Kuzhi Paniyaram

Kuzhi Paniyaram is a tamil dish made of idli batter. If you are bored of eating idlis/dosas, this is one dish you can give it a try. You need to have a paniyaram/unni appam pan for this.

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

1. Fermented Idli batter - 2 cups

2. Onion - 1 medium sized

3. Carrot - 1 medium sized

4. Green chilly -1 no.

5. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

6. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

7. Ginger -1/4 inch

8. Curry leaves - few

9. Cilantro - 1 tablespoon chopped
10. Oil - 2 tbsp

Method:

1. In a saucepan, heat 1/2 tsp oil and splutter mustard seeds followed by cumin seeds, finely chopped onions, green chilly, ginger, curry leaves, cilantro and grated carrot. Add salt and fry for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add this mixture to idli batter and give it a good mix.

3. Add few drops of oil in heated paniyaram pan and pour the batter.

4. Cook on medium heat until both sides turn slightly brown.

Paniyaram Pan

Eethapazham fry | Dates fry

Dates is referred to as Eethapazham in malayalam. This tea time snack is very easy to make and takes about 15 minutes to serve 3-4.

Ingredients:

1. Dates - 20 count

2. All purpose flour/ maida - 1 cup

3. Rice flour - 4 tablespoon

4. Sugar - 3 tablespoon

5. Salt - 1 pinch

6. Baking soda - 1 pinch

7. Oil for deep frying

Method: 

1. Remove the seeds from dates.

2. Make a thick batter using maida, rice flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. 

3. Dip dates in batter and deep fry for 2-3 minutes until they turn golden brown.

Kovakka thoran/ Ivy Gourd fry

Ingredients:

1. Ivy gourd/Kovakka - 1 lb

2. Grated Coconut - 3 tbsp

3. Onion - 1 medium sized

4. Green chilly - 1no.

5. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

6. Curry leaves - few

7. Salt to taste

8. Oil - 1 tsp

Method: 

1. Cut ivy gourd lengthwise and marinate with salt, green chilly, grated coconut, thinly sliced onion and curry leaves for half an hour.

2. Heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds and add the marinated ivy gourd. Cook them covered on medium flame for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. There is no need to add water.

Kovakka thoran is ready to serve as a side dish with rice.

It tastes best when kovakka is crunchy and not overcooked.

Nenthrapazham roast/ Kerala banana roast

Ingredients:

1. Nenthra pazham/ Kerala banana -1

2. Ghee - 1 tsp 

3. Sugar - 1tsp

Method:

 1. Heat ghee in a pan and fry the sliced bananas for 2-3 minutes.

2. Sprinkle sugar over the bananas and fry for another minute.

Nenthrapazham roast is ready to serve.

Sambharam | Spiced Buttermilk

Spiced buttermilk is an excellent thirst quencher and an ideal drink during summer.

Ingredients:

1. Thick Curd - 1 cup 

2. Water - 3 cups

3. Ginger - 1/4 inch

4. Green chilly  - 1 no. small

5. Curry leaves - 6-7 no.

6. Salt to taste

Method:

1. Whip the curd in blender for a minute. Mix water.

2. Add salt to taste, finely chopped ginger, green chilly and crushed curry leaves. Spiced buttermilk is ready. Serve chill.