Green Gram Rice Upma - Paasi Payaru Recipe

I made this upma for dinner yesterday. Its a simple one pot meal. It tastes best with sambar.I add equal amount of rice and green gram dal ( Pacha Payaru/Paasi pauaru in Tamil) in this upma. So its very filling and rich in protein. We wanted little mushy. So I added more water.But if u add the quantity of water given below, u'll get the rice grains separate and fluffy. Please use the water according to your choice.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml

Steamed rice or Raw rice - 1/2 cup Green gram / Pacha payaru - 1/2 cup Water - 1- 1.25 cups Salt - As needed To temper Cooking oil - 1 tbsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Urad dal - 1/2 tsp Channa dal - 1/2tsp Green chilly - 2 no (slit into two) Curry leaves - A few Ginger- 1 inch (cut into pieces) Hing / Asafetida - 3-4 generous pinches

METHOD

• Heat a kadai and dry roast the rice till it slightly puffs up.
• In the same kadai add a tsp of oil and roast the green gram until nice aroma arises.It may take 5-8 mins.
• Now heat 1 tbsp of oil and temper the items given above in the same order.
• Then add the roasted rice and dal. Add the required water and salt .Transfer everything into a pressure cooker.
• Add a drop of oil and a pinch of hing .Pressure cook for one whistle.

Delicious upma is ready to serve. I served with AAB sambhar.

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Pidi Karunai Kizhangu Chops / Yam Fry Recipe

I love chops made with vazhakkai and senaikizhangu ( Elephant yam ).Recently I bought small sized black colored pidi karunai kizhangu from my native.I heard its a good remedy for piles. We usually make vatral kulambu by adding this kizhangu. This time i tried chops by searching the recipe.I got from a discussion forum hub. It was very nice and aromatic with the perfect blend of spices. The original recipe was named as "Karunai kizhangu kola urundai" and it was told to deep fry. But I followed the same recipe and made in dosa tawa instead of deep frying. I would say this recipe is apt for making with elephant yam and raw banana. My doter loved it very much.We enjoyed with sambhar  and curd rice !!

INGREDIENTS

Pidi karunai - 4 nos TO GRIND: Pottukadalai/ Fried gram dal/ Dalia - 3 tbsp Tamarind paste - 1/2 tbsp Turmeric powder - A pinch Cloves - 2 nos Cinnamon - 1 inch piece Fennel seeds/ Soambu - 1 tsp Garlic cloves - 4 nos Red chillies - 5 - 7 nos Shredded coconut - 1 tbsp Ginger - 1 small piece Salt & water - As needed. Lime juice - Optional Coriander leaves - To  garnish.

METHOD

1. Wash & soak the kizhangu in abundant water for sometime to remove all the mud.
   
2. Pressure cook in high flame for 1 whistle.It should be half done.(Skin should be hard to touch)
   
3. Now grind all the items given above adding required salt & water to make a smooth paste.
   
4. Remove the skin of the kizhangu and chop it round.
   
5. Now mix the paste ans marinate for sometime. The  kizhangu should be fully coated with the paste.
   
6. Now heat the dosa tawa and sprinkle some oil. Cover Cook the marinated pieces for sometime.Keep the flame low for even cooking. flip the pieces to cook the other side and do the same.
   
7. I Wanted a brown layer to be formed so i kept for a longer time.
   
8. Finally garnish with coriander leaves and add lime juice if necessary.
   
9. Karunai kizhangu Chops is ready !!

NOTE

• If u want to try kolas , just cook the kizhangu well till it mashes.Mash it with ur hands and add the paste.Mix well. Add finely chopped onions and coriander leaves . Make small balls and deep fry them in batches.
  
• If u wish to try the same with senai / elephant yam , add little more tamarind paste by avoid the irritation in tongue.Add less tamarind paste to make the same with raw banana.

Technorati Tags: KARUNAI KILANZHU CHOPS,KARUNAI KIZHANGU VARUVAL,kArunai Kizhangu poriyal,Pidi karunai fry,pidi karunai dry curry,pidi karunai poriyal.

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Vazhaithandu Juice / Banana Stem Juice Recipe - Sweet And Salt Version

I really got bored of making thogayal, pachadi and poriyal with vazhaithandu.My husband hates to eat vazhaithandu just becoz it takes so much time to chew n eat ;). I heard drinking vazhaithandu juice in empty stomach is one of the healthiest way to include in our diet. Its a hassle free job too.Last month when i went to my native ,we tasted this juice in Salem, Lakshmi hotel. We loved it.It was mild in sweet and they served it chilled. We couldn't find out its the juice of vazhaithandu .I wanted to try the same at home.I tried sweet and salt versions. Both were excellent. I dint serve it cold, I made at room temperature.Finally its your choice  !!

SWEET JUICE

INGREDIENTS

Plantain stem /Vazhaithandu - 1 /2 no (medium size) Boiled Milk - 1/2 cup (adjust) Sugar - 2 tbsp Water- If necessary

METHOD

Remove the outer layer of vazhaithandu till core ( At this point u dont have layers to remove). Cut into rings while removing the fibre simultaneously that comes between the rings . Chop into small pieces .Grind with sugar and milk.Add more milk & sugar if necessary. Strain in a double cloth filter.Pour in a serving glass. Serve it chilled or at room temperature !!

SALT VERSION

INGREDIENTS

Vazhaithandu - 1/2 no (medium size) Sour curd - 2tbsp Salt & water - As needed Pepper powder - 2 pinches (optional) Coriander leaves - To garnish

METHOD

Repeat steps 1 and 2 given in the above version and cut the stem into pieces and immerse in buttermilk to avoid color change. Grind the pieces along with curd and salt. Add more water , whisk and strain in a double cloth filter. Pour in a serving glass and  garnish with little coriander leaves serve chill!!

NOTE

1. Drinking vazhathandu juice alone doesnot help u to shed ur weight. U have to carry on the other things like diet .excercise etc.
2. U can prepare the juice in another way .Grind the Banana stem with salt , pepper powder and lime juice. Filter and enjoy !! Hope this method sounds easier.

Technorati Tags: Banana stem,plantain stem juice,Vazhathandu juice,Banana stem benefits,plantain stem benefits.

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Karisalankanni Keerai Chapathi - Keerai Paratha

Nowadays i am using karisilankanni keerai in my cooking twice a week for health reasons. I make kootu and this chapathi.But i would say,we love this chapathi more than kootu ;) It is very easy to prepare.I make this for my hubby's lunch box. It stays softfor hours and onion raita is the best side dish. I use the same method to prepare palak and other keerai chapathis.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml

Karisalankanni leaves- 1 bunch Wheat flour - 1 cup Besan flour  - 1 tbsp Sambar powder - 1 tsp Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp Curd - 1/5 cup ( adjust) Olive oil - 1 tsp Salt -as needed water - As needed

METHOD

• Wash the leaves .Heat the kadai with a tsp of oil  and saute the leaves till it reduces to half in quantity.
• Grind to make a smooth paste by adding little curd . Now in a bowl , take the wheat flour,besan flour , sambhar & garam masala powder,salt and water.Knead well to make a soft , pliable dough.
• Roll to make thin chapathi and toast on a dosa tawa.
• Serve hot with onion raita and pickle.

      

Technorati Tags: Keerai chapathi,Spinach chapathi,Karisalankanni keerai. yellow karisalankanni keerai chapathi

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Oats Kara Paniyaram Using Leftover Idli/Dosa Batter

                                     

Nowadays i am making oats buttermilk porridge and oats- wheat rava idly for my hubby very often. I wanted to try some other simple and yummy dish with oats. Last weekend i tried this for our breakfast . I got this recipe from aval vikatan supplementary. It was very nice. The actual recipe called for grinding , fermenting and all. But i made an instant paniyaram with little left over idli/dosa batter. The taste was awesome. It was like the usual one we make with idli batter.We loved it. Try this and let me know.I’ve also written the actual recipe at the end of the post.Please have a look at it.

INGREDIENTS

Quaker quick oats – 1/4 cup Idly / dosa batter – 1/4 cup Salt & water – As needed To temper Olive oil/ Cooking oil – 1 tsp Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp Urad dal – 1/2 tsp Channa dal – 1/2 tsp Big onion – 1 no (chopped finely) Green chilly – 1 no (-do-) Ginger – 1 small piece Curry leaves – a few SOUR CURD – 1.5 TSP (OPTIONAL)

METHOD

• Dry roast oats for few minutes and grind to make a fine powder.
• Mix  idly batter and powdered oats with the required salt and water. The batter should not be too thick.
• Temper all the items given above and mix in the batter.
• Take a non-stick paniyaram pan and pour the batter. Drizzle little oil if necessary.
• Cover and cook for sometime. Flip and cook the other side for few mins.

Delicious oats paniyaram is ready to savour with coconut chutney or any other chutney of ur choice !!

NOTE

1. This paniyaram would be very soft inside . So dont think its uncooked. It cooks very fast just like our normal paniyaram . Just cover and cook in sim fire for sometime. Its enough.
2. I dont like the smell of oats to be dominant here . So i’ve added equal quantity of oats and idly batter. U can lesser the amount of idli batter and try.
3. Sometimes the sourness of batter may reduce if u add oats. Add little sour curd if needed.

ACTUAL RECIPE GIVEN IN THE BOOK Quaker quick Oats– 1 cup Urad dal – 1/2 cup Salt & water – as needed To temper : The same ingredients as mentioned above. METHOD Soak the urad dal for 30 mins and grind with oats in a mixie . Leave it for 4 –5 hrs for fermentation. If u feel the batter is not sour , add little curd to it. Now make the paniyaram with seasoning as mentioned above

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100 DIWALI SWEET RECIPES FROM INDUS LADIES- MOST AWAITED E-BOOK IS PUBLISHED

                                                            

I think i am the last one to write about this most eagerly awaited e-book from Indus ladies .U can download this e-book here . There are so many wonderful , unique recipes being published.I am elated that my BOONDHI LADOO recipe is also featured in this book :) Thanks a lot INDUS LADIES !!

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Ulundhu Kali / Urad Dal Kali Recipe - Tirunelveli Style

I hope many of you (ladies) would have tasted this ulundhu kali at the time of puberty. Today I have shared this ulundhu kali recipe learning from my aachi in Tirunelveli / Nellai.  People usually make this ulundu kali using black urad dal with skin and palm jaggery(Karupatti in Tamil) as it is supposed to be more healthy. In Tamil nadu , our grand mothers used to give this for the teen aged girls to make the bones strong especially hip bones. When my Tiruenlveli aachi gave this for me, I have literally cried a lot to eat this. But now I know its importance. Nowadays at this early age (30+), we get pains in joints and back very often. We are not able to bend continuously for sometime. We get pain in spine. This shows the weakness of our bones. Urad dal helps to strengthen the bones. 

Apart from this, urad dal has lots of other health benefits too. So its better to have urad dal in our regular diet to avoid all these problems. Apart from eating idli/dosa and vada, I feel this is also a good choice of including urad dal in our daily diet..So lets see how to make this ulundu kali/Urad dal kali at home.

INGREDIENTS

URAD DAL – 1/2 cup JAGGERY or PALM JAGGERY – 1/2 cup GINGELY OIL – 1/4 cup CARDAMOM SEEDS – 2 NOS (optional) WATER – 2 cups

METHOD

• In a kadai, dry roast the urad dal till you get a nice flavor. Powder it in a mixie adding cardamom seeds. Store it in an air tight container.
• Now take 4 tbsp of urad dal powder in a bowl and mix 2 cups of water.
• Cook the urad dal for 7-8 mins. It thickens. Stir well for sometime and make sure there are no lumps formed. 
• Now add the powdered jaggery and mix well. Keep the fire in low flame. Allow it to boil till the raw smell of jaggery emanates. (You can also melt the jaggery, strain the syrup and add to urad dal). 
• Add the gingely oil  in 1 tbsp at regular intervals and stir well. Kali absorbs all the oil. Keep mixing in low to medium flame. At one stage, it thickens and leaves the pan completely. It starts to leave little oil in the corners. 
• U’ll get a glossy, sliding non sticky kali is ready to enjoy .

Delicious , healthy uluthankali is ready to eat !!

NOTE

• If you use palm jaggery instead of jaggery , dissolve in water and make a syrup. Strain and use.

Technorati Tags: kali,uluthangali,uluthangali for teens and ladies.

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MIXED FRUITS AND VEGETABLE SALAD WITH SPROUTS

I wanted to make a simple , healthy salad with sprouts, mixed vegetables and fruits for a long time. I googled so many basic salad recipes and came out with my version.Here i used grated beetroot .So the color of beetroot dominates here. Otherwise it would be a colorful salad to attract ur kids. Make ur choice of adding or omitting the veggies and fruits given in this recipe.

INGREDIENTS
For 1 person

Sprouted green gram - 1 handful Carrot - 1 no(grated) Beetroot - 1/2 no ( grated) (optional) Big onion - 1/2 no (chop finely) Cabbage - Few leaves ( chop finely) Pomegranate - 1 handful Guava - 1/2 no ( Chop into squares) Coriander leaves - A few Lime juice  - Few drops Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp Salt - As needed

METHOD

• Take a wide bowl and mix all the ingredients given above. Squeeze a few drops of lime juice. Mix well and serve !!

Variations

1. Add two pinches of chat masala to the above recipe to give a nice flavor. But adjust the salt as chat masala contains salt.
2. U can also add chopped tomato pieces and cucumber pieces when u want to serve instantly otherwise the salad may become watery. 
3. I usually pack the above salad for my hubby's lunch box without tomato and cucumber.

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PARUPPU THOGAYAL RECIPE

This is my husband's favorite thogayal. It tastes the best when paired with vatral kuzhambu . Its is a delectable combination.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml

• Moong dal - 1/8 cup ( 2 tbsp)
• Toor dal - 1/8 cup (2 tbsp)
• Red chilly - 1 no
• Grated coconut - 1 tbsp 
• Pepper corns - 1/2-1 tsp ( adjust)
• Garlic cloves - 6 nos
• Salt - As reqd

METHOD

• Take a kadai and add a tbsp of oil. Fry the dals along with red chillies.
• Once its cool, grind adding salt , grated coconut and little water to make a paste.
• Crush the pepper corns and garlic cloves using a mortar n pestle,add to this thogayal & run the mixie.
• Add little water if required to bring the desired consistency.

Mix with plain rice adding sesame oil ..Enjoy !!

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Poricha Kuzhambu Recipe - Raw Mango, Drumstick Gravy

I learnt this from my MIL. Usually we make this gravy only with drumstick. But during mango season , we make this combination. It tastes great with the excellent flavor of mango. If u don't get sour raw mango ,no problem , u can try this with drumstick alone by adding little tamarind extract to get the tangy taste. We mix this gravy in plain rice with little ghee.Here i've used Vengaya vadagam for seasoning.I think most of u may not have/aware of this. So i've given the ingredients below to replace vadagam.
Try this simple & delicious poricha kuzhambu. Iam sure u'll love it and start to make it often.

 INGREDIENTS

• Raw mango - 1 no ( Medium sized) (cut into cubes as shown in the above picture)
• Drumstick - 2 nos
• Moong dal - 3 tbsp
• Sambar powder - 2 tsp
• Salt & water- As needed

To grind:

• Grated coconut - 3 tbsp
• Water - As needed.

To temper:( to replace vadagam)

• Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Urad dal - 1/4 tsp
• Jeera - 1/4 tsp
• Small onion - 10 nos ( cut into small pieces)
• Curry leaves - a few (finely chopped)
• Cooking oil - 1 tbsp

METHOD

• Pressure cook moong dal by adding a pinch of turmeric powder and a drop of oil. Mash it and set aside.
• Now in a bowl , take the drumstick pieces.Add the required water & cover cook. When it is half cooked, add the cubed mango pieces and add more water if necessary. Once it starts to boil , add the sambhar powder, salt  & cooked moong dal. Cover cook till mangoes & drumstick pieces get cooked.{Make sure the mango pieces should not be mushy and dissolved in the gravy}.
• Now grind the grated coconut adding little water to make a smooth paste.
• Mix this paste to the gravy and allow it to boil for sometime. If u feel the gravy is too thick, add water to bring the consistency. (In this step , check the salt & spice, add if needed)
• Suppose if the gravy is too watery after adding the coconut paste , u can add a little amount of rice flour to make the gravy thick.But this step is purely optional.
• At last , season the gravy with vengaaya vadagam or the above mentioned items. If u use the above said items for tempering, saute till everything turns golden brown. This gives a spl flavor to the gravy.

ENJOY MIXNG WITH HOT PLAIN RICE & A DROP OF GHEE OR SERVE AS A  SIDE DISH FOR VATRAL KUZHAMBU / SAMBAR RICE.

Technorati Tags: RAW MANGO GRAVY,PORICHA KUZHAMBU,MAANGAI KUZHAMBU,MURUNGAI KAI PORICHA KUZHAMBU,RAW MANGO KOOTU

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