Sura Meen Puttu / Shark Puttu

In English: Milk Shark fish

How to select Shark fish from Market:

• Fish gills should be bright red in colour.
• Press/poke the fish gently, it should not be soft and sticky. 
• Fish eyes should be bright and clear.

Health benefits:

•  Pal Sura is believed to be a good dish for nursing mothers, as it is rich in proteins and nutritious elements. 

Sura puttu is a easy and healthy dish to prepare. It is my son's all time favourite fish dish. He prefer puttu because it is less spicy, soft and easy to eat without bones. He mixes sura puttu with white rice and calls it fish fried rice. 

Ingredients:

• Sura (Shark) - 500gms
• Onion - 10 (medium size)
• Green chilli - 5
• Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp
• Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
• Ginger Garlic paste - small lemon size
• Coriander leaves
• Curry leaves

Method:

1. Wash and clean the sura meen. 

    Here I am using fish fillets. you can also use sliced fish. 

2. In a pan, pour water till the sura is immersed. Add turmeric and salt. Boil for 10-15 mins. 

2. Drain the water and allow it to cool.  

3. Meanwhile you can chop the onions, green chilli and coriander leaves.

4. Peel the skin from the meat, incase you are using sliced fish.

5. Squeeze the excess water and scramble the meat using your finger.

6. In a basin/pan add scrambled fish, chopped onions, chopped green chillies,  chopped coriander leaves, curry leaves, chilli powder, coriander powder, ginger garlic paste, salt to taste.

 (note: you have already added salt while boiling the fish, add little salt). 

7. Mix properly till all the ingredients mixes well with the fish.

8. Heat the oil in the pan or kadai. Add the sura meen mix.  Don't add water

9. Keep flipping the mixture for every 5 mins. 

    In this step, you can add beaten egg to this mixture. (optional). 

10. More you fry, the colour changes and you get crispy Sura puttu. 

Sura puttu is ready👍
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Kovakkai Fry

Kovakkai fry / Thondekai fry / Dondakaya fry/vepudu 

In English: Ivy Gourd/Coccinia grandis

How to select Ivy gourd from Market:

Go for long and firm ones. Soft ivy gourd are ripped ones, seeds will be red inside. 

Health benefits:

• Rich in B Vitamins helps smooth functioning of brain and nervous system.
• Has anti-oxidants including high amount of Vitamin C and beta-carotene which prevents cancer. 
• It is a very good food for diabetic person, it reduces blood sugar level. 

Kovakkai fry is my son's favourite sidedish.  I tried different recipes with kovakkai but he likes this. It goes well with curd rice. You can add onion, grated coconut if required. My son keeps separating visible onions in all the dishes, onions omitted😀  in this recipe.  

Ingredients:

• Kovakkai - 500gms
• onion - 1 (optional)
• Grated coconut (optional)
• Red chilli powder - 1 1/2 tsp 
• coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
• turmeric - 1 pinch

Method:

1. Chop the Kovakkai in round shape. 

2. In a bowl add sliced kovakkai , Red chilli powder, Turmeric and salt. 

3. Mix properly till chilli powder, salt, turmeric powder mixes well with kovakkai.

4. Heat the oil in the pan or kadai. Add the kovakkai mix. 

(you can add mustard, urad dhal, chopped onions, red chilli here, before adding the kovakkai mix)

Don't add water, it will make kovakkai mushy.  

5. Cook for 4-5 mins with the lid in medium flame.

6. Remove the lid, keep flipping the mixture for every 5 mins. More you fry, you get crispy kovakkai. 

Kovakkai fry is ready 👍

Thanks for visiting my blog.