CRISPY DOSA

INGREDIENTS :

Idli Rice 1 Cup

Urad Dal 1/3 Cup

Poha 1/2 Cup

Fenugreek Seeds 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Oil as required

Method of preparation:

Soak idli rice in fresh water for around 6 hours or overnight.

Soak urad dal, poha and fenugreek seeds together for around 3 hours.

Refresh the rice with fresh water and grind it into fine paste adding minimum amount of water.

Then add the remaining soaked ingredients, salt and grind again into fine smooth paste.

Take the ground dosa mixture into a bowl and keep it covered in a dark warm place to ferment for around 5 – 8 hours.

Adjust the fermented mixture into dosa batter consistency with sufficient water if required.

Heat a flat pan on medium high heat, apply half tsp of oil with back of a spoon.

When pan gets hot, pour a ladle full of dosa batter in middle of pan and spread it in circular motion with back of the ladle into thin dosa (around 7 inch diameter).

Cook covered for a minute if desired.

When edges of the dosa start to turn light brown, carefully turn the dosa on other side.

Cook on this side for a minute and turn and crisp the other side again before removing from heat.

Repeat the same with remaining dosa batter.

Serve crispy dosa with besan chutney or with any chutney of your choice.

COCONUT IDLY

INGREDIENTS :

Urad Dal 1/2 Cup

Idly Rawa 3/4 – 1 Cup

Salt to taste

Ghee as required

Scraped Coconut 4 tbsps

Onion 1 Small

Green Chiles 2

Ginger 1 inch Piece

Cilantro few Sprigs

Method of preparation:

Remove stems, wash and finely slice the green chiles.

Peel and finely chop the onion.

Peel and thinly slice the ginger.

Wash and finely chop the cilantro.

Soak urad dal in water for 3 – 5 hours.

Refresh the urad dal in fresh water and grind it into fine paste adding minimum water.

Soak idly rawa in water for half an hour.

Squeeze the water out of idly rawa and keep aside.

Mix the ground urad dal and idly rawa together by adding few pinches of salt.

Leave the batter in a warm place for couple of hours.

Mix in some water if the batter is too thick and not pourable.

Grease the idly mould with little ghee.

Place 2 – 3 green chile slices, few slices of ginger, a tsp of chopped onion, tsp of cilantro, a tbsp of scraped coconut on each idly mould before adding the batter into the mould.

Pour a big scoop of idly batter into each idly mould.

Reserve the remaining batter in the refrigerator for further use.

Steam the idlis for 15 – 20 minutes and remove from heat.

Let the idli cool off a bit before removing onto serving plate.

Serve coconut idly with sambar or any chuntey.

PANIYARAM

INGREDIENTS:

Sago 1/2 Cup

Rice 3/4 Cup

Urad Dal 1/4 Cup

Fenugreek Seeds a pinch

Yogurt 3 tbsps

Chana Dal 1 tbsp

Green Chiles 2

Ginger 1 inch Piece

Cilantro few Sprigs

Salt to taste

Oil to grease the moulds

Talimpu:

Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp

Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp

Curry Leaves 4

Oil 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

Remove stems, wash and finely chop green chiles.

Peel, wash and mince the ginger.

Wash and finely chop the cilantro.

Soak chana dal for 4 – 5 hours in enough water.

Soak sago, rice, urad dal, fenugreek seeds in enough water for 4 – 5 hours.

Strain the water and grind all of them together into paste adding yogurt and sufficient salt.

Add water if necessary while grinding.

Remove the ground paniyaram batter into a vessel and let if ferment for good 6 – 8 hours.

Then, stir in soaked chana dal and cilantro to the fermented batter.

Heat oil in a pan, add all talimpu ingredients in order along with ginger and green chiles.

When mustard seeds start spluttering, remove from heat and add to the paniyaram batter.

Heat aebleskiver pan or ponganalu pan on medium heat.

Grease the moulds with few drop of oil and let the pan heat a bit.

Fill each mould of the aebleskiver pan with a tbsp or more of the paniyaram batter.

Once edges start to change color, carefully turn paniyaram on other side and let it cook for a another minute. Carefully remove paniyaram from the pan onto a plate.

Repeat the same with remaining ponganalu batter.

Serve paniyaram with coconut chutney or with any other chutney and sambar.

MANGO MILK SHAKE

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Ingredients:

2 cups ripe mango cubes

1/2 lt low fat milk

1 1/2 tbsps sugar (adjust)

pinch of cardamom pwd (optional)

1/2 cup crushed ice cubes

DIRECTION TO PREPARE :

1 Blend the mango pulp along with a cup of milk for 15-20 seconds.
2 Add the remaining milk, sugar, cardamom pwd and crushed ice and blend for another 30 seconds and serve chilled.

SEMIYA PULIHORA

INGREDIENTS:

Semiya: 2 cups

Chenna Dal:3 spns

Urad dal:2 spns

Mustard Seeds:1.5 spns

Cumin Seeds:2 spns

Hinge:1/2 spn

Curry Leaves:10-15 leaves

Cashew:6-8

Lemon:1

Salt:To Taste

Green Chillies:5-6(slit length wise)

Dry Red Chillies:2(cut)

Ginger:Chopped/Grated(Optional)

Oil:3 spns

Turmeric Pwd:2 spn

DIRECTION TO PREPARE:

1.In a boiling pan pour around 5 cups of water,add 1 spn oil,turmeric pwd and bring the water to a complete boil,now add the Semiya and stir well or else the Semiya will be cooked as a lump,this spoils the dish.

2.Cook till the Semiya is smooth,turn off the flame ,drain the water and let it cool down.Add salt to ur taste,lemon juice squeezed from a lemon u can adjust itto your taste mix well and put aside.

3.In a pan add 2 spns of oil when hot add chenna dal,urad dal,cumin seeds,mustard seeds,cashews and fry till thet turn golden color,now add hinge,chopped red and green chillies,ginger,curry leaves and fry till they evolve nice aroma.Now the tempering is done.

4.Add the tempering to the cooked semiya mix evenly and serve it as it is or wid any curd n pickle.

STUFFED BRINJAL CURRY

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Ingredients:

1/4 kg purple brinjals, wash, make + quarters with stalk intact

small lemon sized tamarind, extract pulp

1 1/2 tbsps oil

1/4 tbsp grated jaggery (optional)

For stuffing:

1 tbsp dhania pwd

1 1/4 tbsp roasted peanuts

1 1/2 tbsps roasted til/nuvvulu

1/4 tsp methi pwd

1/2 tsp jeera pwd

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 large onion, chopped

1/4 tsp garam masala (elaichi, cinnamon, cardamom)

1 1/4 tsp red chilli pwd

salt to taste

For poppu/tadka/seasoning:

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

3 crushed garlic cloves

a sprig of curry leaves

1 Make a paste with all the stuffing ingredients. Make a + slit in each brinjal, place stuffing as shown in the image above and keep aside
.2 Add oil in a vessel, add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add crushed garlic and curry leaves and toss them for a few seconds till the flavors come out. Place the stuffed brinjals in the oil and cook on medium high flame for 2 mts. Now, cover with lid and let them cook on medium low flame for 15 mts. Keep checking in between and stir fry to ensure the brinjals don’t burn or stick to the pan
.3 Add the tamarind extract along with two cups of water and jaggery. Bring to a boil and reduce flame. Place lid and cook over low flame for 15-18 mts. Remove lid and cook for another few mts if it appears still watery. Let the brinjals cook till you achieve a thick gravy consistency. Turn off heat
.4 Serve with rice or rotis.

DRUMSTICKS CURRY (Mulakkaya curry)

INGREDIENTS :

Drum Sticks:3
Onion:1/4kg
Tomato:1/4kg
Green chillies:6
Salt:according to taste.
Chilli powder:according to taste.

Oil: 2tsp

Turmeric – pinch

Curry leaves -2 strings

DIRECTION TO PREPARE :

1.Chop the drumsticks into finger sized bits,onions,tomato.

2.Heat the oil in a pan.
3.Once its heated add the green chillies and curry leaves once the mustard seeds pop.

4.Now add onions, turmeric and fry till they are light brown . Now add the drumstick pieces and cook for about 3 mins
5.Now add the tomatoes, salt,chilli powder and cook for 3 mins.

6.Now add water,cook for 5-15mins on a low flame with lid on stirring occassionally.
7.U can garnish with coriander leaves if you want and serve it.

ALOO-GOBI CURRY

Ingredients
cauliflower-1 Tomato - 2
Potato - 1
Onion - 1 big
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Amchur powder - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
GingerGarlic paste - 2 tsp
Frozen Peas - 1/2 cup

DIRECTION TO PREPARE :

1) Take a microwave safe bowl and wash cauliflower florets. Add very little water to the bowl. Place a plate or lid covering the bowl and microwave for about 4-5 minutes.

2) After the cauliflower is steamed, add salt to the same and mix well.

3) Peel the potato and dice into bite sized cubes. Add diced potato, salt and little water to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 2-3 minutes.

4) Take a pan and add oil to the same. Add Jeera and turmeric to the pan.

5) Add dice onion to the pan and fry until onions become transluscent. Add ginger garlic paste and fry until raw smell disappears.

6) Add diced tomatos to the pan and put the lid on. Let the gravy cook until you see oil seperating from the gravy.

7) Add all the masala powders, peas and salt to the Gravy. Put the lid back and let the curry cook for 2 mins.

8) Add potato cubes to the pan and continue to cook for 5 mins.

9) Take the steamed cauliflower florets and add it to the curry. Gently mix the gravy and florets. Make sure the florets donot get mushy. Cook the curry for a while until the florets are cooked and get a good coating of the gravy. Garnish with Cilantro.

NOTE : This curry tastes great with chapati or paratha.

SOYS-CHUNKS VEGETABLE PULAO

Ingredients:

1) 3 cups basmati rice – washed and soaked in water for 15 mts
2) 1 cup dried soya chunks – washed and boiled in water till soft
3) 2-3 tbsp ghee
4) 1 tsp shah jeera
5) 2 bay leaves
6) 2 big onions finely sliced
7) 1 tbsp grated ginger
8) 3-4 green chillies slit length wise
9) 1 cup chopped mixed vegetables like beans, green peas, carrots or potatoes
10) ½ tsp turmeric powder
11) salt to taste
12) 3-4 tbsps of fresh mint leaves (pudina)
13) 3 cups of freshly extracted coconut milk
14) 2 ½ cups water
15) 2-3 tbsps lemon juice
16) fresh coriander leaves for garnish
17 )3-4 bread slices (cubed and lightly fried in ghee) – optional
18 )8-10 cashewnuts (lightly roasted in ghee till golden brown)
For Masala Powder (lightly dry roast in a pan and grind to a fine pwd)
2 green cardamoms
4 cloves
2” cinnamom stick
3-4 pepper corns
1/4 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
1 tsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1-2 dry red chillis
DIRECTION TO PREPARE :

11  Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed vessel. Add shah jeera and bay leaves and stir for a few seconds till the jeera splutters. Add the sliced onions, grated ginger and green chillis. Saute the onions till they turn pink.
2 Add the mixed vegetables and on medium heat, let them cook. Add salt and keep covered for 4-5 mts.
3 Add turmeric pwd, masala pwd and combine well. Stir fry for a minute.
4 Add the cooked soya chunks and keep covered for 2 mts. Add the mint leaves and combine.
5 Add the coconut milk, let it come to a boil, reduce heat and add the water. Bring to a boil again.
6 Add the drained basmati rice and mix well. Add salt, if required, at this stage. Reduce heat to medium and let it cook covered with lid.
7 Finally, once the rice and vegetables are cooked, add the lemon juice, fried bread cubes, fried cashewnuts and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
8 Serve with raita, mixed vegetable curry or chicken curry.

YOGURT - STEW ( MAGGIGA PULUSU )

INGREDIENTS :
Curd ( yogurt ) : 2 cups
Water : 1 cup
Onions : 2 (chopped)
Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp
Jeera,cumin seeds,mustard seeds : 1/4 tsp (each)
Red chillies : 4
Green chillies : 4
Curry leaves : 2 strings
Corriander leaves : a small bunch
Salt to taste
Oil : 2 tsp
DIRECTION TO PREPARE :
Beat the curd with water together softly.
Add turmeric powder,chopped onions,green chillies to the beaten curd and mix it well.
Heat oil in a pan add jeera,cumin,mustard seeds,diried red chillies,curry leaves and fry for about 1 minute.
Add this to the beaten curd and mix it .
Garnish with chopped corriander leaves and serve with rice

RADISH, PEAS CURRY

INGREDIENTS
Radish : 3( cut into pieces)
Green peas : 1 cup
Tomato, onions : 1 chopped
Green chillies : 2
Turmeric powder : big pinch
Chilli powder : 1tsp
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Garam masala : 1 tsp
Curry leaves : 2 strings
Corriander leaves : 1/4 cup
Salt to taste.
Oil : 2tsp
Heat oil in the pan and add cumin seeds,onion and curry leaves.
Fry till it becomes light brown colour.
Then add tomatoes and allow to cook it for 5 minutes.
Now add radish pieces,green peas,turmeric powder and fry it for more 5 minutes.
Also add 1 cup of water for gravy,chilli powder,salt and mix well. Cover it with a lid.
Cook it for 10 minutes.
Then add garam masala and garnish with corriander leaves

BEANS CARROT FRY

INGREDIENTS
Beans : 1 cup (cut into pieces)
Carrot : 1 cup (cut into pieces)
Onion : 1 (chopped)
Cumin, mustard seeds : 1tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder : 1 tsp
Ginger garlic paste : 1 tsp
Dry coconut powder : 1 tsp
Corriander powder : 1tsp
Curry leaves : 2 strings
Oil : 2tsp
Salt to taste.
DIRECTION TO PREPARE:
Heat oil in the pan and add cumin, mustard seeds.
Thereafter add onions and fry till it become light brown colour.
Then add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, curry leaves one by one and mix well.
Now add beans and fry it for 5 minutes. Then add carrot, salt, chilli powder, corriander powder and mix well.
Fry it for more 10 minutes.