The Taste Island

     Naadan thenga chammanthi is simple and tasty. Its basically a Kerala style chammanthi that goes well with boiled rice. This one is my favorite and hope you all will try this. Ingredients: Coconut - 1/2 of 1 big coconut Dry red chillies - 4 to 6 Ginger - 1 small piece chopped Shallots - 2 big sliced Curry leaves - 1 sprig Tamarind paste - 2 tsp Salt to taste Coconut oil Preparation: Prepare small coconut bits from half of 1 big coconut and keep aside. Heat a pan and add some oil. Add dry red chillies and saute till it color changes. Add coconut bits and saute till it becomes light brown color. Add sliced shallots, onion, ginger and curry leaves. Saute till onion becomes translucent. Switch of the flame and let it cool down a bit. Take a blender and add sauted mix along with tamarind paste and enough salt. Coarse grind. Your yummy and spicy coconut chamanthi is ready. Notes: Add more dry red chillies if you want a spicy chammanthi. You may even add green chilli. You ma...

    Neymeen fry is very tasty. It is one of the common and favorite dishes of Kerala. This recipe will tell you how to prepare tasty and simple Kerala style neymeen fry. Ingredients: Neymeen pieces - 4 medium sized Pepper powder - 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder - 1 tsp Turmeric powder - 1 tsp Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp Curry leaves - 1 sprig Salt to taste Oil for frying Preparation: Wash and clean the fish pieces. Marinate the fish pieces with salt, turmeric powder, kashmiri chilli powder, pepper powder and ginger garlic paste. Keep aside for minimum 30 mins. Heat some oil in a pan and fry the marinated fish pieces. When one side is cooked, flip and cook the other side also.Sprinkle some curry leaves at this stage. Switch of the flame when both sides are done. Notes: Adjust the spice level according to your choice. I usually clean and marinate the fish immediately after buying it and before keeping it in freezer. This will let the fish pieces to absorb all the spices very well...

    Squid fry is an easy dry fry recipe in Kerala style. The spice level can be adjusted as per our choice. Seafood usually tastes best when its spicy. This one is a perfect recipe for crispy and yummy koonthal fry. Ingredients: Squid rings- 300 gms Egg - 1 Pepper powder - 2 tbsp Garam masala - 1 tsp Corn flour / Maida - 5 tbsp Bread crumbs - from 3 bread slices Oil for frying Salt to taste Preparation: Wash the squid rings very well and drain. Add enough salt to the cleaned squid rings and mix well. Keep it aside for 5 mins. Mix together egg, pepper powder, garam masala powder, salt and corn flour to form a thick mixture. Add more flour or water to adjust the consistency of the batter. Add squid rings to the batter and combine well. Keep aside for 15  mins. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying squid rings. Take each squid rings and dip it in bread crumbs on both sides.  Place them carefully to the hot oil for frying. Repeat the same with all  the squid rings. Fry ...

    Ghee roast dosa is a classic south Indian breakfast. It is made with dosa batter . It can be made at home very simply. Its best served with coconut chutney and sambar.  Ingredients: Idli/dosa batter  Ghee Salt to taste Preparation: Take a bowl of dosa batter . It has to be slightly loose. Add enough salt to it and gently combine well. Heat a tawa. If needed you may spread some oil over the tawa uniformly using a tissue paper. Pour a ladle full of batter to the tawa. Spread out in a circular motion to form a thin dosa. Spread 2 tsp of ghee over the dosa. Cook till it get a light golden brown color and becomes crispy. Flip and cook for few seconds. Fold it as needed and remove from tawa. Serve hot. Notes: If you are using idli batter , add some water to make it slightly loose as dosa batter . The size of the dosa depends upon the size of tawa used. Useful links: How to make coconut chutney How to make idli batter at home How to make dosa batter at home

    Egg roast is a very simple curry with boiled eggs and spicy onion-tomato gravy. This recipe is very easy and can be made with the ingredients easily available at home. It goes well with appam, rice or chapatti.  Ingredients: Boiled eggs - 3 Shallots/small onion (sliced) - 6 big sized Garlic - 2 Ginger - 1 small size Green chilli - 1 Pepper corns - 1/2 tsp Tomato - 1/2 of big one Kashmiri chilli powder - 1 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Curry leaves - 2 sprigs Salt to taste oil as needed Preparation: Boil the eggs. Once its cooked remove the shell and keep aside. Grind ginger, green chilly, garlic, curry leaves, turmeric powder, chilly powder and pepper by adding a little amount of water to make it a fine paste. Take some oil in a pan and saute chopped onions along with curry leaves. Saute till it becomes light brown in color. Add the prepared masala paste to this and saute till its raw smell goes. Add chopped tomatoes and saute till its cooked well. Add enough salt and...

    Neer dosa is a south Indian crepe prepared from ground rice batter. They are thin, super soft and lacy. Do try this simple and healthy breakfast recipe. Ingredients: Raw rice - 1 cup Grated coconut - 1/2 cup Water - 2 to 2 1/4 cup Salt to taste Preparation: Wash and soak rice for about 5 to 6 hrs. Drain the soaked rice. Add the drained rice, coconut and little water in blender. Make a smooth paste. Transfer the smooth paste into a large bowl. Add water and salt. Combine well.  The consistency must be watery. Heat a nonstick tawa. When the tawa is hot pour the batter over the tawa.  Once dosa is cooked completely fold using the spatula. Transfer it to a plate. Repeat the same with rest of the batter. Each time before pouring the batter, mix well. Notes: Preferably use idli rice or sona masoori rice for best results. Use a nonstick tawa for making this dosa. The total quantity of water must not go beyond 2 1/4 cup. First add 2 cup. Check the consistency and add the...

    Pork fry is a popular recipe in Kerala. In this recipe marinated pork is first cooked and then roasted along with spices. Its a must dish in christian homes during special occasions and festivals. Try this simple traditional style pork fry !!! Ingredients: Pork - 1kg Big onion - 1 big sliced Garlic - 5 big sliced Ginger - 1 medium size julienned Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp Turmeric powder - 2 tsp Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp Coriander powder - 1 tbsp Pepper powder - 2 tbsp Garam masala powder - 2 tbsp Cloves - 4 Cinnamon - 1 medium sized piece Cardamom - 2 Fennel seeds - 2 tsp Star anise - 1 Curry leaves - 3 sprigs Coconut bits - 1/2 of 1 big Salt to taste Coconut oil Preparation: Cut pork into small pieces, wash well and keep aside. Marinate the pork pieces with 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp red chilli powder, 1 tbsp pepper powder and salt. Marinate for minimum 30 mins. Cook the marinated pork pieces in a pressure cooker till its 75 % done. For ...

    Chemmen ball curry is a delicious Kerala style curry made with shrimp balls seasoned with ground spices and gently cooked in coconut milk. Its an amazing dish which can be served with rice, pulao or roti. Ingredients: Prawns - 16 medium sized Big onion - 1 small sized (finely sliced) Tomato - 1 small (chopped) Green chilli - 2 (finely chopped) Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp Curry leaves - 2 sprigs Turmeric powder - 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder - 1 tsp Coriander powder - 1 tsp Garam masala powder - 1 tsp Pepper powder - 1 tsp Thin coconut milk - 1 cup Thick coconut milk - 1 cup Salt to taste Coconut oil Preparation: Clean the prawns. Wash well and marinate it with salt, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp chilli powder and 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste. Combine well and keep aside for 20 mins. Grind or mince the marinated prawns without adding water. Make small balls of desired size. Keep aside.  Take a pan and saute sliced onion along with chopped green chillies and curry leave...

     Pumpkin and drumstick curry is a mild tasting Kerala style coconut based curry. Its a very good combination along with rice. Its gravy is tangy and delicious. Just try this simple recipe!!! Ingredients: Pumpkin - 1.5 cup cut into small pieces Tomato - 1/2 of big one (cut into big pieces) Drumstick - 2 small (cut into medium sized pieces) Garlic clove -2 small Grated coconut - 1/2 cup Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp Green chilli - 3 (slitted) Curry leaves - 2 sprigs Mustard seeds - 1 tsp Dry red chillies - 2 Shallot - 1 big sliced Salt to taste Coconut oil Preparation: Peel and cut the pumpkin into small cubes. Wash well and keep aside. Clean and cut the drumstick into medium sized pieces and keep aside. Take a blender and prepare the coconut paste by adding grated coconut along with garlic, cumin powder, turmeric powder and little water. Keep aside. Take a pan and add drumstick and pumpkin pieces. Add green chilli slit, salt and enough water. Let it ...

    Pepper beef fry Kerala style is an easy recipe yet a satisfying one. This beef fry is a perfect treat for your taste buds. This is one of my favorite. Hope you all will try this one and send me your feedback and photos of this recipe. Ingredients: Beef - 1kg Big onion - 1 big sliced Capsicum - Cubed (1/4 each of green, yellow and red) Garlic - 5 sliced Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp Turmeric powder - 2 tsp Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp Coriander powder - 1 tbsp Pepper powder - 2 tbsp Garam masala powder - 2 tbsp Cloves - 4 Cinnamon - 1 medium sized piece Cardamom - 2 Fennel seeds - 2tsp Star anise - 1 Curry leaves - 3 sprigs Salt to taste Coconut oil Preparation: Cut beef into small pieces, wash well and keep aside. Marinate the beef pieces with 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp red chilli powder, 1 tbsp pepper powder and salt. Marinate for minimum 30 mins. Cook the marinated beef pieces in a pressure cooker till its done. For me it took 8 whistles. Take...

    Chakka ada is a popular tea time snack in Kerala made with ripe jack fruit, jaggery, grated coconut and flour. Its also known by different names in different regions. Traditionally fresh banana leaf or bay leaf is used for wrapping it. Bay leaf will give an extraordinary flavor and fragrance to chakka ada. You can use rice flour, wheat flour or rava for making this. This recipe uses rava. Here goes the recipe for you to try out ! Ingredients: Chakka - 2 cups (deseeded and chopped) Rava/Semolina - 1.5 to 2 cups Brown sugar - 1 cup Grated coconut - 1/2 cup Cumin powder - 1 tsp Salt - 1 tsp Water - as needed Powdered cardamom - 1 tsp (optional) Preparation: Take a pressure cooker. Add chopped jack fruit along with enough water needed for cooking jack fruit. Cook for 4 whistles. Wait for the pressure to release. Add grated coconut, cumin powder and brown sugar to the cooked jack fruit and mix well. Add rava gradually and mix well till you get the desired consistency. The mix m...

    Pineapple wine is a low alcohol drink that has the natural color and sweetness of the pineapple. Pineapple is one of the sweetest fruit and perfect for making wine. With this recipe you can easily prepare the pineapple wine at home. Ingredients: Pineapple - 250 gm Sugar - 125 gm Yeast - 1/4 tsp Cardamom - 1 crushed (optional) Cinnamon - 1 small piece (optional) Cloves - 2 (optional) Water - 750 ml Preparation: Take a sauce pan and add 750 ml of water. Let it boil. Add sugar, pineapple pieces and spices. Mix well. Let it boil until the pineapple is cooked well. Switch off the flame and let it cool down. When its luke warm add instant yeast and combine well. Once its completely cooled down transfer it to a glass jar. Cover the mouth of the jar with a nice towel. Stir once everyday with a wooden spoon preferably in the morning. Repeat this process for 10 days. After 10 days strain the pineapple wine. Also squeeze the pineapple pieces. Transfer the strained wine to a bottle. T...

    Layered Mango Pudding is a very simple and easy recipe for making a delicious mango dessert quickly at home with minimum ingredients. Cooked mango and uncooked mango taste different. This one is made with uncooked mango to get its real flavor. Hope you all will try this one as well!! Ingredients: Ripe Mango - 1 Milk - 1 cup Condensed milk - 1/4 cup Corn flour - 1 tbsp Sugar - 1/3 cup (optional) Preparation: Peel the mango and cut it into small pieces. Add the mango pieces to a blender and make mango puree. Keep aside. Take 1/2 cup of milk and mix 1 tbsp corn flour to it. Combine well without any lumps. Keep aside. Take a saucepan and add 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of condensed milk. Combine well. Add sugar at this stage if needed.(refer note). Let it boil. Lower the heat and add the corn flour mixture little by little. Keep on stirring else it will make lumps. Heat the mixture till it thickens. Switch off and let it cool down. Take a bowl or glass and layer the mango pure...

    Paneer is a fresh crumbly cheese that will blend with in flavorful Indian dishes. This paneer curry is a quick vegetarian dish that can be served with roti, naan or rice. Ingredients: Cinnamon - 1 small piece Cloves - 2 Cardamom - 1 Big onion - 1 thinly sliced Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp Green chilli - 1 slit Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder - 1 tsp Coriander powder - 1 tsp Garam masala powder - 1tsp Tomato - 1/2 of big one (chopped) Coconut milk - 1/4 cup Curry leaves - 1 sprig Salt to taste Water - 1/2 cup Oil Marination Paneer cubes - 200 gm Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder - 1 tsp Coriander powder - 1 tsp Curd - 1 tbsp Salt to taste Preparation: Marinate the paneer cubes with the ingredients for marination and keep aside for 15 mins. Heat oil in a pan and add the marinated paneer cubes. Saute it for some time till it changes color and is slightly fried. Drain the oil and keep aside. To the same oil add cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Sau...