April 13, 2016

How To Celebrate Tamil New Year At Home (Tamil Puthandu)

In this post, I have discussed how to celebrate Tamil new year at home along with Tamil new year recipes links and menu. In our house, we celebrate Tamil varusha pirappu in a simple manner. Tamil New Year – Varusha Pirappu/Tamil Puthandu is the celebration of first day of the Tamil new year that comes in Mid April. Its a special day for Tamilians as it marks the beginning of all Tamil festivals. Following this, we celebrate Rama Navami, Chitra Pournami, Aadi Pandigai etc.

This year, Tamil new year falls on April 14, 2024, Sunday. Tamil people all over the world celebrate this day by Keeping new Panchangam and offering some special dishes like Mango Pachadi, Panakam, Neer mor etc. This festival falls in the month of Chithirai, the first month of the Tamil solar calendar. On the eve of Chithirai Puthandu, a tray arranged with three fruits (mango,banana and jack fruit), betel leaves and arecanut, gold/silver jewellery, coins/money, flowers and a mirror is placed. This is to be viewed upon waking in the morning.

In the temple city of Madurai, the Chithirai Thiruvizha is celebrated in the Meenakshi Temple. In Kerala, people celebrate this day as Vishu festival. The day is marked with a feast in Tamil homes and entrances to the houses are decorated elaborately with Maa kolams (Visit my in-laws blog to check varieties of Kolams). In most parts of India, one can see neem trees blooming with their flowers and the first batch of mangoes hanging prominently. So this day is celebrated with neem flowers and raw mangoes to symbolize growth and prosperity ( Source:Wiki).

As I am posting the celebration procedures of all our Indian festivals, I guess my regular readers would be expecting this post from me :)). Though the celebration method is very simple, the specialty of this festival lies in including Raw mango, fresh or dried neem flowers & making an elaborate full meals lunch menu for offering God along with fresh fruits. We should include all the six taste on this day. Full meals menu includes Rice, Mango Pachadi, Paruppu, Sambar, Poriyal, Kootu, Payasam, Vada. You should make Panakam and neer mor if you keep Panchangam for pooja else its optional. You can do it for Rama navami. Lets see the celebration procedure of Tamil new year with recipe links.

Kolam from my in-laws blog

Ingredients for Pooja & menu

On this day we avoid vegetables like Drumstick, Bottle gourd, brinjal, Keerai/greens, cabbage, Beetroot, Carrot, Beans, Potato, Onion and garlic in our cooking as we offer the lunch menu to God.

Lamp
Flowers
KumKum and turmeric powder
Betel leaves & nuts
Banana leaf
Coconut
Match box, incense stick, dhoop, and camphor
Banana, Mango & fruits like apple, jackfruit on your wish ( Banana is essential)
Vegetables like Raw banana, cluster beans, Broad beans, Lady’s finger, Gooseberry etc
Raw Mango ( Must buy)
Dried or fresh neem flowers
Urad dal for making vada
Rice & dal, jaggery for making Payasam
Other essentials for cooking

Preparations for Tamil New Year

On the previous day i.e 13th of April, wash the lamps, clean the house. Decorate, put threads in the lamps. Buy all the required fruits, vegetables, groceries, flowers and pooja items for the festival and keep them ready. Some people have the practice of keeping fruits, flowers, rice, pulses, jaggery, a plate full of money and jewellery in front of a mirror in the pooja room. On April 14th morning, people used to see that before starting the day. Its called as Vishu kani celebration. If you have this practice in your home, please consult the elders of your house and arrange the fruits, groceries, money etc the previous night itself.

For cooking, wash and soak the urad dal for vada and grind the batter using mixie or grinder. Keep the batter in fridge without adding salt.

If you want, you can roast the rice & dal and keep it ready for making payasam the next day. Chop all the vegetables and store in a box if needed. These pre preparations can be done to make the lunch quickly.
You can do the pooja at any auspicious time. Make sure there is no Rahu Kalam and Yama kandam.

How to prepare the menu

On April 14th early morning, we take head bath and draw maa kolam in the entrance and before pooja room. Keep flowers and decorate the pooja room. Start preparing the lunch menu. Please check THIS POST to make this menu under one hour.

Pressure cook roasted rice+dal mixture for making payasam. In another cooker, keep the rice. After cooking rice+dal for payasam, add the jaggery and let it boil. Add coconut milk and cardamom powder. Add the fragrant spices like Pachai karpooram, Jathikai powder. Roast cashews in ghee and add to payasam. Transfer the payasam to a bowl and wash the cooker. In the same cooker, pressure cook moong dal for making paruppu. Temper mustard seeds, curry leaves and hing. Add to the cooked moong dal.

Make Mango pachadi. Keep it ready. Make sambar, Poriyal or kootu. We make either poriyal or kootu for the menu. You should make Panakam and neer mor if you keep Panchangam for pooja else its optional. Instead of this full meals menu, you can make 5 rice varieties like Lemon rice, Coconut rice, Sweet pongal, Tamarind rice and curd rice along with vada and payasam.

Lastly you can make Urad dal vada and appalam. Make Mormilagai and pickle if you wish.
If you can’t get Raw mango and Neem flowers, no issues. Just make some thayir pachadi with vegetables like carrot or lady’s finger or even with vada and offer to God.

How to do the pooja

After you finish cooking, wash the banana leaf and spread it in front of pooja place. Arrange all the prepared dishes in the banana leaf ( Check out my Full meals lunch menu post to view the order of arranging the dishes ). Light the lamps. Show the incense stick, do the neivedyam.Show the dhoop, deep and finish the pooja showing mangala Harathi.

Tamil New Year Recipe Links for making Full meals

FULL MEALS MENU

Vendakkai sambar
Paruppu for rice
Mango pachadi
Carrot thayir pachadi ( recipe shared HERE )
Raw banana poriyal (recipe shared HERE)
Veppam poo rasam
Arisi Paruppu payasam/ rice, moong dal kheer
Pepper vada using mixie
Instant mango pickle
Panakam & Neer mor

OR

Variety Rice Recipes + Vada + Payasam

Please watch the video below to make 5 rice varieties easily.

Check out my Full meals lunch menu post to view the order of arranging the dishes

OTHER OPTIONS FOR KUZHAMBU (Avoid onions)

KOOTU VARIETIES

Mixed vegetable kootu OR Avial without onion

PORIYAL VARIETIES

PACHADI VARIETIES

OTHER LUNCH MENU IDEAS

Tamil nadu lunch menu 1
Tamil nadu lunch menu 2
No Onion No Garlic Lunch Menu
PAYASAM VARIETIES

Check out my 18 Payasam Varieties for full collection.

OTHER SWEETS

Sweet pongal / sakkarai pongal in cooker

Obbattu/Puran poli

15 Easy Sweets collection

KESARI RECIPES

Rava Kesari Recipe
Kesaribath - Karnataka style
Semiya/Vermicelli kesari
Microwave rava kesari
Milk kesari/Paal kesari recipe
All the above recipe links are for variations. You can try any based on the availability of ingredients. Its not a hard and fast rule to make a full meals and offer GOD. Some people celebrate Tamil new year just by offering a payasam and vada.
If you are a bachelor and wish to do the pooja, you can simply soak Poha/Aval in Milk adding sugar & cardamom and offer to God. GOD will accept everything and anything if done whole heartedly. The celebration procedure I have shared here is based on my family practice. It may vary as per your tradition and custom. So beginners, please consult the elders of your family and do the pooja .

Wish you all a very happy & prosperous Tamil New Year !!
அனைவருக்கும் இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு நல் வாழ்த்துக்கள் !!!

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April 12, 2016

Masala Coke (Pepsi) – Masala Soda Recipe

Masala coke is a very popular Indian Cold drink in Juice shops of Bangalore and Mumbai. I have tasted masala coke in a small juice shop in Gandhi bazaar. You can find varieties like masala Pepsi, masala Sprite, masala Thumbs up, lemon soda, Lemon cola, lemon ginger soda, paneer soda etc in the menu.

The recipe of masala coke is very simple & that is made with easily available ingredients. It can be quickly prepared in minutes by adding a lavish sprinkle of masala powders to Coke or Pepsi. When I saw the juice shop guy making it, I got tempted to try it at home. So I bought a can of diet coke & coco cola and tried it for myself and Sendhil. We enjoyed it thoroughly. It tastes more like jal jeera with the fizz of coke.

If you are concerned about drinking Coke or Pepsi, you can make the same with soda water and enjoy it as masala soda. Make and Serve during parties and get together during this vacation. I am sure everyone will enjoy this drink. Lets see how to make masala coke at home.

Check out my other Summer Drinks Recipes too !

Masala coke recipe

Masala coke/pepsi recipe at home - Masala soda drink for summer

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Drinks

Serves: Serves 2

Prep time: 2 Minutes

Cook time: 2 Minutes

Total time: 4 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

Coke/Pepsi/Coco cola/Thumbs up - 300ml can

( Adjust all these powders based on taste)

Chat masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Black salt - 1/4 tsp
Roasted Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp
Ajwain powder – A small pinch, Optional
Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
Lemon juice - few drops
Mint leaves - to garnish
Ice cubes - to add while serving

HOW TO MAKE MASALA COKE - METHOD

In a serving glass, add all the spice powders, lemon juice given above.

Add the coke little by little till 1/3 rd of the glass and wait till the bubbles/froth subside. Mix with a spoon.Add another 1/3 rd of glass and mix well.

Repeat until the entire glass is full.Check for taste and add more chat masala, black salt & pepper powder, lemon juice as per your taste.Serve immediately adding some ice cubes.Garnish with mint leaves if you wish and enjoy !!

Note

Adjust the quantity of masala powders based on taste.
For variations, you can replace coke with diet coke, Pepsi, Thumbs up, Sprite or even Club Soda.
If you have jal jeera powder, you can add that instead of chat masala powder & cumin powder.

Enjoy this easy, yummy Masala coke/Pepsi at home during this summer vacation. You will love it !!

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April 9, 2016

Radish Chutney – Mullangi Chutney Recipe For Idli, Dosa

A reader requested me to post Radish chutney recipe for Idli dosa. Until then I have never thought of making a chutney with Radish ( Mullangi in Tamil, Mooli in Hindi). I have tried Mullangi thogayal for rice but this is the first time I made a chutney for idli using radish. Actually I was worried whether the smell of Radish may spoil the chutney. But to my surprise, chutney came out truly flavorful. Even Sendhil couldn’t make out its a chutney made with Radish.

Its a chutney without coconut and tomato too. I have used white radish, dal and onion. I must thank my reader for making me try this chutney. For this recipe, I adapted Andhra style mullangi pachadi and made slight changes as per my family’s taste buds. I guess it works well for red radish too. I am happy to include this chutney in my radish recipes and chutney collection list. Lets see how to do this easy mullangi chutney for idli dosa.

Check out my Chutney Recipes Collection, Mullangi sambar recipe, Mullangi thogayal.

Radish chutney / Mullangi Chutney recipe

White Radish Chutney for idli dosa

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Side dish for idli

Serves: 2

Prep time: 5 Minutes

Cook time: 10 Minutes

Total time: 15 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

White Radish - 1 no ( Medium sized)
Big onion - 1 no
Chana dal - 1 tbsp
Urad dal - 1 tbsp
Red chillies - 3 nos
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
Tamarind - a small piece
Salt & water - as needed
Cooking oil - 1.5 tbsp

METHOD

Wash and peel the skin of radish. Grate it and set aside.No need to squeeze the water. Chop the big onion into chunks. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute Urad dal, chana dal, red chillies till dal turns light golden color. Next add the big onion and saute until onion turns transparent.Make sure you don’t burn the dals. Do in medium flame.

Add the grated radish, ginger and saute till it gets cooked and reduces in volume. It takes 3-4 minutes in medium flame. If needed you can cover and cook it. Radish should be well cooked and soft.

Let it cool. Grind it to a smooth paste adding little water. Temper with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add to the chutney. Mix well and serve with hot idli adding a tsp of gingely oil.

Enjoy !

Note

Adjust the quantity of chillies as per your taste buds.
If you want bright red colored chutney, use byadgi chilli.
You can add few tbsp of grated coconut if you wish.

Try this easy,healthy mullangi chutney for idli,dosa. You will like it !

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April 8, 2016

Poha Dosa - Aval Dosai - Instant Atukula Dosa Recipe

I have heard about Andhra’s Instant atukula dosa (Atukula Attu in Telugu, Avalakki Dosa in Kannada, Poha Dosa in Hindi, Aval Dosai in Tamil, Flattened rice in English) but I haven’t tried at home. For the first time, I tried this soft and spongy poha dosa yesterday for my in-laws as both of them have tooth problem. It came out super soft and everyone loved it at home with tomato chutney as side dish.

This dosa batter is made without urad dal and the best part is that the batter doesn’t need over night fermentation. It can be made instantly after grinding. This aval dosai is sure a welcome change from the aval upma. I followed the recipe from Sailu’s blog but I altered the quantity of ingredients and made it without adding cooking soda/ baking soda. This recipe works great for this summer season. I prepared the dosa batter in the afternoon and made the dosa without adding baking soda for dinner. I gave a resting time of 6 hours for the batter. So I have mentioned it as instant poha dosa as I din't ferment the batter overnight. Also you can make this dosa instantly by adding baking soda.

Do try it for your breakfast or dinner. You will love it and make it very often. Lets see how to make Andhra special South Indian Aval dosa recipe with step by step photos.

Check out my other variants of this dosa

Puffed rice dosa

Sponge Dosa

Set dosa

Also check out my 50 chutney recipes collection and choose any tomato chutney as a side dish for this dosa.

Corn Vada Recipe - Sweet Corn Fritters

Whenever I buy corn ( Cholam in Tamil, Makai in Hindi) from the market, I make either corn cheese balls or cup corn for Raksha . This time, I tried Corn vada/corn fritters for a change. I browsed for the recipe and found Andhra style Corn vada ( Known as Mokkajonna Garelu/Vadalu in Telugu) & corn fritters recipe with mild variations in method & ingredients. I just combined both the recipes and made this South Indian sweet corn vada. It came out really well with crispy exterior and soft interior. Raksha and Sendhil loved it very much. Its a kids friendly tea time snack recipe.Ugadi festival is nearing. If you have plans to make any vada recipe, do try this one for a change.Your kids at home during this summer vacation would ask for more and more Winking

.But remember, to enjoy its best taste, you should serve and eat it hot.Ok,Lets see how to make this yummy, crispy sweet corn vada recipe !
Do check out my Masala Vada, Mixed Vegetable Vada, Cabbage Vada, Sabudana Vada and Urad dal vada recipes.

Aval Upma Recipe – Poha Upma - Tamilnadu Style Aval Upma

Aval upma is an easy and quick South Indian breakfast recipe that I make at least once in a week. I have already tried Karnataka’s Avalakki chitranna, North Indian - Maharashtrian Kanda Poha , Batata poha recipes and blogged here. This poha upma recipe is very similar to both but its of Tamil nadu style.For this upma, I follow my Rava upma recipe and make it for our breakfast and sometimes for our dinner too. Its an easy to make recipe for bachelors and working women.Ideal for lunch box too. As Poha/Aval is a healthy alternative to rice, I try to include this in our diet by making varieties of poha recipes.To make it more healthy, you can use Kerala Red aval, add mixed vegetables and make the same. Lets see how to make this easy, diabetic friendly aval upma/Poha upma for breakfast & lunch box.
Check out my Lemon poha/ Lemon aval recipe , Milagu jeeraga aval/ pepper cumin poha , Red Poha Upma too.

Eggless Banana Bread Recipe – Vegan Cake Recipes

I had some over ripen bananas in my kitchen counter.When I saw them, Mangalore buns & Eggless banana cake came to my mind.I have already tried & shared eggless banana walnut muffins.So this time I made eggless banana cake in my loaf pan for the first time. I followed the recipe from HERE. As Its my first attempt, I didn’t take any chance in experimenting this recipe using whole wheat flour & brown sugar.It came out soft, moist with crumbly texture.We enjoyed it with hot tea ! This recipe has no butter, no condensed milk, no yogurt too. Its a vegan recipe which uses oil as the main ingredient.For variations, you can add chopped walnuts, Chocolate chips or even tutti frutti. Summer vacation has started for kids. They must be demanding some cakes & snacks from you. Try this yummy, soft and spongy cake for them. Addition of banana makes it slightly healthy too. Do try it and share your feedback. Lets see how to make eggless banana cake recipe without condensed milk, yogurt and.

Eggless Banana Cake Recipe

Eggless Banana cake recipe - Moist, spongy cake without butter, condensed milk

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Cake

Serves: 10 pieces

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 40 Minutes

Total time: 50 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup = 240ml

All Purpose flour / Maida - 1 cup
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Over ripen banana - 2 nos ( I used Yelakki)
Sugar - 1/4 cup ( add 1/3 cup for more sweetness)
Cooking oil - 3 tbsp ( Use odourless oil)
Lemon juice/Vinegar - 1 tsp
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

METHOD

In a wide bowl, take the ripe banana, mash well with a ladle or fork. You can mash it in a mixie too. Grease a baking pan/loaf pan with oil and sprinkle maida all over the pan.

Take a bowl and sieve maida, baking powder, baking soda.Mix well and set aside.
- To the mashed banana, add sugar, cooking oil, vanilla essence, lemon juice and mix well till sugar dissolves ( you can add powdered nutmeg or cinnamon for more flavor).

To this, add the sieved maida mixture.Mix well. You will get a thick batter. Spoon in the batter to the greased baking pan.You can also sprinkle choco chips, chopped walnuts to the batter.

Preheat oven in convection mode at 180c. Keep the loaf pan and bake the cake for 35-40 minutes. Keep an eye after 30 minutes.Top of the cake turns golden and if you insert a tooth pick,it should come clean. This is the indication for the doneness of cake.
Once the cake is baked, remove and set aside for 5 minutes. Invert in a plate and remove it. Cake will fall off easily.

Cut into slices and serve with hot tea/coffee !

Enjoy !

Note

Adjust the quantity of sugar after tasting the dough.
Do not reduce baking powder & baking soda.
Keep an eye after 30 minutes of baking because over baking makes the cake hard n chewy.
Batter would be semi thick and spoonable but should not be hard and crumbly. If you feel the batter is too hard, add a tbsp of milk and bring it to semi solid consistency.
For variations, you can add chopped walnuts, Chocolate chips or even tutti frutti.

Enjoy this yummy cake for your tea time !! It tastes soft n smells good.

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March 29, 2016

25 Paneer Recipes – Easy Indian Paneer Recipes For Chapathi

Here is a collection of 25 Paneer Recipes that includes some quick and easy Indian cottage cheese recipes like gravy for chapathi/roti, Paneer snacks for kids, starters and sweets. I have never thought that I would make a collection of 25 Paneer Recipes (Indian Cottage Cheese in English) in my food book.

In my family, nobody is a big fan of paneer.Generally Kids love paneer based dishes whereas my daughter Raksha is just the opposite. She hated paneer recipes till she was 6. So paneer makes its appearance very rarely in my kitchen. Even if I make it, I used to try mostly restaurant style paneer gravy as a side dish for roti/Chapathi to make my family eat it without any complaints.