Shruchi Kitchen

Jun 13, 2013

Idli Sambar

Idli sambar is one of the standard recipes in many homes across Southern India and this is a traditional combo in Indian breakfast recipes. Sambar is specifically made for Idli using toor dal, sambar onions (pearl onions) and different spices.

Whenever I visit my grandparents house, my aunt's used to make idli and sambar for breakfast. This sambar which my grandmother makes is exclusively for idli and even the sambar powder entirely is different. The amalgamation of hing, curry leaves, red chilies and coriander seeds is so bold that, I can even sense its smell before I even step inside the house. I remembers all our cousins sit in a row with stomach rumbling and screaming for idli :-) Whenever I make this recipe, I feel nostalgic which brings back memories of my childhood.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Toor Dal

10 - 12 Sambar onions (pearl onions)

2 Tomatoes, chopped

2 tsp sambar powder

1/2 tsp Jaggery or sugar

3-4 sprigs of Cilantro, finely chopped

1 samll piece of tamarind

Salt

3 tsp Oil

For seasoning

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp hing (asafoetida)

1 sprig of curry leaves

Method

In a pressure cooker, add washed toor dal and 4 cups of water. Cook for 15-20 minutes

In a bowl soak tamarind in hot water for 5 minutes and mash it to extract put. Discard skin and excess fiber

In a large pot, heat oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing and curry leaves. When mustard seeds starts to sizzle add onions, fry until it is transparent

Now add tomatoes. Saute until it is cooked

Add sambar powder, jaggery and tamarind pulp.

Add cooked dal and 1 cup of water. Adjust salt as per taste. Simmer for 10 minutes

Add chopped cilantro
Serve hot with Idli

Idli recipe with Idli rava

Idlis are the most common South-Indian breakfast recipes. It is made with rice and urad dal and sometimes made with idli rava. Idli's are paired with different kinds of chutneys, lentil based curries like sambhar or even with meat curries. There is no limit to accompaniments for idlis.

Idlis are traditional South-Indian breakfast recipes, made often almost on daily basis. It is highly economical and most often dietitians recommend idlis for breakfast because it contains no fat, no cholesterol and no saturated fat. It is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

The recipe below is a fast food style idly. I love idlis made with idli rava. It is very soft and the texture is coarse unlike rice idlis. This batter is simple and very easy because you don't need a grinder. The batter can be easily made using a blender. Often my friends ask me whether they need grinder or not. In many hotels and fast foods, they don't grind idly rava, they just mix it with ground urad dal batter.

Ingredients

3 cups Idli Rava

3/4 cup urad dal

1/2 cup Beaten rice (poha)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp Baking Soda

Method

Soak idli rava, urad dal and beaten rice separately for at least 6 hours

Wash urad dal and beaten rice in water for 2 to 3 times. Grind both urad dal and beaten rice. Add little water if required

Then wash idli rava with water and drain excess water. Use a cheese cloth to squeeze excess water. Add it to urad dal - beaten rice batter

To this, add salt and baking soda. Mix well. Cover it with a lid and keep it in warm place for atleast 8 to 10 hours for fermentation

Now swirl the batter gently. Lightly grease idly moulds and pour a spoon full of batter on molds.

Steam it using pressure cooker without using whistle or using idli steamer. Steam for 10 to 15 minutes

Wet the spoon and scoop out idli from the moulds
Serve hot with Chutney and Sambhar

Jun 12, 2013

Naan

Naan is an Indian flat bread baked in clay oven. It is a world famous Indian bread recipe. It has a crusty bottom and fluffy on the top smeared it with butter. There are different kinds of naan like garlic naan, kheema naan, onion naan and sometimes different kinds of vegetables are stuffed in naan.

Naan is served mostly with comfort foods like kebabs, tandoor, meat curries or vegetable curries. It tastes best when it is hot from oven.

I have tried to recreate naan recipe using tawa or a griddle. It came out pretty well. This recipe has minimal ingredients and quite easy to make.

Ingredients

2 cups Maida or All purpose flour

1/2 tsp dry yeast

1/2 tsp sugar

Water

Salt

2 tsp Oil

1 beaten egg (optional)

Method

In a small bowl, mix yeast and warm water. Stir until yeast dissolves completely

In a large mixing bowl, add maida, sugar and salt. Mix well

Then add yeast and egg (optional). Add water to knead dough. The dough should be very soft. Finally, add oil and knead well

Keep dough in warm place for at least 2 hours
After dough has fermented, knead it again. Divide the dough into equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Take a ball and dust it with flour and roll it flat using rolling pin

Gently place in on a griddle or flat pan. roast it evenly on both the sides. Smear oil or butter

Garnish with cilantro and serve hot

Oriental Stir Fry Vegetables

This recipe is simple, fresh and crisp prepared with different kind of vegetables like bok choy, broccoli and bell peppers. This is a easy dinner and table fast recipe.

The ingredients for the sauce is quite simple. It requires just soy sauce and oyster sauce. These sauces can be substituted with low sodium. The vegetables are glazed lightly with sauce over high heat. You can use brown bean sauce as substitute for oyster sauce.

This recipe is delicious and easily adapted.

Ingredients

1 heads Bok Choy, trimmed and cut length wise

1 Red bell pepper, diced

1/2 pound Broccoli florets

2 cloves of garlic, minced

Small piece of Ginger, minced

1/2 tsp Red chili flakes

1 tsp Dark Soy sauce

1 tsp Oyster sauce

3 tsp Sesame seed oil or Mustard oil

1/4 tsp salt

Method

In a large wok, heat oil, add minced ginger and garlic. Saute for few seconds

Add soy sauce, oyster sauce and red chili flakes. Mix well

Add vegetables - bok choy, broccoli, bell pepper. Stri fry over high heat until it is tender crisp about 2-3 minutes

Adjust salt as per taste
Serve hot

Tip--

Corn starch is also used with the sauce and roasted sesame seeds can be used for garnishing
If your are vegan or allergic to sea food then substitute oyster sauce with brown bean sauce

Parangikai Poriyal | Kumbalakai Palya | Seasoned Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a delectable vegetable and used in variety of dishes like pies, curries, sauteed, muffins etc. Pumpkins are not only economical, but also highly nutritious and its is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B6, thiamine, Niacin, folate and catrotenes.

At home my mom makes Kumbalakai palya for chapathi. It is very simple and easy to make. Pumpkins are cooked with onions, green chilies and seasoned with mustard seeds. In the end, it is topped with freshly grated coconut and coriander leaves.

I made it with spaghetti squash. This recipe can also be made with butternut squash, chayote squash and pumpkins.

Ingredients

1 medium sized Pumpkin, ( about 1 kg) cubed

1 Onion, finely chopped

4 Green Chilies, finely chopped

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 sprig of Curry leaves

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1/2 cup Water

1/2 cup Grated Coconut

3-5 sprigs of Cilantro, finely chopped

4 tsp oil

Salt

Procedure

In a pressure cooker, heat oil and add mustard seeds. when it starts to sizzle add green chilies, curry leaves and onions. Saute until onions turns transparent

Add turmeric powder and pumpkin. Mix well and saute for a minute

Add 1/2 cup of water and adjust salt as per taste
Pressure cook up to one whistle. After cooker has cooled, add coconut and cilantro

Serve it with chapathi or steamed rice and sambhar

Tip-

I have used pressure cooker, instead you can saute pumpkin in a pan closed it with a lid and cook for 20 minutes

Jun 6, 2013

Grilled Chicken Kebab

Chicken Kebab is the most loved appetizer. It is widely popular all around the world, no matter whether it is grilled or deep fried. It is luscious, juicy with lot of flavors. Chicken is marinated with different kind of spices like ginger, garlic, red chili powder, paprika, pepper and vinegar.

These kebabs can be a cook-out, picnic or even a family meal. It is a joyful recipe which brings everyone together. I made this recipe on a beautiful long weekend with a company of close friends. As the kebabs came out of the grill, it disappeared in no time :-)

Ingredients

12 Chicken Drumsticks (or chicken breasts)

5-8 Garlic cloves

1 inch piece of ginger

1 tsp Red Chili powder

1/2 tsp Paprika (optional)

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1/2 tsp Cumin powder

3/4 cup White vinegar

Salt

Juice of 1 lime (optional)

Chat masala (optional)

Method

In a blender, grind ginger, garlic, chili powder, paprika, pepper powder, cumin powder, salt and white vinegar

Apply marinade mixture over chicken drumsticks and refrigerate for at least 1 hour

Place chicken drumstick on a preheated grill. Cook evenly only sides in medium flame. Cover the grill while chicken is cooking

Smear oil with a brush once a while. It takes about 30 - 45 minutes cook one batch

Once chicken drumsticks are out from grill, sprinkle chat masala and some lime juice
Serve hot with lemon wedges and salad

Kala Channa Curry

Kala Channa Curry is a protein packed vegetarian curry recipe from Punjabi Cuisine. This recipe is very new to me and I was introduced to this recipe from one of my friend Anukrithi. My knowledge of cooking with kala channa is only sundal and coconut- onion based South Indian style Kala channa curry.

The flavors are magnificent and bold. The base for this curry is made from pureed onions and tomatoes and it is spiced with red chili powder, coriander powder and mango powder.