Jul 16, 2014

Dwadasi Sathuamuthu/ Dwadasi Rasam without tamarind Tomatoes

This saathuamuthu is very simple. I make this saathuamuth on Dwadasi days(Next day of Ekadasi day).
For Dwadasi Paranya Thaligai Menus, Please see here http://www.sadhanakitchen.blogspot.com/2014/01/dwadasi-parayanai-thaligai-dwadasi-menu.html . 
 I made this rasam without tamarind and tomatoes. . It tastes yummy and has the strong aroma of pepper & ginger .

Ingredients:
Toor Dhal                             - ¼ cup
Turmeric Powder                     ½ tsp.
Water                                     2 cups.
Grated Ginger                       1 tbsp
Chopped curry leaves            few 
Lemon Juice                          2 tbsp.
Salt                                      to taste.                          
Fry and Powder coarsely
Ghee                                   ½ tsp.
Urdh dal                               ¾ tsp.
Chenna dal                            ½ tsp.
Black Pepper                         1 tbsp.
Cummin seeds                        1 tsp.
Red chilies                              2 no.
 Curry leaves                          few
FOR TEMPERING IN GHEE:
Ghee                                   1 tbsp.
Mustard seeds                      1/2 tsp
Curry leaves                         little
Crushed red chilies                2 no.
Hing                                     a pinch                                 

Chopped Coriander leaves      for Garnish

Method:

  • Pressure cooks the dal with turmeric powder. Mash the dal and add 2 cup of water and dilute it. Transfer into the big vessel.
  • Add salt, turmeric powder,ginger, curry leaves and Hing and bring to boil on low fire.
  • In mean time, fry above ingredients (expect cumin seed) and powder it coarsely.
  • Add ground powder and while rasam froths up, remove from the fire.
  • With one tablespoon ghee, fry the mustard seeds ,when they burst add curry leaves crushed red chilies and Hing to it and pour them to the Rasam.
  • Squeeze lemon juice and mix well.
  • Garnish with chopped cilantro. 

Note:
  • Lemon juice gives the sourness and pepper gives the taste and strong aroma for the sathuamuthu.

Jul 13, 2014

Akbari Vegetables




This Mughlai delicacy created by jodha Bai for her beloved Akbar.  Indian cheese(Paneer) simmered in a satin smooth creamy tomato sauce. A blend of garden fresh vegetables, tomatoes, and bell-peppers cooked in a tomato based sauce with mixed herbs and spices.

Ingredients:

Paneer                        1/2 pound (250 gms)                    
Fat Free Cream            ¼ tin (optional)
Oil                              for shallow fry paneer
Oil                               2 tsp.
Water                          ½ cup
Salt                              to taste
Sugar                           1  tsp.
Vegetables
Carrot                          1 no. (Cut into small cubes)
Capsicum                     1 no ( Cut into small cubes)
Tomato                        1 no ( Cut into slices)

For Grinding
Grated Ginger                1 tbsp
Tomatoes                      4 no.
Green chilies                  2 no
Cashew nuts                  3 tbsp.

Dry Masalas     
                     
Gram Masala Powder       1 tbsp.
Coriander Powder            1 tbsp.
Fresh Cardamom powder  1 tsp.
Kashmiri chili powder       1 tsp.

Preparation     

  • Wash and cut vegetables into small cubes. Cut the Paneer into big pieces.  Keep aside.
  • Shallow fry the Paneer pieces and put in the  warm water  and keep aside.

For Gravy
  • Soak the cashew nut in hot water for 30 minutes.
  • Grind nicely the Cashew Nuts with chopped tomatoes, grated ginger and green chilies.
  • Heat the oil in a pan, add the grounded paste and ½ of the dry masalas, fry for 10 minutes in low flame.
  • Add water into it and boil for few minutes.

For vegetables
  •  Heat the oil in pan, add the dry masalas and  sliced tomato pieces and fry till the oil separates.
  • Now add the chopped vegetables, and fried paneer pieces and again fry for 5 minutes in low flame.
  • Now add the above gravy into the vegetables and cook till the vegetables are well cooked.
  • Now add the cream and mix well and switch off the stove heat.
  • Serve hot with Chapatti , Nan, Rice.


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Jul 10, 2014

Manathakkali Vathal Kuzhambhu



Manathakkali is a green leafy vegetable commonly available in South Indian homes. It is a wonder plant thanks to its tiny juicy berry. The name itself is attributed to the berries in the form of beads. Its botanical name is Solanum nigrum. It is called ‘Black Night Shade’ in English & ’Makoy’ in Hindi. . Manathakkali Vathal (Sour gravy made with sun dried veggies) is rich in vitamins and has got a lot of medicinal values like curing stomach ailments, mouth ulcers, and liver disorders. This dish is served mainly with rice ,pappad and Dangar Pachadi.(See the link)

Ingredients
Tamarind                                                       A small Lemon Size
Hot water                                                      2 cups
Manathakkali Vathal                                       2 Tbsp.
Finely chopped Tomato                                   2 Tbsp.
Sambhar Powder/Vatralkuzhambu powder       2 Tbsp.
Red chili powder                                            ½ Tsp.
Grated Ginger                                                1 Tsp.
Jaggery powder                                              1/2 Tsp.
Ghee                                                              ½ Tsp.
Salt                                                               To Taste.
For Seasoning
Gingely oil ( Idhayam Nallennai)                     2 Tbsp.
Mustard seeds                                               1 Tsp.
Fenugreek seeds                                           ½ Tsp.
Red chilies                                                     2 no.
Chenna dhal                                                  1 Tbsp.
Peanuts                                                         1 Tsp.
Urdh dhal                                                       1 Tsp.
Asafetida powder                                            ½ Tsp.
Curry leaves                                                    few          

Method:
  • Soak the tamarind in the 2 cups of hot water for 15 minutes. Extract the tamarind pulp.
  • In a heavy bottom kadai, heat the oil and add mustard seeds. When mustard seeds start splattering, add all other seasonings. Fry till golden brown.
  • Now add the Manathakkali Vathal and roast it for few more minutes.
  • Reduce the stove heat, now add the sambhar powder, turmeric powder, chili powder, grated ginger and chopped tomato fry for few a minutes.
  • Now add the tamarind water, jaggery powder and salt in it .
  • Cover and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the oil separates from the gravy
  • But keep checking to avoid the masala sticking to the bottom of the pan
  • Add ½ tsp of ghee in the end and switch off the stove
  • Serve hot with plain rice, Pappad and Danger Pachadi.


Note
  • If the vatral Kuzhambhu consistency is too thin, a spoon of rice flour added with a little water should thicken it up.
  • You can use more fried curry leaves in the End.
IF YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE My Other Vatral Kuzambhu Recipes:(SEE THE LINKS)



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