Kerala Prawn Soup Recipe

Recipe Ingredients:

1 tsp black peppercorns

• 1 tsp black mustard seeds
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
• 1/8 tsp fenugreek seeds
• 2 tbsp oil
• 3 ground onions
• 12 curry leaves
• 2 tsp chopped garlic
• 1 chopped ginger
• 1 tsp red chili paste
• 750 ml fish stock
• 750 gm prawns ? without shells
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 125 ml coconut milk

Method:

Roast peppercorns, mustard, curry leaves and fenugreek seeds. Grind to a fine powder. Heat oil. Add onions; curry leaves, garlic and ginger. Stir and fry for 3 minutes. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to prevent sticking. Add dry masala and red chili paste. Cook for a few minutes before adding the stock. Season and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add prawns and cook until tender. Stir in limejuice and coconut milk. Heat through and serve.

Recipe for Masala Tea

Recipe Ingredients:

• 3 tsp Tea
• 2/3 cup Milk
• 1½ cups Water
• 2″ piece of Ginger
• 4 tsp Sugar (or to taste)
• A pinch of Cardamom powder

Method:

1. Boil one and a half cup of water in a saucepan.
2. Add in the tea and boil for a minute.
3. Add the ginger and cardamom powder. Let it boil.
4. Now add milk and sugar and bring to boil.
5. The mixture will rise and may spill over the top, so be aware and remove from the heat.
6. Strain the tea into cups and serve.

Thiruvonam-Tenth and Main day of Onam

Thiruvonam - Day Ten

Thiruvonam Aashamsakal ! The enchanting state of Kerala reverberates with the chants of Onaashmsakal, "To everyone, Onam Wishes" as people exchange warm greetings of the occasion on the tenth and the most important day of the carnival of Onam. People believe that it is on Thiru Onam that the spirit of legendary King Mahabali visits the state of Kerala. Activities begin early in the morning. People clean their house, take early bath, wear new clothes and participate in special prayers organised in individual homes and then in local temples. Later a very special and the biggest of all days Pookalam is prepared to welcome Maveli. Clay mounds in the shape of pyramids representing Lord Vishnu and Mahabali are prepared and placed in front of the Pookalam. In the noon the grand feast of Onam called Onasadya is prepared. The strictly vegetarian meal consists of 11 - 13 mandatory dishes and is served on a banana leaf. The eldest member of the family presents gifts and new clothes to the family members. Various cultural events are organised all over the state to mark the day. Dances, games, shows and get together are the other highlights of the day. Patassu (fire crackers) are also burnt to celebrate the occasion. There are some rituals also marked for the eleventh and twelfth day called Avittom and Chatayam or Chathayam respectively. But the major celebrations get over on the tenth and the most important day of Thiruvonam.

Kalan

It is a preparation of buttermilk with thick gravy. Sliced plantains known as nenthra-kaya and yams (chena) are boiled in water with salt and chillies. Buttermilk mixed with ground coconut pulp is poured in proper time and the preparation is flavored by the addition of mustard, fried in coconut oil.

Ingredients:
Yam sliced into small pieces 100gm
Small raw banana 1no
Green chillies (slit the edge) 3nos
Mashed yogurt (without water) 1/2litre
Grated coconut 1/2quantity
Cumin seeds 1/2tsp
Pepper powder 1tsp
Water 1cup
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Fried and powdered fenugreek 1/2tsp
Ghee 3tsp
Dried chilli (split into 2) 2nos
Mustard 1tsp
Ghee 1tsp
Curry leaves 1sprig

Method:

1. Remove the skin of the plantain and slice it into small pieces.
2. Grind the coconut and cumin to a smooth paste without adding water. Keep it aside.
3. Dissolve the pepper powder in 1/2cup of water and strain it through a clean cloth. Cook the vegetables in this water. Add the turmeric powder and salt. Stir well. When the water dries, add 1tsp ghee. Pour the yogurt and mix well. Lower the flame. When the curd boils and becomes dry and thick, add the grinded coconut mixture and fenugreek powder into it. Stir well. Brings to a boil and remove from fire. Season with mustard, dried chillies and curry leaves.
   
   
   WISH ALL THE READERS A HAPPY ONAM
   

Uthradam-ninth day of Onam

Uthradam - Day Nine

Utradam or Uthradam is the ninth and the penultimate day of the festival of Onam. There is jubilation all around as people prepare to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali. In some regions of Kerala festivities of Onam starts in a full fledged way from Utradam itself. It is a public holiday on that day. Some people also call Utradam as the first Onam and the next day Thiru Onam as the second Onam.

On the day of Utradam tenants and dependents of Nayar Tarawads (traditional large joint families sharing a common kitchen) bring produce of their farms or the product of their toil to the Karanavar (eldest member of the Tarawad). These gifts from the tenants to the Karanavar are called Onakazhcha. Karanavar greets these people warmly and treats them with a sumptuous meal on Thiru Onam. Village artisans also bring their handicrafts to the Karanavar and are graciously rewarded.

Houses are cleaned up on this day and people get charged up to participate in the events to take place on the following day. Pookalam is given a nice design with new and special flowers on this day.

Onam recipe-Kootukari

Kootukari

In this curry, a miscellaneous variety of vegetables and some Bengal gram are used. The difference between this and 'Aviyal' is that no tamarind is added.

Ingredients:
200 gm: Kadala Parippu (Chena dal)
Vegetables - 200 gm each: Chena, Banana (Pacha Nendrakaya), Mathan, Carrot ( all cut into small pieces)
Spices: Mulakupodi, Manjalpodi, Kurumulakupodi, Jeerakam, Kaduke (mustard seed), Vattal Mulaku & Karuveppila
1 no: Cocunut
2 tsp: Coconut Oil

Method:

1. Cook Chena Dal and then add vegetables along with Manjalpodi, Mulakupodi and Kurumulakupodi as per requirement.
2. Cook for 15 minutes.
3. Grate and grind the coconut with jeera and add to the curry and cook well. Add salt.
4. For tadka - put mustard seeds, vattal mulaku and Kariveppila in two spoon coconut oil and pour this into the curry. Delicious Kootukari is ready.
5. Kootukari can be served with rice or roti /chappathi.

Pooradam-Day Eight of Onam Festival

Pooradam-Day Eight
Pooradam is the eighth day of the ten-day long carnival of Onam. On this day the devotees create clay idols called Ma. As the idol is created on the day of Pooradam, it is also called Poorada Uttigal. Each Ma is decorated with flowers.

Moolam-Seventh day of Onam

Moolam - Day Seven

Moolam is the seventh day of the festival of Onam which continues for ten days. With just two days left for the festival now, enthusiasm grips the state of Kerala. Bright colours of the festivities can be seen in commercial areas of the state where the shops are loaded with goods and people are jostling for a space. There is hustle and bustle everywhere as excited people do their last bit of shipping. What is even more apparent on the faces of millions of people of Kerala is the spirit of joy and happiness. People get the feel that the time to meet their Onathappan has just come. A year long wait is going to be over and there will be celebrations all around.

Pookalam is made in a new design with kondattam (gaiety) on this day with the most beautiful flowers. For Maveli is coming and there is mirth all over.

Thumbi Thullal

Thumbi Thullal is a fascinating all women dance and singing event performed in Kerala on the occasion of Onam. While men engage themselves in energetic sports, womenfolk perform Thumbi Thullal and have their share of fun.

Wearing their best sarees, stunning jewelery and fragrant gajras, a group of women sit in the formation of circle to play Thumbi Thullal. In the centre of the circle sits the main performer.

Lead singer initiates a song in her melodious voice by singing the first couplet which is taken up by other women. The sequence continues song after song with the lead singer initiating the couplet every time followed by a chorus from other women. Joyful clap dance also goes on in rhythm with the singing.

It is a colorful spectacle to watch women in their carefree mood. The event continues amidst jeers and laughter till the day comes to its end.

Onam special-Banana Halwa

Banana Halwa

Ingredients:

Nutmeg ground 1/2 tsp
Pure Ghee 1 tablespoon
Bananas (ripe, peeled and mashed) 3 (medium)
Sugar 1 cup

Method:

1. Heat ghee in a heavy pan. Add bananas and cook over low heat, stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking. Cook for 10 minutes, or until bananas have browned and resemble soft toffee. Add more ghee as necessary.
2. Add sugar and continue stirring until dissolved.
3. Add nutmeg and cardamom; remove from heat.

Spread halwa into a deep, large plate. Allow it to cool and cut into squares.

Thriketa-Sixth day of Onam

Thriketa - Day Six

Triketta or Thriketa is the sixth day of the carnival of Onam. A feeling of joy and jubilation can be felt amongst the people of Kerala at this time. Cultural programmes and social gatherings are organised by various cultural societies all over the state. People of all religions caste and creed participate in these events as the festival of Onam has come to be seen as a secular festival. Government of India too celebrates Onam as the National Festival of Kerala.

There are no set rituals marked for the day of Triketta. It marks the time for home coming for people staying away from their families for various reasons; Onam is the time for family get together and nobody likes to be away from family and dear ones. Joys of festivities doubles in the company of family members and close friends. On this happy note, Pookalam gets a more beautiful design and fresh flowers.

Onam recipe-Erissery With Yam

Erissery

It is made of raw plantains and Yams sliced and boiled in water with salt and chillies or pepper added. The pulp of the coconut is ground with a little cumin seed added to it. When the whole thing is properly boiled, a few mustard seeds along with scraped coconut pulp fried in coconut oil, is added in to it to give it flavour. Erissery is also made with pumpkin and red oriental beans, the recipe is given below.

Erissery With Yam

Ingredients:

Yam cut into small pieces 60gms
Big raw banana 1 no
Pepper powder 1tsp
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Water 1cup
Salt to taste
Grated coconut 1/2coconut
Cumin seeds a pinch
Ghee 10gm
Coconut oil 1tbs
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp

Method:

1. Split the banana lengthwise into 3 pieces. Do not peel the skin. Cut it into small pieces.
2. Boil yam and banana with pepper powder, turmeric powder and salt in 1 cup of water. Grind one fourth quantity of grated coconut and cumin seeds together and add to it.
3. Grind the remaining coconut and saute in a low flame till brown in colour. Keep it aside.
4. Season mustard seeds in ghee. Add the coconut oil, seasoned mustard seeds and the sauted coconut to the vegetable mixture. Mix well.