Monday, July 13, 2009

Athai's Special - Cauliflower Fry


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What is it about villages that is so intoxicating? DD remembered that she had a great time there the last time, DD2 was all enthusiastic though I doubt she had any recollection of the previous visit. I was looking forward to spending time with grandma and reliving some fond memories and watching delicacies being created in the kitchen.

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Cauvery river

Like I have mentioned many times before my forefathers till recently (just before my parent's generation) were all farmers. I am not really sure if am happy that my parents chose to get themselves educated and leave the village but whom am I to say that! DD and DD2 found several things to do, the swaying coconut trees, the green banana plants, the water filled canals called big canal and small canal - benefiting from water that has just been released in the Kalingarayan canal which is the lifeblood of farmers in the region.

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parisal - not sure of the English name

The monsoon this year has not arrived yet and everything looks so parched. The once mighty Cauvery river looks forlorn. But the small boats (parisal) that ply that ferry passengers from one shore to another is still in service. The kids had fun taking a private ride and looking for shells.

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a very old railroad crossing sign


Just walking around the fields, taking a walk to the river, plucking the last few mangoes from the lone mango tree that still held fruit are just some of the activities that kept them busy. But time flies and there is so much to do with the freedom that is not available while living in a city.

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mixed with spices

Even in this seemingly idyllic place there are tensions that simmer just under the surface. Like in any village everybody knows everybody else but that does not mean there is no conflicts and jealousies. I will reserve the story for a later date -would make a great situation for a village themed Bharathiraja movie.

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being fried

In the kitchen delicacies were made for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most days we are too full to even attempt dinner. Whenever there are guests my ammayee never fails to make paal kari kuzhambu and ghee roast to go with it. After a hearty breakfast like this one it is hard to keep your eyes open leave aside working up a healthy appetite for lunch but come lunch time it usually is not hard to be ready, my athai (mom's brother's wife) insisted on making some cauliflower fry which DD2 relished on a trip to eat a restaurant once and probably still is famous in and around Coimbatore for quick everyday food - Annapoorana anyone?. When we were in college this was one of the handful of restaurants found around the city and two of us could comfortably eat within Rs.10 but these days Rs.10 won't take you far. Well now, the scene is far more crowded along with a choice of cuisines to pick.

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Ready to eat



Cauliflower fry
Ingredients
1. 1 head of cauliflower (about 3 cups of florets) cut into florets with the stem about 1 1/2 inches
2. 1 tbsp chili powder
3. juice from half a lemon
4. 1/2 tbsp corn flower
5. 1 tbsp ginger, garlic paste
6. 1/2 tsp red food coloring (optional)
7. salt to taste
8. Oil for deep frying

Method
1. Heat a sauce pan of water (enough to soak the cauliflower florets) till boiling, remove from heat and let the cauliflower sit in the water for about 10 minutes. Important that the cauliflower be not more than half cooked for the fry to be crispy.
2. Completely drain the water and mix in the ingredients 2-7 and toss till all the flowers are well coated.
3. In a sauce pan or kadai heat oil and fry the cauliflower in batches.
4. Drain and eat immediately (it is hard to resist anyway)

23 comments:

  1. never tried deep frying cauliflower, looks crispy and delicious! lovely clicks!

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  2. Love the clicks of your place. I have lived most part in cities and not been to any village. I have a long desire to visit and stay in a place like this. You make me jealous.
    Cauliflower looks nice and crispy. The cauliflower you get there is much crispy when compared to the ones we get here.

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  3. Sounds delightful! Glad youire having a great time and the kids too. Fry looks great!

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  4. Parisal is called a coracle in English, Indo. I read about bobbing coracles in a poem and went looking for it and found that it was our very own parisal.

    I'm vicariously living through your Indian trips. Bring them on! The village pictures are so serene as if they are not polluted (figuratively speaking!) in any way.

    Annapoorna, yes!!! yummy food there, eh! Your posts reminds me of the cauliflower roast (as in cauliflower roast dosa) and I'm drooling already!

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  5. Adi aathi! Enakku poraamaiya irukku! Sounds so much like my native. Have a blast enjoying amayee's cooking! :)

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  6. No wonder the kids love this -- it looks sooo tasty! :) Thank you for sharing these glimpses of home... the photos are beautiful. Will send rain! :)

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  7. Lovely village pictures ....the cauliflower fry looks inviting !

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  8. I love this version and have bought the readymade mix powders that one has to mix with cauliflower a few times. Nowadays however i make this at home - such an inviting and tempting picture.

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  9. wow..the cauliflower fry looks delicious...glad that you and your kids are having fun...

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  10. Great snack. love the color!

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  11. You are so fortunate to be able to take the kids to this part of India.

    This is one great dish:-) for my next party.. great pick ups!

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  12. Delicious looking cauliflower fry indo...glad to see these records of your trip..:)

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  13. Annapoorna's cauliflower roast memories..and of folks standing right next to you for you finish is what i remember. This Canal is near erode right?

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  14. These pictures makes me nostalgic.I remember fishing using a towel in a small canal near my grandpa's thottam.My grandpa never allowed us to go to Kalingarayan vaikkal.Those plantains, breeze from coconut trees....wow...those are the good old days.Even my mom prepares the same fry, i wish i can go home soon.

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  15. Wow seeing the clicks really feel like going to the place .cauliflower is looking nice and crispy..I love it tempting,

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  16. Looks divine - the food and setting! Makes me want to go home...

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  17. Indo, I want to sit in the banks and eat those cripy cuties the whole day. Enjoy to your heart's fill.

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  18. This is my first time here..I fell in love with the photos which took me back to my native place...Beautiful pics!We used to eat in plaintain leaf at my grand parents'.The Villages have a fresh unpolluted air...

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  19. Lovely pics....beautiful ones.Cauliflower looks so wonderful.

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  20. I am very familiar with Annapoorna and everything else you talk about the Kongu region. I am from Coimbatore and grew up eating Kollu paruppu and parppu satham caulifolower fry and many others that you write about. I visit your blog often and reminds me of home a lot! Any ammayee or amichi's home is for ever a special place.

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  21. Indo,
    I was in CBE just 2 weeks ago and our relatives served us this very dish with coffee as an evening snack. It was yummy! Yes, I got to try Annapoorna (never been there before) and no wonder it's always crowded.

    Mamatha

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  22. Indo..I lived around Pollachi, Coimbatore and when i read your posts, I get back to all fond memories. Kollu paruppu was always reserved for a rainy day! Loved your pictures!! I miss!!!

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  23. Hi ISG, Liked your photographs - the rustic images you have captured. I am sure it must be very reviving to the spirits to stay in a place such as this. The recipe looks yumm and something to be enjoyed in village rains :). Cheers!

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