PuliyumMulakumChalichathu &IdichakkaThoran

  














Happiness is ....these kind of simple dishes.I think it was

Ammani

who had this meme...had thought of posting it long back...forgot it for a while...This was my father's favourite and something that he made whenever he wanted to have something tangy hot and something simple...when my mom ws bed ridden for a while, kitchen ws controlled by my dad...Achan had real difficult times, cooking for us,taking care of us,taking care of amma, and going to office. ...sometimes his dal would be messy and his cabbage fry would go morose and dark.... but he did it all with love...so we dint complain...Ruminating on those memories a painful sob choke my heart still...
I dont know from where he learnt this puliyum mulakum chalikkal in this style, for he was a widely travelled man...in Kerala I have seen people doing it, but it was just tamarind,salt,green chilli and coconut oil all mixed in water.My father did it a little different but ws tastier definitely...and I just remember that we ate a lot of rice with this tangy curry and a fish fry, or an omelette or a papad. I just recreated the memory with some idichakka thoran,prawn deep fry, and sago fritters(sontagi/vaddiyalu).My husband says that it tasted like'Thembli',a Kannada preparation which he has promised to make for me with some mutton fry!!It has been long that he hasnt cooked anything..btw he is a good cook and that was my greatest fear when I got married!!

So here goes my happy meal....

Ingredients:
Tamarind paste-1 1/2 tsp(Natco)(Those who are using tamarind may use a berry size tamarind soaked in water and juice extracted)
Onion-1 large-chopped
Green chilli-4(pounded)
Dry Red chilli-3
Mustard seed-1/2 tsp
Cumin seed-1/2 tsp
Curry leaves-2 sprigs
Grated coconut-1tbsp
Fresh Coconut oil-as rqd(or any oil of u'r choice)
Salt-as rqd
Water-as rqd

Method:
Mix tamarind paste,onion,green chilli,grated coconut,and salt with water.Roast the dry red chillies in a tsp of coconut oil.Pound it into small flakes.(You can use a mincer as well).Add this to the tamarind mix.Now heat oil in a small wok.Prepare the seasoning with mustard seed,cumin seeds and curry leaves.Add this seasoning also to the prepared tamarind curry.Mix well and serve it with hot rice.


Idichakka thoran

This is a common item in our daily menu back home in Kerala once the jackfruit season begins...the very tender ones are made into upperi, a less tender,but raw ones are made into idichakka and the ripe ones into payasam,appam,chakka varatti etc etc...I had some raw chakka pieces left over in the fridge from my birmingham purchase last time...It is time to refil my fridge with fresh kerala stock...so I need to finish these off...and moreover idichakka is my all time favourite.I wish I had some fresh idichakka.

Ingredients:

Raw jack fruit pieces-200g
Grated coconut-2 tbsp(optional)
Garlic-5 pods(chopped)
Onion-1 large(chopped)
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Green chilli-5(Slitted)
Dry red chilli-3(cut into pieces)
Mustard seed-1/2tsp
Curry leaves-2 sprigs
Blackgramdal-1/2 tsp
Cumin seed-1/4 tsp
Salt-as rqd
Oil-as rqd

Method

Pound the jack fruit pieces well to shred it completely.Now mix it with salt and turmeric powder well.Now Heat oil in a wok.Add garlic, onions,green chillies.Saute them till it becomes transluscent and leaves a fine aroma.Now add the jackfruit pieces.Sprinkle a little water.Close the lid and cook until it is done.Now add the grated coconut and mix well.Heat oil in a small wok.Prepare the seasonig with mustard,cumin, black gram dal,&curry leaves.Once the seeds have spluttered add the seasoning to the jackfruit.Mix everything well.Your Idichakka thoran is ready!

Prawn deep fry

Prawns -200g(cleaned,deveined,only the head removed-the remaining shell intact)
Red chilli powder-1 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Black Pepper Powder-3/4 tsp
Curry leaves-2 sprigs
Salt-as rqd
Oil-as rqd

Method:

Marinate the prawns with chilli powder,turmeric powder,pepper powder,salt and a little oil and leave it for 5 minutes. Heat oil in a wok,add curry leaves and then in tht flavoured oil deep fry the prawns till they become golden brown and crisp.It is a wonderful side dish with anything...I love to eat rice in that left over oil ;)[Meen Choru/Chemmeen Choru]!!