Curried Minced Meat w/ Ridge Gourd

------AKA Kheema Birakaya/Birakankai Kheema-------

Kids back to school last week after that long summer break and though fall is going to officially start next week, it seems like winter is already here..And chill weather always calls for something soothing and comforting..and think about comfort food its always authentic dishes from home afar..One such comfort food for me is a cup of hot rice with this preparation of minced meat and veggie..

The combo of a non-veg and veg is always a hit and it got to be when it is an Andhra preparation. So here is yet another scrumptious dish straight from amma's kitchen. Being a Tamilian, my husband is not so used to these combos. Though he loves Andhra cuisine and by all means my cooking, the first time I mentioned I'm preparing Kheema(Minced meat) with Ridge gourd(Birkankai - Tamil) he had his eyebrows raised but totally got bowled with the result..


So for those who enjoy Indian cooking and don't mind eating meat, next time pickup a pkg of minced meat and a pack of Ridge gourd(readily available in most of the South Asian stores) when you grocer and let your kitchen be filled with the aroma of this side dish.

Ingredients:
2 to 3 long - Beerakaya/ Ridge Gourd / Beerkankai (De-skinned and chopped into small cubes)
1 to 1.5 lb Kheema ( Mutton/Beef)
2 tsp oil
2 medium Onions chopped
4-5 Green Chillies slit
A Few Curry leaves
1 Tbsp Ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp Red chilly powder
1 tsp Coriander pwdr
1/2 Cumin pwdr
1 tsp garam masala powder(Home Made)
Salt to taste
Finely chopped fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Procedure :
Heat oil in a pan/wok and add chopped onions, slit green chillies, curry leaves, and cook till onions are translucent.
Add ginger garlic paste and cook till rawness is gone.
Now add minced meat(kheema) and salt.
Add garam masala powder
Mix well.
Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or till the kheema changes color, stirring occasionally.
Add chopped ridge gourd pieces to the kheema curry and cook till both are is fully done.

Sprinkle some water if too dry while the kheema is cooking.
Cook till the ridge gourd almost gets disappear in the kheema..much like the pic above..follow the pics anti clockwise..
Once the kheema is cooked and oil starts oozing from the sides add coriander leaves and remove from heat.
Serve hot with plain rice first and then with sambar.

Gongura Mutton or Mutton curry w/ Sorrel Leaves

We in Greater Toronto Area(GTA) are experiencing a heat wave, with temperatures poised to hit record highs we are under an extreme heat alert as dangerous heat invades ON & QC...kind of living Andhra summer here... So here is another signature dish of Andhra Pradesh, that we Telugu people celebrate.

A week ago I had this chance to make a much longed and missed leafy item dish called Gongura in Telugu(Andhra) which refers to Sorrel leaves in English. Give me this dish all through the year and I wouldn't say no to it. Then you can imagine how much I missed it over these years in Canada. We in east coast are not so fortunate enough to find Sorrel leaves in any grocery store, except someone gets the imported seeds and grow the leaves in summer in their farm or back yard. I think in west coast these are readily available thru farmers market..

A few weeks back a dear friend of us gifted me with this gongura which she purchased whole sale from an import vendor. My joy knew no bounds.
Though I have eaten and cooked Gongura in many varieties like Gongura dhal, Gongura Pachadi, Gongura tadka, Gongura Prawns..etc..the most relished combo for me with Gongura is Gongura Mutton.

Both my grand mothers and mother use to frequent this dish especially for me so passionately. Its like they use to dedicate this dish on my name.
So with that profound history lets see the making of it.
Good that I typed out the recipe long ago when my SIL asked for it, not withstanding the pestering my Bro gave her to make Gongura Mutton like my granny. Little did I believe that I will cook this dish my own in this part of the world.

Ingredients :
To Cook Gongura leaves:
1 bunch Gongura (Sorrel leaves)
4-5 Green chillies slit
1/2 of Small onion sliced
2 Big Garlic cloves, sliced
1/2 tsp home made Chilly made( andhra karam) - ( Use regular one if not available)
1 tsp oil
Rock salt to taste
Enough water to boil and cook the leaves thoroughly.

For the Mutton Curry:

1 to 1.5 lbs Goat or Lamb meat with bones cut into medium to small pieces
1 Tbsp Oil
2 Big or 4 Medium sized Onions chopped
4 Green chillies slit
6-8 Curry leaves if desired
2 Tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
1 Medium Tomato squeezed

1/2 Tsp Tumeric pwdr

1 Tsp Chilly power
1 Tsp Coriander pwdr
1 Tsp Home Made Garam Masala Pwdr
Salt to taste

Procedure:
Separate leaves from gongura stems ..do remember to add the small pods..which adds to the sourness.
Cook the sorrel leaves with all the rest of the ingredients in the "Cooking Gongura" list..till the leaves are fully cooked.

Remove from heat.

Mash the gongura thoroughly into a smooth paste and keep aside.

Now cook mutton the regular way...
Heat oil and saute' onions, green chillies, curry leaves.
Now add ginger garlic paste fry,
Add Squeezed Tomato and saute'
Add mutton, (usually 1/2 kg- for 1 bunch of sorrel leaves),
Add salt, karam, garam masala powder
Mix and fry for sometime..
Add a little water to cook mutton, or you can pressure cook it too.
Once the mutton is cooked almost, add the cooked mashed cooked gongura and mix well

Allow the gravy to cook for 7 - 10 so that the mutton absorbs the gongura .. and vice versa.

Once the gravy is thick remove from heat.
Serve with Hot rice.

Curried Shark Scramble or Sura Puttu or Sorra Pidupu

India's version of Academy Awards is about to roll out its the red carpet here in Toronto. The stage is all set for the North American debut of the annual IIFA awards at the Rogers Centre.
With Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez hosting the Much Music Video Awards, Sunday last and the Bollywood much hyped IIFA this Saturday, its a star studded week here in the City.

My recipe this week is also a Signature Star Dish in Seafood mostly in my home state Andhra. Adherently cherished in my childhood days. In fact his was one of the best Seafood delicacy my mom(Amma) used to cook. The unusual way of preparing the seafood in this variety used to draw attention and a curious me was totally taken for a suprise the with the exceptional taste of this delightful recipe.

I completely duplicated her version here. We in Toronto Area are fortunate enough to get fresh shark in most of the Asian Stores. So once in a while I make this fish scramble curry, famously known as Sura puttu in Tamil and Sorra pittu in Telugu.
This is one main course dish to accompany with hot Andhra masoori rice and Sambar(Pappu pulusu). For those who follow low carb diet, skip the rice and make a milder version of this scramble to eat with steamed or stir fry veggies.

Ingredients :
1 lb Shark piece w/ or w/o skin
2 Tbsp oil
2 large Onions diced
6-8 hot Green Chillies
10 - 15 Curry leaves
2 Tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 tsp Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
Freshly chopped coriander to garnish.


Procedure:
Bring 3/4 saucepan of water to boil and add the Shark Chunk along with half of the turmeric powder and some salt.
With closed lid, steam the fish till it is fully cooked.
Remove from water and take of skin if necessary.
Now scramble the fish log into small pieces. Reserve the bones too.
Keep aside.
Mean while, in a wide pan, heat oil and add onions, green chillies, curry leaves and saute' till the onions are translucent.
Now add ginger garlic paste and fry till rawness is gone.
Add turmeric powder and salt and fry.
Now add the scrambled fish and mix thoroughly till all the fish is coated with the masala.
Cover and let the spice flavours be induced into the fish, and the fishy smell gone and the delectable aroma of dish sets in.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and remove form heat.
Serve with rice and sambar.

Shallots in Tangy Stew or Small Onion Gravy

--AKA Sambar Vengayam kuzhambu/Chinna Ullipaya Pulusu--

Continuing the `Pulusu` special..this shallot gravy is yet another creation from my mom, which she use to frequent in my childhood. As a practise, I usually add shallots when I make sambar, but once in a while for a change I manage to make this spicy tangy onion gravy. The sweetness of  tendorly caramalized shallots is complimented by spice of red chilly powder and sour of  tamarind juice. The result one aromatic gravy that you can`t wait but to gobble with rice.

I must mention though, that the best sides for this gravy with plain rice are Boiled Stir fried Eggs, Fried dried salt Fish or if you don`t have them handy, our keeper papads/appalam would do. So friends and readers who have not yet attempted this south Indian, Andhra special gravy, don`t forget to pick a small bag of shallots when you grocer next, in an Indian/Asian store and try it for a change.


The recipe is no different from a regular tamarind gravy/pulusu/kuzhambu recipe. It more an idea of making the gravy with the main ingredient as the whole shallots.
Ingredients:
1/2 lb or  a small pkt of Shallots/sambar vengayam/chinna ullipayalu
1 Tbsp - oil
1/2 Tsp - Onion seeds/Kalonji
3-4 Green Chillies
10-12 Curry leaves
2 Tbsp -Tomato Puree
1 tsp - Red Chilly powder
1 tsp - Cumin powder
1 tsp - Coriander powder
Soak Lemon size Tamarind/Puli/Chintapandu ball in 2 cups hot water
Finely chopped coriander leaves - a small bunch

Method :
In a pan or kadai, add oil, when heated add Onion seeds.
Fry a little and then add the green chillies, shallots, curry leaves and keep stirring till onions turn their color.
Now add the tomato puree and cook for about 1 - 2 minutes.
Add all the masala powders, mix and cook another 2 minutes or till the mixture leaves the container.


Now squeeze the Tamarind/Puli juice from the soaked tamarind & water into the cooking mixture.
Mix this well and bring it boil,
Once the gravy seems to attain a good consistency add the coriander leaves and remove from heat.

Beerkaya Royyalu / Ridge Gourd Prawns Curry

Absolutely enjoying "Fall", specially when I jog my first grader to school in the morning. Trees with leaves changing colors, a blanket of fallen dried leaves on the ground, got to take the fullest of the season, before cold winter sets in.

Seasonal changes bring change in the way we cook food too. From outdoors BBQs to strict indoor dishes. Most of my indoor cooking is Desi style which requires preparation. Its not like you are hungry and you just sandwiched slices of buttered multi grain bread with a slice of ham, cheese with some lettuce. Your meal is ready to go. Indian cooking is all about intensity, flavour, spice, lots of ingredients and time to cook them up. But its worth the wait, because of the exceptional taste.

This is one Andhra preparation which puts all together with end result being irresistible. Its so strange that I have never tasted this dish whenever my mother cooked it growing up, in fact for some reason I was so averted towards it. but since its was known for its taste, after so many years I cooked it to see what comes of it..and honestly it lived up to its popularity. And this can just be eaten up with plain rice. But let me warn you for the temptation of over-eating here, which is why I don't cook this curry so often, it would disturb my diet of  keeping my serving of rice under one cup per day.

The ridge gourd (Beerakaya in Telugu) forms a creamy base for the curried shrimp. A real match that you are so tempted to call heavenly. Well, ridge gourd is such a versatile vegetable that it embraces any other ingredient, be it veg or non-veg to be subtle and yet give a wholesome lift to the dish. More delicacies of ridge gourd I would be blogging are with Kheema, mutton, Channa dhal..

Now lets is the making of Prawns with Ridge gourd.


Ingredients:
2 big - Beerakaya/ Ridge Gourd / Beerkankai (De-skinned and chopped into small cubes)
1 to 1.5 lb Prawns / Shrimp (De-shelled, De-veined)
2 tsp oil
2 medium Onions chopped
4-5 Green Chillies slit
A Few Curry leaves
1 Tbsp Ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp Red chilly powder
A pinch of garam masala powder
Salt to taste
Finely chopped fresh coriander leaves to garnish

To marinate shrimp :
1 tsp red chilly powder
1/2 tsp each of cumin and coriander powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric
Little Salt
A splash of oil to put all together

Procedure :
Clean prawns and marinate with the marinade items..keep aside.

In a hot pan add oil and add the marinated prawns and stir fry them till all the water evaporates and a beautiful aroma comes out. Remove from pan and keep aside

In the same pan add some more oil, add chopped onions, slit green chillies, curry leaves, and cook till onions are translucent.

Add ginger garlic paste and cook till rawness is gone.

Add chopped ridge gourd pieces, salt mix together and cook covered, till ridge gourd is half done.

Then add the stir fried prawns, little water and cook covered till the gourd and prawns are fully done.

Add finely chopped coriander and remove from heat.

Serve it with plain cooked basmati, ponni or sona masoori rice.

Raw Onion Chutney

This is one chutney that can be made instantly in a jiffy. Was regularly made by my mom and grand mother in my childhood and college days, whenever we made idlis made at home.

I quickly adapted this after my marriage because of the ease of making it. There is no frying ingredients before or no tempering required after grinding. Its ready in just five minutes. Just peel the onions, chop them, throw in other ingredients that go into it, press the button to grind, and there you go..its ready.

But since its raw onion you get best results if the chutney sits for a while in the fridge, till all the pungent nature of the onion is gone, The cumin, dried red chillies, tamarind and sugar really transform the onion into a flavourful chutney.

Raw onion chutney is the best side dish, for Uthappam, Idlis, Pesarattu. It is a perfect combo with one other Tamil speciality called Adai. A pancake made with the batter of different ground dhals mixed with spices..Hope to blog about it sometime.

For now into the recipe of Raw onion chutney.
Ingredients :
To Grind:
2 Medium sized Onions chopped into pieces
2 tsp cumin seeds (optional)
5-6 red chillies cracked
1 big marble size tamarind ball
1 Tbsp sugar
Salt to taste
Enough water to grind these into a smooth paste

Method:
In a chutney grinder, put all the ingredients in the grinding list and grind them thoroughly to a smooth paste/chutney.
Transfer to a serving bowl

Serve with hot idlis, dosas, Uthappam, Pesarattu, Adai etc..

Going green w/ Pesarattu and Peanut Coriander Chutney

For some good reasons I was missing in action in food blogging and this post is due from the first week of July, when the Wimbledon finals took place. I composed this post then, but some how couldn't work with the pictures till now. Anyway better late then never.

Wimbledon has a special place in my childhood memory. Back those days I use to watch Steffi Graf win the grand slams, munching summer pineapple slices or enjoying a juicy mango. Ever since my Father introduced me to tennis I have been watching Wimbledon from my school days till college. Though I left it for the past few years, now catching it up with my husband...at least I have to watch the finals, that too when the William sisters were playing.
Thought of making it special for us as it was breakfast time and any special breakfast got to be South Indian, and that day I decide to make Andhra special "Pesarattu".

Pesarattu is Andhra's traditional authentic breakfast dish. It is a thin crape made with green gram lentils batter spread on a greased pan, garnished with finely chopped onions, cumin seeds, chopped ginger and green chillies. A good combo for pesarattu is upma apart from a array of chutneys - peanut, ginger, coconut etc.
This time I wanted to try the peanut coriander chutney which I saw on Sailu's Kitchen blog. Usually whenever I try a new dish its doesn't come out that great, but this time the peanut coriander chutney was a hit.
My husband liked it too. and we all enjoyed the famous pesarattu this this chutney as we cheered the Williams sisters in the final match of Wimbledon 2009.

Pesarattu Recipe:
Ingredients:
2 cups Dark green whole Gram (Pesara pappu/Paasi Pairru/Moong Dhal)
2 hand fulls of raw rice
2 inch ginger piece finely chopped
5-10 green chillies finely chopped
2 tbsp cumin seeds
2 large onions finely chopped
Salt to taste
Enough oil for frying the Dosas
Directions:
Soak green gram + rice in enough water for at least 3 hours.
Drain the water and grind the dhall along with little ginger, green chilly into a smooth paste, adding enough water. The batter should resemble some what like ithick dosa batter.
Add salt and keep aside for 10 to 30 mins.
Heat a iron tawa or nonstick pan, grease it with oil.
Now add a ladle full of ground green gram batter in the middle of the tawa, and spread it in circular motion away form the centre and towards the edges of the tawa...similar to dosa making. Add a few onions, ginger, green chillies and sprinkle cumin seeds on the top side of the dosa/crape
Pour enough oil on the top and edges of the dosa.
Cover with a deep bottom lid on medium flame for 2-3 minutes or till the bottom of the dosa changes color and becomes crisp.
Flip on to other side and cook for another 2 mins till the dosa and onions are cooked.
Fold and remove from heat.
Repeat the procedure for the rest of the batter.
Serve hot with chutney of choice.
Actually the garnish on the top of the dosa is enough to eat this pesarattu as it is.


Peanut and Coriander Chutney:

One of the simplest chutneys out there...with very few ingredients and less steps, a flavourful chutney is made with ease...usually I'm not so fondly of trying new twists and combo when it comes to cooking..but this chutney didn't disappointment me. Well you can't go wrong with any dish which has coriander in it - India's keeper herb.

Some other time I wish to blog the authentic coriander chutney that my grandmother use to make in my childhood.
Recipe :
Ingredients :
1/2 cup roasted peeled peanuts
1 small bunch coriander leaves,
4-5 green chillies
A big marble size Tamarind ball
Salt to taste
Oil to saute coriander and green chillies.
Directions:
Soak tamarind in just enough water to make it soft for grinding.
Remove the thick edges of coriander stems and wash it thoroughly.
Chop the coriander and keep aside.
Remove stems and slit green chillies into half
Heat a small pot add 1 tsp of oil.
Add the chopped coriander leaves and slit green chillies and saute till nice aroma comes from the roasted leaves.
Remove from heat and pour the soaking tamarind on top of it to bring the heat down quickly.
After this comes to room temperature, combine it with peanuts salt and a enough water and grind into a smooth chutney.
If you want you can add a few cumin seeds while grinding if desired. I skipped it.
Transfer to a serving container to enjoy with dosas, idly, pesarattu, vada etc.
I actually wanted to temper the chutney like how i do for regular peanut or coconut chutney. But it didn't need it..
As it is, it was delicious great tasting, made a good condiment for pesarattu.