Amchur Puliyogare -Quick Delicious Meal

South Indian Festivals are never complete without puliyogare/pulihora/tamarind rice.Traditional puliyogare is made with tamarind.I wanted to post a quick fix for the traditional one which tastes good too.

I used amchur powder and used less ingredients to make it simple.

This recipe sure will be handy for busy moms.

Quick ,tasty and fulfilling lunch box idea.

Tempering + Amchur powder + Rice--->Instant puliyogare!

Ingredients

cooked rice-4 cups
amchur powder- 2 tspn
oil-3 Tbspn
mustard seeds-1/2 tspn
chana dal-1/2 tspn
peanuts-1 Tbpn
urad dal- 1/2 tspn
dry red chilly-2
asafetida-1/4tspn
turmeric-1/4 tspn
grated dry coconut-1.5 Tbspn
curry leaves-2 string
pepper powder- 2 pinch
jaggery powder-1/4 tspn
salt to taste

How to make
1)Heat oil in a non stick pan.Add mustard seeds when hot and allow them to splutter.Now add chana dal and peanuts then the urad dal and fry them till it turns golden brown.Add red chilly pieces,asafetida,turmeric,curry leaves,pepper powder.Keep the stove in very low/warm..

2)Add grated dry coconut,powdered jaggery,amchur powder.Once the jaggery melts turn off the stove.Dont burn the amchur powder!.Immediately add cooked rice,salt & mix well.

3)Enjoy this instant meal:-)

Note:
1)Don't skip dry coconut,it adds authentic taste(I usually add 2 tbspn :-)).You can also add  1/2 tspn black sesame seeds or white seasame seeds for tempering.

2)I used 2 tspn amchur powder for 4 cups cooked rice.The amchur powder I used was not so strong and I like it more tangy.So adjust according to taste buds.You can always sprinkle extra amchur and mix at last!

3)I made it mildy spicy.If u want extra spicy then add some more pepper powder.Or Even you can add 1/2 tspn chillypowder along with amchur powder

Vessel was empty in no time:-):-)
 

Electric Rice cooker Pulao - Super easy recipe

Sometimes you get bored of  traditional time consuming recipes ! and don't even feel like going out to restaurant?

This is what you can make - electric rice cooker pulao-super easy super delicious.

This no stove recipe can be made when u go on a tour or campsites with electric outlet.

Here is what u need
Rice-2 cups(basmati/sona masuri)
oil-   3 Tbspn
jeera-1/4 tspn
cut mixed vegetables-3 cups( peas,carrot,beans,cauliflower,potato,corn,lima beans)
cilantro chopped-2 Tbspn
dill greens chopped - 1 Tbpsn(optional)
green chilly chopped-2
mint chopped-1 Tbpsn
garic pod minced-2
garam masala-1 tspn
dhania powder-2 tspn(u can replace 1 tsp with biryani masala powder if u have or even pav bhaji masala powder)
bay leaf-2
cashew nuts-1 Tbpn(according to your preference,i like to add more)
salt to taste

Here is how to do
Lets combine everything in the rice cooker.Water quantity is same as u make plain rice.

Isn't is easy?

Top it with fried onions(readily available in stores) and enjoy with some raita

 











S'more - Campfire treat

S'more or smore is a traditional campfire dessert.Roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate is sandwitched between graham crackers.Ya!who doesn't love this warmth cracker- chocalate -marshmallow sandwitch!?:-)

This treat is famous in USA and Canada.National S'more day in USA is on August 10th.Light up the campfir e,roast the marshmallow make the smore .While having the warm tasty smore,u can do lots of campfire activities like storytelling,singing and games to keep the kids occupied and have tons of fun.

Wanted to do something different for friday night and was browsing around.Came across a fall activity in the park near by with hayride and campfire smore.Hmmm!

Ingredients

Marshmallow-These are cylindrical sweet spongy/gooey pieces.You get many brands of marshmallows at the store with jumbo size or regular size.I got a pack of jet puffed marshmallows.

Crackers-Picked up Honey Maid Graham crackers as these are famous for making smore.You can buy any store brand grahams.

Chocolate-Used  hersheys milk chocolate as i already had it in home.You can buy any variety like ghirardelli milk chocolate squares(my favourite),dark chocolate squares.Thin square chocolates works good in sandwitches.

How to roast Marshmallow in fire

Here is the fun part

1)Poke the marshmallow to a long stick so you don't burn your hands.Insert it inside so you can see atleast 1 inch stick at the end just to make sure it doesn't fall off.

2)Once the campfire is set and ready hold the marshmallows close to the charcoal and roast it.Keep roatating the stick so it gets uniformly heated.If u roast your marshmallows at the tip of the flame it will catch  fire and turn black soon if u like the black part as i do then thats ok! But the best marshmallows are roasted to golden brown.

Note:You can also try roasting marshmallows on the gas grill or gas stove

Assemble
Here comes the delicious part

1)Take the graham craker,add a big square of chocolate on top then comes the hot gooey marshmallow which melts the chocolate a bit yumm:-).Now take another craker and press the marshmallow.Enjoy with your friends and family.

 

Chakkali/Murukku - Easy and Tasty Snack

Chakkali......um...remembers my childhood.The days were never complete without eating this snack which was made by my grandma and stored in big containers!Run to the kitchen grab a handfull go to the terrace finish it and get ready for next round:-):-)Love those days!Even u guys will have some memories like that rite?do share it in the comments section.

Murukku is made for festivals like Diwali,dasara etc.Also during marriage,engagement,baby shower.It makes good tea time snack.It's 'alltime' snack of South India.

Chakkali can be made in a lot of ways.Recently I made quick version for Diwali and it came out to be super yummy.

You need murukku/chakkali mold to make this.It comes in a lot of variety of shape attachments like tiny round for sev,little big round(I have used it here),multiple star,single star(I have used it here) and lot more.

Here is what you need

Rice flour - 3.75 cups
Urad Dal  - 3/4 cup
Butter       - 21/2 Tbspn
Jeera         -1/2 tspn
Asafetida  -1/4 tspn
salt to taste
Oil to deep fry
water to make dough

This is how you make

1)Soak urad dal for 1 hr and pressure cook it for 2 whistle or till fully cooked.
2)Grind the cooked dal with very little water.
3)Mix rice flour+dal paste+butter+jeera+asafetida+salt .
4)Now sprinkle little water at a time and make the dough and knead well for 5 min.
5)Fill the dough in the murukku maker and press it on a aluminium foil or Ziploc bag or simple plastic cover.
6)Fry them in medium hot oil.

Note
1)The dough should neither be very soft nor tough.It should be medium soft.Wet your hands in water and fill the dough inside chakali maker so that its not hard to press.
2)You can skip asafetida and add ginger garlic green chilly paste to make it masala chakkali.
3)Store it in a air tight container for1-2 weeks if something is remaining!:-)

Easy Sweet Potato Raita

Have you ever tried sweet potato in your side dish?As a kid,I remember having the boiled one's.

Tried to make raita today and it was a hit!My 2.5 year old daughter loved it.

The creamy texture with the sweetness along with yogurt and tempering.Doesn't it sound yummy and easy.

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes....2 big
Plain yogurt.........2 cups
salt to taste
tempering
oil......................1 Tbspn
mustard seeds....1 tspn
green chilly........2
urad dal..............1 tspn
chana dal............1 tspn
curry leaves........2 string
turmeric..............a pinch

Process

1)Lets cook the sweet potatoes.You can pressure cook it for 2 whistle or microwave high for 20-25 min.Even just cover and cook it on the stove top.

2) Peel of  the skin and mash it.

3)Add the beaten yogurt.

4)Next the most important  par,the tempering!.Heat oil in a pan then add mustard seeds,when it starts  to sizzle add chana dal after few seconds add urad dal and wait till both the dals turn golden brown.Add the chopped green chillies,curry leaves and add this flavoufull tempering to the sweet potato mixture.

5)Add salt to taste , mix well & enjoy.

Notes

1)If you are microwaving the potatoes or cooking on stove top then cut it into small pieces to speed up the cooking.

2)You can add more yogurt if u like.I kind of like it to be thick.
 

Broccoli Stir Fry

We usually make stir fry vegetables everyday.Lets try this special broccoli with carrots and peas.

Do u like broccoli?

Most of the people eat it raw and some steam them.I never liked broccoli as is,so I started trying variety of recipes with it.This is my favourite broccoli recipe .It tastes delicious and is very healthy too.

Ingredients

Broccoli pieces -------- 2 cups
carrots cut lengthwise--1 cup
green peas frozen/fresh-1/2 cup
onion chopped----------- 1
garlic chopped----------- 2 pods
coriander powder--------1 tspn
garam masala-------------1 tspn
turmeric--------------------1/4 tspn
cumin seeds---------------1/2 tspn
Oil---------------------------1 Tbspn
asafetida--------------------2 pinch
curry leaves----------------1 string
salt to taste

1)Add oil to a pan,when hot add cumin seeds.Add the turmeric,onion,garlic and fry for 2 min.
2)Add coriander powder,garam masala  and fry for few sconds.Next comes the vegetables & curry leaves.
3)Add 2-3 Tbspn of water,salt to taste.
3)Cover it cook it for 7-10 min.Keep checking frequently and gently sauté.Do not overcook as broccoli tend to become mushy soon.Cook till 3/4th done.
4)Enjoy this aromatic side dish.
 

Quick Rasam-No Rasam powder,No dal

 











Ingredients
5 Tomatoes
2 Tbspn grated fresh/frozen coconut
1 tspn jeera/cumin seeds
1 tspn tamarind
2 pinch asafetida
1/2 tspn chilly powder
1/4 tspn jaggery
2 strings curry leaves

tempering

1 tspn ghee
1/2 tspn mustard seeds
1/4 tspn jeera
2 pinch turmeric powder
2  red chilly
pinch of asafetida

Rasam can be made in a lot of ways.This recipe of rasam is easy to make yet very yummy.Came from a vacation ? or just bored of eating heavy meals.Try this simple rasam.

Process
1)Cut tomatoes into halves.Boil them in water for about 6 min.
2)Grind the tomatoes along with coconut+jeera+tamarind+asafetida to a smooth puree
3)Add the grinded puree in a deep vessel,adjust water by adding 2 cups or according to your preference.
4)Add chilly powder,salt,jaggery,curry leaves and boil for 7 min in medium flame
5)Now make tempering and add to rasam :heat ghee ,when hot add mustard seeds,cumin.When mustard seeds pops add red chilly,turmeric,hing.
6)Serve hot with rice and papad!

 

Sprouted beans and pomegranate salad

Ingredients

11/2 cup mung beans sprouted.
1 cup pomegranate seeds.
3 Tbspn fresh or frozen grated coconut.
2 greenchilly
1 Tbspn oil
1/2 tspn mustard seeds.
1/2 tspn lemon juice.
1 Tbspn chopped coriander leaves.
salt to taste

How to sprout beans?
1)Soak the whole mung bean or any other bean in water and let it stay overnight.
2)The next morning,drain out the excess water and wrap cotton cloth around the beans.
3)Cover it and let is stay in a dark place for about 2 days.
4)The length of the sprout depends on climate.In summer I got lengthy sprout for 2 days .In winter I may have to wait for longer time.

Note:You can sprout chickpeas, black chana,matki or any other bean with the same process.I usually wrap the soaked beans in thick variety kitchen towels,muslin cloth or just cotton cloth and keep it inside oven.

Process

1)Combine sprouted mung bean ,pomegranate seeds,grated coconut.
2)Heat oil in a pan,when hot add mustard seeds.When it pops add finely chopped greenchillies and coriander leaves (don't let chilly and greenchilly turn brown,switch off the stove and add it at last)
3)Add lemon juice and mix well.
4)Enjoy the super healthy,raw,lowfat,high protein salad.

I usually make this as side dish for sambar rice .CLICK HERE FOR SAMBAR RECIPE

Palak Paneer-Spinach and Cheese Curry

Palak is 'Spinach' and Paneer is 'Indian cheese'.Palak Paneer is a very popular North Indian dish.It is spinach gravy cooked with flavourful spices along with indian cheese.The bite of cheese coated with spiced spinach uh! I crave for it all the time.

You go to Indian restaurants and order North Indian Thali/Platter,palak panner will be one among them.Also its a fast moving item in the restaurant menu!

We all know that Spinach is super healthy.This nutrient powerhouse is good for immunity,skin,brain,eye,prevents cancer,anemia are a few to note.

Its hard to get B12 supply for vegeterians as most of b12 is in seafood.Paneer contains B12 which makes this recipe more powerful.

Are you pregnant?So u have to eat a lot of green leafy vegetables !.Try this tasty and nutrirtional palak panner and your taste buds and body will love it.

Ingredients

Spinach .......................2 large bunch
Paneer cubes................1.5 cup
Green chillies...............3
Onion...........................2
Garlic pod....................4
Butter...........................1 tspn
Oil................................1 Tbspn
Coriander powder........1/2 tspn
Garam masala..............1 tspn
Fresh cream(optional)
salt to taste

Procedure

1)Heat a pan with 1 cup water,add washed spinach,half lengthwise cut onion,2 minced garlic ,green chilly and boil it for 10 min without covering ,this makes it nice and green.Grind it to a smooth paste.(Don't add a lot of water as you need a medium thick puree).

2)Heat oil and butter in a pan,add remaining  finely chopped onion ,2 minced garlic.Once onions are transparent add the spinach puree,coriander powder,garam masala,salt.Cook it for 8 min in medium heat.

3)Add the paneer cubes and fresh cream and let it cook with spinach gravy for 2 min.

4) Perfect side dish for roti/chapatti/naan or any breads.I love it with rice and onion!Enjoy your meal:-). 

Peanut Usal-Navratri recipe

                              

Navratri around the corner and it's time to pray Goddess Durga for Shakti ie,power.Navratri-Nine nights of festival is celebrated allover India.

In North India,people restrict their food to only specific items when they perform 'vrat' .
Peanut usal/usali is one of the North Indian Navratri fast recipe as it meets the fast criteria.
Whereas in South India they don't have any special restriction.Each region celebrates it differently.

All the nine evenings you offer Prasad to Goddess and usually call the kiddos and serve them.

Peanut usal is a perfect recipe for navratri.Rich in protein and delicious.Moreover kids will love the soft texture of peanut.

Common lets give it a try for this NAVRATRI.

Ingredient
2 cups peanut
4 string curry leaves
3 greenchilly slit into haves
3 Tbspn grated fresh/frozen coconut
2 Tbspn oil
1 tspn mustard seeds
2 pinch hing/asafetida
salt to taste

Procedure
1)Soak the red skin peanut for 3 hours.
2)Pressure cook it with salt for 3 whistles(some cookers may take only 2) or until completely cooked.
3)Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds and  allow it to pop.Add hing, curry leaves,greenchillies.
4)Drain the water from boiled peanuts.Add the peanuts ,coconut and fry for 3 min.
5)Ready to serve.






 

Taco

Taco is a traditional Mexican dish where corn,wheat or plain flour shells are wrapped around filling and topped with guacamole,salsa,onions,tomato,lettuce etc.

Tacos can be made with lot of variations to suite your tastebuds.The shells can be crispy or soft.The filling can be vegetarian,non-vegeterian with your favourite combination.

Taco is gaining popularity all over the world.They are one of the popular food chains in US.

A quick filling grab and go meal.Forgot to mention,kids love it!

I made tomato soup ,healthy vegetarian tacos and some besan ladoos from my refridgerator for dinner tonight.Its nice to have something different than usual.

Filling
11/2 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup black eye peas
1/4 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup  finely chopped tomato
1/4 cup lengthwise cut capsicum
1 Tbspn cilantro(coriander leaves)
1 Tbspn lemon juice
1/4 tspn chilly powder
1/4 tspn pepper powder
(1/4 tspn garam masala,1/2 tspn chat masala for indian taste)
4 Tbspn Guacamole-click here for guacamole recipe
1 tspn sour cream(optional)
grated cheese or i prefer paneer
salt to taste

1)Soak black eye peas overnight and cook it with salt, till soft but not mushy.
2)Mix cooked rice with cilantro and lemon,salt.
3)Mix the cilantro rice,boiled beans, capsicum,carrot,pepper,spices,
3)Microwave the tacos for 30 sec just to make it crisp.
4)Fill the prepared mixture,top it with Tbspn of guacamole and grate some cheese or paneer.
5)Enjoy these delicious tacos :-).

Make these with some soup for a delicious unique meal .

Check out the restaurant style tomato soup recipe -click here

Make these when kids come back from school and enjoy these as snack or make it for your healthy breakfast! avacados,beans,vegetables...super nutritious!An energetic day ahead for sure:)

Sending it to Healthy Breakfast event at nandoo's Kitchen

Channa Masala(Chole Masala) with rich gravy

Channa masala/Chole is very popular among Indian vegetarian dishes.Basically from Northern part of India and has gained its popularity all over.

Chole masala is chickpeas( also called garbanzo) curry cooked with tomato,onion,spices and simmered to get a perfect tasty side dish.

Chickpeas has a good amount of protein and hence good for everybody-kids,pregnants and all of us.

Goes well with poori,roti or even tastes great with rice .

I always like my side dish if it has rich gravy .So common lets make it for dinner tonight!A tasty warm chickpeas curry with a rich gravy...hmm yummm!

 

Gravy
2 Big Onions
3 Tomatoes
2 inch cinnamon
3 cloves
2 clove star anise
1 Tbspn Cashew
1/2 tspn poppy seeds
1 tspn sesame seeds(optional)
1/2 inch ginger
2 cloves garlic
1 Tbspn oil.

1)Heat oil in a non stick pan,add clove,cinnamon,star anise.Immediately add  roughly chopped onion.Fry for 2-3 min.Now add  roughly chopped tomatoes and fry till its done.Don't overcook.Keep stirring and add few drops of oil if required.

2)Lets grind the mixture with cashews,sesame seeds,poppyseeds,ginger,garlic
 to a very very smooth paste.You can add 2 Tbspn water to grind.

Chole Masala
11/2 cup chickpeas soaked in water overnight
1 small onion(finely chopped)
1 tomato(finely chopped)
1 bay leaf
2 Tbspn oil
2 pinch turmeric
1 Tbspn chole masala
1/2 tspn chilly powder
1 Tbspn kasuri methi(dry fenugreek leaves)
1 Tbspn milk(optional)

1)Pressure cook soaked chickpeas till completely cooked and very soft.
2)Heat oil in a pan,add bay leaf,onion,turmeric.After 2 min add tomato and cook it.
3)Add the prepared gravy+chole masala,chilly powder+kasuri methi.Bring it to boil.
4)Add boiled chickpeas along with water,adjust the water if u are not using that water.
5)Keep in medium-low and cook for 20 min.
6)Add 1 Tbspn milk cook for 2 more min.

Serving Tip:Serve warm with rice and cucumber,onion,tomato salad.

 Note:If u don't have chole masala.You can substitute with garam masala and pav bhaji masala or just garam masala.You can increase the quantity to make it more spicy!