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March 31, 2014

RAGI IDLI,DOSA RECIPE- FINGER MILLET IDLI RECIPE - RAGI RECIPES

Ragi-idli-recipe

(updated with stepwise pictures)
Ragi idli, dosa recipe (finger millet idli recipe) using fermentation method was in my try list for long time. When I came across this ragi idli batter recipe with rice in Kamala's corner, I bookmarked it and tried immediately.

Actually I wanted to make ragi idli without rice but as i tried for the first time, I tried the recipe as it is. Ragi@Kezhvaragu(in Tamil) has lots of health benefits. I usually make Instant Ragi dosa. But this recipe is surely a welcome change as I can make soft idlis & crispy dosas as well. Its a healthy breakfast/Dinner recipe for diabetic & people who look for weight loss. You can also use idli rava instead of idli rice. Do try this soft ragi idli recipe. U'll love it for sure.


Ragi-idli-recipe

Ragi idli, dosa recipe


Ragi idli,dosa recipe Ragi idli, dosa recipe using fermentation method - Healthy south Indian breakfast recipe
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Breakfast
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Ragi flour - 2 cups
  • Idli rice - 1 cup
  • Urad dal - 1/2 cup
  • Methi seeds -2 tsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
HOW TO MAKE RAGI IDLI - METHOD

    • Wash and soak the rice,dal & methi seeds together for two hours. Add the required water and grind everything all together adding required salt & water. Lastly add the ragi flour , grind for few minutes.Remove and ferment overnight or 10 hours.
    • The next day, batter would be doubled and sometimes overflown too. Stir well and make idlies.
    Ragi idli recipe step1
    • Steam in idli mould for 10-12 minutes till the inserted spoon comes out clean.
Ragi idli recipe step2
    • U can make dosas by diluting the batter slightly.Make crispy or soft dosas as per ur need.
    Enjoy with chutney ,sambar !

    Enjoy !


Note

  • For variations, you can use whole ragi grains instead of flour.
  • If you want to try without rice, use 3: 1 ratio of ragi flour and urad dal. Add 2 tbsp of poha for softness.
  • While making dosas, you can temper and saute onions, green chillies, ginger & curry leaves as it makes the dosa flavourful. 

Enjoy with your favourite chutney, sambar !
Ragi-idli-recipe
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March 25, 2014

MUSK MELON JUICE RECIPE|KIRNI PAZHAM JUICE-SUMMER DRINKS

 Musk melon juice recipe
Musk melon also known as Cantaloupe/Honey dew/Mash melon in English, Kirni pazham/ muzham pazham in Tamil, Kekkarikke Hannu in Kannada and Kharbooja in Telugu and Hindi. It is low in calories and a best summer drink.
Last year I posted musk melon @ Cantaloupe juice recipe from my Mil’s hands.This year, I tried on my own. Here in Bangalore,we get orange colored musk melon. I love that color a lot. As summer is almost in peak, we really feel like having a fresh fruit or juice/ice creams in the noon. So I am trying   lot of juice recipes and planning to share them in my space.

To start with, musk melon is one of the best coolants for summer and a great thirst quencher too. Its health benefits are innumerable. The biggest advantage is that it is low in calories, low in saturated Fat and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Niacin, Vitamin B6 and Folate and a very good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Potassium. It is good for asthma, diabetes, arthritis, High BP, heart disease and heat strokes. But the only bad thing is that a large portion of the calories in this food come from sugars. So its better to add less sugar while you make the juice to cut down calories. If you feel the sweetness of muzham pazham is sufficient enough, you can completely skip adding sugar OR replace with jaggery / honey. Do try this yummy & healthy summer drink recipe. U’ll feel refreshing ..

Musk melon/Cantaloupe

Musk melon juice recipe

Musk melon juice recipe


Musk melon juice recipe Musk melon/Cantaloupe/Kirni pazham juice recipe - Summer special drinks
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Drinks
Serves: 4 cups
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 5 Minutes
Total time: 10 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Musk melon - 1 no (medium)
  • Sugar or jaggery or honey - 1 tbsp (optional)
  • Lemon juice - few drops (optional)
  • Water- as needed
  • Ice cubes - optional
METHOD

  • Wash and cut the musk melon into two halves. Scoop the seeds out. Remove the pulp using a ladle.
Musk melon juice step2
  • Take them in  a mixie jar, add sugar/ jaggery/ honey and lemon juice(if using, optional). Beat well. Check the consistency and add little water if needed. Serve in  a glass adding ice cubes. Enjoy !
Musk melon juice step1


Note

For variations replace water by boiled and cooled milk to make a milkshake. But add more sugar or palm jaggery. Tastes rich. If you add milk, do not add lemon juice. Use cardamom powder if needed.

Cantaloupe juice recipe


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March 21, 2014

ELLU PODI|SESAME SEEDS POWDER RECIPE FOR IDLI,DOSA


This is my Tirunelveli Aachi’s recipe which I got from my mom.Its a great side dish for idli,dosa.It has a nice flavour of black sesame seeds and garlic.I guess this recipe may be new to most of u.Its very easy to prepare compared to Idli milagai podi.Just 3 ingredients are needed.Usually my Mil makes Ellu podi for rice and its completely a different recipe.Soon i’ll post that one.But this podi goes well only for idli,dosa and not with rice.If u are a sesame seeds lover,u must try this recipe.U’ll love its flavour.Over to the recipe with a picture Smile.

Ellu podi for idli,dosa


Ellu podi for idli,dosa Ellu podi/Sesame seeds powder recipe for idli,dosa
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sidedishes
Serves: Serves 2
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 5 Minutes
Total time: 10 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Black sesame seeds - 3 tbsp
  • Cooking oil – 1/2 tsp
  • Red chillies - 5 nos (use 7-8 if u want more spicy)
  • Garlic cloves - 5 nos
  • Salt - as redq
METHOD

  • Dry roast sesame seeds in a kadai in medium flame till it splutters with a nice aroma..Do not burn it.Please be careful else it will spoil the entire recipe.
  • Now add oil in the kadai and roast the pinched red chillies.
ellu podi recipe step 1
  • After it cools down,grind the chillies along with salt to a powder.Then add roasted sesame seeds and chopped garlic cloves.Grind to a powder.
ellu podi recipe step 2
Serve with hot idlies adding sesame oil ! Tastes yum !!


Note


  • If this podi tastes bitter,u need to add more chillies.Do not burn the sesame seeds while u roast.
  • Chop the garlic cloves and then grind with sesame seeds else it won’t grind properly.Do not add whole garlic cloves .
  • Tastes good only for idli,dosa..
Serve with hot idli adding gingely oil/Sesame oil.It tastes yum !
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March 19, 2014

SOFT RAGI ROTI/RAGI ADAI(SWEET, SPICY)RECIPE–RAGI RECIPES

Ragi adai /Finger Millet roti recipe was in my try list for long time.Its a healthy breakfast/dinner recipe for diabetic and for people who wants to lose their weight. I have discussed its health benefits at the end of this post. Don’t forget to have a glance. Here I have shared “How to make-sweet ragi adai and spicy ragi adai”. I make my MIL’s spicy adai usually adding buttermilk. But this time, I got these recipes from my friend Shalini.

As she is in diet, she is having more of ragi recipes. She suggested me to try this once and she guaranteed that this adai would come out super soft and stays soft for long time too. Usually she makes this adai for lunch and have the same for dinner too. By imagining its softness, I got tempted to try. I tried for the first time and as she told, it came out very well.

Sendhil is not a big fan of ragi roti as it becomes hard after cools down. But when I prepared in this way, he loved it like anything and told me to make it more often. This shows the success of this recipe, isn’t it. I heard some people add drumstick leaves and vegetables in spicy adai. I must try that way soon to make it more healthy. U don’t need any specific side dish for this adai. Onion raita or masala raita would do ! Do try this soft ragi roti roti. U’ll love it and I am sure you will include this in your breakfast or dinner routine. Even bachelor’s can try and have this healthy recipe in your menu.

Check out my Instant Ragi dosa and Ragi biscuit if interested !



Ragi adai recipe - Sweet and spicy versions


Ragi adai recipe - Sweet and spicy versions How to make soft ragi adai - sweet and spicy versions !
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Breakfast
Serves: 10nos
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
SWEET RAGI ADAI RECIPE
  • Ragi flour -1 cup
  • Jaggery - 1/2cup
  • Water - 1.3 cups (11/3 cup)
  • Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
  • Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
SPICY RAGI ADAI RECIPE
  • Ragi flour - 1 cup
  • Water - 1.3 – 1.5 cups
  • Tamarind – Medium gooseberry size(optional)
  • Turmeric powder –1/8 tsp
  • Sambar powder -1 tsp
  • Green chillies - 1 no (finely chopped)
  • Big onion - 1 no
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Hing - 2 pinches
  • Coriander leaves - few
To temper
  • Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Channa dal - 1 tsp
HOW TO MAKE RAGI ADAI - METHOD

SWEET RAGI ADAI
  • In a kadai,melt jaggery adding the mentioned quantity of water.Strain after it melts. Again heat the syrup.
Ragi adai sweet step1
  • When it starts to roll boil,add the grated coconut & cardamom powder.Boil for few seconds.Now simmer the flame completely and add the ragi flour.Stir it quickly without any lumps.It will become a whole mass and leaves the kadai.
Ragi adai sweet step3
  • Switch off the flame and allow it to become warm.When it is warm.grease your hands with gingely oil and knead the dough very well. It would become a soft ball. Keep it covered till use.
  • Take a polythene sheet,make balls from the dough and pat it thin. Heat dosa pan and drop the adai. Apply little oil around and cook in medium to high flame for a minute. If you flip it quickly, adai may break because of its softness. So cook till firm. Adjust the flame accordingly. Cook both sides. Remove and serve hot !
Ragi adai sweet step2
SPICY RAGI ADAI
  • Soak tamarind in little water and take the extract.
  • In a kadai, heat oil and temper mustard, urad dal, channa dal. Saute onions,green chillies, curry leaves adding salt and hing.
  • Now add the tamarind extract and the remaining water. Total water quantity should be 1.3 – 1.5 cups based on the quality of flour. Add turmeric powder,sambar powder and the required salt. Let it boil for 2 minutes.
Ragi adai spice step 1
  • Now simmer the flame completely and add the ragi flour stirring the water in one hand. It will become a whole mass. Keep it covered till use.
  • Switch off the flame and after it becomes warm, knead it well to make a dough.
Ragi adai spicy step 2
  • Make balls and pat in polythene sheet for the desired thickness. Grease your hands with oil whenever necessary.
  • Heat a dosa pan and cook this ragi adai on both sides adding few drops of oil. Allow it to cook till it becomes slightly firm else it will break when you flip it. Keep the flame high if needed. Cook on both sides. Remove it.
  • Serve hot with raita !
Ragi adai spicy step 3




Note
  • For this spicy version, adding tamarind is purely optional. But it adds a nice tangy taste to this bland ragi adai.
  • U can make it much more easy and simple by adding just finely chopped chillies instead of sambar powder and tamarind extract, It tastes great in that way too.
  • If adai comes out dry, water is not sufficient. If adai comes out too soft, water is more. So adjust accordingly. 
  • Also this adai may break while you flip. Its because of its softness. To overcome this problem, cook the adai in medium to high flame for 1-2 minutes and see that it has become firm. Then flip it. It will come out well.
  • Please do not cook in very high flame as it may burn the adai.
  • For variations, you can add finely chopped vegetables in spicy version.

Enjoy this ragi adai for breakfast or dinner.Stay healthy and fit Smile

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March 18, 2014

ALOO METHI CURRY RECIPE|ALOO METHI SABZI


As i mentioned in my Holi lunch menu post,here is the yummy aloo methi recipe ie,Potato with fenugreek leaves which is a great side dish for roti and rice.I have tried this many times and its my favourite too.No doubt any dish with potato tastes greatWinking smile.Addition of methi leaves makes it more healthy and flavourful.I don’t follow a particular recipe.I make it based on the ingredients i have in my pantry.Sometimes i make the same with kasoori methi  & baby potatoes too.It turns out well.But in this post,i have shared the basic aloo methi curry recipe using fresh methi leaves.Do try this recipe.Its a yummy side dish for dal rice and curd rice.It also goes well with our South Indian Sambar sadam and Rasam Smile with tongue out.
Do refer my baby potato masal curry if interested .

Aloo methi curry recipe


Aloo methi curry recipe Aloo methi curry recipe - yummy side dish for rice and roti !
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sidedishes
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 15 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 25 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Big potatoes - 3 nos
  • Methi leaves - 1 cup
  • Big onion - 1 no
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp}     OR Sambar powder – 1 tsp
  • Dhania powder - 3/4 tsp }
  • Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Lemon juice - few drops
To temper
  • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
  • Jeera/cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
METHOD

  • Wash and pressure cook potatoes by slitting into two for two to three whistles.Remove and peel the skin.Cut into cubes.
  • Wash and chop the fresh fenugreek leaves roughly.
  • In a kadai,heat oil and splutter jeera.Add onions and ginger bits.Saute well till onions turns transparent.
aloo methi recipe step 1
  • Add methi leaves and saute till it shrinks in quantity.Add salt,turmeric,red chilli powder, coriander powder & garam masala powder.Mix well..
aloo methi recipe step 2
  • Add boiled potatoes.Stir well till masala coats it well.Leave in low flame for 4-5 minutes stirring twice in between.Remove and add few drops of lemon juice.Serve hot with roti,rice !
aloo methi recipe step 3


Note
  • For variations,use sambar powder instead of red chilli and dhania powder.
  • Adding garam masala pwd is optional.Skip if u don’t like.
  • I loved adding lemon juice at the end.It help to balance all the taste.But add less..
  • U can also use kasoori methi instead of using fresh leaves.In that case,use 2-3 tbsp crushing  in ur hands.
  • U can always use baby potatoes in place of bigger ones.For this recipe,u can add 10-12 small ones.
Serve with hot rice,dal tadka & papad.Tastes great !



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March 16, 2014

50+ Holi Recipes List | Indian Holi Sweets, Snacks, Drink, Lunch Menu Ideas

Holi recipes

Hi friends,
Wish you all a very happy Holi Rainbow. Holi 2024 is on March 25th, Monday whereas 

Holika Dahan or Choti Holi, will be marked on Sunday, March 24. 


Here is a small collection of Holi Festival foods. I have shared the links of  some easy and yummy holi sweets, snacks, desserts and drinks and lunch menu ideas. Choose and try your favourite ! Plan ahead from this collection based on the cooking time & preparation time in hand, get the ingredients and make it. Enjoy this colourful day with your loved ones !.

Happy holi

Holi Picture source and credits : http://wallpapershd3d.com/holi-wallpapers/ via Google image search.

Sweets recipes

  • Gujiya ( a must try sweet for holi festival)

Check THIS LINK for Cakes & Cookies recipes

Snacks recipes

Holi snacks

Click HERE for Chaat chutneys 

Click HERE for more snacks recipes

Drinks /Kheer recipes

Click THIS POST to view my collection of 20 kheer/payesh recipes
Catch you all in my next post, Bye for now. Happy Holi !

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