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Showing posts with label INDIAN THALI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label INDIAN THALI. Show all posts

May 27, 2013

TAMILNADU LUNCH MENU 2 - SOUTH INDIAN LUNCH MENU IDEAS

Tamilnadu lunch menu

In my attempt in posting other state recipes, I have successfully tried & posted Andhra , kerala and punjabi , Kongu lunch recipes. It will be unfair if I don’t post my own state lunch recipes.. So here is a platter of Tamilnadu lunch recipes I made for my parents and bro. Everything came out really well & tasty. Like you all , we tamilians prepare varieties of recipes either for occasions or for guests. Serving in banana leaf is a must for us which is considered as a way of showing our respect and gratitude to our guests. But here I dint present them in banana leaf as I couldn’t get it . 

Very soon i’ll post another set of Tamilnadu lunch recipes served in banana leaf with authentic serving order.In the above plate u can see ( Left to right) Rice , Dal , Avial , Morkuzhambu , Mullangi Sambar , Rasam , Vendakkai mangai kathrikai pachadi , Instant mango pickle along with papad , Urad dal vada , Rice vadam, Spiced buttermilk ( Neer mor) & water. I have posted all the above recipes except dal and Pachadi. So I have shared them in this post. Sorry I couldn’t post step by step pictures as I was hurry in making recipes on time.

Do check out my Tamilnadu lunch recipes post which I made some years ago if  you are interested !

lunch - plates


DAL FOR RICE / PARUPPU

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Toor dal OR moong dal – 1/2 cup
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Water & salt – As needed
  • Cooking oil – Few drops
To temper
  • Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal – 1 tsp
  • Hing – 1/4 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few
Ghee – to add while serving

METHOD
  • Pressure cook dal adding turmeric powder & required water and a drop of oil in low flame for 1-2 whistles.
  • Now open the cooker & mash the dal nicely with a ladle.Temper all the ingredients given under”to temper” and add to the dal. Mix well , add salt and serve with hot rice adding a tsp of ghee.. It tastes great with a papad , pachadi and potato poriyal.

VENDAKKAI MANGAI KATHRIKAI PACHADI / OKRA RAW MANGO BRINJAL PACHADI
This is my mom’s recipe.This pachadi will surely make its appearance in our home during mango season.It’s a sweet pachadi variety . So we add less salt..Our guests love this pachadi a lot..It tastes great with paruppu sadam /Dal rice. 
INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Cooked toor dal – 1/4 cup
  • Ladies finger / okra - 10 nos
  • Brinjal – 5 nos (small)
  • Raw mango – 1 no (Small, cut into cubes)
  • Grated Jaggery - 1/8 – 1/4 cup
  • Hing – 1/4 tsp
  • Salt & water  - as needed
To grind
  • Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
  • Green chilli -  2-3 nos
  • Small onion - 4 nos
  • Jeera / cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
To temper
  • Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few

METHOD
  • Pressure cook toor dal, mash & set aside.
  • Cut okra into tiny pieces , peel the mango skin and cut into small slices . Cut brinjal into very small pieces and keep immersed in water to avoid discoloration.
  • Grind all the ingredients given under”to grind” and make a smooth paste.
  • In a kadai , heat oil and saute the okra pieces for few minutes.
  • Pressure cook mango , brinjal and okra pieces together adding required water & salt.
  • After the steam is released add the cooked & mashed toor dal , ground coconut paste and hing. Mix well and allow it to boil for few minutes. Finally add the grated jaggery. Give a boil and check for salt & sweetness. Add more jaggery if u want more sweet.
  • Finally temper all the ingredients given under “to temper” and add to the pachadi. Tastes best with dal rice and rasam rice.
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August 27, 2012

Simple Onam Sadya Recipes - Kerala Onam Dishes

onam sadhya

As Onam is nearing, I see lot of posts featuring Kerala onam recipes in blogosphere. After trying the andhra lunch thali successfully, I wanted to try a simple and easy Kerala lunch menu keeping onam festival in mind. When I was thinking about it, my neighbour showed me “Vanitha” magazine which was flooded with onam special recipes of “Pazhayidam Mohanan Namboothiri”. There were many ideas for onam sadya dishes including payasam. As the recipes were given by a popular chef, I tried everything confidently. 

My neighbour Mrs. Prema read all the recipes and translated everything patiently. Thanks a ton to her. Among those recipes, I picked some easy to make, simple dishes and prepared it. I reduced the given quantity as per my need and tried them. So I have mentioned the quantity what I used. We had a great onam lunch. Now after having my preparation, I really want to taste the authentic Onam sadya in Kerala..Wish I could get a chance. When you want to prepare onam special dishes, the choices are endless. My neighbour told they serve nearly 60 side dishes. Wow..!!.I started drooling!!..

Do check out my Onam sadya menu - 2 

ONAM SADHYA 1

I wanted to fill the banana leaf but I couldn’t. I should have kept Pazham, pappadam and nendhran chips which are the highlight in their menu. I was not able to do it. As this is my first Onam sadya post, I am not aware of the serving order. So I kept the dishes as I wished. Please excuse me. I dint prepare Avial as we used to make it regularly. U can see the recipe here. I wanted to try popular dishes which are new to me.They were really awesome in taste.. We loved it. 

Coconut oil and coconut are used as the main ingredients in their food. Even then the food was easily digestible .Yesterday my kitchen was filled with nice aroma of coconut oil. I have bookmarked some more recipes from that book. I’ll try everything and post it soon.
Coming to the recipes ,let me start with the sweet dishes.

SEMIYA PAYASAM
semiya payasam

This Kerala style semiya payasam is very simple to make. The taste was excellent. My hubby who doesn’t like this payasam loved it a lot.. It can be served hot or cold. For variations, you can add badam powder at the end to give a kheer taste..

INGREDIENTS (1 cup - 250ml)
For 2- 3 people
  • Semiya / Vermicelli – 1/4 cup
  • Sugar – 4 tbsp  ( adjust)
  • Milk – 1/2 ltr
  • Water – 1/2 cup
  • Cardamom powder – 1/4 tsp(optional)
  • Ghee – 1 tbsp
  • Cashews and dry grapes - few
METHOD
  • In a wide mouthed Kadai , add half tbsp of ghee and roast the vermicelli till it turns golden brown with a nice aroma.
  • In a pressure cooker base , take the milk and water .
  • Let it boil till it reduces to half in quantity..
  • Then add the roasted vermicelli and close the cooker. Leave it for a whistle and the semiya gets cooked well. (Semiya should not be mushy)
  • Open the lid and add the sugar. Mix well.
  • Add more milk if its too thick.Check for taste and add more sugar if required.
  • Finally add the cardamom powder.. Boil for sometime.
  • In a small kadai , take the remaining ghee and roast the cashews and dry grapes.
  • Add on top of the payasam and garnish !!
Serve hot or cold !
NOTE:
  • Cardamom powder is optional. It is not given in the actual recipe but I used it.
  • U can add saffron threads soaked in warm milk which gives a nice color too..
  • My neighbour adds instant badam mix at the end which also tastes the best..


ELANEER PAYASAM / TENDER COCONUT PAYASAM

ILANEER PAYASAM

This elaneer should be watery in consistency. Usually the pulp of tender coconut should be grinded coarsely along with its water and prepared. But I just cut the pulp into small pieces as given in the book . I also added jaggery instead of sugar as mentioned in the book. But please add very less jaggery as we are adding condensed milk, honey and coconut milk at the end.

INGREDIENTS
  • Tender coconut -  2 nos ( take the pulp and water)
  • Jaggery –  2-3 tbsp ( please add lesser quantity)
  • Grated coconut – 1/2 cup ( to extract milk)
  • Condensed milk – 2 tsp
  • Honey – 1 tsp (optional)  ( i added a tsp)
  • Water – Little
  • Cardamom powder – A pinch (optional)
METHOD
  • Take the jaggery and melt to make a syrup by adding water just to cover it.
  • Strain and remove the impurities. After it starts to boil, add the pulp of tender coconut ( I cut into bite sized pieces.. U can also use by grinding it coarsely).. U can even cook the pulp separately and add to jaggery.
  • Let it boil for sometime. In the mean time , grind the grated coconut with water to extract the first milk. Set aside.
  • Similarly take the second and third milk.
  • Now add the third milk to the boiling jaggery mixture.
  • After few seconds, add the second milk. Give a boil.
  • Switch off the flame and add the first thick coconut milk.
  • Mix well and allow it to cool down completely.
  • Finally add the condensed milk and honey. Mix well and enjoy..
Note:
  • The color of this payasam varies according to the jaggery color.
  • Mine was white in color as my jaggery was light yellow in color.
  • Always add jaggery in lesser quantity. If sweet is less, you can add more syrup later.
  • Condensed milk and honey should be added after the mixture cools down completely.

MEZHUKKUPURATTI / MIXED VEG STIR FRY
Mezhukupuratti

Mezhukkupuratti is a simple stir fry which can be made in minutes yet tastes delicious.

INGREDIENTS
  • Yam – 1/4 cup
  • Plantain / Raw banana – 1/ 4 cup
  • Carrot – 1/4 cup
  • Turmeric powder – 1
  • Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Red chillies – 2 nos
  • Green chillies – 2nos
  • Salt & water – As needed
METHOD
  • Cut all the veggies uniformly of small square shaped pieces.
  • Cook yam in pressure cooker.cook plantain and carrot together.
  • Make sure everything is not over cooked and mushy.
  • Now in a kadai , take the coconut oil and add the mustard seeds , cut chillies and few curry leaves.
  • Add the veggies finally and toss well by adding the required salt.

MIXED VEGETABLE THORAN
mixed veg thoran
INGREDIENTS
  • Grated Cabbage – 1/4 cup
  • Carrot – 1/4 cup
  • Big onion – 1 no
  • Half cooked toor dal – 1/4 cup
  • Ginger – 1/2 inch piece
  • Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Salt – as needed
  • Grated coconut – 3 tbsp
To temper
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  • Green chilly – 1 no ( slit cut)
  • Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves – few
METHOD
  • Pressure cook toor dal for one whistle by keeping high flame. The dals gets half cooked.
  • Grate the cabbage and cut carrot into small pieces.
  • In a kadai, heat the coconut oil and temper with mustard seeds and urad dal. Then add the onion pieces.
  • Saute well and add the ginger pieces , green chilly and curry leaves.
  • Now add the cut vegetables , toor dal and mix well.
  • Add all the powders one by one and mix well.
  • Sprinkle little water and cover cook for sometime.
  • Run the grated coconut once in mixie and add it at the end.
  • Mix well and serve hot !!
PULI INJI / INJI CURRY
Puli inji
Among all these dishes, Puli inji secures the first rank.. We loved it a lot. It was very tasty. One can have a plate full of Dal rice or curd rice with this puli inji. Usually its very thick in consistency. But I made it little thin to suit our taste.  Please make it according to ur taste buds. But in the book, it was mentioned to make it thick. It stays good for more than a week. Use a clean spatula every time.

INGREDIENTS
  • Tamarind – A big gooseberry size
  • Ginger – 2 finger size ( chop finely)
  • Jaggery – 1 tbsp ( add more if reqd)
  • Salt & water – as needed..
  • Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Hing – 1/4 tsp
To temper
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Pinched red chilly – 1 no
  • Green chilly – 1 no (finely chopped )
  • Curry leaves – a few
To dry roast & grind:
  • Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp
METHOD
  • Soak tamarind in warm water for take the extract.
  • Add chilli powder , jaggery and give a boil till it reduces to half in  quantity.
  • In a kadai , add coconut oil and temper the items given above..
  • Add the finely chopped ginger pieces and saute well for few mins. U’ll get a nice aroma,
  • Finally add everything to the tamarind mixture and allow it to roll boil .
  • **In the mean time , dry roast methi seeds and powder it.
  • When the tamarind mixture starts to thicken , switch off the flame and add the methi powder. Mix well & Close it with a lid
onam puli inji tile
Serve with dal rice / curd rice.. !
NOTE
  • Puli inji is a spicy accompaniment. A tsp of it is sufficient for a plate of meals. It also aids digestion. Make sure this puli inji is in your menu if you plan to make kerala food..

KALAN
Kaalan tasted similar to mor kuzhambu. We mixed it in plain rice and enjoyed it.

INGREDIENTS
  • Sour curd – 1 cup
  • Pepper powder – 1 tsp
  • Yam – 1/4 cup ( chopped roughly)
  • Green chilly –2 nos
  • Curry leaves – a few
  • Ghee – a tsp
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • **Dry roasted methi powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Salt & water – as needed
To grind:
  • Grated coconut – 1/4 cup
  • Green chillies – 2 no
  • Jeera – 1/2 tsp
To temper
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  • Pinched red chilly – 1 no
METHOD
  • In  a pressure cooker , add the yam pieces, pepper powder, green chilly pieces and a tsp of ghee. Cook well.
  • After opening the cooker, add the whipped curd, turmeric powder and salt. Let it boil.
  • In the mean time, grind the items under “ to grind” to make a paste by adding little water.
  • When the mixture reduces to half, add the ground paste. Boil well.
  • Temper the mentioned items and mix to kalan.
  • Switch off the flame and add the methi powder finally. It would be in the consistency of kootu / aviyal.
  • Mix well and close with a lid to retain the aroma.

ASH GOURD KHICHDI / POOSANIKAI THAYIR PACHADI
ash gourd thayir pachadi

Ashgourd pachadi simple and tasty accompaniment for dal rice.

INGREDIENTS
  • Ash gourd – 1/ 4 cup ( chop finely)
  • Salt & water  - as needed
  • Thick fresh curd – 1/2 cup
To grind
  • Grated coconut – 2 tsbp
  • Green chillies – 2 nos
To temper
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
  • Urad dal – 1/4 tsp
  • Hing – a pinch
  • Pinched red chilly – 1 no
  • Curry leaves - few
METHOD
  • Cook the ash gourd pieces with the required water and squeeze them well to remove its water content.Set aside
  • Now in a kadai , temper all the items given above.
  • Grind the coconut & green chillies to make a paste.
  • In a bowl , take the ground coconut paste , tempered items , squeezed ash gourd pieces and the required salt.
  • Mix well .. add the fresh , thich curd just before serving .
Enjoy with paruppu sadam ..

ERISSERY
Erissery
 Erissery is a semi dry , rice accompaniment which has lots of coconut. Adding more coconut gives a nice flavour for this dish. 

INGREDIENTS
  • Yam/ Chena – 1/4 cup
  • Raw banana – 1/4 cup
  • Pepper powder – 1 / 2 tsp
  • Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Salt & water – as needed.
To grind
  • Grated coconut – 1/4 cup
  • Jeera – 1 / 2 tsp
To temper:
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  • Urad dal –1/2 tsp
  • Jeera – 1/2 tsp
  • Grated coconut – 1/2 cup
  • Curry leaves - few
Please note I have put grated coconut twice here. Use accordingly..

METHOD
  • Chop & cook the yam and banana pieces separately.
  • Heat oil in a a kadai and shallow fry the cooked vegetables.
  • Grind the items given above with little water to make a paste.
  • After shallow frying the veggies , add the ground paste followed by chilli, pepper and turmeric powders.
  • Mix well and allow it to boil sometime.
  • In a kadai , heat coconut oil and temper with urad dal, jeera , curry leaves and grated coconut.
  • Roast them well and add it to the boiling mixture. Mix well and switch off the flame..Enjoy !

KERALA SAMBAR / MIXED VEG SAMBAR
Mixed veg sambhar

INGREDIENTS
  • Toor dal – 1/2 cup
  • Potato – 1no
  • Big onion – 1 /2 no
  • Lady’s finger – 1/4 cup
  • Drum stick – 1 no
  • Turmeric powder – 1 / 4 tsp
  • Chilli powder – 1.5 tsp
  • Coriander seeds powder – 2 tsp
  • Salt –  as needed
  • Tamarind –  Small lemon size
  • Dry roasted methi seeds powder – 1/2 tsp
To temper
    • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
    • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
    • Pinched red chilly – 1 no
  • coriander leaves – to garnish
METHOD
  • Pressure cook dal and potato. Set aside.. Reserve the dal water for making rasam..
  • Soak tamarind in water and take the extract.
  • In a kadai , heat coconut oil and saute the lady’s finger and drum stick pieces.
  • Add all the powders.Saute quickly without burning. Immediately add tamarind extract, Cover and cook well.
  • After the veggies are cooked add the cooked dal and boil well for few mins.
  • Finally temper the items and add the methi powder. switch off the flame..
  • Garnish with coriander leaves..
  • In the serving bowl , place a banana leaf and pour the sambar.
  • Close for sometime and then serve.
  • This is the additional tip given in the book..

KERALA RASAM
kerala rasam
INGREDIENTS
  • Cooked toor dal water – 1 cup
  • Tamarind extract – 1 tsp
  • Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Hing – 1/4 tsp
  • Water – 1/4 cup
  • Jeera – 1/4 tsp
  • Methi seeds –1 / 4 tsp
  • Tomato – 2 nos
  • Curry leaves – few
To dry roast and powder
  • Dhania – 1 tsp
  • Pepper corns – 1 tsp
to temper
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  • Pinched red chilly – 1 no
Coriander leaves – to garnish
METHOD
  • In a kadai , dry roast dhania and pepper corns & powder them.
  • Take the tamarind extract , chilli powder , 1 tomato ( crushed) , jeera , hing and methi seeds along with little water. Boil everything till it reduces to half.
  • Then add the dal water , remaining 1 tomato(finely chopped) , rasam powder and the required salt. Boil for few mins.
  • Remove and temper with mustard seeds and pinched red chillies.
  • Garnish with coriander leaves..
KERALA PARIPPU CURRY
kerala paruppu curry
INGREDIENTS
  • Moong dal – 1/2 cup
  • Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Red chilly – 1 no ( pinched )
  • Water & salt –as needed
To grind
  • Grated coconut – 2 tbsp
  • Jeera – 1/4 tsp
  • Green chilli - 1 no
To temper
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds –1 /2 tsp & ginger pieces ( optional )
  • Pinched red chilly – 1 no
  • Curry leaves – few
METHOD
  • Roast dal till raw smell emanates.
  • Pressure cook the roasted dal with water , turmeric powder and a pinched red chilly..
  • Grind the coconut,chilli and jeera to make a paste.
  • Mix it to the cooked dal and boil till it thickens.
  • Remove and temper with the above items.
  • Serve adding ghee !!
onam paruppu curry tile

AVIAL
avial1

Please click on the picture to see the recipe for avial.
Continue Reading...


July 25, 2012

ANDHRA THALI | ANDHRA LUNCH MENU | ANDHRA VEG MEALS

ANDHRA THALI
Its been my long time wish to try other state foods. I really got bored of making my usual sambar, vathakulambu etc.. So with my hubby’s acceptance and guidance, I tried Andhra meals / Andhra lunch menu as a first step. He had tasted andhra food in some restaurants like Nandini, Nagarjuna. So he told me the names of dishes they serve in the platter. I googled and found good recipes from some of the blogs. They came out very well. 

My hubby thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes I made. I too loved it. My daughter who is a fussy eater loved the food. I was very happy that my first attempt in andhra food was a big success at home. While cooking I found some ingredients, they use commonly in almost all the recipes. They use Red chillies , Ginger & Garlic paste , Hing and ajwain. I think these ingredients gives the aroma and spiciness in their food. My house was filled with nice aroma when I prepare all these dishes. People who love spicy foods must try Andhra food. Ok, coming to the platter.

In the above picture you can see Andhra Sambar , Tomato Rasam , Mamdikaya cauliflower pachadi , Ivygourd poriyal  ( Tindora curry) , Palakura pappu . I tried Andhra style paruppu podi /Kandi podi too but I forgot to mention in the thali. I will make a seperate post for it. 

PALAKURA PAPPU / DAL PALAK

My hubby told this recipe tasted exactly like the one he had in restaurants. Thanks a lot sailu’s food .

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml

  1. Toor dal/red gram dal/kandi pappu – 2 handfuls or 1/4 cup
  2. Palakura/palak/spinach leaves –2 small bunches ( washed and finely chopped)
  3. Big onion – 1 no ( chopped)
  4. Turmeric powder -  a pinch
  5. Green chillies – 2-3 nos ( slit lengthwise)
  6. Ginger – 1/2 inch piece ( chopped)
  7. Thick Tamarind extract – a tsp ( soak berry sized tamarind and add the extract)
  8. Salt & water – as needed
For seasoning (Use a tsp of ghee)
  1. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  2. Cumin seeds/jeera – 1/2 tsp
  3. Urad dal- 1/2 tsp
  4. Garlic cloves, crushed – 3-4
  5. Red chillies – 2 nos (pinched )
  6. Curry leaves – few

METHOD
  1. In a pressure cooker, place dal, washed and finely chopped palak leaves, onions, green chillies, ginger and turmeric powder. Add 1 to 2 cups of water and pressure cook upto 2 whistles.
  2. Heat ghee in a kadai, add mustards seeds and after they start to dance , add cumin seeds, urad dal,  crushed garlic, pinched red chillies and curry leaves and fry for half a minute.
  3. Add this to the pressure cooked dal along with salt and combine. Add the tamarind extract and cook on slow to medium flame for 5-7 mts without lid or till you get the consistency of your choice.Add water if necessary
Enjoy mixing with plain white rice and ghee !!
NOTE
  1. For variations u can try sauting the onions , green chilles , palak leaves in little oil before pressure cooking with dal.
  2. Always do the seasoning in the end.
  3. If you want, you can do the seasoning using oil and add little ghee on top of the dal.
  4. Give a standing time of at least half an hour before serving for all the tastes to blend.

  ANDHRA SAMBAR

I got the following recipes from here. If you want to try varieties of Andhra thali, you must visit this blog to get a good idea. She has given a nice collection of recipes. Thanks Srinithya.


ANDHRA SAMBHAR
INGREDIENTS
  1. Carrot,potato – 1 no each
  2. Drumstick- 1 no
  3. Tomato  - 1 no (chopped)
  4. Big onion –1 no ( chopped)
  5. Toordal- 1/2 cup
  6. Gooseberry sized tamarind – soak in warm water.
  7. Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
  8. Madras sambar masala / any sambhar powder – 1 tsp
  9. Poppy seeds/gasalu-1 tsp
  10. Coconut dry / kobbari –2tsp
  11. Ginger garlic paste- 3/4 tsp
  12. Oil-2 tbsp

To temper

  1. Mustard seeds -1 tsp
  2. Jeera / cumin seeds –1 tsp
  3. Hing -2 pinches
  4. Red chillies – 1 no ( pinched to two)

coriander leaves – to garnish.
METHOD
  1. Pressure cook toor dal and the vegetables . Set aside.
  2. Dry roast poppy seeds, grated coconut and grind it to make a paste along with sambhar powder. keep aside.
  3. In a wide mouthed kadai , add oil and temper the mustard seeds , jeera , hing and turmeric.
  4. Add the G&G paste and saute well. Add the chopped onion and tomato pieces.
  5. Saute till tomato turns mushy. Add the tamarind extract and salt , few curry leaves.Allow it to boil for few mins.
  6. Now add the cooked dal and veggies along with ground poppy seeds paste.
  7. Boil for 10 mins in medium flame. Remove and add coriander leaves.
Serve with hot , plain white rice adding little ghee !!
NOTE
  1. The vegetables should not be over cooked.
  2. As per the original recipe , madras sambar masala is used . But I used my home made sambar powder.
  3. I also used red chillies while tempering and i tempered at the end.

MAMDIKAYA CAULIFLOWER PACHADI | RAW MANGO CAULIFLOWER PACHADI

Thought she has given varieties of pachadi in her blog, I chose this one just becoz of this combination. I wanted to try this combo and as it sounded unique and different. I’ve got an yummy raw mango dish to add in my mango recipes list.
MAMDIKAYA PACHADI
INGREDIENTS
  1. Green Raw mango pieces  - 1 no ( medium sized)
  2. Grated cauliflower florets -1/2 cup
  3. Garlic cloves – 5-6 nos ( chopped)
  4. Red chilli powder –  1 to 2  tsp
  5. Roasted cumin fenugreek powder - 1/8 tsp
  6. Turmeric powder -1/8 tsp
  7. Chopped garlic pods-3 tbsp
  8. Salt- to taste
  9. Water – As needed.
To temper
  1. Oil-1 tbsp
  2. Mustard seeds-1 tsp
  3. Jeera – 1/2 tsp
  4. Curry leaves chopped – few
  5. Hing-2 pinches

METHOD
  1. Peel the skin of raw mango and chop it finely. (Its better if you grate it )
  2. Remove the cauliflower florets and add in boiling water along with little turmeric powder and salt.
  3. Remove and grate it. Set aside.
  4. Heat oil in a pan add mustard, jeera , curry leaves and hing
  5. Add garlic and fry till brown.Now add veggies and fry for 2 seconds
    and close lid and cook till soft,stir in middle to avoid burning. Add little water if necessary.
  6. Add chilli  powder , turmeric powder and salt.
  7. Mix and cook for sometime.
Serve with rice as a side dish !!

TINDORA TOMATO CURRY | IVYGOURD TOMATO STIR FRY

I have never used tindora in my cooking. For a change, I tried this curry . My husband who hates tindora loved this a lot. 
TINDORA FRY
INGREDIENTS
  1. Dondakaya/ivy guard chopped length wise-1 cup
  2. Chopped tomato –1 no
  3. Chopped big onion – 1no
  4. G&G paste – 1/2 tsp
  5. Red chilli powder- 2 tsp
  6. Salt-to taste
  7. Curry powder-2 tsp ( i used garam masala powder)
  8. Dry coconut powder-1tsp ( i used grated coconut)
  9. Turmeric-1/8 tsp
  10. Oil-3 tbsp
To temper
  1. Mustard seeds-1 tsp
  2. Jeera  - 1/2 tsp
  3. Curry leaves- few
  4. Coriander leaves- few to garnish

METHOD
  1. Pressure cook ivy guard pieces till done, drain excess water and set aside.
  2. Fry the pieces in 1 tbsp of oil until crisp and set a side
  3. Heat oil in a pan and  temper all the above ingredients. Add onion  , ginger garlic paste and fry for 5 minutes till raw smell emanates.
  4. Then add tomatoes and cook till soft.
  5. Add all the powders, salt and ivy guard pieces. Fry for 5 more minutes.
  6. Add coriander leaves and serve.
It smells and tastes gr8 with rice as well as roti. !!
NOTE
  1. I dint deep fry the tindora pieces instead I shallow fried it for sometime and proceeded the recipe.
  2. Make sure the tindora is not overcooked while pressure cooking.

TOMATO DAL  RASAM

I made slight changes in the actual recipe to suit my hubby’s taste. It tasted excellent and flavourful the next day. I reheated the rasam and used the same for two days.

ANDHRA RASAM
INGREDIENTS
  1. Finely chopped tomatoes-3 nos
  2. Berry sized Tamarind
  3. Cooked tuvar dal -1/4 cup
  4. Ajwain/vamu /carom seeds/omam-1/2 tsp
  5. Hing-2 pinches
  6. Crushed garlic- 4 cloves
  7. salt-to taste
  8. Red chillies-2 nos
  9. Turmeric powder -2 pinches
  10. Black pepper powder – 1 tsp
To temper
  1. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  2. Jeera – 1 tsp
  3. Curry leaves – few
Coriander leaves – to garnish.

METHOD
  1. Pressure cook toor dal with little turmeric powder till mushy and set aside.
  2. In a cooking bowl,  add water, tomatoes and tamarind.
  3. Cook till soft and reserve the boiled water. 
  4. Grind the tomatoes and tamarind to make a paste.
  5. Crush ajwain with hands and set a side.
  6. Heat oil in a pan add cumin, mustard, hing, ajwain and dry chillies.
  7. Fry well and add garlic pieces.saute till golden brown.
  8. Now add mashed dal, tomato paste, water, crushed ajwain, pinched red chillies, salt and pepper powder.
  9. Boil for sometime. I added little sugar while boiling.
  10. Garnish with coriander leaves. 
Serve hot !!

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