Bhindi Kadhi (Fried okra in Yogurt gravy)

                                              This is a North Indian version of  Moru kachiyathu. 

Ingredients:
Bhindi/ okra                                      -                    20 no.
Yogurt(sour), beaten                         -                    1 cup
Besan/ Gram flour                            -                    1 ½ Tbsp.
Turmeric powder                              -                    ½ tsp.
Red Chilli powder                             -                    ½ tsp.
Water                                                  -                   1½ to 2 cup
Oil                                                     -                    2 Tbsp.
Mustard seeds                                   -                    ½ tsp.
Fenugreek seeds                                -                    ¼ tsp.
Dry red chillies                                 -                     2
Asafoetida                                         -                     a pinch
Curry leaves                                      -                    1 sprig
Green chilies                                     -                    2
Ginger, grated                                   -                    ½ tsp.
Cumin seeds                                      -                    ½ tsp.
Coriander leaves                               -                   1 Tbsp.
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash and dry the okra. Chop them into 1" pieces.
2. Heat oil in 3 tsp. of oil in a  pan &  add the chopped okra and little salt & saute for 5 minutes(until done).
3. In a big bowl combine the gram flour with little water to form a smooth batter.  Add the beaten yogurt,water, turmeric powder, chili powder  and salt. Combine well.
4. Heat remaining amount of oil in  a deep bottom pan, splutter mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chilli, green chilies, ginger, curry leaves, asafoetida and fenugreek seeds. Saute  for few minutes (do not burn). Lower the flame and add the  yogurt mixture & mix well.
5. Cook for 5 minutes, keep stirring, add the fried okra. Cook for 5 more minutes(make sure it does not boil). Garnish with coriander leaves & remove from flame & serve hot with rice.

Achinga Payar Thoran (Long beans stir fry)

                           I used to know this as payar, I didn't know it was also called  achinga payar. I prefer to use dry red chilli instead of green chilli as I find it hard to distinguish between the payar & the green chilli. I know it's childish & yes, I do the same for all the thoran dishes with green vegetables.

Ingredients:
Long beans/achinga, chopped finely                   -                 250 g.
Mustard seeds                                                      -                  ½ tsp.
Urad dal                                                                -                  ½ tsp.
Curry leaves                                                         -                  few sprigs
Shallots, sliced                                                     -                  5 or 6 no.
Dry red chilli                                                        -                  3 no.
Grated Coconut                                                    -                  ½ cup
Turmeric Powder                                                  -                 ¼ tsp.
Cumin Seeds                                                         -                 ¼ tsp.
Oil(pref. coconut)                                                 -                  1 Tbsp.
Salt  to taste

Method:

1. Coarsely grind ½ cup of coconut, ¼ tsp. cumin seeds & ¼ tsp. of turmeric powder(you can also crush it using mortar & pestle).
2. Heat oil in pan, splutter mustard seeds, add the urad dal. dry red chilli, curry leaves & sliced shallots. Saute for a minute or two.
3. Add the ground coconut mixture and saute well for a couple of minutes & add the chopped achinga payar & required amount of salt & combine well.
4. Cover with a lid & cook on medium low flame for about 10 minutes or until the beans become soft(Make sure to stir in between). 
5. Once the beans has become soft open & cook for  few minutes, until the dish becomes dry. Remove from flame & serve with rice.

Avial with curd

                                 This is similar to recipe here, the only difference is that I have used curd  instead of mango & have also added potato. We liked this avial compared to the one prepared with mango. There are so many ways to prepare, it differs with  locations trivandrum style, kotayam style etc. & some people(like me) prefer it a bit overcooked.


Ingredients:
A mix of Veggies of your choice(cut in small strips)  -   ½ - ¾ kg. 
(I used yam(chena), snake gourd(padavalam), long beans(achinga), Carrot, Drumstick, potato, Cucumber(vellarika))
Curd, lightly beaten -       ½ cup
Coconut Oil            -        1 tbsp.
Turmeric powder   -         ½ tsp.
Chilly powder        -         1 tsp.
Salt as required
Curry Leaves a few sprigs
Coconut Oil           -          ½ tbsp.

For Grinding:
Grated Coconut     -         of half a coconut
Cumin                   -         1 tsp.
Green Chilies       -           4 or 5 

Method:

1. Cut the yam(chena) in small and long strips, immerse it in water and set aside.
2. Cut the remaining veggies and place it in a separate  bowl of water.
3. Heat a tablespoon of oil in  a hard bottomed vessel and place the drumsticks, achinga, snake gourd, potato, carrot, Yam(chena) and finally vellarika one above the other respectively.(ref. Notes)
4. Add the turmeric, chilly powder and the required amount of salt on top of the vegetables, close the vessel with a lid and cook it on low flame.
5. Coarsely grind the coconut, cumin and the green chilies and set aside.
6. When the vegetables starts to boil combine all the vegetables together. Add the coarsely grounded coconut mixture and the curry leaves and combine well.
7. When all the vegetables has been cooked, add the beaten curd, combine well.
8. Finally drizzle the remaining coconut oil on the prepared avial and remove from flame & serve with rice.

 Notes:

• The reason as to why the veggies are arranged is because no water is added & also to prevent the yam from losing its color.
• The use of curd or mango is for the light sour taste. The dish will become watery if the amount of curd is increased.

Toasted Walnut Banana Bread

Yum

Ingredients:
All-purpose flour                          -              1 ¼ cup
baking soda                                   -              1 tsp. 
salt                                                 -              ½ tsp.
cinnamon powder                          -              1 tsp.
eggs, large                                     -              2
vanilla extract                                -              ½ tsp.
unsalted butter                              -              ½ cup
sugar                                             -              ¾ cup
ripe bananas, peeled & mashed     -              3 (1 cup)
toasted walnut pieces                     -              ½ cup

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease lightly with butter a  9 x5 inch loaf pan. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Beat the butter and the sugar with a electric beater until fluffy and the sugar has dissolved. Add one egg at a time and beat well.
4. Add the mashed banana combine well & slowly add the flour mixture & toasted walnuts and mix with a spatula until just combined.(Do not over mix)
5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake in the center of the preheated oven for about 50 to 60 mins.
6. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to cool on a wired rack.
7. Click here for another banana bread recipe.

Notes:

• Check the bread after 50 minutes(time may vary). Use a tooth pick to check.
• Cool the bread completely before cutting(which i didn't & as u can see the bread was crumbling).

Recipe source: mykitchenintherockies