Kozhikkaal

Chances are that you are misled by its queer name. Though the word 'kozhikkaal' means chicken's leg, this is a purely vegetarian preparation, made with tapioca. Wondering why the tapioca dish has been named so?

Ingredients

Tapioca – 500 g Besan flour – 3 tbsp Rice flour – 1 tbsp Red chilli powder - ½ tsp Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp Asafoetida -1/4 tsp Cumin seeds - ½ tsp Curry leaves, chopped – a few Salt to taste Water as required Oil for frying

Preparation

1. Cut the tapioca into halves and parboil in salted water. 2. Ensure that they are not fully boiled. 3. Drain out the water through a sieve. Peel off the skin. 4. Cut the parboiled tapioca into two – inch long and quarter inch thick pieces. 5. Put besan flour, rice flour, chilli powder, asafoetida, cumin seeds, curry leaves and salt and mix it with some water to make a thick flowing batter. 6. Mix the tapioca pieces in the batter. Ensure that the batter sticks to the tapioca pieces well. 7. When you pick a handful of them, they will look like a chicken leg. 8. Hence the name, even though it is a purely vegetarian preparation. 9. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry them under low flame till they turn golden brown. Serve hot.

Messi wins FIFA Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi was awarded the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or at a star-studded ceremony in Zurich, the third consecutive year that he has won the prestigious award for the world's outstanding footballer. The 24-year-old Barcelona and Argentina forward yesterday finished ahead of his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca team-mate Xavi.

"It's a great personal pleasure for me," said Messi. "It's the third time I've won it. It's just an amazing honour. I want to thank everyone that's been involved with me -- my team-mates, trainers, physios, the coach (Pep Guardiola) and everyone at Barcelona. "I'd also like to thank the Argentina national team as well."