Vellarikka Pachadi/Cucumber Raita

Pachadi refers to a traditional South-Indian side dish. In Kerala, pachadi is a side-dish curry similar to North-Indian Raita. It is typically made of finely chopped and boiled vegetables with coconut, green chillies and curd/yogurt.

Vellarikka Pachadi is made for Onam Sadya and this dish is prepared with kani vellarikka, also known as golden cucumber.

Ingredients:

Vellarikka (peeled and chopped) - 1 cup
Green Chillies - 3
Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup
Curd/Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Cumin seeds - 1 pinch
Mustard seeds - 2 pinches
Red chillies - 2
Curry Leaves - 4-5
Oil (preferably coconut oil) - 2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method:

Grind grated coconut, green chillies and cumin seeds into a smooth paste. Add some water if required. Keep aside. In a pan, cook chopped cucumber with 2-3 tbsp water. Cook for few minutes until cucumber turns soft. Add the ground paste to it and cook again in low-medium heat. Turn off before it starts to boil. Now add curd to the mixture. The curry should be at medium consistency.
In another pan, heat oil and splutter mustard seeds, red chillies and curry leaves. Add this to the mixture and close the lid. Switch off the flame.
Serve with rice.