Oats Puttu / Oats Steam Cake

INGREDIENTS:

• Oats - 2 cup 
• Grated Coconut - ½ cup
• Salt - to taste
• Water - as required to make the powder wet.

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Blend oats in a mixer to make it powder.
• In a heavy  bottomed pan add the  powder, stir continuously and roast lightly for 5 minutes.
• Allow the powder to cool.
• Sprinkle water in to flour little at a time and mix the flour. 
• Repeat sprinkling water till the flour is wet.
• Blend the flour mix in a blender for a minute so that the flour mix becomes soft.
• Place a pot shapped utensil  or a pressure cooker on the stove. 
• Fill half the utensil with water and boil the water.
• Place a puttu maker on the top of the utensil.
• Now its time to put the flour mixture into the puttu maker.
• Put a spoon full of  grated coconut first, then fill the flour mixture till the half of the maker.
• Again a spoonful of coconut on it then fill it up with the flour mix .
• Finally put a layer of  coconut on the top of it.
• Steam in a vessel for 5-6 minutes and serve hot.

Recommended Combination: Oats Puttu can be served hot with Kadala curry / Payar Curry  / Pappadam

Baked sweet potato

INGREDIENTS:

• Sweet potato -  1 (large)
• Pepper powder -  1/2 tsp
• Garlic ( crushed) - 2 nos
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Scratch off the potato skin and wash it.
• Cut it in to small wedges.
• Add garlic, pepper powder, oil and salt into the potato wedges.
• Mix them together.
• Preheat oven to 350 deg F.
• Grease the pan with oil.
• Spread the marinated wedges in the pan.
• Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the oven.
• Turn the other side and bake  for another 5 mins.
• Remove it from the oven when it turns light golden color.

Mango Salsa

INGREDIENTS:

• Ripe Mango - 1 no
• Finely chopped onion - 1 tbsp
• Finely chopped Cilantro - 1 tsp
• Chopped bell pepper - 2 tbsp
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Peel and chop the mango.
• Mix chopped mango, onion, cilantro, bell pepper and salt together.
• Add lemon juice into it and mix well.
• Now it is ready to serve.

Recommended Combination: Serve with tortilla chips.

Pineapple Pachadi

It is  a tasty sweet and tangy Pachadi.

INGREDIENTS:

• Pineapple (finely chopped) - 1 cup
• Grated coconut - ½ cup
• Green Chillies (roundly cut) - 4 nos
• Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
• Curd - 2 cup
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 ½ tsp
• Red chilly - 2 nos
• Sliced Shallot - 1 tsp
• Fenugreek Powder- a pinch
• Curry leaves - 1 stem
• Salt to taste
• Coconut Oil -1 tsp 

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Grind the coconut and cumin seeds to a fine paste.
• Crush  ½ tsp mustard seed.
• Cook chopped pineapple and green chilly in water along with salt and turmeric powder.
• When the water almost dries up, add coconut paste and crushed mustard seed into it.
• When it starts boiling, turn off the stove and allow to cool.
• Add curd to it and stir well.
• Heat oil in a Pan.
• Add mustrard seeds and red chillies into it, allow to splutter.
• Add sliced shallot and fry it.
• Pour the seasoning over the pachadi and add curry leaves .
• Sprinkle fenugreek powder and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice.

Unakka Munthiri Chutney / Raisin Chutney

Raisins are good sources of energy, vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants.It is a  good practice to include raisins in our daily diet.

INGREDIENTS:

• Raisin - ½ cup 
• Tamarind - 1 gooseberry ball size
• Pearl Onion - 2 nos 
• Red Chilly - 3 nos
• Curry leaves - 2- 3 leaves
• Coconut Oil - ½ tsp
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Roast Red Chillies in a pan(with out oil) till it becomes crisp.
• Soak the raisin in little water for 2 -3 minutes.
• Grind Raisin, Tamarind, Red Chilly, Pearl Onion, curry leaves and Salt together to a fine paste.
• Add coconut oil to the Chutney and mix well. 

Recommended Combination: Serve with Idli / Dosa / Chappathi .

Dates Chutney / Eenthappazham Chutney

Dates are rich in several vitamins and minerals.Intake of a date daily gives a balanced and healthy diet.
You can include dates in your diet through a variety of dishes like eenthappazham chutney.
It differs from other chutney  by its sweet-tangy taste.

INGREDIENTS:

• Pitted dates - 6 nos
• Tamarind - 1 gooseberry ball size
• Pearl Onion - 2 nos 
• Red Chilly- 3 nos(or according to your taste)
• Curry leaves - 2- 3 leaves
• Coconut Oil - ½ tsp
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Roast Red Chillies in a pan(with out oil) till it becomes crisp.
• Soak the dates in little water for 2 -3 minutes.
• Grind the  Dates,  Tamarind, Red Chilly, Pearl Onion, curry leaves and Salt together to a fine paste.
• Add coconut oil to the Chutney and mix well. 

Recommended Combination: Serve with  Dosa / Chappathi / Vegetable Pulav

Chuttaracha Chammandi

Chuttaracha Chammandi is a tasty and traditional side dish for Rice.

INGREDIENTS:

• Coconut(with shell) - ½ of the coconut 

                   OR

• Coconut slices -1 cup 
• Red chilly - 4 nos
• Tamarind - 1 gooseberry ball size
• Pearl Onion - 2 nos
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt - to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Detach the coconut from the shell and cut it in to medium pieces .
• Roast the coconut(without oil) till golden brown .
• (we can roast the coconut pieces directly over burning charcoal or in a pan.)
• Roast Red Chillies in a pan(with out oil) till it becomes crisp.
• Grind all the ingredients together without using water.

Recommended Combination: Chammandi can be served with Rice or kanji.

Cheera Thoran / Spinach Stir fry

Cheera / Spinach Thoran is a simple and nutritious dish which is good for health.

INGREDIENTS:

• Finely Chopped Red Spinach (chuvanna cheera) - 2cups
• Grated coconut - ½ Cup
• Chilly Powder - ½ tsp
• Red Chilly -2 nos
• Rice - 1 tsp
• Garlic - 1 nos
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Oil - as needed
• Salt - to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat Oil in a pan.
• Add Mustard seeds and Red chilli and let it splutter.
• Add Rice and fry it.
• Once rice becomes crispy add Spinach / Cheera,salt,turmeric powder.
• Cover the pan and cook for 2 mins.
• Crush Coconut,Garlic and chilly powder and add to it.
• Mix well and slow down the flame and stir well till the water dries up completely.
• Remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.

Mambazham Pachadi / Mango Pachadi

Ripe Mango can be used to make Mambazha Pachadi.

INGREDIENTS:

• Ripened Mango(Finely chopped) - 1 cup
• Grated coconut - ½ cup
• Green chillies(roundly cut) - 4 nos
• Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
• Curd - 2 cup
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chilly - 2 nos
• Sliced Shallot - 1 tbsp
• Fenugreek Powder- a pinch
• Water - ¼ cup
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt - to taste
• Coconut Oil -1 tsp 

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook chopped mango and green chilly in water along with salt. 
• Mash the cooked mango with a spoon.
• Grind the coconut and cumin seeds to a fine paste.
• Add this paste to the cooked Mango.
• When it starts boil, turn off the stove and allow to cool.
• Add curd to the mixture and stir well.
• Heat oil in a Pan.
• Add mustrard seeds and red chillies into it, allow to Splutter.
• Add sliced shallot and fry it.
• Pour the seasoning over the pachadi and add curry leaves .
• Sprinkle fenugreek powder and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice.

Veluthulli / Garlic chammanthi

Including Garlic to our diet through variety of dishes is a healthy practice. Garlic  is generally good for our stomach and will help digestion.

INGREDIENTS:

• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Garlic - 2 nos
• Red Chilly  - 4 nos
• Curry leaves - 2 -3 leaves
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Crush all the other ingredients together.

Recommended Combination: Garlic Chammandi can be served with Kappa Puzhukku.

Milk Shake

Milk shake is a refreshing beverage which is often served chill. It is made using  chilled milk, nuts, health drink and fruits.

INGREDIENTS: 

• Chilled Milk - 1 cup
• Rippened Plantain - 2 no
• Horlicks / any chocolate health drink - 1 tbsp
• Sugar - 1 tbsp
• Cashewnut - 5 nos
• Almond - 5 nos

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Blend Plantain, health drink mix, sugar, cashewnut and almond smoothly.
• Add chilled milk and blend together.
• Pour it into a glass.
• Now it is ready to serve.

Soya Roast

Soya is rich in protein and fiber. This is a dry side dish which is good to go with Chappathi, Appam or Rice.

INGREDIENTS:

• Soya chunks - 1 cup
• Onion - 1 nos
• Ginger and garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Slit Green chillies - 4 nos
• Coriander powder - 1 tsp
• Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
• Garam Masala Powder - ¼ tsp
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Tomato - 1 no
• Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Red Chilly -2 nos
• Mustard seeds -1 tsp
• Salt - As reqd

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Soak soya chunks in hot water for 15 minutes.
• Drain the chunks and put them in cold water.
• squeeze the chunks out of water and keep aside.
• Cut each balls into 2 pieces.
• Heat oil in the pan.
• Add Onions, Green Chillies, ginger and garlic paste.
• Fry Onions till it turns transparent.
• Add Tomatoes and sauté well.
• Add red chilly powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala Powder, salt and sauté .
• Add Soya into it.
• Slow down the flame and cover the pan and let it cook for 10 - 15 mins.
• Add Pepper powder to the curry and mix well.
• Turn off the stove when the gravy becomes dry.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice / Chappathi / Appam

Mango Milk Shake

Milk shakes makes our body cool, espacially during summer. Try to serve this easy dish with its chillness.

INGREDIENTS:

• Mango - 1 nos
• Milk - 1 cup
• Sugar - 1 tbsp 

PREPARATION METHOD:  

• Peel off the skin of mango and cut it into small pieces.
• Blend  mango and suger smoothly.
• Add milk(chilled milk) and blend the mixture together. 

Apple chammandi

It is a variety Chammandi. The Sweet and sour taste of Green Apple and the Spicy Chilli results in a good combination.

INGREDIENTS:

• Green Apple - 1
• Grated coconut - ½ cup
• Pearl Onion - 1 no
• Green Chilly - 3 nos
• Curry leaves - 2 -3 leaves
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Peel the Skin of the Apple and cut it into small pieces.
• Grind all the other ingredients with Apple without using water.

Recommended Combination: Apple Chammandi can be served with Rice or Dosa / Idli.

Avocado Chutney

Avocado is a healthy fruit containing fiber, fat and vitamins. We can include Avacado in our food through a variety of simple dishes.

INGREDIENTS:

• Ripe avocados - 1 big
• Green chilly - 1 nos
• Tamarind - 1 gooseberry ball size
• Pearl Onion - 1 
• Salt - to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cut avocados in half.
• Remove seed and scoop out avacado from the skin.
• Grind Avocado, Green Chilly, Tamarind, Pearl Onion and Salt Together. 

Recommended Combination: Chammandi can be served with Chappathi / Dosa / Idli.

Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi is a tasty soft drink which makes our body cool, especially in summer.

INGREDIENTS:

• Mango - 1
• Milk - ½ cup
• Yogurt - 1 cup
• Sugar - 1 tbsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Peel off the skin of mango and cut it into small pieces.
• Blend  mango and suger smoothly.
• Add milk and Yogurt, again blend the mixture together. 

Green Apple Thayiru / Green Apple Pachadi/ Green Apple with Curd

It is a variety pachadi. The distinct sweetness of the green apple along with the sourness of the curd gives it a unique taste.

INGREDIENTS:

• Green Apple - 1
• Finely chopped Onion - ½ cup
• Green Chilly(roundly cut) - 2 nos
• Corriander Powder - ½ tsp
• Chilly Powder - 1 tsp
• Fenugreek Powder - a pinch
• Curd - 1 cup
• Curry leaves - few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Peel the Skin of the Apple and chop it nicely.
• Mix all the ingredients together with curd.

Recommended Combination: Apple Thayiru can be served with Rice / Chappathi.

Cheera Thoran

Cheera / Spinach Thoran is a simple and nutritious dish which is good for health.


INGREDIENTS:

• Finely chopped green spinach (cheera) - 2cups
• Grated coconut - ½ Cup
• Chilly Powder - ½ tsp
• Red Chilly -2 nos
• Rice - 1 tsp
• Garlic - 1 nos
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Oil - as needed
• Salt - to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat Oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and red chilli and let it splutter.
• Add rice and fry it.
• Once rice becomes crispy add spinach / cheera,salt,turmeric powder.
• Cover the pan and cook for 2 mins.
• Crush coconut,garlic and chilly powder and add to it.
• Mix well and slow down the flame and stir well till the water dries up completely.
• Remove from fire.

Recommended Combination: Serve hot with Rice.

Mathanga Puli Curry / Pumpkin Curry

Matha Puli Curry / Pumpkin Curry is a very simple curry which can be a quick side dish for rice.

INGREDIENTS:

• Diced Pumpkin / Mathanga - 1 cup
• Water - 1 cup
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Chilly powder - 1½ Tbsp
• Corriander Powder -2 tbsp
• Asefodia Powder-pinch
• Fenugreek Powder - a pinch
• Tamarind - A gooseberry sized ball
• Coconut Oil - 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Curry leaves - few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Soak tamarind in ¼ cup of warm water and take the extract from it.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and Red chilly and allow to splutter.
• Add chilly powder, corriander powder and Saute till raw smell goes.
• Add Pumpkin / Mathanga piece with Turmeric powder and little water, let it cook.
• When Pumpkin is cooked, add Tamarind juice and allow to boil.
• Add Asefodia Powder and mix well.
• Remove from the fire and add curry leaves.
• Sprinkle fenugreek powder and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Mathanga Pulincurry can be served hot with Rice and Curd.

Chammandi

Chammandi can be prepared easily and can serve as a tasty side dish for several breakfast and lunch items including Dosa, Idly, Rice etc.

INGREDIENTS:

• Grated coconut - 1 ½ cup
• Red chilly - 4 nos
• Tamarind - 1 gooseberry ball size
• Pearl Onion - 2 nos
• Curry leaves - A few
• Salt - to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Roast Red Chillies in a pan(with out oil) till it becomes crisp.
• Grind all the ingredients together without using water.

Recommended Combination: Chammandi can be served with Rice / Dosa / Idli.