ಬೇಳೆ ಚಟ್ನಿ | Bele Chutney

Another variety of chutney served as an accompaniment with South Indian breakfasts 🍳.

It is loaded with indulging  flavours of garlic, roasted red chilies and roasted lentils. 

Here is the recipe 

Ingredients

—————-

2 tsp Channa dal

2 tsp Urad dal 

1 inch piece of Tamarind

4 cloves of Garlic (diced)

4 Green chilies

1 Whole red chili

1/2 cup Desiccated coconut powder 

2 tsp oil

Salt

3/4 cup water

For tempering

1 tsp oil

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

A sprig of Curry Leaves

Method

———-

1. Heat oil in a pan. Add Urad dal and Channa dal. Fry until it is golden brown. 
2. Then add garlic, green chilies , red chilies and tamarind. Sauté until garlic starts to turn brown. Set aside and cool.
3. Grind together roster ingredients, coconut, salt and water into a smooth paste
4. As an optional step, you can add tempering with 1 tsp oil, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds and 4-5 curry leaves. Pour the seasoning on top of chutney. Serve with any kind of South Indian breakfast.

Maanga Vatta Kuzhambu

There are so many versions of vatta kuzhambu. And here is my interpretation of this recipe.

Ingredients 

2 cups of Raw Mango (diced)

2 tsp Dried Elder berry

2 tsp Dried Black Nightshade berry

8 cloves of Garlic (thinly sliced)

1 tsp Fenugreek seeds

A sprig of curry leaves

1/4 tsp Asafoetida

2 tsp Sambar powder

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1/2 tsp Jaggery or brown sugar

Salt per taste

Lemon size Tamarind (soaked in water)

1 tsp Rice flour

5-6 cups of water

1/4 cup Oil

Method

1. Extract tamarind pulp and set aside. Wash berries in water and set aside
2. Heat oil in a wide open earthenware. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves. When it starts to splitter add asafoetida and garlic. Sauté until garlic softens. Then add the berries
3. Add sambar powder and turmeric powder. Sauté for 10 sec so that the flavors and color is infused in oil.
4. Add tamarind juice along with 4-5 cups of water. Add salt and jagged as well. Bring it boil
5. As the color of the curry deepens and oil floats on top add rice flour mixed with 1/4 cup of water. It helps to thicken the curry.
6. Add mango and boil for 3-4 minutes until mango is fork tender
7. Serve hot with steamed rice. 
8. If you are making this recipe in earthenware then add additional 1 cup of water as it absorbs moisture. 
9. It tastes best following meal

Horse-gram & Barnyard Millet Sevai

“Happiness is when you start your day with a good breakfast!!”. I decided to make speciality breakfast on a weekday and make it a family special. And no matter what you cook, it always tasted special when you eat together with your family.

Here is the recipe-

Ingredients

—————

200 gms Horsegram Vermecelli

200 gms Barnyard Vermecelli (or choose any kind)

 4 tsp oil

1/4 cup peanuts

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp Channa dal

6 Green chilies (Cut lengthwise)

A sprig of curry leaves

1 small onion (finely chopped)

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Juice of 1 lemon 

Salt per taste 

Water ( to cook vermecelli)

Method

———-

• Heat water in a large pot.
• Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp oil.
• Bring water to boil.
• As the water starts to boil, add vermecelli and cook for 2 minutes.
• Use a large strainer and drain water completely. Set aside cooked vermecelli.
• Heat oil in a skillet. Add peanuts and fry until it starts to turn golden brown. Remove peanuts from oil and set aside. 
• In the same pan with same oil, add mustard seeds, Chanda dal, green chilies , curry leaves and onions in specifies order. 
• Sauté onions until it starts to turn translucent. Add turmeric powder and salt. Mix well.
• Then add cooked vermecelli and lemon juice and mix well in low heat until all ingredients are well combined. 
• Garnish with coriander leaves and peanut.

Shrikhand

Ingredients

——————

500 ml Yogurt made from whole milk

3/4 cup Powdered Sugar

1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder

Few strands of saffron

Mint leaves

Method

————

First line a strainer or a colander with cheese cloth. 

Pour yogurt on the strainer.

Fold the edges of the cloth together and gently squeeze.  Let it rest for 2-3 hours until water starts dripping from cloth. 

Remove hung curd and transfer it to a separate bowl. 

Add sugar and cardamom.

Whisk it with an electric beater for 2 minutes until all ingredients are well combined.

Transfer to serving bowls and refrigerate.

Serve chilled with saffron and mint garnished on top.

Senai Kizhangu Fry | Eddos Tawa Fry

Ingredients

250 gms Eddos 

2 tsp Rice Flour

1 tsp Chili powder

Salt per taste

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

Oil for Pan frying

Method

• Cook eddos in a pressure cooker with water upto 2 whistling sounds
• After eddos has cook, drain water and peel the skin. Slice each root into small discs and set aside
• In a separate bowl, mix together rice flour, chili powder, salt and turmeric powder. Add 4 tsp of water and make a smooth paste
• Take a small portion of the spice paste and apply it on sliced eddos. Repeat the process for remaining eddos
• Heat oil in a pan. Add 2 tsp of oil. When oil is smoky hot, place eddos on pan and fry on both the sides. It take 2 minutes on each side on medium-low setting. Add more oil to make it crispy
• Serve hot

Schezwan Stir Fried Squash & Broccoli

Ingredients

4 tsp Oil

3 tsp Garlic

1 small Red Onion (diced)

3 cups of Squash (diced)

3 cups of Broccoli florets

2 tsp Store bought Schezwan sauce

2 tsp Dark Soy Sauce

1/2  tsp Black pepper powder

Salt

1/2 tsp Corn Starch mixed with 2 tsp of water

Method

1. Heat oil in wok. Add garlic and saute for 30 sec until lightly brown
2. Add red onions, squash and broccoli. Saute under high heat for 3 minutes
3. Add schezwan, soy sauce, pepper powder, salt and corn starch. Mix well until well combined. Continue to saute for 3 minutes

Pudina Pulav | One pot pressure cooker recipe under 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups of Basmati rice (washed and soaked in water for 15mins)

1 small sized Onion (thinly sliced)

1 large Bay Leaf

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

5 tsp Oil

3 cups of Water

Salt

For maslala 1

   7 cloves of Garlic 

   1 inch piece of Ginger

   4 Cardamom pods

   1 inch piece of Cinnamon

   7 Cloves

   6 Green Chilies

   2-3 tsp of water

For masala 2

  2 handful or 1 large bunch of Mint 

  2-3 tsp of Water

Method

1. Grind all the ingredients into a coarse paste listed under "Masala 1" and set aside
2. Heat oil in a pressure pan. Add bay, when it starts to splutter, add onions. Saute until onions are wilted about 3-4 minutes
3. Add ground "Masala 1" paste. Saute until masala get aromatic and oil starts to separate
4. Add water, salt, lemon juice. Continue to simmer
5. Add rice and continue to simmer
6. Grind mint listed under "Masala 2" and pour the contents into the pressure pan
7. Mix well. Cover the pressure pan and cook until 2 whistling count
8. Serve hot

Veg Pulav | One pot pressure cooker recipe

Ingredients

2 cups Basmati rice ( washed & soaked in water for 15 mins)

5 tsp Oil

2 tsp Crushed Ginger & Garlic

1/2 cup Chopped Green onions

1/2 cup Chopped Mint

3 Green chilies (slit lengthwise)

3 cups of Diced Vegetables (potato, carrot, peas)

2 Bay leaf

2 sticks of Cinnamon

5 Cloves

3 Cardamom

1 Marati moggu

1 Black stone flower

3 Mace

1 tsp Sambar powder

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

3 cups of water

Salt

Method

1. Heat oil in a pressure pan. When oil is smoky hot, add all the whole spices - bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, marati moggu, black stone flower and mace
2. When oil starts to splutter, add green chilies, green onions and mint. Saute for a minute
3. Add diced vegetables. Saute for a minute
4. Add sambar powder. Mix well until well combined about 30 sec
5. Add water, lemon juice and salt. Continue to simmer
6. Then add basmati rice. Mix well
7. Cover the pressure pan with lid. Cook upto 2 whistling sounds
8. Serve hot

Pudina Chutney

Ingredients

2 tsp Oil

5 cloves of Garlic (roughly chopped)

4 Green Chilies (roughly chopped)

1 inch piece of Tamarind

1/2 cup Coconut 

1 large bunch or 2 handful of Mint

1/2 tsp Salt

For seasoning

   1 tsp Oil

    1/4 tsp Mustard seeds

   1 Red chili 

Method

• Heat oil in a pan. Add garlic and green chilies. Saute until garlic starts to turn light brown.
• Add tamarind, saute for just few seconds
• Then add mint. Saute until mint starts to wilt
• Add coconut. Saute until coconut starts to turn light brown color
• Remove off from heat and cool 
• Add salt and 1/2 cup of water. Grind the ingredients into a smooth paste
• As an optional step, add seasoning. Add 1 tsp of oil, 1/4 tsp mustard seeds and 1 Whole re chili. When it starts to splutter, pour it over chutney
• Serve it with Indian breakfasts, breads, sandwich and tacos

Veg Egg Bhurjji

Ingredients

2 tsp Green Chilies (finely chopped)

2 tsp Garlic (finely chopped)

1 large Onion (finely chopped)

1 cup of Cabbage (finely chopped)

1 cup of Carrots (finely chopped)

3 cups of Spinach (finely chopped)

2 cups of Mushrooms (diced)

6 Eggs

Dry spice powders

   1/2 tsp Garam masala powder

   1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

   3/4 tsp Coriander powder

   1 tsp Chili powder

   1 tsp Store bought Mutton masala powder

Salt per taste

3 tsp oil

Method

• Heat oil in a skillet. Add garlic and chilis. Saute for 30 sec
• Then add onions. Saute until onions are wilted
• Then add cabbage and carrot. Cook for 2 minutes
• Then add spinach and mushrooms. Saute for 2 minutes
• Then add dry spices powders - garam masala powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, chili powder and mutton masala powder. Mix well util well combined
• Add salt per taste. Mix well
• Add eggs. Stir until until eggs starts to thicken and no liquid eggs remain. 
• Serve with steamed rice and Indian bread

Veg Coconut Kurma

Ingredients

1 large or 1 cup of Carrots (diced)

2 small or 2 cups of Potatoes (diced)

1 cup of Green beans

1/2 Onion (finely chopped)

1 tsp Coconut oil

2 tsp Crushed Garlic

5 Green chilies (cut lengthwise)

1 can or 14 oz or 3 cups of Coconut Milk 

Whole dry spices

   1 Bay leaf

   1 inch stick of Cinnamon

   3 Cardamom (crushed)

   5 Cloves

Dry spice powders

   1 tsp Red Chili powder

   1/2 tsp Coriander powder

   1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Rice flour

1 1/2 tsp Salt

3 cups of water

Method

• Cook carrots, potatoes and beans in a pressure cooker with 1 cup of water for upto 1 whistle. Set aside and allow pressure cooker to cool
• Heat coconut oil in a heavy bottomed skillet. As oil turns to smoky hot, add whole dry spices- bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Wait until it starts to splutter
• Then add garlic and green chilies. Saute until garlic starts to turn golden brown
• Then add onions. Satue until onions start to wilt
• In the mean time, mix rice flour with 1/2 cup of water without ay lumps. Set aside
• When onions have wilted, add dry spice powders  - red chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Saute for just 10-15 sec so that the flavors from dry spice powders are infused in oil
• Add coconut milk to the skillet. Add 1/2 cup of water to scrape any ingredients inside the can.
• Also add rice flour water + salt and mix well
• Also add cooked veggies with vegetable stock
• Add remaining water and bring kurma to boil until oil starts to float on top
• Serve with south Indian breakfast like idli, dosa, appam, chapati, rice varieties like ghee rice, pulav and many more

Sponge Idli | Made from Idli Rava

Ingredients

3 cups Idli Rava

3/4 cup Urad Dal

1/4 cup Poha

3 tsp Sabudana (tapioca pearls)

To steam Idli

    Salt per taste

    1 tsp Eno

Method

• Wash all the above ingredients mentioned above with water separately. 
• Soak Idli rava, Urad dal, poha and sabudhana in separately in water  4-6 hours. Again wash each ingredient separately in water atleast twice until water is not cloudy at all. 
• After idli rava is washed, squeeze or drain all the water. Use hand or a cheese cloth per your convenience.
• Use a wet stone grinder to make the batter. First grind Urad dal. Add 1/2 cup of water. grind for 15 -20 minutes until the batter is fluffy and velvety. The quantity if urad dal batter will triple or quadruple when it starts to get fluffy. 
• Remove the batter from the grinder and set aside. 
• Next grind poha and sabudhana. Grind for 2 minutes.
• Add Idli rava and grind fro 5 minutes until it is coarsely ground. There is no need to add water as idli rava has already retained water from soaking. 
• Remove the batter from the grinder. 
• Now, mix together all the batter until well combined. 
• Transfer it to a box or a container which has a lid. Ferment over night. (You can see bubbles and idli batter will rise after fermentation)
• You can refrigerate up to 7-10 days 

To make idli-

• Add salt and eno to the fermented idli batter. Mix well at room temperature. 
• Heat water 2-3 inches deep in idli cooker.
• Pour batter in idli moulds or idli plate
• Steam in cooker for 12 minutes. Remove from the cooker
• Allow idli to rest for 2-3 minutes
• Dip a flat spatula in water and remove the idli's formt the mould
• Serve hot

Pav Bhaji

Ingredients

For making Bhaji
      3 tsp Butter
      2 Potatoes
      2 Carrots
      2 Tomatoes (puree)
      1 Onion (finely chopped)
      1 tsp Garlic paste
      Dry spice powders
            2 tsp Pav bhaji masala (store bought)
            1 tsp Coriander powder
            1 tsp Red chili powder
            1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
            1/2 tsp Garam masala powder
            Salt per taste

For the side & toppings
      1 large Onions (finely chopped)
      Lemon wedges
      Small bunch of Cilantro (finely chopped)
      Butter cubes

For Pav (Indian Bread)
      1 pack of  Hawaiian Rolls or Hot dog buns or Brioche Buns
      Butter for toasting

Method

Making bhaji

• Cook potatoes, carrots and pinch of turmeric powder along with 3-4 cups of water in a pressure cooker for 2-3 whistles. Reserve the water.
• Heat butter on a skillet. Add garlic and onions. Satue until it is golden brown.
• Add tomato puree. Cook for 2-2 minutes
• Add all the dry spice powders - pav bhaji masala, coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, salt per taste. Mix well
• Add boiled vegetables - potato and carrot. Use a potato masher to mash all the ingredients. Add 2-3 cups of reserved water from boiled vegetables. Continue to mash all the ingredients until they are well combined. Turn heat to low and cook for 5-10 minutes.
• Top it with 1 tsp butter 

Making Pav

• Heat 1/2 tsp of butter on a flat pan. Toast buns inside and out until it is golden brown

For Plating

• Traditionally in fast foods or street foos use a steel plate which has compartments to serve this dish.
• Arrange toasted pav, bhaji, onions, cilantro, lemon wedges and butter in separate containers.
• Serve bhaji on a plate. Top it with lemon juice, onions, cilantro and a small cube of butter. Dip buns in bhaji and relish it

Mint Tilapia Tawa Fish Fry

Ingredients

500gms Tilapia fillets
Oil for pan fry

For Fish Masala
    1 small bunch Mint
    4 cloves Garlic
    1/2 inch Ginger
    3 Green Chilies
    2 tsp Lime Juice
    1/2 Pepper powder
    1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
    1 tsp Salt
    1 tsp Oil

Method

• Grind all the ingredients listed under fish masala - mint, garlic, ginger, green chilies, lime juice, pepper powder, turmeric powder, salt and oil
• Marinade fish with masala paste. And refrigerate for 20 minutes
• Heat pan, add 2 tsp oil. Gently place fish fillets on the pan. Fry on each side for 2-3 minutes until fish is cooked fork tender
• Serve hot.

Crispy n Spicy Potato Fries

Ingredients

250 gms Potatoes (cut into sticks)
oil for deep frying

For dry ingredients
   1/2 cup corn flour
   2 tsp Corn starch
   1 tsp Red chili powder
   1 tsp salt
   pinch of Baking soda

Method

• Whisk all the dry ingredients in a large bowl until well combined
• Add potatoes and toss well. Rest for 10 minutes
• Heat oil for deep frying
• Add potatoes in small batches . Fry until it turns golden brown and crunchy
• Remove from oil. use an absorbent paper to drain excess oil
• Serve hot with your favorite sauce