Raw cashew curry recipe

Last week just happened to drop in one of the Mangalore stores in the city. They usually store and sell goodies which are popular in the Konkan belt. This store serves buns, goli bajji, pathrode etc. So while we were browsing through the snacks, sweets and savouries we spotted a pack of raw cashews. I have heard about raw cashew curry from a class mate of mine during my college years. Asked few tips from the store keeper as to how to wash and clean those cashews. Further I checked with my friend for the recipe. She was delighted to know that I still remember the curry after so many years. I happened to find a recipe on the internet too. But thought of going ahead with my friend’s recipe.

Hence the recipe follows

Ingredients

Raw cashew – 200 gm

Shallots – 1 cup (3/4 cup +1/4 cup)

Ginger – 1 inch

Grated coconut – 1 cup

Curry leaves

Turmeric powder – ½ tsp.

Coriander powder – 3 tsp.

Chilli powder – 1 tsp.

Fenugreek seeds – ¼ tsp.

Cumin seeds – ¼ tsp.

Fennel seeds – ¼ tsp.

For seasoning

Shallots

Mustard

Red chillies

Curry eaves

Method

• The raw cashews will have a brown outer skin, so soak these cashews in hot water and after sometime peel off the skin, wash it thoroughly a couple of times and keep aside.
• Now take a kadai or a thick bottom vessel, add few spoons of oil. When the oil is hot add chopped ginger, ¾ cup ofshallots and curry leaves and sauté until the shallots turns to a pale colour. Add the grated coconut and all the spices and keep stirring until the mixture turns dark brown in colour. Please be careful not to burn the mixture at this stage.
• Transfer this mixture into a grinder and once cooled grind the mixture to a fine paste adding required amount of water.
• Now take a thick bottom vessel and pour this mixture into it and add sufficient water to adjust the consistency of the gravy. Add the washed raw cashews at this stage and also add salt.
• Let it come to boil and let the cashews cook for about 15- 20 mins.
• Once done remove from the stove.
• Now take another pan and keep it on the stove and add oil, splutter mustard seeds, dried red chillies, curry leaves and ¼ cup of finely chopped shallots. Pour it over the curry and it’s done.
• This curry can be served with rice, chappathi, appams etc

Note: you could also do the seasoning first as then pour the gravy paste and cashews and cook. 

Pickled Strawberries recipe

Some fresh strawberries have been lying in my fridge for the past few days and it had become  not so fresh anymore…jam and milkshakes have been in my mind but I dint want to make those. Cakes, cookies, scones too went thru my mind, dint want to do that either.

All of a sudden thought of pickling it … has no idea how that spark came in. I was quite uncertain about the outcome too... But yet just gave it a try. I must say I am digging the berries from the jar whenever I pass by.

And the best thing there is no added sugar, efforts or any other frills attached. Simply chop add salt, sugar, green chillies and few spoons of vinegar.

Now the recipe looks like this

Strawberries (cut into 4 ) – 250 gms

Water

Salt and sugar – as per taste

Vinegar – 1-2 tbsp. (depending on the sourness of the strawberries)

Green chillies – 2-3 (finely chopped)

Method

Take a clean glass jar and fill in with the chopped strawberries. Add the salt, sugar and chopped green chillies and shake the bottle. Add water just above the level of the berries. Add the vinegar too.

Shake again and leave it aside.
Let it sit for few hours and then enjoy nonstop 

Note: You may reduce the heat by reducing the number of green chillies you use 

Thanks and regards

Chaithanya