Memories…powerful little miracles that take us back in time, a kind of mental time travel bringing in vivid details of the joyful past. Reminiscing about happy memories with a loved one can be a great tool of comfort and provides a sense of connection and closeness, even after they are gone. September 4th a day that quietly floods my mind with memories about Appa….
An Air Force man with a strong sense of discipline who wanted his daughters to excel in paths untrodden. A strong believer of simplicity and minimalistic living, there were days when I would feel guilty of loading my wardrobe with sarees though he would never force his ideas on any of us. My mother now says “you are becoming like him”…has age made the difference or is it in the genes? Home-cooked food was always his preference and he was very particular that it had to be cooked by my mother.
Country vegetables were his choice and unusual recipes such as orange peel kuzhambu and agathi stir fry were his favorite. Bitter gourd and Green leafy vegetables had to feature frequently and deep fry’s and plate waste was loathed. When I spotted the spiny gourd in the market my thoughts went to him. Pazhupavakkai as it’s known in Tamizh this belongs to the bitter gourd family but the bitterness is faint.
PAZHUPAVAKKAI FRY / AKKAKARAKAYA MASALA RECIPE
Ingredients for Pazhupavakkai Fry:
- PAZHUPAVAKKAI 250 G
- Garlic (optional) 4 pods
- Onions chopped fine 1 medium
- Coconut slivers 2n-3
- Roasted ground nut 2 tbsp
- Chilly powder 1 tsp
- Salt as required
- Oil 2 tbsp
- Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Preparation Method for Pazhupavakkai Fry:
- Slice the vegetable thin.
- Grind garlic, coconut, ground nuts and chilly powder into a coarse powder.
- Take a heavy bottomed pan ,add oil ,splutter mustard seeds.
- Add the sliced pazhupavakkai. Cook on low flame with intermittent stirring. Cover the pan with a lid for quick cooking. Once well cooked, add salt and the ground powder. Mix well and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Remove and serve. Goes well with sambhar, rasam and curd rice.
Pazhupavakkai Fry Preparation Video:
