Krithi's Kitchen

Chickpea Tropical Salad | Summer Salad Recipes

2013-05-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and it calls for healthy and simple salads. What if there is something that makes you spend less time in the kitchen. Well, I would definitely go for it, especially if it is packed with goodness bursting with flavors. This is a salad with all the ingredients of summer. Warmth, Fresh and Colorful.

Ingredients:
Serves - 2
Chickpeas - cooked - 2 cups or 1 can - Check out how I made canned chickpeas at home
Cucumber - 1 - chopped
Avocado - 1/2 chopped
Tomato - 1 - chopped
Mango - 1/2 of a big one - chopped
Cilantro - a handful
Dressing:
Cumin powder - 3/4 tsp
Lime juice - from 1 lime
Extra Virgin Olive oil - 3 tbsp
Salt and pepper - to taste

Method:
Reserve about 1 tsp of lime juice and whisk the remaining with olive oil, cumin, salt and pepper to make the dressing. Toss the avocado pieces with the reserved lime juice. Mix all the ingredients with the dressing and serve.

Linking this up to Jagruti's My Bowl of Salad, MLLA #59 by Susan & Lisa, Healthy Salads event by Priya.

Salmon Fry / Meen Varuval | Easy Indian Fish Recipes

2013-05-21T07:00:00.001-07:00

This is a simple and easy recipe for a south indian style fish fry. The ingredients are those which are readily available in the pantry. A little planning and preparation for marination the previous day or earlier the same day is all the effort that is needed for this tasty fish fry. Back home grandma used to make this with king fish. I tried making the same rub for salmon. Salmon tastes great without much masala or spices. It was after making tandoori salmon once that I realised that salmon would be excellent with Indian spices.

Ingredients:
Serves - 2
Salmon - 12 oz ~ 350 gms
Chilli powder - 1 tsp (I used 1-1/2 tsp of Kashmiri chilli powder)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1/2 tsp

Method:
Mix all the ingredients for marination in a bowl / ziploc bag. Add the salmon and mix until well coated. Keep covered in an airtight bowl for a minimum of 6 hours in the refrigerator. Heat oil in a shallow pan and add the salmon piece. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve.

Paruppu Rasam / Pigeon Pea Soup | Soup Recipes

2013-05-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Back home in India, Rasam is a must have in our daily lunch menu. After coming to US I do not make it quite often as it has to be featured in a South Indian Kitchen. The goodness of rasam / chaaru cannot be forgotten. It is a comforting soup which aids in digestion and regulates metabolism. Kavin loves rasam and so I make it very often. This paruppu rasam is a simple recipe and his favorite with ghee. As in many (okay, most) of my recipes I have used my favorite kitchen gadget, the pressure cooker.

Ingredients:
Toor dhal / split pigeon peas - 1/3 cup
Garlic - 2 cloves
Tomato - 1 - medium sized - cut into half
Olive oil / Castor oil - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Tamarind - size of half a lime - Soak in 1 cup of water and extract juice
Rasam powder - 1 tsp - 1 1/4 tsp
Salt - to taste
Tempering:
Olive oil / Ghee - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - a pinch
Cumin seeds - a pinch
Curry leaves - a few

Method:
Wash and soak toor dhal for 30 minutes. Cook the dhal and garlic, tomato, oil, salt, turmeric powder with 3 times water until it is fully cooked and turns mushy when pressed with a ladle. I used my pressure cooker to cook for 3 whistles. When done, drain the water and reserve. Mash the dhal, garlic and tomato with the back of a wooden spoon or ladle until fully mashed. Return the reserved liquid back to the pan and add the tamarind extract and rasam powder. The rasam should be watery at this stage. Add half to one cup of water until desired consistency is reached. Do a taste check for salt and spice (from rasam powder) and allow it to boil in medium heat. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer and continue to heat for a couple of minutes. Remove from heat. In another small pan heat ghee and add the ingredients for tempering viz. mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves. When the curry leaves splutters pour the tempering over the rasam. Serve steaming hot with steamed rice or as a soup before meal.

Beetroot Rice / Beetroot Sadham | Indian Rice Recipes

2013-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

DH once recited a list of dishes and asked me if I have it in my blog. I said "no" to most of them. Those are the recipes which we make most often but never got a chance to click them. As a part of my ongoing "more rice recipes for blog pact", I thought I should try to click them whenever I can. Here I am with another simple and easy recipe which we make often. Paired with simple curry or just yogurt and pickle, it is a satisfactory meal.

Ingredients:
Serves - 2
Beetroot - 2 small - grated
Basmati Rice - 1 cup
Onion - 1/4 cup
Green chilli - 1 or 2
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Split urad dhal - 1/2 tsp
Chana dhal - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste

Method:
Cook rice and spread in a plate to allow it to cool. Heat oil in a non-stick kadai and splutter the mustard seeds, urad dhal and chana dhal. When the chana dhal turns light brown in color add the slit green chilli and onions. Fry until the onions are cooked and add the cumin powder and salt. Add the grated beetroot and saute for a couple of minutes. Add about 1/4 cup of water and mix well. Cover and cook in medium heat until done. This would take about 10-15 minutes. Mix occasionally to avoid burning. When the beetroot is cooked through, add the cooked cooled rice and mix well. Remove from heat and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with any curry of your choice.

Sending this to Srivalli’s Kid’s Delight event hosted by Pavani.

Mambazha Pachadi / Sweet & Spicy Mango Chutney | Indian Chutney Recipes

2013-05-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Mango season is here and the market is overflowing with mangoes. I picked up a few to try out a few recipes and to slurp it down as such, a simple wish of a true mango lover. When we were kids spending our summer holidays in grandparents' house in the village in India, we got mangoes in abundant. Literally, abundant in big baskets. We used to eat at least a few in a day. Summer holidays were all about, eating, playing and having fun. Also featured on the menu for the holidays would be raw mango rice, mango juice and pickles. I made this easy to make pachadi yesterday as a side dish for sambar rice. It tastes great with rasam and curd rice too.

Ingredients:
Ripe Mango - 2 large - peeled and cubed
Chilli powder - a large pinch or 1/2 tsp (based on spice level)
Salt - to taste
For tempering:
Oil - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Dry red chillies - 2 or 3, broken

Method:
In a saucepan add the mango pieces with salt and chilli powder. Add about 1-1/2 to 2 cups of water and cook covered in medium heat for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally by mashing the mango pieces to ensure that it doesn't stick to the bottom. When almost all of the water has evaporated, remove the lid and cook until the remaining water is vaporized. Remove from heat and allow to cool. For tempering, heat oil and splutter the mustard and cumin seeds. Add the chillies and pour this tempering over the cooled mango pachadi. Mix well and store in a dry, airtight container in the fridge. Keeps well for about a week, if it lasts that long for you.
Notes:
A pinch of turmeric powder can be added if desired. I did not add because i wanted the natural color of mango.

Sending this to Srivalli’s Kid’s Delight event hosted by Pavani and to Mango Delights.

Cauliflower Peas Masala - South Indian Style | Indian Curry Recipes

2013-05-10T09:45:00.002-07:00

I had mentioned about my MIL's handwritten recipe book in my Sundal Kulambu recipe. It is a little book containing less than 20 recipes, all DH's favorites. She gave it to him when he first came to the US and did not have any experience in cooking. I believe he didn't try many recipes but the book was very useful to me. It had all his family recipes many of which were new to me. This Cauliflower Peas Masala recipe is from that book and another one for DH's favorite.

Ingredients:
Measurements in standard cup
Cauliflower - 1 - small - cut into florets and cleaned - approx 2 cups
Peas - 3/4 cup
Onion - 1 cup - chopped
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Oil - 2 tbsp
Make a Paste:
Red Chilli powder - 1-1/2 tsp (I used kashmiri chilli powder, if using regular chilli powder use 1 tsp)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
Garlic - 3 cloves
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - 1 small piece
Grated coconut - 2 tbsp

Method:
Grind the ingredients under "Make a paste" to a smooth paste. Heat oil in a wide kadai and splutter the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add the chopped onions and saute until it takes a light golden shade. Add the cauliflower florets and fry for about 10 minutes. The cauliflower pieces should be half-cooked at this time and have a slight crispy outer layer. Add the peas, salt and the ground masala with about 1 cup of water. Allow it to boil in medium-high heat until the raw smell disappears and the peas and cauliflower are cooked through. Mix occasionally to prevent the masala from sticking to the pan. Serve hot with roti, rice or pulao. I did with Carrot Rice.
Notes:
I used frozen peas. If using fresh peas, soak overnight and pressure cook beforehand for about 3 whistles.
This masala can also be made with only cauliflower or only peas.

Carrot Rice | Indian Rice Recipes

2013-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

When I looked back at my posts I saw I didn't have many rice dishes. After all, rice is the staple food of us South Indians. And DH cannot live without rice for more than two days. So I thought I should have more of those recipes in my space. This simple and quick Carrot Rice is my start for my "more rice recipes for blog pact". It is a great lunch box recipe too. Expect more simple rice recipes in my space.

Ingredients:
Serves - 2
Rice - 1 1/2 cups (rice cooker cup)
Carrot - 2 medium sized - grated
Onion -chopped - 1//2 cup
Green chillies - 2 or 3 - slit
Curry leaves - a few
Salt - to taste
Tempering:
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Broken Urad dhal - 1 tsp
Chana dhal - 1 tsp

Method:
Cook rice as twice the amount of water. When done, spread on a plate / cookie pan to cool completely. Meanwhile heat oil in a wide kadai and splutter the mustard seeds. Add the urad dhal and chana dhal and fry until it takes a shade of light brown. Add the curry leaves and slit green chillies and fry for a minute. Onion goes next. Fry for about 3-5 minutes with a pinch of salt until it turns soft. Now add the grated carrot and fry until it is cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Now add the cooked cooled rice and mix well. Serve with any curry of your choice. A simple pickle and papad would also be great.

Sending this to Srivalli’s Kid’s Delight event hosted by Pavani.

Muttai Kulambu / Boiled Egg Curry - South Indian Style | Indian Egg Curry Recipes

2013-05-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

There would be quite a few family recipes we all love but have forgotten. Being far away from my family and home country, certain dishes just vanish from my mind though the taste lingers in the thoughts. This is one such dish which I remembered one fine day and promptly called up grandma for the recipe. She patiently mentioned every ingredient and measurement with the steps involved. I also got a bonus recipe (another type of muttai kulambu). I followed the recipe to the T and arrived very close to the taste. I believe it was her touch that was missing :)

Ingredients:
Serves - 4
Eggs - 4
Onions - 1/2 cup chopped
Tomato - 1 - chopped
Curry leaves - a few
Oil - 2 tsp + 2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dhal - 1/2 tsp
To grind:
Coriander Seeds - 3 tbsp (heaped)
Cloves - 3
Cinnamon - 1" piece
Fennel seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Urad dhal - 1/2 tsp
Raw Rice - 1/2 tsp
Garlic cloves - 3 or 4
Grated Coconut - 4 tbsp (heaped)
Dry Red Chillies - 4

Method:
Boil the eggs as mentioned below and slice into two lengthwise. Heat 2 tsp of oil in a kadai and roast all the ingredients under "to grind" except coconut. Roast until the rice takes a light brown shade. Remove from heat and mix in the grated coconut. The residual heat is sufficient for the coconut to get roasted. Cool the mixture completely and grind to a smooth paste in a mixie/blender. Heat the remaining oil and splutter the mustard seeds, urad dhal and curry leaves. Add the chopped onion and saute until it turns pale. Add the chopped tomato with a pinch of salt and saute until the tomato becomes mushy. Now add the ground paste and mix in medium heat until the raw smell disappears, about 10-12 minutes. Add required quantity of water per the desired consistency and allow it to boil. When the kulambu boils, add salt, do a taste check and drop the halved eggs slowly. Simmer for about 5 minutes and remove from heat. Serve hot with steamed rice. This is also a great side dish for chapathi, idli or dosa.
How to boil eggs:
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 litres of water to boil. Drop the eggs slowly into the boiling water. Cook in medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Drain the water and fill with cold tap water. Set aside for about 5 minutes and then peel the eggs. Wash again in running tap water to remove any tiny bits of shell.

Pasi Paruppu Payasam / Moong Dhal Kheer | Indian Festival Recipes

2013-05-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

DH is not a sweet lover but still he can't say no to few of them. Gulab jamun, Carrot Halwa and this Pasiparuppu payasam are the very few sweets which he likes. I made this Pasi paruppu payasam for Tamil New Year this year. I wanted to reserve it to celebrate my 250th post. I didn't think I could make it this far but I am happy and thankful to my lovely readers. And of course my family and friends for the continued support and encouragement. This paruppu payasam has no milk or coconut milk and keeps good for a couple of days in the fridge.

Ingredients:
Serves - 2 to 3
Split Yellow Moong dhal / Pasi Paruppu / Hesaru Bele - 1 cup
Grated Jaggery - tightly packed - 1/2 cup
Water - 3 cups + 1.5 cups (see notes below)
Cardamom powder - a pinch
Ghee / Oil - 1 tsp
Cashew nuts - 5 - broken into little pieces
Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp

Method:
Dry roast the moong dhal in medium heat until it turns light brown in color. Pressure cook with 3 cups of water for 2 whistles (see notes below for stovetop method). Meanwhile dissolve the jaggery in the remaining water and filter. Heat with cardamom powder in a saucepan. When the dhal is done, mash slightly with the back of a spoon and mix with the heated jaggery water. Cook this dhal-jaggery mixture in medium heat. When the mixture comes to a boil remove from heat. Heat ghee in a pan and roast the cashew nuts. Remove and set aside. In the same pan roast the grated coconut in low heat until light brown. Add the roasted cashews and coconut to the dhal and serve hot. This kheer can also be served chilled.
Notes:
1. If serving chill, allow the payasam to come to room temperature and then pop in the refridgerator. Chill for a minimum of 2 hours and serve.
2. The 3 cups of water I used for cooking the dhal got absorbed fully when I pressure cooked the dhal. So I had to use 1.5 cups of water to the jaggery to bring to the desired consistency. You may need more or less water.
3. The dhal can also be cooked without a pressure cooker. In a medium saucepan, boil 3 cups of water and add the roasted moong dhal. Cook in medium-high heat until the dhal is cooked through. The moong dhal tends to be frothy and boil over. So keep a close eye and stir often.The dhal should be mashable with the fingers but still hold the shape.
Check out what I made for other milestone celebrations.
100th day of blogging - Honey Brownies
100th post - Carrot Kheer
2nd blog anniversary - Paal Kozhukattai
5 lakh hits - Mocha Chocolate Ricotta Creme

Sending this to Srivalli’s Kid’s Delight event hosted by Pavani.

Whole Wheat Pita Chips

2013-04-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Every cuisine has its own variety of bread. Though I was used to Indian breads like Roti, Poori, Chapathi, Paratha, Naan, Kulcha I did not know there are so many other breads. My knowledge of non-Indian breads were limited to white and brown (wheat) breads until I came to know about many other varieties like foccacia, ciabatta, brioche.. well the list is endless. Being a hardcore foodie and a passionate food blogger I love to explore other cuisines and try out the dishes whenever I can. It was one fine day when I tried these Home made Pita Bread from Denny's space. May be I did something wrong with the measurements the first time, the dough was very loose and wasn't perfect. The next time I tried, the Pita came out perfect but it was the chips that was too thick and hard. Apparently I hadn't separated the layers before slicing to bake chips. And as they say "third time's the charm", this time both my bread and chips came out perfectly. The process is little intensive but when you taste these homemade beauties they are worth the effort.

For the Pita Bread
Ingredients:
Yield - 8
Whole wheat flour - 3 cups
Salt - 1 1/2 tsp
Extra virgin Olive oil - 1 1/2 tbsp + more for brushing
Honey - 1 tsp (can substitute sugar)
Active dry yeast - 1 pkt (approx 2 1/4 tsp)
Water - 1 1/2 cups

Method:
Whisk the flour and salt together. Add 1 1/2 tbsp of olive oil and mix together until it is well incorporated. Heat 1/2 cup of water until lukewarm. Add honey and the yeast. Mix and set aside to proof the yeast. When the yeast is frothy add this yeast mixture to the flour and knead to form a dough using the remaining water. Use water as needed to form a smooth pliable dough. Coat another bowl with oil and place the dough ball (coated with oil) and cover. Set aside in a draft-free space to rise. I set aside for 2 hours to fully rise to double the original volume.

When risen, punch down and form equal sized balls out of the dough. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside again to proof for 15 mins. Place a cookie sheet inside the oven in the center rack and preheat it to 500 F. In a rolling board, place one dough ball and roll to form a flat bread (about 6" diameter). Transfer to a plate and cover with damp kitchen towel until other balls are rolled out. Repeat for other balls. When the oven is heated, place one rolled out bread and bake for about 3 to 5 minutes or until puffed. Remove carefully with tongs and brush with some olive oil. Allow it to cool slightly before being served. Can be served as pita bread or pita pockets for falafel.
Notes for Pita Bread:
You may or may not need 1 1/2 cups of water. Use as required.
For good leavening, allow the dough to rise 3 times. One as a whole dough ball, second, after making small balls when the oven is preheating. Third, After rolling out the bread (a couple of minutes is good).

To make Pita Chips
Ingredients:
Serves - 2
Pita Bread - 2
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Salt & pepper - to taste

Method:
Preheat the oven to 400 F / 200 C. Line a cookie sheet with aluminium foil. When the bread is still warm cut it into two and gently pull apart the cut part to form a pita pocket. Use a knife to separate the pockets. Cut into wedges. One pita bread can be made as 16 or 12 wedges. Coat the wedges with oil, salt and pepper. Transfer to the cookie sheet and arrange so that the wedges do not overlap. Bake for 10-15 mins until slightly golden and crisp. Serve warm or in room temperature with hummus or any dip of your choice.
Sending this to Nayna's Flavours of Greece event; Made with Love Mondays; Swathi's Favorite Recipes event.

Palak and Three Dhal Curry / Paruppu Keerai Kootu | Indian Curry Recipes

2013-04-25T13:00:00.001-07:00

This is one of DH's favorite ways to make palak and dhal curry. By "favorite" I mean he makes it this way and we all love it. It is truly a bachelor way of cooking and very tasty too. Simple ingredients and easy method of preparation makes this dish a breeze to make. Paired with hot rice and some spicy side dish like Seppankilangu / Colacasia Fry it makes a happy tummy and happy heart!

Ingredients:
Serves - 4; measurements in rice cooker cup
Pigeon peas / Toor dhal - 3/4 cup
Yellow moong dhal - 1/2 cup
Whole moong bean (green) - 1/2 cup
Spinach - 5 cups tightly packed - roughly chopped
Red chilli - 4 - broken
Garlic - 5 cloves
Onion - 1/2 of a big one - chopped
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida / Hing / Perungayam - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Wash and soak the dhals together for 30 mins to 1 hour. Heat oil in a pressure cooker and splutter the mustard, cumin seeds and asafoetida. Add the broken red chillies and onion followed by whole garlic cloves. When the onion becomes soft, add the spinach and saute until wilted. Add the drained dhals and 5 cups of water with salt. Cover and pressure cook for 5 whistles. When done, mash with back of a spoon and serve over hot steamed rice. Great with chapathis and dosas too.
Linking this to Pari's Only Cooking with Legumes.

Chapathi Upma | Upma Recipes

2013-04-22T13:00:00.001-07:00

This one is not much of a recipe per se, but an idea for a quick and healthy snack with leftover chapathi. If you want a colorful and healthy makeover for otherwise regular chapathi try this one. I also have another makeover recipe for chapathi which I will post soon. Now for the recipe.

Ingredients:
Leftover chapathi - 4
Onion - 1 cup - chopped fine
Green Bellpepper/Capsicum - 1/2 of a big one, any quantity of fresh vegetables can be added to make this dish more colorful and nutrient rich
Tomato - 1/2 - chopped fine
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dhal - 1/2 tsp
Chana dhal - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp or to taste
Salt - to taste
Curry leaves - few (optional)

Method:
To reheat leftover Chapathi:
Wrap the chapathi in a wet kitchen towel and microwave for about 30 secs to a minute. Hot fresh chapathis ready.
Cut or tear the chapathi into small pieces. In a kadai heat oil and splutter the mustard seeds. Add urad dhal, chana dhal, curry leaves and onion. Saute until the onions turn soft and add the bell peppers. Fry for about a minute and add the chopped tomatoes with chilli powder and a pinch of salt. When the tomatoes are almost cooked add the cut chapathi pieces and mix until the vegetable mixture coats well on the chapathi. Serve hot for evening snack.

Sending this to Srivalli’s Kid’s Delight event hosted by Pavani.

Spicy Oven Roasted Broccoli | Indian Broccoli Recipes

2013-04-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables. In my point it is very versatile where I can have it simply steamed with a dash of salt and pepper or make it protein rich like in a usili or soup. But mostly I spice it up a little, but make sure I don't lose the original taste of it. This is a simple and one of my favorite ways of eating broccoli.

Ingredients:
Broccoli Crowns - 2
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp - 1 tsp (per taste buds)
Garlic powder - 1 tsp or Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste

Method:
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a cookie pan with foil or parchment paper and coat with some oil. Cut the broccoli into little florets and wash them. Drain well in a colander. Sprinkle the garam masala, chilli powder, garlic powder and salt. Toss to coat the spices well. Now add the oil and mix well. Spread as a single layer on the foil lined pan. Pop into the oven for 20-25 minutes turning over the florets once in between. Serve hot as a appetizer or side. A cool raitha would be a great dip for these goodies.

Linking these up to Priya's Healthy Me & Us; Vardhini's Bake Fest #18; Srivalli's Kid's Delight.

Soya Chukka / Soy Chunks Spicy Stir-Fry | Indian Soy Recipes

2013-04-15T13:00:00.001-07:00

I picked up this bag of soy chunks on my grocery shopping last time, hoping to make something as a protein-rich snack. Not being a vegetarian myself I was not crazy about these when I was young. But tastes change as we grow, don't they. I thought I would give it another try and this chukka is my first attempt. When I came to know about Radhika's Tickling Palates being the featured blog in Tried & Tasted this month I knew I was definitely going to participate. Her's is a lovely space with so many homestyle and authentic recipes. I was going through her Recipe Index and guess what I found.. This easy to make Soya Chukka! I bookmarked it immediately and tried it pretty soon. This is great as an evening snack or as a side dish for rice or roti.

Ingredients:
Serves - 2; Preparation Time - 30 mins
Soy Chunks - 1 cup
Pearl onions / Sambar onions - 12 (peeled and halved)
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp (1 tsp if using kashmiri, I used spicy chilli powder so used only 1/2 tsp)
Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Tamarind extract - 2 tbsp (optional)
Pepper powder + Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp (recipe called for crushing fresh pepper and cumin seeds but I took a shortcut)
Cilantro / Coriander leaves - a little for garnish
Salt - to taste
Oil - as needed

Method:
Heat about 5 cups of water in a saucepan. When it comes to a rolling boil, remove from heat and add the soy chunks. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess water and repeat rinse and squeeze with three exchanges of water. After final rinse and squeeze cut the soy balls into small pieces as desired. Set aside. Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a kadai and saute the pearl onions until pink. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute in medium heat for 2 minutes. Now add the spice powders (except pepper + cumin) and fry for a couple more minutes. Add 2 tbsp of oil (if the onion mixture is dry) and add the cut soy chunks with salt and tamarind extract and mix well. Cook for 5 minutes or until the soy chunks are cooked through. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot as a side for rice.
Notes:
1. Definitely use pearl onions. Substituting with regular onions would not even be close.
2. I am planning to skip the tamarind next time.
Linking this to Tried & Tasted event by Lakshmi.

Cauliflower and Cheese Soup - Guest Post for Savitha

2013-04-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

Cooking from cookbooks is always exciting isn't it? I and my sister always used to experiment by cooking from cookbooks. It was those days when we learnt the difference between teaspoon and tablespoon measurements. I was more of a sous-chef doing all the chopping and she will be the one who cooks. Most of our "experiments" turned out fine, some "ok" but nothing went terribly bad :). I stopped collecting cookbooks after a while and recently started collecting again. This recipe is from my newest collection "Williams Sonoma - Soup" book. I loved all the recipes and many of it being pure vegetarian, made me love the book even more.

Savitha and I are pretty close blog buddies. I still remember when we first got into chatting. It was when she blogged about her Strawberry Banana Smoothie when we started exchanging comments and started chatting. Web chats got more than just food when she was pregnant with her second kid the same time that I was with Lil Kavin and she was a real support on tips on what to eat and to tackle glucose levels.. When I was skeptical on getting back to blogging full-fledged after a baby she was an inspiration which had me back. When she asked for a guest post in her space I immediately agreed. Who wouldn't want to be a guest.. right? This Cauliflower and Cheese Soup is something I have been wanting to make ever since I got this "Williams Sonoma - Soup" book.

Hop over to her space for the full recipe..

Kayi Obbattu / Thengai Poli - Ugadi Wishes!

2013-04-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Ugadi to everyone.. In our house Ugadhi is celebrated in a simple way with decorating the main entrance of the house with mango leaves, preparing ugadi pachadi, making this obbattu and like in all other Indian festivals, worshipping God for health and wellness. Being in US though I do not have access to mango leaves or neem flowers to make ugadi pachadi, I thought why not try the obbattu part.. This is a very simple recipe to make and takes much less time to make unlike most other Indian Sweets.

Ingredients:
Yields 12 pieces of 4" obbattus
Maida / All Purpose Flour - 1 cup
Oil - 1 tbsp + more for spreading out the obbattu
Grated Coconut (unsweetened) - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 cup (Jaggery can be substituted, but this is how it is made at my home)
Water - 1/3 cup + more for kneading dough
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - a pinch

Method:
Mix the maida with salt and add water little by little to make a loose dough. Knead until the dough becomes non-sticky. Coat with 1 tbsp of oil, cover and set aside for a minimum of 30 minutes. Meanwhile prepare the coconut filling. In a non-stick kadai, heat water and sugar with cardamom powder until all of the sugar dissolves. Add the grated coconut and mix in medium heat until most of the water evaporates and the mixture becomes sticky. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. When it is cool enough to handle, make 12 lime-sized balls. Divide the dough also into 12 portions. In a flat surface, spread a plastic sheet (cling film works good here) and apply little oil. Place a dough ball and spread into a circle (trust me it would be irregular, but no worries) of 4" wide using fingers. Place the pooranam-coconut filling in the center and cover with the edges of the dough to close the filling completely. Press and spread again with fingers to make obbittus(poli). Heat a tawa and carefully place the spread out polis and allow to cook. Flip over and cook for another couple of minutes until done.
Notes:
1. Kneading well and setting aside the dough for 30 minutes ensures formation of gluten which enables the elasticity of the dough for easy stretching while spreading.
2. The filling has to be moist, frying it too much would dry it out and result in hard filling. It is impossible to use it as a stuffing then.
3. Oil/Ghee can be used while cooking. I did not use any.
4. I halved the above recipe to make 6 pieces just right for the 2 of us for a couple of days.
5. This stays good in room temperature for upto 3 days.

Linking this up to Celebrating Ugadi event of Madhu.

Besan Pizza / Fusion Farinata Pizza

2013-04-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pizza anyone? Home-made? Gluten-free? Low carb? Eggless? If you answer "yes" to the above questions, this is for you. When I was searching for a flourless pizza I arrived at this recipe. This is an easy to put together pizza and the step which would take time is just the chopping of the vegetables. The original recipe was a farinata crust which is similar to the crispy thin crust pizza. I wanted to make a more foldable crust and reduced the water and the set time for the pizza base. Totally loved the outcome! A gluten-free low-carb pizza which we enjoyed guilt-free..

Ingredients:
Adapted from here
Serves - 2
Besan / Chickpea flour - 1 cup
Water - 3/4 cup
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Italian seasoning - 1/2 tsp
Part skim mozzarella cheese - sliced thin - as needed
Parmesan cheese - 2 tbsp
Vegetables toppings:
Red bell pepper - 1/4 cup or more
Eggplant - chopped into 1/2" piece - 1/4 cup
pablano pepper - 1
Pitted Black Olives - 5 - sliced thin
Baby Spinach - handful
Sun-dried tomatoes - 1 tbsp - drained - chopped
Red onion - julienned - 1/4 cup or more
You favorite Pasta sauce - 1/4 cup or more
Red pepper flakes / Pepper - to taste

Method:
Whisk the chickpea flour with water without any lumps. Set aside for about 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 450 F. Meanwhile chop the vegetables and prep the cheeses. Mix the pasta sauce with a pinch of salt, chopped sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes. When the oven is preheated, put a 9 x 9 inch square (or round) pan into the oven 10 minutes for preheating. Skim the froth (if any) on the flour mixture. Mix in salt and italian seasoning. Pull the pan from the oven and spray some olive/canola oil. Pour the flour mixture and put the pan back in the oven for 12 - 15 minutes until the top of the base looks cooked and passes a fork test. When done, spread the prepared pasta sauce and top with sliced mozzarella cheese. Layer the vegetables all over the pizza and top with grated parmesan cheese. Put the pan back in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts. Serve hot.

Linking this up to the following events Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids - Italian event by Nithu; Flavours of Cuisines - Italian event by Julie; Vardhini's Bake Fest #18.

Simple Vegetable Fried Rice / Brown Rice with Stir Fried Vegetables | Indian Rice Recipes

2013-04-02T19:44:00.000-07:00

Vegetable Fried Rice is my ultimate go-to dish when I run out of ideas, have no mood to think or simply have to finish off its and bits of vegetables hanging out in the fridge. It is a family favorite too. Paired with a simple dhal tadka or a sabji it is a great meal altogether.

Ingredients:
Brown Basmati Rice - 1 cup
Water - 1-1/2 cups
Carrot - 1 - chopped
Red Bell Pepper - 1/2 - chopped
Green Bell Pepper - 1/2 - chopped
Asparagus - 4 spears - chopped
Zucchini - 1/2 - chopped
Spring Onions / Scallions - 2
Salt & Pepper - to taste
Sesame oil / Gingelly oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Cook the brown basmati rice according to below instructions. When done fluff with fork and spread on a plate to cool completely. Heat oil in a wok in medium-high heat and add the spring onion whites. After 2 minutes, add the chopped asparagus. In 2-minute intervals add the carrots, zucchini, green bell peppers, red bell peppers one by one and saute continuously. Add the salt and pepper and immediately add the cooked cooled brown rice and mix well. Remove from heat, check for seasoning and mix in the spring onion greens. Serve hot with ketchup or any curry of your choice.
How to cook brown basmati rice in Pressure Cooker:
Wash and soak 1 cup of rice in water for 30 minutes. Drain the water and pressure cook with one and a half cups of water for 6 whistles. This is a rice-water ratio and number of whistles I got through trial-and error method. Other non-basmati brown rice may need different amount of water and cook time.
Linking this delicious rice bowl to Kid's Delight - Street Food and to Leftover Makeover.

Kathirikai Poriyal / Simple Brinjal Fry | Indian Curry Recipes

2013-03-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

I am always in the lookout for more brinjal recipes. DH being a big lover for Ennai Kathirikai Kulambu, Chinese Stir-fried eggplant or Eggplant Parmigiana we cannot get enough of the dishes which has eggplant. This is one particular recipe I arrived at when I was watching the cookery show by Chef Dhamu. I made it for lunch one day and it was a big hit at home. I love how the aroma of the fennel seeds and curry leaves flavours this dish.

Ingredients:
Brinjal / Indian eggplants - 8
Fennel Seeds / Sombu - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 4
Onion - chopped - 3/4 cup
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
Black Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp or to taste
Salt - to taste
Oil - 3 tbsp
Cilantro / Coriander leaves - for garnish

Method:
Cut the stem off the brinjals and chop them into wedges. Place the cut brinjals in a bowl of water to prevent discoloration. Heat oil in a non-stick kadai over med-high heat and temper the fennel seeds and curry leaves. When the fennel seeds stops sizzling add the chopped onion. Fry until the onion shrinks and turns translucent. Add the ginger-garlic paste and follow the 2 minute rule (below). Drain the water from the brinjals and add to the pan. Spread in a single layer and allow it to sear for a couple of minutes. Using a wooden spoon turn over the pieces carefully. Sprinkle some salt and continue cooking until the brinjals are three-fourth done, turning over only occasionally. Add the turmeric, chilli and coriander powders and mix. Check for seasoning and add pepper as needed. Cook until completely done and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot as a side for rice. Best pair for curd rice.
Ginger Garlic paste and the 2 minute rule:
This is a trick I follow to fry ginger-garlic paste without burning them. Before adding the paste reduce the heat to medium. Add the paste and fry continuously for 2 minutes. Perfectly fried, raw smell gone and not burnt!!

Linking this to Cook like a Celebrity Chef event; Taste of the Tropics - Ginger and HITS - Diabetic Friendly and to Veggie/Fruits a Month - Eggplant.

Pesto Pasta Primavera & One bowl Eggs Florentine | Easy Pasta Recipes

2013-03-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Our weekend lunches are mostly simple. I would prefer to keep cooking time to minimum to spare more time for cleaning or other chores. If you are looking for a simple and wholesome meal look no further. This is a fusion of two of my favorite pasta dishes, Pesto Pasta and Pasta Primavera. I used the vegetables I had at hand to make this dish. It is a simple dish with whole grain pasta, loads of vegetables complete with a cheesy and filling omelet.

For the Pasta:
Serves - 2
Spaghetti - 1/4 of a box (angel hair)
Asparagus - 6 spears
Zucchini - 1/4 cup - julienned
Red bell pepper - 1/2 - julienned
Italian seasoning - 1 tsp
Red pepper flakes - 1/4 tsp or to taste
Basil Pesto or any Herb pesto - 1/4 cup (Click here for Home made Pesto recipe)
Milk - 2 tbsp
Oil - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste (optional since pesto and cooked pasta already has salt)

Method:
Cook pasta in 4 to 6 litres of salted boiling water until done. Drain and set aside to cool. Heat oil in wide skillet and toss the vegetables in high heat. Add the red pepper flakes, italian seasoning and salt to taste. Add the cooked cooled pasta and toss well. Remove from heat and add the milk and pesto. Mix well and serve garnished with fresh basil leaves.

One bowl Eggs Florentine

DH being a vegetarian, I made this One Bowl Eggs Florentine just for me. This recipe can easily be doubled. Traditional eggs florentine are poached eggs on a bed of spinach on a cheese sauce. I took a shortcut and made this omelet style eggs florentine with egg, spinach and cheddar cheese.

Ingredients:
Egg - 1
Spinach - a handful chopped
Low fat Milk - 2 tbsp
Grated Cheddar cheese - 2 tbsp
Salt & Pepper - to taste
Oil - 1 tsp

Method:
In a bowl whisk the egg well until frothy. Add the other ingredients and mix well. Coat a skillet with 1 tsp of oil. Pour the egg-spinach-cheese mixture and let it cook on medium heat for 1 or 2 minutes. Patience is the key to not change this fluffy omelet into scrambled eggs. Anyway, it tastes awesome either way. Flip over with the spatula and continue cooking for another minute. Serve with Pesto Pasta Primavera for a complete meal.

Sending this plate to Pari's Only-Continental event; Your Kitchen in Spring and Let's Cook for Kids.

Pad Thai Tofu Lettuce Wraps / Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

2013-03-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

Being an Indian, I love the other Asian cuisines very much since the complexity and levels of flavours are so similar in all of them. Grazing through my menu one could see that I love Thai food and tried quite a number of varieties. One of my favorite go-to dish in thai restaurants is Pad Thai (meaning "Fried, thai style"). While the authenticity of the origin of the dish is still in question, I do not mind where it originated given it being tasty. Another cuisine I love is the Chinese and the PF Chang's Tofu lettuce wraps is an inspiration for making this dish. This recipe is vegetarian and Vegan too.

Ingredients:
Serves - 2 as a meal; 4 as an appetizer
Firm Tofu - 1/2 block
Lettuce wraps - as needed (I used iceberg lettuce)
Peanuts - 3 tbsp
Scallions / Spring onion - cut on a bias - for garnish
Lemon juice - for garnish
Oil - 2 tbsp
For Tofu Marinade:
Low sodium Soy sauce - 3 tbsp
Agave syrup - 2 tbsp (see notes below)
Red pepper flakes - 1 tbsp
Grated ginger - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste
For Sauce:
Tamarind extract - 3 tbsp (see notes below)
Agave syrup - 1 tbsp (see notes below)
Low Sodium Soy sauce - 2 tbsp
Red pepper flakes - 1 tbsp
Salt - as needed

Method:
Press the tofu and remove excess water. Cut into tiny pieces or into desired size. Mix the ingredients for marinade in a ziploc bag and put the cut tofu in the bag. Close the bag and mix well for the marinade to coat the tofu pieces. Store in the fridge until ready to use. Anywhere from 4 to 24 hours is good.
Dry roast the peanuts until toasted. When done, allow to cool, remove skin and crush into little pieces. Mix the ingredients for sauce and do a taste check. Balance out the flavours according to your palate.
When ready, heat oil in a wide pan and add the marinated tofu. Let it sear for a couple of minutes in med-high heat and then toss. Allow it to sear for couple more minutes and then transfer to a plate. Add the sauce to the same pan and allow it to boil. Reduce the heat and add the tofu and mix. Remove from heat after about 3-5 minutes and garnish with crushed peanuts, lemon juice and spring onions. Serve over lettuce cups.
Notes:
1. I used big gooseberry sized tamarind to make the extract. If using ready to use tamarind paste, mix about 1 tsp of the extract with water to make 3 tbsp.
2. I have used salt very sparingly since the soy sauce already has salt.
3. I used agave nectar for a mellow sweetness. Feel free to substitute with brown sugar or honey. Increase the amount though, since agave is sweeter than sugar or honey.

Sending these beauties to PJ's Celebrate Women's day; Susan's MLLA#57; Taste of the Tropics - Ginger; Flavours of Cuisines - Chinese;

Mocha Chocolate Ricotta Creme for a Celebration | Easy Dessert Recipes

2013-03-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have a sweet tooth and I often crave for simple desserts which does not make me spend hours in the kitchen. This is one such recipe I came across. It is similar to ice cream but has just one-third of the calories in ice cream and is actually good for you. The part-skim ricotta cheese fills you up without weighing you down. And how can anything chocolate-flavored does not taste good.
Coming to the "Celebration" part, my space crossed 5 lakh hits last week. Whats more perfect for a celebration than something chocolatey?!!

Ingredients:
Preparation time: 10 mins; Serves - 2
Part skim ricotta cheese - 1 cup
Unsweetened Cocoa powder - 1 tbsp
Bittersweet / Semi sweet Chocolate chips - 1 tbsp
Instant coffee powder - 1/2 tsp
Low fat milk - 2 tbsp
Sugar or Sugar substitute - 2 - 3 tbsp

Method:
Mix all the ingredients except cheese in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Mix well and allow it to cool. When cooled mix with the cheese and pulse a couple of times in a blender. Serve Chilled.

Linking this yummy goodness to the following events..
Anu's Healthy Recipe Substitution; PJ's Celebrate Women's day; Sumee's Bon vivant - Kid's Delight; Let's Cook for Kids; Nithu's Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids; Jagruti's Choc Full Easter.

Idli Milagai Podi | Side Dish for Idli Dosa

2013-03-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

This is another version of podi I make for Idli/Dosa. As I had said in my previous post, here I am with my sister's version of idli podi. Wow, It is going to be 2 years already since my previous post on idli podi. This podi is a staple in my pantry and always will be present when I make Idli and is my most favorite combination for Idli. What is your favorite combo for Idli?

Ingredients:
Per standard measurement cup
Toor Dhal - 1 cup
Chana Dhal - 1 cup
Moong dhal - 1/2 cup
Dry Red Chillies - 25-28
Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Salt - 1-1/2 tsp

Method:
Dry roast all the dhals one by one until light brown in color. Roast the red chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida slightly. Take care not to burn the red chillies. Allow to cool and grind to a slightly coarse powder in a mixie or coffee grinder with salt. Mix with gingelly (sesame) oil and serve with hot idlis.

Linking this to Srivalli's Kid's Delight.

Lettuce and Rajma Soup | Soup Recipes

2013-03-01T16:00:00.001-08:00

When I was searching for soup recipes which would be wholesome and make a complete dinner, I landed on Kalyn's recipe. For those who have not checked Kalyn's space, hers is a huge collection of tasty and healthy recipes. If you think healthy has to be boring you should definitely check out her space which would change that idea. I adapted her Chicken, Black Bean and Cilantro soup to make this Lettuce and Red Kidney beans soup.

Ingredients:
Serves - 4 for dinner
Lettuce - 4 cups - chopped
Red Kidney beans / Rajma - cooked - 2 cups OR use 1 can rinsed
Chicken stock / Vegetable stock - 3 cups
Water - 2 cups
Cilantro / Coriander leaves - handful - chopped
Juice of half a lime
Oil - 2 tsp
Onion - chopped - 1/2 cup
Celery - chopped - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 2 - chopped
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp or to taste
Salt - to taste

Method:
Heat oil in a wide bowl and saute the onions and celery until soft. Add the cumin powder and chilli powder. Add the tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Saute for a couple of minutes before adding the beans and lettuce. Saute until the lettuce wilts. Add the chicken/vegetable stock and heat for 10 mins. Now transfer half the contents to a blender and pulse for a few seconds. Alternatively you could use an immersion blender. Continue cooking until it boils. Now add the cilantro and simmer for 10 minutes. Squeeze the lime juice and continue to simmer for 3 or 4 minutes and remove from heat. Serve hot for a delicious and filling meal.
Linking this soup up to Spotlight - One pot Meal; HITS - Diabetic Friendly event by Sangeetha; Winter Foods - 30 min challenge.

Adai & Avial | Idli Dosa Recipes | Indian Curry Recipes

2013-02-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

There would be an infinite number of combinations to make Adai, the healthy lentil-rice crepes of South-India. This recipe is just one of the many possibilities you can make adai healthy. I have reduced the quantity of rice in this adai and also replaced the white rice with brown rice. Did you know that Adai and Avial is a combination which tastes awesome? I have heard about this combination but only quite recently tried it. It really is a super healthy combination.
Avial is tamil for "steamed". Quite true to its name the vegetables in this dish are steamed with just a little water and gets ready in a little time. The protein from the dhal, carbs from the rice in the adai and the fiber and nutrients in the vegetables of the avial makes a wholesome meal in itself.
Also check out my other Adai recipe here.

Ingredients for Adai:
Measurements in rice cooker cup; Makes 10-12 adais
Toor dhal - 1 cup
Moong dhal - 1/2 cup
Chana dhal - 1/2 cup
Raw Rice - 1/2 cup (I used Brown Basmati)
Red chillies - 5
Pearl onions - 5 - halved
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Method:
Wash and soak the dhals and rice together for 4 to 6 hours. Grind to a slightly coarse batter with the rest of the ingredients. Heat a griddle and pour about quarter cup of batter in the center. Use the back of the ladle to swirl the batter in a circle manner. Spray some oil and cook for about 2 minutes. Flip over and cook until done. Serve hot with Idli podi / Tomato thokku or Avial.

Avial
Recipe Source - MIL
Vegetables - 4 cups (I used a mix of drumsticks, carrot, green beans, brinjal, zucchini)
Thick Greek Yogurt / Curd - 2 tbsp (whipped)
Coconut oil - 1 tsp (kind of an inevitable part of avial)
Water - 1/2 cup
Salt - taste
Make a paste:
Grated Coconut - 3 tbsp
Cumin seeds - a pinch
Green chilli - 1 or 2

Method:
Boil water in a saucepan with salt. Add the vegetables, cover and cook until done. I added drumstick, carrots and beans first and allowed it to steam for 10 mins. Added the eggplant and zucchini (which cooks relatively fast) after 10 minutes and cooked covered for another 5-7 mins. When the vegetables are cooked and tender, drain excess water. Add the ground paste, coconut oil and cook in medium heat for another 4-5 mins. Remove from heat and mix in the whipped curd. Serve with Sambar rice or Adai.
Note: Zucchini is not traditionally added in avial. Other traditional vegetables are potato, yam, colocasia, taro root, plantain. You could use whatever you have at hand.
Sending this delicious combo to From out of Mom's Kitchen event.