31 March 2014

PERSIAN SAFFRON TOFU KABAB

For this month International Food Challenge, event hosted by Savitha of Savitha's Kitchen chose Persian dishes.Grilled Saffron Tofu Kabab a traditional dish from Persian cuisine. Persian cuisine has spread into southern most parts of India during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire. To achieve a balanced taste flavorings such as saffron, dried limes, cinnamon, and parsley are mixed and used in dishes.

First time trying kabab with tofu it came out so well and enjoyed every bit of it...
What you need: Recipe from here
1 pkt - Tofu (cubed)
1 no - Onion, grated 
1 cup - Hung Yogurt
1/2 tsp - Red chilli powder
2 tbsp - Olive oil
2 tsp- Lime juice
1 tsp - Saffron (dissolved in 2 tbsp hot water)
Salt n Black pepper as reqd

How to make:
In a bowl combine above all add tofu n veggies and refrigerate for 6-8 hours.

Thread the tofu n veggies on skewers, place them on the hot grill and cook until they turn charred.

Serve with green chutney n fresh salad!! 


OATS RAVA KESARI

Happy Ugadi to all the readers!!  Traditionally my mom makes the ugadi pachadi .. but to keep it simple n sweet made this oats n rava kesari..
What you need:
Oats - 1 and 1/2 cup
Rava - 1/2 cup
Food Color - pinch
Sugar - 1 and 1/2 cup
Water -  3 cups
Ghee - 2 tbsp
Cashew n Raisins as reqd
Cardamam powder - gen pinch

How to make:
Roast oats and rava sep and set aside. In a deep pan add sugar, water food color and allow to boil, once it starts to boil add oats and rava and cook in very low flame. 

Once its almost cooked add ghee mix well and close the lid in low flame once it starts to ooze add roasted cashew, raisins and cardamom powder mix well and transfer to greased tray and cut into desired shapes and serve..

28 March 2014

ELANEER PAYASAM / TENDER COCONUT KHEER

Once the mercury starts raising the go getter is def the tender coconut.. Made best use of the bundles i bought and made a quick cool dessert..

Elaneer payasam a no cook payasam naturally sweet and makes a perfect dessert on a sunny afternoon!!  Achieved the perfect taste i preferred though they were many variations to this recipe tis was apt for my tastebuds!!


What you need:
Tender coconut water - 2 cups
Tender coconut flesh - from 2 coconuts
Condensed milk - 2 tsp (optional)
Coconut milk - 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Almonds few, chopped

How to make:
In a blender add coconut water, half of the flesh, condensed milk, coconut milk, cardamom powder blend until smooth .

Now pour them into a bowl add the other half of the coconut flesh chopped, the blended mixture, nuts mix well and served chilled!!

27 March 2014

CHICKPEA N AMARANTHUS GREENS STIR FRY

Stir fries are always such savers coz they r cooked in a jiffy n tis summer needs such quick cooking dishes... When my SH is not in town i prefer to cook shortest meals n i dont spend so much time in the kitchen..
What you need:
Chikpeas - 1 cup (soaked n cooked in pressure cooker for 5 hisses)
Amaranthus greens - 2 cups, chopped
Zucchini - 1/2 cup, chopped
Onion -  1 no, chopped
Garlic - 1 pod, chopped
Green chilli -  1 no, chopped
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - pinch
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp 
Olive Oil - 1tsp
Salt as reqd

How to make:
In a pan, heat oil add cumin seeds, garlic and chilli saute well, add onions and cook until soft, then add greens, mix well add salt and cook it covered for 3 mins. 

Add chickpeas, zucchini, chilli powder, garam masala and cover and cook until the veggies turn soft, add dash of water if it too dry and cook until done.

Serve hot with Broccoli parathas and veg salad!!


25 March 2014

AVAKKAI URUGAAI / PICKLE

Pickle s never my scene but getting married to a TAMBRAHM made my life pickling .. Once i started to cook on my own for mor saadham hubby's question is "thottukka enna???" i like "wat u hv got curry" tats how i eat.... he gives me a puzzled look asking for pickle / sundakkai / manathakkali vathal / maavadu / mor milagai / maakaali / uppu urugaai / maanga inji n the list is endless??? 

I never knew any of these till the day i got married .. Then managed and learned instant pickles which last for a week and these long standing pickles is never my scene.. Last Sunday my neighbor comes n hands over me a bag full of raw mangoes perfect for pickles..from her native..

Jeyashris avakkai recipe was posted few days ago n jus jumped into her blog followed her step wise n now i have succeeded n very well appreciated by my SH n he said they r perfectly made.. 
What you need:
Raw mango - 5 nos (small size) [ 5 cups of cubed cut mangoes]
Red chilli powder - 3/4 cup
Salt - 1/4 cup
Mustard seeds - 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/2 cup
Fenugreek seeds - 2 tbsp
Sesame oil - 1 cup
Asafoetida - 1 tsp

How to make:
Wash and cut the mango with the skin, soak them in water for few minutes drain the water and pat dry the cut mangoes on a dry cloth and put them in a big glass / ceramic bowl.

Keep the mustard seeds in hot sun for 3-4 hours and grind this into fine powder or heat a pan for 2 minutes and switch off the flame put the mustard seeds and let this sit in the hot pan for few mins and dry powder it.

To the mangoes add mustard powder, salt, turmeric powder, asafoetida. fenugreek seeds, sesame oil and mix with dry spoon and allow to sit for 4 days without touching it. Keep it in a clean dry place.

After 4 days the oil will start floating on the top. Mix this well nicely and you can start using the avakkai pickle . 

Store this in a clean dry place and use clean dry spoon to use it every time. 

24 March 2014

CHOCOLATE LASSI

I call the lucky ones are those who have left Chennai during this peak summer. The mercury has risen and so is my thirst. 

Anyways, I have told my brains not to stop over at any fresh juice shops for thirst quenchers where they load the drinks with sugar and milk. 

I prefer lassis over milkshakes hmmm well cant say so I prefer milkshakes too.. Anything quenching my thirst is wat i need.. n now heads to tis yummy creamy chocolate lassi ..
What you need:
Yogurt - 1 cup
Cocoa Powder - 1 tbsp
Chocolate pieces - 2 tbsp
Chocolate syrup - 2 tsp
Organic Brown Sugar - 2 tbsp (or more if reqd)
Almonds - 2 tsp (chopped)

How to make:
Blend yogurt, cocoa powder, sugar and chocolate pieces until smooth.

Spread chocolate syrup on the inside of the glass. Pour lassi and garnish with chopped almonds n chocolate syrup n more chocolate pieces for a heavenly sin. Serve chilled.!!

13 March 2014

KARADAIYAN NOMBU ADAIS (Vella n Uppu Adai)

Karadaiyan nombu is one of the auspicious function celebrated by Brahmin community. Two types of adai sweet n savory (vella adai n uppu adai) are made and offered as neivedyam to god along with butter.

We offer prayers and perform the neivedhyam and pooja and tie the scared thread and seek the blessings of the lord. 

Tis is one day whr i happily tie my 9 yards and seek my SH's blessings esp... He loves such days whr i do namasakaram to him n he feels tat as a proud moment. 

Now to the recipe..traditonally rice flour is made at home but i take the shortest routes for better results. Just went wit Jeyashri's recipe and i succeeded thou shapes were not that perfect. But they tasted grt..
What you need for Vella adai:
Rice Flour - 1 cup
Karamani / Black eyed beans - 2 tbsp (soaked and cooked)
Jaggery - 1 cup (soaked over nite in 2 and 1/2 cup water)
Sesame oil - 1/4 tsp
Coconut - 1/4 cup (finely chopped)
Elaichi powder - gen pinch

How to make: 
Ina kadai heat water add oil and sieve the jaggery thru a thin cloth and pour in kadai and allow to boil.

Add coconut, karamani and elachi powder. Once it starts boiling slowly add the rice flour and mix thoroughly without any lumps. When it cools bit grease your hand with oil and make into adai shapes and steam cook for 10 mins.

What you need for Uppu adai:
Rice Flour - 1 cup
Karamani / Black eyed beans - 2 tbsp (soaked and cooked)
Salt as reqd
Sesame oil - 1/2 tsp
Coconut - 1/4 cup (finely chopped)
Green chillies - 2 nos (finely chopped)
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Ginger - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
Water - 2 and 1/2 cups

How to make:
In a kadai heat oil add mustard seeds, green chillies, ginger and curry leaves saute well and add karamani and coconut mis well add salt. gratings

Add water and allow to boil, once starts boiling add rice flour slowly so no lumps are formed once cooled down make them into adai shapes and steam cook for 10 mins.

10 March 2014

RED RICE APPAM N VEG STEW

SH first question in the morning always starts as "wats for breakfast" n immd follows wat color breakfast is it.. green, yellow, brown, red or black .. Yaa it's very true i use loads of millets n rice varieties which i pick from the Organic stores n they def provide any of the above colors for idli / dosa / adai.


For a change tried appam with kerala red rice and it turned out so soft. SH was awaiting white appams n his face did turn red on seeing these appam. But after tasting it he loved it n appreciated my efforts..

Appam with veg stew an authentic Kerala dish. This is one of my most favorite dish from Kerala.
What you need:
1 cup - Red Rice
1 cup - Idli Rice
1/2 cup - Urad dhal
1/4 tsp - Fenugreek seeds
1/2 cup - Coconut gratings
Water n Salt - as req

How to make:

Wash and soak the above ingredients for 3 hrs and grind them to smooth and thin batter. Add salt mix well and ferment for 5-6 hrs.

Mix well and make appams.


Check out for Veg stew recipe from my earlier post.


What you need for coconut milk:

1/2 cup - Thick coconut milk
1/2 cup - Thin coconut milk
1 tbsp - Brown Sugar
Cardamom powder - gen pinch

Mix all above and serve with appam.

07 March 2014

EGGLESS BLONDE BROWNIES / BLONDIES

It's been months i participated in Home Bakers challenge coz of dietary reasons. But these blondies were tempting me that i could not hide myself away from it. Rite time to bake and eat me up is wen SH is out of city. But i will be caught red handed coz he follows my page like a vigilance officer on wats been cooked and gulped during his absence... grrr..

This is sooper quick baked goodie suggested by Sharanya(Just Not The Cake
What u need:
All purpose flour - 3/4 cup
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Brown sugar - 1/2 cup
Butter - 1/4 cup
Salt - a pinch
Yogurt - 1/4 cup or more 
Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp
Chocolate chips - 1/4 cup

How to make:
Preheat oven to 160 degrees C. Grease a 6-inch square baking dish. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Beat sugar and butter until creamy and beat yogurt n vanilla extract.

Gradually mix in flour mixture and add chocolate chips. Spread on the pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool on wire rack. 

Serve with hot chocolate!!


06 March 2014

CHANNA PULAO

Channa Pulao a mild spiced pulao perfect to pack for lunch. A multi veggie raitha makes a perfect combo.. Protein and fiber rich channa makes a healthy n filling meal. 
What you need:Recipe inspired from Raks kitchen. 
Chickpeas - 1 cup (soaked overnite)
Brown Basmati Rice - 1 cup (soaked for 30 mins)
Mint n Coriander - 1/4 bunch
Onion - 1 no, sliced
Tomato - 1 no, chopped
Green chilli- 2 nos, slit
Cinnamon stick, Bay leaf n cardamom - 1 no each
Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp
Ghee - 1 tsp
Oil - 1 tsp
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Heat oil n ghee in a pressure pan add spices saute well then add onions n green chillies mix it add g n g paste and cook till raw smell goes and add tomatoes and cover and cook till soft.

Add garam masala,salt ste well and add channa and 2 cup water and allow to boil.

Once it starts to boil slow the flame and add  drained rice and cover the lid. After 10 mins increase the flame and pressure cook for 3 hisses.

Pack with some yummy raitha and fryums for lunch.

05 March 2014

CHUTNEY SANDWICH

Everyone loves to cook but not always.. sometimes when m so much lazed up a quick sandwich is wat all i can think off.. with some hot piping flavored tea.. 

It makes a perfect meal if it is made of wheat bread. Loads of fresh mint leaves have blossomed in my balcony garden and made chutney with them.
What you need for green chuntey:
1/2 cup - Coriander n Mint leaves (each)
2 nos - Green chilies
1 tsp - Lemon juice
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Grind all until smooth add water to grind it.
What you need for Sandwich:
4 slices - Wheat Bread
1/2 cup - Cucumber, onion, tomato, potato (sliced)
Green chutney
Salt n Pepper as reqd
1 tbsp - Low cal Butter

How to make:
Spread butter and then spread green chutney on one slice arrange veggies and sprinkle salt n pepper and cover with another slice which is chutney spreaded.

Heat grilled pan spread olive oil and place the sandwich toast until crispy cut it as you dezire and serve immediately with a piping hot glass of cranberry n apple tea.

02 March 2014

SPICED MOSAMBI / SWEET LIME JUICE

It’s too hot in the day as well as in the nite. This is a sweet and salty refreshing drink which cheers me up when am burnt out. 
What you need:
Sweet lime juice - 1 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Cumin powder -  1/4 tsp 
Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp 
Black salt - as reqd
Sugar - as reqd
Ice cubes - as reqd
Thulsi n Mint leaves - few torn

How to make:
Mix all ingredients in a shaker mix well and serve cold!!