A very authentic kongunadu curry. We make a different combination with bottle gourd instead of brinjal. We grow these at our backyards and pick instantly for cooking them. This curry is made very often at our homes which is commonly accompanied for white rice.
Onion / Vengayam
Kadai Chicken
Kadai Chicken or Chicken Kadai is a very famous restaurant delight. They match very well with Naan, Parota or Chapathi.
- Chicken – 1 lb
- Oil – 3 tsp
- Onion – 1 ( Medium )
- Ginger – 1 inch
- Garlic – 6 nos
- Green Chili – 2 nos
- Tomato – 1
- Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp
- Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
- Salt – 1/4 tsp
- Coriander Leaves – 2 tbsp
- To Grind :
- Cinnamon – 1 inch
- Cloves – 2 no
- Cardamom – 2 no
- Cashew nut – 5 nos
- Coriander Seeds – 2 tsp
- Grind the items given in the ” To Grind” section to a very fine paste. Chop the onion finely. grind ginger, garlic and green chili to a fine paste. chop the coriander leaves. Cut the chicken into small pieces.
- In a wok heat oil, when hot add onion. Fry till onion turns brown. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell leaves. Add the tomato and fry till it become gravy Add the ground masala paste and fry till Oil separates. Add the chicken, red chili powder, turmeric, salt, water – 1 cup and cook till chicken is completely cooked and water is completely drained.
- Add capsicum, coriander leaves saute for 2 min. If you like add ghee 1/2 tsp at the end.
Green Peas Sabzi / Pachai pattani Masala ( Dhaba Style )
Dhaba style dishes are rich in spices and a special treat for our taste bubs. I have tried simulating the green peas subzhi from Punjabi dhaba which will be a great combo for Naan, roti etc. An inspired Green Peas Masala recipe from Tamilnadu Punjabi Hotels. When you finish cooking, gravy smell fills ur house.
- Fresh or Frozen Soft Green Peas – 1 cup
- Oil – 3 tsp
- Cinnamon – 1 inch
- Cloves – 2 no
- Black stone flower – 2 tsp
- Big Onion – 1 ( Medium )
- Ginger – 1 inch
- Garlic – 6 nos
- Green Chili – 2 nos
- Tomato Puree – 5 tbsp
- Channa Masala – 1 tbsp
- Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp
- Sugar – 1/2 tsp
- Salt – 1/4 tsp
- Water – 1/2 cup
- Coriander Leaves – 2 tbsp
- Ghee – 1 tbsp
- Curry Leaves – 2 strands ( Must )
- To Fry :
- Oil – 1/2 tsp
- Onion – 1/4 ( Medium )
- Cashew nut – 5 nos
- Fry the onion in the ” To Fry Section ” to golden brown and grind them with the cashews to a very fine paste. Chop the onion finely. Grind Ginger, garlic and green chili to a fine paste. Chop the coriander leaves.
- In a wok heat oil, when hot add cinnamon, cloves, black stone flower and onion. Fry till onion turns brown. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell leaves. Add the tomato puree and fry for 2 min. Add the ground onion paste and fry till oil separates. Add the channa masala , red chili powder, sugar, salt and fry for 1 min, stir continuously to avoid burning the bottom.
- Add the green peas, coriander leaves, water and cook for about 2 min. Add the ghee and fresh curry leaves at the end take out from the stove.
(*) . .
Prawn Biryani / Shrimp Biryani
An easy Eral Biryani from Tamilnadu !!
- Fresh or Frozen Shrimp ( Medium Sized ) – 15 no
- Basmati Rice/ Jeera Samba Rice – 1 1/2 cup
- Oil – 2 tsp
- Bay Leaves – 3 no
- Cloves – 2 no
- Cinnamon – 1 inch
- Cardamom – 2 no
- Star Anise – 1 no
- Onion – 1 ( Medium )
- Ginger Garlic Paste – 1 tsp
- Tomatoes – 2 no
- Green Chili – 4 no
- Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
- Biriyani Masala Powder – 1 tsp ( optional )
- Coriander leaves – 3 tbsp
- Mint leaves – 3 tbsp
- Ghee – 1 tsp ( optional )
- Cashew – 5 no ( optional )
- Salt – to taste
- Water – 3 cup
- Yogurt – 3 tsp
- Coconut Milk – 1 cup ( optional )
- Soak rice for 30 min, wash it thoroughly and drain the water. Clean the shrimp, remove tails, head and devein, wash thoroughly. Chop Onion, tomato, coriander leaves and mint leaves. Slit open green chili. Grind ginger and garlic paste.
- In a pressure cooker add oil. When hot, add Bay Leaves, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and star anise. Add the chopped Onion immediately and 1/4 tsp of salt. When the onion turns brown, add the ginger garlic pate. Fry this till raw smell leaves, approximately 3 min in medium flame. Stir often to avoid the burn. Add the green chili, mint & coriander leaves and fry for 1 min. Add chopped tomatoes and cook till it becomes gravy.
- Add the Shrimp and fry for until it’s cooked in the oil. Water released from the shrimp is good enough to cook it. Add the turmeric, biryani masala powder, yogurt, coconut milk and water. Add the rice and mix well for 2 min in Medium flame. Check for salt. Add ghee and mix well.
- Close the cooker lid and pressure cook for 2 whistles and reduce the flame to the lowest setting and allow it to stay for 30 min. Garnish with extra coriander leaves and add cashew nuts.
Avarakkai Poriyal / Broad Beans Fry
An authentic kongunadu broad beans fry in peanut masala powder. We add peanut masala in many of our dishes. We get peanut from our farms every year, this helps peanut availability throughout the year at our houses.
- Broad Bean / Avarakkai – 1 lb
- Oil – 2 tsp
- Mustard – 1/2 tsp
- Split Urad dhal – 1 tsp
- Channa dhal – 1/2 tsp
- Curry Leaves – 1 strand
- Red Chili – 4
- Big Onion – 1/2 no
- Sambar Powder – 1 tsp
- Peanut Masala Powder – 5 tbsp
- Salt – to taste
- Water – 2 cups
- Peanut Masala Powder :
- Peanut – 1/2 cup
- Cumin – 1 tsp
- Black Pepper – 10 nos
- Red Chili – 4
- Coriander Seed – 1 tsp
- Salt – to taste
- Fry the Peanut separately until it turns to brown, approximately for 5 min. Heat oil in a small pan, and fry cumin, coriander seeds, red chili, black pepper for 2 min in low flame.
- When it become cold, grind all these together with salt to a coarse powder.
- Cut onion, Red chili. Chop the indian broad bean into small pieces.
- Heat 2 cups of water in a vessel or pan and add the chopped green bean, salt – 1 tsp and allow it to cook. Drain the water using food strainer and keep the bean ready.
- In an another pan heat remaining oil, when hot add mustard, split urad dhal, channa dhal, curry leaves and red chili. Add Chopped onion and fry till it turns brown. Add the cooked bean, sambar powder and if needed add salt. Fry this for about 2-3 min. Add the ground peanut masala powder and mix gently.
(*) A good combo with white rice, curd rice and Chapathi. Recipe from my Mom’s Kitchen and which my grand-mother makes often.
Chana Methi Masala / Pattani Vendhayakeerai Masala
My go to recipe for cooking fenugreek leaves for chapathi sides. Chickpea and methi together tastes yummy in this recipe. I sometimes use green channa instead of dry.