White Pumpkin Raita (Poosanikkai)

Have been attempting to do snack items, rather than a meal item, so it is easier to consume fresh. Farmers market sells really fresh white pumpkins, which I decided to make raita.

• Chop without skin, just like above into tiny peices
• Add oil to tava, then add mustard, asafoetida, one slit green chilli
• Add the chopped pumpkin and little salt and sprinkle little water, close with a lid
• Cook for 5 mins and let it cool
• Then add thick yoghurt and eat like a snack
• Good for weight loss I hear!

Radish + Curry Leaves Rotis

Blogging after ages! Recently got to explore more recipes with curry leaves. I feel rotis/uthappams/chutneys/buttermilk are best ways to consume curry leaves, so we dont throw them away. Here is the recipe..

• Grate 2 long radishes or 3 cups of grated cauliflower 
• Chop 3 handful of curry leaves
• Add oil to tava, then radish, turmeric, curry leaves, salt, little garam masala
• Saute 5 mins, turn off, let it cool down
• Add equal amount of atta, just to coat the veggies and make the dough
• And make rotis as you normally would make
• As you cook, enjoy the aroma of curry leaves!!!

Fresh Spring Rolls w Peanut Sauce

After my recent trip to Vietnam, I was super thrilled to make the fresh spring rolls!

Recipe:

• From the asian stores, try to get the rice paper and bean threads (thin noodles)
• Boil water with one spoon salt and then add the thin noodles, cook for 5mins
• Drain the water and add more cold water and drain it.
• Saute with 2 spoons oil, tofu with pepper salt
• Rest of veggies you can use it raw (parsley, cilantro, lettuce, carrots/cucumber)
• Dip the rice paper in warm water and lift it immediately up and shake the water off
• Start setting up all the veggies, noodle, tofu etc and roll it.
• Serve it with the peanut sauce!

For the peanut sauce :

•    Grind 5 red chillies, 2 garlic pieces, little sugar and salt for the full dish
•    Add 2 cups water and let it boil for few mins and turn off.
•    then add some tamarind and jaggery water to it, mix well. 
•    Let the liquid cold and then add 2 handful roasted unsalted peanuts
•    Grind well and sauce is ready!

Restaurant Style Sambar

After ages, decided to write my blog to save a TASTY, YUMMY sambar recipe! Thanks to my cousin from Chennai...hotline help over phone 😊 But I missed to take pictures.

Recipe for the powder (save it for 2 times):

• Dry fry 2 spoons channa dhaal and then add 4 spoons dhania, fry few mins
• Then add 6red chillies and quarter spoon jeera, pepper, methi seeds
• When about to turn off add some khasa khasa and asafoetida
• And turn off, let it cool and grind almost fine, but not fine

Sambar Recipe:

• Pressure cook 2 handful dhaal, with little turmeric and 1 spoon oil
• Saute in little oil, one green chilli, half big onion and one tomato
• Add the sauted veggie to the dhaal 
• Add salt, tamarind or soaked mavathal, half of the ground powder
• Add half tablespoon regular sambar powder - all to the cooker with dhaal.
• Pressure cook again for one whistle
• Open after 10mins, then open boil few mins, then add little jaggery, turn off
• Season with ghee, mustard, urad, jeera, asafoetida, curry leaves
• Top it with Cilantro...yummy yum sambar ready

Masala Puri - Chaat item

My fav chaat item, customized to my taste and it has been a hit recipe in the recent days!

Recipe:

• Toppings - Chopped persian cucumber, onions, tomatoes, grated carrot, sev
• Puri - I buy from Pani Puri Company, local store
• Stirred yoghurt, add little water if needed
• Green Chutney - green chillies, Cilantro, Mint, lemon juice, black salt, chaat masala, salt, ginger, jeera
• Sweet Chutney - Soaked dates, melted jaggery, tamarind extract, little chilli powder, chaat masala, black salt
• White Peas Masala - Make similar to channa masala
• Arrange the puri (opened up on top) in a bowl, add white peas masala
• Add three liquids little each - 2 chutneys and yoghurt
• And add the toppings - little of each
• Serve right away - have to eat right away, otherwise it will become soggy!

Potato Cheese Corn Cutlet

Happy New Year to you all!
Starting 2017 with a very yummy recipe from my cousin, learnt during my recent trip to India.
2 tricky things - Frying and Salt (as cheese has its salt too!)

Recipe:

• 3/4th cup of cubed cheese (I used Cheddar), half cup panner - tiny cubes or grated
• Half cup steamed corn, 4 green chillies fine chopped, 4 medium sized potato boiled, peeled
• Few Cilantro/Coriander Leaves chopped, just 1/3rd spoon salt - cheese will cover the rest
• Mix all of the above, make a dough and make into shapes
• Dip in corn or maida water and roll it on ground fresh bread, coating is ready!
• Move it to fridge if you are not using it right away
• When ready to eat, deep fry in medium flame, only 4 cutlets at a time
• Yummy Yummy cutlet is ready, thoroughly enjoyed it!

Eggless Dates Cake

After a few unsuccessful attempts for eggless cake,
here we go for A Successful Eggless Dates Cake recipe!

Recipe:

• Soak 25 to 30 chopped dates (seedless) in 2 cups hot milk
• Let it cool down and add 1/3rd cup sugar and make it into fine paste
• Add 3/4 cup oil to the ground paste
• Seive together...2 cups wheat flour(I use King Arthur Whole wheat), 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder and add it to the above
• Blend well and add half cup chopped nuts (I use walnuts)
• Bake at 320'F for 40mins in a greased glass bowl
• Yummy Eggless Dates Bread is ready!!!!