WHAT IS COOKING TODAY

Tomato Rasam

2009-05-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

I make rasam very often and always have relished it to maximum extent. I love it so much that at finishing every rasam meal I complain of feeling bloated. Today when I made this, I decided to include my favorite dish to the list of recipes in this blog. Most people might be very familiar with the recipe and there are variety of variations to this dish. So please do share with me your approaches.

Ingredients :-

2 medium size tomatoes
6-8 garlic cloves (if you wish to avoid garlic then use 1/4 tsp hing\asafoetida powder)
3-5 small green chillies
cumin
mustard seeds
methi\fenugreek seeds
coriander powder
chilli powder
turmeric powder
1 tsp pepper corns
1 tsp urad dal
2-3 spoons cooked dal(optional)
2-3 dry red chillies
1-2 sprig curry leaves
1/2 cup coriander leaves
1 cup canned tomato puree
tamarind ball 1 inch (soaked in warm water)
2-3 tsp lime juice
1 tsp jaggery (optional)
4-5 cups water
oil
salt

Method:-
Rasam

Heat about 4-5 cups of water and 1 cup tomato puree.
To this add chopped tomato, 3-4 finely crushed garlic and chopped 3-4 green chillies.
Crush or powder about 1/2 tsp pepper corns and 1 tsp cumin seeds and add.
Next add 1+ tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp coriander powder.
Then add cooked dal and tamarid extract.(you may also use 1 cup of cooked dal water if available and reduce 1 cup of plain water).
Add 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves, lime juice and jaggery.
Cover the vessel and let boil until the tomatoes are very tender. I keep it appox for 30-45 mins on medium.

Quick Version - Use MTR or other rasam powder with tomatoes, garlic, chillies, coriander leaves dal, tamarind, lime juice and water. Then top with Tadaka as below.

Tadaka

Heat about 2-3 tsp of oil.
When heated add red chillies and 1tsp mustard.
As mustard crackle, add 1 tsp cumin seeds and about 8-10 crushed pepper corns.
Next add 1 tsp urad dal, 1/2 tsp methi seeds and 2-3 crushed and chopped garlic.
Then add curry leaves.
When the garlic turns slightly brown turn off heat and add 2-3 pinch of hing.
Pour this onto the rasam above, add salt as needed and stir.

Rasam is ready to be served with hot rice and ghee!!! Enjoy!

Beetroot Sabzi

2009-04-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

Ingredients :-

1 Beetroot + 3 bunches of Beetroot leaves
3-4 green chillies
1 tomato
1/2 onion
1 tsp cumin seeds
1+ tsp mustard
hing (asafoetida)
1 sprig curry leaf
oil

Method:-

Heat about 2-3 tsp oil.
When heated add mustard, cumin, slit green chillies and curry leaf to sputter.
Next saute chopped onions.
To this add chopped beets(peeled) and greens.
Cover and let cook for 5-8mins.
Add chopped tomato and cover.
Cook as per desired, I cooked them very light such that it retained some crunch. You may also add some water if you please to soften the beetroot.
Finally sprinkle 1/4 tsp hing, stir and turn off heat.
I have not added any salt, since I wanted to taste the sweet from beets and bitter from leaves, you may add salt as needed.

Green beans + Yogurt

2009-04-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many a times you would have made Pulav or similar rice which turned to be very spicy and you keep thinking what would be best as a side. Raita is simple and tasty, but I wanted to make something different. I wanted to make something with yogurt\buttermilk as base. So with this in mind I opened my fridge and looked into veggies box. I had a pack of flat green beans. The rest went as below....

Ingredients :-

1 cup beans (fresh or frozen)
1-2 tbl sp besan (Gram flour)
1-2 tsp dried coconut(optional)
1 cup thick yougurt
1/2 cup butermilk (optional)
2 garlic cloves (roughly mashed)
1/2 spoon finely chopped ginger
2-3 red chilles
1/2 tsp mustard
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
3-5 pepper corns
1 sprig curry leaf
haldi
chilli powder
oil

Method:-

Heat about 2-3 tsp oil.
When heated add mustard, cumin, red chilli and curry leaf to sputter.
To this add ginger, garlic, pinch of haldi, crushed pepper corn and 1/2 tsp chilli powder.
When the garlic gets slightly roasted, add the cut beans.
Let the beans cook well.
Meanwhile add besan to yogurt and buttermilk. Mix well to avoid lumps. To this add water to thin the mixture to desired consistancy.
When the beans are cooked, sprinkle some coconut powder(you could even add few drops of coconut oil) and turn off the heat.
To this add the yogurt mixture and salt, stir well and keep covered.

We had this with Green paste pulav as the main dish.

Collard Greens

2009-04-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

The first time I tasted Collard Greens, I knewI wanted to make them my mate!! I loved the bitter-green chunky taste. Well some would describe it as yuk, collard greens no way is anything near to be called as fav food. Everytime I came across this green devil, I spent a few minutes thinking how best I could turn them to taste such that when I make it, all agree to eat it. I started to search online for recepies and really found nothing that seemed interesting. Infact a major disappointment was that none of these recipes really retained the greens as a veggi dish!! This made me wonder, did the eatary that I ate this make it with meat broth too?? And if so I don't think I'd be having it again.

With this in mind and not letting go the liking to collard greens, I decided to make them myself. Below is first recipe that I tried. I'v tried best to replicate to what we get at restaurants.

Ingredients :-

2-3 cups fresh\frozen collard greens
1/2 onion (cut square chunks)
2-4 small green chillies
2-3 garlic cloves
1/2 inch ginger
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp pepper powder
1/4 cup canned or diced tomatoes (8-10 cherry tomatoes will be great!)
salt
oil
water

Method:-

Crush ginger, garlic, cumin and green chillies to paste. Need not be very smooth paste.
Heat a cooking pot and add about 2 tsp oil.
As oil heats add onion and saute.
When the onion turns translucent add the above crushed paste.
Saute for another 5 mins and then add the collard greens and mix well.
Cover the pot and leave for 5 mins.
Next add pepper powder, tomatoes and water(1 - 2 cups as desired).
Cover and let cook 45 mins to 1 hr. You will notice it changes color from green to brownish green.
Keep checking often for water levels and add water if needed.
Add salt and serve with a dab of butter :-).

I've had this with plain hot rice and indian pickle, mushed it well with steaming rice. Also goes fine with chapati. Rest time I eat it just by itself in a bowl with a side of either baked potatoes or boiled corn.

Pepper n Lime Fish Fry

2009-03-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

Ingredients :-

1-2 fish fillets(I used Tilapia)
pepper powder
1 lime
salt
butter

Method:-

Heat pan and grease with some butter.
Place the fillet on heated pan
As it heats, sprinkle pepper and squeeze fresh lime.
Flip the fillet and repeat step 3.
When is gets brownish, sprinkle salt on both sides.
Done... now sit, relax and enjoy!!

Potato Fry

2009-01-28T20:52:00.001-08:00

Another of quick, easy and tasty fix.

Ingredients :-

1 large or 2 medium potatoes
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
pinch turmeric powder
1 tsp sesame seeds
garam masala(optional)
oil
salt

Method I:-

Heat about 2 tsp oil on pan.
When heated add chilli powder and the sliced potatoes.
Sprinkle tumeric powder, saute well and cover for 5-10 mins.
As the potatoes get cooked sprinkle 1-2pinches garam masala and sesame seeds.
One the potatoes are well cooked, add salt and mix well.

Onion Pakora

2009-01-28T20:32:00.000-08:00

Everytime I made onion Pakoras I always made them differently with +\- of ingredients. This one came real yummy so sharing it here.

Ingredients :-

1 large onion
1/4 inch ginger
1-2 garlic cloves
1/4 tsp jeera(cumin) seeds
1-2 medium side green chilli
salt
besan flour 1 cup
rice flour 1/4 cup
1/4 - 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
pinch turmeric
oil to deep fry

Method:-

Cut into pieces chilli, ginger and garlic.
Grind to paste the above along with jeera seeds.
Finely slice onion.
Mix to onion besan flour, rice flour, chilli powder, turmeric and salt.
Now add the ground paste and some water.
Do not add too much water. Mix well.
Heat oil.
Place spoonful scoops into oil and fry until they show crisp color.

Potato-Carrot Chowder

2008-11-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

Been a long time I did not add new posts, well that does not mean I shut the kitchen!!! Just that was cleaning up the fridge stock and nothing really experimental came to hand. Well I did make some variety food, which I shall write\upload when I make them again;). As of today, I'm alone for dinner and what does Aru love most??? Soups and Noodles... hmm I smell the soup boiling while I blog... so.. so.. soothing. Here it is.. read, enjoy, feel lost and make it!!! if it turns out fantastic and fabulous, then drop me a comment or a new recipe that is easy, quick and that relaxes you at all times.

Ingredients :-

1-2 garlic cloves (optional)
1/2 inch ginger(optional)
1 medium size potato
1 large carrot
1/4 cup onion
1/2 cup shredded cabbage
pepper powder
butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
oil
salt

Method:-

Heat about 1 tsp oil and 1 tsp butter.
Add 1/2 - 1 tsp pepper powder
As butter melts add potato and carrot cubes.(I used potato with skin).
Crushed garlic and ginger(optional).
To this add water and milk.
Boil until water\milk is well absorbed.
Let cool. Later Blend this mixture.
Now heat another vessel and add some oil and more pepper(I'm a pepper freak, avoid if you don't enjoy it much)
To this add shredded cabbage and stir. (If you want to make it more filling add an egg at this stage).
As the cabbage gets cooked, add to this the blended mixture.
Boil and stir for another 5-10 mins.
Turn heat off and add salt as per taste.
Serve hot with crackers or garlic bread.

Hmm... I'm grabbing my bowl and catching up a movie...

Shrimp Cutlet

2008-11-02T18:38:00.000-08:00

Ingredients :-

8-10 Shrimps
1/2 onion
2 garlic cloves
1/2 inch ginger
2-3 red chillies
1 - 1 1/2 tsp tamarind
1-2 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp pepper corns
1 tsp jeera
2-3 tsp coconut
2 tsp rice flour
4-5 tsp rava\sooji
1/2
salt
oil

Method I:-

Soak tamarind in warm water.
Heat pan without oil and add chopped onion, ginger, garlic, red chillies, pepper corns, coriander seeds and jeera.
Saute until they are slightly roasted.
Keep aside to cool.
Make small bits of shrimp(about size of pea)
Now grind the above roasted mixture together with coconut and soaked tamarind (Need not use entire tamarind water, Let the paste me thick, as to pat a patty\cutlet and not watery).
Mix together shrimp, paste, rice flour, rava and salt.
To this add finely chopped cilantro, if at this point you feel the need to spice it up further, you may add red chilli powder or finely cut green chillies.
Next heat pan with oil, when heated make small patties and place on pan.
Grease with oil and flip as needed.

A great side for lemon rice or curd rice. Sprinkle of lime enhances the taste!!!

Bisibele Bhaat

2008-10-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

Another delicacy, wonderful for winter... full of protiens and vitamins from daal and veggi all together in one dish!!!

Ingredients :-

1 cup rice (regular, not basmati)
1/2 cup toor dal
2 tsp urad dal
3 tsp chana dal
3 tsp coriander seeds
3 cardamon pods
5-6 cloves
1 inch cinnamon stick
1-2 tsp pepper corns
1/2 tsp methi seeds
4-6 dry chillies (as per desired spice levels)
green chillies(optional)
tamarind extract(soak about 1 tsp in 1/4 cup warm water)
curry leaves 1-2 sprigs
1/4 cup peanuts
1/2 tsp musturd
1/2 tsp jeera
oil
ghee
salt
1/2 onion
Veggies - carrots, potato, beans, peas, corn, capsicum, etc

Method:-

Heat cooker without oil.
Add pepper corns, cloves, slightly crushed whole cardamon and cinnomon stick, chana dal, urad dal, methi seeds, coriender seeds, red chillies and curry leaves.
Fry until you smell the fine aroma of roasted spices.
Turn off heat and let cool.
While it cools, chop about 2 cups desired veggies and also soak 1/2 cup dal in warm water.
Finely chop onion.
Grind the spice misture to dry powder.
Now heat the cooker with about 2 tsp oil and 1/2- 1 tsp Ghee.
As oil heats add musturd and jeera to sputter.
Next add chopped onion.
The onion need not be fired too much, add the veggies.
Now add the powder and mix .
Add soaked dal(do not discard the water) and rice. To this add about 5 cups water(including the dal soaked water).
Finally add the peanuts, tamarind extract and salt.
Let cook for about 5 mins as you stir.
If you feel it less spicy then add cut green chilles and close the lid.
Allow 3 whistles on HIGH.
Open when pressure is down. You may notice some water on top, mix well and it is ready to be served!!!
Garnish with chopped coriender.
Side to this can be chips, papad or pakoras. Since I made it bit more spicy, I had raita for side.

Nankhedda!! (indian bakery biscuit)

2008-10-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Cookies they call it here!!! As I opened a fresh bottle of Ghee, the aroma got me lost to imagine myself biting into a soft and buttery biscuit. with this thought in mind and quickly reading a few tips online regarding baking cookies, I made my way to the kitchen...

Ingredients :-

1 cup maida\ All purpose Flour
1/2 cup sugar
4tsp ghee
lime zest
salt

Method:-

Mix together maida and sugar.
To this add ghee very few at a time, while you mix. Add lime zest and salt(optional).
Mix Ghee to mixture until you are able to mold a smooth lump.
It may seem that the mixture keeps breaking and does not bind together, keep molding it will bind as the ghee melts.
Now pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
Make make small balls on mixture , shape them to biscuit and place them on the oven dish.
When pre-heated place the dish for about 20-25mins.
After 15 keep checking to see if they are getting done fine.
Once done they would have brownish baked texture.

Enjoy with hot coffee or tea :-), we had ours with spicy buttermilk.

Cabbage Rice

2008-10-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is yet another quick and easy fix, when you crave some hot and soothing meals, in the midst of winter. I have two methods with same ingredents, but they both taste totally different!! Both are easy, but Method II is faster.

Ingredients :-

2-3 garlic cloves
1/2 inch ginger
1/2 to 1 cup shredded cabbage
1 onion
2tsp pepper powder
1/2 tsp jeera powder
1-2 green chillies (optional)
soy sauce(Method II)
1 1/2 cup Rice
oil
salt

Method I:-

Heat about 2 tsp oil in cooker and to this add jeera powder, crushed or chopped garlic-ginger and finely chopped green chillies.
Next add sliced onions and cabbage. Saute until golden brown.
Later add pepper powder and rice.
Finally add to this appropriate amount of water and salt to taste.
Close cooker lid, put on the whistle and allow 3 whistles.
When the pressure goes down, open garnish with coriander and enjoy!!!

Method I:-

For this use pre-cooked rice. Make fresh or remains for earlier day :-)

Heat about 2 tsp oil in pan and to this add jeera powder, crushed or chopped garlic-ginger and finely chopped green chillies.
Next add sliced onions and cabbage. Saute until golden brown.
Later add pepper powder and pre-cooked rice.
Finally add to this about 1-2 tsp soy sauce and salt to taste. (Note soy sauce may be salted, depending on it you may need some or no salt.)
Garnish with coriander and serve.

Along with this I had boiled egg with chaat masala and chilli powder as side;).... Yummmm is it not?

Green Paste Pulav

2008-10-25T11:10:00.001-07:00

I have made this rice couple of times and it has come good most times. Sometimes I make it with leftover rice else some other I cook the rice along with the Green Paste. The latter tastes much better since the rice grains absorb all flavour. The below I have made in an electric rice cooker.

Ingredients :-

2 cups rice
3-5 large mushrooms (you can use any\mix veggies)
1/2 onion
2-4 green chillie(use depending on spice level)
2-3 garlic cloves
1/2 inch ginger
1/4 cup coriender leaves
1/2 tsp pepper corns
1/2 tsp jeera(cumin)
1/2 inch cinnamon stick
1-2 cardamom pods
1/4 tsp coriander seeds
3-5 cloves
8-10 cashews
turmeric
oil
salt

Method :-

Heat pan with NO oil and when heated add cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom, pepper corns, coriander seeds and cumin.
As the roast and give out aroma, place them aside. When cooled grind to fine powder.
To pan add cut ginger and garlic and saute until roasted.
When cooled grind to paste ginger, garlic and coriander leaves.
Now add to pan about 2 tsp oil. Add sliced onion and saute till slightly brown.
As the onion browns, add sliced mushrooms.
Turn off heat, add the ground powder and cover.
Wash rice and drain water. To this add turmeric and salt.
Next mix the sauteed onion\mushrooms and green paste. Mix well.
Finally add water and set to cook.

-- Add any veggies as you please.
-- Non-veg options - shrimp, boiled egg

Onion Chilli Rice

2008-10-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

It is rainy, damp, cold and it is a weekend and your lazy to stand in kitchen for long and you need something just sooo wonderful that it fills your appetite perfect, try this out. I'm sure you'll love this for either lunch\dinner :-). Simple, easy, filling and satisfying!!

Rating - 4.5 Serves 4

Ingredients :-

1 large\2 medium onions
1 1/2 cup rice
2-3 garlic cloves
1 inch ginger
4-5 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp haldi
2 dry red chillies
dry masala 1/2 - 1 tsp (made fresh) or use garam masala
jeera
cashew
raisins
pepper powder (optional)
Shrimp\Scallops\Egg\Mushroom\Cauliflower - all optional
oil
salt

Method:-

Heat cooker dry and add 1/2 tsp jeera, 2 tsp pepper, 1 inch cinnamon stick, 3-4 cardamom pods, 4-5 cloves.
Once its starts to spell the roasted aroma, turn heat off and grind to fine powder. This can me stored as masala for later use.
Wash rice well and keep aside as you start with the dish.
Heat about 2 tsp oil in cooker and to this add chilli powder and haldi.
Next add thinly sliced onion and fry well. To this add cut dry red chillies.
As the onion gets caramelized, add ginger and garlic very finely cut\paste.
To this add roughly pieced cashew and raisins.
Then add 1/2 - 1 tsp of the dry powder prepared earlier.
Now add either\all of Shrimp\Scallops\Egg\Mushroom\Cauliflower. I used Shrimp. Rice tastes just fine with none of these too. If using egg, then either use scrambled or boiled and just add later as garnish, do not put in cooker.
Next add the rice and stir slightly.
Finally add appropriate amount of water and salt to taste.
Allow 3 whistles on high and turn off heat.
Leave for about 20 mins and open when the pressure goes down.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

YUMMMMMYYY.... I made this today, and as I finish writing this blog entry, makes me hungry. So I'm grabbing another bowl of this dish!!! I hope you try and love it as much as I did... EnjoY!!

Banana Cake

2008-10-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

Most times I used the ready in 20mins packs and got good compliments for it :-). My first attempt to bake a cake from scratch and I'm happy with how it turned. To add to the list of first time stuff... I got a slight burn on my arm, so first time bakers be very very very careful and watch the oven corners while you place\work with the dish.

Ingredients :-

1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 ripe bananas
3-5 tsp honey
2 tsp coffee powder (optional)
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp butter
1 -2 tsp baking soda
3-4 tsp milk powder
pinch salt
all the dry fruits what you can find at home!!!

Method:-

Mash bananas and mix with oil, butter, honey and sugar.
To this add flour, baking soda and a pinch of salt.
Next add coffee powder, i used this to reduce the smell of banana and to sell my cake to those who cannot stand ripe bananas :-)
Add milk powder.
Finally add crushed dry fruits (I used almonds, raisins, cashew, walnuts).
Pre-heat over to 350 degrees.
Line a oven safe dish with aluminium foil and pour the mixture.
Place in pre-heated oven for 15-20 mins.
Keep checking for brown baked color.
Use a tooth pick to test if core of cake is done.
Serve warm with coffee or top with some whipped cream!!!

Tangy Snack

2008-10-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

We were too hungry, knew wanted to have somthing spicy and tangy. Opened the kitchen cabinets was out of chaat packs.. wondered what now and just then I lay my eyes on a pack of popped Jowar(Sorghum grain) . I'm sure many of you will recognize from the picture below in the ingredents sections , as to what I mentioning to as popped Jowar. I don't know the exact name for it :-)

Rating - 3, Serves 2

Ingredients :-

2 cup Jowar(Sorghum grain)
2-3 green chillies
1 cm ginger
1 garlic clove
coriander leaves handful
1/4 tsp red chilli
pinch haldi
lime (fresh or concentrate)
onion, tomato for garnish

Method:-

Grind together jowar, cut chillies, ginger, garlic, coriender leaves, red chilli, haldi and 1tsp lime juice(use as needed).
Add salt as per taste, the jowar pops I used were salted.
Garnish with finely cut tomato, onion and green chillies(optional).
Serve with yogurt on side if needed.

Chicken Curry

2008-10-21T19:07:00.001-07:00

Rating - 4, Serves 4

Ingredients :-

250 grams chicken
1 inch cinnamon stick
2-3 cardamoms
1/2-1 tsp pepper corns
1 tsp jeera
3-5 cloves
1 - 2 tsp coriander seeds
1- 2 inch ginger
2-3 garlic cloves
2 medium \ 1 large onions
1/2 - 1 cup tomato puree or 1-2 medium tomatoes sliced
4-5 dry red chillies
3-5 tsp coconut
1 green chilli(optional)
oil
salt

Note - To all my Vegan readers, substitute Chicken with Cauliflower and potato.

Method:-

Heat cooker(without oil) and add pepper corns, cloves, crushed cardamom, cinnamon and coriander seeds.
When slightly roasted, grind to powder.
Now add about 1 tsp oil and add to this, red chillies, onion, ginger and garlic.
Once the onions change color, turn off heat and let cool.
On cooling grind to paste.
Thinly slice another onion.
Add to cooker about 2 tsp oil and sputter jeera.
Then add the thinly sliced onion and stir until golden brown.
Now add the ground paste and stir.
Next add the ground powder and mix.
To this add the tomato puree and chicken pieces cook for sometime.
As you see it boil, add coconut and about 1 - 2 cups water or as needed and cover the cooker.
Allow 3 whistles and turn off heat.
When the pressure gets down, turn on heat, open and add salt as per taste. At this time add 1 finely sliced green chilli if desired.
Garnish with coriander. Serve hot with rice or dinner rolls\buns along with onions and lime.

Note : do adjust ingredients to appropriate spice levels. This dish is very spicy!!!

Fish Dish

2008-10-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

I really am falling short of my imagination, to label a name to this dish. I thought of Fish Masala, then there is hardly use of much masala. For now I name this as Fish Dish, my creative readers\fellow bloggers do suggest me a name :-)

Rating - 4.2 Serves 4

Ingredients :-

1 onion
3-4 green chillies
1-2 tsp pepper corns
2 tsp jeera
3-5 tsp coconut powder
3-5 tsp mustard seeds
2-3 garlic cloves
1/2 inch ginger
4-5 Fish fillets (I used Tilapia)
Haldi
Red chilli powder

Note - To all my Vegan readers, substitute Fish with yellow squash.

Method:-

In a pan take about 1tsp oil and add jeera and musturd do not sputter (since needed for paste)
To this add pepper corns, cut onion, garlic, ginger and green chillies.
Fry for sometime and keep aside to cool.
In same pan, fry the fish both sides until slightly crisp(need not fry until cooked). Keep aside.
Now grind the cooled mixture with coconut.
Pour about 2 tsp oil in pan, once heated pour the paste and saute.
Now place the fried fish pieces in pan, sprinkle some haldi and red chilli powder.
Cover with lid and let cook on low(make sure it is not too heated).
After about 5 mins, add water as needed(1/4 - 1/2 cup) and cover again for another 15 mins.
Once all the paste id cooked and absorbed by fish quite a bit, sprinkle salt as needed stir carefully to mix, turn off the heat and keep covered.
Garnish with coriander along with with onion and lime. Good with chapati.

Dal Chutney

2008-10-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

Rating - ****

Ingredients :-

3-5 tsp urad dal
5-6 tsp chana dal
1 tsp pepper corns
4-5 green chillies
4-6 garlic cloves
1/2 - 1 tsp jeera (cumin)
1/4 cup peanuts
1/2 cup coconut(fresh\frozen\grated)
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
curry leaves(optional)
2-3 red chillies
oil

Method:-

Heat about 2 spoons oil and put jeera to sputter
Then add split green chillies, smashed garlic, urad dal, chana dal, pepper corn and peanuts
Slightly fry until the garlic leaves out aroma
Let cool and grind, add water and salt as needed

For tadka, heat oil and put mustard seeds, curry leaves and cut dry red chillies. Once they sputter pour it on to chutney.

Latin festival...

2008-10-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

Had been to a Latin fair 2 days ago. Below are pictures at that fair...

This picture is group of Mexican singers performing folk songs, they were very nice and well dressed... they got me carried to reminiscence my visit to Goa years ago. All I recollect of that visit is it was around new years eve Dad, Mom and myself walked a few blocks from our lodge to view a nearby celebrity event. The entry tickets were Rs.45 per head and there were all kinds of random Goan and Bollywood performances. Yes there was that guy I whom I did not have much interest in, but whom all my school friends dearly adored, the great cricketer Mr. Ajay Jadeja!! hmm as for me all I remember of him on cricket field is that he clapped too much(I'm sure some reader will surely agree :-))... sad I don't have a picture of that event, unfortunately we forgot to take the camera along(hehehe.. that reminds me of my Dad's big Nikon focusing camera) anyway going back to this past event, only thing I remember is that we took some seafood dish and it cost us Rs.100 for a few pieces of shrimp... I seem to be writing more of past than anything much of the Latin Festival 2 days ago... guess it is all about recollecting and enjoying the past.

Now coming to the present.. few more pics

yea... is this not awfully unpleasant!!!!

It is a real fish waxed and preserved... yakkks from me!

Moving further...

Showcasing tribal performance and practice.

And the stage performances...

Just amused and lost to watch them dance so well, from young kids to aged adult, I felt spellbound to the great music and performance. Of course for a minute I felt like being asked to get on stage, but then I knew for sure I would not be able to stand there for a minute... I just cannot describe how good they were. Well someday maybe I shall learn and be able to accomplish a few steps :-) until then I'm gonna go back in time and try to recollect all the school time teacher's day\annual day performances!!!

Hope I took some of you to visit your past, memorable golden days!!!!

Moong Dal Kosambri (Salad)

2008-10-14T21:01:00.001-07:00

Side salad, loaded with good protein and you'll love the taste!

Ingredients :-

1/2 cup moong dal
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1-2 green chillies
1 garlic clove
red chilli powder
haldi
1-2 baby carrots
2-3 cucumber slices
celery stick (optional)
3-4 tsp onion (optional)
1-2 tsp lime (fresh\concentrate)
oil
salt

Soak the moong dal in warm water and keep for around 30-45 mins. Until it absorbs water and puffs.

Method:-

Heat pan and pour about 2 tsp oil and when heated put mustard seeds to sputter.
To this add very finely chopped carrots, cucumber, celery, onion, green chillies and garlic. (if you do not have patience to finely chop, then give it a quick run mixer, do not paste it... keep it coarse)
Sprinkle pinch on chillie powder and haldi.
Drain the soaked dal well. Add to the pan.
Let cook dry.
Finally squeeze some lime juice and salt on it.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander and grated coconut.

Carrot Chutney

2008-10-14T20:57:00.002-07:00

Have always loved making this since it takes just few mins and have loved see it finish till the last spoon!!! All who tasted this have loved it to the best, and I feel great about it :-). So finally the best dish so far - Carrot Chutney!! Healthy & Yummy

Rating *****

Thanks to my friend Poonam, trying out this dish and giving me a feedback. She mentioned that the amount of dry chillies I listed below is more. So do adjust depending on intensity of heat in the chillies being used and the heat levels applicable to your taste. We love it spicy!!! and I just dilute it with water and salt as needed :-)

Ingredients :-

2 big or 10-12 baby carrots
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 cup putana\daliya
2-3 garlic cloves
4-6 dry red chillies
1 tsp jeera
1-2 tsp pepper corns
haldi
lime (fresh\concentrate)
mustard seeds
curry leaves
2-3 tsp coconut powder
oil
salt

Method:-

Heat about 2 spoons oil and put jeera to sputter, then add red chillies.
Next add pepper corns, peanuts, putana, garlic, pinch of haldi and carrots(split flat).
fry until the peanuts and carrots get a brown glaze.
When cooled, grind with some water, salt as needed and about 2-3 tsp lime juice.
Heat in pan about 2 tsp oil, to this add mustard seeds, curry leaves and cut dry red chillies. Turn of heat after the sputter and pour this on the chutney.
Dilute the consistency and spice levels with water and salt as needed.

Prepare this dish, relish the taste and do send me feedback!

Methi Dosa

2008-10-14T20:48:00.001-07:00

Rating - 3.5 Serves 4

Ingredients :-

1 cup rice flour
1/2 cup urad flour
3 tsp methi(fenugreek) seeds
4-5 green chillies
salt
buttermilk (optional)

Method:-

Soak methi seeds in water and keep aside for 2-3 hrs.
Grind together green chillies and methi seeds.
Mix rice flour, urad dal, salt, water and add the ground mixture.
Place in warm place for 8+ hrs to ferment.
Check sourness of the mixture after 8hrs, if not as needed then add about 1/4 cup buttermilk 1hr prior to making the dosas.

Serve with chutney. I made the following chutney http://whatiscookingtoday.blogspot.com/2008/10/dal-chutney.html

Chicken and Tostitos soup

2008-10-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

I love soups and since long I'v been trying very hard to make a good soup. Most of my previous attempts have been great bloopers that survived on the dinner table just for few minutes and then got dumped :-(. But this one was edible and quite tasty, I say this with confidence b'coz my hubby has been gifted great taste buds... not all food passes easy;). Well, thanks to him for making me be a fine enough cook, who can make edible dishes and thanks also as he has agreed to rate my dishes on the scale of 1-5

Rating - **** Serves 4
Ingredients:-

1/2 cup sweet corn kernels
few pieces of chicken (pre-cooked frozen or uncooked)
1/4 cup milk
4-5 beans
5-6 baby carrots
2-3 garlic cloves
4-5 tsp tomato puree or diced chunks
Chilli powder or Texas Pete Hot Sauce
2 tsp Cornflour or All Purpose Flour
10-12 Tostitos

Note - To all my Vegan readers, substitute Chicken with soyabean chunks (meal maker).

Method:-
I have used pre-cooked chicken(one used in salads).

When using uncooked chicken, saute it in pan with some oil and pepper.
In a bowl melt butter in oil and add fresh ground pepper or pepper powder.
Add milk.
As butter melts add the cornflour or the all purpose flour.
Slightly crush the garlic gloves and add to butter.
Add corn kernels and saute.
Next add cut beans and carrots.
As the veggies get cooked, add the tomato puree and chilli powder or hot sauce.
Add some water, good enough to cover the veggies.
Add the chicken pieces.
Cover and let cook on simmer\mid for about 20-25 mins.
Monitor every 5-10 mins to check the consistency and add water as needed.
Once cooked, turn off the gas and place the tostitos and cover again.
For those who enjoy hot spicy flavours, garnish with small cut green chillies and along with coriender.
Serve hot with Saltine Crackers and relish!!

(Note: I have not added any salt since the salt content of hot sauce and Tostitos felt good enough. Add if required per taste.)

2008-10-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

At last I made it to start to write Blogs, been pending on this act since long... main reason being, my friends were just too good at this!! well thanks for their encouragement saying.. "Aru just go for it, it is all about your mind and words"... so here I'am making best to start to be among one of the many "blogging heads"!