Capsicum Besan Fry

This is an very easy dry curry that goes well with rotti or rice. It is made of capsicum,besan(gram flour/kadalai maavu) and spices !.

Preparation Time: Under 10 minutes
Cooking Time : Under 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Capsicum - 3 medium no.s( I used yellow and green colored one)
Besan/gram flour/kadalai maavu - 1 cup
Red chilli powder- 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt- As required
Sugar - 1/2 teaspoon
Lemon juice - 1/2 lemon squeezed
Mustard - 1/2 teaspoon
Jeera - 1/2 teaspoon
Asafoetida powder - as required
Oil - 5 teaspoon
Water - as required

METHOD:

1. Cut capsicum in big size pieces.

2. In a pan, add 3 teaspoon of oil. Then add mustard and jeera. Once it splutters , add the diced capsicum , salt and fry for 2-3 minutes.

3. No need to wait for the capsicum to get soft. When the capsicum is half-cooked, add the besan , turmeric,red chilli, coriander powder .

4. Mix well. Add another teaspoon of oil . Sprinkle some water. Don't add too much water, as it would turn them to soggy. Keep it covered and let the besan get cooked for 10  minutes. In between, occasionally open and sprinkle some water and mix the contents well, so that it doesn't get burnt. Besan needs time to get cooked well and also to avoid the raw smell.

5. In the end, switch off the stove, add lime juice and sprinkle some asafoetida powder.

6. Capsicum besan curry is ready !. Serve with rice or rotti !.

SEE ALSO:  Bhindi masala, Broccoli stir fry, Aloo Gobi(dry)

Dal Tadka (Punjabi Style)

This is simple Punjabi style dal fry that goes well with rice or rotti !

Preparation Time : Under 15 minutes
Cooking Time : Under 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Toor Dal(Tuvaram paruppu) - 1/4 cup
Channa dal(bengal gram/kadalai paruppu) - 1/4 cup
Water - 1.5 cups
Ginger garlic paste - 2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Kashmiri red chilli powder- 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander powder -1/2 teaspoon
Garam masala -1/2 teaspoon
Amchoor powder(dry mango powder) - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - as required
Onion - 1 cup chopped
Tomato - 1/2 cup chopped
Sugar - 1/4 teaspoon
Ghee - 2 tablespoon
Bay leaf - 1 no.
Cinnamon stick - as required
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon

SEASONING:
Oil - 2 teaspoon
Mustard - 1 teaspoon
Dry red chilli - 2 no.s
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Asafoetida powder - as required


METHOD:

1. Wash and drain toor and channa dal . Add 1.5 cups of water, 1 teaspoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder in a pressure cooker, and cook in medium flame for 5 whistles. Let the pressure settle itself. The dal looks whole and it wont be mashed . That is the desired consistency.

2. In a pan, add ghee . Add bay leaves,cinnamon,cumin seeds.

3. Now add onions and fry for few minute. Sprinkle some sugar for the onions to get saute well.

4. Now add ginger garlic paste and fry for another few minutes till they change colour,

5.  Now add tomato and fry for few minutes.

6. Now add kashmiri red chilli powder ,turmeric powder,coriander powder,garam masala , amchoor powder and required salt. Fry till the raw smell is gone and oil starts to leave sides.

7. Now add the cooked dal and required water for desired consistency and allow to boil and keep in sim mode and cook for 6 minutes. Switch off the stove. Now in another pan, add some oil, add mustard,dry red chili, red chilli powder and asafoetida powder . Pour it over the dal.

8. Dal tadka is ready !. Serve with rice or rotti.

SEE ALSO: panchmela dal, saibhaji, spinach stem spicy dal

Eggless Wheat Cake

My maiden attempt in making cake !.. I never tried much to make cake..But couple of days before I happen to find this recipe in some website.. I was tempted to try it out . It did turnout very well.. This cake doesn't require any baking oven. Normal microwave oven is just enough... A very healthy wheat cake with less fat . Please try out and leave your comments.

Preparation Time : Under 10 minutes
Cooking Time : Under 3 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

Whole wheat flour - 8 tablespoon
Sugar - 6 tablespoon
Cocoa powder - 1 teaspoon
Baking soda - 1/2 teaspoon
Lime juice - 1 teaspoon
Thick curd - 1.5 tablespoon
Butter - 1 tablespoon
Water - 5 tablespoon(or as required)
Chopped walnuts - as required

METHOD:

1. In a bowl, add whole wheat flour,cocoa powder,baking soda and mix well.

2. In another bowl, add butter,sugar,lime juice,curd and beat well using spoon, till the sugar gets completely dissolved. Now add 5 tablespoon of water.

3. Now mix the flour and syrup which you prepared in step 2. The batter should be smooth . Use your hands to mix it well. The consistency should be like idly batter consistency. When poured, it should flow like a ribbon. Grease a microwave safe cup with butter or ghee. Pour the batter in the cup. Garnish with chopped walnuts in the top. Pour just half cup. Because when cooked, the cake would rise up.

4. Now set the micro wave in full heat option. Place the cup in microwave and set the time for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, take it out and insert a small stick inside to see if it is completely cooked till the bottom. You can microwave for additional 30 seconds again. But be careful not to burn the cake. Take it out and allow it to cool down.

 

5. You can cook in any microwave safe vessel of any shape. Once cooked, allow it to cool down completely for 30 minutes. Then slowly take it out, by using spoon and removing the cake from the sides . Egg less Wheat cake is ready ! .. Heat for 1/2 minute before serving for better taste !.

SEE ALSO: Carrot halwa, Wheat ladoo, Padar Peni

Vegetable Chutney

This is a very healthy chutney made of vegetables. Kids who doesn't like vegetables,would love this chutney. It goes well with any type of dosa. You can also mix it with rice and give us a lunch for kids to school.

Preparation Time : Under 15 minutes
Cooking Time : Under 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Chayote - 1 cup chopped
Brinjal - 1 cup chopped.
Ridge Gourd - 1 cup chopped
Garlic - 1 table spoon chopped
Ginger - 1 inch size chopped
Tamarind - 1  goose berry sized
Small Onions - 10 no.s chopped
Salt- as required
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Asafoetida powder - as required
channa dal/Bengal gram - 1 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
Green chilli - 2 no.s
Oil - 3 teaspoon

METHOD:

1. Cut all 3 vegetables(chayote,brinjal and ridge gourd) in small pieces.

2. In a pan, add some oil. Add channa dal,urad dal and fry for few seconds. Then add garlic,green chilli and ginger and fry for a minute.

3. Now add onions, and fry for few minutes.

4. Now add all the chopped vegetables, turmeric powder and salt and mix well.Saute for 5 to 7 minutes, till the veggies are soft and 3/4th cooked. No need to wait till the veggies turn mushy.Now add some tamarind and mix well.

5. Allow the contents to cool completely. Blend them in to a smooth paste. Sprinkle some asafoetida powder. Vegetable chutney is ready ! Serve with dosa or just mix with rice ! ..

Onion rava dosa with vegetable chutney

SEE ALSO: Dry fruit and nut rava dosa, capsicum chutney 

Rajasthan Style Simple Kadhi

This is a Rajasthan style simple kadhi recipe . It is made with plain yogurt,gram flour(besan) and some spices. Whenever I dont get much time to cook, I make this kadhi .It is suitable for rice or rotti ! ..

Preparation Time : Under 5 minutes
Cooking Time : Under 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Plain yogurt - 1 cup
Water - 2 cups
Gram flour(besan) - 3 tablespoon
Salt - as required
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon

FOR SEASONING:
Ghee - 1 table spoon
Mustard - 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Bay leaf - 1 no.
Dry red chilli - 2 no.s
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon

METHOD:

1. In a bowl, add plain yogurt, 2 cups water,gram flour ,salt and turmeric powder. Mix well without any lumps.

2. Add the mixture in the pan, and keep stirring it continuously .You should not stop stirring, else the yogurt would break and may not taste good. Hence keep stirring continuously for 7 to 8 minutes until it gets thickens .

3. Switch off the stove . Now in another pan, add ghee . Once it is hot, add mustard ,cumin seeds ,fenugreek seeds, bay leaf,dry red chilli  and fry for few seconds. In the end,  add some red chilli powder and  switch off the stove and immediately pour it over the kadhi. Mix the seasoning well with kadhi .

4. Kadhi is ready !. Serve with Rotti or plain rice.

NOTES:

SEE ALSO : Channa masala, Methi matar malai 

Mango Pachadi

Mango pachadi is a "must" item in most of the tamil weddings and also cooked on some special occasions. This sweet and sour recipe can be mixed with white rice or can also be had as side dish for sambar or curd rice !.

Preparation Time: Under 10 minutes
Cooking Time: Under 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Raw mango - 1 medium sized. When sliced thin, yields a cup.
Jaggery -1/2 cup
Water - 1/4 + 1/2 cup
Sambar Powder - 1.5 teaspoon
Salt - As required


SEASONING:
Oil - 2 teaspoon
Mustard - 1/2 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1/2 teaspoon
Dry red chilli - 1 no.
Asafoetida powder - as required.

METHOD:

1. Cut mangoes in thin slices.Grate about 1/2 cup of jaggery.

2.  In a pressure cooker, add sliced mangoes,salt,sambar powder,1/2 cup of water .

3.  cover the lid and cook for 2 whistles and wait for the pressure to settle.

4. In a pan, add jaggery and 1/4 cup of water.Let the jaggery dissolve completely and boil. Switch off  the stove and filter the jaggery syrup.

5. Now in a pan, add the cooked mangoes and jaggery syrup and mix well and allow it to boil and  thicken . It may take couple of minutes. 

6. In tadka pan, add some oil, add mustard,urad dal and dry red chilli . Sprinkle asafoetida powder and pour it over the pachadi. 

7. Mango pachadi is ready ! Serve with white rice ! Mango pachadi can be prepared and refrigerated. It stays good for 4 to 5 days . 

NOTES:

SEE ALSO : Brinjal kootu, carrot broccoli stir fry 

Bhendi Besara

This is an easy oriya recipe. Ladies finger is cooked in a special mustard,tomato paste. Ideal for rice or rotti !.

Preparation Time : Under 10 minutes
Cooking Time : Under 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Ladies Finger - 2 cups chopped big in size.
Tomato - 2 medium size chopped
Mustard - 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Garlic - 2 pods chopped fine
Dry red chilli - 3 no.s
Amchoor(Dry Mango) powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - As required
Water - As required.

METHOD:

1. Add some oil in a pan, and add chopped ladies finger and fry till they get darker.

2. In a mixie jar, add mustard,jeera,garlic pods,dry red chilli,tomato . Grind them in to a smooth paste. In a pan, add some oil and add the paste and fry for few minutes till the raw smell is gone.

3. Now add the fried bhindis from step 1 and mix well. Add some water. Add required salt, dry mango powder,red chilli powder and mix well.

4. Cover and cook it for few minutes. Switch off the stove. Bhendi besara is ready !

5. Serve with rotti or rice !

SEE ALSO: Bhindi masala, Brinjal Kadhi

White Sauce Pasta

This is an easy kids friendly recipe . Ideal for lunch box! . Kids would love to eat this !. Pasta and veggies cooked in butter and  home made white sauce !

Preparation Time: Under 15 minutes
Cooking Time: Under 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Elbow Macaroni - 1 cup(Can use any pasta of your choice)
Veggies - 1 cup ( I used broccoli, red and yellow colored bell peppers)
Garlic - 1 teaspoon chopped
Maida/All purpose flour - 1 tablespoon
Milk - 1/2 cup
Water -1/2 cup
Butter - 2 tablespoon
Dry basil leaves - 1/2 teaspoon
Italian seasoning - 1/2 teaspoon
Black pepper(crushed) - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - As required.

METHOD:

1. In a pan, add sufficient water and some salt and allow it to boil  well. Now add pasta and cook for 12 minutes(Each type of pasta needs different cooking time. Read the product label ).

2. Cook pasta and drain water . Now immediately wash the pasta in running cold water. It will keep the pasta from not sticking to each other. In a pan, add a tablespoon of butter and add chopped garlic and fry. Then add the chopped veggies.

3. Fry for just 3 to 4 minutes . No need to make it too soft . It will be more tastier, if it is crunchier . Now set the veggies aside. In the same pan, add 1 table spoon butter. Add a tablespoon of maida and immediately pour 1/2 cup milk and stir well for a minute till it gets thicker.

4. Now add 1/2 cup of water and mix well and stir for 2 to 3 minutes , till it is creamy in consistency as like below.

5. Now add boiled pasta and stir fried veggies.

6. Now add salt, Pepper powder, Italian seasoning and dry basil leaves and mix well .

7. White sauce pasta is ready !. For kids , when the pasta is hot, you can add some grated cheese above to make it more tastier !!! If you want to avoid maida/all purpose flour , you can use wheat flour instead !

SEE ALSO:  Quick Pasta, Dum noodles, Pav bhaji