Macaroni In Jack fruit Payasam

Jack fruit is a treat to jack fruit lovers...:) Jack fruit is a native to part of south & jack fruit payasam is a dessert being served @ the tail of a meal :) Jack fruit has become a trend its used in ice-cream & cakes though i never tasted it.....
You'll find lot's of jack fruit trees in kerala & @ every house they will have a jack fruit tree & there are a few jack fruit tree @ my hubby's house also...While coming back from Kerala my co-sis add kept a whole bulk of ripe jack fruit in our car :) Waited for three days to become ripe & enjoyed eating the ripe sweet pulp....

It was too much for two of us so i stored the pulp in the freezer before it gets spoiled...I was thinking how to make use of it then it striked  me to make jack fruit payasam with a twist so that i can add in my blog...
 Payasam is usually made by grinding the jack fruit & some add marble size rice dumplings to the payasam.. To make it easier i decided to add macaroni ....I always used to wander why not make something sweet with macaroni than the usual pasta i thought to give this a try....
All these days macaroni means savory pasta now i found a sweet pasta yup that's it....
The day i made this payasam my nephew was with us staying & after tasting he gave me a thumbs up !!!
 Try this yummy macaroni floating in jack fruit payasam  & impress your family :)   

  

Ingredients :

• Ripe jack fruit pulp - 300 gm.
• Marconi - 40-50 gm.
• Jaggery / molasses  - 130 gm.
• Grated coconut - 1 1/2 cup
• Coconut or copra slices - 1/4 cup.
• Ghee - 2 tbsp.
• Pinch of salt.
• Cardamom powder - 1 tsp.
• Dry ginger powder - 1/2 tsp.
• A pinch of salt.

Method :

• Extract 1 cup thick milk, 1 cup thin milk & 1 1/2 cup thinner milk from the grated coconut.

      How to make coconut milk click here > USEFUL TIPS

• Cut the jack fruit in bite size pieces.

• Boil the Marconi in lots of water till done. Drain the water & keep aside. 

• This is  the jaggery i used, melt the jaggery with 1/4 cup water in a microwave,  break the lumps & keep aside.

• Heat ghee in a pan when hot add the coconut pieces, when golden brown remove from the oil & keep aside.

 

• In the same pan add the jack fruit & saute for 3-4 min..

• Add the thinner coconut milk & let it boil till the jack fruit is done & the milk is reduced.
• Take a few cooked jack fruit pieces in blender add 2-3 tbsp thin milk & grind to a fine paste & add it back to the pan ( this is to thicken the payasam)

•  Add the thin milk once it start boiling add  the melted jaggery & keep simmering.

•  Add the cooked macaroni,dry ginger powder, cardamom powder & let it cook on medium flame ,when it's semi thick.....

• Add the thick milk & let it simmer on medium flame for 5-8 min.

• Add the fried coconut pieces mix well. Take off flame,now add a pinch of salt & stir well.
• Serve warm in monsoon season or serve it chilled in summer:) 

Fried Meat Sandwich

Bread stuffed with kheema,dipped in egg & coated with oats & deep fried....A dainty & flavorful sandwich to enjoy in this monsoon season (A gr8 opportunity  to have fried snacks & not feel guilty)  with a cup of green tea :)
 Actually it's been ages i made this snack, i dunno how i forgot about it....I was watching the cookery show in fox life channel (sandwiches)  that's when  i remembered that i used to make this fried meat sandwich  before my marriage & i forgot about it completely :(.. So here's my version of fried meat sandwich ...  Glad to share this tasty snack  :)
You can make it with minced chicken or paneer.
Serve hot with tomato sauce...

Serves : 3

Ingredients :

• 150 gm kheema or minced chicken.
• 4-6 bread slice.
• 1 medium onion ( minced )
• 1 tsp shahajeera.
• 2 green chilies minced.
• 2 tbsp oil.
• oil for deep frying.
• 6 clove crushed garlic.
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger.
• Few coriander leaves.
• 1 grated carrot.
• 1 small tomato chopped.
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder.
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.
• 1/2 tsp chilly powder.
• 1/2 tsp garam masala powder.
• Salt to taste.
• 1 egg.
• 1/2 cup milk or more if required.
• 1 cup oats.
• A dash of pepper powder. 

Method :

• Wash the kheema & keep it to drain.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a cooker add shahajeera, once it stops spluttering  add garlic, ginger & green chilies & saute for 2 min.
• Add the onion & fry till light brown,add all the masala powders, tomato,kheema, salt to taste, 3/4 cup water & pressure cook to 3-4 whistles or till done.
• Once the pressure is down open the lid add the grated carrot & cook till completely dry.

• Add the coriander leaves & mix well & allow it to cool. 
• Spread a spoonful of the kheema mixture over the bread slices..
• Place another bread slice over it & press lightly & cut off the side crusts, repeat with the extra slices..

• Cut each sandwich into 4 bite size pieces & keep aside...

• In a bowl add the egg & beat well, add the milk, pinch of salt & pepper & mix well. 
• Dip the bite size sandwich in the egg mixture make sure the sides are well dipped in the egg mixture.

• Next roll the sandwich in the oats on all sides press lightly so that it coats well.

• And place them on a plate....Deep fry them to a golden brown on a medium flame till golden brown.

• Serve hot with tomato sauce with a hot cup of tea /coffee :) enjoy & write to me Howzit :)

Ripe Mango Raita

Creamy  sweet slightly spicy raita...It's awesome &have with any stuffed parathas or if you have a hot spicy meal it helps put out the fire :) Use any variety of sweet mangoes...

Ingredients :

• 1 cup thick fresh curd / yogurt. 
• 1 ripe sweet mango.
• 1 green chilies.
• Salt to taste.
• Few finely chopped  curry leaves.
• A dash chilly powder.
• 1/2 tsp oil.

Method :

• Peel the mangoes & dice it.
• Blend 1/4 of the diced mango with green chilly & 2 tbsp of curd to a paste.
• Mix it with the rest of the curd in a bowl.
• Beat well till creamy, add the rest of the diced mango( keep a few for garnishing).
• Add salt, pinch of red chilly powder & mix well.
• Heat 1/2 tsp oil in a small pan add mustard seeds once it stop spluttering add the curry leaves saute till crisp off the flame when it's cool add to the curd.
• Garnish the diced mango & sprinkle a pinch red chilly powder.
• Serve with stuffed parathas :)

Malabari Chicken Biryani

Malabari  biryani is known all over for it's lightly flavored & aromatic rice...The most famous is Thalassery  & Calicut biryani & is quite heavy they use lots of ghee...My cousins when they visit Thalassery they make sure to go to a restaurant to have Malabari  biryani :) :)  
I had a request from my friend asking why there's no chicken biryani in my blog, that was a good question coz some prefers chicken biryani, i replied to her my Mutton biryani link & told her to add chicken instead of mutton that's all..
Actually this recipe had been in the draft for a long time but it got postponed coz  i wanted to add step by step pic's & keep forgetting to click some pic's  which kept me away from posting this recipe.
In this recipe i used Kerala biryani rice the difference between Kerala biryani rice &  other biryani rice is that we use only Khaima / jeerakasala rice which has it's own unique flavor & texture & it's short grain thin rice..If u don't get it can add basmati rice.
Be it weddings, engagements or festivals in Thalassery or kannur it's biryani ...Served on banana leaves with Kerala chutney Coconut mango chutney Pickle , raita & poppadom & warm Ayurveda water.  
Here's my version of Malabari biryani enjoy!!!

 

Serves : 4

Ingredients :

• 500 gm chicken cut in large pieces.
• 1 1/2 cup kerala biryani rice or basmati rice.
• 400 gm onions thinly sliced + 1 thinly sliced onion.
• 2 tomatoes chopped.
• 1/8 cup curd.
• 1/3 cup oil + 1/8 cup ghee.
• 1/4 cup each of chopped coriander leaves & mint leaves.
• Salt to taste.
• 1/8 cup each of  cashew nuts & raisins.
• 1/4 cup thick coconut milk.
• 1 tsp rose water.
• 1 tsp garam masala powder.

Ingredients for chicken masala :

1. 10 green chilies.
2. 1'' ginger.
3. 15 cloves garlic.
4.  2'' cinnamon. 
5. 2 cardamoms.
6. 1 tsp fennel seeds / saunf.
7. 5 cloves.
8. 1 tsp roasted coriander powder.
9. 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.
10. 1 tsp khus khus .
11. 1 tbsp grated coconut.

Whole garam masala for the rice : 1 pandan leaves or 2 bay leaves, 2'' cinnamon, 1 star anise, 9 cloves, 1 black cardamom, 2 green cardamoms, 1 petal javitri / mace, 1 tsp saunf / fennel seeds.

Method : 

• Wash the rice well, drain & let dry for 10 min. If using basmati rice soak for 10 min then drain & keep aside.
• Grind the 11 ingredients for the chicken masala to a fine paste & keep aside ( to save time you can grind the masala the night before you are making the biryani).
• Let's start with the chicken masala...

• For marination add curds,chopped tomatoes & the ground masala to the chicken.

• Mix & rub well  the masala into the chicken,to make the chicken super tender.

• Cover with a cling film & allow to sit for 2 hrs or keep overnight in the freezer. 

• Heat 1/3 cup oil or more if required in a skillet / pan add the cashew nuts saute when it changes color add the raisins when it bloats remove from the oil & keep aside.

•  In the same remaining oil add the onions( To save time cut the onions the night before you are making the biryani).

• Fry on medium flame till golden brown.

• Off the flame  & tilt the pan slightly so that all the oil comes down ( As you can see in the image) for 10 min.

• Remove the onions on a tissue  paper .. keep 1/3 cup of the fried onions aside for garnishing.
• Keep aside the oil .

• Crush  the rest of the fried onions in a blender & add to the marinated chicken.

• Add the chopped coriander leaves & the mint leaves & 2 tbsp oil ( the oil in which you fried the onions) & mix well.

•  Pressure cook the chicken check the salt & cook to 1 whistle & immediately off the flame.

• When the pressure is down open the lid ,if there 's more gravy reduce it.The gravy should be thick & keep aside.

• Mix 1/3 of the onions (kept for garnishing )fried cashew nuts,raisins,few chopped coriander leaves & keep aside. 

• Next let's cook the rice, heat a heavy bottomed vessel add the 1/8 cup ghee & 1 tbsp of the oil in which you fried the onion add the whole garam masala,pandan leaves & 1 thinly sliced onion & saute..... meanwhile in another pan boil 3 cups water.

• Saute till the onions are transparent.

• Add the drained  rice & saute them.

• For 5 mins or once the rice acquires a parched look. 

• Add the hot water & on medium flame cover & cook till the rice is done & the water is evaporated.

•  Off the flame let it stand for 5 mins.

• Mix the coconut milk, rose water & the garam masala powder.

• Add the coconut milk mixture & half of the fried onion mixture to the cooked rice & fluff it lightly with a fork.

• Next let's layer the rice take a heavy bottomed vessel layer 1/2 of the chicken masala gravy evenly.

• Next layer, spread half of the cooked rice evenly.

• Top of it spread the rest of the chicken & the masala evenly.

• Last layer, spread the rest of the cooked rice evenly.

• Cover the entire vessel with a foil to ensure that full steam stays in OR you can make a dough with atta & stick the dough to the rim of the vessel cover with a lid & press firmly for a air tight seal & place it in a pre-heated oven @ a very low temperature for 45 min off the flame & allow to rest for at least 10 mins..

                                                                              OR

• Place it on a hot tava & cook for about 30 min on medium heat. Once done switch off the flame & allow to rest for at least 10 mins.
• While serving garnish with rest of the fried onion cashew nuts mixture.. 

Serve & enjoy with  Cucumber & Red Capsicum Raita 😋

                                                                           

Cucumber & Red Capsicum Raita

Raita is the easiest side dish made with yogurt & i can never imagine relishing biryani or stuffed parathas without raita :) Raita has a cooling effect after the heavy meals & raita don't need any measurements just throw in a few ingredients into the curds mix that's all....
This capsicum raita tastes different from normal raita,gives a crunch to this raita & looks gr8 isn't ? lovely color :) 
  

Ingredients:

• 1 cup thick curd.
• 1/2 cucumber.
• 1/2 onion or a small size onion.
• 2 green chilies slit it.
• 1/4 cup red capsicum.
• A dash of pepper powder, roasted jeera/cumin powder
• Salt to taste.
• Few chopped finely coriander leaves.

Method :

• Wash & cut capsicum,cucumber & onions in bite size. 
• If you don't like raw capsicum then microwave it for 10 sec.
• In a bowl add the curds whisk it well, add all the ingredients ( reserve a few capsicum,coriander leaves for garnishing) & mix well & keep aside for 1/2 an hr.
• While serving discard the green chilies,
• Now for garnishing sprinkle the reserved capsicum & coriander leaves & sprinkle roasted jeera powder & pepper powder over it.

Serve with biryani....Check out my biryani recipes.

Ripe Mango Pickle Sandwich

Today is the 2nd mango recipe i'm posting before the mango season ends :)D.
This snack is a surprise to me. It was something i threw together on a whim ended up tasty :)
My hubby loved it..Just 2 ingredients low fat cheese & Spicy Ripe Mango Pickle 

Ingredients :

• 6 slices of  white bread or brown bread.
• Spicy ripe mango pickle.
• Low fat cheese spread.

Method :

• Toast the bread lightly in a toaster or on a tava.
• Trim the crusts.
• Place one bread slice on a clean dry surface & spread  spice ripe mango pickle evenly.
• Place another bread slice over it & spread low fat cheese spread evenly.
• Place another bread slice over it & press lightly.
• Repeat with the other 3 bread slice.
• Grill it or roast on a tava on both sides till brown.
• Serve hot with a cup of green tea :)