For today’s GMT I am sharing a fairly easy, next to zero pre prep recipe- Kerala style fish fry. A perfect side dish to lentils and rice or a great gluten free starter for a Kerala style meal. Not only does this Kerala style fish fry not require much preparation, it also comes together in a jiffy. And the next to zero effort is so much worth it. Because that means you can make this and sit back and enjoy it with a big, huge glass of chilled wine (yes, wine connoisseurs I like my wine chilled and I like it white!)
Of course I did neither of that. No sitting back and relaxing or drinking wine. Although I have half the mind to pour me a glass of wine and drink it while I write this post. It had been a busy day of cooking, cleaning, quickly photographing for the blog, cooking, cleaning, deep freezing stuff for V and then some baking and cleaning.
Kerala style chicken stew: a gluten free dish that is easy to make and packed with flavor.
I am truly the happiest when I am in India. I love the freedom (in certain terms) that I have here in the US and I love having friends and a house to take care of, but when I am in India, its just something else. It’s difficult to put the feeling in words, especially since I am not that great a writer, but I’m truly happy when I’m there. It’s the country I have born and grown up in. It’s just about the place that makes me feel at peace.
Last time I was in India, I got to spend some time with my parents in Trivandrum (or Thiruvananthapuram- trying saying that!), the capital of the southern state of Kerala. My dad is in the air force and he was posted there during my last India visit.
I loved Kerala, although it is quite a bit of travel since most of my other family members and friends stay in the north. But, nonetheless, it is a great place to spend time when you are on a vacation. Picturesque palm lined beaches, backwaters, spice gardens and ayurvedic massages. What else could you ask for!
My father is now posted out of Kerala and has moved closer home. Although excited about his new position, I am going to miss not going to Kerala and to the deliciousness that Kerala cuisine is next time we are in India.
I am sure by now everyone has rejoiced in the fact that Osama Bin Laden is dead and like me are eagerly waiting for the photographs to be doubly sure that he is actually gone. The news, no doubt, was and is great, but one also silently prays that his supporters do not retaliate in a violent way. For now, its a victory over terrorism.
Another thing saw its end in our kitchen today. My “Indian nod” Sardar got his head cut off today, thanks to my stupid carelessness. Some of you might remember him, from his brief appearance on last week’s Garam Masala Tuesday (GMT, here on). V and I loved this adorable wobbly head that imitated the famous Indian head wiggle (the nod that signifies both a yes and a no). And now, it lies with no head, no head wiggle, standing on the counter, headless :(! We might be able to fix it with some super glue but I think I might have permanently paralysed his head. Sigh!
One good thing that is happening though these days, is that I am getting sleep pretty early. Thanks to the jetlag, there is no more insomnia, no more staying awake all night, making frustrated noises, cursing my body for being so difficult- nope no more of that! yet.
And since I am sleeping early, it means I am getting up early too! Which means I get time to exercise in the morning! I had been doing some light yoga exercises the last week and now that I am more or less settled in after my long vacation (I will not say completely settled as I am yet to organize my closet), I thought to start some serious exercise. So I got up today and went for a jog and realised how out of shape I actually am. My first round- and I was huffing and puffing like a chu-chu train! Anyway, after the jog I felt so much better, thinner! Hopefully I’ll continue!
Coming to today’s GMT I thought to make this spicy kerala curry that I learnt from our cook back in India. The cook used the curry paste to make prawn curry but since, V is not gung-ho on seafood and the fact that he is a vegetarian on Tuesdays, forced me to make cauliflower in the kerala curry paste.
This dish is slightly time consuming, especially when it comes to the roasting of the coconut. But, believe me, the results are worth it!
Serve it with any Indian flatbread and you have a great Indian meal on the table. I had originally planned to make this with Kerala parantha or Porota but I did not achieve the results I was looking for. Well, hopefully I will have better luck next time.
