Kakkayirachi kappa thoran/clams with tapioca

If you are a Keralite, you would have surely heard abut a special combination available in the Toddy shops (kallushaap, as we call it in malayalam) in Kerala - Kallu and kakkayirachi.  Kakkayirachi is considered to be a spicy hot side dish for toddy.
Hey, now you might be thinking, how do I know this. No, No... I have never been to a toddy shop.  Toddy shop is a prohibited area for ladies in my village but is considered as the perfect hangout area for men (atleast in my village).

But to be frank after hearing about the taste of this dish from different people in my village, I have also felt like tasting it once from the toddy shops. ;) ;)

This is my version of kakkayirachi kappayitathu/kakkayirachi kappa thoran. and I'm sure you will love this version...Did you check my Clam roast/kakkayirachi roast

Here is the recipe. Yea, my own way...

Ingredients:

• Clams/kakkayirachi : 1 & 1/2 cup
• Tapioca / kappa ( cubed and boiled ) : 3 cup
• Turmeric powder : 1/4 tspn
• Salt

To grind:

• Grated coconut : 3/4 cup
• Fennel / perum jeerakam : 1/2 tspn
• Garlic / veluthulli : 5 big cloves
• Shallot /kunjulli : 3
• Green chilly : 3
• Whole black pepper /kurumulaku : 1&1/2 tspn (up to your spice level)

To temper:

• Mustard /kaduku : 1/2 tspn
• Dry red chilly : 2
• Curry leaves : 2 sprigs
• Coconut oil

Method:

• Check HERE to know how to boil tapioca and click HERE to know how to clean  the clams.
• Heat a pan with oil.
• Add mustard and when it splutters add dry red chilly and curry leaves.
• Now add cleaned clams and salt.
• Stir it well and add turmeric powder.
• Keep the stove in simmer mode and cover the pan with a lid. Wait for 10 minutes
• No need of adding water. If you are not confident, add 1/4 cup of water.
• Meanwhile grind the ingredients listed under 'to grind". Don't make a smooth paste, just run the mixer for 1/2 minute.
• Now add the boiled tapioca to the cooked clams and mix it well.
• Add coarsely ground coconut mixture to it and mix it well.
• Adjust the salt.
• Delicious clams with tapioca is ready to serve!  

Note:

• If you like add chilly powder too.
• You can adjust the quantity of clams and tapioca. My mom in law prefers less clams and more tapioca but my mom will take almost equally! Both tastes good..