Makai no chevdo recipe – This is Gujarati snack made from desi corn (makai) or sweet corn. In some part of Gujarat, it is known as makai khichdi.
Don’t get confused by the word chivda or chevdo. This is not dry kind which we make during the diwali like cornflakes chivda, cereal chivda or poha chivda. This is wet version and made from fresh corn or frozen.
The taste of makai chevdo is medium spicy with perfect balanced sweet and tangy taste. The spicy taste comes from green chilies only.
This is my mom’s recipe. I remember her making it during the monsoon when the corn is in season. She makes it from desi makai which is much different than American sweet corns. Here in USA, I can find only american corns, so I have used that.
The key to make it perfect, the proportion of sugar and lemon juice should be right. No one can give the exact measurements for sugar and lemon juice. It may vary and depends on the sweetness of the corn. For example, I used less sugar as I used american sweet corns. You may need little extra sugar, if using the desi makai. So always start with little amount, mix and taste. Add more if needed.
Addition of sesame seeds and coconut gives nutty flavor to the dish.
If you are making Jain recipe, please skip the ginger.
How to make Makai no chevdo recipe (Step by Step Photos):
1) If using the corn cobs, then you can directly grate it using box grater. Or remove the kernels and coarsely grind into the grinder or use the food processor. If using frozen corn kernels then defrost it and coarsely ground them. Take them along with its juice into the pressure cooker.
2) Add milk.
3) Mix well. Cover the cooker with lid. Put the weight on. Turn the heat on medium. Let it cook for 2 whistles.
4) Then let the pressure go down by itself. Open the lid. Most of the milk is absorbed and it will be thick. Keep it aside.
5) While pressure is releasing, prep all the ingredients for chevdo. because we need them one by one really quickly. So it is good idea to keep them handy before starting. Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.
6) Then add dried chili, cinnamon stick and cloves. Saute for a minute.
7) Then add sesame seeds. They will start to pop.
8) Then add ginger paste and chopped chilies. Saute for 30-40 seconds.
9) Add turmeric powder and asafetida.
10) Immediately mix it.
11) Then right away add crushed, boiled corn.
12) Mix it. and continue cooking till it gets thick. Keep stirring constantly.
13) It will be done in couple of minutes. So don’t go away.
14) Then add salt, sugar and garam masala. Mix well.
15) Add lemon juice.
16) Stir well. Taste it and see if you need more sugar or lemon juice. So alway starts with little amount and then add more if needed.
17) Then turn off the stove. Lastly add coconut and chopped coriander leaves.
18) Stir well and it is ready to serve.
The above mention quantity will make small portions for 2 servings snack. If having as a brunch or light meal you may need to make double batch.
Serving suggestion: Serve as makai no chevdo an afternoon snack. Or it can be served as a breakfast or brunch as well.
Makai no chevdo recipe (Corn chivda recipe)
Ingredients
For pressure cooking:
- 2 corns or 1 cup Sweet corn kernels or butte ke dane grated or coarsely ground
- ¾ cup Milk
For makai chevdo:
- 1 ½ -2 tablespoons Oil
- ¼ teaspoon Mustard seeds
- 1 Dried red chilies
- ¼ inch Cinnamon stick
- 2 Cloves
- 1 teaspoon Sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon Ginger paste or freshly grated or crushed
- 1 Green chili finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- a pinch Hing (Asafoetida)
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Garam masala
- ½ to 1 teaspoon Sugar
- ½ to 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Desiccated coconut or freshly grated coconut
- 2 tablespoons Cilantro or coriander leaves finely chopped
Instructions
Preparation and cooking corn:
- If using the corn cobs, then you can directly grate it using box grater. Or remove the kernels and coarsely grind into the grinder or use the food processor.
- If using frozen corn kernels then defrost it and coarsely ground them. Take them along with its juice into the pressure cooker.
- Add milk. Mix well. Cover the cooker with lid. Put the weight on. Turn the heat on medium.
- Let it cook for 2 whistles.
- Then let the pressure go down by itself. Open the lid.
- Most of the milk is absorbed and it will be thick. Keep it aside.
Making makai no chevdo recipe:
- Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat.
- Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.
- Then add dried chili, cinnamon stick and cloves. Saute for a minute.
- Then add sesame seeds. They will start to pop.
- Then add ginger paste and chopped chilies. Saute for 30-40 seconds.
- Add turmeric powder and asafetida. Immediately mix it.
- Then right away add crushed, boiled corn. Mix it. and continue cooking till it gets thick. Keep stirring constantly.
- It will be done in couple of minutes. So don’t go away.
- Then add salt, sugar and garam masala. Mix well.
- Also add lemon juice. Stir well. Taste it and see if you need more sugar or lemon juice. So alway starts with little amount and then add more if needed.
- Then turn off the stove.
- Lastly add coconut and chopped coriander leaves. Stir well
Aesha J John
Hi! Can you please add ginger and chili to ingredients. I guesstimated but would like to have the exact measure. Thanks!
Kanan
Thank you for pointing out the missing ingredient.
Recipe is updated with right measurements
Toby Difede
You are adding milk and lemom juice. Generally I have not heard any dish with both of them, unless you want to separate the milk solids. I make the same without milk. Anyway, I will try adding milk next time and see how it comes out.
Kanan
Give it a try. it tastes great.
Here we reducing and evaporating all the milk by cooking. Only milks solids are left (Not liquid form of milk)
and at the end adding lemon juice. Since there is no milk left, there will be no issue of curdling.
Hope you get what I am trying to explain.
Nazli
My mother died when I was 11 years old so I never learned to cook. I have been looking for a book of Gujarati recipes for a very long time (35 years). Thank you so much for taking the time from such a busy day to test and post these recipes.
Kanan
Sorry to know about your mom.
Glad to know that you found the recipes that your are looking for. Hope you make them and enjoy them,
Nirav
I was going to ask for this recipe. wow great thanks a bunch. will try it soon
Looks very very tempting.
Kanan
🙂 This happened one more time. you are meaning to ask for it and I posted here.
Thank you.
Anjana
Hey Kanan, fantastic recipe. Thanks for sharing. We make something similar called butte ka Kees. Very similar to what you have posted though should try the pressure cooking method. I have not tried this method, will try it next time
Kanan
Oh really. I think I have heard this name somewhere. But didn’t know that method is similar. btw Good to know that.