Traditional Kerala Party Menu

Celebrated our 7th Wedding anniversary on Sunday with these traditional Kerala Non-veg favorites.

My husband's all time favorite dish is this spicy Malabar Chicken Biriyani. It is a highly seasoned rice with authentic Kerala spices and layered with green chilly based Malabar chicken masala. As a side dish i prepared another non-veg favorite, Beef Ularthiyathu / Beef Dry fry. For dessert i made our Gothambu Pradhaman which i really love.

You can find out more party menu / anniversary ideas / birthday party menu , in my "Party Menu & ideas" page.

Happy Vishu Readers !!!!

 Vishu is the Malayali New Year and we all believe the fortune for this year depend upon what we first see on that morning. ishukkani is arranged the previous night with  Rice, Gold, Fruits, Valkkanaadi (metal Mirror), Golden Cucumber, seasonal flower-Konnappoo and coins in a bell metal vessel called the otturuli. 

The highlight of the festival is the Vishu Sadya with traditional dishes served on a  Banana  leaf. Vishu sadya menu for this year was 

• Parippum Neyyum
• Sambar
• Aviyal
• Kalan
• Kumbalanga Pachadi
• Olan
• Kaya VanPayaru Erissery
• Rasam 
• Moru
• InjamPuli
• Pappadam
• Cabbage thoran
• Lemon Pickle
• Semiya Payasam
• Ada Pradhaman

SOYA CHUNKS CUTLET / Meal Maker Cutlet

Crispy Soya Chunks / Meal maker Cutlets

How to make Soya Chunks cutlets?

Preparation time : 1hr

Cooking time : 20min

Makes : 25cutlets

Ingredients :

Soya Chunks / Meal maker : 2Cups

Onion : 2, medium sized,finely chopped

Potato - boiled, peeled and mashed : 2 medium

Green Chilly : 2, finely chopped

Ginger : 1 inch piece, finely chopped

Garlic : 5, finely chopped

Coriander leaves : 1/4Cup

Chilly Powder : 1 tsp

Coriander Powder : 1 tsp

Garam Masala : 1 tsp
Fennel (Perinjeerakam) : 1/2tsp(optional) 

Bread : 6-7slices, make breadcrumbs

Maida : 2tbsp mixed with water to make a loose batter / you can use 1 beaten egg

Salt

Oil

Method :

1. Soak the Soya chunks in enough water for 30minutes to make it soft. Drain and squeeze excess water from soya chunks. Now transfer it to a mixer grinder and mince it. Now squeeze the minced soya chunks / Meal maker again to make sure that there is no excess water. Keep aside.

2. Heat 1tbsp oil in a non stick pan and add Fennel seeds(optional). Now add chopped ginger, garlic and green chilly and saute for a minute.Now add onion and saute till it turns to translucent. 

3. Add all masalas in the same order and saute well. When you get the aroma of roasted masala, add minced soya chunks, salt and combine well. Cover the pan with a tight lid.

4. When it is cooked (3-5min) and water completely absorbed turn the gas into high flame and stir fry for 2 minutes. Make sure water is completely absorbed and then add mashed potatoes. Combine with the spatula and turn off the flame. Allow to cool.

5. Mix the mixture again using your hands and shape them into 25 cutlets. Dip in maida batter and cover with breadcrumbs. 

5. Deep fry and serve hot with Mayonnaise / Ketchup. 

Notes :

1. After covering the patties with bread crumbs you can refrigerate them and use within 5days.

2. Use appropriate vessel and Fry them on medium-high flame for even cooking. I use my appachatti for frying all starters. So it is easy to use less oil and i cook 3cutlets at a time.

BAKED SPICY CHICKEN THIGHS / Roasted chicken thighs

For a very flavorful baked chicken, I added some fresh rosemary and lemon zest. It made a huge difference :)

Baked Spicy chicken thighs

Ingredients:

Chicken thighs  : 5 (I used skinless chicken thighs )

Lemon Juice : 2 tbsp or Vinegar : 1 tbsp or Thick curd : 2 tbsp
Ginger : 1/2 inch piece, grated
Garlic Powder : 1tsp or  3 cloves of grated garlic
Chilly Powder : 1 tbsp
Cumin Powder : 1tsp
Olive oil / vegetable oil : 1/2 tbsp

Salt and pepper

Other Spices or seasonings : 1/2tsp (You can use your choice of spice like all spice powder,  garam masala powder or oregano)

Method for Restaurant style Juicy baked chicken thigh recipe :

Put chicken in a colander and pat dry(important step) completely.  wipe on paper towel. Combine chicken thigh with the remaining ingredients and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour. Take the chicken from refrigerator before baking and allow it to reach room temperature. This helps to get the most tender and delicious chicken.

Baking Method :

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Take a Parchment paper (Butter paper) lined vessel and grease it with 1 tsp olive oil). 

2. Take out the chicken thighs from the marination and arrange it on the greased vessel, spaced evenly. Bake for 30 minutes for the best baked chicken thighs. Now turn into broil method and broil for 2-3 minutes to make the perfect baked spicy chicken thighs. 

3. Serve hot with with mashed Potatoes / Flat bread / Gravy.

Other flavors for Baked Chicken in the oven: 

1. Indian spicy chicken : 1/2 tbsp pepper powder, 1tsp, chilly powder, 1/2tsp garam masala, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste, salt, juice from 1/2 of a fresh lemon
2. Honey chicken : 1tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste, salt, 1/2 tbsp ketchup, 1tsp olive oil
3. Lemon herb chicken : lemon rind and juice from 1 lemon, 1/2 tbsp pepper powder, salt, 1tsp copped fresh rosemary