Viji's online diary

Mutton Kheema - Spicy

2011-11-01T15:32:00.002-04:00

You will need:
1 lb Minced Goat meat (Kheema)
1 medium sized onion (finely chopped / grated)
3 curry leaves
2 tbsp meat masala powder (1 tbsp red chilli powder + 1 tbsp corainder powder + 1 tbsp cumin powder)
1 tsp fennel powder (optional)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste( preferably homemade)
1½ cup water
2 small onions or 1 shallot(finely chopped)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 string of curry leaves
1 tsp pepper powder (optional)
½ tsp Amchoor powder (Dry mango powder)
2 tbsp oil (Preferably coconut oil)
salt per taste
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves for garnish

Procedure:

Step 1:

Take a pressure cooker and mix the minced meat, finely chopped onion, curry leaves, meat masala powder, fennel powder , ginger garlic paste, salt and the water. Mix it gently with your hands and allow it to cook for 6 to 8 whistles.

Allow it to cool for next 15 mins.

Step 2:

Now heat 2 tbsp oil in a heavy bottom vessel. When its hot add cumin seeds and then the curry leaves, Now add the finely chopped small onions to it. Saute it for just 2 to 3 mins.

Step 3:

Now add the cooked meat along with the water. Check for salt and allow the water to evaporate. Wait for 2 to 3 mins. Continue to saute it, till you get the dry form as shown in picture.
(If you have kids at home, you can save this soup for them)

Step 4:

Now add black pepper powder and the amchoor powder and mix it well. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves and serve it with Chapathi, parotta or Rasam rice.

Egg Kuruma

2011-03-08T09:28:00.000-05:00

Egg kuruma is my favorite. This is my mom's recipe. I love this kuruma with Appam. You can have this even with rice. Easy recipe. Just need to grind everything and 5 mins in the stove.

You will need:

4 hard boiled eggs
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 string of curry leaves
2 red chillies
2 tbsp oil (Preferably coconut oil)
salt per taste

To Grind:

1 cup of freshly grated coconut (or frozen) Or 1 cup of almond powder
3 small onions (pearl onions)
2 garlic pods
1 tomato
1 tsp chilli powder(Can adjust the spice level according to your taste bud)
1 tsp cumin powder
½ tsp fennel seeds

Procedure:

Step 1:

Hard boil the eggs for 20 mins de shell them, then cut it into half and keep it aside.

Grind all the ingredients under the list To Grind along with some water to a fine smooth mixture and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add the ground mixture to it and allow it to boil for 10 to 15 mins.

Step 3:

Now add the hard boiled eggs into the boiled ground mixture and let it simmer for 3 to 5 mins. Check for salt.

Step 4:

Finally in a small pan heat 1 tbsp oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, ½ onion(finely chopped), curry leaves, red chillies. When everything finish splutters add this into the egg kuruma and cover the lid. Switch off the stove.

Egg kuruma is now ready to serve. Serve this with Appam or with plain white rice along with pickle. Yummyoov. You will definitely like it for its taste.

Hint:
You can add almond powder or grind almond along with coconut for extra flavor.

Egg Thokku

2011-01-15T22:59:00.001-05:00

Egg thokku is the simplest side dish to go with dal rice or even with Chapathi/ roti. Try it.. You will definitely like it. Takes just 10 mins, but tastes yummy..

You will need:

4 eggs
1½ big onions
1 big tomato
1 tsp chilli powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp garam masala powder (optional)
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
few curry leaves
2 tbsp oil
salt as required
¼ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp cumin seeds
¼ tsp fennel seeds
coriander leaves( few finely chopped)

Procedure:

Step 1:

Chop onion lengthwise and keep it aside. Chop the tomatoes finely.

Step 2:

Heat some water in a vessel and boil 4 eggs. Let it boil for 15 mins. Now the boiled egg is ready. Keep it aside.

Step 3:

In a non stick pan, heat 2 tbsp oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fennel seeds, Once it splutter add curry leaves to it.

Step 4:

Now add the chopped onions to it and saute it till it turns translucent. It will take around 5 mins in medium heat. Then the ginger garlic paste to it along with the chopped tomatoes. Saute it till the tomatoes turn mushy.

Step 5:

Now add the chilli powder and turmeric powder. Saute it just for one min. Add salt at this stage

Step 6:

De shell the boiled eggs and cut it . Now add the boiled eggs to this masala and saute it. Add the garam masala to this now. If you have some chopped coriander leaves, you can add it at this stage. Check for salt.
You can add some water if you are making this dish for a big crowd.

Lower and flame. Now cover it with a lid and keep it in the low flame just for 2 to 3 mins. Switch off the flame and serve it with dal rice or with Chapathi.. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Oil Cookies

2011-01-15T22:19:00.000-05:00

I tried this time the sugar cookies by replacing butter with oil. This time i tried it with oil.

I came across an article called Butter Vs Oil for the healthy benefits. http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/01/butter-versus-oil-championship-fight.html

Ok as you all know Oil is better comparing to butter. I have a 2 year old allergic to dairy products. So i just tried this oil cookies and we all like it. You can definitely give a try. Very simple to make. Ok here comes the recipe.

Your will need:

Dry Ingredients:

2 cup All purpose flour(Maida)
¾ cup sugar(Powdered sugar)
1¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

⅓ cup oil
1¼ tsp vanilla essence
1 egg plus milk to make ⅓ cup

Procedure:

Step 1:

Beat one egg along with some milk to get ⅓ cup. In that add oil, vanilla essence and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Now for dry ingredients, take a mixing bowl and shift 2 cups of all purpose flour along with baking soda, salt and sugar.

Step 3:

Then add the wet ingredients(egg. oil, vanilla essence) into the dry ingredients and knead the dough with your hand untill you get a soft dough.

Step 4:

Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.

Step 5:

After 1 hour preheat the oven to 400 degree F

Step 6:

Now roll it out on a floured board . Cut it to a desired shape. The thickness should be appraoximately 3 times of the credit card size.

Arrange it in a non greased cookie tray and bake it for just 8 to 9 mins. Approximately you will get 30 to 35 cookies.

Enjoy.....
Step 6:

ஜெபிக்க எது நல்ல நேரம் ?

2010-10-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

அதிகாலையில் - தாவீது போல

மத்தியானத்தில் - தானியேல் போல

நள்ளிரவில் - பவுலும் சீலாவும் போல

ஆபத்தில் - பேதுரு போல

துக்கத்தில் - அன்னாளைப் போல

வியாதி வருத்தங்களில் - யோபுவைப் போல

சிறுவயதில் - சாமுவேல் போல

இளமையில் - தீமோத்தேயு போல

முதிர் வயதில் - சிமியோன் போல

சாவிலும் - ஸ்தேவான் போல

வேலையைத் தொடங்கும் போது - எலியேசர் போல

வேலையை முடிக்கும் போது - சாலொமோன் போல

எந்த வேளையிலும் - இயேசுவைப் போல

“எப்போது வேண்டுமானாலும் ஜெபிக்கலாம்; எப்படி வேண்டுமானாலும் ஜெபிக்கலாம்; எங்கு வேண்டுமானாலும் ஜெபிக்கலாம் என்பதால் நம்மில் அநேகர் எப்போதுமே, எப்படியுமே, எங்குமே ஜெபிப்பதில்லை” - யாரோ.

Quotes by Sadhu Sunder singh

2010-06-20T13:28:00.000-04:00

"He was searching for me before I sought Him. Christ whom I had never expected came to me. I was praying, 'If there be a God, reveal Thyself'...I was praying to Hindu gods and incarnations. But when He came there was no anger in His face, even though I had burnt the Bible three days before. None of you have ever destroyed Scripture like me. He is such a wonderful, loving, living Saviour..."

"There is a great difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him... If we only know of Jesus as a good man, a great example, it is no help to us. Those who know Him know Who He is. When we know Him everything is different and we are living in a new world -- a new atmosphere. Heaven begins on earth for us. Those who know Him know that Jesus is everything to them. They can bear witness because they have been living with Him...If we live in Him He will reveal Himself to us and we shall bear witness -- not for a day or a night only..."

"For the first two or three years after my conversion, I used to ask for specific things. Now I ask for God. Supposing there is a tree full of fruits -- you will have to go and buy or beg the fruits from the owner of the tree. Every day you would have to go for one or two fruits. But if you can make the tree your own property, then all the fruits will be your own. In the same way, if God is your own, then all things in Heaven and on earth will be your own, because He is your Father and is everything to you; otherwise you will have to go and ask like a beggar for certain things. When they are used up, you will have to ask again. So ask not for gifts but for the Giver of Gifts: not for life but for the Giver of Life -- then life and the things needed for life will be added unto you."

"Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us."

"From my many years experience I can unhesitatingly say that the cross bears those who bear the cross."

"While sitting on the bank of a river one day, I picked up a solid round stone from the water and broke it open. It was perfectly dry in spite of the fact that it had been immersed in water for centuries. The same is true of many people in the Western world. For centuries they have been surrounded by Christianity; they live immersed in the waters of its benefits. And yet it has not penetrated their hearts; they do not love it. The fault is not in Christianity, but in men's hearts, which have been hardened by materialism and intellectualism."

"When Jesus entered Jerusalem the people spread their clothes in the way and strewed branches before Him in order to do Him honour. Jesus rode upon an ass, according to the word of the prophet. His feet did not touch the road which was decorated in His honour. It was the ass which trod upon the garments and the branches. But the ass would have been very foolish to have been uplifted on that account; for the road really was not decked in its honour! It would be just as foolish if those who bear Christ to men were to think anything of themselves because of what men do to them for the sake of Jesus."

"A newborn child has to cry, for only in this way will his lungs expand. A doctor once told me of a child who could not breathe when it was born. In order to make it breathe the doctor gave it a slight blow. The mother must have thought the doctor cruel. But he was really doing the kindest thing possible. As with newborn children the lungs are contracted, so are our spiritual lungs. But through suffering God strikes us in love. Then our lungs expand and we can breathe and pray."

"Just as the salt water of the sea is drawn upwards by the hot rays of the sun, and gradually takes on the form of clouds, and, turned thus into sweet and refreshing water, falls in showers on the earth (for the sea water as it rises upwards leaves behind it its salt and bitterness), so when the thoughts and desires of the man of prayer rise aloft like misty emanations of the soul, the rays of the Sun of Righteousness purify them of all sinful taint, and his prayers become a great cloud which descends from heaven in a shower of blessing, bringing refreshment to many on the earth."

Potato Stew

2010-04-23T22:07:00.001-04:00

Potato stew with Appam makes yummy breakfast or dinner. My family like Appam very much. Even if someone give me appam everyday i can eat it. Appam goes very well with any non veg curries like egg curry, mutton or chicken curry.

For a change from non veg curries i tried this simple potato stew which goes very well with appams. I'm a spice lover and i cant eat anything which is not spicy. But this stew is simply tasty with less spice in it. You can add spice if you want. But believe me, it taste good with just green chillies and onions.

Here come the recipe of this simple stew.

You will need:

2 large potatoes
1 large red onion
5 green chillies
3 to 5 garlic pods
salt for taste
1½ cups of thick coconut milk

For seasoning:

1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp urad dal
1 small onion(shallot) cut into small pieces
few curry leaves
2 tbsp oil . preferably coconut oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Peel the potatoes and cut into bite size pieces. Boil it in 3 to 4 cups of water until it become soft.

Step 2:

Peel the onion and cut into small squares. When the potatoes gets 80% cooked, add the chopped onion along with the green chillies and the garlic pods.

Step 3:

At this stage you can add more water if the vegetables are not fully cooked yet. If the vegetables are fully cooked add the thick coconut milk and switch of the stove . Now stir the coconut milk along with the potatoes.

Step 4:

Now for seasoning add oil in a frying pan and allow it to heat. When it turns hot add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and the urad dal one after the other. When it splutters add the finely chopped onion and allow it to brown. Now add the curry leaves and add the potato stew to this. Switch off the stove.

Enjoy this with Appam .Easy recipe on a busy day. Taste very good too.

Butternut Squash Halwa

2010-03-24T15:56:00.005-04:00

Our visit to Farmers market brings new vegetables to our home once a while. This time we got Butternut Squash. I like the color and its appearance. And the name itself told me that it has to be good.. Butter, Nut.. Lovely name right.. Yeap Very nice vegetable. You can definitely try this vegetable.

After buying this vegetable I really dont know what to do with it.It was sitting on my counter top for more than a week. I was confused whether to go with sweets or to make come curries. Called my fried Dahlia and asked What to do with Butternut Squash. She told me to make Halwa or you can use it in the Sambhar. So i'm using Half of it in Halwa and the other half in Sambhar. Thanks Dahlia akka for your suggestion. I did exactly like carrot halwa and it taste very good. But instead of thickening the milk at stove top i added condensed milk.

It is a good source of fibre, vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. It is also an excellent source of vitamin A.

To make this tasty Halwa:

You will need:

3 cups of grated butternut squash
1 cup of condensed milk
½ cup water
2 pinch of cardamom powder
2 tsp ghee
1 tbsp dry raisin
1 tbsp cashewnut (roughly chopped)
Sugar as needed .(I dint add sugar, Its purely optional)

Procedure:

Step 1:

Cut the butternut squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds using a spoon as shown in pic.

Step 2:

Grate the peeled squash using a grater ..(Just like u grate carrots).

Step 3:

Now switch on Non stick pan at Medium heat. Add the ghee. When its hot add the raisin and cashew nut. Saute it till the raisin plums and the cashew nut turns golden brown color. Remove the raisin and cashew nut when its done. Keep it aside.

Step 4:

In the remaining ghee add the grated butternut squash and lower the heat. Saute it till it get rid of the raw smell. It will take 10 to 15 mins in medium low flame. Now add the water and allow it to boil.

Step 5:

When the water starts boiling add the condensed milk along with the cardamom powder. Saute it till you get Halwa consistency. It will take less than 7 mins.

Step 6:

Now garnish with the raisin and the roasted cashews . Transfer it into another bowl and allow it to cool. Refrigerate it for few hours. Now its time to cut and serve. Wow Yummy Butternut squash Halwa is ready.

Hint:
You can add extra sugar if you like extra sweet version of this Halwa.

Chilli Adai

2010-03-18T10:54:00.004-04:00

My H like Adai more than regular Dosa. We like spicy Adai's. One fine evening i have no dosa batter in my fridge. Suddenly i came up with this idea. Just 2 to 3 hours soaking time is enough if you soak the dals and rice in hot water. This simple adai goes with idli podi very well. If you have time you can make coconut chutney as side dish too. This Adai goes very well with South Indian Aviyal. Here comes the recipe for this simple Adai...

You will need:

1 cup raw rice
½ cup toor dal
½ cup Channa dal
¼ cup urad dal
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp Asafoetida Powder (hing powder, LG)
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
salt as required
bunch of coriander leaves
Chilli flakes (optional)
oil (To make Adai) You can use ghee also

Procedure:

Step 1:

Soak rice, toor dal, channa dal, urad dal together in a vessel for 3 to 4 hours.

Step 2:

Grind it in a mixie/ blender by adding little water(Not too watery..Just like regular dosa batter). Grind it to a course paste.

Now add chopped coriander leaves, chilli powder, cumin powder, asofoetida powder and ginger garlic paste along with the course paste and switch on the mixie/ blender one more time just to get the coriander leaves mixed with the dal paste.

Step 3:

Now add the salt and mix it.

Step 4:

Heat griddle/tawa/ nonstick pan pour a ladle of batter and roll it around to spread it evenly. Cook one side pour some oil around and turn other side to cook .When done remove and serve.

You can top one side of the dosa with chilli flakes or onions to get chilli Adai, Onion Adai.

Tofu Scramble

2010-03-16T13:10:00.001-04:00

I like scramble eggs very much. We eat that with Chapathi, side dish for sambhar rice or dal rice, or even as breakfast. But as you all know eggs are loaded with cholesterol. So tried the same recipe with added spiciness in Tofu. We liked it very much. Had it with Chapathi for dinner. Hope you will like this too..

You will need:

500 gm Firm Tofu
2 big onions
½ tsp Chicken Masala Powder
1 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp chilli powder or 5 green chillies(finely chopped)
½ tsp cumin powder
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
½ tsp mustard seeds
2 tbsp oil
salt per taste
Few coriander leaves( Chopped finely)

Procedure:

Step 1:

Chop the onions finely and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and then add the finely chopped onions to it.

Step 3:

Crumble the firm tofu with your hands and keep it aside.

Step 4:

When the onions turn translucent after sauteing it for 3 to 5 mins, add the ginger garlic paste.

Step 5:

Saute the ginger garlic paste for just 2 mins till it get rid of the raw smell. Now add the chicken masala powder, chilli powder and the cumin powder, pepper powder along with scrambled tofu at this stage.

Step 6:

Add salt. Stir it continuously till you get scrambled form. Add chopped coriander leaves. This might take 8 to 10 mins to get this scrambled form.Serve it hot with Chapathi or any of your favorite dishes.

Simple Chilli Shrimp Fry

2010-03-08T12:00:00.010-05:00

You will need:

1 lb shrimp
2 onion
5 garlic pods(chopped very finely)
2 green chillies
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp pepper powder
curry leaves.. 2 strings
salt for taste
1 tsp mustard seeds
3 tbsp oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat oil in a non stick pan. Add mustard seeds when its hot. Then add the curry leaves.

Step 2:

Add finely chopped onions, green chillies and garlic to it. Fry it till it becomes translucent.

Step 3:

Add the shrimp and cover it with a lid. Add salt at this time.

Step 4:

Cover it with a lid for 4 to 5 mins. Now add the chilli powder, pepper powder. Then uncover the lid and fry it for few more mins.

Step 5:

Fry it for few more mins. Check for salt.

Serve hot with your favourite rice or with rasam, dal curry.

Baby goat Masala

2010-03-04T18:12:00.000-05:00

You will need:

3 lb baby goat with bones
1 tbsp freshly made ginger garlic paste
5 small onions(shallots) You can add more also for extra taste
some curry leaves
½ tsp turmeric powder
salt
2 cup water (Can add more if needed)

For Masala:

2 onions(finely chopped)
2 tomatoes chopped
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp Sakthi mutton masala or you can use(1 ½ tbsp coriander powder, 1 tbsp chilli powder)
½ cup diluted coconut milk or (2 tbsp coconut milk paste).. Optional ingredient
5 stalks of coriander leaves
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
3 cardamom
3 tbsp oil
salt as required

Procedure:

Step 1:

Pressure cook the ingredients under first table for 3 whistle or untill its 90% cooked. Keep it aside

Step 2:

Heat oil in a big non stick pan. Add cinnamon stick, cardamom and cloves. Then add the onions and fry it till it become translucent.. It might take 5 to 10 mins in medium high heat. Then add ginger garlic paste and saute it for 2 mins till it get rid of the raw smell. Then add the tomatoes and saute it till the oil oozes out. Now add the masala powder along with half of the chopped coriander leaves and saute it just for a min.

Step 3:

Now add the cooked baby goat along with the pressure cooked soup and onions. Allow it to cook covered along with the masala for 5 to 10 mins till the cooked goat absorbs all the masala. Check for salt. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. You can add coconut milk at this stage if needed.

Enjoy with any variety rice like ghee rice, peas pulav, fried rice or with your favourite rotis like naan, chapathi.

You can make the same with mutton, beef and pork as well.. If making with beef or pork. Pressure cook the meat till its fully cooked. Some part of beef take 8 to 10 whistle.

Eggplant Gravy/ Enna kathirikai

2010-03-03T06:32:00.002-05:00

You will need:

8 brinjals
2 onions (chopped finely)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 cinnamom stick
2 cardamom
2 tbsp tamarind paste(adjust according to your taste)
2 tbsp sakthi chicken masala powder
3 tbsp oil

To Powder:

¼ cup peanuts( ground nuts)
½ cup sesame seeds
½ cup grated coconut

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat 1 cup of oil in a pan. Make some slits in the brinjal and deep fry it . Keep it aside.

Step 2:

In a non stick pan roast the peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut individually till it turns light brown color. Once its roated add some water and grind it to a course paste and keep it aside.

Step 3:

In the same pan add 3 tbsp oil and add cinnamon stick and cardamon. Now add the finely chopped onion and saute it till it turns translucent.Then add the ginger garlic paste. Saute it for 1 min.

Step 4:

Now add the course paste along with the sakthi chicken masala and close it with a lid. Turn the flame to very low. Allow it to cook for minimum half an hour till the oil appears at the top.

Step 5:

Now add the tamarind juice. Add the fried brinjals into the gravy. Check for salt. Add more water if needed according to your required consistency.

Enjoy with Biryani, chapathi.

Dry Fish thokku/ Karuvadu thokku

2010-02-18T15:15:00.002-05:00

You will need:

2 cups of shredded dry fish
2 big red onions (finely chopped)
2 tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 tsp chilli powder
salt per taste
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
corainder leaves
3 tbsp oil

For seasoning:

1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 string curry leaves

Procedure:

1. Wash dry fish nicely. Shred the dry fish very small and keep it aside

3. Now heat oil in a pan and add shredded dry fish to it. Fry it for 2 to 3 mins. Keep it aside

4. In the remaining oil add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and chopped onions. Saute it till the onion becomes translucent. Now add the chopped tomato and saute it till the oil comes on top.

5. Now add theginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, salt and saute it for a min.

6. Add the fried dry fish and mix it nicely. Check for salt and chilli powder. Continue to saute for 3 more mins.

7. Add chopped coriander leaves.

Poori kilangu/ Potato Masala

2010-01-28T11:47:00.002-05:00

You will need:

3 big potatoes
1 big onion
5 garlic pods (chopped finely)
1 tbsp chopped ginger
1 tsp turmeric powder
5 to 8 green chillies( according to ur spice level)
4 bacon strips( cut into small pieces).. optional
salt per taste

For seasoning

1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dal
few curry leaves
few coriander leaves( finely chopped)
3 tbsp oil/ ghee

Procedure:

Step 1:

Chop onions, garlic, ginger, green chilli and keep it aside.
Cut the bacons and keep it aside

Step 2:

Chop potatoes and boil it in the water till it become soft. Or pressure cook the potato untill it becomes soft.

Step 3:

Heat 1 tbsp oil a pan and crisp the bacon pieces. this will take 2 to 5 mins. Once the bacon is crisped, take it out and keep it aside.

Step 4:

In the same oil add another 2 tbsp oil also and allow it to heat. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, curry leaves. Now add chopped onions along with ginger, garlic and green chilli and saute it till the onions get translucent.

Step 5:

Now add the turmeric powder and saute it for a min. Add the salt

Step 6:

In the mean time strain the cooked potatoes. Now add the onion mixture and bacon crisp to the cooked potatoes and mash it. Check for salt. Enjoy with poori, roti.

Hint:

You can use this masala to make masala dosa too.. yummy yummy

Poori

2010-01-27T12:49:00.000-05:00

You will need:

2 cups chapathi flour
¼ cup sooji/ rava
2 tbsp ghee/ oil
salt for taste
water to knead the dough.. just like chapathi dough
2 cups oil for deep frying

Procedure:

Mix chapathi flour, rava, salt and water together to get a soft dough. then add 2 tbsp ghee/ oil and knead the dough for 2 more mins and keep it aside. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes to 45 minutes.

Make small balls as of golf ball size. Flatten each ball using the rolling pin. Using rolling pin just flatten it to a thickness of credit card.

Heat oil in a pan. when its super hot add poori and immediately flicker the hot oil over the top pf poori with spatula, so that it will swell up like ball. This take only few seconds. Flip the poori and cook the next side to get golden brown color.

Serve it hot with and veg or non veg side dishes. I love to eat with potato masala. Will upload the recipe soon..

Paneer Potato Masala

2010-01-14T16:38:00.001-05:00

You will need:

2 red onion or 1 big yellow onion
1 tomato or 3 tbsp canned crushed tomatoes
2 potatoes (cut into bite size pieces)
10 to 15 fried paneer pieces
1 tsp red chilli powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp cumin powder
½ tsp black pepper powder
salt for taste

For tempering:

1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp channa dal
1 red chilli
5 curry leaves
3 tbsp oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Heat a non stick pan and add some oil. When the oil is hot add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, channa dal, red chillies, curry leaves and the urad dal one after other.

Step 2:

Add chopped onions and saute it for 3 mins in high flame till it become light brown color. Now add the potato, chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, pepper, garam masala powder and close the lid for 2 mins. Add the tomato paste at this time. Now add ½ cup of water along with salt and cover it with a lid for 3 more mins till the potato is half cooked.

Step 3:

Now add the fried paneer pieces and cook it till its full cooked. It will take less than 10 mins. You can add water if it started sticking at the bottom of the pan. To get semi gravy form, you have to allow the water to evaporate by not closing the lid.

To get more gravy you can add ½ cup of coconut milk at the end.

Yummy potato paneer gravy is ready to serve. Serve with chapathi

Tips:

You can also add chopped mushroom into this gravy.

God's Precious Gift

2009-10-21T11:58:00.003-04:00

God blessed us with a baby girl on February 13, 2009. We named her Daniella John.

Mushroom Paneer and potato masala

2009-10-21T11:57:00.000-04:00

You will need:

1 small box mushroom
2 small potatoes
10 cube fried paneer
2 medium size onion
3 tbsp tomato puree or 2 juicy tomatoes
2 tbsp chicken masala powder(sakthi brand)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
½ tsp mustard
½ tsp cumin seeds
3 tbsp oil
2 tbsp

Procedure:

Step 1:

Chop onion, mushroom, potato and keep it aside.

Step 2:

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard, cumin seeds and then the chopped onions.

Step 3:

After few minutes add chopped mushroom and fry it along with onion.

Step 4:

Now add the ginger garlic paste and saute it for a minute.

Step 5:

Now add the chicken masala powder and fry it for 1 minute.

Step 6:

Then add the tomato paste and the chopped potatoes. Add some water and allow the veggies to cook for longer time till the potato get half cooked.

Step 7:

Now add the fried paneer and cook it along with potato and mushroom. Add salt per your taste.

Add copped coriander leaves and cover it with a lid. Switch off the stove. Enjoy with chapathi, roti

Potato carrot Prawn masala

2009-06-16T16:11:00.000-04:00

You will need:

1 big onion (finely chopped)
3 tbsp tomato puree / 1 big tomato (chopped finely)
1 big potato (cut into small pieces)
1 big carrot / 10 small carrots (chopped lengthwise)
1 cup green peas
1 cup prawn
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp meat masala powder (I used Shakthi brand)
¼ cup coconut milk
salt for taste

For tempering:

3 tbsp oil
¼ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp cumin seeds
¼ tsp fennel seeds(perun jeera)
¼ tsp urad dal

Procedure:

Step 1:

Cut potato into small pieces. Microwave it for 5 mins or till its fully cooked. Keep it aside.

Step 2:

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and urad dal to it one by one. Then add chopped onions and carrots to it. Saute it till it become translucent.

Step 3:

Now add the ginger garlic paste and saute it for 2 mins. Then add the meat masala powder followed by tomato puree.

Step 4:

Add the cooked potato, green peas and prawns at this time and saute it well. Check for salt and cover it with a lid. Let it simmer for 5 to 10 mins. Add ½ cup water if needed. You can add coconut milk also for good taste.

Serve it hot with Chapathi, roti or pulka..

Nethili thokku

2009-02-02T00:17:00.004-05:00

You will need:

2 big red onion
2 tomato
1 tsp chilli powder
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp turmeric powder

For frying:

2 handful of nethili
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp vinegar
salt for taste
3 tbsp oil for frying

Procedure:

1. Wash nethili nicely by removing it head. If its frozen nethili then wash it using turmeric and salt too.

2. Then marinate it with red chili powder, vinegar, ginger garlic paste, pepper powder and salt.

3. Now heat oil in a pan and add marinated nethili to it. Fry it for 2 to 3 mins. Keep it aside

4. In the remaining oil add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and chopped onions. Saute it till the onion becomes translucent. Now add the chopped tomato and saute it till the oil comes on top.

5. Now add the red chilli powder, salt and saute it for a min.

6. Add the fried nethili mix it nicely. Check for salt and chilli powder.

7. Add chopped coriander leaves.

Enjoy with rasam and rice... Taste yummy yummy..

Chundakai Vathal Kuzhambu

2009-01-14T10:51:00.001-05:00

You will need:

½ cup chundakkai
½ cup grated coconut
few curry leaves
1½ big onion (chopped finely)
3 tbsp tomato puree or ( 1 big tomato chopped finely)
7 garlic pods(chopped roughly
2 tbsp sambhar powder
2 cup water
salt for taste
1 tbsp sugar
tamarind to taste
3 tbsp gingelly oil(nallennai)
1 tsp gram flour (kadala mavu)
1 tsp rice flour

Procedure:

Step 1:

Dry roast the coconut and curry leaves:

Heat a non stick pan on medium heat and add the grated coconut along with the curry leaves. Roast in low flame till you get nice aroma and dark brown color. In low flame it will take 5 mins. Roasting the coconut at high flame will result burned coconut which will give bitter taste.

Allow it to cool and dry grind it using a blender or mixie to get fine powder.

Roasted coconut Powder:

Step 2:

Heat oil in a pan and add chundakkai to it and fry it for 2 to 3 mins. Then add chopped onions, chopped garlic along with chundakkai and keep frying till onions turns transluent.

Step 3:

Add the sambhar masala powder now and saute it for a min. Then add the tomato puree.

Hint: If you are adding tomato pieces, better to add it before adding sambhar masala powder.

Step 4:

Now add the tamarind along with water and salt. Lower the heat and allow it to cook for 20 mins till the oil comes on top.

Step 5:

Mix rice flour and gram flour with ½ cup water and keep it aside.

Step 6:

Now add the roasted coconut powder. Then add the rice flour gram flour paste and stir it nicely. Close with a lid and allow it to cook for 3 more mins. You can add sugar/sarkarai at this stage.

Serve it hot with white rice. If you dont like bitter taste then reduce the chundakkai to ¼cup. Using nallennai will take out the bitter taste from Chundakkai.

Yam Fry(Suran/ chena kilangu masala)

2008-11-19T09:42:00.004-05:00

We visited one of our close friend's place few months back. They prepared yam fry as one of the side dish. OMG... It was tasting really good. Lini akka your yam fry rocks. So few days back, i gave it a try . It came out really good and we loved it. Same taste like lini akka's yam fry. Next time i have to try her beef fry recipe.

I used frozen chopped yams to make this dish. If you are using fresh yam, peel off the skin. Then chop into bite size pieces and cook along with some water, salt and turmeric till it become soft. Simple to make and tastes very good with mild curry's/ gravy's.

You will need:

2 cups of chopped yam
½ tsp chilli powder
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp pepper powder
salt for taste
2 tbsp oil

Procedure:

Step 1:

Cook the yam for few mins in water along with turmeric and salt till it become soft. Discard the water once the yam is cooked well

Step2:

Heat oil in a non stick pan. When the oil becomes hot add the cooked yam and saute it for 2 mins. Then add chilli powder, pinch of turmeric powder, cumin powder. Check for salt at this time. Saute it uncovered in a low flame for 10 more mins. When its ready add some pepper powder and saute well for one more min. Serve it hot with dal curry and rice.

I got few awards last week from my wonderful friend Ramya.

Thanks Ramya for passing these awards to me.

Ceylon Egg Parotta

2008-11-12T09:23:00.011-05:00

You will need:

2 cups All purpose flour/ maida
½ cup water
2 tbsp oil
¼ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp sugar

½ oil for kneading, flattening and toasting.

For egg Mixture:

4 eggs . (You can reduce to 2 eggs also)
1 red onion(chopped finely)
3 green chillies(chopped finely). You can use pepper powder also)
5 curry leaves(chopped finely)
few coriander leaves/cilantro(chopped finely)
salt for taste

Procedure for making egg mixture:

Mix together all the ingredients under egg mixture and have it ready.

Procedure for making Parotta dough:

Step 1:

Take a bowl and add flour, salt, baking powder, sugar and 2 tbsp oil. Start kneading by adding water little by little.

I used my hand mixer to do the work for me. You can use atta kneader, stand mixer, or hands to do kneading. Using hand mixer, mix it for 10 mins with medium speed.

Step 2:

After kneading the dough, make it as a ball shape and apply 2 tbsp oil and knead it nicely with hands. Then cover it with a wet cloth or wet paper towel and keep it aside for 2 hours.

Hint: Wet cloth/ wet paper towel(tissue) means soak the cloth/tissue in the water and the squeeze out all the water from it. Then cover the dough with this cloth.

Step 3:

Now make a big working surface to work with these parotta. Granite table or mica works perfect for this.

Step 4:

Divide the balls into 5 equal portions. Each balls need minimum 1 tbsp oil to flatten and toast. Apply oil on top and start rolling using rolling pin till you get paper thin texture. In the mean time heat the tawa on medium high heat.

I used electric griddle. Temp is 350 F.

Rolled dough:

Step 5:

After rolling the dough thinly, lift it carefully and spread it on the tawa . Apply oil on top and after 30 seconds flip it carefully. Now its time to add egg mixture.

Step 6:

Add 2 tbsp to 3 tbsp egg mixture in the center as shown in the picture.

Step 7:

Fold it from sides to form square shape. Pic is shown below

Step 8:

Now take approximately 1 tsp egg mixture and apply it on top to give more shine and colorful look.

Heat till it get golden brown color on both the sides by applying some oil. You can serve it by cutting it into 2 pieces also. Serve it with any spicy side dishes like chicken masala, mushroom masala, crab masala or even with simple sambhar.

Bottle Gourd Masala

2008-11-10T11:49:00.001-05:00

You will need:

1 bottle gourd
2 onion(chopped into fine pieces)
1 tomato / 2 tbsp tomato puree
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
pinch of mango powder/ amchoor powder (optional to get more of sour taste)
3 tbsp oil
salt for taste

For seasoning:

1 tsp mustard
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp channa dal
1 red chilli
few curry leaves

Procedure:

Step 1:

Peel off the skin. Chop the bottle gourd into bite size pieces. Heat some water in a pan and cook the bottle gourd pieces along with some salt till it turns soft. You can even pressure cook the bottle gourd for a whistle or 2 to save time.

Step 2:

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, channa dal one after other. Then add red chilli and curry leaves.

Step 3:

Now add the chopped onions and sate it till it become transluent. Then add the ginger garlic paste. Saute it for a min and add tomato. Saute tomato till it become soft. Then add the chilli powder along with garam masala powder.

Step 4:

Now add the cooked bottle gourd along with 1 cup of water and amchoor powder. Check for salt. Cook till you get thick gravy. It will take 3 more mins on medium heat to get thick gravy. Garnish with some chopped coriander leaves.

This spicy gravy goes well with chapathi, kulcha, roti.

Hint:

You can even add uncooked bottle gourd after adding masala powders. But it will take long time for the bottle gourd to cook. .