Search Chitra's Food Book

November 6, 2023

Mixture Recipe | South Indian Mixture Recipe | Madras Mixture

Mixture recipe

This year I am starting my Diwali recipes with this must try Diwali snack – Mixture recipe. Its basically a South Indian style Mixture recipe which is popularly known as Madras mixture. This Tamilnadu mixture is a combination of Omapodi, Karaboondi, Fried aval, cashew nuts, peanuts , curry leaves mixed with spice powders like salt, red chilli powder and hing.

In this mixture, I have also added small maida biscuits which is fondly called as mixture biscuit. When I was a kid, I used to pick these mixture biscuits alone from the pack of mixture and savor it. Iam not a big fan of South Indian mixture but my husband, daughter and father in law loves it. 

So I try to make a batch of mixture just for them during Diwali. Last year I made this mixture recipe and took a video as well. But I couldn’t share it in my blog. So this year, I thought of starting Diwali recipes with this yummy snack. Soon I will try to post a North Indian namkeen recipe.

Check out my 35+ Diwali Snacks Recipes collection.

Mixture recipe


Mixture Recipe | South Indian mixture recipe


Mixture Recipe | South Indian mixture recipe

Mixture Recipe | South Indian mixture recipe also known as Madras mixture for Diwali.


 
Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Snacks
Serves: 3 cups
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS

  • Oma podi - 2 cups
  • Kara boondi – 1 cup
  • Mixture biscuit – 1/2 cup
  • Cashew nuts - 2 tbsp
  • Roasted peanuts - 1/4 cup
  • Roasted gram dal / Daliya / Pottukadalai – 1/4 cup
  • Poha / Aval - 1/2 cup
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Cooking oil - to deep fry
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Salt - as needed
  • Hing - 1/4 tsp
  • Sugar – 1/4 tsp
HOW TO MAKE SOUTH INDIAN MIXTURE RECIPE
  1. Make Omapodi and collect in a bowl. Make kara boondi and collect in the same bowl
  2. Make maida biscuit and add to the bowl. You can aslo make butter murukku and add to it. But it is optional.
  3. Deep fry thick poha, cashew nuts, peanuts, daliya, curry leaves and add to the bowl.
  4. Lastly add chilli powder, salt, hing and sugar. Toss well and cool down completely.
  5. Store in an air tight box and use up to one month. 
METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
  • Make Omapodi, kara boondi and mixture biscuit. Break oma podi into small pieces. Collect in a bowl.
  • South Indian mixture recipeSouth Indian mixture recipeSouth Indian mixture recipeSouth Indian mixture recipeSouth Indian mixture recipeSouth Indian mixture recipe
  • Deep fry thick aval till crispy and drain in a tissue paper. Deep fry peanuts, roasted gram dal till golden in color. Remove in the tissue paper.
  • South Indian mixture recipe
  • Next deep fry cashew nuts and collect in the tissue paper. Lastly deep fry few curry leaves and set aside.
  • South indian mixture recipe
  • Transfer everything to the wide bowl. Add little salt, red chilli powder, hing and sugar.
  • Mixture recipe
  • Cool down everything completely. Store in an air tight box. Enjoy up to one month. Use clean, dry hands while handling.

Note

  • Oma podi and kara boondi is a must in South Indian mixture.
  • Mixture biscuit, Butter murukku is optional.
  • You can adjust the quantity of peanuts, cashews and roasted gram as per your wish.


Try this yummy South Indian mixture recipe and enjoy for this Diwali !

Madras mixture
 

Continue Reading...


October 27, 2023

Rice Bath Recipe | Karnataka style Rice Bath Recipe

Karnataka rice bath recipe

I love Karnataka style rice bath recipe in hotels here especially Darshini and SLV rice bath is my favorite. Though the ingredients are similar to veg pulao, its cooking method, taste and flavor is slightly different from Karnataka Veg palav recipe. I tried this recipe from Rekha aduge YouTube channel. It came out so well in my first attempt itself.

My Karnataka style veg pulao recipe which I have shared long back is a super hit recipe in my blog. I recommend you try this rice bath recipe as well. It tastes and smells so good. This recipe and taste will surely remind you some restaurant.

Friends, do try this easy and yummy Karnataka style rice bath recipe. You will love it. Lets check out the recipe.

Rice bath recipe

Rice bath recipe | Karnataka hotel style rice bath


Rice bath recipe | Karnataka hotel style rice bath

Rice bath recipe | Karnataka hotel style rice bath


 
Cuisine: Karnataka
Category: Main course
Serves: 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS
1 cup = 250ml
  • Raw rice or basmati rice - 1 cup
  • Cooking oil – 2 tbsp
  • Bay leaf – 1
  • Kalpasi / Black stone flower – 1
  • Mixed vegetables – 1/2 cup (Carrot, potato, beans, green peas, cauliflower)
  • Water - 2 cups
  • Salt - as needed

To saute and grind
  • Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch
  • Cloves - 2
  • Cardamom - 1
  • Big onion - 1
  • Tomato - 1
  • Ginger – 1 inch
  • Garlic – 4 cloves
  • Red chilli – 1 to 2
  • Green chilli – 1 to 2
  • Coriander leaves – 1 tbsp
  • Mint leaves – 1 tbsp
  • Grated Coconut – 2 tbsp
HOW TO MAKE RICE BATH
  1. Wash and chop vegetables, onion, tomato. Wash and soak raw rice for 15 minutes.
  2. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute cinnamon, cloves, cardamom.
  3. Saute onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, chillies, coriander leaves, mint leaves.
  4. Grind to a smooth paste adding coconut. Set aside.
  5. Heat oil in a cooker. Saute bayleaf, black stone flower, onion. Add all the vegetables.
  6. Add the masala paste, salt and water. Mix well till aromatic.
  7. Pressure cook in low flame for one whistle. Open the cooker after the steam is released.
  8. Fluff the rice gently. Serve with raitha. 

METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

  • Wash and soak raw rice for 15 minutes. Wash and chop vegetables, onion, tomato. Heat oil in a kadai. Saute cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, red chilli, green chilli, mint and coriander leaves. Lastly add coconut and switch off the flame. Cool down.
  • Rice bath recipe
  • Grind to a slightly coarse and thick paste. Set aside. Heat oil in a cooker base. Saute bayleaf, kalpasi. Add the chopped onion, chopped vegetables, salt and ground masala paste.
  • Rice bath recipe
  • Saute for a minute till nice aroma wafts through the house. Add water and mix well. Check for salt and spice taste. Pressure cook in low flame for one whistle.
  • Rice bath recipeRice bath recipe
  • Open the cooker after the steam is released. Fluff the rice gently and serve hot with raita.Rice bath recipe

Note

  • Adjust the quantity of chillies as per your taste.
  • For variations, you can grind all the ingredients raw without sauting. But the taste and flavor would be completely different.
  • Water quantity varies based on the rice we use. For basmati rice, soak it for 15 minutes and use 1: 1.5 cups of rice and water. For jeera rice, 1:2 ratio without soaking.
  • For most of the Karnataka rice varieties, Sona masoori rice is used. So I have used the same in this recipe.
  • You can also use knol khol / Kholrabi along with other vegetables. Some hotels use this veggie too.

  
  Easy and yummy hotel style Karnataka rice is ready to serve. Enjoy with onion raitha !

Karnataka style rice bath recipe


Continue Reading...


October 12, 2023

How to clean Silver pooja Items at home | How to clean silver utensils, silver vessels

How to clean silver pooja items

Every week I wash the brass and silver pooja items at home for doing my Thursday Guru pooja and Friday Lakshmi pooja. Usually I use Vim liquid and Sabeena dish washing powder for washing the silver lamps, vessels and pooja items. But once or twice in a year, I follow this method to clean or polish the tarnished Silver pooja items look new especially before Navarathri, Karthigai deepam, Diwali or before Varalakshmi pooja for which we utilise most of the silver utensils at home.

To wash the tarnished silver pooja items at home and make it new, all you need is just two ingredients namely Aluminium foil and Baking soda / Cooking soda. If you follow this method and wash the silver items, it will look as shiny and bright as new. Apart from this method, our ancestors have used just lemon and salt, Viboothi / Ash to polish the silver items. Nowadays people use white tooth paste, tooth powder, tomato ketchup, Rooperi powder, even CIF cream which is available in the market to brighten the silver articles.

I have tried Rooperi powder but the results were not so great like this foil and soda method. So I personally prefer this method to clean and brighten the tarnished silver pooja items at home once in 6 months. Please make sure you don’t use this method often as it may corrode a small amount of silver every time you do. So friends, do try this method once or twice in a year and make the silver vessels look new. Then you can use Sabeena dishwashing powder or lemon, Viboothi to maintain its polish and color.

Ok, lets see how to clean silver pooja items, silver utensils, silver vessels and silver articles at home easily with silver foil / aluminium foil and baking soda. I have also shared a SHORTS VIDEO in my YouTube channel. I have attached the video at the end of this post. Do watch it ! Soon I will make a post with video for washing copper and brass pooja items, lamps etc.

How to clean silver pooja items at home

How to clean silver pooja items at home


How to clean silver pooja items at home

How to clean silver pooja items at home . How to clean silver vessels, utensils at home


 
Cuisine: Indian
Category: How to
Serves: -
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS
1 cup = 250ml
  • Silver foil / Aluminium foil - 1 sheet (torn into pieces)
  • Baking soda / cooking soda - 1 tbsp
  • Water - 6 cups
  • Silver pooja items and utensils
HOW TO CLEAN SILVER POOJA ITEMS AT HOME
  1. Boil water in a wide vessel. Add torn aluminium foil pieces, baking soda and roll boil well.
  2. Take the silver pooja items and rub the oil with a cloth or tissue paper. 
  3. Drop the vessels in the boiling water.  Boil for 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. Remove carefully using a tong. Wash them with sabeena powder.
  5. Wash well and again dip in drinking water. Arrange them and let it dry.
  6. Bright and shiny silver pooja items are ready.
METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
  • In a wide vessel, boil water. When it comes to a boil, add torn aluminium foil pieces, baking soda and roll boil well.
  • how to clean silver pooja items at home
  • Take the silver pooja items and rub the oil with a cloth or a tissue paper. Put it inside the boiling water.
  • how to polish silver articles at home
  • Immerse them in water and boil for 3 to 5 minutes based on the blackness. Switch off the flame.
  • how to polish silver articles at home
  • Remove it carefully with a help of tong. Arrange them in a plate. Now wash them with Sabeena dishwash powder or simply scrub them with any dishwashing powder. Wash well.

  • Finally dip each of them in clean, drinking water at the end. It helps to avoid tarnishing / blackening of silver articles after washing.
  • how to clean silver articles at home
  • Bright and shiny Silver pooja items are ready to use. After drying, you can polish it further by applying Viboothi. This step is optional.
  • Caution : Use this method of washing once or twice in a year. Once you do this, you can maintain it further by washing the Silver items once in a week using dishwashing liquid and Sabeena powder.

Note

  • Other methods of cleaning silver pooja items include white Tooth paste, tomato ketchup, Rooperi powder, lemon, salt, Ash /Viboothi.
  • Use this method only once or twice in a year.

VIDEO ON HOW TO CLEAN SILVER POOJA ITEMS AT HOME 


Continue Reading...


October 3, 2023

Sorakkai Kadayal Recipe | Sorakkai Kadaiyal For Rice | Bottle Gourd Chutney For Rice

Sorakkai kadayal

Sorakkai kadayal | Sorakkai masiyal | Bottle gourd chutney is an easy, one pot recipe for rice. It tastes good with idli, dosa and chapathi as well. It can be prepared directly in a pressure cooker. I got this recipe from Kavitha’s samayalarai Youtube channel. I made small changes in the ingredients and recipe as per my liking. It came out so well.

Nowadays I am making this sorakkai kadayal recipe at least once in a week. Addition of ginger is the highlight of this recipe. So don’t skip it. Ok, lets see how to make Sorakkai kadayal recipe for rice, idli, dosa and chapathi with step by step pictures.

 sorakkai kadayal recipe

Sorakkai kadayal recipe


Sorakkai kadayal recipe

Sorakkai kadaiyal recipe | Bottle gourd sabzi for rice


 
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Side dish
Serves: 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS

  • Coconut oil – 2 tsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
  • Crushed coriander seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp
  • Bottle gourd - 1
  • Big onion – 1 or small onion - 15
  • Tomato - 1
  • Tamarind - small piece
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece
  • Garlic cloves - 5
  • Sambar powder - 1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
To temper
  • Coconut oil - 2 tsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Chana dal - 1 tsp
  • Red chilli - 1
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Hing - 1/4 tsp
  • Coriander leaves - to garnish
HOW TO MAKE SORAKKAI KADAYAL
  1. Wash and peel the skin of bottle gourd. Remove the centre portion. Chop roughly into cubes.
  2. In a pressure cooker, heat oil. Splutter mustard seeds, crushed dhania, urad dal, cumin seeds. Saute onion, garlic cloves, ginger pieces.
  3. Add tomato and saute till mushy. Add bottle gourd pieces, sambar powder, turmeric powder, salt and water. 
  4. Pressure cook in low flame for one whistle. Open the lid after the steam is released. Drain the excess water and set aside.
  5. Mash the cooked mixture well. Add the reserved water. Boil for few minutes.
  6. Heat oil in a small kadai. Temper mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, red chilli, curry leaves and hing. Add to the kadaiyal.
  7. Lastly garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve with rice adding ghee.
METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
  • Wash and peel the skin of Bottle gourd. Remove the centre spongy part. Discard it. Chop roughly into cubes. Wash and chop onion, garlic, ginger, tomato.
  • Sorakkai kadayal
  • In a pressure cooker, heat oil. Splutter mustard seeds, crushed dhania seeds, cumin seeds. Saute onion, garlic cloves, ginger pieces. Add tomato and saute till mushy.
  • sorakkai kadayal
  • Add bottle gourd cubes, sambar powder, turmeric powder, salt and water. Pressure cook in low flame for one whistle. Open the lid after the steam is released. Drain the excess water and set aside. Mash everything well till it becomes a coarse paste.
  • sorakkai kadayalsorakkai kadayal
  • Add the reserved water and boil for few minutes till its thick. Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves.
  • Heat coconut oil in a small kadai. Temper mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, red chilli, curry leaves and hing. Add to the kadayal. Mix well and serve with rice adding ghee.sorakkai kadayal
    Enjoy !

Note

  • Adjust the quantity of sambar powder as per your taste.
  • Here I have tempered twice. You can skip adding mustard seeds and use curshed dhania and cumin seeds in the first step.
  • Do not skip ginger as it gives a nice flavor.


Try this easy, yummy Sorakkai kadayal recipe for rice. You can have it with idli, dosa and chapathi as well.

Sorakkai kadayal


Continue Reading...


September 25, 2023

Puliyogare Recipe | Karnataka Style Tamarind Rice | Puliyogare Gojju Recipe

Karnataka puliyogare recipe

I learnt this Karnataka style Puliyogare recipe from my School moms group friend Lakki. Recently we went to Sattvam restaurant, JP nagar for our kitty party. In their lunch buffet, I tasted Puliyogare and it was so good. Lakki told me that she can make a better version than the restaurant ones which would be more like temple style. I was so tempted by this and got the recipe from her.

Usually many people here make Instant Puliyogare with MTR puliyogare paste or powder. But my friend shared the recipe of making homemade Puliyogare gojju along with powder. So no need of store bought puliogare paste or powder for this recipe.

For Aadi 18 and Purattasi sani thaligai, I make 5 rice varieties. This time I tried Karnataka style puliyogare instead of my Tamil nadu style puli sadam/Tamarind rice. It came out so good. As my friend told, it was more like temple style puliyogare we get here. I was so happy with the result. This fool proof recipe has to be documented in my blog.

So here you go, the most popular Karnataka style Puliogare recipe with step by step pictures. Soon I will try to update it with video.

Karnataka puliyogare recipe

Karnataka Style Puliyogare recipe


Karntaka Puliogare recipe

Karnataka style puliogare recipe from scratch with homemade Gojju and Puliyogare powder.


 
Cuisine: Karnataka
Category: Main course
Serves: 2 cups
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS

  • Cooked rice - 2 cups
  • Tamarind - Big gooseberry size
  • Jaggery - 1 tbsp
  • Roasted White Sesame seeds powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
  • Grated dry coconut - a handful
To dry roast
  • Chana dal - 4 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Coriander seeds - 1.5 tsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Spicy red chilli – 3 (Use 6 for spicy taste)
  • Byadgi red chilli / Kashmiri red chilli - 6
To Temper
  • Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  • Urad dal - 2 tsp
  • Chana dal - 1 tbsp
  • Roasted peanuts - 1/4 cup
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Hing -1/2 tsp
HOW TO MAKE KARNATAKA STYLE PULIYOGARE
  1. Soak tamarind in 1 cup of water and take the extract. Set aside
  2. Heat 1 tsp oil in a kadai and roast all the ingredients given under “to roast and grind” to a coarse rava like powder. Set aside.
  3. Heat cooking oil in a kadai and temper mustard, urad dal, chana dal, roasted peanuts, curry leaves and hing.
  4. Add the tamarind extract adding salt and turmeric powder. Boil till thick.
  5. When it starts to become thick leaving oil, add jaggery and roasted powder.
  6. Boil for few minutes till it becomes a thick paste. Puliyogare gojju is ready. Switch off the flame.
  7. Lastly add the roasted sesame seeds powder and shredded dry coconut. Mix well.
  8. Serve with papad or fryums. Enjoy !
METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
  • Soak tamarind in 1 cup of water and take the extract. Set aside.

  • Heat 1 tsp oil in a kadai and roast all the ingredients given under “to roast and grind” to a coarse rava like powder. Set aside.
  • Puliyogare recipePuliyogare recipe
  • Heat oil in a kadai. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, roasted peanuts, hing and curry leaves.
  • Add the tamarind extract in a vessel adding salt, turmeric powder. Boil till thick.

  • When it starts to become thick, add jaggery and roasted powder. Boil for few minutes till it becomes a thick paste leaving oil in sides. Puliyogare gojju is ready. Switch off the flame.
  • Puliyogare recipe
      Puliyogare recipe

  • Take boiled and cooled rice in a plate. Add the puliyogare gojju, roasted sesame seeds powder and shredded dry coconut. Mix well with a ladle and check for taste. Add more gojju if needed.
  • Enjoy with papad. As we have added coconut, use this Puliyogare within a day. Do not use your hands for mixing if you are packing for lunch box.
  • Puliyogare recipe

Note

  • Adjust the quantity of chilli as per your taste.
  • Color of this puliyogare changes if you don’t use Byadgi chilli.

Try this yummy, Karnataka style Puliyogare recipe. You will love it !

Karnataka style puliyogare recipe

Continue Reading...


September 12, 2023

Dhania thogayal | Kothamalli Vidhai Chutney | Coriander Seeds Chutney For Rice

Coriander seeds chutney recipe

Dhania thogayal / kothamallai vidhai thogayal was in my try list for years. Recently one of my readers was also asking me to try and share this recipe in my blog. Actually Coriander seeds chutney can be prepared in many ways. The recipe I shared here is ideal to mix with plain rice topped with ghee. It doesn’t go well with idli, dosa. Soon I will try to share Kothamalli Vithai chutney for idli, dosa.

In Tirunelveli we make inji pachadi for sodhi kuzhambu. This recipe is very similar to it except the quantity of ginger and coriander seeds. Friends, do try this dhania chutney for a change. Hope you will like it.

Lets see how to make Vithai kothamalli chutney for rice with step by step pictures.

 Kothamalli vidhai chutney

Dhania thuvaiyal | Coriander seeds chutney


Dhania thuvaiyal | Coriander seeds chutney

Dhania thuvaiyal | Coriander seeds chutney for rice


 
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sweet
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
 


INGREDIENTS
  • Dhania / Coriander seeds – 1/4 cup
  • Urad dal – 1 tbsp
  • Ginger - 1/2 inch
  • Garlic – 5
  • Curry leaves - 10
  • Tamarind - Small gooseberry size
  • Red chilli - 2
  • Grated coconut – 1/4 cup
  • Jaggery – 1/2 tsp
  • Salt & water -as needed
To temper
  • Coconut oil - 1 tsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few
HOW TO MAKE CORIANDER SEEDS CHUTNEY
  1. Wash and peel ginger. Chop it finely.
  2. Heat oil in a kadai. Add urad dal, dhania, ginger, garlic, curry leaves, red chilli. Roast well.
  3. Lastly add the grated coconut. Mix for few minutes and switch off the flame.
  4. Take everything in a mixie jar. Add salt, tamarind, jaggery and grind everything to a coarse powder without adding water. Add little water and grind to thick paste.
  5. Temper the chutney with mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves. Add to chutney.
  6. Serve with rice adding ghee.
METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES
  • Wash and peel the ginger. Chop it finely. Heat oil in a kadai. Add urad dal, coriander seeds, ginger, garlic, curry leaves, red chilli. Roast well in low to medium flame.

  • Lastly add the grated coconut. Roast for few minutes and switch off the flame. Cool down.

  • Take everything in a mixie jar. Add salt, tamarind, jaggery and grind to coarse powder first. Then add required water and grind to a thick , smooth paste. Transfer to a bowl.

  • Heat oil in a small kadai. Temper mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and add to chutney. Mix well and serve with plain rice topped with ghee. ( I skipped this part)

Note

  • This chutney goes well with rice, not with idli dosa.
  • Adjust the quantity of red chilli as per your taste.
  • I have roasted all the ingredients in oil together. You can also dry roast the coriander seeds firstly. Remove in a plate. Then heat oil and roast the other ingredients.



Enjoy mixing with plain rice adding ghee. 

Coriander seeds chutney

Continue Reading...