I live abroad and do not have a mixie. I want to know if there is any alternative for coconut paste for making thick gravies.
- Priya, Atlanta

I hope you may be getting OSTERIZER even if you don't get Indian type of mixies there.Even if you are not able to grind the coconut for paste,coconut milk is available in both bottles & dry powder form. You can directly add the milk to the gravy . As for the dry powder, you can add a cup of water with the dry powder , prepare coconut milk and then add to the gravy.To enrich the gravy further, you can add powdered cashewnuts to the coconut milk and then add to the gravy. In India, Maggie & few other brands of coconut milks are available in powder form.One thing you have to remember,You have to add milk only in the end & boil for few minutes only.

Will there be any difference in taste between using whole pepper and pepper powder in cooking?
- Thiru, Singapore

There will be defintely difference between whole pepper & ready made pepper powder availble in shops. Whole pepper is more spicy. Small handy grining mills are availble even in abroad. If we powder whole pepper directlly in them we will get the same quality.

-Prema

In your sweet and sour fish preparation you have not mentioned about the initial cleaning of the fish and also the type of fish for cooking. Whether we can use dry fish also for this cooking?
- Gopal

1.Any big and flat bodied sea fish can be used for making sweet n sour fish curry..Dry fish should not be used because dry fish tastes bad with the combination of sugar

2. Cleaning: Remove the scales ,fins and the tail and rub the fish with salt so that any ramaining scale will fall down.Then cut the head and cut the fish into 2 and remove the things you dont want (like intestines and blood vessels).But without removing also you can cook.The fish will still taste the same and good

Happy Fish(cook)ing !!!

-Lakshmi Prabha

I live in Scotland.Becuase of the low temperature, curd does not set naturally. I am a curd lover. Can you give me some tips to make natural curd?
- Sumathi

It is easy. Boil the milk and leave it aside for some time. When it is slighlty warm, add a little curd(borrowed) or natural yoghurt (from shops). Keep the container in the boiler room overnight. You'll get excellent curd in the morning.

Disclaimer: The contents of this section are based on the experience, practice and reading knowledge of our readers.Nilacharal is NOT responsible for the authenticity of the contents.

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