Search Chitra's Food Book

Showing posts with label CHETTINAD RECIPES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CHETTINAD RECIPES. Show all posts

June 1, 2015

Spinach Biryani Recipe/Palak Biryani(Keerai Biryani)-Sunday Lunch Recipes-17

Spinach biryani recipe
I tried this Chettinad style Keerai biryani recipe adding palak leaves after watching Captain TV Cookery show. It came out really well. We loved it. My daughter Raksha had a plateful of this biryani happily. As this was my first attempt of making a biryani adding greens/keerai, I was doubtful about its taste. So I made Drumstick poricha kuzhambu and Rasam along with it. But biryani bowl got emptied first. I am sure this would be a healthy choice for fussy kids who don’t eat green leaves.

Here I have used spinach/Palak as it is easy to clean & chop. You can use Arai keerai, Mulai keerai(Amaranth leaves), siru keerai, methi leaves/ vendhaya keerai as suggested in the TV show. Try this healthy biryani recipe for your kids and Husband’ lunch box. This recipe gets thumbs up from everyone in the family.

Ok, Lets see how to make this Indian Palak biryani recipe in detail.

Please check my other biryani & pulao recipes here :)

Spinach biryani recipe

Palak biryani/Spinach biryani recipe


Palak biryani/Spinach biryani recipe Healthy,easy spinach biryani recipe - Sunday Lunch Recipes series -17
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Lunch menu
Serves:3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Spinach/Palak leaves/Keerai - 1 cup ( 1/2 bunch)
  • Basmati rice - 1 cup ( I use India Gate)
  • Salt - as needed
  • Water - 1.75 cups
To saute
  • Cooking oil + ghee - 1 tbsp + 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch
  • Cloves - 2 no
  • Cardamom - 1 no
  • Black stone flower/Kalpasi - 1 no
  • Bayleaf - 1 no
  • Big onion -1 no
  • Small onion -5 nos
  • Green chilli - 1 no
  • Mint leaves – 2 tbsp
  • Tomato – 1 no
  • Curd – 1 tbsp
  • Lemon juice – few drops
To grind
  • Red chillies - 3 nos
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece
  • Garlic cloves - 5 nos
  • Pepper corns - 1/4 tsp
HOW TO MAKE KEERAI BIRYANI - METHOD
  • Grind all the ingredients given under “to grind” to a smooth paste. Set aside. Wash & soak the basmati rice for 30 minutes.

  • Wash and chop the palak leaves. Chop the onions, mint leaves and tomato into fine pieces. Slit the green chilli.
Spinach biryani recipe
  • Heat oil+ghee in a cooker base. Saute the whole spices and add the slitted green chilli and onions. Saute till transparent. Add the ground paste and saute till raw smell goes off. Add tomatoes and saute till it becomes mushy.
Spinach biryani recipe
Spinach biryani recipe
  • Lastly add the mint leaves. Mix well and add the finely chopped palak leaves. Add rice, salt, curd, water and lemon juice. Give a boil. Mix well and close the cooker. Cook in very low flame for one whistle. After the steam is released, remove the lid and fluff the rice with fork. Enjoy !
Spinach biryani recipe
Spinach biryani recipe
Note
  • You can replace palak with Arai keerai, mulai keerai or vendhaya keerai/Methi leaves.
  • Add more number of red chillies for spicy biryani.
  • You can also powder the whole spices and add to this biryani for variation.
  • Adding ghee gives a nice flavor. So don’t skip it.


Try this healthy, kids friendly Keerai biryani. You will enjoy it !
Spinach biryani recipe
Continue Reading...


April 20, 2015

Anjappar Biryani Recipe In Rice Cooker-Sunday Lunch Recipes Series-14

Anjappar biryani recipe
“Evalavo Pannitom Itha Panna MatomaWinking “ haha,This is how i thought when my friend Megha suggested me to try “Anjappar style biryani recipe” using vegetables.I browsed through few Anjappar style chicken biryani recipes and got it from here & here.I mixed up both the recipes and tried it using potato & peas.I usually make biryani using pressure cooker.This time i tried using rice cooker and made it little more spicy as it belongs to Chettinad.The result was yummy and we loved it.After i made this biryani successfully i became very happy & contented that i had tried and shared almost all the popular Tamil nadu biryani recipes like Ambur star biryani, Dindigul Thalappakatti biryani, Coimbatore Angannan biryani, Muslim wedding biryani, Kuska in vegetarian version which was my long time dream.In the line of those yummy biryani recipes,here is yet another interesting and the most popular Anjappar biryani recipe.Friends,do suggest me if u know any other popular biryani recipe across Tamil Nadu.I am eager to try that too.Lets see how to make this flavourful and easy to make Anjappar Biryani Recipe in detail.
Before going to the recipe,I would like to tell something.As I am bit tied up with some personal work, i will try to make a post whenever i find time.Please bear with my irregular postings just for a week.Thanks for understanding.
Check out my other popular Tamil Nadu Biryani recipes

Ambur star biryani

Dindigul Thalappakatti biryani

Coimbatore Angannan biryani

Muslim wedding biryani

Kuska

Anjappar biryani recipe

Anjappar biryani recipe using vegetables


Anjappar biryani recipe using vegetables Anjappar biryani recipe with potato & peas - Sunday special lunch menu series - 14
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Lunch
Serves: Serves 2
Prep time: 20 Minutes
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 35 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Basmati rice - 1 cup ( India Gate)
  • Potato - 3 nos
  • Green peas - a fistful
  • Green chillies - 2 nos
  • Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt - as needed
  • Water - 2 cups
To roast rice
  • Ghee – 2 tsp
To saute
  • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
  • Ghee - 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
  • Cloves - 2 nos
  • Cardamom - 1 no
  • Biryani leaf - 1 no
  • Big onion -1 no ( sliced)
  • Tomato - 1 no
To grind (optional)
  • Big onion - 1/2 no or Small onions - 8 nos
  • Green chillies - 2 no
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece
  • Garlic - 5 cloves
  • Fennel seeds – 1/4 tsp
To Garnish
Mint + coriander leaves – 3 tbsp ( finely chopped)
METHOD

  • Wash and soak the basmati rice for 20 minutes.In the mean time,peel the potatoes and chop into cubes.Slices the onions,cut the tomatoes into small pieces.Slit the green chillies.Grind the ingredients given under”to grind” to a smooth paste adding enough water.(If u don’t want to grind them add 1.5 tsp of g&g paste along with crushed fennel seeds in oil while sauting onions and whole spices)
Anjappar biryani recipe
  • Now drain all the water in soaked rice.Heat ghee in a kadai and roast the rice for 2 minutes without breaking them.
Anjappar biryani recipe
  • Now heat the rice cooker in cooking mode and add oil + ghee in the center of serrated plate.Add cinnamon,cloves,cardamom and biryani leaf.Saute for a second.Now add the sliced onions and slitted green chillies.Saute till transparent.Now add the ground paste and saute until raw smell goes off.Add red chilli powder and mix well.The rice cooker mode may switched into warm mode.No problem,just keep sauting in the heat of plate.Now add the tomatoes and salt.Mix until tomato turns pulpy.Turn the rice cooker to cooking mode and add water.
Anjappar biryani recipe
Anjappar biryani recipe
  • Add finely chopped mint+coriander leaves in water.When the water comes to a boil,add rice.Cook it till done.
    Anjappar biryani recipe
    Enjoy with raita !


Note

  • You can make this biryani using pressure cooker too but change the quantity of water to 1.5 cups.
  • Adjust the quantity of chillies based on your need.
  • You should not add mint+coriander leaves while sauting.Add them only in the water before adding rice.
  • Roasting rice helps to give firm and long grain rice.

Try this yummy Anjappar style biryani recipe in a weekend and Enjoy with your familyHappy
anjappar style biryani
Continue Reading...


January 25, 2015

Chettinad Baby Potato Biryani Recipe-Sunday Lunch Recipes-4


Baby potato biryani
Actually i wanted to try some Chettinad biryani recipe for Sunday's lunch recipes & browsed for Anjappar Hotel style biryani to try with vegetables.But ended up making this chettinad baby potato/Kutti Urulai kilangu(in Tamil) biryani recipe.This is the first time i made a biryani using baby potatoes.I referred Jeyashri’s blog for the recipe but modified it slightly to suit our taste buds.I am very happy & completely satisfied with its flavor & taste.Now i can confidently try this recipe for my guests too.Lets see how to make this yummy potato biryani recipe in my Sunday Special Lunch Recipes Series-4.
Small potato biryani

Baby Potato Biryani Recipe


Baby Potato Biryani Recipe Baby Potato Biryani Recipe - Chettinad style
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Lunch
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 60 Minutes
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 75 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Basmati rice - 1 cup ( I used India Gate)
  • Water - 1.5 cups(I used 1.75 cups )
  • Salt - as needed
To grind & Marinate
  • Boiled & Peeled Baby potatoes/small potato - 15 nos
  • Cooking oil - 1 tsp
  • Big onion - 1no
  • Green chillies - 3 nos
  • Mint leaves - 1/4 cup
  • Curd/Yogurt - 1tbsp
  • Cashewnuts - 5 nos
  • Soambu/Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece
  • Garlic cloves - 5 nos
  • Cloves/Krambu - 2 nos
  • Cardamom - 2 nos
  • Kalpasi/Black stone flower/Kallu hoova - 4 nos( small)
To saute in oil
  • Cooking oil - 2tbsp
  • Ghee - 1 tbsp
  • Biryani leaf - 1 no
  • Cinnamon/Pattai - 1 no
  • Big onion - 1 no
  • Tomato - 1 no ( optional,i dint use)
  • Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Coriander powder/Dhania powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
METHOD

  • Wash the rice well & drain the water.Add 1.75 cups of water to it & soak the rice for 1 hour.
  • In the mean time,wash & pressure cook the baby potatoes in high flame for 3 whistles.Peel the skin and set aside.
  • Heat a kadai with 1 tsp of oil and saute the big onion slices.Remove & take this in a mixie jar.Add green chillies and other ingredients given under “ To grind & marinate” & grind everything to a smooth paste adding enough water.
Potato biryani-1
  • Take the peeled potatoes & add the ground paste to it.Prick the potatoes with a fork & mix well.Let it marinate for 20 minutes.
Potato biryani-2
  • Heat oil + ghee in a pressure cooker base and saute the biryani leaf & cinnamon.Then add the onion slices.Saute well till it turns transparent.Then add the finely chopped tomatoes if using.Saute well till mushy.Now add the marinated potatoes along with masala.Add chilli powder,dhania pwd & turmeric pwd.Saute well till raw smell goes off.
Potato biryani-3
  • Now add the soaked rice along with water & required salt.Mix well & cover cook in low flame for one whistle.It takes 10-12 minutes.Remove the lid after the steam is released.Fluff it with a fork.
Potato biryani-4

Enjoy !
Note

  • If u don’t have small potatoes in hand,use big potatoes but cook it & chop them into bite sized pieces before marination.
  • You can also add the combination of coriander & mint leaves in equal ratio while grinding.
  • Skip adding kal pasi if u don’t have in hand.But please use it if u have because it gives a great smell to the biryani.
  • You can also sprinkle some lemon juice at the end before closing the cooker.Its optional.


Try this Chettinad baby potato biryani for this weekend ! I served with homemade potato chips.It was yummy to tummy Drooling
Small-potato-biryani
Continue Reading...


August 25, 2014

EASY PAAL KOZHUKATTAI RECIPE WITH COCONUT MILK, SUGAR

Paal kozhukattai recipe
As u all know,Paal kozhukattai is an yummy Chettinad dessert recipe.It is loved by all irrespective of ages.I should have made this post for Gokulashtami but I din’t.Now I am posting this easy paal kozhukattai recipe for my Bachelor friend , Jayagopal.He wanted to make it for potluck party in his office this week.So he told me share this recipe as soon as possible.This is not the authentic chettinad version though.I must learn that and post here soon. Actually I had planned to post some Ganesh chathurthi recipes as the festival is around. But then I thought, this is also a variety of kozhukattai which we can make easily and offer Lord Ganesh.  So I prepared this easy paal kolukattai version using milk, coconut milk powder and sugar as Vinayagr chathurthi special recipe. It was tasting great. I had already shared my MIL’s Paal kohukattai recipe with jaggery which is Sendhil’s most favourite recipe. But I love this version more than that Love Struck.So I usually make it more often for myself and Raksha as evening snack or dessert for your guests.Special thanks to my friend Jayagopal, otherwise i would not have done this post even now Happy.Ok,Lets see how to make this yummy and easy paal kozhukattai recipe.

Easy paal kozhukattai recipe

Easy paal kozhukattai recipe


Paal kozhukattai recipe Easy paal kozhukattai recipe using coconut milk powder,milk and sugar
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sweets
Serves: 2 persons
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 25 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
  • Store bought rice flour - 1/2 cup
  • Water - 1/2 cup + 2-3 tbsp (for dough)
  • Gingely oil – a drop
  • Salt – a pinch
  • Sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Boiled milk – 1/2 cup
  • Coconut milk powder - 1.5 tbsp or thick coconut milk - 1/2 cup
  • Cardamom seeds - 1 no (crushed)
  • Saffron threads - few
METHOD

  • In a wide bowl , take the rice flour.Add a pinch of salt ,mix well & set aside.
  • Boil water adding a drop of gingely oil.when the water starts to boil,initially u can see some small bubbles on the bottom and sides of vessel.After few minutes,water will start to roll boil with big bubbles.Switch off the flame as soon as water starts to roll boil with big bubbles.
Paal kozhukattai 1
  • Add the boiled water to the rice flour little by little and mix well.Rice flour may not take all the water.Stop adding water as soon as u get a non-sticky dough.If u feel the dough is dry,add little more hot water.Make sure the dough is not sticky.Knead the dough when it is warm.Make small balls of seedai size by greasing your fingers.Cover it till use.
Paal kozhukattai 2
  • Now boil water in idli pot or in a kadai.Grease the idli plate with oil and spread the balls.If u are using kadai,keep the balls in a small plate.Place a small wide bowl and keep the plate over the bowl.Cover the kadai and cook for 5 – 10 minutes.
Paal kozhukattai 3
  • In the mean time,mix 1.5 tbsp of coconut milk powder in 1/2 cup of boiled n cooled milk without any lumps.To this add sugar, saffron thread and cardamom powder.Stir well.
Paal kozhukattai 4
  • Allow it to boil for 2 minutes in medium flame.Milk will thicken slightly.To this, add the cooked rice balls and boil for few seconds.
  • Remove and serve warm or cold.

Note
  • U can cook the rice balls directly in milk instead of cooking in idli pot.In that case,use 1/2 cup of milk + 1/2 cup of water.Cook till rice balls float on top.Now mix 1 tbsp of coconut milk powder in 1/4 cup of milk and add to the cooked rice balls.Boil for a minute and switch off the flame.Add cardamom powder & few saffron threads. Mix well and serve !
  • I cooked the rice balls in idli plate to ensure proper & easy cooking.Also balls won’t break or dissolve.
  • The consistency of dough is important for getting soft rice balls. No problem even if u make the dough little sticky.U can grease ur hands with oil and make balls.But if u make the dough hard and dry,u will never get soft balls.so please add water carefully.
  • If u don't have coconut milk powder in hand,use 1/2 cup of grated coconut.Grind & take thick coconut milk adding 1/2 cup of water.Add to the milk at the end.Give a boil in low flame & switch off.


Make this easy paal kozhukattai and offer to GOD Smile
Paal kozukattai

Continue Reading...


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...


January 17, 2014

APPAM RECIPE WITHOUT YEAST,COCONUT MILK,COOKING SODA – SOUTH INDIAN BREAKFAST RECIPES

aapam plate
Appam is one of the special breakfast recipes like poori which i make only in weekends or for guests. Its my long time wish to make an appam recipe without using yeast, coconut milk and cooking soda. Finally i succeeded in my attempt. I have already posted two varieties, one is the authentic chettinad version and the other one is appam using idli,dosa batter. This version is from my friend Shalini. I made small changes in her recipe as per my mil’s suggestion and also tried with Eno fruit salt instead of cooking soda. So this recipe has no coconut milk, no yeast and no cooking soda. Try this absolutely guilt free, yummy, soft appam recipe for breakfast. U’ll love it.
Check out my other aapam versions if interested
aapam steam

Appam recipe without yeast

Appam recipe


 Appam recipe for breakfast without coconut milk,yeast and cooking soda
Cuisine: Indian Category: Breakfast recipes Yields: Serves 4
Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 5 Minutes Total Time: 35 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 240ml
To soak in water and grind
  • Good quality raw rice - 1 cup
  • Idli rice/Boiled rice - 1 cup
  • Urad dal – 3 tbsp
  • Poha/Thick aval OR Cooked rice - 1/4 cup
  • Methi seeds - 1 tsp ( use 1/2 tsp for mild flavor)
  • Salt & water - as needed
To mix in the batter
  • Sugar - 1 tsp
  • Eno fruit salt – 1 tsp
 HOW TO MAKE APPAM WITHOUT YEAST - METHOD

  • Wash and soak the rice together.Wash and soak the urad dal,poha and methi seeds together.( If using cooked rice,no need to soak it.Grind it along with rice).Soak everything for two hours.
  • Grind the urad dal mixture first adding enough water( Add coconut water if u have).Remove in a wide bowl.Then grind the rice ( cooked rice)adding enough salt and water.Remove and mix the batters together using ur hand.
  • Allow it to ferment overnight.The next day batter would have raised well.Add sugar to it and mix well.Add little water to adjust the consistency of batter if it is too thick.
appam step by step picture
  • Just 10-15 minutes before making aapam,add the Eno fruit salt.Mix well and set aside.Make sure Eno is active.U should see some small bubbles in the batter after u add Eno.
  • Heat a non-stick aapam kadai/skillet and pour 1.5 ladle of batter in the center.Swirl the kadai so that the batter spreads evenly in the corners.Make sure the center part is thick and the corners are thin.Drizzle a tsp of cooking oil.Cover the pan with a lid and simmer the flame.
appam step by step picture 1

  • After few minutes,aapam would have cooked well with bubbles on top.Remove with a slotted ladle.
appam step by step picture 2
  • Serve hot with coconut milk,chutney,stew or mixed veg kurma.
NOTE
  • For variations,use 1/2 cup of urad dal for the above recipe without using poha or cooked rice.This is my friend’s actual recipe.I have tried this way too.It comes out well.
  • U can add 1/4 cup of thin coconut milk to adjust the consistency of the batter instead of water.It tastes good with mild coconut flavour.
  • U can also replace Eno with 2 pinches of cooking soda if u don’t have them in hand.
  • Use non-stick appa kadai to make appams easily.



Appam recipe
Continue Reading...