Monday, June 11, 2012

Aloo gobi masala

A perfect side dish for any Indian flat bread ! 

Ingredients needed
Gobi/Cauliflower florets - 3 cups
Potato - 2 (Cubed into bite sized pieces)
Onion - 1 medium
Garlic - 3
Ginger - 1 inch grated
Tomato - 1 small
Oil - 2tbsp
Jeera - 1tsp
Hing - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 3tsp
Red chili powder - 1/4 tsp
Green chili - 1 slit
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
Salt as per taste
Amchur powder(dry mango powder) - 1/4tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp


Method 
Step 1 -Mix shredded ginger,coriander powder,red chili powder,turmeric powder with 3 tablespoons of water and make a paste out of it.
Step 2 -  Heat the oil and add jeera,hing after a minute add the chopped onions,garlic and saute for a minute or two.Now add the paste and fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until the oil seperates from it.
Step 3 - Now add the gobi florets,potato,salt,mix well cover it and cook it until the vegetables are soft.
Step 4 - Finally add chopped coriander leaves,amchur powder,garam masala and cover it for a minute.
Delicious Aloo gobi is ready to serve !




Thursday, June 7, 2012

Spicy Pongal/kara Pongal

A typical south Indian breakfast ! Very easy and comfort food !


Ingredients needed
Moong Dal -1/2 cup
Rice - 1/2 cup
Water - 5 to 6 cups
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
Green chillies - 2 slit
Black pepper corn powder - 2tsp
Whole black pepper corns - 8
Ghee - 1tbsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Jeera/Cumin seeds - 1tsp
A pinch of hing
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Dry coconut grated - 2tbsp
Cashews - 8
Curry leaves - 1 sprig


Method
Step 1 - Wash the moong dal and rice together several times, add grated ginger,green chillies,turmeric powder,salt,dry coconut,black pepper powder and water.Mix it and pressure cook for 4 whistles(Or after 1 whistle turn the heat to medium and cook it for 7 to 8 minutes).The dal and rice mixture should be very soft.
Step 2 - Heat oil and ghee in a small pan,add jeera,hing,curry leaves,cashews and whole pepper corns.Add it to the pongal and mix well.
Serve with raita or chutney !







Molake hesarukalu Usli(Sprouted greem gram curry)

A very good evening snack ! Perfect for tea time makes a good accompaniment with chapathi,also very healthy ! This curry can also be made with any sprouted grams..


Ingredients needed
Sprouted green gram - 3 cups
Onion - 1 big(chopped lengthwise)
Green chillies - 4 slit
Salt as per taste
A pinch of hing
Oil - 2tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Curry leaves - 6 
Lime juice to taste
Coriander leaves to garnish
Grated coconut - 2 tbsp(Optional)


Method
Step 1 - Pressure cook the green gram/hesaru kalu for 3 to 4 whistles with little salt and a cup of water.
Step 2 - Heat the oil and add mustard seeds,hing and curry leaves.Add green chillies,onion and saute until the onions change their colour.Now add the cooked gram and mix well.Adjust the salt.Cover and cook it for 5 minutes on a medium heat.
Step 3 -Add the lime juice and mix again.Garnish with coriander leaves and grated coconut.


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

hagalakai gojju/Bitter Gourd curry

Ingredients needed
Bitter gourd/Hagalakai - 3 to 4 (Wash,scoop out the seeds and chop them into small pieces)
Oil - 4 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Hing - A generous pinch
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Green chillies - 3 slit
Rasam Powder - 2 Tbsp
Tamarind - lemon sized soaked in warm water
Jaggery/bella - 3 tbsp
Salt to taste


Make into fine powder
Sesame seeds - 1tbsp
Grated dry coconut/Kobbari - 3tbsp


Method
Step 1 - Extract the juice from tamarind and keep it aside.Now heat the oil in a deep pan and add the mustard seeds,allow them to crackle,add hing,turmeric powder,curry leaves,green chillies.Saute for a minute and add finely chopped Hagalakai and fry for  4 to5 minutes.Now add the tamarind juice,salt,a cup of water,rasam powder and jaggery.
Step 2 - Let it boil nicely for 10 minutes until the bitter gourd is completely cooked.Add water in between and adjust the consistency.
Step 3 - Finally add the ground sesame seeds and coconut powder and mix well.





Sihi Kumbalakai gojju/Sweet pumpkin curry

This is a simple curry that i learnt from my mom...It is a mixture of sweet,sour and spicy.


Ingredients needed
Sweet pumpkin - 2 cups (Chopped into cubes)
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Hing - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Tamarind paste - Small lemon sized soaked in warm water
Salt as per taste
Jaggery - 1tbsp


Dry fry and make a paste with little water
Channa Dal - 2tbsp
Red chillies - 4
Menthya/fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
Coconut grated(fresh or frozen) - 4 tbsp


Method
Step 1 - Heat the oil and do the tempering with mustard seeds,hing curry leaves.Add the chopped sweet pumpkin and add add 1/2 cup of water.Cook it until the vegetable is little soft(Do not over cook them).
Step 2 - Now add the tamarind juice/paste,jaggery,salt and the ground paste.Let it boil for 10 minutes.Adjust the consistency of the curry.
Serve with hot rice ! 





Aloo Paratha/Stuffed Indian flat bread

Ingredients needed
Potatoes - 3 to 4 
Coriander leaves - handful finely chopped
Coriander powder/Dhania powder - 1tsp
Red chili powder - 1tsp or to taste
Amchur powder - 1/2 tsp
Jeera/Cumin powder - 1/2tsp
Chapati dough
Salt to taste


Method
Step 1 - wash and pressure cook the potatoes.
When it is cool enough to handle
peel the skin and mash it nicely.
Now add the spice powders,salt and coriander leaves and mix well.Divide it into 7 balls.

Step 2 - Now take the chapati
 dough and divide it into 7 balls(slightly bigger than the regular chapati balls).Roll them in 3 inch diameter circles and place the filling inside and seal the edges by pulling the dough together and make a ball.Repeat the process for all the fillings.
Step 3 - Take one of the stuffed ball and dip it in the dry wheat flour on both the sides first (this avoids dough sticking into the rolling pin) and roll it into 6 to 7 inch diameter circles.Sprinkle flour in between if needed.
Step 4 - Now heat the tava/skillet and place the paratha,after few seconds paratha starts changing colour then flip it over and cook it on the other side.At this point add a 1/2tsp of oil and lightly press it with a spatula.Again flip it over and gently press the other side with a spatula and add 1/2 tsp of oil.Make sure they are cooked well on both the sides.Cool it on a wire rack.
Yummy aloo parathas are ready to serve !
Serve with raita/pickle or any subzi of your choice !