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September 28, 2010

Mor Kuzhambu With Onion - Tamilnadu Mor kulambu Recipe

mor kuzhambu recipe - mom's style

I love our South Indian/ Tamilnadu style mor kuzhambu for rice. Its the simplest, easiest , hassle free curry that can be prepared in no time. I usually follow my mil’s method. For a change, I  tried my mom’s style mor kulambu with onions. My mom never adds turmeric powder but I used here for a nice color. My mom always add masala vada in this kuzhambu. That gives an additional flavor and taste. Sometimes she adds lady's finger/ vendakkai too. But I dint add any vegetables. I just added onions and made it simple. I enjoyed with hot rice and carrot-beans poriyal. Slurppppp.. it was yummy!

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup - 240ml

For 2 persons
  • Sour curd – 1 cup
  • Besan flour – 1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp (optional)
  • Salt  – As needed
  • Water - 1 cup
To grind :
  • Coconut – 2 tbsp grated
  • Green chilli – 4 to 5 nos (small, use 2 for less spice)
  • Garlic – 3 cloves (small)
  • Ginger – 1/2 inch piece
  • Shallot / small onion – 3 nos
  • Jeera / cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
To temper and saute:
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
  • Fenugreek seeds – 1/8 tsp
  • Red chilli – 1 no (pinched into two)
  • Sambar onions/ shallots – 10 nos (finely chopped) or big onion - 1 no
To garnish :
  • Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
Method :
  • Grind all the ingredients given under "to grind" to a smooth paste. In a bowl, whisk the sour curd adding 1 cup water,  required salt, ground coconut paste, besan flour mixed with 1 tbsp water without lumps and mix well.
  • In a kadai, temper the items given above and add it to the buttermilk mixture.
  • Keep the bowl in medium flame and allow the buttermilk to boil slowly and becomes frothy.
  • Mix with the ladle in the middle and allow it to boil for few seconds in medium flame. Never roll boil the mor kulambu.  It will become watery. So stir it whenever needed. Add coriander leaves, mix well & give one boil.
  • Remove from the flame. Keep the vessel as such. Do not pour or transfer to another vessel when its hot. Close the vessel partially leaving some air gap. Serve with rice and poriyal.

Note :
  • Do not allow the buttermilk mixture to roll boil. It should just raise and becomes frothy.
  • Roll boiling makes the gravy watery and lose all its taste. Hope you all know this.
  • Do not close the bowl completely. It will also make the gravy watery. 
  • Do not pour the mor kuzhambu to a vessel when its hot. It will become watery. 
  • If you wish to add vegetables you can add sauteed lady's finger or cooked ash gourd/ poosanikai. You can dunk in whole masala vada for more taste.
morkuzhambu

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September 22, 2010

EASY POTATO PEAS KURMA - VEG KURMA WITHOUT COCONUT

I wanted to try a simple , mildly spiced kurma  for a long time. So i tried this kurma in my own way. My husband liked it very much. Also this is less time consuming & no grinding part is needed.Try this potato kurma without coconut and let me know friends how it turned out for you.
Simple aloo peas kurma 1

INGREDIENTS :
  • Potato / Aloo – 3 nos, medium size ( Peel the skin and chop into small pieces)
  • Peas – 1/4 cup( Soak the peas overnite if its dry )
  • Besan flour – 1 tbsp ( Mix with 1/4 cup water to make a paste )
  • Salt & water – As needed.
To saute :
  • Oil – 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon – 1 inch
  • Cloves – 2 nos
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves – a few
  • Big onion – 1 no (chopped finely )
  • Green chillies – 2 - 4 nos ( slit cut )
  • Tomato – 2 nos (chopped finely)
To garnish :
  • Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp
METHOD :
  • In a cooker base , add oil and saute the items given above in the same order.
  • Add tomato pieces at the end and saute till mushy.
  • Lastly add the potato pieces and soaked peas .
  • Add enough water & salt , cover and pressure cook up to 1 whistle.
  • Remove the lid and add the besan paste.Allow it to thicken and boil for sometime.
  • Garnish with coriander leaves & serve hot with roti.
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September 17, 2010

MILAGU JEERAGA ADAI

Milagu jeeraga adai

INGREDIENTS :
  • Steamed rice / Puzhungal arisi / Saapaattu arisi – 2 cups
  • Pepper corns – 1.5 –2 tsp
  • Jeera / cumin seeds – 1 tbsp
  • Salt & water – as needed.
METHOD :
  • Soak the rice for 2 hrs and grind it coarse like rawa / semolina by adding salt & required water. ( i prepared the batter 5 hrs before .. But u can grind the rice and make it instantly.. )
  • Powder the pepper & jeera and add it to the batter.
  • Add little water when the batter is thick.
  • Heat the dosa pan and pour a ladleful of batter.Do not spread the batter.
  • Drizzle oil around the adai and allow it to cook for few seconds
  • Flip & cook for few more seconds.
Enjoy eating hot !!
Note : This adai can be served without any accompaniment..

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September 11, 2010

SUKKU MALLI KAAPI / DRY GINGER CORIANDER SEEDS COFFEE

Sukku malli thanni
I learnt this sukku malli kaapi / dry ginger coriander seeds coffee from my MIL.  I make this at least once in a week, specially in weekends. We have this in evening. Its a healthy alternative for our regular coffee and tea. 

 If you prefer to have this in the morning, use ginger/ inji instead of dry ginger/sukku. You can grind and make chukku malli powder at home and use it whenever needed but I prefer to make it fresh. This sukku malli kaapi has so many health benefits.  It increases the appetite, improves digestion and equilizes the bile salts in our body. Lets see how to make this health drink at home easily in 2 steps !
Watch the video too. 





INGREDIENTS:
  • Coriander seeds – 1.5 tbsp
  • Dry ginger – 2 inch piece
  • Karuppatti / Palm jaggery / Jaggery – 2 tbsp (adjust )
  • Lemon juice – Few drops
  • Honey – 1 tsp (optional)
Method - HOW TO MAKE SUKKU MALLI COFFEE:
  • Take the coriander seeds & dry ginger in a mixer and grind it coarse.sukku malli kaapi
  • Add 2 cups of water to the ground mixture. Now add the powdered karuppati /palm sugar and boil it till the water gets reduced to half in quantity. i.e 1 cup. sukku malli kaapi
  • Strain it and add few drops of lemon juice.(check for sweetness and add honey if necessary)sukku malli kaapi
Enjoy drinking hot !!








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September 3, 2010

NAAN WITHOUT YEAST AND SIMPLE ALOO/TAPIOCA KURMA

I learnt this Naan from my MIL.she got the recipe from a TV show.I tried it yesterday and it was super soft & tasty.We prepared naan & chapathi.So i wanted to make a simple korma that taste good for both.This korma i tried from here.It was very tasty and served as a nice accompaniment for both Naan & chapathi.Thanks to Varunavi .I got a simple & delicious korma recipe which i can prepare in no time.I used boiled tapioca along with potato.We dint find any difference in taste & flavor.So try the same & let me know friends ..
Let me start with a picture ,  
Naan with aloo kurma 1

Ingredients :
1 cup - 200ml
  • Maida / All purpose flour – 2 cups
  • Curd – 1/2 cup
  • Ghee / Gingely oil / Butter – 2 tbsp
  • Cooking soda – 2 pinches
  • Salt & water – As needed.
Method :

  • Take the flour in a wide mouthed bowl and make a dent in the center.
  • Now put the other ingredients and mix well to make a soft , smooth dough..
  • Keep the dough closed by a wet cloth and leave it for 2 hrs.( its not necessary tat the dough should be doubled in size. )
  • Make sure the dough is non sticky after two hours. Even if its a bit sticky apply oil to ur hands and knead gently.
  • Make even sized balls and roll it like chapathi by dusting in maida.
  • Heat the dosa tawa and make naans by applying little oil around it.Cut it into two halves ..
Enjoy with this korma / gravy :)
Naan with aloo kurma 2

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August 28, 2010

NARTHANGAI / KOLINGIKAI PACHADI

I am a big fan of this pachadi..I learnt this from my MIL.She makes it very nicely. . Thanks to my MIL for preparing this just for me …Here comes the ingredients with a picture ..
naarthangai pachadi 1`

INGREDIENTS :
  • NARTHANGAI or KOLINGIKAI – 2 NOS
  • Tamarind – Big lemon size
  • Salt – 2-3 tbsp
  • Jaggery – 1 tbsp
  • Water – As needed.
To temper :
  • Cooking Oil – 3 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tbsp
  • Urad dal – 1 tsp
  • Hing /Asafetida– 1/2 tsp
  • Green chilly – 15 – 20 nos
  • Curry leaves – 1 sprig
To dry roast & grind :
  • Fenugreek seeds – 1 tbsp
  • Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
  • Asafetida – 1/2 tsp
Method :
  • Soak tamarind in warm water for half an hour and extract the juice from it.
  • Slice the narthangai or kolingikai into concentric circles and cut into small cubes by removing the seeds.
  • Make sure u deseed properly becoz it may induce bitterness.
  • In a kadai dry roast the methi seeds till golden brown and Grind it to a fine powder along with turmeric powder & hing.
  • In the same kadai add 3 tbsp of oil and temper mustard seeds , urad dal , curry leaves , slit green chilly and 1/2 tsp of hing in the same order.Saute very nicely such that the skin of the green chillies gets shrunken & change into white color .
  • In a cooker vessel take the narthangai pieces , tempered items & tamarind extract , salt , powdered items, jaggery & required water(add the water to cover the narthangai completely).
  • Pressure cook and remove..( If u feel there is excess water , allow it to boil for sometime..)
Enjoy with curd rice :)
naarthangai pachadi

NOTE : We dont get naarthangai all round the year but we easily get kadaarangai and kolingikai .So follow the same procedure and make pachadi with these veggies ..U can see the picture of narthangai below :)
naarthangai
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August 24, 2010

Carrot Sambar Recipe For Idli - South Indian Carrot Sambar

Carrot sambar recipe
I started to make this carrot sambar recipe for my daughter when she was a kid. Its a great way to make my daughter eat this vegetable. I make it less spicy as per my baby’s taste. Its a good side dish for Idli, dosa with a nice aroma and mild sweetness of carrot. This sambar can be served for rice if you add little more tamarind. You can make it as a no onion no garlic version by skipping onion, garlic in this recipe. I have shared those points in Notes section.Try this for your family .I am sure they will love it. Lets see how to make this healthy carrot sambar recipe for Idli ,dosa.
Check out my other Idli Sambar Recipes HERE.
42 Chutney varieties
15 Idli varieties
Carrot sambar recipe

Carrot Sambar Recipe


Carrot Sambar Recipe Healthy Carrot sambar for Idli dosa
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Side dish
Serves: Serves 2-3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 cup = 200ml
  • Carrot – 2 nos
  • Toor dal + Moong dal – 1/2 cup
  • Sambar onion – 10 nos OR Big onion – 1 no
  • Sambar powder – 1.5 tsp ( add less based on kids taste)
  • Tamarind – Small gooseberry size
  • Asafetida / Hing – 2 pinches
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Salt & water – As needed.
To Temper
  • Oil – 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
  • Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tsp
  • Tomato – 1 no
  • Garlic flakes – 5 nos
  • Curry leaves – A few
To garnish
  • Coriander leaves - few
METHOD
  • Wash & peel the skin of carrot. Chop into slices.Chop the big onions into small cubes. If using small onions, peel the skin and set aside.In a pressure cooker, take dal, few curry leaves, a tsp of ghee and turmeric powder adding 2 cups of water. Take the sliced carrots in a small bowl, no need to add water.Place it inside the cooker. Cook for one whistle in low flame.
    • Open the cooker & mash the dal.Remove the carrot bowl. 
carrot sambar
  • Heat oil in a kadai and when it gets heated , season with mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves. Add onion, garlic cloves and saute until it turns transparent. Add tomato pieces and saute until mushy.
carrot sambar
  • Add the tamarind extract, hing, salt, sambar powder , turmeric powder and salt.Boil well for few minutes.
carrot sambar
  • Add cooked carrot slices and dal. Mix well and roll boil for 2 minutes.Adjust the consistency of sambar by adding required water. Garnish with coriander leaves.Transfer the sambar to a vessel and add a tbsp of ghee. Enjoy with hot Idli, dosa !!
carrot sambar


Note
  • To make this sambar for rice, add medium gooseberry sized tamarind and use 1 slitted green chillies along with onions.Do not add more tamarind. Sambar will become too sour. SKIP onion garlic and make it for festivals. 
  • You can also add potato cubes along with carrot slices.
  • For variations, skip tamarind and use 3-4 tomatoes.
  • You can use either toor dal or moong dal alone.
      Enjoy this healthy, yummy sambar with Idli, dosa !
carrot sambar recipe
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August 10, 2010

Salem Thattuvadai Set/Nippat Sandwich

thattu vadai set 3

Thattuvadai set is a most popular street food in Salem,Tamilnadu. Being a Salem girl/ Salemite, I used to have this snack at least once in a week before my marriage. Last week I went to my mom's place and bought few thattuvadai set for my family. I captured the making at that time and added a video here. I asked that anna about the chutney ingredients. He told the recipe roughly & he said this chutney stays good only for 3 hours. So make it fresh and serve.

Based on his recipe, I tried it on my own. It came out well. If you buy a packet of readymade thattu vadai , making this thattu vadai set would be very easy and quick. But I prepared everything by my own including thattu vadai. So I found it a bit time consuming. Finally I was very much satisfied with the outcome.



Salem Thattu Vadai Set Recipe


Salem Thattu Vadai Set Recipe How to make Salem special thattu vadai set with video !
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sweet
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
FOR GREEN CHUTNEY
  • Mint leaves - 1/2 cup
  • Coriander leaves – 1/4 cup (optional,He told to use only mint leaves)
  • Green chillies – 2 nos
  • Tamarind – Small berry size OR use few drops of lime juice
  • Salt & water – As needed.
FOR RED CHUTNEY
  • Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
  • Tomato - 3 nos
  • Big onion - 1
  • Red chilly – 5 nos
  • Garlic cloves - 4 (optional, I used it)
  • Salt – as needed
  • Water – As required.
  • Roasted gram – 1 tbsp (pottukadalai),optional
FOR FILLING
  • Finely chopped onions – as needed
  • Grated carrot – as needed
  • Grated beetroot - as needed ( i din't use as it was out of stock)
  • Chopped coriander leaves – a handful
  • Grated mango - as needed ( used during mango season)
  • Lemon – 1/2 no
HOW TO MAKE  SALEM THATTU VADAI SET - METHOD

  • Saute the tomato, onion, red chilly adding salt in a tsp of oil. Grind it to a thick paste adding required water. Add pottukadalai/fried gram if you wish. You can also saute 4 garlic cloves along with tomato.
  • Prepare the green chutney by grinding all the ingredients given under “ Green chutney” to a fine thick paste.
  • Grate the onions, carrots, beetroot and chop coriander leaves. Mix well and set aside. Cut the lemon and keep it ready.
  • Take 2 thatta vadai/Nippat for making one set. Apply red chutney on one side of thattai and green chutney to one side of other thattai.
  • Keep little filling in between like a sandwich. Sprinkle lemon juice and close the sandwich.
  • Serve immediately. I enjoyed it with coffee :)
Enjoy !

RECIPE

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August 2, 2010

VEGETABLE MANCHURIAN RECIPE

I had an eye on this veg manchurian for a long time. I’ve tried Gobi & baby corn manchurian so many times but never tried this. Last weekend I prepared this along with fried rice and peas gravy. I followed Tarla dalal’s recipe. It was very nice. I’ll will post the fried rice & peas gravy soon. Now comes the vegetable manchurian,
Veg manchurian 1

Ingredients 

FOR THE BALLS
  • Cabbage – 2 cups ( shredded finely)
  • Carrot – 3 nos (grated )
  • Onions – 1 no (finely chopped)
  • Garlic flakes – 5 nos (finely chopped)
  • Green chilly – 1 no (finely chopped )
  • Ajino motto – 1/2 tsp
  • Soya sauce – 1/4 tsp
  • Maida – 5 tbsp
  • Corn flour – 2.5 tbsp
  • Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Salt & water –As needed.
FOR THE SAUCE :
  • Oil – 2 tbsp
  • Capsicum – 1 /2 no (finely chopped)
  • Onion- 1 no (Finely chopped )
  • Green chilly -  1 no (-do-)
  • Garlic flakes -  5 nos (chopped )
  • Ginger – 1 inch ( chopped )
  • Corn flour – 1/2 tbsp ( dissolve in little water )
  • Ajino motto – 1 /4 tsp
  • Tomato sauce – 1 tbsp
  • Red chilly powder – 1 /2tsp
  • Salt & water – as needed.
Spring onions /Coriander leaves & stem – to garnish
Method:
  • Take all the ingredients mentioned under “ for the balls “ in a wide bowl .
  • Mix everything well and add water for binding if necessary .Make a dough .
  • Take lemon sized balls and deep fry in oil.Drain in an absorbent paper.
  • In a kadai take some oil and add the onions , capsicum , chillies , ginger , garlic and saute well.
  • Then add the red chilly powder , Ajino motto , soya sauce , tomato sauce and salt.Mix well and simmer for few mins.
  • Lastly add the corn flour paste , a pinch of sugar and required water.
  • Allow it to boil & thicken. Just before serving add the prepared veg balls in the sauce and bring to boil .
  • Serve hot !!
Note :
If the sauce is too thick , add some water to thin down..
Veg manchurian


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July 22, 2010

ENNAI KATHIRIKKAI KULAMBU RECIPE - ENNAI KATHIRIKAI KUZHAMBU

Ennai-Kathirikkai-Kulambu-Recipe
In Tamil nadu, people make ennai kathirikkai kuzhambu in different ways. This is my MIL's version. Basically I am a big fan of brinjal recipes. My mom usually makes brinjal gravy for idli and stuffed  brinjal poriyal .

After my marriage, I learnt some more varieties of brinjal recipes from my MIL. One among them is Ennai kathirikkai kulambu. I love this gravy a lot. Sendhil who hates brinjal loves this gravy a lot as it has pepper. It looks like puli kuzhambu but tastes different. I think most of you have your own version. Here comes our way of making it. Do try this. You will love it for sure !

If you are looking for Ennai kathirikkai kulambu with lots of oil in Chettinad style, do refer this POST.

Ennai-Kathirikai-Kuzhambu-Recipe

Ennai Kathirikkai Kuzhambu Recipe


Ennai Kathirikai Kuzhambu Recipe Ennai Kathirikai Kuzhambu Recipe - My mil's version, easy and flavourful gravy for rice
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Gravies
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 25 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Brinjal - medium sized (6 nos)
  • Tamarind - Medium gooseberry size(little (more than small gooseberry size)
  • Salt & water - as needed
  • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp ( to saute brinjal)
To roast and grind
  • Oil - 1 tbsp
  • Chana dal - 1 tbsp
  • Urad dal - 1.5 tsp
  • Red chillies - 2-3 nos
  • Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
  • Pepper corns - 2 tsp
METHOD

  • Wash and slit brinjal halfway into 4 pieces. Immerse in water till use to prevent color change. In a kadai, heat oil and roast pepper corns.
Ennai kathrikai kuzhambu step 1
  • When it starts to splutter, add the remaining ingredients except coconut. Roast till golden brown. Lastly add grated coconut,roast for few seconds and switch off the flame. Let them cool. Grind everything into a powder.
Ennai Kathirikai kuzhambu step 2
  • In the same kadai, add 2 more tbsp of oil and add the slitted brinjal.Roast till it gets cooked. The skin of brinjal gets browned. It takes nearly 10 minutes. 
  • Take the tamarind extract and add the roasted brinjal to it.
Ennai Kathirikai kuzhambu step 3
  • Allow it to boil with the required salt & water. Cover and cook brinjal. After the brinjal is completely cooked, add the roasted powder and boil for some more time. Switch off the stove and serve hot. Enjoy this gravy by mixing in hot rice topped with ghee.

    Ennai Kathirikai Kuzhambu step 4


Note

  • Add more pepper corns and chillies based on your spice level. The quantity I have given gives medium spicy taste.
  • Use Tamilnadu purple or voilet brinjal for more taste and flavour.
  • Adding ghee is a must while eating. It helps to balance the heat of brinjal and peppercorns.

Serve with hot rice adding ghee !
Ennai-kathirikai-kulambu
    Mix with hot rice topped with ghee. Tastes yummy 


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