Friday 1 March 2013

Kerala kappa masala (Tapioca masala)

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In my mind I keep thinking I have loads of time and think of taking part in all these cook outs and blog events and such. But then in reality, I am either busy with something or the other or lazy. Being a hard core mallu, I am ashamed at the low number of mallu recipes from down south. Even though I don't make mallu food that often, it is definitely a favourite of ours and I really wished I knew how to make those authentic dishes.

That's when Kerala Kitchen, this group I'm part of on Facebook, decided to do a cook out together. I decided it was the best time to learn some new dishes, and feed my mallu-food-deprived blog some fab dishes from the mother land. But as usual, I waited till the n-th minute to post it. But better late than never right? So here I am with a very popular dish from Kerala- tapioca. Since I couldn't get hold of fresh tapioca, I had to make do with the frozen one. Its not that bad, but if you get fresh ones, that's the best.
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The husband loves it to no end, but not in the mashed sort of way, just boiled and served with some spicy onion-chilli chutney. I on the other hand, am not that big a fan of it, but if I do have it, I prefer the mashed one with coconut and such, served with some spicy curry. This prep. is new to me, and since it is very close to the one I prefer, i loved it. I paired it with a fish curry and dinner was sorted. Thanks Nags for the simple, but tasty recipe. 

Recipe adapted from Edible Garden (serves 2)
Tapioca- 500 gms
Garlic- 5 to 6 cloves
Dry red chillies- 2
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves- a sprig
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
Oil- 1 tbsp
Salt- to taste
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Cook the tapioca till tender. A fork should easily cut through. I pressure cook it with some water for about 10 to 12 minutes. Lightly break/ mash the pieces. (Not too smooth like mashed potato though)
In the mean time, coarsely grind the garlic and red chillies in a spice grinder or with a pestle and mortar.
Heat the oil in a kadai and splutter mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Add the ground mix along with turmeric and cook for a couple of minutes, for the raw taste to disappear.
Tip in the cooked tapioca and enough salt, stir it all together and cook for a couple more minutes, just to heat through the tapioca.
Take it off the heat and serve with your favourite curry or chutney

20 comments:

Sarah said...

absolutely love the pics - the dark background, the bright yellow kappa, the bright orange fish curry on the side!!!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful shots Nisha :) and I had my eyes on your kappa bowl... looking to see more mallu dishes

Akila said...

Bookmarked... Simply awesome clicks

great-secret-of-life said...

nice stir fry.. looks great!

virunthu unna vaanga said...

very very delicious masala dear...

Anonymous said...

Love the props, presentation and the picture!! I wish i could grab that bowl right off the screen..too tempting:) I wanted to participate in the kappa challenge but dint get kappa when i went to indian store the last time :(

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Delicious and healthy tapioca masala.
Deepa

Subhie Arun said...

lovely pic...my alll time fav!!!

Raksha said...

Had this in Kerala once. Good one.
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amna said...

ahh.. in my books, nothing beats this combination. btw, i have the same bharani in my kitchen too :)

Unknown said...

Hmmm delicious:)

Swathi said...

Looks adipoli kappa masala.

KrithisKitchen said...

Beautiful pics! Miss these delicacies here...

Priya Suresh said...

Nothing beats this combo, wat a beautiful dish,makes me drool..kappa Masala is my weakness.

divya said...

Looks fab ....so yum and beautiful

Unknown said...

Lovely pictures, a dish very new to me!

Unknown said...

Yummo. I love a good mallu recipe and we must catch-up properly. I'd like to know where you source ingredients from, its a mission where we live. Ann x

http://www.quirkylifestyle.com/

Hari Chandana P said...

Wowww.. very very beautiful shots.. looks simply amazing.. great job dear :)

Rafeeda AR said...

absolutely gorgeous pictures... yummy kappa...

Vineetha Sush said...

adipoli pics Nisha..I too ate kappa masala with fish :)Btw did u bring that bharani all the way from India ??