Encourage Spice

Dal Palak /Keerai Kootu

2017-11-16T14:22:00.000+00:00

I make it a point to add greens at least once in a week for my kids.This a simple kootu i have made with spinach , you can do it with any greens available.Serve with hot rice adding a dallop of ghee and pappad.It is a meal on its own . You can add grated coconut in the end , i didnt have it so i didnt add.Do try this and post your comments.I have made it less spicy you can make add more green chillies as per your taste.

Ingredients

Spinach - 2 bunches , cleaned and chopped
Yellow split moong dhall - 1/2 cup
Garlic - 1 pod
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Hing - 1/ tsp
Whole Jeera - 1/4 tsp
Chilli - 2 ,chopped
Small onions - 3
Salt as needed

Season

Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Red chilly - 2 , chopped

Method

In a pan , wash the moong dhall and add enough water .
Add turmeric powder and allow it to cook ,when it is 3/4th cooked ,then add the chopped spinach ,hing and small onions
Grind together jeera and green chilly and add to the cooking dhal.
When the dhal is cooked completely add salt and close the lid for 10 min in low flame.
Now the dhal would have completely smashed .Remove from heat.
In another pan , heat oil , let the mustard splutter , add the red chillies and saute it.Add to the cooked dal.
Serve with hot rice and ghee.

Tips

When the dal is cooked with lid closed ,the dhal and spinach gets completely smashed.
Always season in the end.
You can add grated coconut also in the end.

Pepper Kulambu

2017-11-16T14:13:00.003+00:00

This is another healthy and spicy gravy .This good when you are sick or when the weather is too cold.It is quite spicy , u can adjust the pepper to your taste.The only spice used here is pepper.Chilly is for giving good taste.

Ingredients

Pepper - 2 tbsp
Jeera - 1 tbsp
Rice - 1/4 tsp
Onion - 1 small diced
Tomato - 1 small ,cubed
Green Chilly - 2 ,slit
Tamarind juice - 1 cup
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Corriander Powder - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

Season

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Feenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curryleave -5
Oil - 4 tbsp

Method .

In a pan ,dry roast pepper first till it release aroma , then add the rice and jeera once it spluuters ,take it out ,let it cool down .
Dry grind it into smooth powder and keep aside.
In a pan ,heat oil , add mustard seeds ,let it splutter
Add Fenugreek and curry leaves, after a few second add onion and fry well.
Add the green chillies and toss well , add the tomato pieces and let it turn mushy
Now add the coriander and turmeric powder and saute it well for 2 sec
Add the tamarind juice and salt and let it boil for 10 min
Reduce the flame and let it boil for another 5 min
When you feel the raw smell has gone.
Add the ground powder and mix it well , by the back of the ladle
Leave it for 5 min.
Now reduce the heat complete and after few minutes ,the oil will start oozing out.
Switch off the heat.

It is goes well with rice , pappad and kootu.

Tips :

Dont over roast the 3 ingredients
Dont allow it to boil for long after adding the powder.
Adjust pepper to your spice levels.
Dont add chilly more than 2 .

Tomato Pachadi

2017-11-16T14:09:00.001+00:00

This is a yummy tomato pachadi , taste yum with urad dhal rice or roti.If tomato is tangier add more red chilli powder.I have roasted the tomato in oil ,peeled the skin and have made gravy.This is a no onion no garlic dish.

Ingredients

Tomato - 4
Greenchilly - 1 slit
Garlic - 1 pod chopped
Hing - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli Powder - 3/4 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt as needed
Water - 1 cup
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp

Method :

Heat 1 tbsp ,oil in a pan , add the whole tomatoes ,and roast it till the skin changes color and skin starts splitting.Remove from heat.
Let it cool , peel the skin and mash it well.
Heat the remaining oil , add the mustard seeds , when it splutters ,add the green chilly ,garlic and curry leaves
Saute it for 3 seconds.Now add the mashed tomato pulp.
Add all the powders and salt.
Let it cook for 5min.Add a cup of water and let it cook for 10minutes in a medium flame.
Cook in simmer for another 5min.
Serve with sambar rice or roti.

Ulantha Satham/Black Urad dhall Rice

2017-09-23T11:50:00.001+01:00

This is a very traditional one pot meal which is very healthy and tasty.We are using black urad dhall.In this recipe we have used more garlic , if you dont like garlic you can use it less.This is not a spicy dish ,pepper gives aroma,you can add red chillies while seasoning if you want to make a spicy one.

Ingredients

Black split urad dhall -1/2 cup
Rice - 1 cup
Garlic - 8 pods ,skinned
Whole Black pepper - 1/4 tsp
Whole Jeera - 1/4 tsp
Vendhayam / Fenugreek seeds- 1/2 tsp
Hing - 1/4 or less
Coconut - 1/2cup , grated
Curry leaves - 10 leaves
Water- 3 1/2 cups
Salt as needed
Ghee - 1/2 tbsp
Gingelly Oil - 1 tbsp

Method

Roast Fenugreek seeds in ghee and keep it separate
Crush Whole Jeera in your hand and keep it separately.
Dry roast urad dhall for 2 min,just enough for the urad dhall should have some heat (the heat that is bearable for us to touch the dhall , too much roasting will not be good).
Heat oil in Pressure cooker add garlic , roast it till golden brown then add hing ,curry leaves.
Then add water, rice, urad dhall , coconut, fenugreek seeds , whole jeera, whole black pepper ,salt.Give a stir.
Pressure cook for 2 whistles.

The best side dish is Mutton gravy , sesame seeds chutney , tomato thokku.

Sukku Kali/Dry Ginger halwa

2013-10-13T16:43:00.002+01:00

Tomato Briyani

2013-08-22T16:06:00.001+01:00

Grapes Lemonade

2013-08-20T19:19:00.001+01:00

Curd Rice

2013-08-18T22:02:00.002+01:00

Bread and Channa Masala - Tiffin Idea

2013-08-16T18:53:00.001+01:00

Capsicum Peas Podi Curry

2013-08-15T14:35:00.001+01:00

Pasta with Homemade sauce

2013-08-07T20:39:00.001+01:00

Tamarind rice

2013-07-08T13:53:00.004+01:00

Cauliflower Peas Kurma

2013-07-05T22:21:00.001+01:00

Chicken Gravy in Electric Cooker.

2013-07-03T06:43:00.000+01:00

Beetroot leaves Poriyal

2013-06-30T21:18:00.005+01:00

Peas Potato Kurma

2013-06-28T16:56:00.001+01:00

Venthayam Kulambu/Fenugreek gravy

2013-06-20T15:47:00.000+01:00

Green Moong dhall gravy

2013-05-31T20:40:00.005+01:00

Raw Onion Chutney

2013-05-27T19:02:00.001+01:00

Melon for BWW # 85

2013-05-26T19:10:00.000+01:00

This is my contribution to edition #85 of Black and White Wednesday - A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by
Priya of The Humpty Dumpty Kitchen

On this page, you can find out who is hosting the current and future editions of the event.

Sesame Podi for Idli or dosai

2013-05-24T17:43:00.001+01:00

Urad dhall Kheer/Uluntha paruppu kanji

2013-05-22T15:01:00.003+01:00

Lemon Rasam

2013-05-19T20:48:00.000+01:00

Empty bowl for BWW # 84

2013-05-19T20:19:00.001+01:00

This is my contribution to edition #84 of Black and White Wednesday - A Culinary Photography Event created by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook, now organized by Cinzia of Cindystar, and hosted this week by
Simona of Briciole

On this page, you can find out who is hosting the current and future editions of the event.

Butter fried Chicken

2013-05-15T21:39:00.000+01:00