Wednesday, April 11, 2007

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.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

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 .

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

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.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

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 .

Thursday, March 29, 2007

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.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Inji Pachadi


Ingredients:
  • Ginger -1 medium size
  • Red chillies-3-4
  • Coriander seeds 1tsp
  • Tamarind Paste 1 tsp
  • Cococnut (grated)- 2 tsp
  • Salt
  • Mustard
  • Curry leaves
  • Cumin seeds
  • Oil-1 tsp
Preparation:
  • Cut Ginger into small pieces and roast it in little oil.
  • Add red chillies,coriander seeds and grated coconut to it and saute.
  • Turn off the heat.
  • Grind them in the mixer and add tamarind paste and little water to it to form into a paste.
  • Now heat little oil in a pan and season with mustard ,cumins seeds and curry leaves.
  • Add the ground paste to it and saute for 2 mins and add salt.
  • Serve with rice and dosa.
  • This is ver good for digestion .

Sodhi kulambu


This is another favourite of mine and a popular recipe from Tirunelveli.This is also very good for health as it cools the body and increases digestion.

Ingredients:
  • Coconut milk - 400 ml
  • Coconut grated-2 tbsp
  • Moong dal - 100 gm
  • Coconut oil- 1/2 tsp
  • Ginger paste - 2 tsp
  • Carrot
  • Potato
  • Salt
  • Drumstick
  • Lemon juice-1tsp
  • Green chillies-2-3 cut lenghtwise
  • Cumin Powder-1/2 tsp
Preparation:
  • Heat the pan and saute chillies in coconut oil .
  • Add ginger paste to it.
  • Dilute half of the coconut milk with 1 cup of water and add it to the pan on medium heat.
  • Cook the moong dal and add to the pan.
  • Add all the vegetables(cut into pieces),cumin powder and grated coconut to the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes ,until the vegetables are boiled.
  • Bring the heat to low and add the other half of coconut milk(concentrated) and stir .
  • Turn off the heat and add salt and lemon juice.
  • Serve with rice and inji pachadi (excellent combination with sodhi)

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Kootanchoru




This recipe might seem like sambhar rice,but has a different taste.It is a special from Tirunelveli and my favourite as I'm also from Tirunelveli.

Ingredients:

  • Toor dal-100 gms
  • Rice-2 cups
  • Salt
  • Turmeric
  • Asafoetida
  • Tamarind-small lemon size
  • Coconut 1/4 cup (grated)
  • Cumin seeds-1 tsp
  • Red chillies 10
  • Red onion 6
  • Raw Mango-sliced
  • Peas
  • Spinach
  • Carrot
  • Beans
  • Brinjal (egg plant)
  • Potatoes
  • Drumstick - 1 cut
  • Plantain(vazhaikkai) -1
  • Water(the usual amount you use to cook rice+1 cup for the vegetables)

Preparation:


  • Add grated coconut,cumin seeds,red chillies,red onions to the mixer and make it into a paste.
  • Soak tamarind in water and make a paste out of it.
  • Now add rice,toor dal,vegetables(cut),turmeric powder,salt,asafoetida,water and the coconut paste into the cooker and add the tamarind paste to it.
  • Close the lid and cook for 10 mins
  • The rice should not be separate in kootanchoru.
  • Serve it with vadagam and pickles.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Tomato Pasta


Ingredients:


  • Elbow Macaroni(whole wheat-optional)
  • Milk-1/2 cup
  • Garlic paste- 1/2 tsp
  • Tomato-2 diced
  • Peas
  • Bell pepper cut
  • Carrot
  • Broccoli florets
  • Olive oil- 2 tsp
  • Cheese
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Preparation:

  • Boil water with a pinch of salt and add the elbow macaroni to it .
  • Cook uncovered,stirring occasionally until tender.
  • Remove from heat and drain.
  • Boil the vegetables.
  • In the meanwhile,heat the oil in pan and add garlic and bell pepper .Saute for 3-5 mins.
  • Add the tomato to it and saute.Add the vegetables.
  • Now add the milk and boil.
  • Add the pasta and cheese to it and mix and heat for 2-3 more mins .
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper and garnish with a little grated cheese and tomato.
  • Serve hot.


Note: Weight watchers!Use a whole wheat pasta for a healthy food.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Chinese Fried Rice


Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Rice
  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 100 gms Beans -Chopped
  • 2 Carrots - Chopped
  • 1 Onion -chopped
  • 100 gms Cabbage - Chopped
  • Mushroom -4-5 (optional)
  • 2 Spring Onions Finely Chopped
  • 2-3 Green Chilies cut lenghtwise
  • 1 tsp Ginger Chopped
  • 1 tsp Garlic Chopped
  • 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • Salt
  • Pepper

    Preparation:

  • Wash and soak the rice in enough water for 10-15 minutes and drain.

  • Boil water, add rice and little salt.

  • Cook uncovered on low heat till the rice becomes tender.

  • Take care not to overcook the rice.

  • Each grain of rice should be separate.

  • When rice is done, drain and add cold water and drain again using a large sieve and set aside.

  • Heat oil in a large pan and fry all the chopped vegetables.

  • Cook for 3-4 minutes.

  • Take care that the vegetables are crisp.

  • Mix salt and pepper to taste.

  • Add the cooked rice and mix well.

  • Now add the soy sauce to it.

  • Cook for 2-3 minutes.

  • Serve with Gobi Manchurian gravy.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Gobi manchurian


Ingredients

  • 1 cauliflower
  • 1 small bunch spring onoin finely chopped
  • 2 tsp. ginger finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. garlic finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup rice flour
  • 3 tbsp. cornflour
  • 1/4 tsp. red chilli powder
  • 2 red chillies, dry
  • 3 tbsp. oil
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tbsp. milk
Preparation:
Gobi Manchurian gravy:
  • Break the cauliflower into big floretts.
  • Boil the florettes for 3-4 minutes in water with tbsp of milk added.
  • Dry the floretts.
  • Make thin batter out of rice flour and 2 tbsp corn flour, adding 1/4 tsp. each of ginger and garlic and red chilli powder and add salt .
  • Dip the florettes in the batter one by one and deep fry in hot oil. Keep aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan and add remaining ginger, garlic and crushed red chilli and fry for a minute.
  • Add the salt and spring onions.
  • Fry for a minute.
  • Add 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil.
  • Add 1 tbsp. cornflour to 1/4 cup water and dissolve well.
  • Boil till the gravy becomes transparent.
  • Add florettes and soya sauce.
  • Boil for two more minutes and remove.
  • Serve hot with noodles or fried rice.
Dry Manchurian:
  • Omit the gravy in the above recipe.
  • Make florettes as above and instead of adding water as above, add fried florettes, spring onions and soya sauce at this stage.
  • Sprinkle 1 tsp. cornflour on the florettes and stirfry for 2 minutes and serve.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Vegetable biriyani

Ingredients:
  • Rice
  • Onion chopped -1
  • Tomatoes-2
  • Carrot
  • Peas
  • Cauliflower
  • Beans
  • Brinjal(Egg Plant)
  • Potato-1
  • Mushroom (optional)
  • Coconut Milk(optional)
  • Cloves-4
  • Butter -1 tbs

For the ground paste:

  • Red chili -4 ( add 2 more if u need it really spicy hot)
  • Mint Leaves- hand full
  • Coriander/Cilantro -1 bunch
  • Garlic ginger paste - 2 tsp
  • Cumin seeds-1tbsp

Preparation:

  • Soak the rice in water for 5 -7 mins.
  • Cut all the vegetables.
  • Heat oil in a pan and add onion and cloves.
  • Wait till it turns golden brown and add tomato to it and saute.
  • Add the ground paste to it. Heat for another 2 mins and take it off the heat and add to the cooker.
  • Drain the water from the rice.
  • Heat a little butter and add the rice and let it dry completely (this will prevent the rice from sticking to each other when done and gives a good taste)
  • Add the rice and all the vegetables to the cooker
  • Add the usual amount of water that you use to cook rice.(you could replace a little amount of water with coconut milk for better taste)
  • Add 2 tsp of Garam masala powder
  • Cook on medium heat for 10 min
  • Once done ,add a little butter and mix .
  • Garnish with Coriander Leaves.
  • Serve with onion raitha

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Chicken drumstick fry



Ingredients:



  • Chicken drumsticks-4

  • ½ tsp coconut oil

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

  • Little butter

  • Onion-1

  • Green chillies-5

  • Chilli powder-1tsp

  • Coriander powder-1tsp

  • Pepper powder- ½ tsp

  • Turmeric powder- ½ tsp

  • Garam masala- ½ tsp

  • Cloves-3-4

  • Garlic ginger paste-1 tsp

  • Coriander Leaves-for garnish

  • Lemon- ½

Preparation:



  • In a pressure cooker, add chicken drumsticks, little salt, ¼ tsp turmeric powder and ½ tsp coconut oil and cook.

  • Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a fry pan and add chopped onions and finely chopped green chillies to it and fry for 2 mins.

  • Add garlic-ginger paste, garam masala, cloves and fry for few mins.

  • Now remove the chicken from the cooker and add to the fry pan .(save the cooked water in the cooker for making soup or as a substitute for broth)

  • Sprinkle little turmeric power on it and add chilli powder, coriander powder and a little pepper powder to it and fry until the chicken starts taking in the spices( you could prick the chicken pieces with the fork for the spices to get into it)

  • Add a little butter if you wish for added flavor.

  • Remove from heat, add some coriander leaves and squeeze half lemon on it and serve.

Vendaikai Pachadi(Okra/Ladies finger/Bindi)

Ingredients:
  • 1/4 kg vendaikai(Okra)
  • 2 tomatoes smashed
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 1/2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • salt

Seasoning:

  • Oil
  • Mustard
  • Fenugreek


Preparation:

  1. Cut Okra into thin slices
  2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard, fenugreek, chopped onion and season it.
  3. Now add Okra into it and saute it until the slipperiness goes off.
  4. Add the smashed tomatoes,spices and water .
  5. Allow it to cook until the gravy is ready and add salt.
  6. Serve it with hot chapattis,roti,sambar rice,curd rice or you may spread it on a bread slice.