Unakka/Onakka Chemmeen Chammanthi (Dried Shrimp Chutney)
Mezhukkupuratti, a Kerala specialty, involves stir-frying vegetables with garlic, onions, or shallots along with an array of spices. Typically, this dish features vegetables such as koorka (Chinese potato), raw banana (vazhakka/kaya), elephant foot yam (chena), bittergourd (pavakka), chakka kuru (jackfruit seeds), and yardlong beans (payar). While these are the traditional choices, any locally available vegetable can be used to create this versatile stir-fry.
Ingredients
- 2 med – big Potato (cubed)
- 2 big Raw Banana (pacha kaya) (cubed)
- 3/4 – 1 cup small onion (sliced (I used around 20))
- 2 – 2.5 tsp Garlic (minced/crushed)
- 1.5 – 2 tsp Chilli powder
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp Fennel powder
- 1/4 tsp Garam masala
- 1/4 cup Water
- 1/4 tsp Mustard
- Coconut oil
- Salt
- Curry leaves
Instructions
- Cut the cleaned potatoes and raw bananas into bite size cubes. Cook potato and kaya separately, with salt. Keep it aside. Make sure that you do not overcook them.
- Heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard. Add sliced small onions, salt and curry leaves. Fry till the onions start changing the colour. Add crushed/minced garlic and cook for 2-3 mins. Add the masala powders and fry till the oil starts appearing, around 2-3 mins.
- Add water to the masala and let it boil. Reduce the flame and add cooked potato and kaya and mix well. Make sure that you mix it gently, taking care not to mash it. Add a little more oil and continue to cook on low flame for 5-10 more mins. Drizzle some oil in between, if it appears to be dry.
Notes
I used kaya without skin. If you like, you can use it with skin also. Do not substitute the small onions with the big ones, it will affect the taste. I added more garlic, because I think it gives more punch to this dish. However, if you don’t like the garlicky taste, adjust the qty accordingly. I suggest using coconut oil itself for the flavour. Also, make sure that the potatoes and kaya isn’t overcooked.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!