Sardines (Chalai or mathi meen) Kulambu

My mom used to prepare this sardines kulambu whenever we get this tinned fish. Sardines are called 'chalai meen' in Tamil. Since finding Sea fish is a little difficult in the place we stay, I started getting this canned sardines. Initially I got Sardines in water, but nowadays am not finding them. So am going for the sardines in tomato sauce. I separate the sauce and the fish and just add the fish as the sauce gives a sweet taste to the curry.

Alternatively instead of adding tomatoes to the curry we can add 2 tablespoon of this sauce. It gives a little thickness to the curry.

Ingredients:

Sardines - 1 can
Mustard - 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 4 or 5
Curry leaves - 1 Spring
Onion - 1 large
Tomatoes - 1 medium
Tamarind paste - 2 tsp

1.Heat oil in a pan.When the oil becomes hot add mustard and when the mustard splutters add 4 or 5 fenugreek seeds.Don't add too much fenugreek it will give a bitter taste to the dish.

2.Add the chopped onions. Saute it till the onions become pink.

3.Add slit green chillies.

4.Add tomatoes cut into pieces and saute it.

5.Add turmeric powder, chilli powder,coriander powder and mix it.

6.Add tamarind water or tamarind paste. Add 1 cup of water to it and allow it to boil. Add curry leaves.

7.Then add the fish. Allow it to cook for 15-20 min.

U can also add raw mango pieces to the mixture before allowing it to boil. It gives more sour taste to the curry.Allow it to settle for sometime before savouring it. It tastes even better the next day.

Kuska

My husband is a great cook. At least that is what his friends and family say. But after marriage he has hardly cooked might be twice or thrice.Yep he cooks well.

One day he was nostalgic about his earlier days in Bangalore where he used to eat kuska. I don't remember having kuska anywhere. But anyways i decided to prepare it for him .I did my research in the Internet and at last this was the out come.


Ingredients:

Meal maker

Basmati Rice - 1 cup

Whole Garam Masala:

Cloves - 3

Cinnamon - 1 inch piece

Green Cardamom - 2

Black Cardamom -1

Star Anise - 1

Bay leaf - 1

Onion - 1 medium

Tomato - 1 medium

Ginger Garlic Paste -1 Tablespoon

green chilli - 2 or 3

Coriander leaves -1 small bunch

Mint leaves - 2 or 3 stalks

Coconut milk - 1 cup

oil -1 tbsp

Ghee - 2tsp

Add the meal maker to salted hot water(not boiling water).Allow it to remain there for 15 min.Then remove it from the water, squeeze the water and add it to cold water. Allow it to remain there for 5 min.Then squeeze the water and then add it to the dish.

Soak the rice in water for 20 min.

1.Heat 1 tbsp oil + 2 tsp ghee in a pressure cooker. Ghee adds nice aroma and flavor to the dish. and when the oil becomes hot add the whole garam masala.

2.Then add the sliced onion and fry until the onions just in the stage of dissolving. If there is less oil, the the onions might get burnt.

3.Then add ginger garlic paste. After the raw smell goes off add slit green chillies.

4.Make a paste of coriander & mint and Saute it along for 1 minute.Then add tomatoes and the when the tomatoes get mashed add meal maker. Mix it well with the mixture.

5.Add the soaked rice and without breaking the rice. Add salt .

6.Add coconut milk and mix everything well.Allow it to cook for 1 whistle and allow it to settle for 15 min.

Alternatively u can grind the green chilli's too along with the coriander and mint leaves and add.

The verdict it was worth a try.

This recipe is for my friend V who has been asking me long for it after seeing the photo

Fish Fry

I was born in Nagercoil, a place close to kanyakumari where we can find fresh sea fish daily.My mom used to get it from a nearby market called Ganeshapuram and we used to literally cook fish daily in our home except on Sundays .That is so coz that market is closed on sundays.But here its not the same.Initially when i came here i used to get catfish,which is fresh water fish.It was nowhere near the taste of sea fish.But after many months i found a store that sells sea food. I bought some Mackerel and prepared fry.

Ingredients:

Fish cut into pieces.

Turmeric Powder-1/4 Tsp

Chilli Powder-2 tsp

Pepper Powder-1/2 Tsp

Salt- According to taste

1.U can use any fish. Make small cuts in the fish,so that the masala gets into the fish.Make a paste using the ingredients and apply to the fish. Marinate the fish pieces in turmeric, chilli powder, salt and pepper. Allow it to stay for 15 minutes.

2.Shallow fry in oil.

1Tsp of chilli powder can be substituted with sakthi chicken 65 masala too. It tastes good.U can adjust the chilli powder according to ur taste