Pineapple Pradhaman

Pineapple Payasam

                                                                        

Here comes Onam, with lots of colors and flavors. Onam is a major annual event for Malayalis in and outside Kerala. It is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala (India). It is a harvest festival. People of all communities celebrate Onam with joy and enthusiasm. It is celebrated for 10 days. Onam is celebrated mainly to welcome King Mahabali during his annual visit. Mahabali was a good ruler who loved his people. He was very generous at the same time egoistic.  The gods envied him because of his growing popularity and tried to pull down his regime. The gods were successful to do so as lord Vishu helped them. Due to the good deeds done by king Mahabali the god granted him with a boon that he could visit his people as they loved him. This annual visit is celebrated as Onam. People try to impress their king in all possible ways. Celebrations are elaborated over 10 days, the 10 days sequentially known as Atham, Chithira, Chothi, Vishakam,Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam,Pooradam,Uthradom and Thiruvonam, Thiruvonam being the main attraction. The celebrations are indeed a treat to our eyes. It is celebrated with major festivities like floral arrangement (pookalam), boat race (Vallam kali), tiger dance (puli kali), tug of war, kaikotti kali (dance). Apart from these attractions, you get to wear new cloths (ona koodi) and sadya (a nine course vegetarian meal served on banana leaf). The onam sadya is indispensable part of Thiruvonam. The young and old sit together and enjoy the feast. Feast includes rice, chips, small banana, pickle, thoran (vegetable stir fry), pulissery (yogurt gravy), sambar (lentil gravy) and ends with payasam (a sweet dish made of milk/ coconut milk / sugar/ jaggery). Bellepperss brings you a very special payasam. Pineapple payasam … pineapple payasam is trending these days. Celebrate this onam with bellpepperss and try all “kerala sadya recipes”.Let’s get ready to welcome our own Mahabali with this lip smacking pineapple payasam and other flavorsome recipes. Okay then let’s get started.

Carrot Thoran

 Carrot Thoran / Carrot Coconut Fry

                                                                  

Carrot thoran? You guys may be wondering, why to post such an easy recipe 😕. Right …. Here I have made it a little easier. Even bachelors can try a hand at this 👍. Thoran is also a predominant dish in sadya / feast.  Thoran can be made with a variety of vegetables like carrot , beans, cabbage, spinach etc … I have posted broccoli thoran ealier. Unlike my broccoli thoran, carrot thoran is way too easy 😉.  Coconut is a must for thoran; here instead of using fresh grated coconut I have used desiccated coconut powder 😃. Have you ever tried thoran with desiccated coconut? When you are out of fresh coconut you can try this for sure 😉.  Please do try this recipe and tell me how it is … Okay then let’s get started.

Parippu Pradhaman

Parippu Pradhaman / Lentil Pudding

                                         

                                

Yes… it is Vishu. In Kerala when the sun enters in to Sidereal Aries it is called Vishu. Vishu symbolizes the beginning of spring. It is celebrated as a harvest festival and  is called by many different names like Ugadi, Bihu in different states.The harvest festival is known as Vishu in Kerala. The main specialty of Vishu day is that there will be equal number hours of day and night. The festival is dedicated to lord Krishna / Vishnu.

Aviyal

 Aviyal / Mixed Vegetables in Coconut - Yogurt Sauce
                                                                         

Aviyal is a thick mixture of vegetables, coconut and coconut oil 😋. It is considered as an essential side dish in Kerala sadya/ feast. It is a mainly a South Indian dish, originated from Kerala. It is pretty easy to prepare this 😃. As I said it is a delightful mix of all vegetables 😃. You can use almost all veggies to prepare this. The mainly used vegetables are carrot, beans, drumsticks, raw plantain, yam, white pumpkin, cucumber, broad beans and snake gourd. You cut these veggies and mix it with coconut paste and yogurt. Only the cutting part consumes time 😤, you can finish the recipe in a few minutes 👍. Apart from sadhya I usually prepare during this during the weekend when you have all veggies left in the refrigerator but it’s not that enough to prepare one single dish in bulk.  This is also very healthy as you have all possible vegetables 💪. A sadya/ feast can’t be served without this healthy- tasty side dish 👌. You can serve this a side dish for rice and chapatti / roti 😉. Okay then let’s get started.

Sambar

Sambar/ Lentil Gravy

                                                                    

A sadya/ feast is incomplete without Sambar… this is THE MAIN DISH. Sambar is nothing but gravy made of lentils, tamarind, vegetables and spices.  Here I have prepared typical a Kerala Sambar (Sothern state of India). The specialty of Kerala Sambar is that you make use of two or more vegetables. The mainly used veggies are potato, ash guard, egg plant, drumstick, carrot etc… you make sambar with or without coconut. When we use coconut it is called “Varthuarcha Sambar”/ Sambar with roasted coconut. Sambar made with freshly ground sambar powder is a real treat to your taste buds. Last week I have shared fresh sambar powder, I’m using the same powder here to make sambar. Tamarind is a must to make sambar, and also the seasoning that you add in the end. Sambar can be serves not only as a side dish for rice but also for idli (rice cake) or dosa (rice pancake).  Do give it a try I’m sure you all will like it...Okay then let’s get started…

Pachadi

Pachadi  / Beetroot Pachadi

                                                               

                                                       

Here comes a very tasty  sadya / feast dish … its pachadi. Pachadi is another dish which is made with yogurt. Other than yogurt you add coconut, cumin seeds and any fruit 🍍  or vegetable . The fruits mainly used in pachadi are pineapple, grapes and banana; if fruits are used then pachadi is called madhura pachadi. Commonly used veggies to make pachadi are cucumber, carrot, raw mango and beetroot. Here I have used beetroot to make pachadi. It is more or less similar to salad / raita except you add seasoning and coconut 😊. This gorgeous looking beetroot pachadi is an indispensable dish for sadya / feast 😊. It is super easy 😉 and super yummy 😋. Okay then let’s get started…

Erisserry

Erisserry/ Elissery / Pumpkin & Redgram Gravy

                                                                

 Here comes another sadhya / feast recipe … erissery or elissery.  It is an essential dish during festival feasts 😃. It is a combination of pumpkin, red beans and coconut.  It is usually prepared thick. You can also use yam and raw plantain. It is too easy to prepare this 😉. Unlike other sadya dishes you don’t add yogurt here. Coconut is a must for this curry. You add coconut paste and also you add it while seasoning the curry.  The seasoned coconut adds extra flavor to the curry 😋. Okay then let’s get started.

Sambar Powder

      Sambar Powder/ Sambar Podi
                                                     

Who doesn’t like homemade goodies? 😋I love them...😍 I’m sure you all love the same. Yes ….today I have something similar … homemade sambar powder .We have many brands of sambar powder available in stores, but nothing can beat the taste of homemade powder👍. It is too easy to prepare. Sambar is nothing but lentil gravy with added vegetables and tamarind and flavored with spices and seasonings. These spices mainly include coriander powder, chili powder and turmeric powder. Sambar powder is a combination of these powders in appropriate quantities. Here I have added a drop of coconut oil to the powder so you can’t store it for long. It is better to use it in a week or two if stored properly.  Will post a sambar powder with longer shelf life soon 😊. Vishu is around the corner so roll up your selves and get ready to prepare this homemade goodie 😉. You can serve your loved ones something special as sambar is an inevitable part of “Vishu Sadhya “(feast).  Okay then let’s get started.

Nenthra Pazham Pulissery

                Ethapazham Pulissery/ Banana Yogurt Gravy

Yahoo!!! The spring has sprung … no more mittens, scarves and jackets.  The winter is over. Hope not to see you next year. The last snow shower of the season was two weeks back and I clicked some pics…