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August 31, 2017

Carrot Rice | Carrot Pulav


Healthy, easy, nutritious and perfect lunch box menu.  Try this delicious and tasty carrot rice with potato fry or just with pappads.

Ingredients : 

  1. Carrot - 100 gms 
  2. Rice - 1/4 kg
  3. Oil - 1 tbsp
  4. Onion, finely chopped - 1 no
  5. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  6. Green chilly - 1 no
  7. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  8. Urad dal - 1 tsp
  9. Curry leaves
  10. Coriander leaves
  11. Salt to taste
  12. Water - 2 cups
For spice powder
  1. Coconut, grated - 2 tsp
  2. Ural dal - 1 tsp
  3. Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
  4. Red chillies - 4 nos
Dry roast the ingredients and grind them to fine powder.


Method :

1.  Cook the rice with little salt and allow them to cool.

2.  Cook the peeled & cut carrots in the boiling water for 3 mins.  Remove them from the water and grate them.  Keep aside. (This helps to remove the raw smell of carrot and cooks quickly while mixing them in the rice)

3.  Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, green chilly, curry leaves and finely chopped onion.  Saute till tender.


3.  Add grated carrots and saute.

4.  Add the rice and grounded spice powder.  Adjust the salt and garnish it with coriander leaves.


Serve warm.

August 25, 2017

Mani kozhukattai | Ammini kozhukattai | Mini Kozhukattai


There are different ways of making this delicious mani kozhukattai.  I love the addition of grated carrot and coconut in this snack.  Perfect way to use leftover kozhukattai dough.  Prepare and enjoy this tasty and flavourful kozhukattai.


Ingredients :

For the dough :

  1. Rice flour / Idiyappam flour - 1/2 cup
  2. Water - 1  cup
  3. Salt - 1/4 tsp
  4. Oil - 1 tsp
For the tempering :
  1. Oil - 1 tsp
  2. Urad dal - 1 tsp
  3. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  4. A pinch of hing
  5. Green chillies - 2 no, finely chopped
  6. Curry leaves
  7. Onion, finely chopped - 1 small sized
  8. Carrot, grated - 1 tbsp (optional)
  9. Grated coconut - 1 tbsp
  10. Salt to taste

Method :

1.  In a heavy bottomed pan, boil the water and add salt, oil and flour to it.

2.  Keep stirring continuously, until it forms a dough (without any lumps).  Allow it to cool down a bit.  

3.  Grease your hands and knead the dough.  Divide the dough and roll them to tiny balls.  Transfer the balls in the cooker and steam them for 8 - 10 mins or until done.


4.  Heat oil in the pan, add urad dal, mustard seeds, hing, curry leaves, green chillies and finely chopped onion.  Saute till tender.

5.  Add grated carrot and salt to taste.

6.  Add the steamed rice balls and grated coconut.  Mix well.


Enjoy !!

August 23, 2017

Grilled Corn on the Cob- Street Style !!


Enjoy this delicious and simple grilled corn with lemon and chilly, which is my favourite childhood beach food.    


Ingredients :
  1. Sweet corn - 2 nos
  2. Lemon - 1/2 piece
  3. Salt to taste
  4. Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp

Method :

1.  Remove the husk from the corn and roast them on the grill or open gas flame over medium high heat.

2.  Halve the lemon.  Mix together salt and red chilly powder separately.  

3.  Dip the half lemon in the salt mix and rub it over the corn squeezing the lemon as you rub.


Serve hot.

August 21, 2017

Red Poha Upma !!


One of the easiest, quickest and flavourful breakfast meal, one can make it in just 15 mins is poha upma.  I used red rice flakes instead of white rice flakes to make it more healthy and nutritious.  We can add vegetables for variations. 


Ingredients :

  1. Red poha / Aval - 1 cup
  2. Water - 2 cups
  3. Oil - 2 tbsp
  4. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  5. Urad dal - 1 tsp
  6. A pinch of hing
  7. Green chillies - 5 to 6 nos
  8. Curry leaves - 2 tbsp
  9. Roasted peanuts - 1 tbsp
  10. Onion, finely chopped - 1 large sized
  11. Salt to taste
  12. Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
  13. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

1.  Wash the poha and soak it in the water for 3 mins.  Drain and squeeze the water completely.  Set aside for 5 mins.

2.  Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, peanuts, hing, green chillies and finely chopped onions.  Saute till tender.


3.  Add the softened poha and enough water.  Mix well.  Cook them over low-medium heat for 10 mins or until done.

4.  Once the poha is cooked, add grated coconut and switch off the flame.  Garnish it with coriander leaves.


Serve warm.

August 18, 2017

Squid / Calamari Masala Fry - Kerala Style !!


Try this delicious kerala style squid (calamari) fry made using coconut oil along with freshly grounded  spice masala.  Taste great with rotis & rice.


Ingredients :
  1. Squid - 
  2. Coconut Oil - 2 tsp
  3. Pepper corns - 1 tsp
  4. Green chillies - 3 nos
  5. Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
  6. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  7. Cinnamon stick - 1/2 inch stick
  8. Onion - 1 no
  9. Ginger , finely chopped - 1/2 tsp
  10. Garlic,  finely chopped - 1/2 tsp
  11. Curry leaves - 1 tbsp
  12. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  13. Tomato puree - 2 tbsp
  14. Salt to taste

Method :

1.  Heat a tsp of oil in the pan, add peppercorns and green chillies.  

2.  Transfer the roasted pepper corns, green chillies along with the cinnamon stick, red chilly powder, turmeric powder and salt to the blender and grind them to smooth paste.

3.  Now marinate the cleaned squid in this grounded masala for half an hour.


4.  Heat coconut oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, finely chopped garlic and ginger. 

5.  Add finely sliced onion and curry leaves.  Saute till tender.

6.  Add marinated squid and fry them for few mins.  Add tomato puree and continue cooking.  Add enough salt. ( Don't overcook the squid, as it becomes rubbery.)


Enjoy.

August 15, 2017

Nei Appam | Karthigai Appam | Sweet Appam


Nei appam is a traditional South Indian sweet prepared during the festival season.  We use rice flour, jaggery and banana for preparing this delicious sweet.  


Ingredients :

  1. Raw rice - 1 cup
  2. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
  3. Jaggery - 1 cup
  4. 1 ripe medium sized banana
  5. Cardamom powder 
  6. A pinch of baking soda (optional)
  7. Ghee for frying

Method :

1.  Soak the rice for atleast 3 hours.  

2.  Grind the rice along with the coconut and banana to smooth paste. Use 3 tbsp of water for grinding.


3.  In a pan, cook the jaggery along with 2 tbsp of water until they melts.  Filter the jaggery water and add them to the rice mixture.  Add some cardamom powder, baking soda (optional) and mix well.  The batter should resemble like idly / pancake batter.

4.  Heat ghee in the deep frying pan, drop a ladle of batter and fry them over medium heat until cooked on either side.


Serve warm.

August 10, 2017

Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai !!


Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai is most popular festival snack.  For authentic, kozhukattai use only homemade rice paste and fresh coconut.  It enhances the flavour of this dish.



Ingredients :
  1. Raw rice - 1 cup
  2. Jaggery powder - 1 cup
  3. Water - 2 cups
  4.  Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
  5. Coconut pieces - 2 tbsp (or grated coconut)
  6. Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method :

1.  Soak the rice for atleast one hour.  Grind them to smooth paste using one cup of water.

2.  Heat one cup of water in the pan, add jaggery and dissolve them completely.  Filter the jaggery water and pour them back in the pan.  Bring it to boil.

3.  Add rice paste, cardamom powder, coconut pieces and a tsp of ghee to the jaggery water and keep stirring them, till they form a stiff dough.


4.  When it is warm, grease your hand with ghee and make oval shapes out of the mixture.  Give a impression in the kozhukattai using your fingers.

5.  Steam the kozhukattai in the pressure cooker / pan for 8 - 10 mins or until done.


Serve warm.

August 7, 2017

Shell pasta with simple homemade tomato sauce - Kids friendly !!


This simple recipe of pasta, garlic, parmesan cheese and homemade tomato sauce is very easy to prepare and delicious.  My son loves this pasta and is our main staple in the house!



Ingredients :
  1. Shell pasta - 1 cup
  2. Water
  3. Salt to taste
  4. Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
  5. Onion, finely chopped - 1 small sized
  6. Garlic, finely chopped - 2 cloves
  7. Capsicum, finely chopped - 2 tbsp
  8. Tomato puree - 1/4 cup
  9. Tomato ketchup - 1 tbsp
  10. Salt to taste
  11. Black pepper powder to taste
  12. Dried Oregano - 1/2 tsp
  13. Dried Basil - 1/2 tsp
  14. Parmesan cheese for garnishing

Method :
 
1.  Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil.  Add the pasta and cook as directed on the package, until done. 



2.  In a sauce pan, add a tbsp of olive oil.  Add finely chopped garlic, onion, capsicum and salt to taste.  Saute for few mins.

3.  Add tomato puree and cook.



4.  Add tomato ketchup, black pepper powder and dried oregano & basil.  Cook for few more mins.

5.  Finally, add pasta to the pan and toss to combine.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.


Serve.


August 4, 2017

Simple Orange Cookies !!


This is a simple orange cookie recipe made using the fresh orange zest.  


Ingredients :

  1. All purpose flour - 2 cups
  2. Baking soda - 1 tsp
  3. Salt - 1/4 tsp
  4. Unsalted butter, softened - 1 cup
  5. Sugar - 1 cup
  6. Grated orange peel - 4 tbsp
  7. Vanilla extract - 2 tsp
  8. Nut (of your choice), optional - 1/4 cup

Method :

1.  Preheat the oven at 180 C and line up the cookie tray with parchment paper.

2.  Cream together butter and sugar.  Add in the orange peel and vanilla extract, beat well.

3.  Sieve together flour, baking soda and salt.


4.  Mix in the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture along with the chopped nut (optional) to form a dough.  If the dough is not stiff, refrigerate them for an hour.  

5.  Roll the dough and using the cookie cutter, cut them in the desired shape.  Arrange them in the prepared baking sheet and bake them for 10 mins or until the edges are browned lightly.  Cool them completely before storing them in an air tight container.


Enjoy baking:)

August 1, 2017

Carrot n Ginger Salad - Refreshing !!


Try and enjoy this unique, refreshing and delicious salad flavoured with ginger and lime dressing.


Ingredients :

  1. Grated carrot - 2 cups
  2. Ginger - 1 inch piece
  3. Oil - 1 tsp
  4. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  5. Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
  6. A pinch of hing
  7. Green chillies, finely chopped - 1 to 2 nos, 
  8. Onion, chopped - 1 small sized
  9. Coriander leaves, chopped
  10. Lime juice - 1 tsp
  11. Salt to taste


Method :

1.  Grate the ginger and extract the juice.  Keep aside.

2.  Heat oil in the pan, add urad dal, mustard seeds, green chillies and hing.  Keep the tadka aside.

3.   In a serving bowl, mix together grated carrots, ginger juice, onion, coriander leaves, lime juice, salt to taste and tadka. 




Serve immediately or cold.
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