spring festival in China and hence the name. Spring roll is a thin wrapping filled with cabbage and other vegetables. Then it is either steamed, fried or eaten as such if the wrapping is really thin. Today I am trying a chicken filled, deep fried spring rolls.

Preparation time: 30 mins

No of servings: 4 nos

Vegetable cutlets

Keralites admire Indian coffee House cutlets.  Cutlets are yummy snack for a hungry school kid as well as an unavoidable starter for a christian wedding feast in Kerala.  Today am trying a vegetable cutlet. You can add vegetables of your choice in this recipe.

Preparation time: 30 mins

No of servings: 10 nos

Chicken Stuffed Bun

Chicken stuffed buns are simply yummy and easy to make. They will definitely cure a hungry stomach. It is a perfect evening snack. This recipe yields about 10 -12 stuffed buns.

Preparation time: 30 mins
No of servings: 10-12

Chicken mappas

Chicken mappas is a traditional Kerala style chicken curry which is very low in spices compared to most of the Kerala dishes. Hence its a favorite among foreigners. This recipe is done with fish also. It doesn't contain any masala powders, only ginger, garlic and green chilly is added for flavor. It goes well with appam, idiyappam, boiled rice etc. I am trying an easier version of this traditional recipe.

Preparation time: 30 mins

Green peas 'N Carrot Pulav

When your kitchen is running low on vegetables, this recipe comes handy. Its is a simple pulav with just carrot or/and green peas.

Preparation time: 30 mins

Kerala fish curry

This is a Yummy Kottayam style Fish curry that we usually prepare at home. Coconut paste is added for a thicker consistency. Fish curry is medium level spicy. It goes well with Boiled rice or Tapioca/ Yuca.

Preparation time: 20 mins

Meen Peera/ Thoran

Meen Peera is again a simple fish recipe of Kerala. Am I using "Simple" tooo often? hmmm... Its a fish thoran.. Remember I have mentioned other Thorans before? Its a dry side dish with grated coconut. Its mildly spicy and you can use any fish for this.

Preparation time: 20 mins

Butter Chicken masala

Today I am trying a very famous restaurant dish in India. It is a rich, creamy and mildly spicy dish. There are different ways to do it. Today I choose to go traditional. So be prepared to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. But the result will always get you applause.

Preparation time- 2 hrs

Tandoori chicken

Tandoori chicken is a very healthy recipe that is traditionally made in a clay oven or tandoor. It is a famous Indian starter that originated in New Delhi. Specialty of this dish is a marination of yogurt and spices that tenders the chicken and makes cooking very easy. Today I am trying this traditional dish in Oven.

Easy chicken fry

Nothing much to say about this Chicken fry, its super easy and simply yummy. Chicken fry can be entered as a starter or a side dish in a dinner menu. Its a crispy deep fried chicken recipe that can be served with Indian rice or other flat breads.

Preparation time- 25 mins

Thakkali kichadi

Kerala`s Thakkali kichadi is a tomato - yogurt curry with coconut paste. Its a mildly spicy dish and its nothing like the north Indian 'Khichadi'. It is served as a side dish as well as main curry by varying its consistency.  I am doing a Thakkali (Tomato) kichadi that has a flowing consistency.

Preparation time: 20 mins

Aloo Matar gravy

Aloo matar is a mildly spicy Punjabi dish. Aloo (potato) & matar (green peas) do make a perfect pair.  I am gonna try a creamy curry version of this traditional aloo matar.  This goes well with any Indian flat bread or rice items.

Preparation time: 30 mins
Servings: 4 nos

Basic vanilla sponge cake

If you are a beginner in baking then this is the first cake that you will try. There are thousands of ways to make this. Here goes the basic vanilla sponge cake recipe that worked for me :)

Preparation time: 1 hr

Green Peas Masala Kerala style

Origin of this dish is unknown.. but its awesome. For a long period of time, this Green peas masala was my favourite side dish for roti. Green peas is not an easy-to-find vegetable in Kerala, but still peas masala is a favourite item in Kerala restaurants. It is a mildly spicy dish. This peas masala can be served with Indian flat breads like chapati, roti, Nan, appam, etc and ghee rice and other mildly spicy pulavs.

Preparation time: 30 mins

Basic Veg Pizza

This is a simple and easy Pizza recipe. I have used all-purpose-flour instead of bread flour as I like a little less crispy base. This recipe will be enough for two 10-inch pizzas. Have a happy pizza time....

Preparation time-40 mins

Homemade Pizza Base/ Crust

Who doesn't like Pizzas? Let me share a simple and easy Pizza crust recipe with you. I have used maida or all-purpose-flour instead of bread flour as I like a little less crispy base. This dough will be enough for 2 10-inch pizzas

Preparation time-30 mins

Chicken biriyani

A Kerala cook book is incomplete without chicken biriyani recipe.  In India you can find many varieties like hyderabadi biryani, Thalashery biriyani, kashmiri biriyani, Sindhi biriyani, karachi beef biriyani etc etc. Originally, it is a Persian dish, Indians adopted during the time of Mughal rulers. Making a Biriyani can be a controversial issue when it comes to the ingredients that goes in. A large no of spices along with pineapple, rose water, cashews, raisins, saffron .. etc etc are used. Today I am preparing the simplest among the many recipes I have seen, with a biriyani masala that you get from stores.

Preparation time- 60 mins

Baigan Bhaji

Baigan or Brinjal is a popular vegetable in North India. Bhaji is a batter fried snack item. Brinjal or Aubergine or egg plant.. whatever it is, this purple beauty is not my fav except for this snack. So I can tell, you wont be able to find the great Indian "Baigan Bartha" recipe here. This vegetable if added to a dish make the gravy more thick. It is a very healthy veggie. So here goes Brinjal bhaji.

Preparation time- 15 mins

Varutharacha Kozhicurry

Kerala's own cuisine - Varutharacha kozhi curry is a traditional chicken curry with  roasted coconut. Again different variants are there but this is how my Amma cooks it. It is time consuming, becoz of roasting and grinding, but lets make it easy by using our microwave and grinder. I am trying the easiest way to get the authentic taste. It can be served with ghee rice, chapati, boiled rice, kerala paratha, appam, idiyappam etc

Preparation time- 45 mins

Vellarikka Pulinkari

Vellarikka or Cucumber Pulinkari is a curry that has n number of varieties through out Kerala. In some places in Kerala they add jeera, others add shallots, some add dal etc etc. I am preparing my mothers own Kottayam style Pulinkari with only Cucumber. For this authentic  Kerala dish you need to use the round fat cucumber not your salad cucumbers. For easy cooking am preparing it in Pressure Cooker.

Preparation time- 25 mins

Vendakka mizhukkupuratti/ Lady`s finger fry

Vendakka mizhukkupuratti is a dry side dish served with boiled rice. It is a Kerala style preparation.  It is spicy and crispy. I am preparing it in microwave initially and for the final frying moving it to a frying pan.

Preparation time- 15 mins

Gajar ka halwa or Carrot Halwa

Gajar (Carrot) Ka Halwa is a north Indian Sweet served along a traditional meal. It is basically from Punjab, though many variants are there in other regions. The process involves slowly cooking of grated carrots in milk, sugar and ghee until it becomes thick. Sweet, Juicy and tender carrots are excellent for halwa. The famous red carrots that you get in north or the small Ooty carrots are good choices.The traditional way of cooking takes more time so today I am gonna try cooking it in Pressure cooker. 

Preparation time: 30 mins
Servings- 2

Kerala Egg Roast

Kerala egg roast is serving hard boiled egg along with a caramelized onion curry. Caramelized onions are best way to bring flavor to a curry.This is a spicy roast. You can make it milder by adding Coconut milk. Kerala egg roast goes best with Puttu and Appam. It can be served along with other Indian flat breads also.

Preparation time- 25 mins

Servings- 2

Egg Chapati

Egg chapati is something I fell in love with, at my "ex-office-snack-corner". This can be a perfect 4-O'clock snack or quick breakfast. Its quiet simple & my toddler loves it :). It is egg on chapati. You can also try this when you are lazy to make a curry for Chapatis.

Preparation time- 10 mins

Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a traditional vegetarian cuisine from Punjab. It is Indian cottage cheese in palak or spinach puree. Palak paneer does not contain many spices or masalas like other Indian currys. Paneer is lightly cooked to preserve its rich green color and nutrients. It has high iron content.It can be served along with Indian rice or Flat breads like chapati, nan, roti etc. I am a spinach hater so i used very little spinach in this dish.

Preparation time- 20 mins

Chicken Kebab

Chicken Kebab is, chicken cubes marinated in yogurt cooked in a tandoori oven or electric oven. I am trying a deep fried chicken starter with the same ingredients. Fry these chicken pieces, only few minutes before serving. It has a crispy outer coating and a soft inside. It can be served as a starter.

Preparation time- 20 mins

Chicken 65

Chicken 65 is a spicy Andra dish. According to Google, when a restaurant menu  card misprinted "Chicken 65" instead of "65. Chicken red chilly" (ie on the menu card, 65th item was a chicken dish), the dish got its name. The authentic chicken 65 has red chilly paste in it. It is served as a starter or as a side dish along with roti, chapati, nan or rice. It is a dry dish.

Preparation time- 40 mins.

Ghee Rice

Ghee rice is, rice cooked along with ghee and whole spices. Many variants are seen in India. The one I am trying today is a Kerala style Ghee rice with minimum Ghee as possible.

Preparation time- 20 mins

Paneer mutter masala

Paneer or Indian cottage cheese is one of the most favorite item for vegetarians in India. Paneer Mutter masala is an authentic Punjabi dish. It can be served with Riceor Indian flat Breads. It is a rich, medium spicy gravy.

Preparation time- 30 mins

Gobi Onion Bajji

Bajji is a spicy Indian snack. Many variants of this dish are there. Its a crispy, spicy fried snack that is served as a starter also. Many veggies can be used for bajji. Today I used Cauliflower (Gobi) and Onion for my amoeba-shaped (shapeless) bajjis. 

Preparation time- 15 mins

Egg fried rice

Fried rice is a Chinese rice item that is popular worldwide. This dish has vegetables, meat and Chinese sauces sauteed in high flame and mixed with boiled long-rice. This is a complete meal. It can be served with other Chinese curry like chilly chicken, Manchurian etc. Among the many varieties of fried rice am gonna try a simple Egg fried rice.

Preparation time- 45 mins
No of servings- 4 nos

Gobi Manchurian/ Cauliflower Manchurian

Gobi Manchurian is an Indian version of Chinese Manchurian with India`s most favorite vegetable- Gobi or Cauliflower. It is a two step process. First, deep fry the cauliflower florets in a thick batter. Make a hot & spicy sauce and add these fried florets. Gobi Manchurian is a favorite restaurant dish for most of the vegetarian Indians. It can be prepared as a dry starter or a gravy. Today I am making a semi gravy Gobi Manchurian.

Preparation time- 30 mins

Thakkali curry/ kerala style tomato curry

Thakkali (tomato) curry is as simple as its name, its tomato in coconut gravy. It is a typical Kerala dish served with boiled rice or chapati. It is a mildly spicy dish. Preparation is similar to a Kerala fish curry. Thakkali curry is a simple dish that takes only 10 mins to prepare. Coconut oil is a must for this preparation.

Preparation time- 10 mins
No of servings- 2

Vegetable pulav

Vegetable pulav is an authentic north Indian dish of vegetables in spicy basmati rice.  It is a complete meal served as lunch or dinner with Raitha, salad, pickle etc. The recipe am gonna share today is prepared N number of times at my home. I simply love this one as its healthy, tasty and very easy. One major advantage of this dish is, even if half of the veggies are not there, the final pulav is gonna taste awesome.

Preparation time- 40 mins
Servings- 4

Pepper chicken wrap

Pepper chicken wrap is a simple dish that you can make with left over chapatis. It is an easy way to sneak in veggies for your picky eater. Its a perfect 'after-school-meal' for a hungry kid. The same filling can be used for sandwiches and spring rolls. If you have left over chicken pieces in a curry, dig it out and use it directly in this wrap. Else, you need a small chicken breast piece to make two mighty wraps.

Preparation time- 20 mins
No of wraps- 2 nos

Pepper chicken fry

Pepper chicken fry is an easy starter that can win you guaranteed applause all the time. Its a spicy dry dish with pepper and red chilly powder. You can serve it with lemon wedges and onion rings. Also it can be a side dish for Indian breads like chapati, rumali roti, kerala Paratta( porotta) etc.

Preparation time- 20 mins

Kerala Omelet

Yes.... You heard me right.. Keralites have their own version of omelets also :). This is a very basic recipe that anyone in Kerala would know. Again many varieties are there, this is the one I prefer. Its not only a breakfast item in Kerala, we serve it along with lunch & dinner. In a Kerala Omelet we would definitely add coconut. And the rest of the recipe goes something like this...

Preparation time- 5 mins

Spinach chapati

A sneaky way to get some spinach to your little monsters. Also spinach brings a beautiful green colour to chapatis. Chapatis are Indian flat bread made with wheat flour. Its a super easy recipe. We are just adding spinach paste into ordinary chapati mixture. Instead of spinach you can also use cooked beetroot puree, carrot puree etc.

Preparation time - 10 mins
No of chapati- 2 nos

Cabbage Thoran in Microwave

Cabbage Thoran is a simple side dish served with boiled rice in Kerala. Thoran is an important dry dish in Kerala Sadhya (A grand Kerala banquet served on Banana Leaves). Almost any vegetables can be used to make thoran. Basically a dry dish with grated coconut is a thoran in Kerala. Even fish & meat are used for making thoran. See my Chicken Thoran for more details. Today I am preparing a Cabbage Thoran in Microwave. I am using burner for only tempering.

Preparation time- 20 mins

Kadala curry

Kadala curry is a thick, spicy coconut gravy with black chickpeas (bengal gram/ channa/ kadala). It is a favourite side dish for breakfast items such as Puttu , Idiyappam, appam, palappam etc. It is very healthy as chickpeas are rich in proteins. Puttu and Kadala curry is one of the first dishes that you have to try if you are not a keralite. 

Preparation time- 25 mins

Chiratta Puttu

Puttu is one of the healthiest breakfast in the world. This steamed rice cake is an authentic Kerala dish, prepared by steaming a mixture of rice powder and coconut in a cylindrical steamer. Chiratta puttu is a variety of puttu prepared in a coconut shell. After grating the coconut, a hole is made in the center of the shell and used for steaming. Nowadays steel/ aluminium chiratta puttu maker is easily available in the market, that can be used with a pressure cooker and I am using one of them. I will try to include the pictures of an original chiratta puttu ASAP. Puttu can be served with kadala curry, cherupayar, egg curry, steamed bananas etc.

Preparation time- 15 mins
No of Puttu- 1 no

Chicken Thoran

Chicken Thoran is a Kerala style dry dish served with rice. Its a spicy side dish with grated coconut and shallots. It must be cooked in Kerala`s very own Coconut Oil or it wont taste the same. Though, different versions of Kerala chicken preparations are there, this is one of my all time fav :D

 

Preparation time- 30 mins

Simple Kerala Pulishery

Pulishery is an authentic Kerala gravy made with Yoghurt & Coconut. In Kerala, from south to north you can find many varieties of Pulisherys differing in color, texture, ingredients etc etc.. but we all agree on one thing.... Pulishery is Sour, as its name. It is very similar to other Kerala currys like Moru Kachiyathu (Pulishery minus coconut) and Kalan (a thicker Pulishery). Pulishery can be prepared with Mangoes, bananas, ash gourd, pineapples etc. But today I am preparing a simple Kottayam style pulishery with only green chillies. I guarantee, it won't take more than 15 mins.

Preparation time- 15 mins

Easy Aloo Paratha

Aloo (Potato) Paratha is an Indian breakfast or brunch ( But I love to eat them anytime).It can be served with chilled Yogurt, Butter, a spicy Pickle or a Chutney or even Tomato ketchup. It is an Indian whole-wheat flat bread stuffed with potato filling. Do you have a picky eater at home? Then, this is a way to make them eat Potatoes. But  I love Potatoes & for this recipe I need to thank Gopal Bhai :) . Even though I have tried many varieties of aloo parathas, this is the easiest and healthiest of them all.

Preparation time - 30 mins
No of Parathas- 6 nos

Kozhikotta or Sweet Rice dumplings

Kozhikotta or sweet Rice dumplings is a popular snack in Kerala. Similar dishes are there in other parts of India namely modak, mandai, kozhikottai etc. It has zero oil content and it is steam cooked. It has a sweet coconut filling made with either jaggery or sugar. Today I made ones with sugar filling.

Preparation time- 20 mins

Van Payar(Red Gram) Thoran

Van payar thoran is an authentic Kerala dish served along with Kanji (rice porridge). Payar or Red gram is high in protein. So Kanji & payar makes a complete meal. Instead of red gram we can also use cheru payar or green gram in this recipe.

Preparation time- 20 mins

Recipe Index

Non Vegetarian

1. Pepper Chicken Fry
2. Pepper Chicken Wrap
3. Kerala Omelet
4. Egg Fried Rice
5. Chicken Thoran
6. Kerala egg roast
7. Egg Chapati

Vegetarian

1. Gobi (Cauliflower) Manchurian
2. Cabbage Thoran
3. Spinach Chapati
4. Vegetable Pulav
5. Chiratta Puttu
6. Kadala (Chickpeas) Curry
7. Thakkali (Tomato) Curry
8. Pulishery
9. Aloo Paratha 
10. Van Payar Thoran
11. Kozhikotta or Sweet Rice dumplings
12. Gobi Onion Bajji
13. Vendakka mizhukkupturatti
14. Gajar Ka Halwa
15. Palak Paneer
16. Paneer mutter masala
17. Ghee rice

North Indian

1. Vegetable Pulav
2. Aloo Paratha 
3. Spinach Chapati
4. Gobi Onion Bajji
5. Gajar Ka Halwa
6. Palak Paneer
7. Paneer mutter masala
8. Egg Chapati

Chinese

1. Gobi (Cauliflower) Manchurian
2. Egg Fried Rice

Kerala

1. Chiratta Puttu
2. Cabbage Thoran
3. Pepper Chicken Fry
4. Chicken Thoran
5. Kadala (Chickpeas) Curry
6. Pulishery
7. Thakkali (Tomato) Curry
8. Van Payar Thoran
9. Kozhikotta or Sweet Rice dumplings
10. Vendakka mizhukkupturatti
11. Ghee rice
12. Kerala egg roast

Snack

1. Pepper Chicken Wrap
2. Kozhikotta or Sweet Rice dumplings
3. Gobi Onion Bajji
4. Gajar Ka Halwa
5. Egg Chapati