Nadan Chakka - Varikka Chakka Varuthathu - Homemade Jackfruit Chips Recipe

Chakka Varuthathu/ Jackfruit chips or fry is a simple snack recipe that you can make in your home in jackfruit season. In Kerala jackfruits are common in its season. Varikka chakka, Pazha chakka etc are some variety jackfruits in our area. We use these two for making chakka fry in our house. 

I had read an article about the jackfruit in daily news paper two days before about its healthy side. That article said that if there is a jackfruit tree in your house health is in your hand. It is not merely an article. It was based on some recent research studies. Those studies reveal that raw jack fruits are better remedy for diabetics. 

As I had read this I remembered about the tasty jackfruits in our place and me and my husband decided to fry some chakka fry for our tea time. I can't do the cutting and cleaning purpose of the biggest fruit, so I asked his help. Besides that he is a fan of chakka chips and that made his interest in helping me. Anyway we cut and cleaned the fruit and make it thin and sliced chakka pieces. When we did that I remembered my grandmother who loved the ripe jackfruit/ pazhutha chakka very much. Pazhachakka- a soft variety of chakka which is tastier was her favorite. 

Jackfruit is not only tasty but also healthful. Our ancestors used it for many health problems. It is useful for many sexual diseases, prostatitis and hepatitis. It is an important content in many Ayurvedic medicines. 

When you prepare chakka chips use quality oil. Otherwise it will be worse for better health. I am using fresh coconut oil for frying my chips. It makes it more homely. When you buy readymade chakka chips from stores it may not tastier as this homemade chakka fry. So enjoy it making in home.

How to Make Nadan Chakka Chips/ Jackfruit Fry in home- Simple Steps:

Ingredients of Chakka Chips:

• Raw Jackfruit/ Pacha Chakka sliced pieces- 1 kg
• Coconut oil- 1/2 kg
• Salted water- to taste

Learn how to make Chakka Chips/ Jackfruit Fry in Home- Simple steps:

• Clean and slice the jackfruit into thin and long pieces. 
• Heat the oil in a pan.
• Put the cut chakka pieces into it. 
• Spray enough salted water. 
• Fry it well till them come into golden yellow color.
• Take out the fried chips and spread them in tissue paper for make oil free chakka chips.
• Serve the hot jackfruit fry with tea/coffee. 

We make many dishes with raw and ripe jackfruit. Chakka Uppery/Stirfry, Chakka Erissery, Chakka Molakushyam, ChakkaVaratty/Jackfruit Jam, Chakka Ada, Chakka Idly and Chakka Payasam are some of them. You can learn these Kerala Chakka recipes in future posts. 

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Vishu Special Beetroot Thoran Kerala Style Beetroot Stir Fry Recipe

Vishu is a special festival in Kerala. When I remember about it Vishu sadya- a delicious feast on Vishu day- will come with the Vishu kani and Vishu Kaineetam. Among the traditional tastes, there is a special one and that is of crispy Beetroot thoran/ Beet stir fry. Te sweetness of beets with coconut will make the dish yummy. 

In my childhood mom used to make different beetroot dishes like Beetroot Uppery/ Mezhukkuvratty, Beetroot Sambar, Beetroot Pachadi and Beetroot- Potato Masala Curry. She also tried Beetroot cutlet and Beetroot Poori in our kitchen. I will give more about these tasty recipes in my following posts.  Actually I became bored of these. But mom always reminded us about the health benefits of beetroot and now I truly experience it in my life. I think you must know something about it before learning how to make beetroot thoran. We can go through some beetroot particulars. 

Beetroot (Scientific name is Beta Vulgaris) includes in the family Chenopodiaceae. The Beetroot cultivation started in Germany in fourth century. It is a favorite both for vegetarians and non vegetarians. Its Colour is due to the presence of a substance called Nutricin. 

Besides it is a good vegetable, it is a good plant part which has many medicinal values. Go through some medical benefits of beetroot. It reduces Cholesterol. It is a better remedy for pancreases stone. The ladies who is facing menopause must have beetroots in meal. Result will be amazing. It increases your resistance power. One side affect of beetroot is that it enhances sugar level. So diabetic persons had better avoid it from the daily meal.  

Among these dishes I like the beetroot thoran very much. It is a better side dish and my family also loves this. I shared my other thoran (The dry stir fry with chopped or grated vegetables or leaves) recipes in previous posts like Cabbage Thoran- Cabbage Stir fry, Idichakka Thoran/ Tender Jack fruit Stir fry and Muringayila Thoran/Drumstick leaves stir fry. Today enjoy the taste of Beetroot Thoran/ Beetroot coconut stir fry for your Vishu lunch.

How to Make Vishu Special Beetroot Thoran- Kerala Style Beetroot Stir Fry Recipe:

Ingredients in Beetroot Thoran:

• Finely Chopped Beetroots- 3 nos
• Grated coconut- 1/4 cup
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 sp
• Curry Leaves- 2 strings
• Red Chili- 3 nos
• Turmeric Powder- 1/4 sp
• Chili Powder- 1 tb sp
• Salt- to taste
• Water- for spraying
• Coconut oil- 2 tb sp

Learn the Method of Making Vishu Special Beetroot Thoran- Kerala Style Beetroot Stir Fry Recipe:

• Wash and clean the fresh beetroots.
• Chop beets finely.
• Grate the coconut.
• Place a pan on stove. Pour the oil. Heat well.
• Splutter the mustard seeds, red chilies and curry leaves.
• Add the chopped beetroots.
• Add turmeric and chili powders.
• Add salt and mix well.
• Spray some water.
• Stir the content till the beetroots cooked well.
• When they cooked well, add the grated coconut. Mix again.
• Hot Beetroot thoran/stir fry is ready. Serve it with steamed rice or chapati.

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Eat Drumstick Leaf Stir fry- Muringayila Thoran for Eye's Health

Protect eyes by eating drumstick leaf stir fry/muringayila thoran with your lunch. Drumstick tree is common around us. Its leaf, flower and fruit are very nutritious and useful for making various veg recipes. Recipes with drumstick leaves are tonics for your eyes. In my kitchen I used to prepare stir fried drumstick leaf dish/muringayila thoran as a side dish for steamed rice. Its crispiness with fried coconut and curry leaves is a favorite taste for my hubby and kids. Besides this taste, they can get a lot of vitamin A and minerals from this simple stir fry. These leaves also contain many amino acids.

I wish to share you a good thing! A cup of drumstick leaf/muringayila is equivalent to the amount of vitamin A from 9 eggs/500 g butter/50 g goat's liver/50 g shark liver/16 kg mutton/80 cups cow's milk. You know 1 cup muringa/drumstick juice contains vitamin C that is same as in 6 oranges. Same quantity of drumstick leaf contain calcium that is equivalent in 20 eggs. 

Why are you waiting without making muringayila/drumstick leaf stir fry? You can enjoy a healthy eye site with this easy delicious stir fry recipe with green drumstick leaves. In Kerala muringayila thoran is a common dish for ladies, soon after delivery. It enhances their capacity to produce breast milk. It also helps regularize infant's motion. 

Learn How to Make Easy Drumstick Leaf Stir Fry/Muringayila Thoran in Kerala Style:

Ingredients:

• Drumstick leaf - 1 cup
• Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
• Curry leaf - 2 stalks
• Red chili - 3 nos
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tbsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt - to taste

Method:

• Clean the drumstick/muringayila leaves well
• Place a pan on stove
• Pour oil and heat well
• Splutter mustard seeds, red chilies and curry leaves
• Add coconut and stir well
• When the coconut becomes slight yellow, add the green leaves and salt. Mix well
• Stir for 3 minutes in 'sim' mode
• You can sprinkle a little water into it (optional)
• Serve the hot drumstick leaf stir fry/muringayila thoran with steamed rice. 

Add your opinion on "Eat drumstick Leaf Stir fry/Muringayila Thoran, Protect Eyes".

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Nadan Cut Mango Pickle/Manga Curry Recipe

Nadan or traditional mango pickle/manga curry is a simple and spicy recipe. In my house it is permanent member on our dining table in mango season. Me and my brother always fond of mango dishes, especially mango achar (even the cut pieces of raw mangoes will make a flood in our mouth). My mother's master piece, instant mango pickle recipe is spicy and delicious. You can simple learn how to make mango pickle in traditional way.

Know How to Prepare Nadan Manga Curry/Traditional Cut Mango Pickle:

Pickling with sour green mango cubes is so easy. You can make it for special occasions like onam and birthday. Without this sadya recipes will become zero.

Make Kerala Style Mango Pickle/Manga Curry in Your Home:

Ingredients:

• Mango - 5 nos
• Chili powder - 2 tbsp
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Fenugreek powder - 1/2 tbsp
• Asafoetida powder - 1/2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tbsp

Method of Preparation:

Cut the mangoes into very small cubes. Mix with salt and chili powder. Keep this aside for half an hour. Heat some oil in a pan. Add the fenugreek and asafoetida powders. Take care to avoid over burning. Pour this into the salted and spicy mango pieces. Mix well. Splutter the mustard seeds in remaining oil and add this on the pickled mango. Mix again. Tasty traditional Keralite mango achar is ready 

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Bilimbi Pickle/ Irumban Puli Achar

Bilimbi pickle is an easy pickle recipe. It is best with rice or rice porridge.

Make Bilimbi/Irumban puli Pickle- Simple Steps:

Ingredients:

• Bilimbi fruits (Tender fruits are good for pickle)- handful
• Oil- 4 tbsp
• Chilli powder- 3 tbsp
• Fenugreek- 1 tsp
• Asafoetida- 1 small piece
• Salt- to taste
• Red chilli- 3 nos
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp

Preparation:

• Cut bilimbis into pieces( long/ circle in shape)
• Put them in hot water for 1/2 an hour and take out.
• Mix them with salt.
• Fry the fenugreek seeds and asafoetida in some oil. Cool and make them into dried powder.
• Put into the salted bilimbi. 
• Splutter the red chillies and mustard seeds in remaining oil. Switch of fire. Add chilli powder into the cool mixture. 
• Mix this content into the prepared pickle base. Mix all the contents well. 
• Irumban puli - Pulichikka Achar is ready. 

The bilimbi tree is common in Kerala houses. Its fruits are used in fish curry instead of mango pieces. This pulichikka achar is also a good alternative for mango pickle. The benefits of bilimbi are remarkable. They help you to heal the internal wounds. This pickle recipe will avoid severe fever. It is useful for cleaning and bleaching purpose.

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