BHANOLE

Bhanole is an easy to make delicious and healthy savoury cake which can be had as a snack or as a Starter……..

INGREDIENTS : 1 small Cabbage, 1 onion, 1-2 green chillies, fresh coriander, 1 coconut, 1 tsp jaggery, 1/2 cup besan (chickpea flour), 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1/4 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 tsp coriander powder, 1/4 tsp Goda Masala, a pinch is asafoetida, salt to taste, 1 tbsp oil.

DIRECTIONS : Slice the cabbage to get 1 cup……… Slice the onion too……. Chop the green chillies finely…….. Chop fresh coriander to get approximately 1/4 cup……… Grate the coconut…….. Add hot water and keep aside for some time…….. Extract thick coconut milk through muslin cloth to get about 1/4 cup…….. Oil a container and keep aside…… Now mix sliced cabbage, sliced onion, chopped green chillies and coriander, jaggery, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, Goda Masala, asafoetida and salt……… Add thick coconut milk…… Crush and mix thoroughly with hand……. Now add besan and baking soda to get a batter……. Pour the batter in the oiled container…….. Take a pressure cooker……. Pour some water in it…… Keep the container in the pressure cooker…….. Steam it in the pressure cooker without whistle for about 50 minutes to 1 hour……..When it is done let it cool……. Cut bhanole into squares and serve.

NOTE : Bhanole can be served as it is or it can be shallow/deep fried……. The batter should have the consistency a little thicker than fritters…… Instead of steaming, one can bake bhanole at 175*C for at least 1/2 an hour.

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PANGOJI

A SKP speciality, Pangoji are deep fried plump fritters which are traditionally served with tea in the evening….. Can be served as starters too.

INGREDIENTS : 4 potatoes ( medium sized), 2-3 green chillies, 1/4 cup coriander, 1-2 tsp jaggery, 3/4-1 cup coconut water, 1 cup wheat flour, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, salt to taste, oil for frying.

DIRECTIONS : Boil the potatoes…… When cool, crush the potatoes……. Chop the green chillies and coriander……. Add chopped green chillies, chopped coriander, jaggery, wheat flour, turmeric powder, baking soda and salt to crushed potatoes…..Mix thoroughly adding coconut water little by little….. Cover and keep aside for at least two hours….. Fry the resultant batter like fritters…… Serve hot.

NOTE : Increase/ decrease green chillies and jaggery according to taste…… Add enough coconut water to form batter of fritter consistency…….. Goes very well with green chutney.

One can turn these into pancakes by adding more coconut water……Though not the traditional version, it actually comes out very well….. Serve hot chutney.

TALALĒLĒ SARPADANŚA

(FRIED SNAKE GOURD)

Pathare Prabhu community are thorough non vegetarians…….. But during festivals and certain occasions they have elaborate vegetarian meals…….. Fried Snake Gourd is one such dish……. Snake gourd is called Sarpadansá in Marathi…… Snake gourd is a low calorie vegetable which aids in digestive process, reduces the effects of bloating & constipation, improves blood circulation, prevents scalp disorders, prevents respiratory problems, etc…….. Fried snake gourd can be served with steamed rice and dal (lentil curry)…… It can be also be served as snacks or as starters.

INGREDIENTS : 100 gms Snake Gourd, a pinch of Turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp Prabhi Sambhar Masala, Salt to taste, 1-2 tbsp rice flour, Oil.

DIRECTIONS : Peel the snake gourd……. Cut into two halves lengthwise…… Discard the fibrous bits from the inside……. Chop……. Heat enough oil for deep frying……..Salt the snake gourd pieces……. Rest for a minute….. Drain out the liquid that comes out of snake gourd…… Add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder, Prabhi Sambhar Masala…… Mix well with to coat the snake gourd…… Now dredge with rice flour……. Deep fry in oil over medium heat till done…… Take out and keep it on tissue to soak excess oil….. Serve hot.

NOTES : Salting of the snake gourd should be done just before frying…… If the salt is left on for too long, the texture of the gourd will be ruined due to loss of too much moisture…… While heating oil one must be careful…… If the oil is not hot enough, lot of oil will be absorbed and the dish will be ruined……… If the oil reaches smoking point, the snake gourd will burn resulting in bitterness….. Red chilli powder can be adjusted according to taste.

EAST INDIAN STYLE STUFFED POMFRET

East Indian community name for Pomfret is Sarga……. This dish is generally had on special occasions….. Can be served as starter as well as side dish.

INGREDIENTS : 3-4 small pomfrets, 1 lemon, 2 tomatoes , 1-2 onions, 6-8 cloves garlic, 1″ginger, 2-3 green chillies, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp East Indian bottle masala, a bunch of coriander leaves, salt to taste, little flour, oil for frying.

DIRECTIONS : Make sideways slit of the pomfret in such a way that a cavity is formed so that the stuffing can be entered….. Wash the fish…. Apply salt & lemon juice and keep aside.

For the stuffing, chop tomatoes……. Make a paste of onions, garlic, ginger, green chillies, coriander leaves….. Heat a tbsp of oil….. Sauté the tomatoes…… Add turmeric powder, pepper powder & East Indian bottle masala ….. Sauté…… Add the paste and salt…… Cook till done and almost dry…..  Keep the stuffing aside to cool.

Stuff the Pomfrets with the stuffing….. With the leftover stuffing rub the outside of the fish. 

Heat oil….. Apply flour and fry till golden on both sides….. Serve hot.

NOTE : Instead of small Pomfrets one can use big ones….. Semolina/rice flour can be used instead of flour……To get a different dish, one can wrap stuffed pomfret in banana leaf and steam/fry.


EAST INDIAN POTATO CHOPS

A popular dish of this community, this is generally had on Sundays and special occasions….. Can be had as starters….. Also can be had as snacks during tea time.

INGREDIENTS : 5-6 potatoes, 250 gms minced chicken, 4-5 onions, 8-10 garlic cloves, 1″ ginger, 2-3 green chillies, coriander leaves, 1 lemon, salt & pepper to taste, 1-2 eggs, breadcrumbs, oil for frying.

DIRECTIONS : Clean and boil potatoes till done…… Mash the potatoes with salt and knead till smooth…. Keep aside.

In the meantime, chop onions, garlic, ginger, green chillies, coriander leaves finely…… Heat 1tbsp oil….. Fry onions till slightly brown….. Add ginger, garlic and green chillies and sauté for few minutes….. Now add chicken mince, salt and pepper ….. Fry till slightly browned….. Lower the heat and continue cooking till dry…. Add the coriander leaves and lemon juice…. Mix thoroughly …..Remove from heat….. Keep the stuffing aside to cool.

To prepare chops, take a portion of mashed potatoes and flatten it to form the shape of the palm….. Make a shallow depression in the centre…..Place a portion of the stuffing in the centre….. By drawing up the sides of the potatoes, encompass the mince completely….. Shape into round chops….. Likewise make chops with the rest….. Heat oil…. Roll each of the chops in beaten eggs and then breadcrumbs…..

Fry on slow flame till golden…. Serve hot.

NOTE : Stuffing can be made with any mince….. Mashed potatoes should not have lumps….. If mashed potatoes is sticky, one should oil one’s palm before forming chops….. One can use semolina instead of breadcrumbs.

CHICKEN CUTLET

This Cochin Jewish style cutlets are very similar to schnitzels made in Austria…….. This is one of the favourite snacks of the Cochini Jews……. Can be also had as starters.

INGREDIENTS : 500gms Chicken breasts, 8- 10 cloves garlic, 1/2 ” ginger, 2-3 green chillies, 1/2-1 tsp black pepper powder, salt to taste, 1 lemon(optional), 1-2 eggs, 1 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 cup flour, oil as required.

DIRECTIONS : Wash & make fillets of chicken breasts…… Beat the fillet with mallet according to the thickness required……. Make a paste of garlic, ginger and green chillies……. marinate chicken fillets with the paste, black pepper powder, salt and lemon juice……… Mix bread crumbs with little salt……

Dredge the chicken fillets in flour, then egg and finally bread crumbs to form cutlets…….

Heat oil…. Fry the cutlets on medium heat till golden brown and crisp on both sides……

Take out on paper towels…….. Serve hot.

NOTE : Lemon juice is optional…… Black pepper & green chillies can be reduced according to taste.

CHICKEN PASTEL

This is an old recipe, most probably, of Portuguese origin…… These are deep fried half moon parcels made with rice/flour and filled with stuffing ….. Various types of stuffings are made from different vegetables, eggs, fish, varieties of meats, etc……. Can be had as snacks/starters……

INGREDIENTS :
For Dough : 3 cups rice flour/all purpose flour, 1 egg lightly beaten, 4tbsp melted butter, 1tbsp vegetable oil, 3/4th cup water, salt to taste.
For Stuffing : 500 gms chicken mince, 6-8 onions, few cloves garlic (optional), 1 potato, 2 carrots, 1-2 tsp black pepper powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1-2 tbsp vinegar, 2-3 green chillies, few sprigs of coriander, salt to taste.
Oil for frying.

DIRECTIONS : Mix together butter, oil, egg and water……. Combine about 2 cups flour and salt in another bowl……… Pour egg & butter mixture slowly into the salt & flour mixture…..Keep stirring so that the flour does not clump up…… Add rest of the flour while mixing with hands……. Keep working to form a ball and till the dough is not sticking on the fingers…. Knead till the dough is very smooth…… Cover with a damp cloth and keep aside for at least for 15mins.

To make the stuffing, heat oil….. Add chopped green chilies, ground garlic & sliced onions…… Sauté…….Add finely chopped potatoes & carrots….. Sauté……. Now add in the minced chicken……..Mix in black pepper powder, turmeric powder & salt…. Cook covered till almost done and the mixture dries up…… Stir in vinegar and chopped coriander leaves….Sauté till done….. Cool.

Divide the dough in small balls….. Roll each ball out thinly…… Place a heaped spoon of stuffing on each , fold to make half moons and seal……. Deep fry these pastels in hot oil till golden brown…..Serve hot.

NOTE : If made with rice flour, covering the dough with damp cloth is a must.

 

ALISA

 Alisa is a fortifying ,wholesome & highly satisfying one pot dish & is normally served as a starter during marriages, religious festivals like Eid & other special occasions….. It is quite similar to harisa or harees which is a traditional Middle Eastern recipe…. Yemeni Arab traders brought this dish with them to Kerala….. Thus, one can say that Alisa is a sort of fusion food of Malabar region & Arabs ……Traditionally, Alisa is cooked in large pots on low flames & although it takes a lot of time to cook, the outcome is delicious….. Here I’m going to use pressure cooker for faster cooking.

INGREDIENTS : 1  1/2 cups chamba wheat ( branless wheat), 1/2 kg chicken/ mutton, 1-2 large onions (cubed), few cloves of garlic (optional), 1  1/2 – 2″cinnamon, 1-2 cups coconut milk, water as needed, salt to taste.

Garnish : Ghee, few cashew nuts & raisins, sliced onions.

DIRECTIONS  : Wash & soak the wheat overnight….. In the pressure cooker add wheat, meat, cubed onions, garlic, cinnamon & salt……. Pour in water till the level of water is, upto the second knuckle of the pointing finger from the tip ( say upto 1  1/2″), above the ingredients…….  Cover the pressure cooker & cook till a couple of whistle blows…… Now lower the flame & cook for around 45 mins……… Remove from heat & keep aside for some time……. In the meantime, prepare the garnish by frying cashewnuts, raisins & sliced onions till golden brown.

Now open the pressure cooker lid, mash thoroughly & pour in a cup of coconut milk….. Mix & cook on low flame….. Check for consistency….it should be porridge like…… Add more coconut milk if required…. Turn off the flame……. Serve hot with garnish & little ghee….. Some like to have it with a sprinkling of sugar too.

NOTE :  Alisa can also be had as a breakfast dish….. One can also have it as a main meal with mutton/ chicken fry.

If chamba wheat is not available, one can use rice/ barley/semolina instead….. Cooking time will vary accordingly.