Vellarikka Pachadi

Vellarikka Pachadi

A tasty side dish with rice in Kerala Cuisine !!! Creamy too !!!!

Serves : 3

Ingredients

200 g vellarikka / yellow color cucumber / mogge (peel off the skin, remove seeds, wash and cut into cubes - net weight 160 g)
100 ml (1/2 cup / 4 oz ) water
1 green chilli, slit lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon salt

For coconut paste:

50 g (3 tablespoon) grated coconut
1 green chilli
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

Make a smooth paste of above ingredients with water (except mustard seeds. Add mustard seeds finally) in a mixer. Keep aside.

Other ingredients

100 ml thick curd, blend well

For seasoning:

1 teaspoon oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 spring curry leaves
1 dried red chilli, broken

Method

In a bowl, mix 100 ml water with cucumber pieces, slit green chilli and salt. Cover with a lid and cook on a low to medium heat for 10 - 12 minutes or until 3/4 done and softens.

Add coconut paste, mix well (do not add extra water) and cook on a very low heat for 5 minutes. Switch off the heat. Keep aside to cool for 20 minutes.

Finally add thick blended curd (thick and blended curd will make a creamy pachadi). Stir gently.

For seasoning:

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. When they crackle, add curry leaves and broken red chilli. Stir well for 2 - 3 minutes or until crisp. Pour the seasoning over creamy vellarikka pachadi.

Serve as a side dish with rice.