Kozhikaal / Vegetarian Chicken Legs - Thalassery Special

Don't get puzzled by the name. Kozhikaal is a Thalassery special evening snack made of tapioca. The name thus because it looks like fried chicken legs. It is crispy and perfect for the cool weather outside here in Kerala. It is very difficult to find this snack even in Kannur which is approx 12 km from Thalassery.

INGREDIENTS

Recipe source - Magic Cook

Tapioca - 1/2 kg

Pathiri Powder/ Fine rice powder - 1 cup

All purpose flour - 1/4 cup

Onion - 1 medium size (finely chopped)

Green Chilly - 2 finely chopped

Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp

Ginger Paste - 1/2 tsp

Kashmiri Chilly Powder - 1 tbsp

Curry Leaves - finely chopped - 12 leaves

Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt - as per taste

Oil - for deep frying

METHOD

Peel the skin of the tapioca.

Slit it into thin pieces (approx 4 inch pieces long and as broad as a pencil)

Mix the pathiri powder and APF along with salt and water to make a semi thick batter like idly batter.

Add in the onion, chilly, ginger garlic paste, chilly powder, curry leaves and cumin powder. Check salt.

To this batter add the sliced tapioca and coat well with batter.

Heat oil in a slightly wide wok. Pick 5-6 slices of tapioca along with batter. Press it slightly with your palm and slide it into the oil. Reduce the flame to medium. Toss it till crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a plate layered with kitchen tissue.

Serve hot with tea or coffee. Enjoy!!

Tips:

Make sure you buy fresh tapioca else it will be difficult to slice it to thin pieces.

This is a medium spice snack. Increase spice level as per taste. The batter may taste a little spicy but once you fry it that extra spice will not be there.