Mushroom Chettinad

• In a wide pan, add oil on low flame.
• Add coconut, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, red chilies, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Sauté them continuously on low flame.
• Keep them aside and let them cool. Add the above ingredients into a mixer and grind them by adding ginger, garlic, poppy seeds, and cashew nuts. Add little water and make into a smooth paste.
• In a separate pan, add oil on low flame.
• Add chopped onions and sauté it till it turns into golden brown. Add curry leaves and sauté it for a while
• Add the ground paste and sauté it for 2mins.
• Add chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt, and red chili powder.
• Mix well. Allow it to cook for 5 to 7 minutes till the oil separates.
• Add mushrooms, peppercorns, and sauté it for 6 to 7mins.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.
• The dish is ready to serve.

Trivia

• Mushrooms are closely related to humans than to plants due to their DNA structure.
• The largest living organism which hasn’t stopped growing is a honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae, in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. It occupies 3.4 square miles of land in that area.