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July 13, 2015

Tawa Pulao Recipe-Mumbai Street Food-Sunday Lunch Recipes Series 23

Tawa Pulao recipe
Tawa Pulao is a most popular Indian street food in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It’s a very easy and quick rice dish with the goodness of mixed vegetables. Yesterday I wanted to make a quick biryani recipe for our lunch as we had plans for shopping.

When I was talking to my friend Megha, she suggested me to try Tawa pulao. I quickly browsed through few street food videos in you tube & referred some websites. I found Pav bhaji masala powder is the star ingredient of this recipe. I

n Mumbai street food shops, it is made instantly by mixing cooked rice with pav bhaji masala sauteed in a blob of butter. It is served with finely chopped onions, coriander leaves and a wedge of lemon. If you have some left over rice(need not be basmati) and some pav bhaji masala powder in hands, making this recipe would be a breeze. You can make this for your kids by adding paneer and extra butter.It’s a good lunch box and a bachelor friendly recipe too. The spice level of this pulao can be adjusted according to your taste buds.

So lets check out how to make this simple and easy Tava Pulao recipe in my Sunday lunch Recipes Series–23. If you are interested to see my other recipes in this series,please click this link.

Also check out my Pav bhaji and Mumbai Pav sandwich recipes.

Tawa Pulao recipe

Tawa pulao recipe


Tawa pulao recipe Tawa Pulao - Mumbai's most popular street food
Cuisine: North Indian
Category: Lunch box recipes
Serves: 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup = 250 ml
  • Basmati rice - 1 cup ( I used India gate)
  • Water - 1.75 cups
  • Salt - as needed
  • Lemon juice - few drops
  • Finely chopped mixed vegetables - 3/4 cup ( Carrot,beans,peas)
  • Big onion - 1 no ( finely chopped)
  • Ginger & Garlic paste - 1 tsp
  • Capsicum - 1/4 no
  • Tomato - 2 nos ( small)
  • Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Pav bhaji masala powder - 1-1.5 tsp
  • Coriander leaves - to garnish
  • Lemon juice – few drops
To temper
  • Cooking oil or butter - 2 tbsp
  • Cumin seeds/Jeera - 1/2 tsp
HOW TO MAKE TAWA PULAO - METHOD
  • Wash the basmati rice twice or thrice to remove the starch. Take the rice in a pressure cooker and add 1.75 cups of water, few drops of lemon juice ,oil and required salt.
  • Switch on the stove and start to chop the vegetables( 1 small carrot, 5 beans, a handful of green peas). By the time, the water starts to boil, you can finish the chopping work. Take the veggies in a small bowl and add very little water ( say 3 tbsp). Keep this bowl inside the cooker and pressure cook the rice and vegetables together in low flame for one whistle. In the mean time, chop the onions, capsicum and tomato .Open the cooker after the steam is released.
Tawa Pulao recipe
Tawa Pulao recipe
  • Remove the vegetable bowl and fluff the rice with a fork. Transfer it to a plate and let it cool down.
Heat oil in a kadai and when it gets heated , splutter jeera. Add onions,g&g paste and mix well till raw smell leaves.Now add the capsicum and saute well.
Tawa Pulao recipe

  • Lastly add the tomato and mix till it becomes mushy.Add the turmeric powder,salt,pav bhaji masala powder,red chilli powder.Mix well till oil leaves the kadai.Now add the cooked vegetables and mix well.Lastly all the cooked rice and mix well.
Tawa Pulao recipe
Tawa Pulao recipe
  • Sprinkle few drops of lemon juice and garnish with lots of coriander leaves. Enjoy with finely chopped raw onions !  You can also keep some raita or papad as side dish.
Tawa Pulao recipe

Note
  • Increase the quantity of red chilli powder if you want more spicy rice or add some finely chopped green chillies while sauting onion.
  • Here I did not soak the basmati rice.If u soak it for 30 minutes,use 1.5 cups of water for 1 cup of rice.
  • Using butter instead of oil enhances the taste of this dish.
  • Pav bhaji masala powder is the star of this dish.If you don’t have it in hand,replace it with garam masala or tandoori masala powder.But you have to compromise with the actual taste.

Tawa Pulao recipe



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July 12, 2015

Bachelor Recipes - Indian Bachelor Cooking Ideas - Vegetarian Recipes For Bachelors

bachelors recipes

Few weeks back I got a request to share the collection of  Indian bachelor recipes from my blog under one page for quick reference. So I have given a list of recipes for bachelors that are vegetarian and South Indian style, easy cooking ideas starting from breakfast, lunch, lunch box ideas, side dish recipes like sambar, chutney, easy sweets & snacks, desserts, microwave cakes and much more. Actually I was thinking to do this post for months. Glad I got a request otherwise this post would not have happened now.

Generally men cook very rarely. But if they cook, they do it really well. I have seen this in many instances. Many bachelors are forced to cook when they stay apart from family but some guys really love to cook and it would be their favorite hobby too.

In my family, my Chithappa ( Mr.Velayutham, my father’s bro) is so passionate about cooking and he do it as a hobby. When I was young, I have seen him cooking Sunday breakfast for our family. Even now he is following this practice of weekend cooking. His tomato thokku is very popular among our friends and family. Soon I will share his specialty recipe here. Next is my Father. He started to cook when he got transferred to Mumbai for 3 years. Before that I have never seen him inside the kitchen.

In Mumbai, he learnt cooking from his colleagues and picked up really well. Whenever my dad comes for vacation, we used to tell him to cook for us. We love his Kara kuzhambu and Rasam.
I would also like to mention about my Bachelor friend Jayagopal. He cooks regularly for himself and sometimes for his friends too. I appreciate his passion and sincerity in cooking. He always suggest me to share some easy recipes for bachelors. Many thanks to you Jayagopal for the motivation..

Ok, coming to this post. Here I have shared  some easy recipes for guys/girls who looks for simple South Indian cooking ideas. I have also given some North Indian recipes but not much. I will update this page whenever I post any. Most of the recipes here call for no grinding or less grinding works. I have categorized them as Breakfast recipes, healthy millet and oats recipes, Side dishes for idli,dosa and rice, rice varieties for lunch box , dinner recipes and Snacks.

I hope Bachelors, Beginners in cooking, spinsters and Guys who stay alone in abroad, Husbands who wants to impress their wives would be benefitted by this post. Ok,enough of my stories. Lets move on to the collection .

Bachelor Recipes

Indian Bachelor Cooking Ideas –  Easy, healthy South Indian vegetarian recipes for bachelors.

Cuisine: Indian
Category: Bachelor recipes
Serves: Serves 2-3
Prep time: -
Cook time: -
Total time: -

Friends,do check out my Indian Monthly Grocery list.You may find it useful for your shopping : ))



BREAKFAST/DINNER RECIPES

IDLI RECIPES
DOSA RECIPES
If you have store bought dosa batter, you can try the below recipes
UPMA/PONGAL
OTHER BREAKFAST/DINNER RECIPES
OATS/MILLETS/RAGI RECIPES

SIDE DISHES FOR TIFFIN VARIETIES

TIFFIN SAMBAR RECIPES
CHUTNEY RECIPES

Please check out my 50 chutney recipes for varieties if you have mixie.

SIDE DISH FOR ROTI


RICE VARIETIES ( FOR LUNCH BOX)

    GRAVIES RECIPES FOR RICE

    SAMBAR/VATHAKUZHAMBU
RASAM

SIDE DISH FOR RICE

PORIYAL/DRY CURRIES
INSTANT PICKLES & RAITA

EASY SWEETS & FESTIVAL RECIPES

SNACKS, SALAD & CAKE RECIPES

    SNACKS
MICROWAVE CAKE RECIPES
Last but not the least you can also make Sweet beeda recipe. Give it a try ! All the best. Happy Cooking !!
Thanks for visiting this page.Hope you find it useful.


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July 10, 2015

Iyengar Bakery Bread Toast - Bangalore Style Masala Vegetable Sandwich Recipe

Iyengar bakery bread toast
 Iyengar Bakery’s masala vegetable bread toast also known as open sandwich is very popular in Bangalore. I have tasted this many times but never thought of sharing this simple and easy bread recipe here.You can call this as “Indian Bruschetta”, hehe. Yesterday I bought a pair of toast from the bakery and relished it with tea. I got tempted to make it at home. This morning I made it for Raksha and Sendhil’s lunch box. Yes, this sandwich tastes good even if it cools down. The spicy vegetable masala used here is a very simple one with onion,tomato and grated carrot. So no kid would say NO to this combo. I have made it as an open sandwich. You can even grill this sandwich recipe.I am sure it would taste great in all the ways. Last year I shared Iyengar bakery style benne biscuit recipe which is super hit in my blog. I am happy to share yet another Iyengar Bakery style recipe in my blog. I have made this sandwich with milk bread.You can also replace it with whole wheat bread.I hope you will try this recipe and like it. Lets see how to prepare this yummy and easy bread sandwich recipe.

Iyengar bakery vegetable masala toast

Iyengar Bakery Bread Toast Recipe


Iyengar Bakery Bread Toast Recipe Masala vegetable toast - Iyengar Bakery Style Recipe
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Snacks
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Bread slices - 5 no
  • Carrot - 1 big
  • Big onions - 2 nos
  • Tomato - 1 no
  • Green chilli – 1 no
  • Capsicum - 2 tbsp ( chopped)
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Grated cabbage - a fistful ( optional)
  • Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
  • Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Tomato ketchup / sauce - 1 tbsp
  • Salt - as needed
  • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
  • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Ghee or oil - to toast the bread
HOW TO MAKE IYENGAR BAKERY MASALA TOAST - METHOD
  • Wash and grate the carrot using a grater.Slice the onions and chop the tomatoes. Chop & slit the green chilli. Set aside.
  • Heat oil in a kadai, splutter cumin seeds and saute the onions,green chillies, capsicum, curry leaves, grated carrot together. Lastly add the tomato pieces and mix well till it starts to turn mushy.
Iyengar bakery bread sandwich

  • Add salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder, tomato sauce and mix well.
Iyengar bakery bread toast
  • Heat a dosa pan and toast the bread slices by adding oil or ghee. Apply the masala on one side.Serve hot !
Iyengar bakery bread toast

Enjoy !
Note
  • Adding grated cabbage is optional. If you don’t want to add onions, you can use cabbage in place of it.
  • I used more carrot for my daughter’s sake. But in Iyengar bakery original recipe,they had used more onions than carrot. So change the quantity of ingredient as per your liking.
  • You can replace garam masala powder by chat masala powder.

Enjoy this easy sandwich for your tea time !
Iyengar bakery vegetable masala toast


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July 9, 2015

How To Make Naan At Home Without Yeast on Tawa - Homemade Naan Recipe

Naan recipe without yeast on tawa
Naan recipe without yeast on stove top with step by step photos. Naan is basically a flat bread recipe that is most popular in North India. It is loved by all irrespective of ages. Usually naan is prepared with yeast in a tandoor in restaurants. But my friend Shalini shared this stove top naan recipe without yeast and suggested me to try it. This recipe has no yeast, no butter and no ghee too. Yogurt is used in this recipe to bring softness. Yes, it comes out really soft and stays good for an hour. In my home, Sendhil likes garlic naan and my vote is for butter naan. I love to have with varieties of side dish in restaurants like paneer butter masala, palak paneer etc. Sendhil loved it very much and gave a big thumbs upHappy. Do try this  homemade naan recipe on tawa and share your feedback with me. So lets see how to make soft naan at home without tandoor or oven easily.

If you are curious to know the difference between Naan and Kulcha, please check this post.
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July 7, 2015

Pavakkai Fry | Pavakkai Poriyal With Coconut - Bitter Gourd Stir Fry Recipe

Pavakkai fry
I learnt this Pavakkai poriyal recipe from my MIL. Recently when I went to Salem, she made this stir fry recipe using the bitter gourd that was grown in our backyard. It was very tasty with a very mild bitterness. I loved it a lot. 

I have shared so many bitter gourd recipes like bitter gourd biryani, crispy karela fry , pavakkai pitlai, Bitter gourd rasam and Andhra podi recipes so far. But its been my long time wish to post a Pavakkai poriyal with coconut / Bitter gourd fry recipe in my blog. I am happy that it happened today. 

It’s a very simple and easy Tamil nadu style one pot stir fry recipe that can be made directly in a pressure cooker. This pavakkai fry is a good side dish for sambar rice. Diabetic people, please skip the coconut and try this recipe. I am sure it will taste good. Lets see how to make this yummy, healthy pavakkai fry recipe for rice !

Bitter gourd fry/Pavakkai Poriyal


Bitter gourd fry/Pavakkai Poriyal Bitter gourd fry/Pavakkai Poriyal - A good and healthy side dish for rice
Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Side dish
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Bitter gourd - 2 nos
  • Moong dal - 2 tbsp
  • Tamarind – a big gooseberry size
  • Jaggery – 2 tsp
  • Sambar powder - 1.5-2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder- 1/8 tsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
  • Cooking oil – 1 tbsp
To season
  • Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Asafetida/Hing - a big pinch
  • Big onion - 1 no ( optional)
  • Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
HOW TO MAKE PAVAKKAI PORIYAL - METHOD
  • Wash and chop the bitter gourd into small cubes as shown in the picture.soak tamarind in enough water and take the extract using 3/4 cup of water.
Pavakkai fry

  • Heat oil in a pressure cooker and saute the bittergourd pieces till its color changes to dark green. Add some salt for quick sauting. Add the tamarind extract, moong dal, sambar powder, turmeric powder, salt and jaggery to the cooker. Mix well and cook for 2 whistles in medium flame.
Pavakkai fry
Pavakkai fry

  • Remove the lid after the steam is released and boil the excess water if any.
  • Heat oil in a kadai and when it gets heated, splutter the mustard seeds, urad dal, big onions and curry leaves. Once the onions are sauteed, add the cooked bitter gourd mixture. Mix well. Check for taste and add salt, sambar powder if needed. 
  • Once it becomes dry, add the grated coconut and mix well.
Pavakkai fry

Serve with sambar or rasam ! Tastes yum !
Enjoy !




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July 6, 2015

Kathal Biryani-Raw Jackfruit biryani recipe-Sunday Lunch Recipes Series 22

Raw jackfruit biryani
I must thank a reader for making me try this biryani recipe.Unless she told,I would not have known about this tender jackfruit biryani popularly known as Kathal ki biryani in North India.It is also known as Jackfruit fried rice.Yesterday I bought a small sized raw jackfruit for the first time in my lifeHappy.I did not even know how to cut this tender jackfruit.So I referred few sites and did it.Hence I have shared the cutting procedure with step by step pictures to help beginners like me.As far as the recipe is concerned,I browsed through Sanjeev Kapoor’s website,Dassana’s Veg Recipe of India and Sailu’s Kitchen.The making of this biryani was very similar in all these sites.It was more like my Hyderabad DUM biryani recipe.So I made a combo recipe based on my convenience and prepared it in a simple way.The taste and smell of kathal was very different than I expected.People who love the taste of Raw jackfruit will love this biryani recipe too.Soon I must try our South Indian style jackfruit kootu,stir fry with it.Lets see how to make this week’s Sunday Lunch Recipes Series 22-Kathal ki biryani recipe Happy.

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July 3, 2015

Khara Bath Recipe-South Indian Breakfast Recipes

Khara bath recipe
Khara bath is the most popular Breakfast recipe in Karnataka. Kharabath is nothing but Semolina/Sooji/Upma Rava cooked in lots of ghee and oil with vegetables and spices. In Bangalore, there is no breakfast menu without khara bath in hotels. It is also served as “Chow Chow bath” along with a scoop of Kesari bath. I have also shared Chow Chow Bath recipe here.

Among all the hotels that serve khara bath, Brahmin’s coffee bar kharabath is the most popular one. Any body who visit Bangalore for the first time would wish to try Idli, khara bath, coconut chutney and filter coffee in brahmin’s coffee bar. I am happy that I have tasted it twice with my School moms friends in Gandhi Bazaar.

After tasting there, I have tried several times to recreate the same at home by referring so many recipes and youtube videos. But nothing came up to the mark. Recently I came across Shanthi mam’s recipe using bath powder which was very different from other recipes I had tried. So I bookmarked and tried it today for our breakfast. It came out really well and I was completely happy with the result. I won’t say it tasted 100% like Brahmin’s coffee bar ones. But it was close it. Sendhil liked it a lot and he was full of praises. What else I need to post this recipe.

To get the actual taste of karabath, you must add more ghee, oil. So please don’t hesitate to use it. After all we are going to make it once in a while. Don’t worry about the Calories and just enjoy this Karnataka delicacy at home.

Lets see how to make Karnataka most popular Kharabath recipe with stepwise pictures !
Check out my other Yummy Karnataka Recipes HERE
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July 1, 2015

Saravana Bhavan Kurma Recipe - Hotel Vegetable Kurma For Parotta, Roti With Video

Saravana bhavan hotel kurma
Any South Indian would love to try a recipe if its titled as “Saravana Bhavan Hotel Style”. I am no exception to this. I have tasted Saravana Bhavan hotel vegetable kurma for parotta in Chennai before marriage. I love try all the recipes of it that I come across in my fellow bloggers blog. 

Recently I saw this Saravana bhavan hotel style mixed vegetable kurma recipe for parotta and chapathi in Amudha’s blog. I tried it for Sendhil’s lunch box to pack with roti by following an easy one pot method. It smelt and tasted very similar to most of the hotel style vegetable kurma. I loved it very much. I packed this kurma and soft Chapathi for his lunch box & I had it with some store bought frozen parotta for my breakfast. It tasted great for both. So you can make this kuruma as a side dish for roti and parotta as well. If you don’t have all the vegetables in hand, just try adding potato, peas and make it as potato kurma. Kids would love this combo. 

Try this recipe and don’t forget to smell your hands after you finish eating this kurma. It would be awesome !! Ok, lets see how to make this most popular, super flavorful Saravana Bhavan Hotel Style mixed vegetable kurma with video and step by step photos and video.

Check out my Saravana bhavan hotel white kurma and  hotel style coconut chutney recipe too.

Also have a look at my collection of 20 kurma varieties for chapathi, poori, idli and dosa.


Hotel Saravana bhavan kurma

Saravana Bhavan Hotel Veg Kurma


Saravana Bhavan Hotel Veg Kurma Saravana bhavan hotel style vegetable kurma recipe for Chapathi/Roti and Parotta.
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Side dish for roti
Serves: 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Mixed vegetables - 1 cup ( 1 carrot, 5 beans, a handful of peas, 1 potato)
  • Bayleaf - 1 no
  • Black stone flower/Kalpasi - 1 no
  • Cumin seed/Jeera - 1/2 tsp
  • Big onion - 1 no
  • Tomato - 1 no
  • Mint leaves - 1 tbsp (optional)
  • G&G paste - 1/2 tsp
  • Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp ( Add more for spicy kurma)
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Curd or lemon juice – 1 tsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
  • Cooking oil + ghee – 3 tbsp
To grind
  • Grated coconut - 1/3 cup
  • Green chillies - 2 nos
  • Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch
  • Cloves - 2 nos
  • Cardamom - 1 no
  • Pottukadalai/Fried gram dal - 2 tsp
  • Cashewnuts - 4 nos
  • KhusKhus/Poppy seeds - 1/2 tsp (optional)
HOW TO MAKE HOTEL SARAVANA BHAVAN KURMA - METHOD
  • Wash and chop the vegetables finely. Chop the onion and tomato. Grind all the ingredients given under “To grind” to a smooth paste adding enough water.
Saravana bhavan hotel kurma

  • Heat a pressure cooker base and add oil + ghee. Saute the bayleaf and black stone flower/Kalpasi. Add cumin seeds,onions , gg paste and saute till it turns transparent and raw smell goes off. Add mint leaves. Then add the tomato pieces and saute until mushy. Add the ground coconut paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and Garam masala powder. Add the required salt and saute well till the raw smell of masala vanishes. Do in medium flame.
Saravana bhavan kurma for parotta

  • Lastly add the finely chopped vegetables and peas. Mix well and add a 1.5 cups of water.  Mix well and add curd. Mix well and pressure cook in low flame for just one whistle. Sarvana bhavan style mixed vegetable kurma is ready to serve !!
Saravana bhavan vegetable kurma

Enjoy with chapathi or parota. It tasted great with dosa too!

NB: As per the actual recipe, vegetables has to be cooked before adding the masala. But I made everything in one shot. Still the taste was great.
Note
  • Grinding part is the highlight of this kurma. So please don’t omit any ingredient from it. No worries if you don’t add khus khus. But the remaining are must.
  • I did not add mint leaves as I din’t have it. Don’t forget to add it if you have them. It adds a nice flavor to this kurma.
  • Adjust the quantity of chillies and red chilli powder based on your taste.
  • I used fresh green peas here. If you are using dried peas, soak it overnight in required water.
  • Some hotel kurma recipes called for using water + milk in equal ratio. But I never use milk as I don't want to mix curd & milk together. So you can try this for variations if you like.  

Saravana bhavan vegetable kurma

Try this yummy Mixed vegetable kurma for roti/Parota. Take the credits from your family members and enjoy !!


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