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August 31, 2013

Paruppu Urundai Kulambu - Chettinad Style Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu Recipe

paruppu urundai kuzhambu chettinad
I got this Chettinad paruppu urundai kuzhambu recipe from Aval vikatan’s supplementary. It is also known as Kola urundai kuzhambu. This recipe was given by “Mrs. Revathy shanmugam”. So I tried it confidently. I had already tried milagu kuzhambu/pepper kuzhambu from that book and it was a hit in my home. Usually paruppu urundai kuzhambu is made by cooking lentil balls in tamarind sauce adding sambar powder and other spices. This recipe is also very similar but it has chettinad touch. I’ve used soambu/saunf/ fennel seeds here. 

In Chettinad, people call this paruppu urundai as veg kola urundai. For variations, you can always omit the saunf, use cumin seeds and try it. There will not be much difference in taste & flavor. We loved the urundai a lot. It was soft yet firm. This gravy tastes great when mixed with plain rice adding ghee. I made the gravy slightly thick. Adjust the consistency as per your need.. Do try and let me know how you liked it. Here is my Iyengar style paruppu urundai kulambu.
paruppu urundai kuzhambu recipe

INGREDIENTS
For paruppu urundai/Lentil balls : 1 cup - 250ml
  • Toor dal – 1/2 cup
  • Red chilli – 2-3 nos
  • Asafetida/ Hing – 1/4 tsp
  • Jeera  or fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves – few (finely chopped)
  • Small onion/big onion – 10/1 no (finely chopped)
  • Garlic cloves – 4 nos (-do-)
  • Coriander leaves – few (-do-)
  • Rice flour – 1 tsp
  • Cooking soda / baking soda - a pinch
  • Salt – as needed

For gravy
  • Tamarind – Medium lemon size
  • Tomatoes – 2 nos
  • Onion – 1/4 cup (finely chopped)
  • Garlic cloves – 8 nos (-do-)
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Sambar powder – 1 tbsp (OR) Red chilli powder – 2 tsp & dhania powder – 1 tsp
  • Rice flour – 1 tsp
  • Salt & water –as needed
To grind
  • Grated coconut – 3 tbsp
  • Big onion – 1 no
  • Fennel seeds  or cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp ( optional)
To temper
  • Cooking oil – 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
  • Methi seeds – 1/4 tsp
  • Jeera – 1/2 tsp
HOW TO MAKE PARUPPU URUNDAI KUZHAMBU - METHOD
  • Wash & soak the dal for 2 hours. Drain all the water & set aside.
  • In a mixie jar, grind the red chillies, hing, salt, saunf or cumin seeeds & coconut coarsely. Now add the dal & grind it to a coarse, thick paste without adding water.
  • Grind Coconut, fennel seeds, big onion to a smooth paste and set aside.
Paruppu urundai kuzhambu step 1
  • To that paste , add finely chopped onions , garlic cloves , curry leaves, rice flour and coriander leaves. Add a pinch of cookings soda. Mix well and make big gooseberry sized balls out of it. You can either steam the balls in an idli plate for 15 minutes OR you can cook in the tamarind extract as I did. Beginners please choose the steaming method. If you steaming the balls in idli plate, you should add it the end i.e after adding ground coconut paste.
Paruppu urundai kuzhambu 1
  • In  a kadai , heat oil and splutter mustard seeds ,methi seeds , jeera. Then add the finely chopped garlic cloves & onions. Saute well for a minute. Now add the chopped tomatoes & saute till mushy. Add turmeric & sambar powder. Mix well , boil for a minute in low flame.
Paruppu urundai kuzhambu 2
Paruppu urundai kuzhambu 3
  • Then add the tamarind extract , salt with 2 cups of water.Allow it to roll boil for 5 minutes. Now drop the lentil balls one by one into the gravy. Do not stir immediately. Let the gravy boil for 2-3 minutes in low flame. Now stir the gravy carefully so that the balls are not broken.
Paruppu urundai kuzhambu
  • Cover & cook it in medium flame for 5-8 minutes till the balls get cooked & float on top.Take a ball, break it & see whether it is cooked completely. Now add the ground coconut paste , stir well & allow it to boil for 5 minutes. This gravy thickens as time proceeds. So add water accordingly..
Paruppu urundai kuzhambu

Transfer to the serving bowl & enjoy with plain rice adding a drop of ghee !

NOTE
  • For variations, you can add  1/4 tsp of jeera instead of fennel seeds while grinding along with coconut.
  • Beginners who dont want to cook the lentil balls directly in the tamarind sauce can steam the balls in an idli pot and add them at the end.

Paruppu urundai kuzhambu


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August 29, 2013

OATS MASALA MORE – SPICED BUTTERMILK RECIPE


masal oats more copy

Last month when i went for grocery purchase , i happened to see this recipe in quaker oats packet.I memorized the recipe & came home  Smile..But i couldn’t try immediately.Yesterday,suddenly i reminded about this & tried with the recipe i had in my mind vaguely.I am not sure whether this is the exact recipe given in the packet.But it came out very flavourful , yummy & tasty.So i thought of posting here.Addition of oats made it more healthy.Do check out my Neer more/spiced buttermilk recipe in interested.

masala more cup copy


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Instant oats – 1/4 cup 
  • Thick curd – 1 cup
  • Water – 3 - 4 cups ( add more if needed)
  • Roasted jeera powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Salt – as needed
To grind
  • Ginger – 1 inch piece
  • Mint leaves & coriander leaves – 2 tbsp  (together)
  • Green chilli – 1-2 nos
To temper
  • Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves – to garnish

METHOD
  • Grind all the ingredients given under “to grind “ to a smooth paste adding required water.Dry roast oats for 2-3 minutes & powder well.
oats more tile1
oats moreoats more tile2
  • In a wide bowl,take the powdered oats , curd , salt , ground paste , jeera powder and water. Mix it well with a whisk..Temper mustard seeds ..
Garnish with coriander leaves if desired ! Serve chilled !

Note
  • For variations u can use either coriander leaves or mint leaves alone for grinding.
  • Adjust the amount of curd & water as per ur liking.
  • U can also add more chillies if u want it more spicy.
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August 26, 2013

UPPU SEEDAI RECIPE / SALT SEEDAI RECIPE–GOKULASHTAMI RECIPES

Uppu seedai recipe

Uppu seedai / Uppu Cheedai / Salt seedai is the most important prasadam for Gokulashtami. People in Tamil nadu never fail to make this for Krishna Jayanthi festival. Many people especially beginners worry about bursting of seedai. So I have shared all the possible tips and tricks to avoid bursting. I have given my MIL’s traditional recipe of making uppu cheedai with homemade processed rice flour and urad dal flour. I follow this recipe every year. It comes out very well without bursting. Along with the normal round seedai we also make 2 small rod shaped “Seepankuzhal” for baby krishna. Do refer my fail proof sweet seedai recipe too !

I know seedai must be the favorite snack for everyone just like murukku. Yes, Uppu cheedai / salt seedai is my family's favorite snacks. Whenever we visit Adayar Anandha Bhavan hotel, we buy a packet of seedai without fail. I am trying to make white colored seedai just like shops. I will share that recipe once I get it right.

Friends, do try this easy uppu seedai recipe for Gokulashtami or during weekends for your kids. Do not worry about bursting. Just follow this recipe and make perfect seedai.


Watch out the full detailed video recipe for uppu seedai making with homemade processed flour and roasted urad dal flour preparations before you start. Hope you will find it useful :) Lets see how to make this Gokulashtami special recipe uppu seedai with step by step photos and video ! 

If you want to make seedai using store bought rice flour, please check THIS POST

   
    Uppu seedai - Video recipe
   
salt seedai - uppu seedai

Uppu seedai recipe / Salt seedai


Vella seedai recipe / Sweet seedai with jaggery

Uppu seedai recipe / Salt seedai for Gokulashtami / Krishna jayanthi festival


 
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Snacks
Serves: 60
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Processed rice flour OR Store bought rice flour – 1 cup

  • Roasted urad dal flour – 1 tbsp

  • Soft butter at room temperature - 1 tbsp (optional)

  • Hing / Asafetida – 1/8 tsp

  • Grated coconut – 1 tbsp

  • Black Sesame seeds – 1 tsp

  • Salt and water – as needed

  • Cooking oil – to deep fry

How to make uppu seedai - METHOD
  1. Dry roast the processed rice flour for few minutes. Cool down and add urad dal flour. Sieve twice to avoid bursting.
  2. Add salt, sesame seeds, powdered coconut and soft butter. Mix well.
  3. Add water to rice flour gradually.
  4. Make thick dough. Make small balls roughly. Dry in a cloth for 10 minutes.
  5. Heat oil to deep fry in batches. Drop seedai and cook in low to medium flame till golden in color and bubbles cease.
  6. Cool down completely. Store in a box and enjoy! 
HOW TO MAKE UPPU SEEDAI – STEP BY STEP PICTURES
Click this LINK for processed rice flour
 
  • Grind the grated coconut in a dry mixie jar and make a powder.
  • If you are using homemade rice flour, first you should dry roast the flour for few minutes in low flame till vapour starts to come. Its a must & should step to get seedai without bursting.
  • Take the roasted rice flour and urad flour in a bowl. Sieve once or twice. Add sesame seeds, hing and ground coconut powder. Lastly add the butter and blend it well with the flour using your fingers. Do not give too much of pressure to the flour.
uppu seedai
  • Add water and make a non-sticky dough. Make sure there are no cracks. Roll the dough into small balls roughly in a paper or cloth. Do not roll very tightly. Use first three fingers to make balls.
uppu seedai
uppu seedai
  • Allow the balls to dry for 15 to 20 minutes before frying. Heat oil in a kadai and deep fry them in batches in medium flame. Keep tossing the seedai to get a uniform color.
uppu seedai
uppu seedai 
  • Remove when all the bubbles cease. Store in a box after it cools down. Stays good for a week.
NOTE - TIPS AND TRICKS TO AVOID BURSTING OF SEEDAI
  • Dry roast the wet rice flour for few minutes slightly if  you are using homemade processed rice flour.
  • First important thing to avoid bursting is to “SIEVE” the flour once or twice. U should sieve all the flour ( urad dal flour , rice flour and fried gram flour if u use). Sieving the flour properly reduces 90% of bursting.
  • Secondly u should not roll the seedai very tightly. U should roll it to a loose ball using three fingers. No problem if its not a proper round.
  • Dry the seedai in a paper or towel for 30 minutes before frying. If you want to deep fry immediately, prick the seedai with a small needle to avoid bursting. Most of the time pricking may not be necessary because by the time you finish rolling all the seedai, it would have dried.
  • Beginners can try deep frying few seedai in “small tempering kadai” . If it comes out well , proceed in a big kadai. Color variations may be there slightly. But you can check whether it bursts or disperses in oil..
  • If this seedai breaks or dissolves in oil, it means fat  ( ghee / butter) content may be more or oil temperature is too high or too low.
  • If  seedai bubbles too much after you drop into oil , it shows the ghee or butter or oil  content is more. So add more rice flour to the dough and make again.
  • The color of seedai depends on the color of urad dal flour. If you roast the dal to golden brown, seedai will also turn brown.
  • Uniform heating is also important. In my observation, low to medium flame is sufficient to get a well cooked, nice color seedai. Keep tossing every now and then.
 uppu cheedai
 
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August 24, 2013

VELLA SEEDAI | SWEET SEEDAI RECIPE | VELLA CHEEDAI - GOKULASHTAMI RECIPES

Vella seedai
 
Vella Seedai / Sweet Seedai recipe with jaggery ( updated with video and step by step photo) is a must and should neivedyam recipe for Gokulashtami in Tamil nadu houses. I never knew about vella seedai till my marriage and now this has become my favourite. Every year I follow my MIL’s traditional and authentic recipe for vella cheedai and uppu cheedai using homemade rice flour. It comes out very well without bursting.

  Please refer the “Note” section for tips to avoid bursting. Usually we make the size of this sweet seedai bigger than uppu seedai. We also make 2 “Seepaankuzhal “ (small rod shaped) in each variety which is specially meant for baby Krishna. I give this to my daughter every year. Every year I make seedai with homemade processed rice flour . This year , for a change I tried with store bought rice flour which I use for making idiyappam. I followed same recipe for both and I didn't find any big difference in taste and color. Deep frying part is important to get a nice color and uniform browning. I have given in detail under “Method”. But cracks are unavoidable.

  First picture is with home made rice flour and the second one with store bought rice flour . I have made a full video on how to make vella cheedai just for beginners. Please watch it before you start doing. Hope you find it useful :)

Do check out my traditional uppu seedai recipe too !

If you want to make seedai using store bought rice flour, please check THIS POST !



Sweet seedai recipe with rice flour

Vella seedai recipe / Sweet seedai with jaggery


Vella seedai recipe / Sweet seedai with jaggery

Vella seedai recipe / Sweet seedai with jaggery for Gokulashtami / Krishna jayanthi festival


 
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sweet
Serves: 30
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Processed rice flour OR Store bought rice flour – 1 cup
  • Roasted urad dal flour – 2 tsp
  • Soft butter at room temperature - 1/2 tbsp (optional)
  • Grated jaggery –1/2 cup
  • Grated coconut – 1 tbsp
  • Sesame seeds – 1 tsp
  • Salt – a pinch
  • Cardamom – 2
  • Water – just to cover jaggery ( around 3-4 tbsp)
HOW TO MAKE VELLA SEEDAI
  1. Dry roast the processed rice flour for few minutes. Cool down and add urad dal flour. Sieve twice to avoid bursting.
  2. Add cardamom powder, sesame seeds, powdered coconut and soft butter. Mix well.
  3. Boil and melt jaggery adding little water. Strain the syrup. Add to rice flour gradually.
  4. Make thick dough. Make small balls roughly. Dry in a cloth for 10 minutes.
  5. Heat oil to deep fry in batches. Drop 5 seedai and cook in low to medium flame till golden in color.
  6. Seedai turns crispy after it cools down. Store in a box and enjoy!

 

HOW TO MAKE VELLA SEEDAI – STEP BY STEP PICTURES
Click this LINK for processed rice flour
  • In a pan dry roast the flour till vapor comes out lightly. Do it in low to medium flame. Do not over roast the flour. Sieve and set aside.
  • In a bowl , take 1 cup of  roasted rice flour and 2 tsp of urad dal flour. Sieve them once or twice. (This step is very important to avoid bursting) . Grind the grated coconut finely to a coarse powder.
  • In a pan take the grated jaggery & add little water to cover it. Heat & melt it to make a thin syrup. No need to boil it. Remove & filter the syrup to discard the impurities.

vella seedai tile1

  • Strain & add this syrup to the flour , cardamom powder, sesame seeds & grated coconut, softened butter. Mix well to make a dough. Make sure the dough should be not be sticky. It should not have cracks. It should be thick. Add syrup accordingly. Sometimes syrup itself would be sufficient to make the dough OR you may have to add little extra water to make the dough.

vella seedai tile2


  • Make small balls out of the dough. Prick the balls with a needle or toothpick to avoid bursting. This is for additional safety. Allow the balls to dry in a cotton cloth or paper for 15-20 mins before frying.
  • Before deep frying check the heat of oil by dropping a pinch of dough. If it rises immediately, oil temperature is just right. Lower the flame to low & drop the seedai 4 to 5 at a time.
  • After you drop the seedai , do not disturb it for few seconds.( stand 2 feet away from the kadai for safety, luckily it didn’t burst for me so far). If you start to stir immediately, seedai may break and dissolve in oil. After few seconds, turn it once to prevent sticking. (For beginners, try to fry one or two seedai with little oil in a mini tadka kadai to check if it disperse or burst. Then you make in large batches.
  • vella seedai tile3
  • Always deep fry in low to medium flame to get a nice color. Keeping the flame high turns the seedai black & inside portion will not be cooked properly. U don’t have to wait till all the bubbles cease. Once the seedai turns golden brown, remove & drain in a tissue paper. Cracks are normal in vella seedai. Don’t worry.
  • Initially sweet seedai tends to be soft, but it hardens & becomes crispy when it cools down.
  • vella seedai tile4


Crunchy Sweet seedai is ready !
 
seedai raksha


NOTE
  • First important thing to avoid bursting is to “SIEVE” the flour once or twice. U should sieve all the flour ( urad dal flour , rice flour & gram flour if u use). Sieving the flour properly reduces 90% of bursting..
  • U must roast the flour slightly for few minutes in low flame if you are using homemade rice flour.
  • Secondly u should not roll the seedai very tightly. U should roll it to a loose ball using three fingers.No problem if its not a proper round. 
  • One more tip is to prick the seedai with a small needle or toothpick to avoid bursting. Dry the seedai in a paper or towel for 20 mins before frying..
  • Beginners can try deep frying few seedai in “small tempering kadai” . If it comes out well, proceed in a big kadai. Color variations may be there slightly. But you can check whether it bursts or disperses in oil.
  • If sweet seedai breaks or dissolves in oil, it means jaggery may be more or oil temperature is too high or too low.
  • If Seedai bubbles too much after you drop into oil, it shows the fat ( ghee or butter or oil) content is more. So add more rice flour to the dough & make again.
  • The color of seedai depends on the color of urad dal flour. If you roast the dal to golden brown, seedai will also turn brown.
  • Uniform heating is also important. In my observation, I feel low to medium flame is enough to get a nice color and crispy seedai.
Do check out my uppu seedai recipe too !
sweet-seedai-recipe copy

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August 23, 2013

Instant Nei Appam Recipe - Sweet Appam Recipe Without Banana

Instant nei appam
 This is an instant version of Nei appam recipe (ghee appam). Traditionally nei appam is prepared using raw rice and jaggery. Usually I make sweet appam using wheat flour & banana in paniyaram pan. My MIL also makes an sweet paniyaram using raw rice which is our family favourite. But I wanted to try a quick sweet appam recipe without soaking rice and without banana. Yes this sweet appam is prepared without banana but still it comes out soft and spongy. 

This recipe uses rice flour, wheat flour, jaggery and rava/sooji. When I was going through my cook books, I got this recipe given by Mrs. Mallika badrinath. I tried the recipe as such but I was not happy with the result. It came out crispy  & tasty but it looked dry & a bit hard. So I just added little cooking soda & it made a great change to the recipe. It came out super soft n fluffy with crispy outer layer. I was very happy & thought of blogging it for gokulashtami and Karthigai deepam festival.

With superb flavor of ghee, it was awesome. If you are ghee conscious like me, use cooking oil or gingely oil for frying. It tasted good for both. I used paniyaram pan for shallow frying. U can also try deep frying it looks like chettinad vellai paniyaram with flower edges. U can see that picture in step by step pictures. Friends, do try this easy, instant nei appam recipe for krishna jayanthi & Karthigai deepam and let me know your feedback.

Do check out my traditional nei appam recipe with raw rice , sweet appam with banana & wheat flour.
Nei appam without banana

Instant nei appam


Easy nei appam Instant nei appam recipe using rice flour and rava for Gokulashtami and Karthigai deepam
Cuisine: Indian Category: Sweet Yields: 10
Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 15 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup-250ml
For batter
  • Store bought rice flour – 1/3 cup
  • Fine Rava or Upma Rava/ sooji – 1/2 cup ( use fine rava for nice texture)
  • Wheat flour OR Maida – 1/3 cup
  • Grated jaggery – 3/4 cup
  • Grated coconut – 3 tbsp
  • Cardamom powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Cooking soda / Baking soda – 1/4 tsp
  • Salt – a pinch
  • Cooking oil or ghee – As needed
  • Water –As needed ( I used 1 cup water)
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT NEI APPAM

  • In a wide bowl , take all the ingredients mentioned above except cooking soda & mix well adding required water.The consistency of batter should be semi thick & pourable. (If the jaggery has impurities, you should boil and melt it adding 1:2 ratio of water and jaggery. Then strain it through a metal filter and add that water to the mixture.)
  • Add cooking soda 10 minutes before making appam. Mix well and let it sit. 
appam tile1
  • In a paniyaram pan , add 1 tsp of ghee in each hole & pour the batter. Cover cook for few minutes in low to medium flame. Flip it using a spoon or a small stick like thing. Cook again for few minutes till you get a nice golden brown color.
appam tile2
  • If u want to deep fry , heat a pan with little oil & pour the batter using a small ladle. Deep fry one by one to get a nice shape.Splash the oil over the appam while it cooks to get a nice flower shape with frills in the sides.
appam tile3
Remove & serve hot or cold.
Note
  • Consistency of batter is important. It should not be too thick or thin.
  • U can also use cooking oil instead of ghee. I used ghee for my daughter & oil for ourselves. But add it generously.
  • Always cook in medium flame else it will be burnt. I felt the color of appam turned darker for ghee than oil. 
  • This appam stays soft for long time. It tastes crispy when hot & soft when cold..
  • If you want to skip baking soda, you have to add 1 ripen mashed banana OR you should mix the batter in the morning and make appam in the evening so that batter gets fermented. 
  • If you want the appam to be crispy, cook in low flame for long time. You can also try skipping soda. But you should eat the appam really hot otherwise it will look dry. 

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August 20, 2013

SWEET BEEDA RECIPE


beeda picture

I am a big fan of sweet beeda.My lunch in restaurants never completes without a beeda.In some hotels , beeda is not served in thali .So we used to roam(me & my father) around in search of beeda shops..Now after marriage,Sendhil buys beeda specially for me though he don’t like it much..Recently my MIL gave me a box of gulkand.Though there are many yummy gulkand recipes , beeda flashed in my mind ;)..But never thought i could make beeda at home until i saw this video. Thank u so much vidya lakshmi.From now on I can have yummy home made beedas happily Smile .This beeda is not only tasty,but also helps to digest food easily. Edible calcium paste is helpful for daily dose of calcium needs..So friends , if u have betel leaves in hand ,try this beeda recipe & let me know ur feedback. I hope step by step pictures gives u a clear idea.Surprise ur guests & elders at home with this beeda after a heavy lunch menu.For a simple beeda recipe , please refer “Notes” section..

beeda ingredients


INGREDIENTS
To make one beeda
  • Beetal leaves/ vettrilai /paan leaf – 1 no
  • Sunnaambu /Edible calcium paste – a trace
  • Supari / paakku – 1/4 tsp
  • Paan masala – 1/4 tsp (optional)
  • Sweetened dry ginger or amla – 1 small piece (optional)
  • Colored dessicated coconut strands – few
  • Gulkand – 1/2 tsp
  • Sweet saunf – 1/4 tsp
  • Cloves – 1 no (optional)
  • Cherries – few
  • Plum – 1 no
  • Tooth pick – 1 no

METHOD
  • Wash the beetle leaf , pat dry with a cloth. Fold the leaf & cut it half way through the stalk part(kaambu) ..
beeda tile1
beeda tile2
  • Apply less than a pinch of sunnambu/lime on the back side of leaf. pinch. Adding more burns the tongue , take care..
beeda tile3
  • Now roll one edge of the leaf to cone shape..Roll the other edge similarly & make a cone (pouch shape)to keep all the ingredients inside.
beeda tile4
  • First add the supari , then keep the dessicated coconut ,pan masala , sweet saunf , gulkand. At last keep a clove & cherries . U can also add a pinch of cardamom powder..Close it.
 beeda tile5
beeda tile6
  • Place a plum on top of beeda & insert a tooth pick OR use a clove to seal it..Serve &enjoy !!
beeda tile7

beeda closeup open - beeda


NOTE
  • To make a simple beeda recipe , wash the betel leaf & apply sunnambu on both the sides.Use supari , saunf , sugar , cardamom powder ,little honey and make beeda as mentioned above..Seal the beeda with a clove..

Finish ur lunch with a banana & homemade beeda ! It tastes delicious :)

beeda--plate final copy

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