Vellarikka Kichadi ~ Cucumber in Coconut-Yogurt gravy

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I was in the process of compiling some recipes from Vanitha magazine and made a treasure-book of recipes for me and the blog;-).I cant tell you how much I am beginning to enjoy reading through and trying out the recipes.Let me give you some intro on the mag.It usually has a chunk of its portion devoted to Paachakam[cookery] and that’s the first section I check out every time I buy it.Every month the in-house chef will whip up 3-4 dishes based on a single ingredient,there would be a section for readers’ recipes,a restaurant review with recipe of their popular dish and then the festival editions.

While I was going through the book,I realized that I had almost 3 different sets of recipes for festivals starting from Pongal in January and till Christmas in December;-).I am glad that I took the trouble of tearing the recipe pages from the magazine and binding it together.I came across some easy to make recipes in one of the Onam Sadya editions.Vellarika Kichadi is one of those.No,don’t confuse it with this Kichadi or the savoury one.This is a totally different curry with cucumber in coconut-yogurt gravy.

Vellarikka Kichadi -Recipe source Vanitha magazine

Ingredients

Cucumber – 1,small-grated or chopped finely
Salt to taste
Curd – ½ cup

To be ground into a masala

Grated coconut – 3 tbsp
Green chilly – 1
Mustard seeds – ½ tsp

For the seasoning

Coconut oil – 1 tsp
Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Method

Grind to a smooth paste the ingredients given for the masala.
Add it to the cucumber and mix well.
Whisk the curd and add it to the curry and add salt to taste.
Prepare seasoning in a pan with oil,splutter mustard seeds and add curry leaves.


Kichadi is similar to Cucumber Raita,but with a Kerala twist.Sending this across to Neha of Tasty recipes who is hosting this month’s AFAM-Cucumber,an event started by Maheshwari of Beyond the Usual.

One more happy news is that I got a very cute set of business cards from Foodbuzz and I was almost jumping with joy when I got it in the courier.I am still stumped looking at it and don't know if I would ever part with them..;-).Thank you Foodbuzz!!