Banana Stem with Yogurt (Vazha Thandu)

Overview
On my recent visit to Kerala I got to cook some of my favorite dishes with my mother and sisters. Banana stem( Vazha thandu ) is one of them. After they cut off the bananas from the Banana plant its stem is cut peeled and the inner part is used to make many different delicious dishes. This is a new recipe I got from my sister. The banana stem has a crunchy texture and is high fibre food. It can be eaten raw or cooked. This is a simple dish were the banana stem is eaten raw mixed with yogurt. This is a good side dish for any kind of rice or Indian breads.

Banana Stem with Yogurt

Ingredients
Banana stem finely chopped and cleaned  - 1 cup
Thick Plain non fat yogurt - 2 cups
Red Onions  one small finely chopped
Green chilly - 3 finely chopped
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Coconut oil - 1 tablespoon
Salt to taste

Steps
1. Clean the banana stem. Chop into rounds, removed strings cut into thin strips and then finely chop.

2. Mix the finely chopped banana stems with salt, green chillies, curry leaves and coconut oil. Keep it covered in refrigerator till the time of serving.

3. When it is time to serve churn the yogurt well and mix to the banana stem mixture. Mix well and serve.

Can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Green Pepper Pickle

Overview
Kerala is famous for its peppers called Malabar pepper. On my visit to Kerala I got  to pluck the fresh green peppers and pickle them. The green pepper is pickled and used as a condiment and also ground and mixed with spices for curries. A simple pickle made with fresh green peppers salt and vinegar.

Fresh Green peppers at my parents place in Kerala

Cleaned Fresh Green Peppers

Pickled Green Peppers

Ingredients
Fresh green pepper bunches - 4 to 6 bunches
Salt - 3 teaspoon
White vinegar - to cover the green peppers

Steps
1. Wash the green peppers in water and leave it to dry.

2. Take a clean sterilized bottle and put the cleaned dried peppers in it.

3. Add salt and pour white vinegar to the bottle to cover the green pepper. Mix well.

4. Close lid and keep for 3 - 4 weeks.

This pickled green peppers can be eaten as a condiment with meat dishes and also ground with ginger, garlic for chicken or mutton curry.

Vegetable Flowers

Overview
You can make these flowers to decorate your dish. The roses are made with Tomato, lemon and orange peels. The Lily is made with cucumber.

Vegetable Flowers

Tomatoes
Oranges
Cucumber
Lemons

Broccoli Corn Bread

Overview
Moist and delicious corn bread made with frozen chopped broccoli. Made with Jiffy corn muffin mix this recipe is easy to make. I got this recipe from food network and is so easy to follow and end result is really great. This is a great tasting way to add broccoli to your meal.

Broccoli Corn Bread

Ingredients
2 8.5 oz Jiffy corn muffin box
1/2 cup whole milk
2 cloves garlic finely minced
8 oz cottage cheese
4 large eggs
1 cup+ 2 Tablespoons grated cheddar cheese
1 stick unsalted butter
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 packet 10 oz frozen chopped broccoli

Steps
1. Heat oven to 375
2. Thaw the broccoli  do not squeeze out water.
3. Melt the stick of butter and let it cool to room temperature.
4. Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and pout to an oiled baking pan.
5. Bake at 375 for about - 20 - 25 minutes till it is cooked.( When a tooth pick inserted in the middle portion comes out clean the bread is cooked)
6. Let it cool for little while and then cut into pieces and serve.

Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Pears

Overview
A  homemade delicious Cranberry sauce made with Apples and Pears to go with your turkey for thanksgiving. The tart taste of the cranberries is compensated by the sweet taste of apples and pears. Orange juice cinnamon and fresh ground ginger gives a extra spicy touch and flavor.

Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Pears

Ingredients
Fresh Cranberry  - 6 cups
Orange juice - 2 cups
Cinnamon sticks 3 - 3 inch pieces
Fresh grated ginger  - 2 tablespoons
Apples - 2 large
Pears - 2 large
Orange zest for garnish
Salt - 1 teaspoon
White sugar - 1 1/2 cup
Brown sugar - 1 cup

Steps
1. Clean the cranberries in plenty of water and drain. Add the 2 cups of orange juice and cook on stove stop till the cranberry's begin to burst.

2. Chop the apples and pears into bite size chunks and add to the cranberries along with cinnamon sticks, Brown sugar, White sugar, fresh grated ginger and 1 teaspoon of salt.

3. Bring it to a boil and simmer on low heat for about 20 - 25 minutes till the apples and pears are cooked well and can be mashed.

4. Mix well and let it cool. Remove the Cinnamon sticks and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with Fresh Orange zest.

Serve with Turkey or any meat.

Broccoli Thoran

Overview
A simple and delicious Kerala style thoran made with broccoli. Broccoli is finely chopped for this recipe just like cabbage for cabbage thoran. Fresh grated coconut is optional but it does add a special texture and sweetness to the dish. Fried Urdu Dal does add a nutty aroma to this dish. This is a very healthy and delicious side dish that can be served with Rice or any Indian breads.

Broccoli Thoran

Ingredients
One head of Broccoli  finely chopped
Red onion one thin sliced
Green chilly - 4 - 5 split at center
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Fresh grated coconut  - 1/2 cup(Optional)
Mustard seed - one teaspoon
Urdu Dal - 2 teaspoons
Turmeric - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Oil - 3 tablespoons

Steps
1. Wash the broccoli well and finely chop. Even the stem of the broccoli can be used. I just peel the thick skin of the stem and finely chop it. Keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan. When the oil gets hot add the mustard seeds. When the seeds splutter add the Urdu Dal. Fry till the dal is brown.

3. Add the onion, green chillies and curry leaves to this and saute till onions are light brown. Add the finely chopped broccoli, salt and turmeric.

4. Mix well and cover with lid and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir well and add the freshly grated coconut if using.  Cook till broccoli is cooked and all liquid has evaporated.

Serve hot with rice or any Indian breads.

Almond Pedda

Overview
Pedda is a very popular sweet in North India. Usually made with milk and sugar.This is a very easy to make almond pedda recipe. Though it just takes few minutes of heating in the microwave it is very tasty and the end results are just the same as making it from scratch using whole milk. Cardamom powder adds a  very delicious aroma to this sweet.

Almond Pedda

Ingredients
Condensed milk - 1 can 14 oz
Dried non fat milk powder - 2 cups
Unsalted butter - 1 stick
Almonds powdered - 1/2 cup( Skin removed)
Cardamom - 8 - 12
Blanched almond pieces - 3 tablespoons

Steps
1.  In a microwaveable container with lid, add the condensed milk, milk powder and butter. Microwave for 2 - 3 minutes( time depends on your microwave so try 2 minutes first)

2. Remove from microwave and stir well

3. Microwave again for about 2  - 4 minutes. Stir well and make sure you get a fudge like consistency.

4. Allow to cool for about 3 - 5 minutes. Add powdered almonds and powdered cardamom seeds. Mix well.

5. Make into desired shape. Add fried blanched almond pieces on top for decoration.