Kalan – Onam Sadya Special

Kalan or Kaalan is a traditional dish from Kerala, South India. It is a creamy dish made with plantain, yam and coconut spice mixture. Coconut plays an important part in Kerala cuisine. Most of the dishes calls for coconut in some way or the other. I made this dish for the Onam festival and it came out very well. Though the recipe is simple the flavors are amazing. If you carefully follow the steps you will achieve the right taste. You can serve it with rice and papad or any thoran/poriyal. I like to eat it with even rotis. Give this recipe a try and you will love it.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

No. of servings: 5

Spice level: 2.5 out of 5

Ingredients:

• Raw plantain (Vazhakkai) – 1
• Cubed Yam (Chenai or Suran) – 1 cup
• Black pepper powder – 3/4 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Chili powder – 1/4 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tsp
• Yogurt – 1 1/2 cups

To Grind:

• Shredded coconut – 1/2 cup
• Green chilies – 2
• Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

For seasoning:

• Oil – 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves – 6 to 8
• Dried red chili – 1

Method of Preparation:

Add pepper powder to half cup of water. Strain this through a thin cloth and add it to a pan or kadai along with turmeric powder, chili powder and little salt.

Add the cubed vegetables to the pan. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Dry roast fenugreek seeds until it splutters and starts changing color. Let it cool and grind it to a fine powder. Grind coconut, green chilies and cumin seeds with a little water to a fine paste.

Add the ground paste to the cooked vegetables, mix well and allow it cook for 5 minutes over low heat. Add buttermilk, mix well and bring it to a boil. Turn off the stove and add the powdered fenugreek seeds. Mix well. Kalan is ready.

Heat a tsp of oil in a small pan and add mustard seeds. When it splutters add dried chili and roast for a minute. Finally add curry leaves and turn off the heat. Add the seasoning to the prepared Kalan.

Serve hot with rice and papad.