5 ways with the tropical czar - Coconut

Ingredients

» 3 measures dark rum
» 3 tbsp coconut milk
» 3 tbsp crushed pineapple

Method:

Place the ingredients in a blender. Add two cups of crushed ice and blend at high speed for 30 seconds. Strain into a tall tumbler and serve immediately.

Ingredients

» ½ coconut, grated
» ½tsp mustard
» 1tsp split urad dal
» 1tsp Bengal gram dal
» 2 dried chillies, broken
» 2 cups cooked rice
» Curry leaves
» Salt to taste
» 2tbsp oil

Method:

Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds and when they begin to splutter, add the two dals, red chillies, curry leaves and fry for a minute. Add the coconut and salt and fry till the coconut turns golden brown. Add the cooked rice and mix well.

Ingredients

» ½ kg mixed vegetables cut into 1 ½ ” lengths
» 6 - 8 green chillies
» 1 cup fresh coconut, grated
» ½ tsp cumin seeds (or jeera)
» ½ cup curd
» ¼ tsp turmeric
» 2tbsp coconut oil
» Salt to taste
» A few curry leaves

Method:

Coarsely grind the coconut, green chillies and cumin. Keep aside. Cook the cut vegetables with a little salt and turmeric in water till just done. Mix the coconut mixture in curd and add to the vegetables. Bring to simmer. Add hot coconut oil to which curry leaves have been added and season.

Ingredients

» 500 g prawns, deveined
» 1 onion, finely sliced
» 3 - 4 green chillies, slit
» 2” piece ginger, finely julienned
» 1 small tomato, diced
» 1 tsp turmeric
» ½ tsp coriander powder
» 1 handful mint, finely chopped
» 3 cups coconut milk
» 2 tbsp oil
» 1” cinnamon

Method:

Heat oil in an urli or wide vessel. Add the cinnamon, onions and fry till the onions turn pink. Add the ginger, green chillies and fry for a minute. Add the turmeric and tomato and fry till it turns soft. Add the mint and prawn and fry for 5 - 6 minutes till the prawns are cooked. Add 2 cups of coconut milk and once the mixture comes to a boil, let it simmer for 5 - 6 minutes for the flavours to come together. Add the final cup of coconut milk at this stage and bring to a boil. Season to taste and garnish with a little coriander.

Variation:

» Egg Molee : Omit the prawns and prepare the molee, add the boiled egg, cut in half.
» Fish Molee : Substitute the prawn with fish - Pomfret fish gives the best flavour.
» Veg Molee : Omit the prawns. Add pre boiled vegetables like cauliflower, potato, carrot, baby corn, peas.

Ingredients

» 1½ cup flour
» 1½ tsp baking powder
» ½ tsp soda
» ½ cup sugar
» 1 cup coconut, grated
» 1 tsp orange rind, grated
» 2 eggs
» 4 tbsp butter, melted
» 1 tsp vanilla
» ¼ cup white wine
» ⅔ cup buttermilk
» 10 - 12 almonds, chopped

Method:

Sift together flour, baking powder, soda & sugar. Add the grated coconut and orange rind. In another bowl, whisk the eggs with melted butter, vanilla, white wine and buttermilk. Combine with all the dry ingredients, until well blended. (Do not beat or mix too much). Spoon into greased muffin tins topped with chopped almonds. Bake at 400⁰F for 15 - 20 minutes until the muffins are golden.