Chenai (ElephantYam) Kadi

Chenai (Elephant Yum) is a common vegetable in Tamil Nadu. This is one of the cheap vegetable and can be stored for many days without refrigeration. If Yum is not cooked properly, then it may give the itching sensation in your inner mouth. It also gives the itching sensation when you cut this vegetable. Apply some oil in your hand to prevent this. But this is very tasty vegetable and many recipes can be made out of it.

Chenai Kadi is a tangy stew where the yam is cooked with a tamarind and finally flavored with lemon.

Chenai (Yam) Kadi

Preparation Time	10 mins
Cooking Time	30 mins
Servings	4

Ingredients:

Chenai (Yam)	1/4 Kg
Channa dal	3 tablespoon
Ginger	1 inch piece
Green Chilli	3
Grated Coconut	1 tablespoon
Lemon	1/2
Tamarind	a small gooseberry size
Salt	To taste
Turmeric	a pinch

For Seasoning:

Mustard Seeds	1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaves	few
Ghee/cooking oil	1 tablespoon

Method:

Soak the tamarind in water for 5 minutes and extract the juice.

Chop the chenai into small cubes. Take the chopped chenai and channa dal in a vessel. Add water to soak the chenai and add a pinch of turmeric and take this to the pressure cooker.

Pressure cook the channa dhal along with chenai and keep it aside. Give minimum 3 whistles for Chenai to cook in the pressure cooker.

Pour the oil in the pan and add the mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds starts to sputter add green chillies and crushed ginger and fry for 10 seconds

Add tamarind extract and salt and allow it to boil for 5 minutes to get rid off the raw smell of tamarind juice. Then add the cooked dhal and chenai in a pan and mix well and allow it to boil in medium flame for 5 minutes

When the mixture starts to boil, add the grated cocunut and switch off the flame. Allow the mixture to cool for sometime and then add lemon juice to adjust the taste.