455 : Karamani Kuzhambhu/ Black Eye Beans Gravy

Karamani is a legume that can be used to make lot of recipes like Kuzhambhu, Sundals, side dish for chapatti . Karamani Kuzhambhu/Black Eye Beans Gravy   is a traditional south Indian dish; it tastes great with white rice and ghee. If you are looking for easy and healthy kuzhambhu recipe, then do try this dish.

Ingredients:

Karamani / Black Eye Beans     1 cup soaked

Tomato                                   2 No.

Tamarind                                small Lemon size

Red chili Powder                    - ½ Tsp.

Sambhar Powder                      2 Tbsp.

Turmeric Powder                      ¼ Tsp.

Asafetida Powder                      ½ Tsp.

Sugar                                       1 Tsp.

Salt                                         To Taste

Coconut oil                               1 Tbsp.

Coriander Leaves                      for decoration    

 

To Grind

Coconut                                   ½ cup

Fennel Seed                             1 Tbsp.

Method:

• Soak Karamani overnight, rinse 3-4 times in water and pressure cook with enough water, salt for 3 whistles
• Turn off the heat and let the steam go all by itself. Open the cooker and keep it with the cooking liquid.
• Soak tamarind in 1 cup water for 10-15 minutes and extra juice. Keep aside.
• Chop the tomatoes and keep aside.
• Grind together all the ingredients listed under 'To Grind' use little water if required. Keep aside.

To Make Kuzhambhu:

• Heat the coconut oil in a  kadai, Add in tomatoes, salt and sugar. Mix well and cook till they turn mushy.
• Add in all spice powders and mix well. Now add a coconut paste mix well.
• Add tamarind juice, and bring it to good boil.  Add cooked Karamani with water and Bring this to boil, simmer it for 15 to 20 mins till oil separates.
•  Serve hot with steamed rice and Pappad.

Pathiya Kuzhambhu

This dish belongs to the pathiya sapadu category. It is very light on your tummy. Later I will post pathiya Thalighai recipes. Last week, there were too many heavy potlucks. So I want to make pathiya Thalighai for light my tummy. I am glad to share with you this tangy and easy traditional recipe here. Hope you will enjoy

Ingredients:

Vara Manjal (Dry Turmeric )  -          1/2 no .(very small piece)

Red chilies                                       1 no.

Coriander seeds                              2 tbsp

Black Pepper corns                          2 tbsp.

Fenugreek                                     ½ tsp.

Sundaikkai Vatrals                           1 tbp.

Manathakkali vatrals                        1 tbsp.

Tamarind                                        Lemon size

Gingely oil  (Nella Ennai)                  2 tbsp.

For Seasonings:                                                                  

Gingely oil                                      1 tbsp.

Red chilies                                      1 no.

Curry leaves                                     few

Designated coconut                          1 tbsp.(optional)

Hing                                               a pinch.

Method:

• Heat a oil in a pan, fry manjal, red chilies, coriander seeds and curry leaves till brown and grind very nicely.
• Soak the tamarind in hot water for 15 minutes and extract the juice.
• Add salt and grounded masala in it and mix well.
• Heat a oil in a pan, fry the vatrals, and fenugreek till brown. Add to the kuzhambu mixture.
• Heat the kuzhambu in low heat. Boil until oil till oil separates out.
• When the kuzhambu thickens, add a teaspoon of Gingelly oil and remove from flame.
• Heat a oil in a small pan, fry the seasonings and pour over to the kuzhambu.
• Serve with Rice, Paruppu Thogayal and Sutta appalam.

• 
  

453: Maladu/ Ma Ladoo with New year wishes

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016 

• Every end marks a new beginning. Keep your spirits and determination unshaken, and you shall always walk the glory road. With courage, faith and great effort, you shall achieve everything you desire. I wish you a very Happy New Year.

Maladus are very popular in Tamil Nadu. Call it a cousin of the Besan ladoo!!  Maladu is made from roasted chutney dhal (Pottukadalai).  This is very tasty sweet and easy to make.

Ingredients:

Roast gram dal / Dariya Dal / Pori Kadala   1 cup                    .

Sugar                                                      ¾ cup

Cashew nuts                                            2 Tbsp.

Ghee                                                       1  cup (you may not need it all)

Powdered cardamom                                1 Tsp

Method:

• Take a nonstick pan, roast the roasted gram. Just roast till it is aromatic. Do not allow it to change color.
• Powder, the dal, cardamom and sugar fine separately.
• Roast the cashew in a 1 tsp of ghee and add this to the mixture.
• Melt the ghee. Pour this over the mixture and mix well.
• It might form lumps. Mix it gently with your hands and break them.
• As it is still warm, start making small balls out of it.
• Store it in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.

Tip: 

• You can make the powders and store them separately to whip this up even more quickly.  

451: Udupi Tomato Rasam/ Udupi Tomato Sathuamuthu

Udupi is a small town in Southern India, which is known for its culinary skills.  In Udupi, lunch is incomplete without the favorite rasam .Udupi Rasam powder is very much different from the usual one we make. The recipe is simple and you can make this really in no time.

Ingredients

Finely chopped Big Tomato         1 no.

Udupi Rasam Powder

Medium chopped Tomato            1 no.

Tamarind                                   Small ball

Turmeric powder                        ½ Tsp.

Udipi Rasam Powder                    2 Tbsp. (See the Link)

Asafetida powder                        1 Tsp

Curry leaves                               Few

Grated Ginger                             1 Tsp.

Jaggery Powder                           1 Tbsp.

Water                                         2 cups

Salt                                            To Taste

Coriander Leaves                         For Garnish   

For  Seasoning

Butter                                         1 Tbs

Mustard Seeds                             1 Tsp

Jeera                                           1 Tsp

                              

Method:

• Soak Tamarind ball in 1/2 cup warm water and extract the juice.
• In a pan add the tamarind water, salt, turmeric powder, chopped tomatoes, Grated Ginger and curry leaves.
•  Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 7 -8 minutes or till the raw smell of tamarind disappears.
• Now add the 1 ½ cup of water and rasam powder. and continue to cook on medium high for another 6-7 minutes.
• Now add Jaggery powder & medium chopped tomatoes, and adjust salt if needed.
• Switch off the flame and add fresh coriander stalks. While the rasam is simmering, prepare the tempering.
• Heat oil or ghee in a small pan, add mustard seeds and jeera.
• Once the mustard starts jumping switch off the heat and mix it to the boiled rasam.
• Place lid and allow resting for a few minutes before serving with warm rice.

Tip:

• You may dry roast the grated coconut  and use it for garnishing. It will give the masala, a nice aroma

Udupi Tomato Rasam

You may like other Udupi Recipes:

Udupi Sambhar                                             

               

450: Malabar Style Ghee Rice/ Ney Chooru

 

Ghee Rice

Neychoru is a traditional and aromatic Malabar (Northern Kerala) recipe, simple to make, Served alongside a spicy curry.  Kaima rice is short grain rice, which is commonly used in Malabar area for the ghee rice. Here I used Basmati Rice.

Ingredients

Basmati Rice / Kaima Rice          2 cups 

Hot water                                 2 – 2 ½ cups

Salt                                         To Taste

Finely chopped Green chilies      1 Tbsp.

Crushed ginger                         1 tsp

Lime juice                                 1 Tbsp.      

Ghee                                        4 Tbsp.

Dry Masalas

Cloves -                                   3 no.

Cardamom                               3 no.

Cinnamon                                a small piece    

Bay leaf                                   1 no.     

Crushed peppercorns                4 to 5 no.

Fennel Seeds                           ¼ Tsp.

Star Anise                               1 no.

For Seasoning

Ghee                                      2 Tbsp.

Cashew nuts                           3 Tbsp.

Raisins                                   ¼ cup

Desiccated  coconut                 3 Tbsp.

For Garnishing

Chopped coriander leaves        2 Tbsp.

Method:

• Wash and drain the rice and keep it aside.
• Heat ghee in a kadai.  To this, add cashew nuts and stir, till it becomes brown. Remove the cashew nuts. Repeat the procedure with raisins and desecrated coconut. Keep aside.
• Crush together all dry masalas.
• Heat the ghee in a  wide pan, add the crushed spices ,chopped green chilies and crushed ginger and fry for a couple of minutes over low flame.
• Add the washed and drained rice in it and fry for a minute. Add the boiling water and salt to it and stir well
• Close the lid and cook in medium flame for 5 to 10 minutes, cook till water is completely absorbed.
• Remove the lid of the vessel and add some lime juice. Mix well.
• Garnish with cashew nuts, raisins, fried Coconut and coriander leaves
• Serve the ghee rice hot.

Note:

• For Basmati rice   =   1 cup Rice : 2 Cups Water
• For Kaima Rice     =   1 cup Kaima Rice   :   1 ½ cup Water.

•  The rice cooking time may vary depending on the variety of rice. Check in between. If water is not enough or rice isn't cooked, add some hot water and cook till it is done.

449: Udupi Rasam Powder/ Udupi Sathuamuthu Powder

Perfect “Rasam Powder " is the heart for a perfect rasam. If you have this powder in handy, you can prepare this rasam very fast.  Do try this once, i am sure you will say bye to all store bought Rasam Powder.

Ingredients:

Coriander seeds         1 cup

Cumin seeds              1/4 cup

Mustard seeds            1 Tsp.

Byadagi Red Chilies     2 cups

Fenugreek seeds         1/4 cup

Curry leaves                4 strands

Coconut Oil                 2 Tbsp      

Method :

• In a pan, add 1 Tbsp.  Of oil and fry red chilies and curry leaves. Keep aside.
• In the same pan, add 1 tbsp of oil and roast coriander, fenugreek seeds, separately till they turn crispy . Keep aside.
• Slightly fry the cumin seed  and keep aside. 
• Now fry the mustard seed, once its started splutter , add hing powder and fry for a  second and keep aside.
• Now mix all the roasted ingredients, once the roasted species reach room temperature, powder it in mixer.
• Now the Udupi rasam powder is ready. Let it cool and store it in an air tight container.

See my Udupi Sambhar Recipe Here;

http://sadhanakitchen.blogspot.com/2012/05/udipi-sambhar.html

Udupi Rasam Powder

447: Thattai – Version 3

This is a traditional south Indian snack recipe, Thattai looks like tiny tortillas – deep fried to golden brown perfection.  It is little bit time consuming than any other snack. But the taste is worth all the effort and hard work!!

Ingredients:

Rice flour                                          2 cups

Urdh Dal Flour -                                3 Tbsp.

Byadagi Red chilies                            5 no.

Curry leaves chopped                         2 Tbsp.

Bengal gram                                        2 Tbsp.

Urdh Dal                                            1 Tbsp.

Butter                                                1 Tbsp.

Salt                                                    To taste

Asafetida powder                               1/4 tsp

Cooking Oil                                          for deep frying

Method

• Soak the Bengal gram and uradh dhal in 1/2 cup of  warm water for an hour until soft.
• Soak the Red chilies in a hot water for ½ hours.  Grind Red chilies and Asafetida in a mixer.
• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl; sprinkle water little by little and knead it into dough. Be careful in not to add too much of water.
• Divide it into gooseberry sized balls. and keep it covered and let it to dry.
• Take aluminum foil or zip loc covers, grease it with few drops of oil.  Flatten the ball into thin discs.

• Grease your fingers and press the ball with your fingers to flatten it.
• Then with a fork prick all over the Thattai because we don't want the Thattai to puff up like a puri when frying.
• Slowly turn it over your palm. The greased plastic will enable it to slip on your hands easily.
• Meanwhile heat oil for deep frying. Once the oil is smoking hot, reduce the flame to medium
• Drop the Thattai gently in hot oil. The oil will bubble and slowly the thattai’s will come on the surface.
• Flip and cook for more time until the bubbles completely stops, and  cook for 1 more minute in medium – low flame to ensure cooking completely. To ensure both sides are cooked .Drop them on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
• Drain in paper towels. Do one by one and finish all the dough. Cool down.
• Once cooled, store them in an air tight container.
• Enjoy them with your hot tea, or with piping hot rasam rice.

See my Other Thattai Recipe here

Puzhungal Arisi Thattai/Par Boiled Rice Thattai

Thattai- Version 1

446: Walnut Chutney - Indian Style

Walnuts are part of the tree nut family. Walnuts not only taste great but are a rich source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and an excellent source of those hard to find omega-3 fatty acids. Like most nuts, they can easily be added to your Healthiest Way of Eating. Just chop and add to your favorite salad, vegetable dish, fruit, or dessert.

Walnut chutney is probably one of the easiest and simplest of recipes.  This chutney is awesome taste. It will dances on your tongue. Eat it with everything. Well maybe not cornflakes. just kidding. Keeps in the fridge for a few days just fine.

Ingredients

Walnuts                              1 cup

Tamarind                            a lemon size

Coriander leaves                  1 tbsp.

Mint leaves                          1 tbsp.

Salt                                     to taste

Fry it oil

Red chilies                           3 no

Coriander seed                     1 tsp.

Cumin seeds                         ½ tsp.

Curry leaves                          2 strings

Asafetida                              ½ tsp.

Grated ginger                        2 tbsp. 

To Seasonings

 Oil                                       1 tsp.

Mustard seeds                        1 tsp.

Red chili                                 1 no.

Method

• Soak the walnut in a hot water for 30 minutes. After  30 minutes drain the water and keep aside the walnuts.
• Heat oil in pan, fry the red chilies, coriander seed,cumin seed, curry leaves, tamarind,grated ginger and asafetida. Keep aside for cool for a minute.
• Grind walnuts with fried ingredients, coriander & mint leaves, and salt into a fine paste.
• Heat the oil, fry the mustard seeds and red chilies.
• Pour over the chutney
• Serve the walnut chutney with Dosa,Idli , Adai or just mix it with hot rice.

445: Thaalatha Kuzhambhu

I just fall more and more in love with kuzhambus. The tangy ness of these tamarind based beauties speaks to me each time I make on. This Thaalatha Kuzhaqmbhu is a traditional Brahmin preparation made with variety of vegetables. This can be had with hot rice and Gingely oil or ghee.

Ingredients

Tamarind                     a small lemon size

Turmeric powder          ¼ Tsp.

Asafetida  powder        ½ Tsp.

Curry Leaves                few

Coconut oil                   2 Tbsp.

Sambhar Powder           1 Tsp.

Salt                             to Taste

Vegetables

Yam                            1 bit

Sweet Potato               1 bit

Snake gourd                1 Bit

Carrot                         1 No.

Green Banana              1 No.

Beans                          a little

White Pumpkin             a bit

Red Pumpkin               1 bit

Eggplant                     2 no.

Capsicum                    1 no

Kothavarakkai             a little

 Fry and Powder it

Toor dhal                     2 tsp.

Urdh Dhal                    2 Tsp.

Channa dhal                 2 Tsp.

Rice                             ½ Tsp.

Red chilies                   5 no.

Coconut                       3 Tsp.

Fry all the ingredients in 1 tsp of oil and grind it in the form of powder 

For Seasoning:

Coconut oil/ Ghee        1 Tbsp.

Mustard seeds             1 Tsp.

Red chilies                  3 no.

Curry leaves                few

Coconut                      1 tbsp.

Method:

• Soak the tamarind in hot water and extract the juice.  Add turmeric powder, salt, asafetida powder and all above the vegetables. Cook the vegetables in turmeric water.
• Fry all masala ingredients in 1 tsp of oil and grind it in a powder.
• Now add the powder and sambhar powder, after the vegetables are cooked.
• Let it be in the stove till it boils.
• Now fry the all seasonings in oil and add to the kuzhambhu.
• Serve hot with hot rice ,pongal, and  dosai .
• Enjoy!!

442 : UNNIYAPPAM

Sweet paniyaram aka Neyyappam, a common prasadam in Kerala temples. This sweet is must on Gokulashtami and karthigai deepam.  I already posted unniappam recipe  in my blog. This is slightly different from that. You can make this  even 20 minutes. Krishna Jayanthi is very near, try this recipe

INGREDIENTS

 Rice flour                              1 cups

 Wheat Flour                          1/2 cup

 Jaggery                                150 gms

 Ripe banana -                       1 No.

 Coconut bits –                      1/4 cup

 Black sesame seeds              1½ Tbsp.

Green Elachi powder              1 Tbsp.

Baking soda                          1/3 Tsp.

Ghee -                                  1 Tbsp.

Coconut Oil /Cooking oil         For deep frying

Method:

• Add a cup of water to jaggery and melt it. Strain the jaggery and let it cool.
• Cut the banana and grind with 1 tbsp. of jaggery, till you get a smooth paste.
• Fry the black sesame seeds and coconut bits in a ghee till it turns golden brown.
• Take a big bowl, add the rice flour, wheat flour, banana gravy, baking soda and fried coconut bits ,black sesame seeds and melted jaggery. Mix well. Keep aside the batter for 30-45 mins
• If the batter turns too thick after resting, add extra water to loosen it and stir well.
• Heat the Unniappam mould, fill it ¾ of oil, pour the batter into mould.
• When one side is cooked, using sharp ladle flip it.
• Once appam is cooked, drain the oil and set aside.
• Sometimes sugar is sprinkled on top to give that awesome black/brown and white contrast and add sweetness. Also it tastes far better if you take it after couple of days, instead of fresh.other 

Try my other Unniappam Recipe Here

http://www.sadhanakitchen.blogspot.com/2011/01/unniappam.html

439 : Naranga Curry / Sweet and Tangy Lemon Curry

Naranga Curry

  

A sweet and tart lemon curry, usually served for traditional feast in Kerala. In Kerala, normally they use Vadugapuli Naranga (Citron Lemon) (Large Lemon with slightly thick peel). But here I substituted them with Fresh Large Lemons to prepare this yummy and spicy curry.

Ingredients

Citron Lemon (OR) Big Lemons    4 Nos

Finely chopped Ginger                 3 Tbsp.

Green Chilies (Chopped)              2 Tbsp.

Tamarind                                    Lemon Size

Jaggery                                      3 Tbsp.

Red Chili powder                           2 Teaspoons

Turmeric powder                           1 Teaspoon

Salt                                              To Taste      

For Seasoning

Coconut Oil                                  2 Tbsp.                                                                    

Mustard seeds                              1 Teaspoon

Dry red chili                                  3 Nos

Asafetida:                                    1/2 Teaspoon

Curry Leaves                                Handful

Method:

• Cut the lemon into small pieces. Remove the seeds.
• Soak the tamarind in hot water for ½ an hour. Extract the juice.
• Heat oil and add finely chopped green chili and chopped ginger. Stir for 5 minutes in medium flame. Add chopped lemon and cook till lemon pieces get soft.
• Boil the tamarind water with jaggery. When jaggery and tamarind starts to come together and get little thick add chili powder, turmeric powder, fenugreek powder, and   asafetida into it and mix well.
• And the tamarind mixture into lemon till gravy thickens.
• Let it simmer on low heat for 5 minutes till gravy thickens. Turn off the heat.
• Now splutter mustard seeds, dry red chili and curry leaves and add this to the curry. Mix well and close the kadai for few minutes …
• Now Naranga curry is ready …
• Try to make curry Naranga curry 1 or 2 days before Sadya.