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.