Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Experiment Food

Kantola Fry, Tomato Rasam and Dondakayi Pappu

I made Dondakayi pappu. Have you heard that before? not me. I know about Dondakayi fry and few bits added in sambhar or veggie biriyani or just making stuffed dondakayi. I know lots of Indians who believe that eating dondakayi will dull the memory. Yeah right.. I love dondakayi in any form, even if you give me just the curry I will be happy to eat it. So when I saw this recipe blogged by Indira from 'Mahanandi', I thought "aaha thats creative !". Isn't she ? Give some thing to her and she will come up with a tasty version and say "tadaa !!"and our eyes will sparkle. oh my my !

I served this dish with Tomato rasam by Prema Sundar from " My cook book" . I know its just rasam but with lots of tomatoes cooked in a different way. I prepared this rasam twice till now. You might have guessed it, it tastes awesome and never fails me. When you are in a hurry and want to eat something, just keep the rasam on one burner and the curry on another. No need to worry !

I know by now you are wondering "what are these.. they just look like dried sliced lemons, boo hoo !!". Nope, they are Kantola, yeah I know.. never heard these before ! I bought these in frozen section of Indian groceries. My husband insisted to buy them but I worried a bit about how to cook them. My angel 'google' came in handy.

I went to this site called Mangalore world. The name Mangalore caught my eye and I got the recipe. Just followed the recipe exactly. It was awesome. I thought "just don't eat any potato chips, instead eat these. They just melts in mouth". I am definitely going to make these again and again.

I am giving u this recipe - first saying thanks to Mangalore world. Thank u thank u .....so here goes

1 packet of frozen Kantola (packet weighed 340g) washed in warm water. Rub the kantola with your fingers for the seeds to separate. Seperate the kantolas from the seeds and discard . Remember, you are throwing away seeds, not outer skin. Squeeze the water from kantolas and add 1tsp turmeric powder, 3tspns of chillipowder and salt to taste mix these.Roll these in rice flour and deep fry in oil. Drain it on paper-towel. Serve with Dondakayi pappu, Tomato rasam and Rice on side.

A big thank you to Indira, Prema sundar, Mangalore world and my Husband ofcourse.

In Telugu:

Kantola = Akakarakaya

© 2006 by Rajani Rayudu

Butter Chicken



Set 1 (chicken marination) :

Chicken boneless - 450 g (diced)
Ginger and Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Lime juice - 1/2 no.
Red orange food colour - as required
Chillipowder - 1 tsp
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp



Marinate everything for at least 1 and 1/2 hr. Cook in Iron skillet.



(sizzling in iron skillet)

Set 2 (for making curry paste) :

Onions - 2 no. (cut in to small chunks)

Ginger and Garlic paste - 1 tsp each

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 3 tsp (can reduce if u want, I like it hot)
Nutmeg powder -1/2 tsp
Garam masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste
Whole tomato Tin - 1/2 tin

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a non-stick kadai, fry onions, cover and stir time to time.

Add gg paste and fry, add all powders and fry.

Add
tomatoes and salt cook in high heat until mushy. and Keep aside.

When it's cool enough, grind it in to paste. keep aside until needed.


Set 3 (roasting):

Roast Hand ful of cashews in microwave and grind coarsely in coffee grinder, keep aside.

Proceed:

1) Whole spices - Cardamom, Whole cloves, Cinnamon, Star anise 1 no. - remaining 2 each. Fry these in 3 tbsp butter in a deep non-stick kadai.

2) Add Sultanas and Set 2 curry paste. and fry until it is bubbling. Add Set 3 powder and mix well and cook for 2 mins.

3) Add little water in grinded jar (which u have made curry paste earlier) and pulse it and add this mixture to above and cook for 2 mins. add little orange red colour.

4) Add 250 ml Cream and mix well.

5) Add cooked chicken pieces from Set 1. Cook everything until butter floats. Add garam masala 1 and 1/2 tsp and cook 3 more mins. Check for salt and sweetness it may require and Serve.

Serve this with Naan or spiced rice.

Note:


Can do the same as above, but in my picture while doing I have added fresh tomatoes 4 no. chopped up, including 3 no. tomatoes from a whole tin and cooked as usual. 
 
© 2006 by Rajani Rayudu