KERALA FISH FRY

This is an easy to prepare kerala style fish fry. This goes well with rice and chapatti. Kerala fish fry is quite spicy, like most Kerala non-vegetarian dishes. For an average malayalee, a lunch is not complete without a fish fry or curry. It plays a major role in Kerala cuisine. Fish is a protein food with fewer calories than other meal dishes and it fits perfectly into a healthy diet. Marinate the fish with the spice powders without water. This recipe needs only an hour for marination.  Try this recipe and don’t forget to post the comments below in the comment box. I should admit, even though I am not a big fan of fish, I love fried fish. They are crispy and spicy and tangy and frankly they are not too fishy.  I like it with a squeeze a little lime juice and onion rings. I have shared few recipes of fish fry earlier in my blog.

INGREDIENTS:

10-15 Fish Pieces

2 tablespoon Chilli Powder

1 ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder

Salt as per needed

1 tablespoon Fennel Powder

½ tablespoon Ginger-Garlic Paste

½ tablespoon Lime Juice

1 -2 Lemon Slice/ Onion Slices

Oil

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Clean the fish pieces with water and salt. Drain water and keep aside.

STEP 2 - In a bowl add all the ingredients except oil and mix well and make a fine mixture.

STEP 3 – Marinate the fish with this mixture

and keep aside for 30 minutes.

STEP 4 – Heat oil in a wide pan and shallow fry the fish pieces.

STEP 5 – Flip the pieces when done from one side and shallow fry from the other side till light brown.

STEP 6 – Like this fry all the pieces and serve hot.

Serve with chapatti, Bhakari or steamed rice garnished with lemon and onion slice.

NOTES: Adjust the spices as per your taste preference.

CHEESY PIZZA BALLS / POTLIS

Pizza dough stuffed with your favourite ingredients and then tossed in garlic butter. Try this recipe on small functions like kids birthday party or kitty party at your place. My family is a foody family and now a days everyone like the pizza flavour in each dish. So this Valentine’s day I made these cheesy Pizza Balls / Potlis. As much as I love when my kids eat all of my cooking. I am not going to have to cook from scratch the following night or have to create something completely new for my kids on this special day.  They are easy and inexpensive and just a great appetizer. These are delicious and cheesy so everyone like it. When these pizza balls are piping hot, the little spheres pull apart to reveal gooey melted cheese and whatever toppings you can think of to put inside.  So next time when your kids demands for pizza just try this recipe and surprise them. The best part is that you can stuff these with ham, pepperoni, sausage, becon, etc.  

INGREDIENTS:

1-2 Boiled and Mashed Potatoes

1 Cup Finely Chopped Mix Bell Pepper/ Capsicum [if available use all coloured peppers]

2 tablespoon Sliced Black Olives

½ Cup Grated Cheese

2-3 tablespoon Pizza Sauce

4-5 Garlic Cloves, Crushed finely

Pizza Dough

1 teaspoon Oregano

1 teaspoon Chilly Flakes

2+2 tablespoon Butter [for brushing and for tossing]

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Salt

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Pre-heat the oven at 190 degree C for 10 minutes.

STEP 1 – Prepare a pizza dough, cover it and let it rise with double in size.[see notes]

STEP 2 – In a small pan combine butter and garlic and simmer for 5 minutes.

STEP 3 – Mash the potato and add salt and seasoning in it and mix well.

STEP 4 – After 2 hours, make small equal portions with the dough and keep them aside.

STEP 5 – Chop the peppers in small dices.

STEP 6 – Now roll the small portion of pizza dough and roll it about 2-3 inches pieces and about ¼ inch

thick.

STEP 7 –Brush it with garlic butter, a dollop of mashed potato, then add some chopped pepper, drizzle 1 teaspoon pizza sauce on it and sprinkle some grated cheese on it. Sprinkle oregano and chilly flakes on it as shown in the pictures below.

STEP 8 – Fold and press the edges together to form a little dough potli/ ball.

STEP 9 – Brush with more garlic butter and pop into a prepared cup cake pan/ moulds.

STEP 10 – Prepare all the balls with rest of the dough and keep on the baking tray.

STEP 11 – Bake on 190 degrees C for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool for 5 minutes in the oven itself.

STEP 12 – Heat a pan with little butter and add garlic powder in it.

Toss the ready cheesy balls in it and serve hot.

Serve hot pizza potli/ ball with tomato ketchup or your favourite sauce.

NOTES: For Pizza dough follow the post of MOZZARELLA STUFFED GARLIC KNOTS from my blog itself. Recipe link for pizza dough- http://kalpanaslacucina.blogspot.in/2016/12/mozzarella-stuffed-garlic-knots.html

INSTANT OASTS IDLI

I am fond of oats and love to try different recipes with oats for breakfast. I wanted to try instant oats idli for a long time. They looked very tempting to try. Here I used Quaker oats for my recipe and it works well, even saffola oats is also good. I just modified the quantity and a recipe a bit suit our taste and the result was soft, fluffy, smooth and tasty idlis. I am sure that you all also like the recipe and make it for breakfast when craving for idlis and need an instant idli recipe. I love this recipe so much and this tastes similar to the usual idli, but more healthy undoubtedly. I am a huge fan of idli and can have it any time of a day. Infact, I love Southy stuff like idlis, dosas, appams, idiyappam and medu vadas and tried many variations of it as per my convenience. Sometimes, hunger for idlis and forgot to soak the rice and dal to prepare the traditional idli batter and I get annoyed with myself. It’s easy, quick and healthy breakfast dish for all age groups. To make more healthy you may add fresh veggies in it which I have mentioned below in notes section. Oats idlis are great even for kids short break lunch box. So next time give a try to this instant oats idli and don’t forget to share the comments if you like the recipe.  

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup Quick Cooking Oats [I used Qualer oats here for my recipe]

½ Cup Fine Sooji / Rawa / Samolina

½ Cup Fresh Curd [see notes]

Chopped Coriander

2-3 Chopped Green Chillies [see notes]

10-12 Curry Leaves, Chopped Finely

1 teaspoon Ginger, Chopped Finely

8-10 Cashews, Chopped

1-2 tablespoon Grated Coconut

½ teaspoon Crushed Black Pepper

A pinch of Asafoetida

Salt as per taste

½ teaspoon Cumin Seeds

½ teaspoon Mustard Seeds

½ teaspoon Split Black Gram [Urad Dal]

1 teaspoon Bengal Gram [Chana Dal]

1 teaspoon Eno / ½  teaspoon Baking Soda

1 tablespoon Oil

Water as per needed

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Take oats in a mixer grinder and blend/grind it to a fine powder/ flour.

STEP 2 – Heat a pan with oil and lets crackle the cumin-mustard seeds in it.

STEP 3 – Then add both the urad dal and chana dal in it and cook till golden brown.

STEP 4 – Add a pinch of asafoetida and chopped cashews in it. Then add curry leaves and chopped green chillies in it and cook for a minute.

STEP 5 – After that add rawa and stir it well for 2-3 minutes.

STEP 6 – Then add oats powder in it and stir very well. Keep on stirring often while roasting the flour.

STEP 7 – Roast it for about 4-5 minutes.

STEP 8 – Remove it in another bowl and add chopped coriander,salt and grated coconut in it. Let it cool completely.

STEP 9 – Now add curd and mix.

STEP 10 – Add water and stir well. You should have a medium consistency. Cover it and allow the batter to rest for 5-7 minutes.

STEP 11 – By that time, grease the idli moulds with some oil or ghee. Also heat water in the idli steamer.

STEP 12 – Then add eno / fruit salt in the batter and mix the batter quickly.

Now the batter becomes less fluffy and soft. Be quick in this step so that the eno is mixed evenly in the batter.

STEP 13 – Pour a ladle ful of batter in the idli moulds. [see notes]

STEP 14 – Place the moulds in the steamer and cover it and steam the idlis for about 10-15 minutes.

Taste with a toothpick, if the inserted toothpick comes out clean means idlis are ready.

STEP 15 – Allow the idlis to cool for 5 minutes. Then remove them with a spoon dipped in oil. Idlis are ready to serve.

Serve these piping hot, light, spongy and healthy idlis with coconut chutney or sambar or tangy tomato chutney.

NOTES: You can skip adding curd and add about 1/ 2-1 of the lemon Juic to get a slight sour taste.

You can add grated carrot, chopped french beans and steamed peas in this recipe to give more crunch to the idlis. If adding veggies then add them in Step No. 4.

 As the batter have eno in it, try to use the batter in one steaming.