Karathe Saglen - Spicy Bittergourd Coconut Masala

Time for yet another Konkani recipe.Yeah,ever since I posted the Batata Upkari,I've been trying to post at least one Konkani dish here on a regular basis.It is strange because,I cook the same on a daily basis.But before I post it on the blog,I have to measure the ingredients,note the cooking time and then post because these dishes are cooked with eyeballed ingredients.
 
Bittergourd is not my favorite vegetable.Especially the ones we get in Chennai.Dark green in colour and very bitter compared to the ones we get in Kerala.I believe curries like these were created to mask the strong bitter flavor.Fried bittergourd by itself is so tasty,so imagine dunking it in a coconut based curry.Divine!


Karathe Saglen - Fried Bittergourd in Spicy Coconut Masala


Ingredients


Bittergourd - 2-3,medium sized
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry


For the Masala


Grated Coconut - 5 tbsp
Roasted Red chillies - 2-3
Tamarind - pea sized piece
Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp


For the seasoning


Coconut oil - 2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig


Method


 
Chop the bittergourd into small pieces,apply salt and keep aside for 10-15 minutes or till you get everything ready.
 
In a kadai add 1/2 tsp of oil and roast the coriander seeds and urad dal till they start turning brown in color.Remove from the pan and let it cool.
 
Grind a masala paste using coconut,red chillies,tamarind and roasted coriander and urad dal.
 
Add enough oil in a kadai too deep fry the bittergourd.Squeeze the bittergourd well and sprinkle it into the oil.You can fry the bittergourd all at once or in batches.Drain to a kitchen tissue and keep aside.Remove excess oil in the kadai.
 
Meanwhile,in the same kadai add 2 tsp oil and splutter mustard seeds and add curry leaves.
 
Mix in the ground masala,enough salt to taste and around 1/4 cup of water and let it boil.Simmer for 5-7 minutes or till the curry becomes thick.
Mix in the fried bittergourd and switch off flame.
Serve hot with rice and dal.
 
Notes

• Though it is named a curry,it is more of a side dish.The bittergourd absorbs most of the gravy and becomes a thickish curry.
• It is best served with some dal based gravy on the side.

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Chunky Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

When it comes to breakfast,we are very old school.It has to be rice-based-Idli,Dosa,Puttu,Idiyappam etc.These days,trying to incorporate some healthful breakfast dishes into our menu,I have started cooking with Oats too.But to be very honest,if I don't have our usual breakfast fare,I start getting hungry by 10 or so.Which makes me crave for more food.
However,I have never been able to accept Muffins as breakfast food.Maybe the looks or maybe the ingredients which go into it,for me it is always a dessert.Yes,even if it has fruit in it and even if it pairs well with a glass of cold milk!


Having a huge stock of Apples to finish before we stocked up on the King of fruits,I was searching for ways to bake with it.Last time it was Apple Crumb Cake and let me tell you,I can keep on baking that cake and never get tired of it.The streusel on top elevates the cake to a totally different level.
 
It is with this combo of Apples and Streusel that I set out to make these muffins.A simple batter is made and chunks of apple are added and baked in cupcake tins with streusel on top.It might sound very plain jane but the taste is  delicious.Maybe I can binge on this as my in-between meals snack:)


Chunky Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
Recipe source - Allrecipes

Ingredients


All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup(I pulsed the sugar in my mixer for 10 seconds)
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Ground Cinnamon - 1 tsp
Oil - 1/3 cup(I used Saffola)
Egg - 1
Milk - 1/3 cup
Apples - 2,peeled cored and chopped


For the Streusel(I followed the same recipe which I used here)


Butter - 5 tbsp(approximately 70 gms)
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Flour - 1/2 cup
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Walnut - 1/2 cup,chopped
 
Method


Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
Grease six muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.I made 6 medium sized muffins and 6 small muffins using the batter.
 
Stir together flour,sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. 
 
Mix in egg,oil and milk. 
 
Fold in apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling till 3/4 full.


 
For the Streusel-Mix together all the ingredients for the crumb topping,except the walnuts.Use a pastry blender or a fork or pulse it in a food processor.Mix in the chopped nuts.Refrigerate till needed.

 
Top the muffins with the prepared streusel and bake for 20-25 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Notes

• This is a very simple recipe wherein you just need to mix and bake.Be careful about not over mixing the batter though which might result in tough muffins.Mix until no specks of flour remain.
• The muffins remain soft and moist even after refrigeration,but is best eaten warm out of the oven.
• Though the recipe says 6 muffins,I got 6 medium and 6 small ones.It depends on the size of your muffin tray.

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Baking supplies in Ernakulam(Kerala)-Staines&Co

One of the most searched keywords I find for this blog is 'staines'.I have mentioned about the store a couple of times in here on my baking posts,so it was only fair that I did a detailed post for anyone who wants to know more details regarding the same.
 
Staines&Co is a small shop tucked away on Jews Street,off M.G.Road,adjacent to Padma Theatre.They deal in wholesale Bakery supplies and Bakeware.

We've been buying stuff from this shop ever since I can remember.Only after I started baking did I notice the vast array of baking supplies these people stocked.One thing to keep in mind when you are in the shop is to ASK.You may be surprised by what you get in return.The shop is quite well stocked and it is tough to locate stuff on your own.The staff is very friendly and will guide you through.
 
Items to look out for

• Baking tins and trays-in all shapes and sizes-Cake pans,Cupcake trays,Sheet pans,Ring molds,Tart pans/molds,Shaped pans etc.
• Cupcake liners,silicone molds,non-stick liners etc.(sold in 500 liners per pack)
• Silicone spatulas,brushes
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Dough scrapers(bench scrapers)
• Cookie cutters
• Chocolate molding trays in many shapes
• Turntables
• Cake pop sticks,Kulfi sticks
• Ice-cream scoops-Plastic and aluminium
• Kulfi molds-plastic and aluminium
• Icing guns-plastic,aluminium and brass
• Icing nozzles-plastic,stainless steel and brass
• Piping bags-disposable,cloth bags
• Fondant shaping tools
• Cake mixes,Muffin mixes,Bread Mixes(in 1kg packs)
• Whipping cream and ready to use whipping cream powder
• Vital wheat gluten
• Gelatine(sold in 1/2 and 1 kg packs)
• Sugars-Caster sugar,Dark brown sugar,light brown sugar,Demerara sugar,icing sugar etc
• Self raising flour
• Liquid glucose
• Maple syrup
• Corn syrup
• Golden syrup 

• Nuts-Cashewnuts,Almonds,Figs,Walnuts,Pistachios-Sold in wholesale prices
• Spices-Good quality Cardamom,Clove,Cinnamon,Star Anise,Pepper,Mace,Nutmeg etc
• Candied cherries,tutti frooty and caramel syrup for Fruit Cakes
• Candied Pineapple,Amla,Ginger etc
• Instant Yeast,Dry Yeast(Mauripan,Ab|Mauri)
• Good quality Vanilla extract-Sold in 200ml and 1ltr bottles(IFF brand)
• Good quality food colours(IFF brand,Naturals brand)
• Chocolates-Morde,Selbourne,Lotus(sold in 500gms blocks)
• Cocoa Powder,Cocoa pastes-Morde
• Chocolate wrapping foil papers
• Aluminium foils,cling wraps etc
• Chocolate sprinkles,Chocolate chips,Butterscotch chips etc
• Cake toppers-Silver dragees,colorful sprinkles etc
• Cake gels and emulsions
• Ready to use cake frosting(conveniently sold in tubes with nozzles)
• Pie fillings-Cherry,Strawberry and Raspberry
• Canned Fruits-Pineapple,Peach,Mango,Cherry,Mixed Fruits etc
• Maraschino cherries in syrup
• Soy sauce-Light and dark
• Olive Oil(sold in 500 ml&1ltr bottles)
• Olives
• Pasta-Lasagne Sheets,Spagetti and regular pasta(Penne,Macaroni etc)
• Curry pastes - Red and Green
• Soup concentrates
• Mustard sauces-Pizza Pasta sauces
• Mayonnaise
• Tomato Puree,Ketchup(sold in 1ltr containers)
• Fruit crushes-Strawberry,Mango,Pineapple,Guava,PinaColada,Pomegranate,Green Apple,Mint syrup,Rose syrup and many more
• Custard powder,Jelly mixes,Ice-cream mixes,Doughnut mixes etc
• Jams and conserves 

There are many more items which are not related to baking,but comes much cheaper than in supermarkets like

• Ghee
• Tea/Coffee Powders
• Badam Milk/Rose Milk/Pista Milk mixes
• Coconut Milk and Powder
• Milk powder
• Dessicated coconut(sold in 1kg packs)
• Breakfast mixes-Appam Podi,Puttu Podi,Idiyappam podi
• Sambhar Powder
• Semiya Payasam,Gulab Jamun mixes etc
• Noodles-sold in 1kg packs(hakka)
• Pickles of many varieties(sold in 1kg bottles) 

I have covered most of the items,will keep updating the list.

 
Staines&Co is located at Jews Street,Ernakulam,Kochi-35.Off M.G.Road,adjacent to Padma Theatre.

Phone number - 0484 2355742,2353950,4021700,4031700

Store is open Monday through Saturday.Shop timings are 9am to 9pm.

There is another shop next to Staines named Bakers Traders,which stocks almost the same items mentioned here.

More Baking

• Baking in Bombay
• Baking in Bangalore
• Baking in Delhi
• Baking in Kolkata

Disclaimer-This is NOT a paid review.

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