Vellarikka (Yellow cucumber) Kichadi

Ingredients (Serves 4)

1. Vellarikka / yellow cucumber – 1 small, peeled, seeded and chopped

Green chilly – 1 – 2, chopped

Curry leaves – A few

Water – 1/4 cup

2. Mustard seeds, crushed – 1/4 tsp

3. Yoghurt – 1/2 – 3/4 cup

4. Salt – To taste

5. Coconut oil – 2 tsp

6. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp

Dried red chilly – 1, broken

Curry leaves – A few

Pearl onion – 1, thinly sliced

Method

1. Cook all the ingredients numbered 1 in a small vessel. When vellarikka is done and water is almost evaporated, switch off. Add crushed mustard seeds and mix well. Set aside until it turns warm. When warm, add yoghurt and salt, to taste.

2. Heat coconut oil in a small pan. Splutter mustard seeds and fry dried red chilies, curry leaves and sliced pearl onion. Fry until pearl onion turns golden brown. Pour over the kichadi. Serve warm. We had it with rice, pappadam and prawn-potato thoran.