JACKFRUIT PRESERVE/ CHAKKA VARATTIYATHU

Jack fruit as we all know is  a seasonal fruit. Jack fruit preserve is a traditional recipe of Kerala.It can be used to prepare different recipes.The recipes can be prepared with raw as well as ripened fruit. During jack fruit season only we can prepare today's dish.Jack fruit is named as "Chakka" in Kerala.With this preserve we can prepare Chakka Ada, Chakka Pradhaman,Chakka Halwa,Chakka Jam etc.Since the recipe is sweet we can prepare different varieties of sweet dishes as listed now.Let us see the preparation..

                                                   INGREDIENTS

• Jack fruit cleaned                 -  1200 gms
• Jaggery                                 -  500 gms
• Water                                   -  1.5 cup
• Cumin powder                    -   1/4 tsp
• Cardamom powder             -   1/2 tsp
• Dry ginger powder             -   1/4 tsp
• Ghee                                   -   100 gm

                                                METHOD

•  Clean the Jack fruit and keep it aside.

•  Crush the jaggery and keep it aside.

•  Take a cooker and pour water to it and add the jaggery powder to it.Allow it to boil.

•  When it gets thickened and will have a double string consistency,strain it .

•  In the same cooker add the jack fruit and allow it to cook till 5-6 whistles.When it cools blend it in a mixer and keep it aside.

•  Heat a heavy bottom pan.

•  Add 2 tbsp ghee to it and grease all over the pan.

•  When the pan  gets heated, pour the blended mixture.Stir continuously to make it thick.

•  When is start sticking on the pan add ghee little by little and stir well.

• Add the measured amount of ghee when it absorbs.

•  When the moisture dries and leaves out the sides add the powders mentioned in ingredients to it.

• Remove to a greased plate and smooth the surface top with a bottom greased small bowl.When it cools we can store it in a container and use it as and when required.This recipe will last for a long time and there is no tension of it becoming stale.

CHICKEN BREAST IN TOMATO GRAVY ROAST

Tomato roast Chicken Breast is an Indian recipe.I know many friends who are very fond of tomatoes and tomato flavor dishes.So today's recipe is for all the tomato lovers.Here we are marinating the chicken breast with masala and cooked in tomato puree.This recipe requires little amount of oil to cook. This will be a a very good combination along with rice and even with roti,naan too.So let us see the preparation now....

                                             INGREDIENTS

• Chicken breast               -  2 piece do not cut into pieces 
• Tomato                          -  3
• Red chilly powder         -  1 tsp
• Garam masala               -  1/2 tsp
• Cumin powder              -  1/4 tsp
•  Turmeric powder         -  1/4tsp
• Onions                          -  3 small
• Ginger julienne            -  1 tbsp
• Garlic                           -  3 cloves
• Tomato ketchup           - 1 tsp
• Ginger garlic paste      -  1 tsp
• Fresh cream                 -  3 tbsp
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves chopped to garnish

To marinate the chicken

• Red chilly powder      -  1 tsp
•  Garam masala           -   a pinch
• Ginger Garlic paste   -  1 tsp
• Salt                            -   to taste
• Oil

                                                 METHOD

• Blanch the tomatoes .

                             

• Remove the skin and blend it in a mixer.

                           

                            

• Chop the onions and garlic and keep aside the remaining ingredients as seen in above picture.   

                            

• Put some holes with the help of a fork.This is done to help the masala go deep inside the chicken.

• Clean and pat dry the Chicken breast.Add little salt, red chilly powder,garam masala and ginger garlic paste.Mix well and let it stay for 30 mins

• Heat a kadai.

• Pour little oil to it and place these marinated breast in this kadai and close it with a lid. After 7 mins flip it and cook again for 5 mins.

• Remove this on a plate. Now cut this into pieces and keep aside.

• In the same oil add the ginger julienne and fry till brown and take out.Keep it aside.

• Add chopped ginger and saute for a while.

• Add chopped onions and saute well.

• When the onions becomes brown add red chilly powder,cumin powder and garam masala to it. Saute well.

• Add ginger garlic paste and saute well.

• Now add the tomato ketchup and mix properly.

• Then add the tomato puree and salt.

• Let it become thick.

• Add the chicken pieces to it and combine well.

• Roast it for 3-4 mins.

• Finally add the fresh cream and mix well.

• Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve it hot and Enjoy the awesome dish!!!!!

CHICKEN CHUKKA

Chicken Chukka is a spicy roast dish.We can prepare this dish using few ingredients.The only thing is that we have to be marinate it for minimum 1 hour. Here I have used dry masalas to prepare the dish.The chicken pieces are marinated with the roasted grinded  masala so that we will get the real aroma and taste.This recipe is prepare on my own style and it was a success too. Now let us see the preparation..

                                              INGREDIENTS

• Chicken pieces             -800 gms
• Capsicum julienne       - 1 small
• Onion chopped            - 2 medium
• Ginger Garlic paste     - 2 tbsp
• Coconut grated            - 3 to 4 tbsp
• Coriander leaves         - to garnish (chopped)

Dry masala for grinding

• Whole Coriander        -  2.5 tbsp
• Dry red chilies            -  10 nos
• Pepper corns               -  1 tsp
• Cumin powder            -  a pinch( I usually use home made roasted cumin powder, if you do not                                        have can use a pinch of cumin also)
• 5 spice masala            -  1/2 tsp( you can use cloves- 8 , cinnamon -1 stick,Pepper- 5 corns,Star                                        anise -1/2,Fennel seed - 1/2 tsp.Gground this and use 1/2 tsp)

                                              METHOD

• Roast the coriander and red chilies(cut into pieces) in a kadai without adding oil.

                            

• Ground all these together and mix this powder with the chicken pieces and keep this in refrigerator for 1 hr.

                            

• Cut the capsicum into julienne and chop the coriander leaves and keep it aside.

• Heat the Kadai,add little oil and saute till light brown.

• Now add ginger garlic paste to it.Fry the onions till golden brown.

• Now add the grated coconut to it.

• Roast the coconut well.

• Now add the marinated chicken to it and saute well till the color changes to white.

• Add salt to it and close it wit a lid to get it well cooked.Stir well every 5 mins.

• Roast the chicken well.

• Now add the capsicum and cook for 1 more min .

• Finally add the coriander leaves too.

• Garnish and serve it on a plate.

                      Enjoy the home made Chicken Chukka!!