Search Chitra's Food Book

June 30, 2011

Idli Sambar With Toor Dal - Tiffin Sambar Recipes


Idli Sambar with toor dal
I've posted varieties of idli sambar  learning from my MOM & MIL.This one is my MIL's special sambar. Sendhil loves this a lot . So I make it at least once in a week.It tastes similar to hotel sambar. I make this sambar for Idli, dosa and pongal specially for my guests.

Other common names of Toor Dal

Other common names are तुवरि (tuvari) in sanskrit, arhar(Hindi/Bangla:অরহর), Rohor (Assamese), Rahar (Nepali), red gram, toovar/toor (Gujarati/Marathi/Punjabi), tuvaram paruppu (Tamil: துவரம்பருப்பு),tuvara (Malayalam :"തുവര" ),togari (Kannada), Kandi(కంది)(Telugu), Yewof ater (Amharic), gandul, guandul, guandu, Congo pea, Gungo pea, Gunga pea, and no-eye pea.


Idli sambar recipe with toor dal

    Idli sambar with toor dal


    Idli sambar with toor dal How to make idli sambar with toor dal - Side dish for idli,dosa,pongal
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Category: Sambar
    Serves: Serves 4
    Prep time: 10 Minutes
    Cook time: 20 Minutes
    Total time: 30 Minutes
    INGREDIENTS
    1 cup = 250ml
    To pressure cook
    • Toor dal - 1/4 cup
    • Potato - 1 no (big)
    • Turmeric powder - A pinch
    • Water - As needed
    To Soak in water
    • Tamarind - A small gooseberry size
    • Jaggery – 1/2 tsp ( to add in tamarind extract)
    To Roast & grind
    • Cooking Oil - 1/2 tsp
    • Methi seeds - 1/2 tsp
    • Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
    • Chana dal - 1 tbsp
    • Red chilly - 3 - 4 no (big)
    • Hing - 1/4 tsp
    To saute
    • Shallots / small onion - 15 nos
    • Tomato - 1 no (cut into small pieces)
    • Curry leaves - a few
    • Sambar powder - 1/2 tsp
    • Salt & water - As needed
    To temper
    • Oil - 1 tbsp
    • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
    • Jeera - 1/2 tsp
    • Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
    To garnish
    • Coriander leaves - a few
    • Ghee - 1 tbsp (for flavor)
    METHOD


    • Soak the tamarind in warm water for 20 minutes and take the extract using a cup of water. Set aside.
    • Pressure cook all the ingredients given under "to pressure cook" till one whistle.Mash the dal and set aside. Heat oil in a kadai and roast all the items given above in the same order till nice aroma arises.Powder coarsely and keep aside.
    Idli Sambar with toor dal
    • In the same kadai , add oil and saute the items given under “To Saute”.Saute till tomato turns mushy.Then add the sambar powder, tamarind extract, hing & salt. Add some raw curry leaves. Allow it to boil till the onion gets cooked.Lower the flame. Now add the mashed dal & powdered spices.
    Idli Sambar with toor dal
    Idli Sambar with toor dal
    • Mix well & boil for sometime( Be careful while adding the powder because it may form lumps.So gently stir in & sprinkle the powder simultaneously.) When it boils, add jaggery & boil for some more time.
    Idli Sambar with toor dal
    • Finally temper all the ingredients given under "to temper" and switch off the stove. Garnish with coriander leaves.Transfer to the serving bowl and top it with a tbsp of ghee .( I add only when there is a guest ;) )



    Note
    For restaurant style sambar, add a few curry leaves while roasting the ingredients given for sambar powder.
    ** Also try adding a tsp of grated coconut for additional flavor while roasting.
    ** Add veggies like brinjal, Drumstick and carrot to make it more healthy.

    In this sambar, we should add very less tamarind extract.So it will taste mild and less spicy. If u want it more spicy & tangy , add pinched red chillies while tempering and squeeze some drops of lime juice before serving.
Enjoy this yummy, delicious Sambar with hot idli !
Toor dal sambar for idli
Continue Reading...


June 17, 2011

Aloo Bonda Recipe - Urulaikilangu Bonda Recipe / Potato bonda

Urulaikilangu bonda recipe

Aloo bonda, Potato bonda, Urulai kizhangu bonda, urulaikilangu bonda, Alu bonda, stuffed bonda etc etc. – This yummy South Indian Tea Time snack with a crispy exterior and soft interior with potato masala stuffing is called by different names in different languages.Whatever be the name it’s one of the most favorite Tea time snacks for kids and adults as well. Raksha loves Onion bajji and Potato bonda among all the deep fried snacks.So I make this very often in my kitchen after she comes back from the school. To make bajji and bonda, I always follow the ratio of 3:1 besan and rice flour to make bonda or bajji. It never fails for me.Do try this recipe by following the tips I have shared here.You will get it perfect. Ok, lets see how to make this crispy aloo bonda recipe.

Don't forget to check out my Aloo Paneer Bonda Recipe. Combo of aloo and paneer would be a double treat for your kids :)
Aloo bonda recipe

Aloo bonda recipe


Aloo bonda recipe Aloo bonda recipe/Potato bonda - South Indian style tea time snack recipe
Cuisine: South Indian
Category: snacks
Serves: 8 nos
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
FOR MASALA
  • Potato - 2 nos (medium sized )
  • Green chilli - 2 nos (finely chopped )
  • Big onions - 1 no (-do-)
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Ginger - a small piece (Finely chopped)
  • Salt & water - as required
TO TEMPER
  • Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Urad dal- 1/2 tsp
  • Chana dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Jeera - 1/4 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few
TO GARNISH
  • Coriander leaves - few
  • Lime juice - A few drops ( optional)
FOR BONDA BATTER
  • Gram flour - 6 tbsp
  • Rice flour - 2 tsbp
  • Cooking soda - a big pinch
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Hing - A pinch
  • Salt & water - as required
METHOD

  • Wash and pressure cook the potatoes.Peel the skin and mash it well.Set aside.Chop the onions,chilli,ginger and coriander leaves.
Aloo bonda recipe

  • Heat oil in a kadai and splutter mustard seeds,urad dal,chana dal and curry leaves.Add onions,green chillies,ginger bits and saute well.Now add the mashed potato.Mix well.Add salt,turmeric powder and mix well.Make it like a thick dough.Lastly garnish with coriander leaves and keep the masala ready.Sprinkle some lemon juice if needed.
Potato bonda recipe

  • Make a small lemon sized balls out of the stuffing and keep them in a plate. In a wide bowl,take the besan flour,rice flour,red chilli powder,cooking soda,hing,salt and  pinch of food color if needed. 
  • Mix everything well.Add water and make a cream like paste.The batter should be thick and fall like a ribbon.Do not add more water and make the batter thin because thin batter makes tails while you drop the bonda in oil whereas very thick batter gives you hard bonda. So the quantity of water is very important. Do not add more cooking soda. Bonda absorbs more oil. Similarly do not avoid cooking soda. It makes the bonda hard and less crispy. 
Potato bonda recipe

  • Heat oil to deep fry. Drop a pinch of batter and if it rises immediately,oil is ready.Now take the potato ball and dip in the batter.Coat the balls well with the batter and drop in the hot oil.Cook in medium flame by turning the bonda at regular intervals.Remove when it turns golden brown.Drain the oil in a tissue and serve hot with coconut chutney or tomato sauce ! Enjoy with hot tea !
Potato bonda recipe
Potato bonda recipe


Make this kids favorite evening snack once they are back from school.They will enjoy it !
Potato bonda recipe
Continue Reading...


June 9, 2011

Vendakkai Puli Kulambu Without Coconut

I wanted to try puli kuzhambu with vendakkai for a long time. I made it for today's lunch and I loved it. I made this gravy without coconut. Its a very simple recipe. I prepared it just like my usual vatha kulambu. It tastes good when mixed with plain rice adding gingely oil / nalla ennai. Do try this lady's finger kuzhambu without coconut and share your feedback with me :))



INGREDIENTS 
  • Okra / lady's finger / vendakkai - 10 nos (Chop into round slices)
  • Tamarind - Big gooseberry size
  • **Sambar powder -  1 tbsp Or Red chilli powder + Dhania powder - 2 tsp each
  • Salt - as needed
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Rice flour - 1/2 tsp + water - 1/4 cup
  • Jaggery - a small piece
To temper :
  • Cooking oil or Sesame oil - 2 tbsp
  • Methi seeds / Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Jeera / cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Toor dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Small onions - 2 nos (finely chopped)
  • Garlic cloves - 4 nos (-do-)
  • Curry leaves - few (-do-)
METHOD :
  • Soak tamarind in warm water for 20 mins and take the extract. Add salt , sambar powder and turmeric powder. Set aside.
  • Now in a kadai , heat oil and add the tempering items in the same order. Saute for a while.Now add the chopped lady's finger pieces and saute well. Saute till lady's finger cooks well.
  • Now add the tamarind extract and allow it to boil till okra gets cooked. Add a small piece of jaggery. Lastly add the rice flour mixed with water and add to the kuzhambu. 
  • Let it boil for a minute. Kuzhambu thickens slightly. 
  • Switch off the flame. Transfer to a bowl and add a tsp of gingely oil. Cover it and serve after 30 mins. This gives a special flavor for the gravy.
Mix with plain rice & enjoy with sutta appalam :)
** For sambar powder recipe, please click for homemade recipe. U can use your homemade or store bought powder too. There will be no change in taste I guess.

Continue Reading...


June 2, 2011

AMMINI KOZHUKATTAI / SPICY RICE BALLS – GANESH CHATURTHI RECIPES

I was searching for a low fat, steamed snack . I got this  ammini kozhukattai recipe from a blog . I did some changes and tried it. It was very soft & tasty.

sPICY KOZHUKKATTAI

 INGREDIENTS
  • Rice flour - 1 cup
  • Water – 1.5 - 2 cups
  • Oil - 1 drop
  • Salt - As needed
TO  TEMPER
  • Cooking Oil -  1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal -1 tsp
  • Chana dal - 1 tsp
  • Green chilli - 2 nos ( slit)
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece ( chopped finely)
  • Curry leaves - a sprig
  • Asafetida - 1 pinch
  • Grated coconut - 1/4 cup

METHOD

  • Take the water in a kadai and allow it to boil by adding the salt & a drop of oil.
  • As soon as it starts to roll boil add the measured rice flour and stir well without forming lumps. It will become a soft, non sticky dough.
  • Let it become warm. Then knead it well and make very small balls out of the warm dough by greasing your hands with little gingely oil. Steam cook the balls by arranging them in idly plate. It takes nearly 10 mins to cook. Now remove the balls carefully and set aside.
  • In a kadai heat the oil and temper the items given above in the same order.
  • Add the balls at the end and toss well. Check for salt and mix the grated coconut.
Serve hot !!


Continue Reading...