Kerala Style Vellarikka Pachadi / Cucumber Pachadi / Kerala Sadya Special

Vellarikka / Cucumber pachadi is a very simple dish prepared with cucumber, coconut and yogurt. It is one of the many important dishes in the Onam Sadya. It is usually served as an accompaniment for rice.

Ingredients:

Cucumber (vellarikka) -  2 cup.(finely chopped)

Curd/Yogurt –  1/2 cup.

Mustard seeds - - 1/2 to 1 tsp

Whole red chilly – 2 nos.

Coconut oil -2 tsp.

Curry leaves

For grinding

Grated coconut -1/2 cup.

Mustard seeds-1 tsp.

Green chillies – 2 nos

Cumin seeds- ½ tsp.

Salt to taste

Water as per required

Method:

Remove the skin from the cucumber (vellarikka) and cut into small pieces. Cook the cucumber with little water along with salt.

Grind together coconut, cumin seeds mustard seeds and green chilies. Once the cucumber pieces are cooked, add the ground coconut paste. Continue cooking in low flame for another 3 -5 minutes. Remove from the flame, allow it cool. Now add the curd, stir well and keep it aside.

Heat oil in a small frying pan, splutter mustard seeds, sauté dry red chillies and curry leaves for a few minutes. Pour this over the vellarikka pachadi.

Serve with rice.