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September 30, 2017

Home Style Vegetable Soup


Vegetable soup is one of the simplest soup and the best way to use the leftover vegetables.  Addition of lentils mix gives thickness and richness to the soup.  I like to serve this vegetable soup with whole wheat bread or garlic bread.


Ingredients :

  1. Vegetables (Carrot, beans, corn,peas, cabbage)chopped - 1 cup
  2. Lentil mix (Toor dal, channa dal, moong dal, raw rice, idly rice) - 2 tbsp
  3. Vegetable stock / Water - 2 cups
  4. Oil / Butter - 1 tsp
  5. Bay leaf - 1 no
  6. Black pepper powder - 1 tsp
  7. Onion, chopped - 1 small sized
  8. Tomato , chopped - 1 small sized
  9. Salt to taste
  10. Coriander leaves

Method :

1.   Pressure cook the lentil mix and smash them to smooth paste.

2.  In a heavy bottomed pan, add butter and bay leaf.  Add finely chopped onion and saute.

3.  Add finely chopped vegetables, tomato and salt to taste.  Saute.



4.  Add smashed lentil paste and vegetable stock.  Cover and cook until done.

5.  Finally, remove the bay leaf and garnish it with coriander leaves and black pepper powder.


Serve warm with bread.

September 28, 2017

Squid Pepper Fry

Squid pepper fry is a very tasty and delicious dish flavoured with pepper and other spices.  In this preparation, squid is marinated and fried till crispy.  Alternatively, this can be grilled in oven too.  Enjoy this squid fry as an appetiser or with rice.


Ingredients :

  1. Squid, cleaned and cut - 1/2 kg
  2. Oil - 1 tbsp
  3. Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
  4. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
  5. Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
  6. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  7. Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
  8. Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
  9. Salt to taste
  10. Curry leaves
  11. Black pepper powder - 1 tsp



Method :

1.  In a mixing bowl, combine ginger garlic paste, red chilly powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt and squid together.  Marinate for 30 mins.

2.  Heat oil in the frying pan, add fennel seeds, curry leaves and marinated squid.  Cook until done.

3.  Before switching off the flame, add pepper powder and stir. 



Serve with rice.

September 23, 2017

Fresh Tomato Juice


Healthy, delicious, easy, simple and refreshing tomato juice helps in reducing the cholesterol level.  Addition of black pepper powder gives an additional kick to the juice.  Like to have any time of the day.


Ingredients :

  1. Ripe tomatoes - 2 nos
  2. Water - 1  cup
  3. Salt to taste
  4. Black pepper powder
  5. Ice cubes, optional

Method :

1.  Quarter the tomatoes.  In a blender, blend together tomatoes, water, salt, black pepper powder and ice cubes.

2.  Strain through the filter and pour into glasses.


Serve immediately.

September 21, 2017

Dhokla !!


Try this soft and spongy dhokla's with green chutney.


Ingredients :

  1. Besan / Chick flour - 1 cup
  2. Ginger and green chilly paste - 1 tsp
  3. Semolina - 1 tbsp
  4. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  5. Sugar - 1 tsp
  6. Salt to taste
  7. Fruit Salt (Eno Salt ) - 1/2 tsp
  8. Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
  9. Oil - 1 tsp
  10. Luke warm water 
  11. Yoghurt - 1 tbsp
For Tempering :
  1. Oil - 1 tbsp
  2. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  3. Green capsicum, thinly sliced - 2 tbsp (optional)
  4. Green chillies - 2 nos
  5. A pinch of hing
  6. Curry leaves 
  7. Grated coconut - 1 tsp

Method :

1.  Dry roast the besan slightly. 

2.  In a mixing bowl, combine together roasted besan, ginger & green chilly paste, semolina, turmeric powder, sugar, salt to taste, oil, yoghurt, water and lemon juice.  Mix well without any lumps. 

3.  Boil the water in the steamer. Meanwhile, grease the pan with oil.

4.  Now, add the eno salt in the batter and stir gently.  Pour the batter immediately in the greased pan. Place the pan inside the steamer and close the lid. 


5.  Steam cook the dhokla's for 15 mins.  Turn off the flame and cool down a bit.  Cut them into desired shapes.

6.  Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, capsicum, green chillies, hing, curry leaves, grated coconut and little water finally. 

7.  Pour the tempering over the dhokla and serve.


Enjoy with green chutney.

September 18, 2017

Mushroom Pepper Fry - Chettinad style !!


Try this spicy, hot and delicious dry mushroom pepper fry with rice or rotis.


Ingredients :

  1. Button mushrooms - 250 gms
  2. Oil - 1 tbsp
  3. Fennel seeds -1/2 tsp
  4. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  5. Curry leaves, few
  6. Green chillies - 2 nos
  7. Onion, sliced - 1 large sized
  8. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  9. Black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
  10. Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
  11. Cumin powder - 1 tsp
  12. Salt to taste

 Method :

1.  Clean the mushrooms and slice them.

2.  Heat oil in the pan, add fennel seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves.  

3.  Add green chillies and sliced onion.  Saute till tender.


4.  Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, 1/4 tsp pepper powder, cumin powder and sliced mushrooms.  Cover and cook till done.

5.  Finally, add the remaining pepper powder and cook till the water evaporates.  Switch off the flame.


Serve hot with rotis or rice.

September 15, 2017

Tulsi Jeera Water | Holy Basil n Cumin Herbal water


Suffering from cold / cough / headache / indigestion problem?  Try this best home remedy bowl of herbs for immediate relief.  


Ingredients :

  1. Water - 1/2 lt
  2. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  3. Basil leaves - 20 leaves
Method :

Warm the water along with cumin seeds.  Add basil leaves and switch off the flame.  


Drink warm.

September 13, 2017

Tomato Pickle !!


Hot, spicy and tangy tomato pickle taste great with rice, rotis or as a sandwich spread.


Ingredients :
  1. Tomatoes - 1 kg, washed and chopped finely
  2. Oil - 1/4 cup
  3. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  4. Hing - 1/4 tsp
  5. Chilly powder -  3 tbsp
  6. Salt to taste
  7. Tamarind extract  - 1 tbsp
  8. Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
  9. Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp

Method :

1.  Dry roast the mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds and grind them to fine powder.  Keep aside.

2.  In a wide pan, add the finely chopped tomatoes and cook them over medium heat.  Let the tomatoes gradually mash and reduces.

3.  Add tamarind extract and keep cooking until the mixture becomes thick.


4.  In a separate pan, heat oil and switch off the flame.  Add chilly powder, turmeric powder, hing and salt to taste in the oil.  Pour the oil in the tomato mixture.

5.  Add grounded spice powder to the tomato mixture.  Keep stirring for 5 mins or until done.

6.  Allow it cool completely and store it in an air tight container.


Refrigerate for longer use.

September 10, 2017

Carrot and Ginger Soup !!


Simple, healthy and delicious carrot soup is made with few ingredients.  Ginger spices the soup, creating a wonderful flavour to the dish.  Enjoy this warm soup with fresh crusty bread...


Ingredients :
  1. Carrots, roughly chopped - 500 gms
  2. Ginger, grated - 2 tbsp
  3. Garlic - 2 cloves (optional)
  4. Onion - 1 large sized
  5. Tomato - 1 large sized
  6. Oil / butter - 1 tsp
  7. Bay leaf - 1 no
  8. Water / Vegetable stock - 750 ml
  9. Salt to taste
  10. Nutmeg powder - 1/2 tsp
  11. Black pepper powder to taste

Method :

1.  Pressure cook the carrots, ginger, garlic, onion, tomato and salt till done.  Alternatively, cook them in the pan or microwave.

2.  Allow them to cool completely and puree them to smooth consistency, adding water if necessary.


3.  Heat butter in the pan, add bay leaf and pour the carrot puree and water (or vegetable stock).  Simmer it for 10 mins.

4.  Finally, add nutmeg powder and black pepper powder.  Remove the bay leaf and garnish it with grated ginger. 


Serve warm.

September 7, 2017

Mutton / Lamb Kidney Fry !!


Try this unique and delicious lamb kidney fry with rice or rotis.  


Ingredients :

  1. Lamb / Goat Kidney - 300 gms
  2. Oil - 1 tbsp
  3. Bay leaf - 1 no
  4. Cloves - 3 nos
  5. Cinnamon stick - 1 stick
  6. Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
  7. Curry leaves - 2 tbsp
  8. Onion, finely chopped - 2 medium sized
  9. Tomato, finely chopped - 1 medium sized
  10. Green chilli - 1 no, slit
  11. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
  12. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  13. Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
  14. Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
  15. Garam masala - 1 tsp
  16. Salt to taste
  17. Water
  18. Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
  19. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

1.  Wash and clean the kidney pieces with lemon juice and cut them into halves.

2.  Heat oil in the pan, add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, fennel seeds, curry leaves and finely chopped onions.  Saute till tender.

3.  Add curry leaves, ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder and green chilly.  Saute.

4.  Add finely chopped tomatoes and the kidney pieces.  Stir well.

5.  Add chilly powder, coriander powder and salt to taste.  Cover and cook over medium heat until done.  Add water while cooking, if required.

6.  Add garam masala and garnish it with coriander leaves.


Serve with rice or rotis.

September 4, 2017

Green Chilli Garlic Pickle !!


Try this hot, spicy and flavourful pickle with rice or rotis.


Ingredients :

  1. Green chillies - 12 nos
  2. Garlic, finely chopped - 10 nos
  3. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
  4. Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
  5. Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
  6. Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
  7. Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
  8. Carom seeds (or ajwain) - 1/2 tsp
  9. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
  10. Salt to taste
  11. Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
  12. Oil - 1/4 cup
  13. A pinch of hing
  14. Vinegar - 2 tbsp 

Method :

1.  Clean the green chillies and dry them completely.  Remove the head of chillies and chop / slice them into pieces.

2.  Dry roast the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds and carom seeds.  Cool them completely and grind them to coarse powder.

3.  Mix together the green chillies, grounded spice powder, turmeric powder, salt to taste and lemon juice.  


4.  Heat oil in the pan, add garlic & pinch of hing. Cook until the garlic is half cooked. Cool completely and pour over the chillies.  Mix well to combine.

5.  Add vinegar to the pickle and mix well.  


Store the pickle in the airtight container and refrigerate for longer use.  

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