Pineapple Pulissery

Happy Onam to all readers who celebrate. May there be good health, peace, joy, and plenty in all your homes. Enjoy the day with your loved ones and with an extensive Onam Sadya!

Here is an unusual recipe in time for the Onam Sadya. Pulissery or Moru Kuzhambu is a staple dish in a Malayalee menu. Usually made with vegetables boiled and then simmered in a spicy coconut and curd paste, this Pulissery uses pineapple as the ‘vegetable’. The fruit gives the dish a unique flavour and a welcome tartness. Whether you celebrate Onam or not, this Pulissery will lift your meal to a gourmet level. So go ahead, and cook it up at your homes too.

ALLERGY INFORMATION

• Does NOT contain gluten, soya, eggs.
• Contains coconut. People with nut allergy usually tolerate coconut.
• Contains yogurt/curd. Usually tolerated by people with lactose intolerance.

YOU NEED

COOKWARE – Small fry pan/tadka pan, mixer grinder, Pressure cooker.

INGREDIENTS

1. 1 cup chopped pineapple
2. 1 cup sour thick curd or 2 cups buttermilk
3. 1/4 cup fresh grated coconut
4. 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
5. 4 red chillies
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 2 tablespoon powdered jaggery
8. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

For Tempering -

1. 1 teaspoon coconut oil
2. 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
3. 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
4. 1 red chilli
5. 7-8 curry leaves, torn up

METHOD -

1. Place chopped pineapple, salt, turmeric powder, and jaggery in pressure cooker, add half cup water and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
2. Fry 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds and 4 red chillies in 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil. Fry on medium flame until just fragrant. Grind this with fresh grated coconut to smooth paste using water/buttermilk/curd.
3. Mix the ground paste, cooked pineapple, curd/buttermilk and stir over medium heat. Remove from flame as soon as the mixture begins to boil. Do not leave it unattended or over high flame.
4. Add coconut oil to fry pan, add tempering ingredients to it, and pour sizzling hot over the moru kuzhambu/pulissery. Cover with a tight fitting lid and let the flavours develop.
5. Serve with steamed rice and a thoran. Crispy papads are welcome too!

 

Above Ground Levell Lounge –Departure Lounge

The Above Ground Levell Lounge at Domestic and International Departure Terminals of Bangalore International Airport have been conceived to provide travellers a complete relaxed experience while at the airport. Currently operational in Bangalore airport, this is the first foray of the Bird Group into airport lounges.

I was invited to review the Lounge at the Domestic Departure Terminal. Here is what I saw and experienced.

Key features of the Above Ground Levell Lounge are -

At the mezzanine floor, look out for it’s entry at the fag end of the departure hall.

Offers a refreshing experience. Accessible to both special card holders as well as having a Pay and use option. Guests can purchase plans as per need. For eg., choose between simple refreshments or a full meal option. Guests can then avail of the lounge’s facilities which include food and a fully equipped business centre, charging stations as well. I noticed the Flight Information Display Systems at vantage points in the lounge.

The lounge has a very roomy feel, since it is spread over 13,000 square feet with 250 seats at the domestic terminal. This vast space is intelligently divided into zones that also merge into each other seamlessly - the coffee shop, the bar and the dining area. The interiors are done up tastefully incorporating traditional motifs from Hampi. I especially liked the idea of Rangoli designs on the plush carpeting. Tree pods add to the ‘Green Bangalore’ feel apart from offering privacy to different sections of the vast lounge. Along with the pleasing music being played, and the soothing ambient lighting all around the space, the space looked inviting and relaxing. Plush seating, intelligent use of decor to offer privacy, I would surely choose this lounge over other options currently available at the departure terminal.

  

Offering massage chairs and showers in addition to the premium facilities they have currently, could take passenger comfort to the next level here.

Buffet spread, live counters, are all in place to offer guests a wide choice of food and beverages. Buffet for the major meals of the day as well as live stations doling out eggs made to order, chaat stations, dosa counters are all geared to pampering travellers’ taste buds. Head chef Shadab proudly informed us that the menu keeps changing every fortnight. This way, frequent travellers can look forward to new culinary offerings each time. The Chef is also particular about seasonal produce, healthy cooking and serving home style food to his guests.

Food cooked fresh, special diet requirements taken care of, customisable dishes, comfortable seating - the Above Ground Levell lounge is fully equipped to handle every need of the weary and tired traveller.

A picture tour of the food sampled that day -