Search Chitra's Food Book

Showing posts with label FOOD FOR TRAVEL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FOOD FOR TRAVEL. Show all posts

April 17, 2014

Chettinad Vara Milagai Thuvayal(Red chilli Chutney Recipe)- Chutney For Paniyaram

Vara milagai chutney is a popular side dish for idli, dosa and paniyaram in Karaikudi - Chettinad region. This is one of the easiest chutney recipes & ideal for travel as it is without coconut. I think chettinad kara chutney and vara milagai thuvayal are the same because both have the same ingredients.

Friends from Chettinad, please tell me if there is any difference. I would love to try that too. Sendhil doesn’t like spicy side dishes. So I was waiting for a good chance to try this chutney for me. Yesterday my parents were in my house. As my dad is fond of kara chutney, I tried this spicy red chilli chutney for him. 

He loved it a lot and told me to pack this chutney with idli for his travel to Hyderabad. Whenever we go to hotels, myself and my dad ask for more servings of kaara chutney than coconut chutney & sambar. We are a big big fan of this. People looking for spicy side dishes must try this chutney. I am sure you will have at least 2 idlies more than your regular intake.


Chettinad Kara chutney recipe


Kara chutney recipe Kara chutney recipe - Chettinad style - Tastes great with idli, dosa & paniyaram
Cuisine: Indian
Category: sidedishes
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Tomato - 1 no
  • Small onions - 20 nos or big onion - 2 no
  • Red chillies – 5 nos
  • Tamarind - a small piece(a big pinch)
  • Garlic cloves - 3 nos
  • Salt & water - as needed
To temper
  • Gingely oil - 3 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few
HOW TO MAKE CHETTINAD KARA CHUTNEY - METHOD

  • Grind tomato,red chillies,small onions, garlic cloves, tamarind with salt & water to a slightly coarse paste. (Tips Tips: Always pinch the tamarind into small pieces and use for grinding. It helps to grind smoothly)
Vara milagai chutney step1
  • Heat gingely oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds, urad dal & curry leaves. Pour this chutney in hot oil and allow it to boil till raw smell emanates completely.Chutney thickens as well.
Vara milagai chutney step2
  • Remove & serve with idli, dosa or paniyaram.


Note

  • Do not reduce the oil quantity for tempering as it helps to suppress the body heat developed by red chillies. It is good for your tummies too.
  • Use one big onion if you don’t have small onions in hand. 
  • If you like the raw smell of onions & want more spicy, just temper & pour it on the chutney. No need to boil the chutney.
 Malligai poo idli with spicy hot vara milagai chutney for breakfast is a total bliss, Right?? 
Continue Reading...


December 19, 2013

Curd Rice Recipe - Thayir Sadam - Bagala Bath Recipe


Curd rice recipe
Curd rice / Thayir sadam /  bagala bath is loved by all irrespective of ages. As curd rice is an usual post, I thought of sharing some tips on “How to pack curd rice for lunch box”and “How to make creamy curd rice for parties/potluck” in the “Notes” section. Basically I love to eat plain curd rice more than the seasoned one decorated with fruits and vegetables like carrot. Having lots of fresh curd mixed in hot rice is the divine lunch for me. So I always make curd rice in a very simple way without adding veggies,fruits and nuts. Whenever Sendhil have his lunch outside with his friends, I make easy rasam & potato curry for Raksha and my lunch would be mostly curd rice and pickle ( preferrably vadu manga oorgai) alone.
Curd has innumerable health benefits.People who don’t like curds have to consume at least a cup of buttermilk  to aid digestion.My MIL usually says buttermilk is much healthier than curd.Thanks to my MIL and my dear friend Shalini for sharing these tips with me. Hope it would be useful for beginners too.Curd rice experts,please share your method of making for lunch box and parties.It would be more helpful for for all of us :)
Click here for baby mango pickle/Maavadu and Mor milagai recipe
.
Thayir sadam

Curd rice/Thayir sadam


Curd rice/Thayir sadam How to make creamy curd rice/thayir sadam
Cuisine: Indian Category: Lunch Yields: Serves 2
Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 5 Minutes Total Time: 20 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Boiled rice or raw rice - 1/2 cup
  • Water - 2 cups
  • Milk - 3/4 cup
  • Fresh cream(2 tbsp) or butter (1 tbsp)
  • Fresh curd - 1/2 cup ( for immediate consumption.)
  • Salt - as needed
To temper
  • Cooking oil - 1.5 tsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  • Urad dal - 2 tsp
  • Hing -  a pinch
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Coriander leaves – 1/2 tsp
To mix with rice
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
  • Finely chopped mango - 1 tbsp
  • Finely chopped ginger – 2 tsp
  • Grated carrot - 2 tbsp (optional) 
  • Dry grapes and pomegranate - A handful(optional)
Sour cream& butter milk – As needed (for parties)
METHOD

  • Wash and pressure cook the rice in low flame for 1whistle.If high flame,give 6-7 whistles.Rice should be completely mushy.Open the lid and mash the rice very well with the back of a  ladle.Add the required salt immediately.. Add warm milk to the rice and mix well.Add fresh cream or butter at this stage and mix well till it becomes creamy. This avoids the rice forming lumps when cooled down. Suppose if you feel, there are lumps in rice, use your hands and break it.
curd rice recipe
  • Add the finely chopped ginger,curry leaves,slit green chillies and coriander leaves.Now add the fresh curd.Mix well.(Never add curd to hot rice)
curd rice  recipe
  • Add little more milk till u get the desired consistency.Now add the chopped fruits,veggies(if using) and tempered ingredients.Add some curry leaves and coriander leaves before switching off the flame while tempering..
curd rice recipe
  • Mix well and serve hot  with a pickle.Consume within an hour or two.
**Add more curd,if u like more tangy.For the mentioned quantity,the taste would be mildly sour.

FOR LUNCH BOX AND PARTIES WITH DO’S AND DONT’S

  • For lunch box,to prepare 6-7 hours in advance,add 1.25 cups of milk for 1/2 cup of rice.Add 1 tsp of curd during summer season and 1-2 tbsp of curd during winter and other seasons .Make sure the rice is not so hard after mixing.ie,Milk should be 1/2 inch above the rice.Bring it to little loose consistency.Add slit green chillies,ginger, curry leaves and coriander leaves.Green chillies help to avoid the rice becoming too tangy.Ginger and greens is for flavour.Do the tempering.Allow the rice to cool down before packing in the box.
  • For parties to prepare in advance( 6-8 hours before) : For 1/2 cup of rice,add 1.25 cups of milk and 2 tsp of curd with the required salt.Mix well and allow it to set for 4-6 hours.Make the consistency little loose.One hour before serving,check the curd rice.It would have been set and little hard too.At this time add the seasoning,mixed fruits, grated carrot and cashews(unroasted).Lastly add 1/4-1/2 cup of thick buttermilk and 2 tbsp of sour cream( for people in abroad).Mix well.Check for taste.Add little milk if too sour.Adjust the buttermilk and cream as per the taste & texture u require.U can also add evaporated milk.
  • For people in India,we may not get sour cream here.So use fresh cream or butter as much as u need.It will help to balance the sourness, makes the rice look creamy and also gives a mild sweetness.
  • For travel,add more milk as the rice tends to ferment very soon because of heat and becomes sour.Always take some thin buttermilk in hand to mix with the rice if rice becomes too hard
DO ‘s & DONT’s
  • Never use ur hand for mixing if u make the curd rice in advance.It will become too sour.Use ur hands for mixing only if u consume within two hours.
  • Add hot or warm milk to the rice immediately after mashing the rice.
  • Never add curd to the hot rice.It will leave water.Lunch box will leak and when u open the box,u’ll see the rice and curd separate.
  • Never add the fruits,veggies and nuts in advance because the color of curd rice may change.
  • U can also add mor milagai while tempering for more flavour and taste.
  • Here i slitted the green chillies.U can slice it finely and add them.Some people add chopped small onions too.
Thanks to my friend Shalini for sharing these party tips.She said she had followed all these tips for family get togethers and potlucks when she was in US.She also mentioned that curd rice can be prepared and refrigerated in an air tight box if u make one day in advance.The next day,bring it to room temperature and follow the above mentioned steps.
Hope these tips are useful to u all.Do share if u have any special tip.Thanks for spending time to read this lengthy post :)

Enjoy the curd rice with mor milagai and a pickle.It would be heavenly !
Curd rice recipe

Continue Reading...


August 14, 2013

SAMBAR SADAM | SAMBAR RICE RECIPE – LUNCH RECIPES

sambar--sadam bowl

I wanted to post one pot sambar sadam recipe ( Sambar rice in a pressure cooker) after tasting in hotels. Saravana bhavan sambar sadam is very popular in Tamil nadu. I usually make rice and sambar separately and mix them. Every week I used to watch Podhigai channel’s Asathal suvai if it is hosted by “ Mrs.Revathy shanmugam”. Last week she gave the recipe for sambar rice. I tried it the next day.It was a huge success at home.We loved its flavor and taste. I have not used any garam masala here. So It tastes like our Tamil nadu hotel style sambar sadam. It has a goey texture when hot and thickens after it cools down. It tasted great when hot as well as cold. Addition of ghee is a must here. It gives a nice aroma. :) I have updated this recipe with a full video. Please watch it below.

Do check out my Karnataka style Bisi bele bath recipe using homemade bisi bele bath powder.
Here is my Curd rice recipe.



sambar sadam bowl

Sambar sadam/ Sambar rice recipe


Sambar sadam/ Sambar rice recipe How to make sambar sadam - Tamil nadu style sambar rice in one pot
Cuisine:  South Indian
Category: Lunch Recipes
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
To pressure cook
  • Raw rice – 1 cup OR steamed rice - 1 cup
  • Toor dal – 1/2 cup
  • Water – 6 –7 cups
  • Carrot – 2 nos
  • Peas – 1/4 cup
  • Beans - 5 nos
  • Drumstick – 2 nos (chop into finger size)
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Hing /Asafetida – 1/4 tsp
  • Salt – As needed
To soak in water
  • Tamarind – Lemon size ball
To roast & grind
  • Cooking oil – 1 tsp
  • Red chillies – 8 nos ( use 6 if spicy chilli)
  • Chana dal – 2.5 tbsp
  • Dhania – 2 tbsp
  • Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
  • Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Grated coconut – 2 tsp (optional)
  • Hing – 2 pinches
To saute
  • Cooking oil + ghee – 1tbsp + 2 tsp
  • Small onion /sambar onion – 15 nos
  • Tomato – 3 nos
  • Sambar powder -1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves – few
To temper
  • Oil + ghee – 2 tsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp (to garnish)
Ghee – 2 tbsp
HOW TO MAKE SAMBAR RICE - METHOD

  • Pressure cook drumstick separately. Remove the flesh & keep aside
  • Wash and pressure cook rice. Wash & pressure cook rice n dal along with chopped carrots ,beans , peas ,turmeric powder , salt & hing. Add 6 cups of water & Cook for 2-3 whistles till rice n dal turns mushy. Open the cooker & mash it well. Set aside.
sambar sadam tile1
  • In a pan , add a tsp of oil and roast all the ingredients given under “to roast & grind” . Powder them nicely and set aside.
    sambar sadam tile2
  • In the same pan, heat oil + ghee and saute the onions, chopped tomatoes & curry leaves. Saute till tomato turns mushy. Then add 1 cup of tamarind extract, sambar powder, turmeric powder , hing & salt if required. Let it boil for sometime till onion gets cooked. If you want , you can directly add the tamarind extract, sauteed onion, tomato mixture to the cooked rice and dal & proceed.
sambar sadam tile3
  • Now add this mixture to the cooked rice . Add the masala powder, drumstick flesh and mix well.Simmer the flame and allow it to boil well for 10 minutes . All the flavour gets into the rice.Stir once or twice in the middle. Add ghee to avoid rice sticking to the bottom of pan. Mix well. Lastly temper the mustard seeds & add. Garnish with coriander leaves..
    sambar sadam tile4
    Serve hot  drizzled with little ghee & papad !! !


Note
  • For variations , u can use steamed rice instead of raw rice. Add water according to the quality of rice.
  • I used byadge chillies in this recipe. It gave a nice color to the rice and less spicy too. If you use spicy chillies, use 5-6 as per your taste buds.
  • Adding coconut is purely optional. If you add it, add more chillies to compensate.
Delicious sambar sadam, creamy curd rice, crispy fryums and spicy pickle, mor milagai is ready to enjoy !
sambar sadam-plate
Continue Reading...


April 1, 2013

PEPPER PULIYODHARAI | MILAGU PULIYODHARAI


pepper puli sadham
I wanted to try this pepper puliodharai recipe for long time. I usually follow my MIL’s method for making tamarind rice / puliyodharai . It comes out very well. This time I tried the same recipe with pepper. 

As I mentioned in my pepper idli post, my hubby is very much fond of pepper dishes.. So I tried this pepper puliogare on my own.. It came out very well. It had a nice flavour of pepper in it. I packed it for my hubby’s lunch box. He liked it very much. There is no much difference in the method and the ingredients.

U can prepare the paste the previous night and make the rice the next day.  Adjust the amount of pepper powder based on your taste. This paste stays well for 1 week even without refrigeration.  I also feel for making puliyodharai, mixing the paste in raw rice or boiled rice tastes well more than basmati. Add few tsps of sesame oil / gingely oil while mixing the rice & paste to get the additional flavour and taste. As we all know, this rice is apt for travel too.

Pepper puliogare

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
Serves 2 people
  • Rice – 1/2 cup ( Raw rice or boiled rice)
  • Tamarind -  Medium gooseberry size
  • Jaggery – A small piece
  • Salt , water – As needed
To roast & grind
  • Oil – 1/2 tsp
  • Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Pepper corns – 1 tsp
  • Chana dal – 1 tsp
  • Hing/Asafetida -  A big pinch
To saute
  • Gingely oil – 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal – 2 tsp
  • Chana dal – 1 tbsp
  • Red chillies – 2 nos (pinched)
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Hing /Asafetida-A pinch
Crushed Pepper powder – 1.5 tsp
Sesame oil /Gingely oil – 1 –2 tbsp

HOW TO MAKE PEPPER TAMARIND RICE
  • Pressure cook the rice and spread in a plate adding a tbsp of gingely oil. Let the rice cools down and becomes fluffy.
  • Soak tamarind in warm water for 20 minutes and take the extract adding 2 cups of water.
  • Heat gingely oil in a pan and temper mustard, urad dal, chana dal, red chillies, curry leaves, hing. Saute well. Now add the tamarind extract, salt, turmeric powder, little hing and curry leaves. Allow to boil well. In the middle add the jaggery.
pepper puliodharai tile1
  • Add 1/2 tsp of oil and roast the ingredients given under “To roast&grind”. Roast till the pepper corns splutter. Powder them and set aside.
pepper puliodharai tile2
  • When the tamarind extract reduces to half in quantity, add the roasted & ground powder.  After you add the powder, give a boil. The mixture thickens. Let it roll boil well for few seconds. After  you get salangai satham ( gala gala sound), switch off the flame.
pepper puliodharai tile4
  • Finally add the crushed pepper powder in the paste, mix well. Set aside. Tamarind paste is ready. Mix the required paste in the rice adding gingely oil.
pepper puliodharai tile3

pepper puliodharai tile5

Note
  • If you want more spicy, add more pepper powder at the end.

Continue Reading...


January 4, 2009

Small Onion Red Chilli Chutney - South Indian Style Raw Onion Chutney

Raw onion chutney south indian style

My mom makes this spicy raw onion chutney (Chinna vengayam chutney) in South Indian style along with coconut chutney for idlis & dosa. She makes it with small onions, red chilli and tamarind. We call it as vengaya chutney in Tamil. Its very easy to make & it tastes great with hot idli drizzled with lots of sesame oil. This pacha vengaya chutney is my most favourite chutney recipe. To me, its the best side dish for idli dosa in the world ;). I can have any number of idli or dosa with this raw onion chutney. It tastes good for one day travel too. Lets see how to make this yummy,easy raw onion chutney recipe with red chilli.
Small onion red chilli chutney

Vengaya chutney recipe


Onion chutney Easy onion chutney recipe using raw onions in South Indian style.
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Chutney
Serves: Serves 4
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 5 Minutes
Total time: 10 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Sambar onion /Shallot–  10 – 12 nos or Big onion - 1 no 
  • Red chilly – 4 nos
  • Tamarind –Small berry size
  • Salt – To taste
METHOD

  • In a mixie jar,take all the ingredients given above.Grind it to a smooth paste adding required water.Enjoy with hot idlis,dosas adding few drops of gingely oil.Gingely oil helps to enhance its flavour while eating.So don’t skip it.Adjust the quantity of chillies as per your need.If u reduce the chillies,the smell of onion will be dominating.To balance the taste,use right quantity of chillies & tamarind.

Enjoy with idli,dosa!
Note: U can grind this chutney with big onions too.It will be little sweetish or u can combine both the onions and do it! Color of this chutney may vary as per the color of chillies

Enjoy my favourite spicy onion chutney with hot idlis.It tastes heavenly !!
Spicy onion chutney 1


Continue Reading...