Chemmeen Pacha thakkali Curry / Shrimp and Green tomato Curry / Recipes Using green Tomatoes

Even though its winter, my tomato plants were still producing 'sweet lady tomatoes'. I get harvest here and there, but not big harvests like Summer/fall. From 3kg a week , it reduced to  10 or 11 small tomatoes a week. So finally I decided to remove plants in order to keep the raised bed ready for this years planting. We harvested all red and green tomatoes, chopped and put the plants in compost, added more soil to raised bed along with Worm castings, and mulched with dried leaves. I was left with more than 5kg Green tomatoes. So amma gave this recipe and this was absolute heaven. Hereafter I will make shrimp curry only using this recipe. I used Kudampuli / gambooge in this recipe which is a type of tamarind we use in kerala to make fish curry. As a sour agent we use tamarind / tomato / lime juice / raw mango / ilumpan puli / kudampuli.  This is a best combination with rice, appam, kappa and bread.

Ingredients :

Shrimp : 10 large (I used Costco frozen shrimp)

Green tomatoes : 2 Cups chopped

Purple Onion : 1/2 of a large onion ( 1/3 Cup),chopped

Ginger : 1/2 inch piece, chopped

Green Chili : 2, chopped

Curry leaves : 2 springs

Turmeric Powder :1/4tsp

Chilly Powder : 1 1/4tsp

Coriander powder : 1/4tsp

Gambooge : 1 1/2 pieces

Coconut Oil : 1tsp

Coconut milk :1st, second and third extract from half coconut (I used 1 can of coconut milk)

Salt

Method :

1.  Soak gambooge in warm water for 15minutes and then clean under running water. Discard water too. 

2. In a clay pot, combine 1/2 can of coconut milk along with, 1/2 cup water,  Onion, ginger, garlic, curry leaves, green chilies, green tomatoes, turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, gambooge and salt.  Heat in medium flame.

3. When it boils add Shrimp and cook  in medium flame for 20 minutes. Adjust salt. 

4. When the gravy thickens, add remaining coconut milk and boil for 2 minutes. Add the coconut oil and cover the vessel with a lid. 

5. Serve hot with rice / appam / kappa :)

Similar recipes

• varutharacha kaaya chemmeen meen curry
• naadan meen curry

Enjoy,

Lena

Mutta Pathiri/ Pola/ Muttayappam / Ottata using non-stick pan

 

മുട്ടപ്പത്തിരിയും ചൂടുള്ള കോഴികറിയും ... കേൾക്കാൻ തന്നെ നല്ല സുഖമില്ലേ ... മൺചട്ടിയിൽ ചെറുചൂടിൽ ചുട്ടെടുതില്ലെങ്കിലും , എന്റെ Non-stick pan മുട്ടപ്പത്തിരി വീട്ടുകാർക്ക് പെരുത്ത് ഇഷ്‌ടായി. The heat plays a big role when you make Malabar special Mutta Pathiri. You have to pour batter when the pan is hot , then lower the flame and wait till you get bubbles on top and then close the pan. I learned that trick after ruining 2 or 3 mutta pathiri this time 😬.   

Ingredients 

Rice flour: 3/4 Cup

Hot water : 1 Cup

All purpose flour : 1 Cup 

Coconut milk : 1 cup ++

Egg : 2 lightly beaten

Baking powder : 1/2 tsp 

Salt : 1/2 tsp ++

Directions 

🌼 Add boiling water to  rice flour and mix well.Keep aside and  allow it to cool.

🌼  In a mixer grinder, add 1 cup coconut milk , all purpose flour , eggs , baking soda , salt and the rice flour mix. Grind it into a smooth batter. Add more coconut milk if needed. Batter should not be thin( Iddli batter consistency). Keep the batter aside for 10 minutes to form bubbles on top.

🌼 Heat a non stick pan In medium flame and add 1 scoop of the batter. Turn the heat to low, and wait until you see bubbles on top. Now you can close the pan with a lid. (First mutta pathiri will not form much bubbles)

🌼 You can serve it with coconut milk and sugar or with any chicken/ mutton/ beef gravy. I served mutta pathiwith warm Kerala chicken stew this time.

Enjoy,

Lena 

Homemade fig Jam

This post is so special to me. This jam is made from fresh figs from my neighbors backyard. I plucked each fig, cleaned, chopped , cooked and canned in 2 hours. This is the best jam I ever made too. Canning is very interesting if you do it right. The key to safe canning is two factors - acid and heat. Botulism simply can’t live in an acidic environment. The acid in jam comes from the fruit itself as well as added acid like lemon juice (some fruits are acidic enough on their own, but some need a bit of extra help in the form of lemon juice or other added acid).

Ingredients

30-40 Fresh Figs

1 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Honey

2Tbsp Lemon Juice (Juice from one lemon)

Directions

Step 1 : In a Dutch oven / wide nonstick pan add the cleaned and chopped figs(Do not add water) . Cook in low - medium flame for 15-20 minutes.

Step 2 : Add Sugar and honey and continue cooking. Mash them to break down into tiny chunks.

Step 3 : Cook till they are really thick. Add lemon juice , cook for a minute and turn off the flame.

Enjoy,

Lena

The easiest One Bowl Chocolate cake with the best Chocolate Buttercream ever !!!!

Happy Fall Everyone!!!

I love all seasons, but the first day of fall is something to be remembered. It's the promise to a change, the promise of cooler, beautiful weather, colorful leaves, and lots of fun fall activities to cross off our bucket list. After a long gap, I started taking my guitar lessons again. We had an amazing Summer harvest for last couple of months, and now as Fall teaches us, I should let go off the old ones to make space for the new fall garden. Sometimes I'm too tired after work, long drive, busy traffic, but it all fades in background when I come home. I will just sit on sofa for a while, and Rashmin will make an expresso or Rithika will make an orange juice for me. Thats enough for my kick start. When you count your blessings, you will understand you're actually doing more than great. We have a camping trip this weekend, Rithika has fall break next week, I will start my fall garden in 3 weeks, and we want to do a movie night in our backyard too. See, I have my never ending list for this fall :)

The best chocolate cake with Chocolate buttercream

Prep time : 20 mins, Cooking time : 30 mins, Yield : 2 - 9 inch round cake layers

Recipe courtesy : Hershey's

Ingredients

2 cups white sugar

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Directions

Step 1 : Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two nine inch round pans.

Step 2 : In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Stir in the boiling water last. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.

Step 3 : Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe for thick and creamy Chocolate buttercream frosting

Preperation time : 10 Minutes, Recipe Courtesy : sallysbakingaddiction

1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, room temperature

3 and 1/2 cups (420g) confectioners’ sugar

1/2 cup (41g) unsweetened natural or dutch-process cocoa powder

3 Tablespoons (45ml) heavy cream or milk

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy – about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 1 full minute. Add 1/4 cup more confectioners’ sugar or cocoa powder if frosting is too thin or another Tablespoon of cream if frosting is too thick. Taste. Beat in another pinch of salt if desired.

Use immediately or cover tightly and store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. After freezing, thaw in the refrigerator then beat the frosting on medium speed for a few seconds so it’s creamy again. After thawing or refrigerating, beating in a splash of heavy cream or milk will help thin the frosting out again, if needed.

Enjoy,

Lena