Author: P.T. Bopanna

Kaima Unday Barthad (Dry Fried Meatballs)

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Biddanda Shalini Nanda Nagappa OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Biddanda Shalini Nanda Nagappa is a Canada-based food blogger and hosts ‘A Cookery Year in Coorg’, the most authentic Kodagu food blog. Shalini is very passionate about Kodagu food culture and has taken the pain to dig deep into the history of the culinary habits of Kodagu people. Her popular blog features well-researched articles and family recipes.

 

Kaima Unday Barthad (Dry Fried Meatballs)

Seasoned with a fresh green herb paste and a few woody spices,  these meatballs are poached first in simmering water, then fried to a rich brown savouriness in a generous amount of ghee.

They keep well, so were ideal for long train journeys, to be eaten with curd rice. A perfect hot snack with a drink, or a filling for a sandwich or wrap. Serve them with a light pulao, or ghee rice. Oh, and they’re the perfect late night snack, eaten cold from the fridge!

A note on the cooking – in this recipe, I’ve used extra lean ground lamb, which cooks very quickly, so the poaching process is much shorter than if you were to use conventional minced mutton. Keep the water at a very gentle simmer to prevent the meatbal

kaimaunde

ls from disintegrating, and fry them carefully. Their texture is more like that of a shami kebab, whereas the ones made with mutton are firmer and will hold their shape better.

INGREDIENTS:

Dry fried meatballs

1/2 kg lean, finely minced meat
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Optional: a few curry leaves or 1 – 2 cloves for the poaching liquid

Grind together:

5 green chillis (or to taste)
1/2 tbsp fresh ginger paste
1/2 tbsp fresh garlic paste
1/2 cup packed fresh coriander
3 tbsp fresh,grated coconut, ground to a fine paste
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp salt or to taste
Very lightly roast and powder:

1” stick of cassia or cinnamon
5 cloves
5 – 6 black peppercorns
Knead all the above ingredients together thoroughly.

To finish:

2 – 3 tbsp ghee
Combine all the ingredients and knead together. Form into small balls – you should be able to make approx 20 – 22 pcs from this mixture.

In a wide, shallow pan, bring 2 – 3 cups of water to a gentle simmer and put the meatballs in. If using curry leaves or cloves, add them to the water now. Poach the meatballs in the simmering water, turning to cook evenly.

When they are cooked through, remove the meatballs to a plate and boil off any remaining liquid. Discard the cloves/curry leaves. Add the ghee to the pan and sauté the meatballs to a rich golden brown.

Serve hot with wedges of lime.

Onnak Meen (Dried Salted Fish)

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Bommanda Meena Mohanmeena-photo

Bommanda Meena Mohan is a culinary expert of repute living in Ammathi, Kodagu. Her dishes are in great demand at weddings and other social get-togethers.

Onnak Meen (Dried Salted Fish)

Ingredients:

Dry fish – 1 kg
Onion – 1/4 kg (chopped into pieces)
Green chillies – 6 (slit lengthwise and de-seeded)
Curry leaves – 6
Chilli powder – 2 tsp
Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
Kaachambuli (Coorg vinegar)  2 – 3 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil – 2 tsp

onaakmeen

Method:

Boil the fish with 5 cups of water after removing the bones.  Once the fish is cooked, drain the water and cut into small pieces. Mix salt, turmeric, chilli powder and Kaachambuli. Marinate for 10minutes.

Heat oil in a pan.  Fry the onions, green chillies, curry leaves till onions turn golden brown. Add the marinated fish and fry for 10 minutes in low flame. You can season it with coriander leaves.

Chekke kuru pajji (Jackfruit seed chutney)

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Chettira lathachettira_latha

These two simple and delicious chutney recipes are courtesy the very  talented Chettira Latha of Madikeri. Besides cooking for her own family and friends, she takes catering orders on request from tourists in search of traditional, home cooked Coorg food.

Chekké kuru pajji (Jackfruit seed chutney)

•    1/4 kg boiled or roasted jackfruit seeds, peeled and lightly pounded

•    1 cup grated coconut

•    1 small onion

•    Green chillis to taste, preferably parangi malu (kanthari chilli or bird’s eye pepper)

Grind the above ingredients together. Add salt and a squeeze of chorangé (a local variety of citrus) or lemon juice to taste. Stir to mix and serve with akki otti.

ingredients

Chekké kuru pajji 2

Proceed as above, but instead of the citrus juice, add a tsp of tamarind extract when grinding the mixture.

Seasoning:

•    1 tsp mustard seed

•    2 dry red chillis, broken into large pieces

•    1 small onion, sliced

•    4 – 5 cloves of garlic, lightly crushed

•    4 – 5 curry leaves

•    3 tbsp oil

•    A pinch of turmeric

Heat the oil, sputter the mustard, then add the chilli and curry leaves, followed by the garlic and onions. When the onions and garlic start to brown, pour the hot seasoning over the ground mixture, adding a pinch of turmeric.

NOTES:

•   Latha says this is best if on the tangy side, so check the tartness of your tamarind and adjust the quantities.
•   The same ingredients can make a chekké kuru curry, by adding hot water for the desired consistency. Add the separately ground coconut at the last stage and simmer for a couple of minutes before serving.
•   Remember to keep the jackfruit seeds coarsely ground for the best result.