Search Chitra's Food Book

May 30, 2012

நீர் மாங்காய் | RAW MANGO PICKLE - NEER MANGAI OORUGAI

neer mangai

This is the easiest pickle which we can make in no time and enjoy with curd rice. Though it may take 2-3 days time for all the tastes to be incorporated, you can enjoy it instantly too. We can use the same method for making pickles with Vadu maangai ( Baby raw mango), Nellikai ( gooseberry)  & even strawberries. Try this, you’ll love its taste.



INGREDIENTS

  1. Raw mango – 1 ( medium sized)
  2. Chilli powder – 1 tbsp or Red chillies (long) – 10 –12 nos ( grind coarse)
  3. Crystal salt – As needed ( table salt is also ok )
  4. Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
  5. Hing/ Asafetida – 1/4 tsp
  6. **Roasted fenugreek seeds powder – 1/2 tsp
  7. Water – Just to immerse the mango pieces. ( around 2 - 2.5 cups)
To temper
  1. Gingely oil – 1 tbsp
  2. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  3. Urad dal – 1/2 tsp

METHOD
  • Cut the raw mango into bite sized pieces.
  • Take an air tight container or bottle in which you are going to store the pickle.
  • Add all the mango pieces into it. Then put the chilli powder/coarsely powdered red chillies, turmeric powder, Roasted fenugreek seeds powder, Hing, required salt & water.  As I mentioned the water level should be little above the immersed mango pieces.
  • Finally temper in gingely oil/Sesame oil and preserve it.
After the given soaking time, you’ll get a soft, juicy mango pieces ready to taste with curd rice !!


Tips :It stays good for long period when refrigerated. But please use a clean ladle every time to take the pickle. Also dont forget to stir the pickle everyday for all the powders to get mixed otherwise it will settle down and the taste won't get blended quickly. If you are patient enough, start using the pickle after 2-3 days of preparation.  Hing , roasted fenugreek seeds powder are the star ingredients. Please dont reduce the quantity or avoid it. They are the flavouring agents !!
If you wish to make the same with gooseberries, just saute the gooseberries in little oil before adding. This makes quick absorption of water into gooseberries. We call this as “Neer nellikai” ..

.** For roasted fenugreek seeds powder, dry roast fenugreek seeds in a kadai and powder them nicely. Store it in a box and use it for future. U can use it in idly sambhar , pickles and even for  coffee while making decoction.

Continue Reading...


May 23, 2012

Fruits And Vegetable Milkshake


MILKSHAKE
Nowadays i see lots of posts like milkshakes, icecreams ,juices, lassi etc etc as summer specials. So i too tried a milkshake after watching a cookery show.Its a tasty , delicious , rich n healthy milkshake with the combination of fruits & vegetables. This is the first time i tried milkshake and we loved its taste.The next day i tried the same with mango alone for my guests. They too loved it..Do try it. I am sure u’ll like it a lot.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Ripe mango – 1 no (medium sized)
  • Carrots – 2 nos (Small)
  • Papaya – 1/4 cup ( I dint use it)
  • Dates – 2 nos
  • Sugar- 3-4 tsp
  • Milk – 1 cup
  • Water – 1/2 – 1 cup
  • Condensed milk – 1 tbsp
  • Milk powder – 1 tsp
  • Elachi powder – 1/4 tsp (optional)
  • Crushed ice cubes – few

METHOD
  • Slice the mangoes and remove the skin. Cut into pieces.
  • Cook the carrots in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle.
  • Cut the papaya into pieces removing the skin..
  • Take the blender and add all the fruits & veg pieces along with dates and grind with little water to make a pulp.
  • Next add the condensed milk, sugar and milk powder.
  • Run it twice. Finally add the milk and blend well.
  • Check for sweetness and add more sugar if necessary.
  • Refrigerate  & Serve it chilled Or u can add some ice cubes and serve immediately.

Continue Reading...


May 14, 2012

Ragi Biscuits - Eggless, Butterless Finger Millet Cookies

RAGI BISCUITS
Ragi biscuits with wheat flour & oats / eggless, butter less Ragi cookies (foxtail millet cookies) is my first post on baking recipes. Thanks a ton to my neighbor for teaching me this wonderful biscuit recipe. I had tried this so many times. It never flopped. Its a keeper recipe. Usually nankhatai is made with maida & vanaspathi/dalda in most of the Indian bakery. 

First time I too tried only with maida & ghee. It tasted great, just melted in my mouth. But we all know maida and dalda  are not advisable to eat.So I thought of using a combination of wheat flour, ragi flour , powdered oats and I replaced vanaspathi with cooking oil . It was excellent in taste. I couldn’t find any difference in the taste & texture. 

Do try this ragi, wheat flour nankhatai , I am sure you’ll love this. Its a fool proof recipe. I’ve tried to give the exact measurements. Please adjust the amount of oil if necessary. Also you can see the picture of the biscuit I made just with wheat flour and little maida.Try whichever u like :)

wheat flour nankhatai

Ragi biscuits / Ragi cookies with wheat flour


Ragi biscuits / Ragi cookies with wheat flour
Ragi, wheat flour, oats biscuits - I call it as multigrain cookies/ nankhatai

Cuisine: Indian
Category: Cookies Recipes
Serves: 15
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

1 cup - 200ml
  • Ragi flour – 1/2 cup
  • Wheat flour – 1/2 cup
  • Oats – 1/4 cup
  • Maida – 1/8 cup (just for binding) (half of 1/4 cup)
  • Plain Corn fakes – fistful (crush it and add ) (optional)
  • Sugar – 1/2 cup + 2 - 3 tbsp ( usually flour & sugar ratio is 2:1)
  • Elachi / cardamom seeds – 2 nos
  • Cloves – 3 nos
  • Cooking oil – 1/4 cup + 1/8 cup
  • Baking powder – 1/2 tsp

RAGI BISCUITS/NANKHATAI - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

  • Powder the sugar in the mixer along with elachi seeds & cloves. Sieve and set aside.
    Ragi biscuits
  • Powder the oats and mix all the flours together. Heat it in the oven for 1-2 minutes. This is the most important step . If you forget to roast the flours , you get a raw smell in the biscuit.
    Ragi biscuits Ragi biscuits

  • Now take the cooking oil in a wide bowl and add the baking powder. Whisk well with your hands for 10 mins.
    Ragi biscuits

  • Then add the sugar mixture and flour. Crush the cornflakes with ur hands into small pieces and add it to the flours before kneading. ( This gives a crunchy taste here and there while eating. But this is optional. Mix it well and knead a soft , pliable, dough like chapathi dough. Dough should not be hard. It may crumble a little but no problem but if you knead well, it will be soft & it’ll be tight.
    Ragi biscuits

  • Now take little dough and make small , flat balls out of it. If you have cookie cutters,shape it as you desire.
  • Preheat the oven in convection mode at 180c.Arrange all the nankhatai in the baking tray and bake it for 20-25 mins in 180c convection mode..

    Ragi biscuits Ragi biscuits

  • The biscuits will raise slightly and the color turns.
  • Give a standing time of 10 minutes inside the oven and take the biscuits out. Allow it to cool completely. Store in an air-tight box.
    Ragi biscuits

    Enjoy!

Note

  1. Roast the flours together in oven for 1- 2 minutes in microwave mode. U’ll get a nice aroma. Mix well, break lumps if any and then add it to sugar.
  2. Adjust the baking time as per your oven. Mine took exactly 25 minutes. Keep an eye after 15 minutes of baking. Over baking may lead to hard , burnt biscuits. Also under baking  gives a raw , uncooked smell.It wont come out of the tray easily. It will break. In this condition, keep it for 5-10 more minutes. U’ll get it right.Little cracks may come, no problem.
  3. If you want to add ghee or vanaspathi , just replace the cooking oil with it. The  quantity would be the same ( may be little less).
  4. Usually in bakeries, they add vanaspathi/ Dalda.
  5. While kneading the dough , it shouldn’t be too crumble in nature. Add more oil if necessary. U should be able to make the flat balls without cracks. Roll it tight and make balls. (The procedure is the same as we make for gulab jamun.)
  6. Don’t forget to add cloves.This gives the bakery flavour.
  7. Adding cornflakes is purely optional .
  8. I have added oats .So you may feel the biscuits are too soft. If you want , skip the oats and use wheat & ragi flour with little maida.
  9. Store the biscuit in an air tight container.Its shelf life is 15 days.
Continue Reading...


May 8, 2012

Filter Coffee / South Indian Filter Coffee With Step By Step Pictures

Southindian filter coffee

My mom used to make instant coffee with Bru. Its my favorite. I love it from my childhood days. I had a thought only Brahmins make filter coffee at home. So I used to call filter coffee as “ Brahmin’s coffee” / “Iyer coffee”.. But I changed my thoughts after marriage when I tasted superb filter coffee from my MIL’s hands. She use Coffee day, Indus Coffee powder & sometimes Cothas too. Everything tastes good. I should say Iam addicted to the taste & smell of it. Sometimes I feel giddy after having a strong coffee. So my husband tells me to avoid coffee/tea. He scolds me whenever he sees a cup of coffee in my hand. Though I try to refrain from drinking coffee, I cannot do it. I drink minimum of one cup per day. I know most of you love coffee like me. Do try this recipe with some tips i’ve given below. I am sure it helps. I have given “ How to make Bru instant coffee for beginners” from my mom. Please have a look at the end .. Also don't forget to read the tips section. I’ve given the explanation for “Degree coffee “ which I got from wikipedia. Its interesting!

filter coffee

Filter coffee


Filter coffee How to make south Indian filter coffee
Cuisine: Indian Category: Beverages Yields: Serves 1-2
Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 5 Minutes Total Time: 15 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
For decoction
  • Coffee powder – 3 tbsp
  • Roasted methi seeds powder – A big pinch (optional)
  • Sugar – 1/4 tsp
  • Water – As needed
To make coffee
  • Milk – 1 cup
  • Sugar – 1.5 – 2 tsp
  • **Coffee filter picture is given at the end of this post**
HOW TO MAKE FILTER COFFEE - METHOD

  • Take the coffee filter's percolator ( ie. the part with perforations/holes)sprinkle little sugar at the beginning before adding coffee powder.This helps for faster filtration of decoction.Add the coffee powder & roasted methi powder.
coffee step by step picture
  • Press it gently with ur fingers and then place the strainer.Add hot water till half of the filter.Tap it with the lid and close it immediately Wait for 10-30 mins for the first thick decoction.Reserve the first decoction in a tumbler.U can make coffee with the first thick decoction if u want strong coffee ( this is called first degree coffee,kumbakonam degree coffee). If u wanna light or medium strong coffee,then add little more water to the filter and wait for some more time to get the second thin decoction.Mix the first & second decoctions and add as per ur taste. My MIL says this method gives the best tasting coffee ..
coffee step by step picture
  • To make coffee for one person, boil the milk and add 1.5 – 2tsp of sugar to one cup of milk.Then add the decoction as per ur taste and swish it OR add sugar and decoction in the bottom of tumbler and add milk.It will come up with a nice color. Serve it frothy !!
  • Piping hot frothy filter coffee is ready to enjoy with ur favorite snacks !! We usually serve in traditional “Davarah- tumbler” which u can c in the picture ..
coffee step by step picture
Enjoy !


Some interesting information and my notes




  • For methi powder : In a kadai,dry roast a fistful of fenugreek seeds and powder it in mixie.Add this powder to the coffee powder while making decoction.This gives additional bitterness & flavor.Its healthy too. Diabetes patients can give this a try. But its completely optional for others...
  • I have used “Coffee day coffee powder “ with chicory.If u use INDUS or COTHAS or COFFEE DAY coffee powder without chicory add 2 tbsp instead of 1 tbsp..U can make 3 cups of coffee with the coffee powder quantity i’ve mentioned.
  • I have used small size filter/ percolator. If you use bigger ones,increase the quantity of coffee powder twice or thrice. Please don’t use the same quantity for big filters. f you have left over decoction, you can keep it in a refrigerator and use it the next day. But please avoid keeping decoction for 3-4 days. It may become a poison. 
  • If you feel the decoction is brewed very slowly, tap it once on the umbrella like strainer or show the filter over the flame for few secs before adding coffee powder. I’ve mentioned to add sugar before adding coffee powder This is also for quicker brewing..
  • A term often heard for high-quality coffee is degree coffee. Milk certified as pure with a lactometer was called degree milk owing to a mistaken association with the thermometer. Coffee prepared with degree milk became known as degree coffee..
  • Another explanation for degree coffee is that chicory beans were used to make the coffee. The South Indian pronunciation of chickory became chigory then digory and finally degree. :)
  • Yet another explanation is that, when coffee is decocted for the first time, it is called as the first degree or simply as the "Degree Coffee". This has the strongest flavour and the necessary strength to mix with milk without watering down the taste. In less affluent households, in earlier days, coffee was decocted for a second or third time from the same initial load; this became the second degree coffee and naturally, is not as strong. Affluent households drank first degree or the famous "Degree Coffee" only.
  • Interestingly, there is a Kannada name for coffee "Boondh Bisneeru". "Bisneeru" sounds a great deal like "bisi neeru," or "hot water," thus leading to speculation that the terms are connected. Although not used currently, this was used by ladies two generations ago. The Srilankan Tamil name for coffee is "Kottai Vadineer".
  • For cleaning the filter , drop the bottom part in hot water for few mins. Also pierce the holes with a needle to clean it.
  • In Hotels , they used to add hot water till half of the filter and after it drips down,they again add hot water for half filter.This way helps to extract the full essence of coffee powder and also the coffee tastes great. Also they keep heating the milk using double boiling technique with which milk is heated without burnt smell. They swish the milk till frothy and make coffee. This also matters for a good coffee :)

  • Here is the picture of coffee filter with its parts
    **COFFEE FILTER / PERCOLATOR

    Coffee filter and its parts

    You'll need a traditional FILTER which is made of 4 parts.
    1. The lid that comes on top of the percolator.
    2. The percolator, you can also see the base is punched with holes
    3. Strainer, this looks like an umbrella .
    4. Collector, The fourth part forms the base which collects the strained decoction.



    HOW TO MAKE INSTANT BRU COFFEE

    My MIL says making instant coffee is also an art. She says, sugar should be just rite. Sometimes it may become too bitter or too sweet to taste. She also says my mom makes good instant coffee. So I got this ratio of sugar & coffee powder from my mom , tried it and posted for beginners.. Experts , please excuse me.
    INGREDIENTS
    • Boiled milk – 1 cup ( 200 ml )
    • Bru instant  powder – 1/2 tsp
    • Sugar – 1-1.5 tsp
    • Water – Add very little(say 1 tbsp) ( If milk is too thick. My mom said milk shouldn’t be too thick for good coffee..)
    METHOD
    • Boil the milk  adding water and take one cup of it. Add sugar, coffee powder and froth it. Check for taste and add more coffee powder for strength and color if necessary. I love coffee to be mild, so I add very less coffee powder. Please adjust as per your taste. Frothy , hot instant bru coffee is ready to enjoy !!

    ** Please don’t add more sugar for the mentioned amount of Bru because you wont get the bitter taste and sweetness would be more. For 3 people , you can add 1 tsp of coffee powder.
    bru  coffee_thumb[3]
    Continue Reading...


    April 30, 2012

    Simple Potato Poriyal - Urulaikilangu poriyal recipe | Aloo Curry

    ALOO PORIYAL

    This is my mom’s style potato curry recipe. I make this twice a week for my daughter. She loves this curry a lot. Its very simple to prepare .Tastes the best with dal rice & rasam rice. I’ve given the quantity of chilly powder according to my doter’s taste. I make it less spicy. Please adjust as per your tastebuds .

    INGREDIENTS
    1. Potato – 4 nos ( If medium sized)
    2. Big onion -  1 no (finely chopped )
    3. Ginger – 1/2 inch piece (-do-)
    4. Garlic cloves – 5  nos (-do-)
    5. Chilly powder – 1 tsp ( U can replace with sambar powder)
    6. Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp
    7. Salt – As needed
    8. Curry leaves – a few
    9. Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
    10. Urad dal – 1/4tsp
    11. Jeera – 1/4 tsp
    12. Cooking oil – 2 tbsp
    13. Coriander leaves – to garnish
    14. Lime juice – a few drops.

    METHOD
    • Pressure cook potatoes with little turmeric powder.
    • Cut into bite sized pieces. In a kadai , heat oil and temper with mustard seeds , urad dal & jeera.
    • Add the finely chopped onions , ginger & garlic pieces , curry leaves and saute for few mins.
    • Then add the potato cubes , turmeric powder, chilly powder and salt.
    • Toss well for few minutes and finally garnish with coriander leaves. Switch off the flame and add a few drops of lime juice.Mix well and serve.
    Serve with rice . It goes well with lemon rice too…


    Note :My mom adds G&G paste. But we don’t like it. So I add pieces of G&G. If you want, you can add garam masala powder at the end to make it more flavourful. The same can be used as a stuffing for masala dosa, stuffed buns etc. It tastes good with roti..

    Continue Reading...


    April 23, 2012

    INSTANT RAW MANGO PICKLE RECIPE | மாங்காய் ஊறுகாய்


    My mom makes this instant raw mango pickle for my dad . A very simple yet delicious pickle that goes well with curd rice & dal rice( paruppu sadam). I hope most of u make this kind of pickle at home Smile . A simple , easy to make pickle for beginners.Here comes the recipe..

    INGREDIENTS
      • Raw mango – 1 no (medium size)
      • Red chilli powder – 1-1.5 tsp (adjust)
      • Hing / Asafetida – 2 pinches
      • Roasted & powdered methi seeds - 1/4 tsp (optional , I dont add)
      • Salt – As needed
      To temper(optional)
      • Sesame oil - 2 tsp
      • Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
      • Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
      • Curry leaves -  few

      METHOD
      • Chop mango into very small pieces.Add salt and hing.
      • Mix well and allow to sit for 30 mins.. The mango and salt leaves water and it gets soaked well.
      • Now add the red chilli powder ,mix well..
      • Finally temper with the above said ingredients if desired.Usually I do it. But this step is completely optional as my mom don't do the tempering every time.

      NOTE
      1. My MIL also makes an instant version in which she mixes finely chopped green chillies & salt along with raw mango pieces . Keep it for 10 mins , mix well and enjoy.. This also tastes equally good as the above said pickle. Try this too.
      Continue Reading...


      April 9, 2012

      Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe | Tamil nadu Tiffin Sambar - Side Dish For Idli Dosa Pongal

      Hotel sambar

      I think most of you would have tried varieties of Tamil nadu hotel style idli sambar recipes at home. Even I too posted an idli sambar with toor dal long time back which learnt from my MIL. It tastes similar to the hotel ones. But I should say this is the exact recipe for restaurant style sambar. I got this recipe from Aval vikatan’s supplementary.

      Yesterday I tried this for my guests. My guests liked it so much, I was showered with compliments and they were asking for the recipe. Thanks to Mrs. Revathy shanmugam for this yummy hotel kind of recipe. It tastes mildly tangy with more of dal, less spicy and you can even drink this sambar.
       
      You can use this as basic Tiffin sambar recipe for making sambar vada,Mini idli sambar etc. It’s a great side dish for Idli, dosa recipes. My friend Jayarani gave me a tip recently. She told me to add pumpkin instead of jaggery and she also suggested me to use drumstick.

       Yes, as she told adding pumpkin gave a mild sweetness and drumstick gave a nice flavour. I have updated the recipe adding them. Do try this, I am sure you’ll get the exact taste as in most of the restaurants. It goes well with idli , dosa , Venpongal and vada

      Check out this recipe for another version of hotel sambar if interested.

      Check out my MINI IDLI SAMBAR RECIPE too.



      Hotel idli sambar

      Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe


      Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe - Restaurant style Tiffin Sambar Recipe
      Cuisine: Indian
      Category: Side dish
      Serves: Serves 4
      Prep time: 15 Minutes
      Cook time: 15 Minutes
      Total time: 30 Minutes


      INGREDIENTS
      1 cup - 250ml
      • Toor dal OR Moong dal – 1/3 cup
      • Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
      • Cooking Oil – A drop
      • Pumpkin – 4-6 pieces ( cube sized)
      • Drumstick – 1 no ( Chop into small pieces)
      • Vegetables ( Carrot & potato) – If needed.
      • Tamarind – 2 seeds (approx. small gooseberry size)
      To roast and grind
      • Cooking Oil - 1 tsp
      • Dhania / Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp
      • Chana dal – 2 tbsp
      • Red chillies – 6 nos
      • Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp
      To temper & saute
      • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
      • Urad dal –1tsp
      • Jeera / cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
      • Red chillies – 2 nos (pinched)
      • Curry leaves – a few
      • Asafetida/Hing – few pinches
      • Small onion - a cup
      • Tomato – 1- 2 nos
      • Sambar powder – 1/2 tsp
      • Coriander leaves – to garnish
      • Jaggery – 1 tsp ( Add if you don’t use pumpkin)
      • Ghee – 1 tbsp
      HOW TO MAKE HOTEL IDLI SAMBAR - METHOD
      • Soak tamarind in warm water for 20 minutes and take the extract. Set aside.
      • Peel the onions and chop the tomatoes. Pressure cook the dals with turmeric powder, pumpkin pieces and a drop of oil. Mash and set aside. Cook drumstick and other vegetables separately and set aside
      • In a kadai roast all the above said ingredients and make it a fine powder.
       

      • In the same kadai , add oil and temper all the items in the same order. Now add the sambar onions and saute till transparent. Then add the tomatoes ( crush it with your hands before adding , this makes the sauting process faster ) and required salt. Saute till tomatoes turn mushy and juicy. Add the tamarind extract , raw pinched curry leaves , hing, sambar powder and turmeric powder.
      • Allow to boil till the onions get cooked. Now add the mashed dal,cooked vegetables ( if using) and the ground powder. Mix well so that there are no lumps.
      • Boil for few minutes. It will thicken. Add more water if necessary. Switch off the flame add garnish with coriander leaves.
      • Last but not the least, don’t forget to add a tbsp of ghee & Cover it with a lid until you serve.. 
      Enjoy with idli, dosa and pongal!
      Note
      • U can use the combination of moong dal and toor dal in equal quantities and make this sambar.
      • Adding pumpkin gives a sweetness to the sambar. So no need to add jaggery or sugar. If you don’t add pumpkin use either jaggery or sugar while sambar boils.
      • Make this sambar atleast 3-4 hours before serving because all the tastes blends well. U can reheat it while serving.
      • For variations, you can add a tbsp of grated coconut while roasting the powder ingredients and powder them.
      • Tastes great the next day with full aroma !!

      ENJOY THIS SAMBAR WITH SOFT IDLIES.CRISPY DOSA & VEN PONGAL !!

      Continue Reading...


      April 4, 2012

      Bhakri Recipe & Masala Dal - Ajwain Paratha

      masala dal & bhakri
      I saw this in jaya tv’s “Anitha vin samayal”. I found it simple and healthy.I gave a try. It was excellent in taste. We loved it. I have made it thrice so far. Thanks to Mrs.Anitha kuppusamySmile .  She used ghee in the actual recipe but i used oil..Please go through the recipe.

      BHAKRI
      INGREDIENTS
      1 cup - 200ml
      • Wheat flour – 1 cup
      • Jeera – 1 tsp (OPTIONAL)
      • Ajwain – 1.5 tsp
      • Salt & water – As needed.
      • Oil – 1 tbsp ( She told to use 2 tbsp of ghee)
      METHOD
      • Take a broad bowl and mix all the ingredients given above.Knead well .
      • Make rotis and cook on tawa drizzling little ghee or oil around it.
      • Enjoy with masala dal or any kurma of ur choice !!

      MASALA DAL
      masala dal
      INGREDIENTS

       1 cup - 200ml
      • Toor dal –1/8 cup
      • Masoor dal – 1/8 cup
      • Moong dal – 1/8 cup
      • Channa dal – 1/8 cup
      • Black gram dal – 1/8 cup
      • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
      • Salt & water- as redq
      To grind
      • Coriander seeds -  1 tbsp
      • Red chilly -  4 nos ( She told to use kashmiri red chilly for nice color.But i used normal ones)
      • Jeera / cumin seeds – 1 tsp
      • Ginger – one inch piece
      • Garlic – 7 – 8 cloves or (replace with ginger garlic paste)
      • Cinnamon – 1 small stick
      • Cloves -  3 nos
      • Pepper – 8 nos
      • Saunf – !/2 tsp (optional)
      • Water – as needed.
      To saute
      • Oil – 1tbsp
      • grated onion -  2 nos
      • tomato – 2 nos
      Coriander leaves – to garnish
      Method
      • Pressure cook all the dals together with little turmeric powder and a drop of oil.
      • Grind all the ingredients given under “ To grind” by adding little water to make a smooth paste.
      • Heat oil/ghee in a kadai and  add the items given under saute.Saute till the tomato mushes. Then add the ground paste and saute till the raw smell emanates.
      • Add the cooked and mashed dals and add enough water and salt.
      • Let it boil for sometime. Please keep the medium flame and cover the kadai while it boils otherwise it splashes everywhere.
      • Add water whenever needed. Allow it to boil for 5-10 mins.
      • Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves
      Serve hot with rotis /Phulka or paratha !!.

      Technorati Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
      Continue Reading...