Apr 1, 2015

Thakkali vengayam Mutton Kuzhambu


Mutton cooked in a spicy pungent tomato and onion curry. This curry is a easy fix and one pot recipe. There is no grinding of masalas. 

Few weeks back PG asked me to make a simple mutton curry for chapathi. The recipes that I knew involved heavy masalas. Since, I wanted to keep this recipe; I minced ginger and garlic, finely chopped pearl onions and tomatoes. For taste and spice, added chili-coriander powder, turmeric and garam masala. All these ingredients were pressure cooked with mutton.

This recipe has been family friendly meal especially during lethargic weekends :-)


Ingredients

500 gms Mutton (with bones)
6 Garlic, minced
1 inch Ginger, minced
8-10 Curry Leaves
10 Pearl onions, finely chopped
2 large Tomatoes, finely chopped
3 tsp Red Chili- Coriander powder (2:1 ratio)
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
Salt
5 tsp Oil

Method

  • Add oil in a preheated pressure cooker
  • When oil is hot add ginger, garlic, onions and curry leaves. Saute until onions softens
  • Add Tomatoes. Cook until oil separates out from rest of the ingredients
  • Add turmeric powder, red chili- coriander powder, garam masala. Mix well
  • Add mutton and fry for 10 minutes on medium heat. Add little water to prevent masala from getting burnt
  • Now add water and adjust salt as per taste. Pressure cook for 15 -20 min
  • If you want to thicken gravy, cook for another 10 minutes without the lid
  • It taste best when paired with chapathi, roti, rice, dosa or idli


Mar 24, 2015

Carrot Chutney


There are signs of spring everywhere and it feels so good with to step out in warm weather. In celebration  of arrival of spring, here's my first spring recipe - "Carrot Chutney" a vibrant colorful accompaniment for dosa and idli.




Ingredients

2 Carrots, diced
1 Small piece of Ginger
2 Green Chilies
1/2 tsp Bengal Gram (channa dal)
1/2 tsp Urad Dal
2 tsp Oil
Salt
Water as needed

For seasoning-
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
A sprig of Curry leaves
2 tsp Oil

Method

  • On a preheated sauce pan; add oil, Bengal gram, urad dal. Saute until it turns golden brown
  • Add green chilies, ginger and carrots. Saute until carrot softens. Set aside until it cools
  • Adjust salt and grind it into a fine paste. Add water a needed
  • Now heat oil in the same pan, add mustard seeds and curry leaves. When it starts to sizzle, pour the contents on top of freshly ground carrot chutney



Beetroot Cutlet


An innovative use of beetroot  transformed into crispy cutlet. When you need easy, simple and healthy family meal; you can reach out for this recipe.

Bring all the ingredients together and shape it into patties . Either bake, pan fry or deep fry. Serve it with chilled dipping sauces or simply place it between burger buns!!




Ingredients

1 Large Beetroot, peeled and shredded
1 boiled Potato
1 cup Bread crumbs, divided
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Chat Masala
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
Salt
Oil for deep frying (optional)


Method

  • Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl except oil. Divide the vegetable mixture into equal portions. Take each portion and shape it into patties
  • The coat each patty in breadcrumbs
  • Preheat oven to 350F
  • Place beetroot patties in a tray. Drizzle oil all over the patties. Bake for 30-40 minutes until the top layer is crusty
                                                             or
  • Heat oil in a sauce pan. Gently drop each patty in oil. Cook evenly on both the sides. Use an absorbent paper to drain excess oil
  • Serve hot with chilled dips like ketchup or Green Chutney


Sorakaya Verkadalai Poriyal


Sorakaya verkadali poriyal is a TamilNadu delicay served with steamed rice and lentil curry.  Bottle gourd and peanuts are cooked together make a perfect side dish to complete south Indian meal. The peanut powder binds bottle gourd and all the ingredients together.  This is fairly a quick recipe prepared in about 20 minutes.




Ingredients

1 Bottle gourd, cubed
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Tomato, finely chopped
1 inch piece Ginger
1/2 cup Peanut
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Chili powder
2 tsp Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
a sprig of curry leaves
1/2 cup water
Salt

Method

  • Dry roast peanut and let it cool. Remove the skin and grind it into powder. Keep it aside
  • Preheat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and curry leaves. When it starts to sizzle, add onions. Saute until onions turns transparent
  • Add turmeric powder and chili powder. Give it a little stir
  • Then add tomatoes and cook until it softens
  • Add bottle gourd and water. Cook for 15 minutes
  • Season it with salt and add peanut powder. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes
  • Serve hot with rice and curry

Mar 16, 2015

Neyveli Eral Kuzhambu | Prawns Curry


Out five star high protein and low calorie shell fish recipe. Neyveli Eral Kuzhambu (prawns curry) is exceedingly fast to cook. My aunt Geetha Suresh shared this recipe. 
I  bought the shrimps at a local Chinese grocery store and made it over lazy Sunday's dinner.

My husband instantly loved this scrumptious recipe.  The flavors of fresh shrimp taker over other ingredients in the curry. Trust me, I have made shrimp curry with frozen shrimp. It is rubbery and doesn't taste as good as the fresh ones. The condiments and raw spices add a very good taste to the pallet. 

This is the recipe for a good pallet.


Ingredients

500 gms deveined Shrimps
5 tsp Oil
1 stick Cinnamon
4 Cloves
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
1 tsp Ginger-garlic paste
1 Onion, finely chopped
2 Tomatoes, finely chopped
2 Green chilies, finely chopped
1 Red Chili
3/4 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1/2 tsp Red Chili powder
1/4 tsp Pepper Powder
3/4 cup Water
Salt
Handful of chopped cilantro

Method

  • Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel. Add cinnamon, cloves and fennel seeds. When it starts to sizzle, add ginger-garlic paste, green chilies, red chilies. Stir for few seconds
  • Add onions and saute until it softens 
  • Add tomatoes and cook until it softens
  • Now add the dry ingredients - turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder and pepper powder. Add water and mix well. Cook for 5 minuted until the gravy thickens
  • Now add shrimp and adjust salt as per taste. Mix well until the gravy coats the shrimp. Cook for 2 to 5 minutes
  • Stir with chopped cilantro
  • Serve hot with rice or chapathi

Spongy Walnut Pound Cake




Try this new dessert and my tea time favorite "Spongy Walnut Pound Cake". When I first tasted it, it was very indulging, spongy and nutty served with fresh fruit. This is a classic recipe in Indian bakery's made without nuts.

My friend Neha taught me this recipe. I was extremely overwhelmed and blow away when I took a bite of this cake for the first time. Though I don't bake often, I made this cake several times in last couple of years.






Ingredients

3 Eggs
1 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Butter
1/4 cup Cold Milk (optional)
2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp Baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups Flour
1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts

Method

  • Beat together eggs, sugar, milk and butter using a electric mixer on high speed until it is fluffy
  • Add vanilla extract, salt and baking powder. And then beat the mixture
  • Reduce the speed of electric mixer and slowly add the flour in batches. Mix until the batter becomes creamy
  • Now add chopped walnuts and fold the batter
  • Preheat over at 350 F
  • Pour the batter on a greased cake pan and place it on middle rack in the oven. Bake for 1 hour until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Allow 30 minutes for cooling time
  • Serve with fresh fruit
                                          








Khara Papdi


Try this quick recipe  to devour. An easy tea time snack to munchkin. Khara papri are thin crisps deep fried spicy squares paired with tea. It is spicy, light and easy to prepare.

I make papdis to prepare chats like masala puri, dhahi papdi, papdi chat or sometimes serve it plain with tea or coffee. Another innovative use is to add it in salads. Just crush papdis and add it to salads. It is crispy in every bite. I also liked the idea to eat it like chips and salsa or just dip with tangy chutney!!





Ingredients

1 cup Flour
1 tsp Pepper corns
1/2 tsp Ajwain (caraway seeds)
1/2 tsp Salt
Cold water
Oil for deep frying

Method

  • Coarsely grind pepper corns and ajwain
  • Whisk together flour, pepper powder, ajwain and salt
  • Add cold water to knead into stiff dough. Cover it with a damp cloth and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes
  • Now divide the dough into equal shaped balls. Roll each ball into thin circles., Prick papdi using fork
  • Use cookie cutter to cut into different shapes
  • Heat oil in a heavy bottomed deep dish
  • Gently drop each papdi into oiol. Fry evenly until it turns golden brown
  • Use absorbent paper to drain excess oil. Set aside until it cools. Store in an air tight container for future use

Mar 10, 2015

Thalapakatti Veg Biryani


Minty, peppery, spicy and flavored vegetable biryani from Dindugal. Its an appealing dish cooked for masses. Thalapakatti is a regional cuisine from Dindugal in Tamil Nadu. 

Me and PG had Thalapakatti Veg Biryani at our friends place. Our dear friend Kamalesh and his newly wed wife Sukanya made this charming and enticing dish. 

This recipe is infused with flavors of several spices such as bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, mace, star anise and coriander.Vegetables are cooked with a perfect blend of all these spices. Truly a delectable dish!!


Ingredients

2 cups of mixed Vegetables (carrots, peas, mushroom, beans, potato, cauliflower..), diced
1/2 cup Oil
2 Bay leaf
6 Cloves
6 Cardamom pods
2 Sticks of Cinnamon
1 Mace
1 Star Anise
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
1/4 tsp Pepper corns
5 Green Chilies
a Sprig of Curry Leaves
3 tsp crushed Ginger and Garlic
1 large Onion, Cut lengthwise
1 small bunch of Mint, only leaves & chopped
1 small bunch of Cilantro, chopped
1 Tomato, diced
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Biryani Powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp garam Masala
4 cups Seeragasamba Rice / Basmati Rice
4 cups of water
Salt

Method

  • Wash and soak rice in water for 15 minutes
  • In a large pot, heat oil. When it is smoking hot, add these ingredients - bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, mace, star anise, fennel seeds, pepper corns, green chilies, curry leaves, ginger & garlic. Saute for few seconds
  • Then add onions and  tomatoes. Saute until onions and tomato softens
  • Add coriander leaves and mint
  • Add the vegetables, turmeric powder, garam masala, coriander powder, biryani masala and salt. Cook vegetables on medium heat without adding water. About 15 minutes
  • Now drain water from the rice. And transfer the rice to the pot. Add water and adjust salt as per to the taste. Mix well. Cover the pot and cook on medium-low for 15-20 minutes. 
  • Serve hot with raita

Thalapakatti Chicken Biryani


Minty, peppery, spicy and flavored chicken biryani from Dindugal. Its an appealing dish cooked for masses. Thalapakatti is a regional cuisine from Dindugal in Tamil Nadu. 

Me and PG had Thalapakatti Chicken Biryani at our friends place. Our dear friend Kamalesh and his newly wed wife Sukanya made this charming and enticing dish. 

This recipe is infused with flavors of several spices such as bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, mace, star anise and coriander. Chicken is cooked with a blend of all these spices. Truly a delectable dish!!


Ingredients

500 gms Chicken (with bones)
1/2 cup Oil
2 Bay leaf
6 Cloves
6 Cardamom pods
2 Sticks of Cinnamon
1 Mace
1 Star Anise
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
1/4 tsp Pepper corns
5 Green Chilies
a Sprig of Curry Leaves
3 tsp crushed Ginger and Garlic
1 large Onion, Cut lengthwise
1 small bunch of Mint, only leaves & chopped
1 small bunch of Cilantro, chopped
1 Tomato, diced
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Biryani Powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp garam Masala
4 cups Seeragasamba Rice / Basmati Rice
4 cups of water
Salt

Method

  • Wash and soak rice in water for 15 minutes
  • In a large pot, heat oil. When it is smoking hot, add these ingredients - bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, mace, star anise, fennel seeds, pepper corns, green chilies, curry leaves, ginger & garlic. Saute for few seconds
  • Then add onions and  tomatoes. Saute until onions and tomato softens
  • Add coriander leaves and mint
  • Add Chicken, turmeric powder, garam masala, coriander powder, biryani masala and salt. Cook chicken on medium heat without adding water. About 25-30 minutes
  • Now drain water from the rice. And transfer the rice to the pot. Add water and adjust salt as per to the taste. Mix well. Cover the pot and cook on medium-low for 15-20 minutes. 
  • Serve hot with raita


Jan 31, 2015

Akki Rotti


Pan fried, pancake shaped, crispy rotti made with rice flour. Akki ( rice in Kannada) rotti is a southern Karnataka based breakfast recipe. Akki rotti is usually compliments with coconut chutney and sometimes ghee is also preferred. Also , it is served with spicy mutton curry which is my favorite accompaniment. 

It's a southern delicacy where only few restaurants include rotti in their menu mainly because it is time consuming and takes a little longer to cook when compared to Dosa. But home made rotti's always tastes so good. There are infinite variations to this recipe. Any kind of shredded vegetables can be added to the dough and also increases its nutritional value. 

Ingredients

4 cups of Rice flour2 Onions, finely chopped1 large bunch of Dill5 Green chilis, chopped1 tsp Cumin seeds4 tsp Grated coconutSaltWater Oil for pan fry

Method

  • Boil water in a pot
  • Mix together rice flour, onions, dill, cumin seeds, green chilies and salt

  • Add boiling water in small batches just enough to for the dough

  • Cover the mixing bowl . The steam which is trapped allows the dough to cook partially. Set aside for 15-20 minutes
  • Divide the dough into equal portions. Take each portions and shape it into balls
  • Place one portion of the shaped dough on a greased flat pan. Wet your palm and  pat the dough to form a pancake working from inwards and spread it evenly outwards 
                                                 
  • Add few drops of oil on the edges. Cook on medium heat on both the sides until it turns golden brown

  • For the next rotti, cool the pan with running cold water and repeat the above 2 steps
  • Serve hot with coconut chutney. And some ghee is also preferred 



Jan 28, 2015

Mixed Vegetable Sagu for Dosa and Idli


Have excess vegetables in refrigerator? An innovative solution to use all the vegetables is making this delicious mixed vegetable Sagu. If you are looking for a simple healthy eating options, then this is the recipe to look for. It is quick and one pot recipe. 


Ingredients

5 cups of mixed vegetables - carrots, green beans, opo squash, potato etc..
1 Onion, diced
1 Tomato, diced
Salt
2 tsp Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

For masala-
1/2 cup Fresh coconut
1 tsp Fennel seeds
4 Cloves
1 stick of Cinnamon
1inch piece of Ginger

Method


  • Make a smooth paste of all the ingredients listed under Masala. Add little water to grind the masala 
  • Heat oil in pressure cooker. Add mustard seeds
  • When the oil starts to sizzle, add onions and sauté until it softens
  • Add tomatoes and sauté until it softens
  • Add all chopped vegetables and sauté for 2 minutes
  • Add the ground masala, 1 cup of water and adjust salt as per to the taste. Pressure cook for 15 minutes
  • Serve hot with Dosa and idli 


Vada Pav


A desi veggie burger, common man's food in Indian state of Maharasthra and a popular street food
Spongy buns are loaded with deepfried Indian styled potato croquettes, complimented with spicy coriander chutney and pungent garlic chutney. Trust me every bite is wonderfully versatile. Vada pav is a all day recipe served for breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner.


Serving - 10 vadas

Ingredients

For Potato filling-
4 large potatoes, boiled, peeled & mashed
2 tsp Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
1 Tsp Grated ginger
4 Green chilies, finely chopped
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1 sprig of Curry leaves
1 Onion, diced
Handful of cilantro, finely chopped
Salt

For batter-
1 1/2 cups of Chickpea flour
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red chili powder
Water as needed 
Salt
Oil for deep frying

Other ingredients
10 Hawaiian rolls or mini burger buns 
Cilantro chutney (Click link for the recipe)
Garlic chutney (Click link for the recipe)

Method 

For potato filling-

  • Heat oil is a skillet. Add mustard seeds, green chilies, curry leaves. When it starts to sizzle, add onions and turmeric powder. Sauté until onions softnes
  • Add salt and mashed potato. Mix well and leave it on low heat for 3-4 minutes
  • Add cilantro and mix well
  • After potatos cools, divide it into 10 equal portions. Dip your hand in water and shape each portion into balls. 

For batter-

  • In a large mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients listed under Batter. Add enough water to make a thick batter and whisk well

For vada-

  • Heat oil for deep frying
  • Dip  potato ball in chickpea batter and gently drop it into oil
  • Fry evenly. Use an absorbent paper to drain excess oil

Final step-

  • Spread green chutney on one side of the bun and garlic chutney on the other side
  • Place the freshly prepared vada between the bun and serve it with a cup of chai 


Jan 27, 2015

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili


One pot, easy, delicious, creamy crock pot chicken chili. Add all the ingredients to the crock pot , take a break from kitchen and come back after 6 hours to have hearty delicious dinner. 

The best thing about this recipe is, there is no hard and fast rule to measure the ingredients. It is inexpensive and instant hit at home. Though I made a big batch of chili on sunday, trust me it didn't  last long. SO yummy !!

Originally, this recipe was given to me by my colleague friend Cathy Hackett. I made few modifications to suit the Indian version and made it more spicy.

Ingredients

500 gms Boneless Chicken
1 can of Black Beans
1 Onion, diced
1 can of Corn
1 Tomato, diced
2 stalks of Celery, diced
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
3 tsp Chili powder
8 oz Low fat Cream Cheese
1 ltr Vegetable/ Chicken Stock
Salt

Method

  • Add all the ingredients to the crock pot and cook on high for 6-8 hours
  • Use a fork to shred the chicken
  • Serve hot with (Optional) scallions and sour cream


Coriander chutney


A multiuse recipe made with simple ingredients. This chutney has infinite number of uses as a salad dressing, sandwich spread or as a dip for fritters. 

Cilantro chutney can be prepared ahead of time. It can also be used a  base to prepare chicken fry or chicken curry. 


Ingredients

1 bunch Cilantro, roughly chopped
A sprig of curry leaves
1 inch piece Ginger, roughly chopped 
1 Green chili
1/2 tsp Roasted cumin powder
Salt
Water as needed

Method


  • Make a smooth paste if all the ingredients listed above. Add water as needed
  • This chutney can be used as a salad dressing , as a spread for sandwiches or as a dip for deep fried fritters and kebabs

Lasun (Garlic) chutney


Dry garlic chutney is a Maharastrian recipe made for vada pav, a trademark recipe especially in Mumbai. This chutney  has a very zestful taste of roasted garlic and peanut. 

The original recipe uses dry coconut. Instead I used fresh coconut slivers which turned the dry chutney into crumbles. And it worked out perfectly when I made vada pav. These crumbles makes every bite more delicious. 


Ingredients

1 pod of Garlic, peeled
1/4 cup Peanuts
5 whole dry Red chilies
1/4 cup Coconut slivers
1/2 tsp Oil
Salt

Method


  • Heat oil in a pan. Add garlic and fry until it turns golden brown. Set aside 

  • Roast peanuts, red chilies and coconut separately. Set aside 

  • Grind all the ingredients together without adding water. Add salt while grinding this chutney