Calimari / Kunthal / Kanava / Squid roast | Kukskitchen

Kanava (കണവ ) , also called squid / calamari / cuttle fish / കൂന്തൽ  is a delicacy of north kerala.  I make a variety of preparations using kanava. The one below is by far the best tasting recipe 

Prawn ularthu: the syrian christian style - featuring coconut cuts and Gambooge | Kukskitchen

Going to Kerala, my home town, is most existing especially for the yummy home (mum) cooked food we get to eat. My mum always asks me for a list of things I want to eat in advance. My list always always always includes her prawn ularthu with coconut cuts. Ethra thinnalum mathi varilla.





In uk I try to recreate that culinary experience using raw tiger prawns, frozen coconut cuts and kudampuli (Gambooge - wiki yude kripa :] ) brought from Kerala during our last visit.

A step-by-step visual guide about how to clean mussels | Kukskitchen

Kallumekka is a household favourite. It is my hubbie's one of top-liked-foods. The mussels I get in UK donot taste anyway close to the kerala-born ones, but I do try to make them as yummy as possible. Today I intend to give a step-by-step visual guide to preparing them.


Here u go!

How to prepare mussels

I frequently buy frozen mussels as they store better. Again, I don't then have to click open the hard shell.

What u need

Frozen mussels

Hot water from kettle

Kitchen scissors

A bit about its anatomy!

Step 1

Slip ur frozen mussels in to a pot with hot boiled water from a kettle. Leave them for 5-10 minutes.

Step 2

Pick up mussels one by one and start cleaning them.

Step 3

Aim of this step is to remove the byssal threads. On one side of the mussel it opens up like a book. Look there to find a mustache- like part which is its byssal thread. Pull it with medium strength till it comes out.

Step 4

Aim of this step is to remove the intestines. At the joint of the 'book' on one end of the mussel are the intestines. They look a grey-black colour under the thin body of mussel. Use a pair of scissors or if u r brave enough use ur nails to flick it out.

Step 5

Give them a wash and ur mussels are ready to go in the pan.



Watch this space for yummy mussel fry!

Cheers

Sherin