Easy Recipe: Ethakkai Mezhukkupuratti

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Ethakkai Mezhukkupuratti

Simpler and effortless recipes r today’s in-things…people are always on the look out for bachelor dishes that can be made in an instant and that too without much ingredients and above all effort. And I’m definitely one of them…as evident in my all blog recipes….:)

Gone r the days when the housewives used to make long standings near the kitchen stoves making food for their family. But now in the present living scenario, workaholic housewives are seen to be indeed depending a lot on such easy and instant recipes; especially stir-fry dishes… And so for those who want something simple and naadan, here is one such recipe…Ethakkai mezhukkupuratti (raw plantain stir-fried)….quite popular in other parts of the country too… obviously with a different name and look... just enough to show the extreme popularity of this dish in South India.

A simple combination of Ethakkai (Raw plantains) sautéed with crushed shallots and dry red chillies is infact the ideal side dish with rice and any curry…. And, I suppose the combo of mezhukkupuratti, mambazha pulissery, pickle and pappadum would just make your lunch absolutely wonderful and filling.….:)

So, here’s the recipe for the kai mezhukkupuratti…

Ethakkai (Raw plantain)
Around 15 - 20 Shallots (Small Onions)
10 – 15 Dry red chillies
Oil – As required
Salt – As required
Turmeric powder – ½ tsp

Here I have used Njalippovan kai. But, you can use Ethakkai or any other kai accdg to the availability. You can lessen or add to the number of dry chillies too accdg to your mood and tastes….

Method:-

1)Cut the plantains into two vertical halves and then cut them into 1 cm thick pieces.
2)Put them in water along with a little turmeric powder for a little while to get rid of the sticky serum.

3)Place them in a vessel along with turmeric powder and salt and cook, till done and all the water content gets evaporated.

4)Meanwhile, crush the shallots.
5)Grind the dry red chillies in a mixer grinder. You can also use readymade crushed chillies.

6)Heat oil in a pan and add the crushed shallots and sauté along with the crushed red chillies.
7)Add a little salt and sauté till they turn translucent.
Do not fry until brown.

8)Add the cooked kai and mix well.
9)Add more oil, if required and mix well.

10)Sauté till the kai turns crispy.
11)Serve warm with rice and any curry.

Now, for those who find peeling n crushing shallots and grinding red chillies as a tiresome task, you can cook the plantains along with thinly sliced onion (a close substitute) and slit green chillies and when the water content has evaporated, you can add oil and sauté till crispy… This gives another taste to the whole thing….though I prefer crushed shallots and chillies….as the shallots give a bit of sweet touch to it along with the spiciness of the red chillies…all materializing from a simple, effortless job…..

So, on that simplicity note, happy cooking!!!

Labels: Naadan Veg Curries