Dec 1, 2018

Milagu Kara Kuzhambu







Milagu Kara kulambu is traditional, spicy, tongue tickling and flavorful made using whole black pepper corns, coconut and spices . Milagu Kaarakozhumbu and Paruppu Thogayal makes a rocking combo on any day. This kulambu is very easy to make and takes just 15 mins or so to make. You can always adjust the whole spices according to your taste and spice buds.

Preparation Time     5 Minutes
Cooking Time          15 Minutes
Cuisine                   South Indian
Recipe Category      Kuzhambhu
Servings                     4 Nos.

Ingredients:

Ginger                               1 Tablespoon (Finely chopped)
Tamarind                            Small Size ( Extract the Juice)
Salt                                   To Taste
Curry Leaves                       Handful
Crushed Peppercorns            1/2 tsp of coarsely
Jaggery Powder                    1 Tablespoon

To be blended into paste
Tomatoes                             2 Nos. (Chopped finely)
Grated Coconut                    ½ Cup
Roasted cumin                      ¼ Teaspoon
turmeric powder                   1/8 Teaspoon
Red Chili Powder                    ½ Teaspoon
Coriander powder                   1 Teaspoon
Sambhar Powder                    1 Teaspoon
Crushed Pepper Corns            ½ Teaspoon

For Tempering/ Tadka
 Gingelly oil / Till Oil                3 Tablespoon
Mustard                                 ¾ Teaspoon
Asafetida Powder                     ½ Teaspoon
Dry Red Chillies                       3 NO.

Method:

  • Soak tamarind in water and take the pulp.
  • Heat 1 tsp of oil in kadai. Add grated coconut and fry for a minute.Then  Add chopped tomatoes and fry for 2 minutes in a medium flame.
  • Now add Red chili powder, Coriander Powder. Pepper corns  and Sambhar powder. Fry for a minute in a low flame.
  • Switch off the flame and add asafetida. Let them cool down.
  • Take the roasted ingredients in a blender and Grind it nicely..
  • Heat oil in a pan add curry leaves and Ginger and sauté well.
  • Now add the ground paste and cook well till nice aroma of pepper and dry ginger comes.
  • Add tamarind pulp and enough water along with turmeric powder, Jaggery Powder and salt and cook till its thick.
  • When oil floats on top, Kuzhambhu is done. 
  • Heat a pan, add gingelly oil..
  • Fry mustard seeds, Red Chillies , curry leaves and Asafetida
  • Add this mixture to the prepared Kuzhambu..
  • Garnish with remaining peppercorn powder and coriander leaves.  Serve hot with rice and any Vegetable Poriyal and Thogayal.




Nov 1, 2018

515: Dhaba Style Dal Tadka / Tadka Dal



Dhaba Style Dal Tadka


Dal Tadka is a Dhaba Staple, found easily at any Dhaba. The way they make dal Tadka in road side dabbas are always awesome.  I don’t like the regular pressure cooker with turmeric and salt only yellow dal. I want mine to have bold flavors, some Tadka (tempering), some masala and only then I’m satisfied. Like this one. The secret of Dhaba dal fry is butter and Cream. Dal Tadka or dal fry with Jeera Pulao is one of my favorite meals.

Preparation Time    15 Minutes
Cook Time                20 Minutes
Cuisine                       North Indian
Serves                        4 Nos.

Ingredient:

Masoor Dal (Whole Red Lentils)     ¼ Cup
Toor Dal / Split Pigeon Pea's-         1 Cup      

Water                                          2 cups
Turmeric Powder                          ½ Teaspoon
Finely chopped Ginger                   1 Tablespoon
Finely Chopped Tomatoes               2 Nos.
Chopped Coriander Leaves             1 Tablespoon
Salt                                             To Taste

Masalas
Red chili Powder                           2 Teaspoon
Hing Powder                                1/2 Teaspoon
Gram Masala Powder                     ½ Teaspoon

For Tadka/ Tempering

Oil/ Butter                                    2 Tablespoon
Cumin Seeds                                1 Teaspoon                            

For Decorative
 Cream                                         2 Tablespoon
Butter                                           1 Teaspoon
Chopped Coriander                         1 Tablespoon  

Method:

Cook The Dal

  • Wash the dal and soak it in 2  cups water for about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • In a pressure Cooker add all the Dals, Salt, Turmeric, ghee and Hing, Water and Pressure cook for about 4 Whistles.



Make a Masala
  • In a large wok or pan, heat the oil. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds and stir until the e cumin seeds are golden. Make sure that the cumin seeds don’t turn black.
  • Now add the finely chopped ginger and fry for a minute. Now add finely chopped tomatoes. turn down the heat.
  • Add, red chili powder and  Gram Masala powder , cook until the tomato puree absorbs all the flavors from the spices, about 7 to 8 minutes.
  • Now add the Dal and Water to the Masala. Mix Well.
  • Stir in the cooked dal, add the salt and extra water if required and mix well.
  • Cover with Lid and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Switch off the stove and transfer the dal to the Serving Bowl.
  • Add the Butter ,Cream and chopped coriander to the top of the dal.
  • Serve hot with Jeera Pulao , Rice or Roti


Note:

  • You can use a variety of dals like Masoor dal, urad dal or Chenna dal, either in combination or individually. Adjust the consistency of the water according to taste.
  • Use fresh spices for more flavor.
  • Adjust Salt as per your taste. If you use salted butter you would need less salt.




Oct 2, 2018

514; Milagu Orai/Milaghu Satham/ Black Pepper Rice





. Black Pepper Rice is a spicy, flavorful and easy to make rice recipe prepared using very basic ingredients in less than 30 minutes. If you have left over rice, this recipe can be prepared in less than 10 minutes. It served as Naivedyam Prasadam in Perumal Kovils and  Madams.


Ingredients

Cooked Rice                    2 cups
Black Pepper                   1 Tablespoon
Chenna Dal                     2 Tablespoon
Urdh Dal                         1 Tablespoon
Cumin Seed                    1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves                   Few Leaves
Red Chilli                        1 nos
Gingelly Oil                     1 Tablespoon

For Tadka/ Temper
Ghee                              1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds                 1 Teaspoon
Chenna Dal                     1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves                   few
Asafetida Powder             ½ Teaspoon

Method:

  • Cook the rice to the right consistency – not too dry nor too well-done.

  • In a small pan, add 1/2 tsp Gingelly oil and peppercorns , Urdh dhal. Chenna Dal, Curry Levees and Red Chili. Fry till you get a nice aroma. Switch off the stove. When cool Grind coarsely. Keep Aside.

  • Mix this powder with cooked rice.
  • Heat Ghee in a kadai, add mustard seeds, Chenna dal, Asafetida Powder and Curry eaves. Fry it in ghee.
  • When it crackle, switch off the stove. Add to the rice and Mix well.
  • Serve the Iyengar Style Black Pepper Rice hot with Elai Vadam Recipe (A Traditional South Indian Rice Papad) and Cucumber Raita to complete your meal.
  • Other 30 Rice recipes that you can try are:
  •  30 Rice Recipes




Sep 1, 2018

513: Traditional Thirattipal



Thirattipal



A popular milk sweet from Tamil Nadu. Thirattipal is a rich and delicious dessert of thickened Milk with Jaggery, Ghee and flavored with cardamom powder. It is a Rich, Delicious, and is a perfect choice to your dears to make them Happier on Birthdays, Festivals and on all Occasion.
I always craved for the kind of Thirattipal my mom used to make when I was a child. This is a very simple recipe but need time to prepare.

Cooking Time         1 hour
Recipe type:           Sweet
Cuisine:                 South Indian
Serves:                 2-4 people

Ingredients  

Whole Milk                     1 ½ Lt/ ½ Gallon
Jaggery                         1 cup
Green Cardamom           8 no (Crushed)
Saffron                          a pinch for garnish (optional)
Ghee                             1 Tablespoon

Method:

  • Heat milk in a heavy bottom deep Pan over a Medium flame.
  • Bring to a boil. Add saffron in it.  Mix well. Simmer the stove heat.
  • Stir it every 5 or 10 minutes and scrape the sides. Milk level will start reducing and the color will also change.
  •  Simmer until it is reduced to 3/4ths. Keep stirring now. You need to keep stirring to avoid sticking at the bottom.
  • In meantime powder the jaggery and crush the cardamoms.
  • Now add the jaggery and crushed cardamoms to the milk mixture. Mix it very well.
  • Keep stirring now. You need to keep stirring to avoid sticking at the bottom.
  •  Now add Ghee in it.
  • When all the liquid is absorbed and you get thick halwa like mixture, switch off the flame.
  • Allow it to cool down and transfer it to the container.     
  • Delicious Thirattipal is ready to Serve.



Aug 1, 2018

512:Homemade Navratna Idli Milaghai powder/ Healthy Spiced Chutney Powder

Navaratna Milaghai Podi


Idli Milaghai Powder is spicy, healthy and tasty condiment for idlis and Dosas. I use only homemade idli podi and make it in batches to use for couple of months. so, every two months once, I prepare a different variety and use it. This time as I add as much Dals, Lentils and Nuts from my pantry when I prepare this Podi, so I know that we have sufficient nutrients for the meal.  It takes some time to fry and grind the ingredients but its worth the time spent for the next few weeks. I am adding this recipe based on requests from some of my friends.
This is my own recipe and it turned out to be awesome. little spicy and we love it that way. if you do not want it spicy, then reduce the quantity of red chillies.
I have already posted idly milaghai podi and Flaxseed  Milaghai Podi  in my blog. This one is with Navratna dals. This powder is a good combo for idli, dosa and adai.

Course    :      South Indian
Prep Time  :   10 Mins
Cook Time   :  5 Minutes
Total Time:     15—20 Minutes
Servings :       20

 Ingredients




Urdh Dal(Black gram dhal)                  ½ Cup
Chenna Dal (Bengal gram dhal)           ½ Cup
Moong Dal                                         ½ Cup
Masoor Dal                                        ½ Cup
Jowar/ Cholam/ Sorghum                   ½ Cup      
Peanuts                                             ½ Cup
Pottukadalai/ Chutney Dal/roasted Dal ½ Cup
White Sesame seeds                          ½ Cup
Dry Red Chillies                                 15-20 no.. (According to your spice level)
Curry Leaves                                     ¼ Cup   (optional)
Asafetida powder                               1 Teaspoon.
Salt                                                  To Taste.

How to Make the Recipe:

  • Measure and keep all ingredients ready. Clean all the Dals, Discard the debris.
  • Heat a pan ,Fry all the dhals on low heat until they turn golden brown. Take care to fry the dhals separately as some dhals like moong dhal gets fried sooner compared to Chenna  dhal.Keep aside.
  • Now dry roast the redchillies till crispy. Keep aside.
  • To the same pan add the curry leaves and dry roast it and keep aside.
  • Dry roast the sesame seeds till begins to splutter and keep aside.
  • Cool the roasted ingredients.


 Make Navratna Idli Powder

  • Take a blender jar, add Roosted Red Chillies  and curry leaves and grind it
  • Now add the all roasted Ingredients, Asafetida(Hing) powder and Salt and blend to coarsely powder it.
  •  Spread the powder in a plate, once cooled down store it in an airtight container
  • Healthy and tasty Nutrients Enriched Navratna Idli Podi is ready.
  • Enjoy with hot idlis and Dosas.
Tips:

  • You can use this powder to stuffed Brinjals, and make Brinjals podi fry.

Share this post to your Friends:



Please Try my other Idli Podi Recipes. Link is Here

Healthy Flaxseed Milaghai Podi/ Flaxseed Gun powder



Mulaghai Podi / Spicy Gun Powder


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Jul 1, 2018

511: Macaroni Pasta Salad




This is the simple Macaroni Salad. It’s loaded with Protein and Fiber.  I made this salad is slightly spicy and Indian taste. This recipes I used avocado, Garbanzo(Tinned White Chenna) , Frozen Vegetables, Zucchini,  corns cherry Tomatoes.   Some other possibilities depending on your tastes are red peppers, green peppers, cucumbers, diced tomatoes, baby corn, and shredded carrots.  I like to make this salad a day and ahead and let it chill overnight. This gives the flavors a chance to blend and it tastes delicious! Making this macaroni salad ahead of time also makes things so much easier when going camping or to a family gathering. It’s a definite crowd pleaser – appealing to adults and toddlers alike!
Prep time: 20 min | Cooking time: 15 min | Serves: 3-4 People

Ingredients

Macaroni or any small shaped pasta    2 cups 
Frozen Vegetables                             1  Cup (thawed)
Tinned Garbanzo                               1 Tin  ( Washed and Drained)
Chopped Cherry Tomatoes                  1 Cup
Avocado                                            1 no. (Sliced)
Zucchini /  English Cucumber             ½     spiraled  or chopped
Green Chili Paste                               1 Tablespoon
Cumin Seed Powder                           ½ Teaspoon
Pepper Powder                                   ¼ Teaspoon
Dried Parsley                                      1 Teaspoon
Dried Oregano                                    1 Teaspoon
Lemon Juice                                       2 Teaspoon
Olive Oil                                             2 Tablespoon

Method:

  • Prepare macaroni to al dente according to package directions. After macaroni is cooked, drain well and cool to room temp. you can also just run cold water over the pasta to cool it quickly while draining. This will just rinse away the starches.
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine Oil,, Salt, Pepper Powder, Green Chili Paste, Dry Parsley, Dried Oregano, and Lemon Juice.
  • In a large bowl toss macaroni with Thawed frozen vegetables, Sliced Avocado, chopped Zucchini, Garbanzos and Cherry Tomatoes and Oil Mixture.
  • Fold in Oil mixture until pasta is well coated.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit overnight.
  • If the salad seems a little dry after setting up overnight, add some oil a little bit at a time until salad becomes nice.
  • Store covered in the refrigerator, for up to 2  days.

 
Macaroni Salad 

Jun 14, 2018

510:Green Moong Sprouts Dosa Without Rice/Sprouted Green Moong Bean Dosa Without Rice




The sprouted moong, which is a concentrated source of vitamins, proteins, minerals and active enzymes, gives a healthy punch to this dosa. It is filling, vegan and gluten free. You can make these Dosas even more nutritious by adding paneer, greens and seasonal vegetables like carrots, beetroots and roll it like a wrap. No fermentation needed. 🙂

Ingredients:
Sprouted Green Moong Dhal     3 Cups
Grated Ginger                         2 Tablespoon
Green Chillies                          4 Nos.
Cumin seeds                          ½ Teaspoon
Chopped Spinach                    ¼ cup
Chopped Mint leaves               1 Tablespoon
Chopped coriander leaves        1 Tablespoon
Asafetida Powder                    ½ Teaspoon
Salt                                       To Taste
Vegetables oil   for Dosa         As required

Method:
How to Sprout Moong bean?
  • Wash and soak the bean overnight. Morning drain them completely.
  • Tie them in a muslin cloth.  Keep it in the bowl and close it with the lid, and keep it in a warm, dark place.
  •  Leave the Moong Beans for 2 days checking on them occasionally. If the cloth seems to have dried up, lightly sprinkle water on it to re-moisten it.
  • Prepare the Moong beans for eating by placing them in a covered container in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.

For Batter:
  • Grind  all above ingredients together, grind it slightly coarsely. Now Batter is Ready.
  •  

For Making Dosa:
  • Heat the griddle and pour 2 ladle of batter and spread in a circular motion.
  • Drizzle a teaspoon of oil on the edges of the Dosa and cook both sides till the bottom of the Dosa is golden brown.






Beetroot Masala

Beetroot is a very good healthy vegetable especially for increasing the HB count. It also helps to prevent macular degeneration, ...