Nirus Food

Quick Aloo Methi

2010-02-19T03:46:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
Potatoes:-2
Methi leaves:-1 bunch
Jeera:-1/2 tsp
Curry leaves:-1 sprig
Salt and chilli powder:-as per taste.
Turmeric powder:-1/2 tsp
Oil:-2 tbsp
Urad dal:-1 tsp
Corinader powder:-1/2 tsp
Coriander:- to garnish
METHOD:

Grate and chop potatoes and microwave them till half done.
Heat oil in a kadai and add jeera,curryleaves,urad dal and let them fry till golden colour.
Add parboiled potatoes and fry a while.
Add chopped methi and fry till raw smell is off.
Add salt,chilli powder,turmeric powder and mix well.
Add coriander powder and fry for 2 min.
Garnish with coriander and serve hot.

Egg less whole wheat nutty cake

2010-02-18T01:45:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

Whole wheat flour:-2 cups

Raisins and chopped nuts of ur choice:-1/2 cup

Baking soda:-1/2 tsp

Baking powder:-1/2 tsp

Brown sugar:-1/2 cup

Sugar:-1 cup

Softened Butter:-1/2 cup

Milk:-1/2 cup

METHOD:

Sift the flour,baking powder,baking soda and mix brown sugar and set aside.
Add sugar to butter and beat well till frothy.
Add the sifted mixture and add milk and mix well.
Add the nuts and raisins and bake it in preheated oven for 35-40 min at 375F
Check if toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean.
Let it cook on wire rack and cut to pieces and serve.

Spicy Raitha/Yogurt Dip

2010-02-18T01:37:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

Whole curd/Yogurt:-1 cups

Coriander leaves:-5 sprigs

Carrot:-small

Salt:-as per taste

Curry leaves:-2 sprigs

Green chillies:-3

Onion:-1

METHOD:

Beat curd to a smooth paste without lumps.
Chop onions,coriander leaves,carrot,green chillies,curry leaves very finely.
Take a bowl and add salt and the above finely chopped veggies and mix well.
Add the beaten curd and mix well and serve along any biryani.

Dahi Vada /Perugu vada

2010-02-18T01:07:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
Urad dal:-1 cup
Cumin:-1 tsp
Curry leaves:-2 sprigs
Onion:-1 cup chopped
Dahi (whole yogurt):-2 cups
Coriander leaves:-1/2 bunch
Green chilies chopped:-4
Hing:-as per taste
Oil:-to deep fry
Mustard seeds,urad dal,red chilli cumin for tadka
METHOD:

Clean, wash and soak the dal overnight.
Grind it into smooth paste.
Beat it well till a small lump of batter when dropped in water floats.This makes vadas very fluffy.
Add salt to taste.
Add chopped onions,chopped chillies,chopped curry leaves and mix well.
Heat oil in a pan and drop a spoonfuls of batter and fry till golden brown.
Take the hot vadas and put in cold water for 2 minutes.This makes vadas smooth.U can skip this step if u dont want vadas too smooth.
Now Take them out of water and squeeze the water gently and keep aside.
Beat yogurt untill smooth without lumps.
Blend cumin,green chilli,coriander leaves and add to yougurt.
Heat little oil and make tadka and add to yogurt.
Arrange wadas and pour dahi over them.
Garnish with tadka and serve.

Egg Masala

2009-10-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Eggs:-2

Onions:-2

Tomatoes:-2

Curry leaves:-1 sprig

Coriander:-to garnish

Salt and chilli powder:-as per taste

Turmeric:-1/2 tsp

Jeera:-1/2 tsp

Olive oil:-4 tbsp

Coriander powder:-1/2 tsp

METHOD:

Hard boil eggs and make slits and put aside.
Grind the chopped onions to a smooth paste.
Heat oil in a kadai and add jeera and curry leaves.
Add Chopped tomatoes and cook till mushy.
Add the ground onion mixture and salt,turmeric,and chilli powder and cook covered on low heat.
Mix well and fry till oil oozes out.
Add the boiled eggs and coriander powder and mix well keep covered for few minutes.
Add chopped coriander and serve with rice or roti.

Brocolli coconut curry

2009-10-06T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
Brocoli florets:-1 cup
Grated coconut:-1/2 cup
Onions:-2
Olive oil:-3 tbsp
Jeera:-1/2 tsp
Curry leaves:-1 sprig
Salt and chilli powder:-as per taste
Turmeric powder:-1/2 tsp
METHOD:

Chop onions finely and make small florets of brocolli and set aside.
Heat oil in a kadai and add jeera and curryleaves and once they splutter add onions and fry till pink.
Add brocolli and fry till raw smell is off.
Add turmeric,salt and chilli powder,grated coconut and fry a while.
Serve hot with roti or rice.

Egg Brocolli Curry

2009-10-06T21:20:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Brocoli florets:-1 cup

Eggs:-2

Onions:-2

Olive oil:-3 tbsp

Jeera:-1/2 tsp

Curry leaves:-1 sprig

Salt and chilli powder:-as per taste

Turmeric powder:-1/2 tsp

METHOD:

Chop onions finely and make small florets of brocolli and set aside.
Heat oil in a kadai and add jeera and curryleaves and once they splutter add onions and fry till pink.
Add brocolli and fry till raw smell is off.
Reduce the heat lo low and pull the onion brocolli mixture aside and break the eggs into the kadai and make scramble.
Once egg scramble is cooked ,mix up everything and let it cook together.
Add turmeric,salt and chilli powder and fry a while.
Serve hot with roti or rice.

poppy/khus khus chicken curry

2009-10-06T04:17:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Chicken thighs:-1 lb
Chopped Onion:-1 cup

Chopped tomato:-1 cup
Green chillies:-3
Coriander leaves:-to garnish
Ginger garlic paste:-1 tbsp
Salt:-as per taste
Turmeric powder:-1/2 tsp
Chilli powder:-1 tsp
Olive oil:-3 tbsp
khus-khus/poppy seeds:-3 tbsp powdered
Coriander seeds:-5tbsp
Cinnamon:-1/2 inch stick
Cloves:-5
Cardamom:-2
METHOD:

Wash and cut the chicken into pieces.
Soak poppy seeds and grind them to smooth paste.
Powder coriander seeds,cloves and cinnamon to make masala powder.
In a pan heat oil and add onion and green chillies.when onions turn translucent add ginger garlic paste.
Add chicken pieces,salt and turmeric saute them until the water that the chicken leaves evaporates and then add chilli powder and 3tbsp of masala powder.
Add chopped tomato and let it cook till mushy.
Add khus-khus paste and coriander leaves.
Cover and cook in low heat for 5 min and serve hot.

Homemade Garlic Bread

2009-10-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
Bread:- 2 sclices
Butter:- 3tsp
Garlic powder:- 1/2 tsp
Salt:- as per taste
Italian spice mix:-1/2 tsp( or mix of basil and oregano powders also can be used)
Pepper powder:- 1/2 tsp
METHOD:

Mix butter, salt,spice mix,pepper,garlic powder.
U can add crushed garlic for extra garlic flavour.
Butter up all the slices.
Place them on a cookie sheet and put it in oven for about 8 min at 350 degree.
Serve hot.

Caramel Custard

2009-10-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
Milk:-2 cups
Eggs:-2
Sugar:1/4 cup
Sugar:-3 tbsp
METHOD:

Melt 3 tbsp sugar on low heat until it turns a deep brown.
While still hot, pour the caramel into the moulds and set aside.
Beat the eggs with the sugar thoroughly.
Boil the milk. While boiling, pour the egg-sugar mixture and beat vigorously until well blended. There should be no lumps.
Beat again and pour into the mould.
Cover the mould with a piece of aluminium foil.
Steam cook the custard on very low heat for 30-45 minutes.
Cool it and serve chilled.
Just before serving, turn the mould over on to the plate and remove the mould.

Chicken fried rice

2009-10-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Chicken thighs:-1/2 lb

Rice:-1 cup

Onions:-3

Green peas:-1/2 cup

Carrot:-1

Ginger garlic paste:-2 tsp

French Beans:-7

Coriander:-to garnish

Salt:-as per taste

Turmeric Powder:-a pinch

Garam Masala:-1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder:-1 tsp

Olive oil:-4 tbsp

Spring onions:-to garnish

METHOD:

Wash and cook rice and let it cool.
Wash and cube chicken and marinate it with GG paste,salt and turmeric for 1 hr in refregerator.
Chop onions and cube the veggies.
Semi cook the veggies in a microwave safe bowl and drain water and put aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add onions and fry till brown.
Add chicken and fry till chicken is cooked.
Add the veggies and fry till done.
Add the spice powders and adjust salt.
Add chopped coriander and add rice to it and mix well.
Garnish with spring onions and serve hot.

Puffed Rice snack(Borugulu or maramaralu mixture)

2009-06-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
puffed rice(borugulu or maramaralu):-1 cup
Chopped red onion:-2 tbsp

Garlic powder:-1/2 tsp
Grated carrot:-to garnish
Chopped cilantro:-to garnish
lemon juice:-1 tsp
Red chilli powder:-1/2 tsp
Peanuts:-1 tbsp

Sev:-to garnish

oil:-1 tbsp
salt:-as per taste

Procedure:

Heat oil in a pan and add peanuts and fry them.
Add garlic powder and immediately add puffed rice and toast them.
Add salt and the chilli.
Add chopped onions, grated carrot, cilantro and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Mix well and garnish with sev and serve immediately.

Mango Sreekand

2009-06-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Mango pulp:-2 tbsp

Thick whole yogurt:1/2 cup

Sugar:-1 tsp

METHOD:

Hang curd in a muslin cloth or cheese cloth so that all water is removed from it.
Take the curd and beat it well along with sugar.
Fold in the mango pulp or puree and chill it.
U may add chopped nuts as well as per taste.
Serve chilled.

Peach Muffins

2009-06-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Maida/all purpose flour:-3/4th cup

Powdered sugar:-3/4th cup

Unsalted butter:-1/2 stick

Baking powder:-1 tsp

Chopped peach:-2 tbsp

Egg:-1

METHOD:

Soften butter to room temp(Dont melt it!!).
Cream butter and sugar well and beat egg and mix well.
Mix flour,sugar,baking powder well and fold in the peaches and add it to sugar mixture.
Give a good mix and pour the batter in a greased cake pan.
Bake the cake in preheated oven(at 375F) for 30-40 min until cake is done.
Let them cool on wire rack and decorate with whipped cream.

Pineapple Cookies

2009-06-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Maida/all purpose flour:-1 cup

Powdered sugar:-3/4th cup

Unsalted butter:-1/2 stick

Baking soda:-1/2 tsp

Crushed Pineapple:-1 tbsp(or few drops of pineapple essence also can be used)

METHOD:

Soften butter to room temp(Dont melt it!!).
Mix flour,sugar,baking soda,crushed pineapple well and fold into butter and make a soft dough(It should be like smooth chapati dough).
Make small pedas or any shape of your choice and arrange them on greased cookie sheet.
Preheat the oven at 325 and bake the cookies for 30-35 min.
U see cracks appearing on top and slight brown colour at edges.
Remove from oven and let them cool and on cooling they hardens.
Store in an airtight container and serve at tea time.

Raw Mango Rice

2009-06-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Raw Mango (Sour):-1

Rice:-1 cup Green Chilies:-5

Salt:-as per taste

For Seasoning:

Peanuts:-2 tbsp

Channa Dal:-1 tbsp

Urad Dal:-2 tsp

Mustard Seeds:-1 tsp

Whole Red chilies:-2

Curry Leaves:-few

METHOD:

Wash rice and add cook and set aside.
Peel the skin of the mango and grate the flesh of the mango.Mix it with rice and set aside.
Heat 2 tblsn of oil in a pan and add peanuts, split green chillies,channa dal, urad dal, mustard seeds and whole red chilies.
Transfer the seasoning to the rice and add a pinch of turmeric powder to the rice and mix well.
Serve.

Chicken Nuggets/Chicken Patties

2009-06-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Chicken breast:-1/2 lb.

Coriander powder:-1 tsp

Salt:-as per taste

Chilli powder:-1/2 tsp

Pepper powder:-1/2 tsp

Garam masala:-1/2 tsp

Chopped green chillies:-2 tsp

Chopped mint:-2 tsp

chopped coriander:-2 tsp

turmeric powder:-1/2 tsp

egg:-1

Bread crumbs:-1/2 cup

Oil:-to fry

METHOD:

Wash and clean chicken and cut into pieces.
Grind chicken to paste(not very mushy) and add all powders and add chopped chillies,mint and coriander and mix well.
Make small nuggets or patties out of chicken mixture and dip them in beaten egg and roll them in bread crumbs.
Heat oil and shallow fry(or deep fry) and drain excess oil.
Serve hot.

Bisibelebath/ Sambar sadham/ BBB

2009-06-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Raw Rice:- 2 cups

Thoor dal- 1 cup

Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp

Asafoetida/hing- ¼ tsp

Peas- ½ cup

Onion-1

Tomatoes-2

Carrot -1

Beans- 10

Potatoes-1

Cauliflower florets:-1/2 cup

Drumstick pieces-5

Brinjal – 1

Garlic- 6 cloves

Green chillies- 3

Salt:-as per taste

Ghee:-3 tbsp

Curry leaves:-1 sprig

Mustard seeds:-1/2 tsp

Channa dal:-1 tsp

Whole peanuts:-1 tbsp

Cashews:-1 tbsp

For powder:

Coriander seeds:-2 tbsp

Methi seeds:-1/2 tsp

Red chillies:-3

Cloves:-3

Cinnamon:-small pieces

Channa dal:-2 tbsp

Urad dal:-1 tbsp

Cashews:-1 tsp

METHOD:

Roast the ingredients to powder in little ghee and powder them.
Cook toor dal until mushy.
Wash and chop all veggies.
Wash rice and mix the veggies,cooked dal,masala powder,turmeric powder and salt and add 6 cups of water and cook it.
Heat ghee and add mustard seeds,jeera,curryleaves,channa dal,green chillies,hing,crushed garlic,peanuts and cashews and fry till brown.
Add the bbb to tadka and serve hot.

Egg Dum Biryani

2009-06-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Eggs:-2

Basmati Rice:-2 cups

Ghee:-3 tbsp

Onions:-2

Pudina/Mint leaves:-handful

Coriander leaves:-handful

Green chilles:-10

Curryleaves:-1 sprig

Thick curd:-1/2 cup

Coriander seeds:-2 tbsp

Cloves:-5

Cinnamon:-small piece

Methi seeds:-1/2 tsp

Salt :-as per taste

Saffron:-a pinch

METHOD:

Wash and soak rice for atleast an hr.
Hard boil eggs and remove shell and make small gashes.
Fry eggs in little ghee and set aside.
Dry roast coriander seeds,cloves,cinnamon,methi seeds,curry leaves and make powder.
Chop onions finely and fry them in ghee and set aside.
Cook rice till 80% and set aside.
Grind mint,coriander leaves and green chillies to form green paste.
Mix curd,salt,ground masala powder,green paste,fried onions and marinate the fried eggs in it for 15 min.
Take a wide pan and heat remaining ghee and spread it all over the pan.
Add the marinated paste and spread all over.
Add the cooked rice on top and close the lid and cook on low flame for 15-20 min until all moisture evaporates and rice cooks completely.
Mix well and add saffron water on top and serve hot.

Rawa Idli-2

2009-06-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

This is my another version of rawa idli using baking soda instead of curd.

Ingredients:
Sooji/semolina/upma ravva:-1 cup
Mseeds:-1/2 tsp
Channa dal:-1 tsp
Grated ginger:-1/2 tsp
Green chilies, finely chopped:-3
5-6 curry leaves
Baking soda:-1/2 tsp
Carrots grated:-3 tbsp
Coriander leaves chopped:-2 tbsp
Grated fresh coconut:-2 tbsp
salt to taste
lemon juice:-1 tbsp
1/4 cup water
Roasted cashewnuts:-2 tbsp
Ghee or oil:-1 tbsp

METHOD:

Heat ghee, add the mustard seeds and once they splutter, add the chana dal and saute till the dal turns golden brown.
Add the green chillis, curry leaves and ginger.
Immediately add the ravva and on low heat stir fry the rava constantly for 5 mts.
Take off heat and cool.
Add grated carrot, coriander leaves, grated coconut, water and salt and mix well.
Add baking soda and lemon juice( u will see thick effervescence as soon lemon juice reacts with baking soda.Dont panic and mix it well :) )
Grease idli plates and place a roasted cashewnut on each of the greased idli plates and pour the rava batter over the cashewnut.
Don’t let the batter fill till the brim as they expand once cooked.
Steam the ravva idlis on medium flame for around 10 mts.
Turn off heat and let it sit for 5 mts. Remove the rava idlis carefully with a spatula and serve hot with chutney of your choice.

TIP:-u can use eno fruit salt instead of baking soda and lemon juice.

Nankatayi / Indian eggless biscuit/Eggless cookies

2009-06-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Maida/all purpose flour:- 1 cup

Powdered sugar:-3/4th cup

Unsalted butter:-1/2 stick

Baking soda:-1/2 tsp

Cardamom powder(optional) 1/4 tsp

METHOD:

Soften butter to room temp(Dont melt it!!)
Mix flour,sugar,baking soda,cardamom powder well and fold into butter and make a soft dough(It should be like smooth chapati dough)
Make small pedas or ant shape of your choice and arrange them on greased cookie sheet.
Preheat the oven at 325 and bake the cookies for 30-35 min.
U see cracks appearing on top and slight brown colour at edges.
Remove from oven and let them cool and on cooling they hardens.
Store in an airtight container and serve at tea time.

Paneer Jalapeno Pizza

2009-04-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Pizza Base:-1( Refer my other pizza recipes for homemade pizza base and pizza sauce)

Pizza sauce:-1/2 cup

Grated paneer:-1/2 cup

Olive oil:-2 tsp

Chopped Onions,Jalepenos

Grated Mozerella Cheese

METHOD:

Take a fork and punch the base so that the base absorbs the pizza sauce.
Spread the pizza sauce and the grated paneer and jalepenos.
Spread the grated cheese and add little oil on top of pizza.
Preheat the oven at 375 and bake the pizza till the cheese melts to a beautiful golden colour.
Heat a tawa and transfer the pizza on to it and cook for 5 min on medium flame to get a crispy pizza base and to let the underneath cooked.
Serve hot with ketchup.

Chicken Pizza

2009-04-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

For Pizza Base

All Purpose Flour:-2 cups

Dry yeast:-2 gm (1/3rd of small sachet)

Salt:-1/2 tsp

Sugar:-1/4 tsp

For Pizza Sauce

Tomato Puree:-4 tbsp(Or Ketchup)

Olive oil:-3 tbsp

Dried oregano,dried basil powders:-1/4 tsp each

Coriander Powder:-1/2 tsp

Chopped Corinader leaves:-2 tbsp

Salt:-As per taste

For toppings:

Cooked Shredded Chicken(Best if they are any leftover chicken fry pieces,I used methi chicken pieces :-}).

OnionsTomatoesCapsicum(yellow,green,red,orange)

Green chillies/Jalepenos

Olives

Grated Mozerella Cheese
METHOD:

Take a 1/2 cup luke warm water/milk and dissolve salt,yeast,sugar in it.Be careful not to dissolve yeast in hot water,for it will die.Use only lukewarm water.
Add in the flour and little oil and make a smooth dough.
Coat it with little oil and let it rest in a warm place(preferably oven,take care not to switch on the oven :-) )
Dough becomes double its size in an hour.Then punch it down to remove the aeration and leave to rest for 2 hrs.
Mean while prepare the pizza sauce.Heat little oil in a pan and add tomato puree and all the spice powders and salt to taste.
Let it cook for 5-8 min and add chopped coriander and mix well.
Cook till u get a thick sauce consistency.
After 2 hrs,again punch down the dough a bit and spread it to form the base thick or thin as per the choice.
Take a fork and punch the base so that the base absorbs the pizza sauce.
Spread the pizza sauce and the toppings as per choice.
Spread the grated cheese and add little oil on top of pizza.
Preheat the oven at 375 and bake the pizza till the cheese melts to a beautiful golden colour.
Heat a tawa and transfer the pizza on to it and cook for 5 min on medium flame to get a crispy pizza base and to let the underneath cooked.
Serve hot with ketchup.

Quick Veg Pizza

2009-04-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Readymade Pizza base:-1

Tomato sauce:-1/2 cup

Italian seasoning or Mrs Dash garlic and gerb seasoning:-2 tbsp

Grated Mozorella cheese:-1 cup(extra if u like extra cheese :-} )

Chopped veggies of ur choice(Preferably onions,red,yellow,orange,green capsicum,jalepenos,olives etc)

METHOD:

Mix the tomato sauce with italian seasoning and spread it on base evenly.
Place the chopped veggies over the base and top it with grated cheese.
Preheat the oven with 375F and bake the pizza till the cheese melts and gets a golden color on top.
Let cool for 5 min and serve with tomato ketchup.

Asparagus Thoran

2009-04-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

Asparagus:-1 bunch(nearly 20 stalks)

Onion:-1

Mustard seeds,cumin seeds:-1/2 tsp each

Curry leaves:-1 sprig

Turmeric Powder:-1/2 tsp

Grated Coconut:-2 tbsp

Salt and chilli powder:-as per taste

chopped Coriander:-to garnish

Olive oil:-1 tbsp

METHOD

Wash asparagus and cut the nearly an inch piece from the bottom( that is the tasteless fibery part).
Chop the remaining part into small pieces.Chop onions finely.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds,cumin,curry leaves and let them splutter.
Add chopped onions and fry till golden brown.
Add asparagus,salt,turmeric and mix well.
Fry for few minutes until all moisture is lost(Dont overcook asparagus to become mushy.They must still be crunchy).
Add chilli powder and grated coconut and fry a while.
Garnish with coriander and serve with rotis.