Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Unakka Chemmeen Mulakkittathu

This post just happened out of the blue on a lazy morning while we were casually watching TV and came across this cookery show " Taste of Kerala " in which the host travels to different homes trying out some locale specialty. Just looking at this recipe we were drooling so much that our trial happened the same afternoon. Though this recipe is very spicy, it brings a blissful worth in every spoon.

Prep time: Approx 20 mins
Ingredients

Dried shrimp/ Onakka Chemmeen : 1 cup
Pearl onions/Shallots (finely sliced or crushed): 3/4 cup
Dried red chillies (crushed): 20 or 1/3 cup
Garlic: 2 pods
Curry leaves: plenty
Coconut oil: 3-4 tablespoons
* We bought the dried baby shrimp which is commonly available at the Asian food store.
* If you are using slightly bigger shrimp, its recommended to remove the head and tail. But if you do the same with the baby ones, there will be nothing left to eat.
* Instead of crushing dried red chillies, you could alternatively use chilli flakes.
* Also be careful while adding salt since these dried shrimp are already very salted.
* We know the smell while frying these dried shrimp can taunt you, but trust us its absolutely worth all the discomfort. So another tip is to open the windows and doors before you start to make this.

Take a deep pan, preferably a chatti (earthen pot) and heat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil on a medium flame. Add the dried shrimp and saute until its roasted well (almost golden). Remove it from the chatti and keep aside. In the same chatti pour the remaining oil and fry the crushed garlic and sliced shallots well. Add the curry leaves. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and saute well until the onions start to get translucent. Now add the crushed chillies and saute well. Excuse all the coughing & sneezing with the chilli flakes. Finally, add the fried shrimp to this mixture and keep sauteing continuously for about 10 mins until all the flavors incorporate well.

Serve it hot with steaming rice or kanji (rice porridge). Or like the host suggested its a great accompaniment for a "thanni party".

38 comments:

  1. Wow..you have made me drool with this beautiful dish. Looks awesome.I am sure this will be an excellent accompaniment to rice or porridge.

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  2. OMG...Hey girls..Hmm we love that show...TASTE OF KERALA by Raj Kalesh alle

    Onakkachemmen mulakkittatinte manam njangalke evide vare adikunund..KOLLAM..lunch kazhije ullu..ennalum ethum koodi kootiyathinte oru effect ay...

    Love
    Kairali sisters

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  3. Beautiful and tempting dish and really worth to try...mouthwatering..

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  4. Oh boy lovely and tempting am drooling now!!! Simple to make... how do they taste with the fresh ones??? Anyways am gonna try getting some dried shrimps to try this!!!

    http://memoryarchieved.blogspot.com

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  5. this is really a drool worth recipe..its been a while I've made the smaller shrimps !!

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  6. Kanditte kothiyavunnu..so tempting...

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  7. vayil vellam varunnu...My mom makes it, but without garlic...

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  8. Oh my dear that's so tempting dishh..looks so mouth-wateerring:)

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  9. wow, such a unique recipe with dried shrimps.. I have never used dried shrimps before.. but I'll be on lookout next time I visit our asian store.

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  10. Goodness.. i think my laptop has sunk..i m drooling here and cant control it :)...
    awesome da :)....

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  11. looks yummy and delicious...nice combo with kanji

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  12. even my mom prepares a similar one ! Looks awesome and I know it tastes much better :)

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  13. Ithu mathram mathiyallooooo chorunnan....Kothi varunne...

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  14. great suggestion for thanni party, hihhihih

    just looking at the pictures make me mouthwater, must have tasted great , miam, miam, delicious!!!

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  15. That is a nice find... looks great!

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  16. I am not a big fan of fish in any form..i know i know..im a disgrace to the mallu's..but my husband will so totally love this, im sure.. :)

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  17. drooling.. can i have some of that awesome looking chammandi? great going girls.

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  18. Ende amme...kothiyavunnu....even I happen to see this episode on amrita, unfortunately I had no chemmeen to try it :(.

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  19. Absolutely delicious.
    I know exactly what you mean when you said you tried it out the very same afternoon. I will be on may to get some dried shrimp.

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  20. Looks awesome.Never have tried Kerala cooking...this is a must try

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  21. oh my god..unakkachemmen is my favourite and Taste of kerala used to my favourite programme..But after coming here(U.K)really missing that programme...The achor is so good and he makes us drool by the way he present :)Pls do post the good recipes from that programme..

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  22. What an awesome curry with dried shrimps...looks so colorful and yummy...I have got to try this :)

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  23. thats a great curry.looks so colourful. whats a thanni party? and please share kanji recipe. Doc says thats good for kids.

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  24. @ A Homemakers diary. Thanni party means like an alcohol/drink session for the men..very typical mallu slang. Yes sure, we shall post the kanji recipe soon.

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  25. ithu veettil amma undakkarundu...
    ...mmmmmm....deliciaso...yum yum yum yum yum....

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  26. Though I am a vegetarian, I can very well imagine how this would be tasting :)

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  27. Hope u both r doing good..:) I missed many of your posts, with try to catch up soon. Adipoli recipe!kanumbol thane ariyam athunde taste !!YUM

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  28. woww..awesome..unakkachemmeen ente favorite aanu..:)but we make in different way.. :)thanks for visiting my blog..and sorry for the delay i made to visit urs..24*7 is nt enough for me..my baby is just 39days old..so busy with her.. :) buti will try to come when i check mine.. :)

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  29. ente vaayil kappal odikkanulla vellam undu...Great recipe gals !!!

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  30. vishwasikkumenkil oru karyam parayam , i had the same curry for lunch today, yumm yumm.i have an award waiting for you, pls visit my blog and collect it.

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  31. Gals, i tried this recipe today and came out well. Thank you so much for sharing..:).ethum chorum, parippu curryumanu combi..keep going!!!!!!

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  32. Ayyo.........e Uchha nerathu Kothippichhu Kazhanjallo? Nice Snaps too!!!

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