Kaalan

Kaalan is a thick preparation with curd and vegetables like yam and raw banana. It is a traditional Kerala dish served along with steamed rice and is one of the dish served in any Kerala Sadya/feast. This dish is sour in taste. A healthy and must try side dish.

Ingredients 

1 Raw Plantain/Pachakkaya (medium sized)

100 gm Yam/Chena

Salt to taste

1 tsp Turmeric powder

½ tsp Red chilli powder

2 cup Curd (sour, beaten) 

For making Black pepper water 

2 tbsp Black Peppercorns

¾ cup Water 

For Grinding 

1 cup Coconut (freshly grated)

3 – 4 Green chilli 

For tempering 

3 tbsp Coconut Oil

1 tsp Mustard seeds

2 Dry Red chilli

20 – 30 Curry Leaves

 

Method 

• Wash and cut the raw plantain and yam in medium sized irregular square pieces.
• Cook yam in 3 cups of water along with salt, in a Kadai, till it is slightly cooked.
• Now add raw plantain in the kadai and let it cook for about another 20 minutes or till both the vegetables are nicely cooked, but not mushy.
• If you want to add water while cooking, make sure to add hot water.
•  In the meantime, grind coconut along with green chillies into a fine and smooth paste by adding very little water. Keep this aside.
•  Grind black peppercorns coarsely and then add ¾ cup of water. Grind again and strain the mixture. Keep this black pepper water aside.
• When the vegetables are cooked, add the beaten curd and black pepper water into it. Let it cook for 25 minutes or till the mixture is slightly thickened.
• When it is thickened, add the ground coconut mixture into it. Let it cook for 3 minutes or till it bubbles a little. Adjust salt.
• Switch off the flame and keep the kadai aside.
• In a fry pan, put oil and add mustard seeds. When it splutter, add dry red chilli and curry leaves. Saute and pour it on top of the Kaalan.
• Stir well and serve it with steamed rice.

 

* I usually take the quantity of the ingredients as per my taste. So you can always adjust the spices as per your taste*


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Happy Cooking!!