Ka(a)lan Recipe

Kalan or Kaalan as it is commonly called is also known as kurukku kalan mean without loose gravy . Kalan is made making use of curds and vegetables like unripe Banana or Yam .This is one of the essential preparations for Onam. Let us see how it is  prepared.

Ingredients:

1. Raw banana   2 Nos. Or Yam 300 G.M.

2. Grinded Coconut    ¼ cup
3-Green chilly   3
4-Pepper powder  ¼ teaspoon
5-Turmeric powder  ½ teaspoon
6-Cumin powder  ¼ teaspoon

7.coconut oil- 1 tablespoon
8-Mustard seed  1 teaspoon
9-Curry leaves   1 stem

10. Thick Curd   1 cup.

Salt     As per taste

Remove the outer skin of  Banana or of the Yam as the case may be and  cut them into medium sized pieces. Cook well the same in a presure cooker with adequate salt . The cooked vegetable need to be mixed properly with the grinded items mentioned at item 2 to 6 and boil the mixture by adding the curd . While you boil second time stir the mixture continueously . Care need to be taken not to make the vegetable get over cooked .Boil the mustard seed in the oil with spices like curry leaves and add the same to the mixture . Let the preparation cool down and serve . Kaalan is not served very hot and this is a preparation that  has a shelf life of a week. The curry is so tasty that no Onam festival could  be complete without Kaalan along with the main meal of Onam days . This curry can also be served with Rotis and Chappathis.