Welcome aboard!

Indian cuisine is a riot of colours, flavours, and spices. Every state has its own unique culture- ingrained taste bud. And, to many of us staying within familiar tastes is a sacrosanct act. Of course an occasional trip to a speciality restaurant that serves another fare is ok. But, as a matter of routine ...at home...NO!

One of the benefits of being born to parents who dared an interstate marriage (am talking about India of the 70's) was being able to widen a regional taste bud to accept, experiment and, relish eclectic cuisines :-)

I love food! Be it traditional or fusion, cooking is all about turning out fare that is tasty and healthy.I welcome all lovers of good food to come on aboard and share your kitchen adventures.

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Happy cooking!

Dershana

Monday, January 11, 2010

Podi chammanthi (Coconut chutney to go with appams)

I am a true blue crab sun sign...if I find someone pursuading me too hard (be it for anything) I retreat into my proverbial shell all suspicious :-) what's that to do with cooking? Nothing. Just in a 'verbal diarrhoea' mood coupled with two stray instances of insistent people! I have a bad back thanks to many reasons. Now with Abhi around a bad back is a big hinderance to happy 'mommying'. Hit upon chiropractice as a possible solution albeit a very expensive one. Towards the end of my schedule the therapist started suggesting that my husband who happened to have sprained his back undergo a session and he declined.Then one day I could not go for a prefixed session because abhi (my baby) had to have her vaccination shot. The chiropractor told us that vaccinations were bad and that they affected the nervous system, if we were insistent on giving abhi her shot then we should bring her for a spine adjustment chiro session!! That decided the end of 'my' chiropratic sessions!
Another minor incident is with facebook. I'm newbie at facebook and am fine when people suggest I follow their websites or blogs. I check it out and if I like it I accept. Some are blogs of people who I already follow through a list on my blog, so when they ask me to do the same on FB I am glad to do so. But there was one very persistent person who added me as friend (I'd never before seen that particular site), then suggested I follow the blog. I accepted both suggestions. Then soon after, I was asked to become a 'fan' of the same blog. I declined. Thereafter, I keep getting repeat suggestions that I become a fan of the said blog even after declining it each time! Grrrrrrrrrrrr...

Podi chammanthi is my mom's favourite side dish option with appams (vellayappam) when she is running short of time. It does taste fantabulous with hot appams (I dont like it with idlis and dosas).



Fresh grated coconut - 1 cup
Shallots (small onions) - 2 Nos
Ginger - 1/4" piece
Dry red chillies - 4 Nos (more or less as per your spice tolerance)
Salt to taste

For tempering

Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Coconut/canola oil - 1 teaspoon

Grind all ingredients together in a mixie/food processor adding just a teaspoon or two of water till coarse. Heat oil in a skilet and crackle mustard and fry curry leaves. Toss in the coarse mixture, saute for a minute or two to take away the raw taste of shallots.There, that was quick, was it not?

14 comments:

Sarah Naveen said...

Podi chmmanthi and vellayappam is a new combo for me...Chammanthi looks simply yummy dea..!!!

FH said...

I am like you too, hate when people impose on mt too much and tend to run the opposite way! :D

Facebook, I get that too in my email to follow her blog and accept her as a friend but I never did. I think it's a spam!

Chammanthi looks delicious.

sathya said...

One of my fav dish, we call it as thengai sambal in srilankan cuisine....It goes well with hot rice too!
Looks delicious !

Cham said...

The podi is delicious looking probably never tasted with appam! There are many people even refuse to vaccinate for various religious belief! I don't know- when we need admittion in school we need to show the vaccinat card to district!

.:: ROSH ::. said...

thanks for sharing the recipe, will it work with unsweetened dessicated coconut too? i dont have a fresh one handy and cant wait for another trip to the indian store coz the pic here looks too yummy!

Usha said...

I completely empathize with your situation. I have a similar aversion to pushy people or pushy tactics, makes me really irritated. Loved the chutney, sounds delicious !

Malar Gandhi said...

Oh yeah, I am glad that you shared, she is very pushy, I received bunch of such emails!!!

Chammanthi sounds nice. Never tried this way...heard a lot tho', thanks for this lovely recipe:)

Please take care of your health...

Dershana said...

rosh, i've always made this chammanthi with fresh coconut because it's the inherent moisture in the coconut that gives it a moist texture even without adding water. maybe you could try sprinkling the dessicated coconut with water and microwaving it for a couple of minutes.

Cynthia said...

I love this with dal and rice.

Parita said...

I love coconut chutney but never added shallots to it..sounds yummy!

Tina said...

Wow...its a new combination dear....Looks delicious...

Urmi said...

Wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous new year.
I liked your blog very much. I appreciate for your wonderful presentation. Podi chammanthi looks delicious and yummy. I have become your follower so I will be visiting your blog hereafter. You are welcome in my blogs.

Unknown said...

nice interesting recipe..

lubnakarim06 said...

Crab...crab...same pinch....FB is sometimes tiresome...chutney sounds simple and looks yum...

 
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