Pacha Manga Chamanthi (Raw Mango & Coconut Chutney - Kerala style)

 

            Pacha Manga Chamanthi is a very flavorful Kerala style Raw mango chutney. Pacha Manga refers to raw mango and chamanthi means chutney. It is made using raw mango, fresh coconut, shallots, ginger, dry red chilies, curry leaves and coconut oil. You can relish with steamed rice or ay South Indian breakfast. 

          This chutney is very popular in Kerala cuisine and is served as a part of a Sadya meal. It is also served in Chatti Choru (Full meal served in a clay pot) and Pothi Choru (Meal wrapped in a banana leaf). So do give it a try and you will not be disappointed. Do check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing regional recipe.

          This chutney is very easy to prepare. It is actually a no cooking recipe. However, I sautéed a little bit in coconut oil for longer shelf life. The only thing that has to be kept in mind is the chutney has to be blended without water into a coarse paste. Then a tsp. of coconut oil to the end product completes the picture.  

           Traditionally Pacha Manga Chamanthi is served with Kerala red rice called Matta rice. However, it also pairs well with any variety of steamed rice for a soul satisfying meal. So to sum up this is a mind blowing chutney that is both spicy and tangy.  

• 1 small size raw mango, chopped
• 2 tsp. coconut oil  
• 4-5 dry red chilies 
• 8-10 shallots (sambar onions)
• 1 tsp. ginger, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder or to taste
• 1/2 cup fresh grated coconut              

             Heat 1 tsp. coconut oil in a pan. Sauté the shallots, dry red chilies, green chilies, raw mango and ginger for 4-5 minutes. 

             Now add the grated coconut and salt. Sauté for a minute and keep aside to cool down.

             Then transfer all the ingredients into a mixer jar and blend it into a slightly coarse paste without adding any water. Add the remaining coconut oil and mix well. 

            And your spicy and tangy Pacha Manga Chamanthi is ready to be enjoyed with steamed rice, idli, dosa or parotta. 

Heat 1 tsp. coconut oil in a pan. Sauté the shallots, dry red chilies, green chilies, raw mango & ginger for 4-5 minutes. 

                    Add the grated coconut, 

               salt & red chili powder. Sauté for a minute & keep aside to cool.

Transfer all the ingredients into a mixer jar & blend it into a slightly coarse paste without adding any water. Add the remaining coconut oil and mix well. 

And your spicy & tangy Pacha Manga Chamanthi is ready to be enjoyed with steamed rice, idli, dosa or parotta. 

Tomato Chutney

 

             Chutneys are an integral part of a menu in almost every household. The most common being the tomato, coconut and ginger chutney out of the various lot. So here is my version of Tomato Chutney.

          There are various methods pf preparing this delectable chutney. In this recipe I first sautéed the tomatoes along with some onion, ginger, garlic, green chilies and dry spices. This was then pureed them to a smooth paste. I then poured a tempering of mustard seeds, dry red chilies, urad dal and curry leaves.

          This chutney goes well with any South Indian breakfast. They can also be mixed with rice and a drizzle of some ghee. It also tastes superb with parathas or as a spread on bread too. The options are a plenty. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing chutney.

• 3-4 tomatoes, deseeded & chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 inch ginger, chopped
• 3-4 garlic, chopped
• 2-3 green chilies, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 2 dry red chilies
• 1 tsp. urad dal (split black gram)
• 1 sprig curry leaves

          Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the onion, ginger, green chilies and garlic till light brown.

          Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and salt.

          Stir fry till everything is well mashed up. Keep aside to cool. 

          Blend the tomato into a smooth paste.

          Heat the remaining oil and temper with the mustard seeds, dry red chilies, urad dal and curry leaves. Sauté till it stops spluttering. 

          Then pour this tempering over the chutney and serve along with dosa, idli, pongal or upma.

Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan & sauté the onion, ginger, green chilies & garlic till light brown.

Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder & salt.

               Stir fry till everything is well mashed up. Keep aside to cool. 

                 Blend the tomato into a smooth paste. 

Heat the remaining oil & temper with the mustard seeds, dry red chilies, urad dal & curry leaves. Sauté till it stops spluttering. 

                 Then pour this tempering over the chutney.

                 Serve along with dosa, idli, pongal or upma.

Pahadi Mutton Curry

 

          Pahadi Mutton is a rustic style mutton curry that has its origin from the State of Uttarakhand. It is a very simple mountain style dish with few basic ingredients. Traditionally, it is slow cooked to perfection in a earthen pot on a wood fire till you have a nice gravy. The procedure is very simple and the end product is a delicious mutton gravy. 

          

          However, In this recipe, I used the pressure cooking method to make it easier and quicker. The cooking medium is mustard oil that is first tempered with whole garam masalas. Then the mutton is roasted on a low flame in a gravy of chopped onion, crushed ginger, garlic, tomatoes and few basic dry spices. 

          This ultimately amazing mutton curry is best enjoyed with steamed rice or any flat Indian bread. So check out a quick step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing regional dish. 

• 500-600 gms. mutton with bones, curry cut
• 1/3 cup mustard oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 2 dry red chilies
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 2-3 green cardamoms
• 5-6 cloves
• 1/2 mace
• 8-10 whole peppercorns
• 2 onion, chopped
• 1 inch ginger, crushed
• 4-5 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1 tbsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 & 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with cumin seeds, bay leaves, dry red chilies, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, mace and whole peppercorns. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Add the onion, crushed ginger and garlic. Mix well and stir fry till light golden in color. 

          Add the tomatoes and all the dry spices (except garam masala powder). Cook, covered, on a low flame till it is completely mashed and the oil separates. 

         Now add the mutton and mix well so that the masala is well coated. Cover and cook till the mutton is nicely roasted and all the water has evaporated. Keep stirring at intervals. 

          Add the water and pressure cook for 15-20 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

          Add the garam masala and coriander leaves. Mix well and simmer for a minute. Serve with steamed rice or any flat Indian bread. 

Heat oil in a pan & temper with cumin seeds, bay leaves, dry red chilies, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, mace & whole peppercorns. Sauté for a few seconds. 

Add the onion, crushed ginger & garlic. Mix well & stir fry till light golden in color. 

Add the tomatoes  all the dry spices (except garam masala powder). Cook, covered, on a low flame till it is completely mashed and the oil separates. 

Add the mutton && mix well so that the masala is well coated. Cover & cook till the mutton is nicely roasted & all the water has evaporated. Keep stirring at intervals.

                     

                      Add the water.

Pressure cook for 15-20 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

Add the garam masala & coriander leaves. Mix well & simmer for a minute. 

                Serve with steamed rice or any flat Indian bread. 

Lobia Masala (Black Eyed Beans / CowPeas Curry)

 

          This is a very delicious and a popular recipe from North India, especially Punjab. They are also known as black eyed beans or chawli and is especially relished with any form of Indian bread. I usually have it for breakfast with poori / paratha, accompanied with some onion, green chilies and lime wedges. It is both nutritious and wholesome. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this simple delicacy.

• 1 cup lobia (black eyed beans)
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 2 dry red chilies
• 2 bay leaves
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 2 green cardamoms
• 4 cloves
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder (opt)
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• coriander leaves & lime wedges to garnish

          Pressure cook the soaked beans in 2 & 1/2 cups water for 5-6 whistles or till tender.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with the cumin seeds, dry red chilies, cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms and bay leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Then add the onion and Fry till light brown.

          Now add the ginger-garlic paste and all the dry spices (except garam masala powder and salt) mixed with some water. Fry till the oil separates. 

          Add the tomatoes and keep frying till it is mashed.

          Add the boiled Lobia and salt to taste. Simmer on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes. 

          When done, add garam masala powder and ghee.  

         Garnish with coriander leaves & serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, poori, paratha, naan, tandoori roti or chapatis. 

                    Soaked the Black eyes beans overnight.

Pressure cook the soaked beans in 2 & 1/2 cups water for 5-6 whistles or till tender.

Heat oil in a pan & temper with the cumin seeds, dry red chilies, cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms & bay leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

                     Then add the onion and Fry till light brown.

Add the ginger-garlic paste & all the dry spices (except garam masala powder & salt) mixed with some water. Fry till the oil separates. 

                   Add the tomatoes & keep frying till it is mashed.

Add the boiled Lobia & salt to taste. Simmer on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes. 

                     When done, add garam masala powder and ghee. 

                   Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, poori, paratha, naan, tandoori roti or chapatis.