Rasam powder

Ingredients:

• Coriander seeds- 600gms
• Toor dal - 200gms
• Peppercorns - 200gms
• Gram dal - 100gms
• Cumin - 100gms
• Turmeric (Virali) - 6 pieces (or less )
• Red chillies - 600gms
• Dried curry leaves - 2 tsps
• Asafoetida - 1 tsp

Preparation:

• Dry roast all the above ingredients.
• Grind it into fine powder.
• Add 2 tsp of this for making rasam.

Onion rice

This is a recipe i do when i have left out rice and have less time to prepare a dish.This is easy and comes out very tasty.

Ingredients:

• Boiled rice - 2 cups
• Onion chopped - 1 cup
• Bay leaves - 2
• Cardamom - 1
• Cloves - 2
• Cumin seeds
• Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
• Chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Salt
• Butter - 2 tsps

Preparation:

• In a deep pan heat butter and add cloves.cardamom,bay leaves and cumin seeds and saute until the aroma comes.
• Add onion to it and saute it until golden brown.
• Add garam masala and chili powder and salt to it.
• Add rice to it and mix well.
• Turn off.
• Serve hot with brinjal fry or kuruma..

Pineapple rasam

Ingredients:

• Pineapple - 1 large slice(finely diced)
• Tomato - 1 large finely diced
• Tamarind - half size of a lemon(make tamarind juice out of it)
• Rasam powder -2 tsp
• Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
• Toor dal - 3 tbsp
• Asafoetida - 2 pinches
• Cilantro - few sprigs
• Salt to taste
• Oil
• Mustard- 1 tsp
• Cumin - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 3-4
• Urad dal - 1 tsp

Preparation:

• Pressure cook toor dal and mash it .
• In a deep pan,add tamarind juice,salt,asafoetida, rasam powder,a cup of water and allow it start boiling .
• Add diced tomato ,pepper powder and pineapple to it and allow it to cook.
• Add toor dal and cilantro to it and wait until it starts foaming.
• Turn of the heat and remove .
• In a kadai,heat oil and add mustard,urad dal,curry leaves,cumin seeds and season it.
• Add it to the rasam.
• Add few cilantro leaves to it to garish and keep it covered until serving to maintain the aroma.
• Serve hot with rice and potato roast.

Rasgulla

Ingredients:

• Milk - 4 1/2 cups
• Lemon juice -2 tbsp
• Water - 4 1/2 cups
• Sugar - 1 1/2 cups

Preparation:

• Bring milk to boil and add the lemon juice diluted with 1 tbsp water into it little by little stirring continuously.
• Wait for the cheese to separate from the milk.
• Drain it through the muslin cloth and show it under cold water to remove the taste of lemon juice from it .
• Then bundle it up and squeeze the water out it until no water is left in it.
• In the meanwhile,add the water and sugar in a pressure cooker and boil it uncovered.
• To check if the cheese is just right, rub a little on the palm and form a ball out of it.
• It comes out perfect,then the cheese is in right consistency.
• Split it into equal parts of small balls (they double in size after cooked).
• Make sure you press it hard while rolling it so that it doesn't break while cooking.
• Add these balls to the cooker and close it with the lid and add weight .
• Wait for the pressure to form and then allow it to cook on medium flame for 7-8 mins and turn off.
• Once the pressure is released, transform it to a container (take care not to break it).
• Refrigerate and serve cold.
• Add a little shaved pistachios on it. Enjoy !!!

Chocolate frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup Cocoa powder(do not add more as it will make it a little bitter)
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

• Melt butter.
• Stir in cocoa.
• Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
• Add small amount additional milk, if required.
• Stir in vanilla.
• About 2 cups frosting is ready.

Chocolate cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Preparation:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
• Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
• Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes.
• Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).
• Pour batter into prepared pans.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks.
• Cool completely.
• Frost with CHOCOLATE FROSTING (recipe given above).
• Serve with whipped cream ,wafers and vanilla ice cream.

Pitlai kuzhambu

Ingredients:

• Tamarind - lemon size
• Salt
• Coconut oil - 1 tsp
• Mustard -1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida - 2 pinches
• Curry leaves -3-4
• Brinjal(small) -2 , cut lengthwise
• Drumstick -2
• Toor dal - 25 gms

For frying:

• Coconut - 1/2 grated
• Cilantro leaves - 3 tsps
• Coriander seeds - 3 tsp
• Gram dal -1 tsp
• Fenugreek - 1/2 tsp
• Rice - 1/2 tsp
• Peppercorns -4-5
• Red chillies- 6-7

Preparation:

• Fry all the ingredients listed above.
• Grind it nicely.
• In a deep pan,add coconut oil,mustard seeds,curry leaves, asafoetida and season it.
• Then add brinjal to it and saute until tender.
• Now add tamarind juice to it .
• Then add the ground powder.
• Add salt,drumsticks to it and allow it to cook.
• In the meanwhile pressure cook toor dal and add to the pan and mix well.
• Allow the kulambu to become a little thick and turn of the heat.
• Serve hot with rice.

Chicken Chettinad

Ingredients:

Marination:

• Boneless skinless chicken-1 kg cut into small pieces
• Ginger paste -2 tsps
• Garlic paste - 2 tsps
• Curd - 6 tbsp
• Pepper powder 2 tsps
• Cumin powder 1 tsp
• Fennel seed powder 2 tsps
• Turmeric powder 1tsp
• Coriander powder 1 tsp
• Chili powder 1 tsp
• Lime juice - optional

Other Ingredients:

• Ginger paste - 2 tsp
• Garlic paste -2 tsp
• Red chilies - 4
• Onion - 3 large chopped
• Tomatoes -4 large
• Cinnamon stick -1 broken
• Cloves - 2-3
• Bay Leaves - 2
• Coriander leaves
• Oil
• Salt
  

Preparation:

• Marinate the chicken pieces with all the ingredients under marination and keep aside for 1 hour.
• In a deep pan heat oil and add cloves,bay leaves,Cinnamon and saute.
• Add onion,red chillies and saute until golden brown .
• Add ginger and garlic paste to it.
• After a minute add dices tomatoes and fry until the oil floats on the top .
• Add the marinated chicken with contents and salt and coriander leaves.
• Cover with a lid and cook under medium heat.
• Cook for a few minutes until chicken is done and the gravy is thick.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and little butter on the top.
• Serve hot with rotis,dosa or rice.

Banana Split - Semi Homemade

This is the easiest of any recipe and makes a gud dessert when u don't have time to make one for parties.This is also easy for bachelors who do not cook.

Ingredients:

• French Vanilla Ice cream- 2 scoops
• Banana -1
• Vanilla wafers-optional-1
• Hershey's chocolate syrup -2 tsps
• Pistachios-4

Preparation:

• In a bowl,add the ice cream and banana pieces(split into two or three)
• Now drizzle the chocolate syrup on it.
• Top it with pistachios and wafer pieces.
• Serve cold.

Onion Rings

Ingredients:

• Large Yellow Onion -1
• Pancake mix - 3 tbsps (i.e) all purpose flour+baking soda+ soy flour (optional)
• Corn Flour -2 tbsps
• Red chilli powder - 2 tsps
• Salt - 1 tsp
• Oil - 1 cup for frying

Preparation:

• Cut the onions such that the layers in the onion form a concentric circular shape.
• Now pull out each rings from the sliced onion.
• Make a paste out of the pancake mix,corn flour,red chilli powder,salt and a little water to form a slightly thick batter.
• Heat oil in a deep pan .
• Dip the onion rings into the batter and fry them until golden brown and crisp.
• Serve hot with ketchup.

Boondhi Laddu

Ingredients:

• Besan (gram flour) - 1 cup
• Sugar - 2 cups
• Water -1 cups
• Oil for frying - 1 1/2 cups
• Rice flour - 2 tsps
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
• Food colors - yellow, red,green (optional)
• Cashews broken -3 tsps
• Raisin - 2 tsps

Preparation:

• In a bowl, mix besan, rice flour,baking powder and add water little by little to make a thick batter.
• Divide it into 3 portions and add the three colors to one portion each.
• If you don't like color, skip step 2.
• Now heat oil in a deep pan .
• Pour the batter little by little through the vessel or broad spoon with holes and remove them before they turn brown.
• Collect all the boondhi by using the batter with three colors.
• In the meanwhile, heat water and sugar to form a syrup of just before thread like consistency.
• Now add powdered cardamom and turn of the heat.
• Add the boondhi to it and mix well.
• Now heat ghee in a pan and fry cashews and raisins in it and add to the mixture once done.
• Mix all the ingredients well.
• Allow the mix to cool a little but must be warm so that you can make small balls out of it.
• Otherwise the bondhi will not stick to each other properly.
• Serve with murukku,thattai and enjoy!!

Wish you a very

Happy Diwali !!!

Murukku

It is Diwali time and time to celebrate with lamps,sweets and savouries.This Diwali I made Thattai ,cookies,kadalai mittai and Ladoo.Today I made murukku.This is one of my favourite snack.Thought of sharing this...

Ingredients:

• Rice flour - 2 cups
• Black gram (urad) flour-3/4 cups
• Gram flour (kadalai mavu)- 1 tbsp - optional
• Butter - 3 tbsp
• Sesame seeds - 2 tsps
• Cumin seeds - 2 tsps
• Salt
• Chilli powder - 3 tsps
• Ajwain seeds - 1 tsp
• Oil for frying

Preparation:

• Dry roast the urad flour in a pan.(if you don't have urad flour,dry roast urad dal and grind it to a fine powder)
• Now cool it and add to a bowl.
• Add all the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix.
• Soften the butter and add to the bowl and mix.
• Add water little by little and fold the flour to make it soft.
• Heat oil in a fry pan.
• Take the murukku maker, fill it with the dough and pipe out the patterns(i have used the star pattern), forming circles on a greased plate or plastic sheet.
• Transfer the murukku from the plate to the hot oil.
• Fry until light golden brown color.
• Remove the murukku from oil and place on a paper towel to drain the surplus oil.
• Allow them to cool and store them in a tight container.

Chocolate chip cookie

Ingredients:

• All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups
• Hersheys Chocolate chips (or broken chocolate chips)
• Butter(unsalted) - 1 stick (8 tbsp)
• Eggs - 2
• Baking powder-1 tbs
• Salt - 2 pinches
• White sugar - 3/4 cups
• Brown sugar - 3/4 cups
• Vanilla extract - 2 tsp
• Almonds - 10

Preparation:

• In a blender, add almond and give chop on low.
• Add the butter and beat it.
• Then add both the sugars and blend it .
• Add the eggs one by one slowly and keep blending.
• Finally add the vanilla extract, and keep blending for 2 mins so that the mixture becomes soft and fluffy.
• Now in a bowl shift the flour and baking powder .
• Add the salt to it and mix well.
• Now add the blender mix to it and mix well until no air bubbles in it.
• At last add the chocolate chips to it.
• Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and keep it in the freezer for 30 mins.
• Preheat the oven to 350 C .
• Make small bowls out of the cookie mix and flatten it and place on cookie sheet and bake them for 12-15 mins.
• Store in a airtight container.
• Serve it with milk.

Vanilla Teatime Cake

Ingredients:

• All purpose flour -1 cup
• Butter (softened) - 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks)
• Sugar - 1 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• Warm Milk - 4 tsp
• Eggs - 2
• Baking powder - 1tsp

Preparation:

• Sieve the flour along with the baking powder into a bowl.
• In a blender,blend the softened butter and sugar.
• Then add the eggs one by one,blending in between.
• Add the vanilla extract.
• Mix then until they become fluffy.
• Add the mixture to the flour little by little and mix.
• Add the warm milk to it and mix well until the air bubbles go.
• Preheat the oven to 350 C .
• Coat the pan with butter and then dust some flour on it and remove the excess.
• Pour the mixture into it.
• Heat it in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
• Turn off ,cool it and cut it into pieces.
• This is very soft for a day or two but then eventually becomes like bread in consistency.
• You could serve it during tea time or during breakfast with milk and maple syrup on it.

Egg puffs

Ingredients:

• Pastry sheet
• Eggs -2
• Onion -1 large
• Oil - 2 tsps
• Salt
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Coriander powder -2 tsps
• Ginger paste 1 tsp
• Green chillies chopped-3
• Chilli powder 2 tsps
• Curry leaves-4-5

Preparation:

• Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds,curry leaves and green chillies.
• Add ginger paste and onion to it and saute for 2-3 mins.
• Add chilli powder,coriander powder,salt to it and mix well and turn of heat.
• Let it cool
• In the mean while boil the eggs and cut into halves lengthwise.
• Roll out the pastry sheets on a flour dusted surface and cut them into 3" by 5 " pieces.
• Now spread some onion fry on one half of each pastry piece and place one piece of egg with yellow side down in each.
• Fold the other end of the sheet and paste the edges with water and press with fork.
• The stuffing should be entirely closed inside the pastry pieces.
• Now heat the oven to 300 F
• Place the puffs on cookie tray and bake until the puff turns gold color and becomes fluffy.
• Serve hot with ketchup.

Thai Garlic and Basil Chicken

When you think of cooking with basil, Italian dishes like pasta or pesto sauce, would probably come to our mind first.But this recipe uses basil in a Thai style dish.If you like spicy food ,add a teaspoon of dices chili pepper or red pepper flakes, or a little chili-garlic paste when sauteing the chicken.This is a high protein,low fat dish and is only 200 calories per serving.I love Thai food and I hope you like it too.

Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil - 2 tbsp
• Minced garlic - 2 tbsp
• Onion-1 large cut into 1" strips
• Red bell pepper - cut into 1 " pieces
• Chicken - 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast-cut into 1" chunks
• Soy sauce - 7 tbsp
• Sugar -1 tbsp
• Fresh basil leaves,roughly chopped-1 to 1 1/2 cups

Preparation:

Heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat.

Add garlic,onion and pepper and toss for 2 mins

Add chicken pieces and saute,stirring frequently until it starts to brown on all sides but is not fully cooked , for about 3-5 mins.

Add soy sauce (use lower salt soy sauce if possible) and sugar.

Cook uncovered ,tossing occasionally,until chicken is just cooked through about 2-3 mins

Add basil and toss well and remove chicken from heat .

Cover until ready to serve to meld the flavors

Chilli Parotta - South Indian Style

Ingredients:

• Parotta-4 small sized
• Tomato paste of 1 large tomato
• Onion-1 large
• Ginger paste - 1 tbsp
• Mustard
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad dal -1 tsp
• Curry leaves-5-6 leaves
• Coriander leaves
• Chili powder - 1 tsps
• Coriander powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
• Green chillis -3-4
• Oil
• Salt
  

Preparation:

• Make small pieces out of the parottas which are ready to eat.If you have the frozen ones, heat them in a pan and when ready to eat,make them into small pieces.
• Heat 3-4 tsp of oil in a wok and fry the parotta pieces in it.once fried.remove them and keep it aside.
• Heat little oil in a pan ,season mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal and curry leaves .
• Add ginger paste ,coriander seeds , green chillies and onion in it and fry them until golden brown.
• Take half portion of this and grind it in the mixer and add it back to the pan.
• Now add the tomato paste to it and saute it until the raw smell of tomato is gone.
• Add chilli powder, coriander powder, salt to it and mix.(add food color,preferably red,to get the color like in hotels)
• Add parotta pieces and saute until all the pieces are coated with the spices.
• Remove from heat and garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with raitha.
• Enjoy!!!

Adai

Ingredients:

• Toor Dal - 1/2 cup
• Chana Dal - 1/2 cup
• Urad Dal - 1/4 cup
• Rice - 1 cup
• Red Chilies - 7
• Cumin - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida -1/4 tsp
• Grated coconut - 1 tbsp
• Red Pearl Onions(small) - 15
• Plantain flowers (optional)
• Drumstick leaves (optional)
• Curry Leaves
• Cilantro
• Ginger- finely chopped-1/4 inch (optional)
• Oil - for making dosa
• salt

Preparation:

• Soak Rice,Toor Dal, Chana Dal and urad Dal for 2 hours.
• Add 1/2 tsp salt,cumin seeds , red chillies, asafoetida ,curry leaves , cilantro and grind it coarsely.
• Add grated coconut,ginger , finely chopped onions, chopped drumstick leaves or chopped plantain flower to the flour.
• Heat the tawa and pour little batter and spread it like dosa and pour little oil around it and once cooked on one side, turn it upside down.
• Once done,serve it hot with avial or chutney and little butter on the top.
• You could also use jaggery along with the chutney.

Andhra Paruppu podi

Ingredients:

• Pottu kadali - 1/2 kg
• Red chillies-50 gms
• Garlic - 10 gms (donot remove the skin)
• Salt

Preparation:

• Roast all the above except salt in a pan without oil.
• Wait until it is golden brown.
• Remove from heat and cool it.
• Grind it with salt.
• Sieve it if you would like a fine powder.
• Serve with rice by adding ghee to the powder.

Malli (Cilantro) Masala

Ingredients:

• Cilantro - 2 bunch
• Onion- 2 chopped
• Garlic- 6 cloves
• Sesame oil-4tsp
• Salt
• Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida - little
• Tamarind-size of a small ball (soak and make a thick juice out of it)

For frying:

• Coriander seeds-1 tsp
• Red chillies-5
• Cumin seeds - 1/s tsp
• Gram dal - 2 tsp

Preparation:

• Fry the ingredients above without oil in a hot pan and grind it into a coarse powder.
• Clean and chop the cilantro.
• Heat the oil in a pan and add mustard.
• Once it starts to splutter, add onion and garlic and saute until golden brown.
• Now add salt and turmeric powder and saute.
• Add the cilantro, asafoetida and the tamarind water and stir for 2-3 minutes.
• Then add the ground powder and cook for 3-4 mins and remove from heat.
• Serve with hot rotis or with rice.

Peach Oats Crisp

This is a recipe I found on the food network and tried it at home and it turned out very good..This is a healthy snack too.

Ingredients:

Peaches, peeled and sliced -6 cups

Lemon juice - 1 tbsp

Honey -1/4 cup

All-purpose flour 1 cup

Rolled oats -1 cup

Brown sugar 1/3 cup

Cinnamon 1/2 tsp

Nutmeg 1/4 tsp

Soft butter (you could use the low fat ones) 1/2 cup

Preparation:

Place peaches in a 9 inch square pan.

Sprinkle with lemon juice and then drizzle with honey.

In medium bowl, mix together remaining ingredients .

Sprinkle mixture evenly over peaches.

Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Cut it into rectangles and serve.

Note: The peach can be a little sticky at the bottom.So when you take it out be a little carefull not to break the pieces.

Methi Paratha

Methi (Fenugreek) is mainly used as digestive aid. It is ideal for treating sinus, lung congestion, reduces inflammation and fights infection. Fenugreek seed is widely used by nursing mothers.

In india, methi is mixed with curd and applied on hair as a conditioner.Also methi seeds are soaked in water overnight,ground into a paste and applied on hair for conditioning and to have a cooling effect on body.

Ingredients:

• Methi (green fenugreek) - 1 bunch
• Wheat flour -2 cups
• Besan - 1/2 cup
• Green chillies -5 chopped
• Turmeric Powder-1/2 tsp
• Chilli powder- 1/2 tsp
• Ginger -1/2 inch cut into small pieces
• Cumin seeds -1 tsp
• Ajwain - 1/4 tsp (optional)
• Oil
• Salt
• Curd-1 tbsp
• Water

Preparation:

• Separate Methi leaves from stem.
• Wash the Methi leaves and chop finely.
• Add all the other ingredients to the bowl.
• Knead to a smooth dough.
• Make lemon sized balls out of it .
• Flatten the ball and roll it out as any other paratha.
• Make parathas of medium thickness .
• Heat the tawa and fry the paratha on both sides using ghee.
• Serve with curd and pickles

Peas Masala

Ingredients:

• Green Peas - 1 cup
• Tomato (crushed) - 3/4 cup
• Onion -1
• Mustard-1tsp
• Ginger paste -1 tbsp
• Garlic paste -1 tbsp
• Coriander powder-1 tsp
• Chilli powder-1 tsp
• Salt
• Oil
• Amchur powder 1/2 tsp
• Garam masala -1/2 tsp
• Cilantro Leaves-hand full

Preparation:

• Soak Peas in water for about 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a pan and add mustard to it.
• Once it starts to splutter,add chopped onion,Ginger,garlic paste and saute.
• Add coriander powder,chilli powder,garam masala and salt to it and saute for another 2 mins.
• Now add crushed tomato to it and heat for 3-4 mins.
• Now add the peas to it and add a cup of water and amchur powder to it and cook until the peas are cooked.
• Once cooked,sprinkle cilantro on it and serve hot with roti or naan.

Thattai

Ingredients:

• Rice-4 cups
• Urad dal-1 cup
• Butter
• Bengal gram- 1/2 cup
• Garlic-2 cloves minced
• Red chillies(crushed) -2 tsp
• Chilli powder-1 1/2 tsp
• Salt
• Sesame seeds-1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida
• Oil

Preparation:

• Wash,clean and dry the rice well.
• Fry the urad dal in a pan .
• Powder both the rice and urad dal.
• Soak the gram in water for 1 hr.
• Make a dough out of rice flour, urad dal flour, soaked gram, asafoetida powder, crushed chillies, minced garlic,chilli powder, sesame seeds, salt and butter with very little water.
• Take small amount of dough and press it flat and round.
• Fry them in hot oil .
• Store it in air-tight container.

Ash gourd (white pumpkin) Kootu

Ingredients:

• Ash gourd - 1/2 kg
• Chana dal -1 tbsp
• Coconut grated - 1tbsp
• Mustard -1 tsp
• Curry leaves-4-5
• Red chillies-3
• Urad dal-1 tsp
• Oil
• Salt

Preparation:

• Cut the ash gourd into small cubes.
• Cook it in microwave for 3 mins with a little water.
• In a pan,heat a little oil and season mustard, urad dal,chana dal,red chillies, and curry leaves and add the cooked ash gourd.
• Saute and add salt .
• Add coconut on it and turn off the heat.
• Serve with rice

Technorati Profile

Kovakkai (ivy gourd) poriyal

Ingredients:

• Kovakkai (ivy gourd) - 1/4 kg
• Onion - 1
• Peanuts - 10
• Chana dal - 1 tsp
• Mustard - 1 tsp
• Urad dal - 1 tsp
• Red chilli - 2
• Oil
• Salt
• Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
• Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Preparation:

• Cut each Kovakkai into 4 pieces lengthwise.
• Cook it in microwave for 6-8 mins without water.
• In a pan,heat oil and season mustard, urad dal, chana dal, peanuts and red chillies.
• Once they are seasoned add the chopped onion to it and saute until it turns transparent.
• Add the cut Kovakkai and saute.
• Add the chilli powder,salt ,coriander powder and turmeric powder into it and keep sauteing it.
• Turn off the heat when it turns golden brown.
• Serve with rice.

Milagu / Pepper Curry

Ingredients:

• Lamb leg steaks- 1/4 Kg cut into small pieces.
• Pepper powder(freshly ground) - 1 1/4 tsp
• Ginger paste-1 tsp
• Chilli powder-1 tsp
• Onion-1 chopped
• Tomato-1 diced
• Garam masala -1/2 tsp
• Fennel seeds-1/4 tsp
• Cloves-3
• Oil
• Water
• Salt

Preparation:

• Cook the lamb pieces in a pressure cooker.(3 whistles)
• Heat oil in a deep pan and saute onion,fennel seeds and cloves in it.
• Once it turns golden brown,add ginger paste,pepper powder,chilli powder,garam masala powder to it and saute for 1 min.
• Add the diced tomato to it and saute again.
• Now add salt and also the cooked lamb in to it.
• Add a little water from the pressure cooker (used for cooking the meat) to this and turn the heat to medium.
• Allow it to cook until it forms a thick mixture.
• Take care not to break the pieces.
• Serve with rice.

Oinion Theeyal

Ingredients

• Onions-1 chopped
• Tamarind paste -1 1/2 tbsp
• Grated coconut 1/2 cup
• Red chillies -8
• Coriander seeds 1 1/2 tbsp
• Cumin seeds -1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds -1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves -5
• Black peppercorns -1 tsp
• Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
• Sugar -1/4 tsp
• Asafoetida
• Water
• Oil
• Salt

Preparation :

• Heat oil in a small pan and saute coconut till it is light brown.
• Add the 6 red chillies, coriander seeds, pepper ,cumin seeds and fry.
• Add the turmeric powder to the above.
• Turn of the heat and cool it and grind it.
• Heat oil in a deep pan and add the mustard seeds, curry leaves and the remaining red chillies. When it starts to splutter, add asafoetida and onions.
• Saute for 5 minutes .
• Now add the ground powder to the above and saute.
• Add water, tamarind extract, salt and sugar to it and keep it on medium heat (the theeyal should not be too watery).
• Serve hot with rice.

Valaikai puttu / Raw banana puttu

Ingredients:

• Raw Banana-1
• Coconut grated-2 tsp
• Oil
• Salt
• Red chillies-2
• Mustard-1/2tsp
• Cumin Seeds-1/2 tsp
• Split urad dal -1/2 tsp
• Curry Leaves-5
• Water

Preparation:

• Cut the Banana into two halves .
• Take water in a microwave bowl and drop the banana pieces in it and cook for 4 minutes.
• Now allow it to cool and just slit the banana peel open and remove it.
• Now grate the cooked banana .
• In a fry pan ,heat oil and add mustard,split Urad Dal,curry leaves and once it starts spluttering add the red chillies and fry it.
• Now turn the heat to low and add the grated banana and salt to it and just mix it.(since the banana is already cooked,do not keep it on heat for a long time).
• Turn off the heat.
• Sprinkle grated coconut on the top to finish it.
• Serve with rice as a side dish.

Sweet potato doughnut

I went to a friend's house for a get-together and found this recipe interesting.I took the preparation details from her and tried it in my own style with some additions.My family liked it a lot.Hope you like it too.

Ingredients:

• All purpose flour-2 1/2 cups


• Sweet potato (cooked and mashed)-1 cup


• Egg-1


• Baking soda-1 tsp


• Salt-1/4 tsp


• Sugar-1 tbsp


• Sour cream-1 tbsp


• Milk-1 tbsp


• Cinnamon powder - 1/4 tsp

For the syrup:

• Maple syrup -2 tsp


• Sugar-1 tbsp


• Milk-3 tbsp

Preparation:

• Mix the sweet potato,all purpose flour,sugar,egg,salt,baking powder,sour cream ,milk and Cinnamon in a bowl.Make sure not to form lumps in the dough.


• Knead it until soft.


• Roll the dough on a clean sheet with some flour sprinkled.


• Make sure not to roll it thin.


• Cut them in the round shape and make a whole in the center(just like a regular doughnut)


• Fry them in hot oil.


• Make a syrup with sugar,milk,maple syrup and dip the doughnuts in the syrup and serve.

Chicken Sukha

Ingredients:

• Chicken - 1/2 kg
• Onion-2
• Dried Red chilli -4
• Ginger paste- 1 tsp
• Garlic paste- 1 tsp
• Coconut grated-1/4 cup
• Turmeric powder -1/2 tsp
• Garam masala-1 tsp
• Cloves-3
• Bay leaves-2
• Curd-1/2 cup
• Cardamom-2
• Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp
• Coriander seeds 1/2 tsp
• Peppercorns -1/2 tsp
• Salt
• Oil

Preparation:

• Marinate the chicken pieces with little salt and turmeric for 30 mins.
• Chop the onions.Fry it till golden brown in a pan with oil.
• Add cumin seeds,cloves,red chillies,coriander seeds,cardamom,peppercorns to it and saute.
• Also add garlic and ginger paste to it.
• Add turmeric powder to it and take off the heat.
• Grind the above along with grated coconut into a thick paste.
• In a deep fry pan,take a teaspoon of coconut oil and bay leaves and heat it.
• Now add the ground paste to it and add the curd in it.
• Take the marinated chicken and slowly drop it into the pan.
• Allow it to cook with the ground paste in the pan.
• The heat should be set on medium so that the spices gets mixed with the chicken.
• Cook until the paste becomes dry and gets coated on the chicken.
• Optional:sprinkle some lime juice on it and garnish with coriander leaves and onion.
• Serve hot.

Aloo chat

Ingredients:

• Potato-3
• Garlic paste 1/4 tsp
• Green chilli paste -1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
• Amchoor powder-1/2 tsp
• Chat masala-1/2 tsp
• Lemon juice-3/4 tsp
• Cumin powder-3/4 tsp
• Oil
• Salt

Preparation:

• Cut potato into cubes and boil until cooked but make sure it doesn't get overcooked.
• Take oil in a pan ,heat it ,add cumin seeds to it and add green chilli paste , garlic paste
• Saute for 2 mins.
• Now add Cumin powder and saute.
• Add the boiled potatoes,chat masala, amchoor powder and lemon juice to it and mix them well for 3 mins.
• Add salt and take it off the heat.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.
• Optional: substitute lemon juice with curd or tamarind chutney .

Rajma Curry

Ingredients

• Rajma 1 cup
• Onion Chopped 2
• Tomatoes 3
• Garam Masala 1 tsp
• Coriander powder 1/2 tsp
• Chilli powder 1 1/2 tsp
• Cloves 2-3
• Giner garlic paste - 1tsp
• Green Chillies 3-sliced vertically
• Few Curry Leaves
• Oil
• Salt

Preparation

• Cook Rajma in a pressure cooker.
• In a pan,heat oil and add the green chillies ,cloves and curry leaves.
• Add oinion and saute until the oinion turns golden brown.
• Add garlic ginger paste to it and heat for 1 min.
• Add diced tomatoes to it and saute until it leaves oil.
• Now,add the coriander powder, garam masala ,chilli powder and salt to it.
• Drain the Rajma and mix it in the pan.
• Pour 1/2 cup water to the pan and allow it to boil.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.

Ulundu kali

This is very good for health as it cools the body and is good for people with back pain.
This recipe mainly depends on the ratio in which we use the ingredients..So I have mentioned the quantity in parts.

Ingredients:

• Black gram- 4 parts (split with skin)
• Oil - 2tbsp
• Coconut milk- 3 parts
• Rice -2 part
• Jaggery or sugar -4 parts

Prepartion:

• Soak the black gram (with skin) and rice for 1 hour.
• Drain and grind them .
• Take coconut milk to a deep pan and add sugar/jaggery to it and boil for 5 mins.
• Now add the ground paste slowly to the pan so that lumps do not form.
• Once the mix is cooked add oil and mix it until the Kali doesn't stick to the pan.
• Make small balls out of it and serve.
• Optional:You could also add cardamom to it .

Vegetable kuruma

Ingredients:

• Peas
• Carrot
• Potato
• Onion-chopped-1
• Chilli powder
• Coriander powder
• Garam masala
• Cloves
• Turmeric
• Salt
• Oil
• Mustard
• Red chillies-2
• Curry leaves
• Water-1 1/2 cup

For the mix: Grind the ingredients listed below

• Coconut-1/4 cup
• Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Black Pepper - 1/4 tsp
• Kasakasa - 1 tsp
• Sombu(Fennel) - 1tsp
• Garlic - 1 clove
• Ginger - equivalent to garlic

Preparation:

• In a deep pan,heat oil and season,mustard,curry leaves,cloves and red chillies.
• Add onion and saute until golden brown.
• Add tomato and saute for few mins.
• Now add chilli powder,coriander powder,garam masala ,turmeric powder and mix.
• Add the ground mixture to the pan and saute for 2 mins until the oil starts to separate
• Now add all these to a cooker and add a cup and a half , of water.
• Add the cut vegetables and salt to it and cook for 5 mins.
• Serve hot with rotis, dosa, Idli.