Sunday, November 16, 2008

Diwali Sweets

Just no need to go to the sweet mart this time... tried all the different kinds of burfis, pedhas, tacos etc at home.....

Basic Ingredients
1 cup grated khoya
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp cardamom powder.

Steps
1. Mix khoya and sugar in a thick bottomed vessel and on low flame start mixing it.
2. Stir continuously till the moisture is absorbed. Add cardamom powder and remove from the flame.
3. Leave it to cool.

For 2 Colour Barfi:
Ingredients
All Basic ingredients mentioned above.
1/4 cup cashew powdered
1/4 cup Badam powdered
2 Drops of pink food colour
Silver paper (varq) (silver paper used to decorate Indian mithai)
Method
1. Follow the first three steps as mentioned above.
2. When the mixture is cool, make two parts of it.
3. In one part add the cashew powder and the pink food colour. Mix.
4. In the second part add the badam powder and mix.
5. With the help of a rolling pin flatten the badam mixture on a greased plate.
6. Leave it in the refrigerator for 10-15 fifteen min to set.
7. Once it is set, flatten the cashew and pink food colour mixture on it and cover nicely with the silver paper and refrigerator again for 10-15 min.
8. Remove from fridge and cut in to squares or diamonds.
9. Store in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.



Pista Rolls:
Ingredients
All basic ingredients metioned above.

1/4 cup pista powder
few pistas cut into small pieces
few drops of green food colour (optional)
Silver varq

Method
1. Follow first three steps mentioned above.
2. When the mixture is cool add the green food colour and pista powder into it.
3. Make a roll and then cut it into small pieces. Roll it in the pista pieces and cover with silver varq.


Amrit Pedha:
Ingredients
All basic ingredients mentioned above.
1/4 cup pista powder
few drops of green food colour
few pistas chopped.

Method
1. Follow first three steps mentioned above.
2. When the mixture is cool make two parts of it and add the green food colour and pista powder to one part.
3. Make 8 balls of the white mixture and 8 of the green mixture.
4. Stuff each white ball with the pistachio ball and seal the edges.
5. Garnish with the chopped pistachio.


Cashew, Pista and Badam Roll:
Ingredients
All basic ingredients as mentioned above
2tbsp cashew powder
2tbsp badam powder
2tbsp pistachio powder
2 drops red or pink food colour
2 drops orange food colour
2 drops green food colour

Method
1. Follow first three steps as mentioned above.
2. When the mixture is cool make three parts of it.
3. To one part add cashew powder and pink/red food colour. Mix.
4. To the second part add badam powder and orange food colour and mix.
5. To the third part add the pista powder and green food colour and mix.
6. Roll out the cashew mixture into a rectangle of about 4" x 6".
7. Roll out the Pista mixture into a rectangle of about 3 1/2" x 6" and place it on top of the cashew mixture.
6. Roll out the badam mixture into a cylinder of 6" width and 1/2" thickness.
7. Palce the badam mixture roll on one side of the pista-cashew rectangle.
8. Roll tightly starting from the end where the pista mixture roll is placed and seal the edges completely.
9. Gently press the roll. Then refrigerate it for 1 hour to set.
10. Once it is set roll it with silver varq and then cut into small rounds with a sharp knife.


Badam Burfi:
Ingredients
All basic ingredients as mentioned above
1/4 cup roasted badam powder

Method
1. Follow the first three steps as mentioned above.
2. When the mixture cools add the roasted badam powder and mix.
3. Flatten on a greased plate and then cut into squares or diamonds.
4. Decorate as desired with slivered badam/colour or silver varq.


Kaju Badam Tacos:
Ingredients
All basic ingredients as mentioned above.
3tbsp badam powder
few drops of orange food colour
3tbsp cashew powder
few cashew chopped.
Silver varq

Method
1. Follow the first three steps as mentioned above.
2. When it cools make two portions of it and mix one with the cashew pieces and cashew powder.
3. Mix the second portion with badam powder and few drops of orange food colour.
4. Divide the badam mixture into 8 equal portions and roll out each portion into 2 plastic sheets into circles of 4" diametre each. Keep aside.
5. Divide the cashew mixture into 8 equal portion and shape each into a cylinder of 4" long and 1" thick.
6. Place one cashew cylinder in the centre of the badam rolled circle and fold over to form a semicircle like a taco.
7. Repeat for rest of the tacos. Decorate with orange colour and silver varq.



This big post for Mythreyee's Sweet Series event
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Sunday, November 9, 2008

Toasted Marshmallows

This time for diwali I tried completely different sweets... some traditional and one which I had not at all tried before... Did not know anything about the taste of it... but still wanted to try it out when I read the recipe.... Recipe was simple and also had the material available.. tried it and really it worked out good... everyone liked it... me too... so here goes the simple and nice recipe for toasted marshmallows...

Preparation time: 25minutes

Cooking time: 3 minutes
Makes approx 36

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

½ cup water

5 tsp gelatin powder

½ cup extra water

1tsp vanilla essence

2 to 3 cups dessicated coconut


Method

  1. Combine sugar and water in a bowl and with the help of electric beater for 3 minutes.

  2. Add gelatin to the water and then double boil it till the gelatin dissolves.

  3. Add this to the sugar water mixture and beat with the beater for another 10min. Till a white froth appears on it.

  4. Place butter paper in a tin and brush it with oil or butter and pour the gelatin sugar mixtur into it.

  5. Leave it to set at room temperature overnight.

  6. Morning refrigerator for 1 or 1½ hrs. Cut into pieces.

  7. Take the dissicated coconut and dry roast it until brown or microwave it till brown.

  8. Roll the cut marshmallows into the coconut to coat nicely. Serve.



This goes for the Sweet event on Srilekha's Me and My kitchen.

& for Mytreyee Sweet Series event.
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Thursday, November 6, 2008

Vada Bhat

A nagpuri style Bhat...

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup besan
1tsp Garlic paste
1tsp red chilli powder
salt as per taste.
2 cups rice.
water as required

Method
1. Mix besan, garlic paste, salt and chilli powder. Add water and make small marble sized balls out of it.
2. Wash rice and keep it for half an hour.
3. In a thick bottomed vessel add rice and enough water to cook the rice. Keep a strainer on this vessel and keep the besan vadas in the strainer.
4. Cover the strainer.
5. Let the vadas cook on the steam of rice water.
6. Serve hot with some sour saar or kadhi.....

Note: you can add the vadas in the rice and steam them together.
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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Penne Pasta


A quick pasta recipe

Serves 4
Cooking and Preparation time 15min

Ingredients
2 cups cooked penne pasta (
Pasta is cooked by boiling it in sufficient water along with salt as per taste)
1/2 cup mixed boiled vegetables
or even one onion cut into long strips is enough
5 tbsp instant tomato soup powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated cheese

Method
1. Combine tomato soup powder with 1 cup of water and mix well so that no lumps remain.
2. Put it in a saucepan and bring to boil.
3. Add milk & cheese and simmer.
4. Add cooked vegetables and the penne. If using only onion then fry it in 1 tsp oil till transparent and add it with the penne.
5. Toss well and serve immediately sprinkled with oregano.



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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Nariyal ki Burfi (Coconut fudge)

Ingredients

2 medium coconuts
2 cup sugar
100gms milk solids (khoya)
1tbsp milk

Method

1. Scrape coconut and keep aside. (take care not to take the black covering or the colour of the burfi will change.)
2. Make sugar syrup using sugar and 1 1/2 cups of water. When it begins to boil add a tablespoon of milk to clarify the sugar syrup. Boil it to 1 string consistency.
3. Take a pan and saute scraped coconut and khoya on low heat. When it is slightly dry remove.

4. Grease a plate and keep ready.
5. Start adding roasted coconut to the sugar syrup gradually, keep on stirring the mixture. When it is semi solid remove from heat and spread onto the greased plate. Apply silver varq.
6. Cut into small squares or any desired shape when it cools down. Decorate with cashew/pista/badam.

Note:

To add different colours to the burfi before spreading it on the plate make different portions of the coconut mix and add colours to it and then spread it on the greased plate. Do this very very quickly otherwise the burfis might be difficult to spread.

The red colour burfi in the pic is Beetroot burfi.
For that if you take 1 cup of grated coconut then take 1cup of grated beetroot (use the same cup for measurements)
Rest of the procedure is same. i.e when you saute coconut and khoya add beetroot to it and saute till it is slightly dry. Then same way add it to the sugar syrup and mix. When it is semi solid remove from heat and spread on the greatsed plate. Decorate with silver varq and cashew.



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Saturday, September 13, 2008

Modak

Modak a traditional recipie made during the 10 days of Ganesh festival....
Ingredients
1cup fresh coconut grated
1cup jaggery grated
2cups wheat flour
a pinch of salt
1tsp cardamom powder
if you want then add dry fruits very finely chopped
oil or ghee for frying
Method
1. Mix salt and wheat flour. Heat a little around 2tbsp oil and pour this hot oil on the wheat flour and mix. Then add enough water and make a soft dough from it.
2. Mix grated jaggery, coconut, cardamom powder and nuts (if u you) and keep aside.
3. Make small puris out of the dough and then fill the jaggery mixture into it. Close it and give it the shape of modak (refer the pic).
4. Make a few modaks like that and keep. Heat oil/ghee and fry a few together till golden brown.
5. Serve hot or warm.


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Thursday, September 11, 2008

Paneer Parantha

These parathas were invented by me while I was cooking one of the veges... actually the filling is the left over from a vege....
Ingredients
1/2 cup paneer
1 green chilli finely chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
salt as per taste
2 cups wheat flour
Method
1. Make nice soft dough of the wheat flour using enough water.
2. Mix all the other ingredients.
3. Make small portions of both flour and filling.
4. Fill the filling in the atta balls and make nice round parathas....
5. Enjoy with any simple vege...
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Monday, September 8, 2008

SWC Karnataka Roundup-Part 2

So now here continues the wonderful roundup second part of SWC Karnataka

VEGETABLES
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/raw-mango-gojju.html
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/jolada-rotti-tumbida-badanekayi-palya.html
5. Priti of Indian Khana
http://indiankhanna.blogspot.com/2008/08/karnataka-style-meal.html
http://indiankhanna.blogspot.com/2008/08/mix-vegetables-karwar-style-award.html
6. Meera of Enjoy Indian Food
http://enjoyindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/04/daal-palak-2.html
7. Smitha of Kannada cuisine
http://kannadacuisine.blogspot.com
http://kannadacuisine.blogspot.com
8. Sia of Monsoon Spice
http://www.monsoonspice.com/2008/08/carrot-beans-channa-dal-palya-for.html
9. SMN of Cookspot
http://wwwcookspot.blogspot.com/2008/08/simplicity-in-cooking.html
10. Non blogger Anuradha
Padavalkayi_seekootu

Dals


1. Priyanka of Asankhana
http://asankhana.blogspot.com/2008/08/khichdi-is-prepared-every-saturdays-at.html
2. Lakshmi of Taste of Mysore
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/bele-saarumysore-rasamlentil-soup.html
3. Veda of Iyengars Kitchen
http://iyengarskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/pepper-rasam-malaga-rasam.html
4. Priti of Indian Khana
http://indiankhanna.blogspot.com/2008/08/karnataka-style-meal.html
http://indiankhanna.blogspot.com/2008/08/karnataka-style-meal.html
5. Non blogger Mangala
DALITHOY

Rice


1. Vani of Illatharasi
http://illatharasi.blogspot.com/2008/08/vangi-bath-brinjal-eggplant-rice.html
2. Priya Evani of
http://priyasfoodcourt.blogspot.com/2008/08/bisibele-bath.html
3. Priyanka of Asankhana
http://asankhana.blogspot.com/2008/08/lemon-rice-reminds-me-of-college-days.html
4. Sowmya of Creative Saga
http://creativesaga.blogspot.com/2008/08/bisi-bela-bhaat.html
5. Vidya Vikram of divya-dilse
http://divya-dilse.blogspot.com/2008/08/eggplant-ricevangi-bhath.html
6.
Sireesha of Mom Recipies
http://momrecipies.blogspot.com/2008/08/bisibele-bath.html
http://momrecipies.blogspot.com/2008/08/lemon-rice-nimmakaya-pulihora.html
7. Deepthi Shankar of Vegetableplatter
http://vegetableplatter.blogspot.com/2008/08/rough-lemon-rice_27.html
http://vegetableplatter.blogspot.com/2008/08/instant-puliyogareinstant-tamarind-rice.html
8. Sukanya of Sukanya-keralaiyer
http://sukanya-keralaiyer.blogspot.com/2008/08/bisi-bela-huli-anna.html
9. Sheetal of Mykitchen
http://sweety-mykitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/tamarind-rice.html
http://sweety-mykitchen.blogspot.com/2008/07/souther-curd-rice-award.html
10. Anuradha non blogger
Avalakki_Bisi_bele_bath

Sweets

1. Lakshmi of Taste of Mysore
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/chigali-undiunde-black-sesame-laddu.html
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/hesarubele-payasamoongdal-payasam.html
2. Sudeshna of Bengali Cuisine
http://bengalicuisine.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/chaler-payesh/
3. Purva of Purvas Daawat
http://purvasdaawat.blogspot.com/2008/08/kheer-payassam-rice-pudding.html
4. Veda of Iyengarskitchen
http://iyengarskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-ugadi-to-one-and-all.html
5. Priti of Indian Khana
http://indiankhanna.blogspot.com/2008/08/karnataka-style-meal.html
6. Sheetal of My Kitchen
http://sweety-mykitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/maledi-undi.html
http://sweety-mykitchen.blogspot.com/2008/03/tambit-ladoo.html
7. Anuradha non blogger
Toor_Dal__Nuchina_Unde
So now ladies enjoy the cuisines looking cooking and relishing......

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Sunday, September 7, 2008

Roundup SWC Karnataka-Part1


Hi all wonderful ladies out there.... I know you all were waiting for the roundup of this wonderful event of SWC Karnataka.... a bit late but anyways 'intazar ka fal mitha hota hai' ....
Before seeing the round up I would like to thank all the beautiful ladies out there who have taken so much effort in cooking different cuisines, take a snap and then mail and post..... thanks a lot for making this event a success... thanks Lakshmi for starting a wonderful event like this and giving me a chance to host it... it was a great experience... in the first two weeks of the event I received only one or two entries... so started feeling whether have chosen a difficult state for the event...but during the last week my mail box was flooded with entries... was really worried whether would be able to manage all things or not...anyways have put in my best...hope u all like it...and yes one more thing...double thanks to the non bloggers who participated in this event with enthu... you all put a star on the xmas tree with ur participation... So now here goes the round up starting with

Breakfast
.....



1. Lubna Karim of Yummy Food
http://kitchenflavours.blogspot.com/2008/07/masala-dosa.html

2. EC of Simpleindianfood

http://simpleindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/08/kodubale.html


3. Sheetal of Mykitchen
http://sweety-mykitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/patrado-alu-vadi-pathraarvi-leaf-rolls.html

4. Sowmya of Creativesaga
http://creativesaga.blogspot.com/2008/08/maddur-vadai.html

5. Maya of Konkanworld
http://konkanworld.blogspot.com/2008/08/banana-bunsmangalore-buns.html

6. Sweatha of Tasty curry leaf
http://tastycurryleaf.blogspot.com/2008/08/goli-bajjemangalore-bajji.html

7. Priyanka of Asankhana
http://asankhana.blogspot.com/2008/08/breakfast-is-something-without-which-we.html

8. Lakshmi of Taste of Mysore


http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/idli-vade-sambar-i-v-s.html

9. Cham of Spice-club
http://spice-club.blogspot.com/2008/08/kodubale-chickmangalur-coffee.html

10. Veda of Iyengarskitchen
http://iyengarskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/04/pudina-raagi-dose.html

11. Geeta of Fragrant kitchen
http://fragrantkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/08/neer-dosai.html

Non Bloggers

12. Mangala
Phaggila phodi
Sanna Khotto


13. Anuradha
Quick Kodabule
Sapsige Ambode




Kosambri & Chutney

1. Lakshmi of Taste of mysore
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/raagi-mudde-and-massoppu-finger-millet.html
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/jolada-rotti-tumbida-badanekayi-palya.html

2. Sushma of Nsushma
http://nsushma.blogspot.com/

3. Priti of Indian Khana
http://indiankhanna.blogspot.com/2008/08/karnataka-style-meal.html

4. Deepthi of Vegetable Platter
http://vegetableplatter.blogspot.com/2008/08/raw-carrot-lentil-saladcarrot-kosambari.html



Roti

1. EC of Simpleindianfood
http://simpleindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/08/akki-roti-with-veggies.html

2. Sowmya of Creative Saga
http://creativesaga.blogspot.com/2008/08/akki-roti.html

3. Veda of Iyengarskitchen
http://iyengarskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/05/akki-rotti-with-grated-kohlrabi-carrot.html

4. Lakshmi of Taste of mysore
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/chiroti-rava-rotti-and-onion-tomato.html
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/rave-dose-chutney-and-hot-hot-coffee.html
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/hoornada-holigepooran-policooking-for.html
http://www.tasteofmysore.com/2008/08/jolada-rotti-tumbida-badanekayi-palya.html

5. Priyanka of Asankhana
link awaited


Its too late now so the rest of the roundup tomorrow.......


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SWC Roundup nonblogger entries-From Mangala

Wonderful entries of Mangala

Phagila podi


This is one favourite recipe of all Konkani speaking people on the coast. Since kantola called as ‘Phagil’ is seasonal, all wait in anticipation for its arrival along with holy Ganesh Chathurthi and many communal and regional festivities. Traditionally there are many dishes made from kantolas, but we loved this one so much, that any instance we found them in the market, wanted all of it in the form of ‘phodi’ (deep fried slices) and so this is the only one I know to make. Luckily, this vegetable which belongs to the gourd family, although not at all bitter, is available in Singapore. It’s the bigger variety, with a great taste.

 Ingredients:

 4-5 big Phagil/ Kantola

½ cup rice flour

2 tsp chilli powder or as per taste

Peanut sized aesofatida dissolved in water or aesofetida powder

Salt

Oil for deep frying

 Method
Cut each of the kantolas into 4-5 thin slices lengthwise, apply salt and keep aside for 15-20 minutes. In a bowl, mix the rice flour, chilli powder and aesofetida along with little water to make into a masala paste that isn’t watery. Drain the water from the kantola slices and mix them with the masala. Heat oil in a frying pan and deep fry the slices. Drain over paper napkins, after frying. Spicy phagila podi is ready to savor.

It can be shallow fried also on a dosa pan. For this, the slices have to be lightly patted on dry rice flour or rava before frying. Fry on each side for 3-4 minutes. Other vegetables like small brinjal, ladies finger, bitter gourd, Suvarnagadde (Indian yam), raw banana, ripe banana (Nendrabale), gujje(tender jackfruit), are also used to make delicious Phodi.


Sanna Khotto


Needless to mention of the popularity of fish and the ground coconut masala, Mangalore, the coastal queen of Karnataka promises pure satisfaction to taste buds looking for simple yet delicious food. What surprises the visitors most, are the unknown vegetarian recipes, again with basic coconut-chilli-tamarind masala that can create a variety of mouthwatering curries to go with Rice and ever popular ‘Dalithoy’ (Dal delicacy).

Having been brought up with these delicacies been cooked everyday, I never gave it much of a thought, it was just a part of living in an ancestral home with huge family, neighbours and visitors. After being caught in the mad rat race, presently, when my home is occupied by just 2, neighbours are aliens, and visitors are merely a scary thought, I now realize that my mother, aunts and grannys who practically lived their lives in the kitchen, were cooking bonds within families. I cannot reverse time hoping for ‘olden days’to return, but I do try to use cooking as one of the tools to keep my tiny family happy.

 

Here’s one of the everyday treats, ‘Sanna Khotto’

 

Ingredients:

 

½  pav rice, soaked in water for over 2 hours

1 cup grated coconut

½ lemon sized deseeded tamarind

7-8 roasted red chillies

1 small piece of hing (asofetida) or powder

½ cabbage finely chopped

1 onion finely chopped

Salt

 

Method:

Add the soaked rice, tamarind, roasted chillies, aesofetida along with little water in the mixer and grind into paste. The mix should not be watery. Add salt to taste. To this, add in the chopped cabbage and onion mixing well. Fill up greased idli containers with this mix using a spoon or with hand. Steam them in a steaming vessel, just like idli, for 15 mins. Open after the vessel has cooled for sometime, spicy Sanna Khotto is ready to serve.  It tastes best when u smear a little coconut oil while serving.

This dish can also be made without cabbage and onion. Most times, when the masala for ‘pathrode’ is left without leaves to roll, Sanna Khotto is good solution. Some people also like to add toor dal in the mix. The same mix can also be used to make ‘Sanna Polo’ translating to ‘small dosa’ where it is spread in small circles on a dosa pan, with hand and fried on both sides for 3-4 mins.


Dalithoy

This is the first time am ever posting any recipe. Thanks to SWC Karnataka, I was motivated. Having spoken so much on costal Karnataka and particularly Konkani dishes, definitely ‘Dalithoy’ cannot be left out. In good humour, ‘Dalithoy’ is considered as Konkana’s ‘Kula Devu’ or family God.

 

A comfort dal preparation to eat with rice.

 

Ingredients:

½ Pav Toor Dal

Water – 1 ½ tumbler

Green chillies – 2-3 split at centre

2 Red chillies

Oil/ Ghee 1 Tbsp

Mustard seeds and curry leaves for seasoning

Hing (Aesofetida) powder- 1 tsp/button sized piece melted in water

Salt to taste

 

Pressure cook the washed toor dal for 2 signals. Keep the cooker on low flame for 5 mins after the signal has gone off. Churn the dal or mash with the back of the spoon, add green chillies and salt. Add a little water depending on how thick/watery as per need and let it boil. Meanwhile prepare the seasoning by heating the oil/ghee, add mustard seeds and once they splutter add the curry leaves and red chillies. Add this to the dal and let it boil for 3 minutes. Sprinkle the aesofetida powder in the dal and mix well. Super Dalithoy is ready to serve with white/ parboiled rice.



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SWC Roundup nonblogger entries-From Anuradha

Wonderful entries by Anuradha


Quick Kodubale

Kodubale is a famous savoury snack from Mysore.  Name means it is a bangle shaped snack.  It is very good with coffee on a rainy evening. The recent spell of rain tempted me to make this. Here is the recipe...

Ingredients:

½ up roasted gram (hurigadale aka pottukadale)

2 cups rice flour

2 table spoon fresh grated coconut

10-12 dried red chillies

½ tsp hing

2 table spoon melted butter or hot oil

Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying

Method:

Soak the chillies in hot water for 20-30 min.

Gring soaked chillies with roasted gram, coconut, hing and salt. Try to use as little water as possible for making a smooth paste.

Transfer the paste into a wide bowl, add melted butter/oil, add rice flour little by little and make a dough.

Use water if required to make a pliable dough, but not too thin. When you shape ball, it should not crack.

Make small balls, roll them on flat surface and join the end to make a rough circle.

Heat oil and careful drop these when oil is hot. Fry them on medium heat till brown.

Cool thoroughly before storing in air tight container.

Notes:

1.     If you cannot make circles, make small balls and fry them.

2.     Taste the dough and adjust salt, it will become less salty-spicy after frying. The dough should be slightly more salty-spicy than required by you.

3.     You can use chilli powder when in hurry.

4.     Do not use desiccated coconut, best to use fresh coconut.

5.      Increase chillies according to your taste.



Sapsige Ambode

Ingredients:

2 cups chana dal, soaked for 4-5 hours

Green chillies to taste

1 cup chopped Sapsige soppu (dill weed)

½ inch ginger

½ tsp hing

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Method:

Drain the dal and leave it for 15 min.

Using chopper attachment in food processor grind the dal, chillies, ginger and the dill weed.

Do not use water and paste should be coarse. This will make the ambode extra crispy.

Heat oil on medium flame.

Make lemon sized balls out of the paste. Using wet hands flatten the balls and drop them to oil.

Fry on medium heat till brown.

Drain the oil well an absorbent paper and serve hot.

Notes:

Can use normal mixer, if you add water ambode will be a bit softer. How ever the taste does not change much.



Avalakki Bisi bele bath

This version of the classic Bisibele bath is made on days when eating rice is not allowed. It is as good as the original dish, but faster to cook.

Ingredients

1 Cup split moong dal

2 cup avalakki (poha)

Lemon sized tamarind, soak and extract the juice

1 ½ cups mixed vegetable like carrot, tomato, beans, capsicum, potato etc cut into ½ inch pieces

1 medium onion sliced thin

2 table spoon raw peanuts and/or peas

2 table spoon Bisibele bath masala powder

A small piece jiggery

2-3 spoons grated coconut

Salt to taste

Little oil, mustard seeds and hing for tadka

Few curry leaves and chopped coriander leaves

A pinch of turmeric

Method

Wash the dal and pressure cook with vegetables and peanut, add a pinch of turmeric.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add mustard seeds

When the mustard starts to split add hing

Add curry leaves and fry for a min

Add onion and fry for 2 more min.

Reduce the flame and add cooked dal and vegetables.

Add the masala, salt, jiggery and tamarind water

Simmer on low flame till the raw smell of the masala is gone.

Mean while wash the poha and keep aside in little water

Once the masala is well cooked, add poha and stir well.

Continue to simmer for 10-15 in stirring constantly

Switch off and add chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with raitha or potato chips

Notes:

Add a lot of water while cooking the dal and vegetables; it tends to become very hard easily.

Don’t leave this dish unattended, it burns very quickly

Original bisi bele bath uses toor dal with rice and takes more time to cook.

Using kobbari  (kopra or dry coconut) gives better taste and will not spoil for longer time.  Original dish does not have onion, so it is ideal for packing on a picnic or travel.



Bisi Bele Bath Masala Powder

Ingredients

Dhania - 1 tbsp
Black Pepper - 8-10
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tbsp
Methi Seeds - 1 tsp
Dry Red Chillies – 8-10 (whole)
Hing - 1/4 tsp
Curry Leaves - 2 stalks
Cloves - 5
Cinnamon - 1" stick
Cardamoms - 5
oil for roasting - 1/2 tbsp

Method

Heat oil, add ingredients and roast on low flame till crisp and golden. It should give off a strong spicy aroma.

Cool for few min.

Dry grind to a coarse powder.

Store in airtight container and use as required.

Makes: 1 Cup.

Notes:

I find it difficult to make this masala accurately in small quantities, so i make at least a cup and store it. It stores well for many months in fridge.

You can use MTR Bisibele bath powder instead of this when in hurry.



Padavalkayi (Snake Gourd) Seekootu


This is a very simple gravy, yet very appetizing. You can substitute snake gourd with cucumber, chow chow or dill weed.  Cucumber and dill weed have lesser cooking time and very tasty.

Ingredients:

1 medium snake gourd chopped into small pieces

1 cup fresh coconut

2 table spoon urad dal

20-25 pepper corns

½ tsp mustard seeds and 2 pinches hing

Few curry leaves

1 table spoon chopped coriander leaves

Salt to taste

Method:

Dry roast urad dal and pepper on medium heat until urad dal is brown. It should not have raw smell and give out a nice aroma.

Cool the mixture for few min and grind with coconut to a smooth paste using water.

In a pan heat oil and add mustard seeds.

When mustard splits add hing, add curry leaves.

After few seconds add chopped snake gourd. Fry it well for 4-5 min. Add salt.

Add 2 cups of water and bring to boil. Reduce flame and simmer till snake gourd is cooked.

Add the ground paste, after this stage keep the flame low.

Simmer for 10 min stirring often. Add chopped coriander just before switching off.

Serve with hot rice.



Toor Dal  Nuchina Unde

 
Ingredients:

2 cups toor dal, soaked for 4 hours

1 inch ginger

A pinch hing

Little grated coconut

6-8 green chillies

1 spoon chopped coriander leaves

Few curry leaves

Method

Drain the dal and leave it for few min

Grind it along with other ingredients to a coarse paste using little or no water

Shape the paste using your fist into cylindrical shape.

Steam in idli plate for 12-15 min

Serve hot with ghee drizzled over

 



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Rasam


Wanted to send this for two events the food in colour event hosted by sunshinemom and also the SWC Karnataka event hosted by me.... but could not get time to do so... but still Rasam is one of my favourites...... and this is my way of preparing... fast and easy....
Ingredients
2tbsp pigeon peas (toor dal)
1tsp grated ginger
1 red chilli
2 tbsp tamarind concentrate
2tsp rasam powder
1 tsp coriander for garnish
salt as per taste
1tsp cumin seeds
1tsp oil
1tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp asafoetida
4-5 curry leaves
water
Method
1. Cook toor dal in the pressure cooker with rice.
2. Heat oil in a vessel and add the chilli, asafoetida and cumin seeds. When the cumin changes colour grated ginger & curry leaves.
3. Saute for a minute and then add rasam powder and if desired a little red chilli powder. Add the cooked dal and lot of water.
4. The consistency of rasam is watery. Then add the tamarind concentrate and salt.
5. Mix well and boil it nicely for atleast 10-15 minutes. Cover and keep for sometime.
6. Serve hot with plain steaming rice......

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Aluchi Patal Bhaji

This is one of the authentic Maharashtrian recipe.... I cooked the colocassia leaves like this for the first time and loved the taste so much that now I keep on looking for colocassia leaves..otherwise I used them only to make Patrado/ alu vadi which is also very tasty...
Ingredients
8 Colocassia leaves (arbi ke patte)
1/4 cup Split Bengal gram (chana dal)
3tbsp Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
a pinch Asafoetida
1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
4-5 Green chillies, chopped
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
5-6 Curry leaves
1/4 cup Peanuts, roasted and crushed
Salt to taste
3/4 tbsp Jaggery (gur), grated
1/4cup Gram flour (besan)
1/2 cup Coconut, scraped

Method
1. Clean the colocassia leaves well and shred them finely. Soak the chana dal for an hour. Drain.
2. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let them crackle. Add asafoetida, fenugreek seeds, green chillies, turmeric powder, curry leaves and sauté.
3. Add shredded colocassia leaves and sauté for a minute. Let it cook in its steam for three to four minutes.
4. Add soaked chana dal, crushed peanuts, salt and jaggery. Mix well.
5. Add a little warm water and when ingredients are cooked mash it well.
6. Make a thick batter by adding a little water to the gram flour and add to the mixture. Cook till it thickens a little.
7. Add fresh coconut and mix well. Serve hot.

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Monday, September 1, 2008

A very famous Rajasthani dish had read in one of Nita Mehta's special edition of Rajasthani recipes...
Serves 4-5
Ingredients

300 gms lauki (will be half of a medium sized lauki)
3-4 tbsp oil for frying
Filling
½ cup paneer grated
½ medium sized onion-chopped finely
1-2 green chillies chopped finely
2tbsp fresh coriander finely chopped
½ tsp each salt, amchoor powder, coriander powder and red chilli powder
¼” piece ginger- chopped finely
1/4 cup finely chopped mixed dry fruits (cashewnuts, kishmish, almonds etc.)
Sauce
3 tomatoes & ½” piece ginger-ground together
1 ½ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
½-1 tsp salt or according to taste
1 tsp dhania powder
½ tsp garam masala
1-2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp oil
2” cinnamon
5-6 cloves
Method
1. Peel lauki. Place in a cooker with 1 cup of water and ½ tsp salt. Give 1 whistle. Cool. Remove lauki and & scoop out the inside pulp taking care that the sides do not break.
2. Mix all the ingredients well, given under filling and stuff into the hollow lauki shell.
3. Heat 3-4 tbsp oil in a saucepan and shallow fry the lauki, turning so that it is evenly browned on all sides. Remove and keep aside.
4. To prepare the sauce, grind together tomatoes and ginger to a very fine puree.
Heat 2 tbsp oil, add cinnamon and cloves. Fry for 1-2 minutes.
5. Add tomato puree and all the seasonings under sauce. Simmer on low flame till dry and oil separates. Add ¼ cup water. Give 2-3 boils.
6. To serve, cut fried lauki into ½” pieces (rounds) and place in the serving dish. Boil sauce and pour over the lauki pieces. Garnish with green coriander and garam masala.

Relish it with plain or jeera rice and paratha....


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Saturday, August 30, 2008

Malai Kofta Curry

I really did not know that doing a job for the whole day and then cooking at the end of the day is really tiresome.... earlier when I used to work never felt like this...but now I have a child who goes to the childcare for the whole day.... so when I come back really don feel like doing anything..just play with her and spend all my time with her only... today saturday.. after half days work managed to prepare this... after a long time had a nice dinner....
so here goes the recipe for the tasty Malai Kofta Curry
Ingredients
For the Koftas
4-5 medium size Potatoes
100 gms Cottage cheese
2 green chillies
¼ cup cornflour
Salt as per taste
¼ cup raisins
oil for deep frying
For gravy
3 medium sized onions
3 tbsp oil
1tbsp Ginger paste
1tbsp garlic paste
2 green chillies
1tsp coriander powder
1 tsp turmeric
salt as per taste
½ cup tomato puree
1 tsp red chilli powder

For the Gravy
½ cup mawa (khoya)
½ cup fresh cream
1 tsp garam masala powder
Method
1. Boil the potatoes, cool, peel and grate them. Grate paneer. Wash all green chillies, deseed and chop them fine.

2. Peel onions cut them into halves and boil with a cup of water for ten minutes. Drain excess water, cool onions and grind into a smooth paste.
3. Mix mashed potatoes, paneer, two chopped green chillies, cornflour and salt. Mix well. Divide into sixteen equal balls. Stuff raisins into them. Deep fry in hot oil until slightly coloured. Drain and keep aside.
4. Heat oil in a kadhai. Add boiled onion paste and cook for five minutes. Add ginger paste, garlic paste, chopped green chillies, coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt. Cook for a minute.

5. Add tomato puree and red chilli powder and cook on a medium flame for eight to ten minutes or till oil separates from the masala.
6. Mix mawa in two cups of water and add to the gravy. Bring it to boil and simmer for ten minutes on a slow flame. Stir occasionally. Stir in fresh cream and garam masala powder.
7. Place warm koftas in a serving dish and pour hot gravy on top and serve.

Tip: Fry one kofta and check for binding, if it breaks add a little more cornflour. Deep fry in hot oil.

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Dry fenugreek vege (sukhi methi subzi)

Ingredients
1 bunch fenugreek leaves
2-3 cloves of garlic (mashed roughly)
1tsp mustard seeds
1tsp oil
salt as per taste
Method
1. Wash the fenugreek leaves under water properly.
2. Heat oil in a vessel. Add mustard seeds. when they crackle add the mashed garlic cloves.
3. When they turn slightly brown add fenugreek leaves and salt.
4. Mix nicely and cover it for 5 minutes.
5. Serve hot or cold with chapati...
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Amras

Ingredients
2 mangoes
1/4 cup milk
a pinch salt
jaggery according to the sweetness of the mangoes
Method
1. Peel and take out the pulp of the mangoes.
2. Dip the seed of the mango in the milk and wash it in the milk.
3. Add the milk to the pulp. Then mix salt and jaggery.
4. Add cardamom powder if desired.....
5. Serve with puri..
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Monday, August 25, 2008

Patrado (Alu vadi/ Pathra/arvi leaf rolls)

Patrado or colocassia leaf multilayered with spices, steamed.

Ingredients

9-10 Colocassia leaves (arbi ke patte)
1 cup Split pigeon pea (toor dal/arhar dal)
1/2 cup Rice
4 tbsp Coconut, scraped
10 Whole dry red chillies, roasted
Lemon sized ball Tamarind
1/4 tsp Asafoetida
Salt to taste
Jaggery (gur) to taste

Method
1. Soak dal and rice for four to six hours. Drain and grind to a coarse paste along with coconut,
whole red chillies, tamarind and asafoetida.

2. Add salt, jaggery and mix well. Leave the batter overnight to ferment.
3. Wash the colocassia leaves (arbi ke patte), remove the stalk and slice off the center stem of the leaves carefully so that the leaves do not tear. Place a leaf on a flat surface and apply a layer of the paste.

4. Place another leaf on top and repeat the procedure until three leaves are used for each roll. Fold the sides of the leaves inwards and roll the leaves together tightly to form a medium sized roll.
5. Tie each roll securely from all sides with a piece of string. Heat sufficient water in a cooker and place the rolls in a shallow vessel. Steam cook them until the patrado is well cooked.
6. Allow the rolls to cool. Remove the strings and cut rolls into thick round slices. Serve drizzled with ghee.
7. They can be served deep-fried too.


My entry for the SWC Karnataka hoted by me....
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Sunday, August 24, 2008

Gouri Oota

Every year at my mom house we celebrate Gouri Ganpati with lot of preparations... Last year as my inlaws were here we did so many things and had such a nice time preparing all the festive cuisines... This year its me, hubby and our daughter only... but still I wanted to make all the things as we did last year... so last friday I prepared all these and had invited my friends for lunch.. we call it 'mutyadi' (married woman).... in our customs it is very auspicious to call a married woman for lunch on the shravan masa fridays.... so I had prepared hurnad holige (puran poli/ chickpea +jaggery paratha), tavi anna (varan bhat), chittranna (lemon rice), buttianna (curd rice), shenga chatni (groundnut chatni), kosambri (raita), potato & cumin leaf bhajji, batati palya (potato vege), katad amti (katachi amti), kurdayi, kadhi & mentehit....
Had a wonderful time preparing all this... so one more for SWC Karnataka Event hosted by me...

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Badnekayi palya (eggplant curry)

A very simple and fast to make recipe..

Ingredients
5-6 medium sized eggplants (brinjals)
1 onion (sliced long)
1tsp oil
1tsp mustard seeds
1tsp turmeric (haldi)
a pinch of asafoetida (hing)
1tsp red chilli powder or to taste
1tsp garam masala
1tsp jaggery
Salt as per taste
water
1/2 cup roasted peanut powder


Method
1. Wash, clean and remove the stems of the brinjals and cut them in long but thick slices. Put them in salt water.
2. Cut onions long. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When they crackle add onions and saute till the onions turn a little brown.
3. Then add turmeric, asafoetida and mix.
4. Add the brinjals, mix and then add garam masala, jaggery, red chilli powder and salt. Mix and add enough water for the brinjals to get cooked.
5. When the brinjals are cooked add the peanut powder and boil for two more minutes. Serve hot with plain rice/roti/chapati/paratha.

Note:
Use boiled potato if you have less number of brinjals.

My entry for the SWC Karnataka Event.




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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Narali Bhat

This is an authentic recipe prepared in our house for every rakhi. Actually we have one more festival called Narali Pournima mostly on the same day of Rakhi. So this sweet rice is prepared for both the festival together.



Ingredients


2 cups rice (basmati rice tastes good)


1cup grated jaggery (or according to desired sweetness)


1cup grated fresh coconut


2-3 cloves


1tsp green cardamom powder


1tbsp claryfied butter (ghee)


Method


1. Wash and keep rice aside for half an hour. Heat ghee in a thick bottomed pan and add cloves to it. Once the cloves change colour add the washed rice and saute for a minute.


2. Then add 3cups of warm water to it and cook the rice.


3. In another bowl mix jaggery, coconut and cardamom powder.


4. Once the rice is cooked add the jaggery mixture to it and mix nicely.


5. Serve hot or cold...


So this is my contri to the festive food event hosted by Priti & Purva...




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Mango Soufle

I love to make soufles... this is one of my very very lovely recipes... it tastes great and a very quick dessert for any occassion...

Ingredients
1 Mango
1 cup milk
2tbsp condensed milk (or adjust according to taste)
2 cups cream
1tbsp gelatin
a few gems chocolate for garnish.
Method
1. Peel, and cut half mango into pieces and make the pulp of half.
2. In a blender mix milk, condensed milk, cream and pulp of half mango and blend nicely.
3. In a bowl take 4 tbsp hot water add gelatin and stirr till dissolved. Pass it through a strainer into the blended mixture.
4. In a bowl or glasses in which you want to set the soufle, put the pieces of half mango and pour the blended mixture over it. Place in the refrigerator to set.
5. Garnish with gem chocolate and serve chilled.

My entry for Srilekha's event of Ice creams and milk shakes.

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Monday, August 18, 2008

Custard Apple Soufle

Today I am really tired, was out for the whole day and wanted to freshen my self. So there could be nothing other than to try something new and freshen up... So usually I make mango soufle... had custard apple at home and thought of trying custard apple soufle.. ah it really tastes great... feeling good after a successful experiment..hehehe.. so one more entry for Srilekha's event of Ice creams and milk shakes.
Ingredients
1 custard apple
1 cup milk
2tbsp condensed milk (or adjust according to taste)
2 cups cream
1tbsp gelatin
a few strands of saffron and a few pieces of pistachios for garnish.
Method
1. Peel, dessed the custard apple.
2. In a blender mix milk, condensed milk, cream and custard apple pulp and blend nicely.
3. In a bowl take 4 tbsp hot water add gelatin and stirr till dissolved. Pass it through a strainer into the blended mixture.
4. Pour into bowl or glasses in which you want to set the soufle. Place in the refrigerator to set.
5. Sprinkle a few strands of saffron and pieces of pistachios and served chilled.
Fast and easy dessert...

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