Port Wine / Homemade Grape wine in Kerala

The history of Port Wine in Kerala/India : A story of Portuguese influence in Kerala. These are sweet Red wine. It is usually made during Christmas season and often enjoyed with the Plum Cake. 

Wine in Kerala are traditionally made in a "Baranni " A unique  earthen ware which is air tight and  dark in the inside and doesn't allow light to pass through however this can be made in a glass container as well, we'll just need to cover it with a thick cloth and keep in a nice dark place. 

Recipe here is how my  Amma makes it and her wine have had good reviews so do give it a try :) 

Ingredients 

Red Grapes (Preferred) -  3 kg 

Sugar - 1 kg(May add more if you want your wine to taste more sweet) 

Water - 3  liters 

Yeast - 3 Tsp (I used active dry yeast)  

Wheat Kernels/ Godambu - a hand full or more (Optional)  

Cinnamon and cloves - few (Optional) 

Method 

* Boil water and cool completely. 

* Wash the grapes and steam it just for 5 minutes in a steamer , steaming is optional. 

    Do not cook the grapes as then Grapes will not ferment. 

    Steaming is just to eliminate any bugs also to open it a little bit. 

*May blend half quantity of the grapes just for a second to extract the juice from it but this step is optional. 

* Wash and dry glass container or a Baranni. Layer first the grapes (if you decide to blend little of the grapes add first this crushed grapes for layering) and then the whole grapes then add the sugar on top. 

*Pour the boiled and cooled water to the container.

* Add wheat kernels , spices (if adding) and yeast and close the container tight. Keep it in a comparatively warmer and dark place.

* Stir this mixture daily with a dry wooden spoon

*On the 21st day (You may keep it for longer time period)  strain it using a cheese cloth , transfer to store in a  clean and dry wine bottles. 

Tips for color : To add color I used a Beetroot to the wine mixture while fermenting, just cut and put that in.  May  add caramelized sugar syrup too gives it a different brownish tint (make sure the Caramel is cooled to room temperature) 

Adding color is completely optional. Wine will turn transparent overtime. Let it sit for a month untouched and sediments settles down to give it a great natural wine color. 

Note : Wine can be made with pretty much any fruit and my family back in Kerala are exploring possibilities with Banana, Nutmeg, Orange , Pineapples and I tried making wine with Prunes, Peaches and Apples.  

And our Christmas tree 2020 

Merry Christmas! 

Cheers,

Tara 

Trivandrum Style Chicken Fry

Life has changed so much within the past few months for us.People have been so busy until  Virus came in to action, busy with the many things in life - work, family, activities, socializing and  it is alarming to see this change now. Like many others I have been under some stress with work, the ability to manage work pressure in this modified lifestyle has been challenging  at times. But on a positive note we will withstand it experiences now will make us wiser  :)

Refreshing our hobbies or starting a new one would be a great idea and may be after few years we can look back to 2020 and see some colors as right now everything looks faded to me am sure it looks the same for many of you reading.
I am inspired by a quote my daughter wrote on her Journal.

No  matter the situation you are in there is always hope, focusing on all good things in life

Since this dish is not actually fried I think it should be called Thatti Pothi Chicken , if you are not a Malayali you might find it difficult to read anyways it taste really great you should definitely give it a try.
This recipe is inspired by the Trivandrum style Chicken fry my good friend  had made for us. She shared the recipe from - Foodie Suz Recipes

Marination

Chicken - 2 Pounds (Approx)
Red chili flakes  - 1 tbsp
Kashmiri chili powder - 2 tbsp
Black pepper powder - 2 tsp (Adjust as per taste)
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Ginger- Garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Juice form one Lemon
Salt to taste
Meat Masala - preferably chicken masala powder - 2 tsp
Coconut oil - 1 tsp

For Frying / Sauteing 

Coconut oil - 1/4 cup (May use less per preference)
Curry Leaves - few springs
Green chilies - few Slit
2- 3 medium size Onion sliced
Ginger and Garlic - 1 tbsp each thinly sliced
Kashmiri Red chili Powder - 1 tbsp

Method 

• Cut chicken to medium size pieces , clean and marinate it with the ingredients listed under marination.Keep aside for sometime (10 to 20 minutes) 

• Heat coconut oil in a thick bottom pan / use a wider pan or wok  so chicken gets cooked evenly. Saute half portion of the sliced onion , curry leaves, green chilies , ginger and garlic until it starts to turn golden brown.Place marinated chicken pieces on it. 

• Turn heat to medium -low , allow chicken pieces to get cooked (10 to 15 minutes on each side).Close the pan with a lid to thoroughly cook the pieces , do stir in between. This is why I want to call it  thatti pothi , you'll need to slightly turn the chicken pieces to get it cooked, also lightly fry the outside of the chicken piece along with the fried onions which has been frying along with the chicken. 

• When chicken pieces are almost cooked.Add in the rest of the sliced onion and 1 Tbsp Kashmiri Red chili Powder, let fry in high heat for another 5-10 minutes stirring as needed until everything is cooked and combined well. 

And your Thatti Pothi chicken fry  is now ready. Perfect for a Friday night Dinner  ;)

Stay safe !

Cheers,
Tara

Pesaha Appom / Indri appom

Beautiful it is to see the trees in white flower gowns, buds of colorful flowers everywhere a sight spreading good hope, happiness and laughter, however the World is right now in a standstill ironically this is caused by something a human eye cannot even see. Nature is fighting back and it is alarming to see how this has stumbled powerful leaders and Nations. 



All we can do to save the world is to be at home. 
I am spending time with my kids, I feel they are enjoying too everything is good while staying home but anxiety peaks at times when I read the news and different articles. We have nothing much to do other than to wait and see how this goes if Man will ultimately conquer his unseen enemy.
I have some time for everything now, I cook, clean , play with my kids, read and do all household chores without stress and I felt i should update my blog too after a long break. 


Today being Maundy Thursday, Pesaha Appom and Pesaha Paal are the stars.

Pesaha Appom is a traditionally made unleavened bread made only once in a year on this day in Christian houses in Kerala. 



Ingredients 

1 cup White rice ( I used Sona Masoori rice)
2 -3 tbsp Urad Daal
Coconut grated - 1 cup (may use more)
5 to 7 No's Small Onion
Cumin seeds / Jeeragam - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method 

• Clean and Soak Urad dal and Rice separate in water for at least an hour 
• Grind Urad dal first, pour this to a bowl.Use less water to bring this to a paste. 
• Grind Rice with little water ( to get consistency of Appom batter)   Pour this to the ground Urad dal.Use 3/4 cup to 1 cup of water to grind) 
• Coarsely grind Coconut, Small onion and cumin seeds together -  do not grind coconut to a smooth past. Mix this to the above mixture.Add enough salt and keep aside for an hour. 

• Pour the batter to a greased plate and steam until done (20 - 30 minutes in medium to low heat) 

Waking up to see this beauty is a blessing I am thankful for :) 
though the flowers wouldn't stay for long and may shred soon , the crisis now will also pass. 

Let this time bring a lovely change to the Human kind when each of us would think about  other living beings here and make our Earth even more beautiful for the generations to come.
Happy Easter in advance 

Cheers,
Tara

Unniappaom

When I was my daughters age, my after-school unlike her's used to be time at my Grandparents home, usually my Mom would go to the church in the evenings. I remember the disappointment when I don't see her home when I reach from school. I would then go with my Achachen (Dad) to his home, he would be near there where he had his business and I would spend the time talking, playing,eating but I wait for my Mom. There's always something missing when she was not around, that is the magic in Motherhood I feel now. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers who are reading :)  enjoy the heavenly gifts that you have, blessings of patience, love and sacrifice that you think no body notices, is knowingly or unknowingly very much valued.

My Mom used to bring for me a "Bun" from the church  and also a packet of "Unniappom" that she gets from a bakery near by the church and I must write that is still the best "Unniappom" I have ever had.When I reach home during my vacation, one among the first places that I visit in my hometown would be this Bakery :)

I make Unniappom at least once every month, but it was always made it using rice flour but this time I tried it the almost authentic way of making it.
Got the recipe from my friend, tested/tried and approved by many friends who had it when she made it.

Ingredients

Raw Rice (Pachari)  - 2 cups
Banana - 1 (big sized)
Maida - 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup (I mixed 1 tbsp of Wheat flour-optional)
Water - 1/2 cup (may need more)
Jaggery /Molasses - 2 cups ( adjust as per taste)
Coconut Bits - 1/4 cups
Cardamom pods -  2 no's powdered
Black Sesame seeds/ Ellu - 1 /2 tsp
Pinch of salt and Oil / Ghee for frying.

Method

* Soak rice in water for few hour's (2-4 hour's)

* Melt Jaggery with water , might need to add little more water initially but boil it in low heat until  syrup starts to turn thick, keep to cool.

* Strain away excess water from rice, add cooled jaggery syrup, banana , cardamom pods and salt to the blender,blend it until smooth.  Keep this batter aside for few hour's to naturally ferment (4-6 hour's) please see video below, it would show the consistency of the batter that I made, adjust the consistency adding water / or Maida/ wheat flour to make it thick or thin as required.

* Fry coconut bits in coconut oil (preferably) until golden brown, keep to cool , add this and the ellu/ sesame seeds to the batter . Mix well.

* Heat Unniappom chatti in medium heat, add oil (just enough to cover 3/4th of each appom kuzhi / hole else when the batter is poured for frying, oil may over flow.

* Fry until brown on each sides, transfer to a tissue paper lined plate.

When cooled store in air tight containers, stays outside  for a week but mine got over soon.

Happy Mother's Day !!

Cheers
Tara

Chakka Halwa

Memories keep flooding in with Chakka/Jackfruit ...but none to be shared because there are important things to talk about. The tragic flood that hit my native land -Kerala. When people there have lost all of their memories and lifetime savings. They had to helplessly watch their memories getting drained away with the water which gushed into their homes and all that is left now are layers of mud.
It is heartbreaking to see the different shades of green swallowed by the roaring water. When people stand still not knowing where, what and how to start to get life back again. My thoughts are to help at least one flood affected family to buy some/any of their necessary items which they lost. Rays of hope when it flows from many directions would definitely make it brighter.
It was amazing to see how people helped each other in times of hardship when everyone was striving to keep their heads from drowning.  Different religions opened their doors for people from other religious groups to offer prayers, they helped and supported each other without any hesitation, there's no better example to prove communal harmony in Kerala, this state which is otherwise called God's Own Country
As it is now in a stage of recouping, I am sure it will take many years for people to get back to their normal life. I hope  and pray they don't get discouraged and disappointed  instead strengthen their heart and fight to win this challenging situation.

Coming to the recipe for the most delicious Chakka Halwa

I am very satisfied and happy that I tried to make this because am a huge fan of Chakka and the various dishes that they make with it.

Ingredients 
Chakka/ Jackfruits - de seeded 1/2 kg
Jaggery - 350 gms (adjust as per tatse)
Water - 1.5 to 2 cups
Ghee and coconut oil - together half to 3/4th cup (Approx)
Cardamom  - 2-4 no's optional
Dry Ginger powder /Chukku podi - 1/4 tsp (Optional)
Method

• Cook Jackfruit pieces in .5 to 3/4th cup of water(cover and cook in medius heat for 15-20 minutes) stir occasionally. I read about pressure cooking the same in many other blogs, it says it will need more water if you are planning to pressure cook the Jack fruit pieces. Once this is cooked allow to cool.
• In an thick bottom pan, heat jaggery in 1 cup water until melted, strain if need. Pour the strained jaggery syrup into the pan again and turn heat to low.
• Nicely blend cooked jack fruit until no big lumps are seen, add this mixture to the melted jaggery. Turn heat to medium and start to stir and cook.
• After 15 minutes of cooking, add the powder ingredients  if using (chukku podi/dry ginger powder and cardamon) and also add ghee or coconut oil little at a time. I used both ghee and coconut oil to make this. You may use only Ghee if you don't like the taste of coconut oil.
• Continue stirring and cooking this mixture until it turns its color to dark brown, add ghee /oil when ever it tends to stick to the bottom of the pan. It takes at least 1.5 to 2 hours time to get this to a  Halwa consistency, the oil then starts to separate.
• Transfer this to a greased pan and allow to cool, after a few minutes you'll be able to cut these to desired shapes.

To be honest I was disappointed with the quantity of halwa I could make at the end, it was very less than I expected. Making of any Halwa isn't easy, you'll need lots of patience (I am working on it) Thought to give you heads up before you try it...
But the disappointment lasted just for few minutes as this chakka halwa is very sweet and it is really precious :D
if you are a fan of Chakka like me, you should try it :D

Enjoy!

Paalada Payasam

Happy New Year to all my friends in Kerala....I wish to see a Vishu Kani - the first thing that you see on this day which would be a treat to your eyes and heart. On this day I wait for pictures from my Hindu friends who would send this wonderful spread of hope along. Other than this I like to prioritize cleaning my house a day before Vishu and New year for some reason a clean house gives me a sense of satisfaction.

This Vishu is special for me because I have Chakka/ Jackfruits got it from China Town near Salt Lake city, I am not sure If I have posted about my love for this fruit before..I can eat it all day long, I know many people like me who loves the same, also have seen lot of people who hates it for some reason....
I can't understand the reason though :D

Went hunting for this fruit this weekend because for the last few weeks I was tempted seeing picture's of Chakka in whatapp, its the season there and I see in all my whatsapp family- group, pictures of Chakka :(

Thankfully I got it and it was super sweet. We are blessed to have a Jackfruit Tree/ Plaavu at our backyard in my house in Kerala, it bears very sweet chakka I must say, my Achachen/Dad  planted it there as he was also in the chakka lover's club. Last week my Mom was saying she saw in a dream a thief who was stealing Chakka from our tree,  the thief was bold and sincere enough to peep through the window of the bedroom where my mom was sleeping and tell her that he's taking one Chakka, she thought its a dream and she said "Okay"  Lol !! but guess what ?? next day morning she realized that one chakka was indeed missing and it was not her dream....sounds scary?? I was scared too but for few minutes couldn't stop laughing...a "sincere thief" or a Chakka lover

Our own Plaavu / Jackfruit tree :) 

Since I like to celebrate with people their happiness, I made today a special Payasam/Kheer in Kerala made with "Ada" that's pieces of rice batter/ or may call it rice pasta bits, though I haven't tried making it from scratch as its available in any store in Kerala, but I haven't seen it in any Indian store here, so I bring "Ada" from Kerala every time when I visit my place.
Usually Ada Pradaman is the most preferred Payasam/Dessert in Kerala but this one here is simple and easy to make with the fewer ingredients in the recipe.

Here's how I made it

Ingredients
Paalada /Rice Pasta Bits - 3/4 cups
Milk - 1 Liter
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Condensed Milk - 1/2 tin (Optional, use more sugar if not using condensed milk)
Cardamom crushed - 2-3 no's
Ghee/Clarified Butter - 1 tbsp
Nuts and Dry grapes - (Optional) few

Method

• Wash and drain Paalada , soak in little warm water (for 10 minutes)
• Boil milk and reduce heat to low, add the soaked paalada and stir to mix, boil milk with Paalada for 30 minutes in low until its cooked.
• Add Sugar, condensed milk if adding and continue stirring to cook for another 10 minutes
• Switch off the heat when paalada is fully cooked and payasam thickens a little bit.
• Fry the dry fruits in ghee, and this to the cooked payasam along with cardamom powder.

Shhhhh now a secret - follow the packet instructions in the Paalada mix packet like how I did :D I Just added some condensed milk to it and it tasted awesommmmm ....
Wishing once again a prosperous and blessed Malayalam New Year
Cheers
Tara

Fish Mappas -Alappuzha Style

Happy Easter !
Before I begin with Congratulations to me because its almost close to a year now that I have updated this space of mine. Many stories to be written about this past few months when I was hibernating from blogging, my job, toddler, Christmas in India and our nest to manage kept me so busy all these days. Hoping this season of spring brings with it all positive vibes yes " positivity " it is.

This recipe is one which never disappointed me ever, though I am not a fan of "Fish Mappas", I always received a very acceptable review from almost all, to whom I served it and hence thought to re start blogging with something I am very confident in making.

Please do try this dish, you may try it with any fleshy fish , Karimeen (Pearl spot) is what they use in Kerala to make it ,King fish, or Pomfret would be equally good.I tried it this time with Golden Pompano, that's what I could choose from the limited options of fishes here.

And this is how I made it

Ingredients 

For marination 
Pompano fish - 2 whole, sliced to big pieces
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Chili Powder  - 1/ 2 tsp
Vinegar - 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Other ingredients 
Shallots - hand full sliced
Green chili's - 2 -4 no's
Crushed ginger and garlic - 1 tsp each
Tomatoes - 3 no's ( I used few cherry tomatoes)
Coconut milk - 1 cup each of thick milk and thin milk
Curry leaves - few springs
Coconut oil - 2 - 3  tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Meat Masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Masala /Spices - crushed 
Cardamom - 4 no's
Cinnamon - small piece
Cloves - 5 no's

Method

• Marinate fish with the ingredients given under marination keep for 10 to 20 minutes, shallow fry these until just done.
• To the same oil (that was used to fry fish) add the whole spices(given in the ingredients list) , crushed ginger, garlic, green chili's, shallots and curry leaves, saute and fry it until onion turns light brown, add 2 chopped tomatoes and continue sauteing until oil starts to separate
• Add powders - coriander powder, turmeric powder and redchili powder (if using) saute for another 2 minutes in low heat and add enough water (about 2 cups)
• When this starts to boil add shallow fried fish, thin coconut milk and salt, stir and cook in low heat for 7-10 minutes until everything combines
•  Add thick coconut milk cook for just a minute and switch off heat, arrange the sliced tomatoes over the prepared fish curry, curry and sprinkle meat masala powder, keep this closed for 1 to 2 hours before serving.
• Serve Mappas with bread, Paalappom , Chapathi or Rice.

Notes

• May use store bought Meat Masala powder instead of the whole spices listed here
• Add thickness and enhance richness by adding ground cashews (soak few cashes in water and grind it to a thick paste, add this to the curry before adding thick coconut milk)
• Make this recipe look greenish in color by substituting red chili powder with more green chili's in the gravy (I prefer green color, green chili's that I had in stock was super hot and hence I didn't want to take chance this time)

I haven't correctly quantified the ingredients list (I never do it) and hence this might alter little bit, you would want make changes as per your taste ;)

Wishing you all again a very Happy Easter..

Cheers
Tara