TOMATO RICE

Tomato rice is a South Indian rice variety . Unlike other rice varieties, it is very simple and delicious with an appealing color as well. 

 

INGREDIENTS 

1.    Basmathi rice : 1 cup
2.    Finely chopped onion : 1 (Big)
3.    Red chilli powder : 1 tsp
4.    Lime juice : 1 tsp
5.    Cardamom : 2
6.    Cinnamon stick : 1/2″
7.    Fennel seeds : ¼ tsp
8.    Cashew nuts : Few
9.    Kismis : Few
10.  Ghee : 1 tblsp
11.  Coconut oil : 1 tsp
12.  Salt to taste

TO GRIND

1.    Riped tomatoes : 2-3
2.    Green chillies : 2
3.    Ginger : 1/2″ piece
 

 

METHOD

1.    Heat pressure cooker and directly add ghee and coconut oil.
2.    Add cardamom, cinnamon stick, fennel seeds.
3.    Reduce the flame and add chopped onion ,cashew nuts, kismis and fry till onion becomes transparent.
4.    Add cleaned basmathi rice and fry for 2-3 minutes
5.    Grind tomatoes, green chillies and  ginger with little water and pour this mixture to the cooker along with water( The quantity of grinded mixture and water should be twice the quantity of rice.)
6.    Add red chilli powder, lime juice, salt and mix well. Let it boil and then close the cooker and cook for 3 -5minutes in medium flame. Let  the pressure get down by itself and then mix carefully .
7.    Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

KADHI RECIPE

Kadhi  is a spicy North Indian  dish whose thick gravy is based on Besan and contains pakodas to which sour yogurt is added to give it little sour taste. A different variety is popular in which often vegetables are also added. It is goes well with boiled rice.

INGREDIENTS 

1.    Sour Curd : 2 cups
2.    Gram flour (besan) : 2 tblsp
3.    Red chilli powder : ½ tsp
4.    Chopped green chilly : 1
5.    Turmeric powder : a pinch
6.    Asafoetida : a pinch
7.    Salt To Taste 

 

To temper

1.    Oil : 2 tsp
2.    Mustard seeds : ¼ tsp
3.    Cumin seeds : 1/4 tsp
4.    Curry leaves : 1 spring

 

METHOD

1.    First you have to make Onion pakodas.(For making onion pakodas ,check my post Onionpakodas ) 

2.    Beat Curd and mix gram flour in it. Blend thoroughly so as to ensure that there are no lumps. Add turmeric powder, chopped green chilly , salt and 2 cups of water.
3.    Heat oil in a wok and temper with the items given under title “ To temper “ ,Stir fry for half minute. Add Gram flour and Yogurt mixture. Bring it to a boil and simmer on a slow fire for about few  minutes. Stir occasionally.
4.    Add red chili powder , asafoetida and fried pakodas and again simmer  for 1-2 minutes.
5.    Serve hot with rice.

 

SUGGESTIONS

       You can avoid adding red chilly powder . kadhi can be made using vegetables also, in which the most popular is Tomato kadhi.

ONION PAKODA RECIPE

INGREDIENTS 

1.    Thinly sliced Onions  : 2
2.    Gram flour (besan) : ¾ cup
3.    Red chilli powder  : 1 tsp
4.    Turmeric powder : a pinch
5.    Asafoetida ( Hing) : a pinch
6.    Salt to taste
7.    Oil for deep frying

METHOD

1.    In a mixing bowl mix all the above ingredients, including the onions with  a little water. The batter should be thick.
2.    Heat  oil in a Wok. Make small balls with the mixed contents , flatten a little and put in hot oil.
3.    Fry  till it turns  golden color or brown color  and crisp.
4.    Serve with tomato sauce

   

SWEETENED RICE FLAKES RECIPE

There is a tradition of giving   sweetened rice flakes  as offerings to God during Poojas among Konkani community. Sweetened rice flakes can be enjoyed as  an evening snack also.

INGREDIENTS 

1.    Beaten rice( Avil) : 1 cup
2.    Grated coconut : ½ cup
3.    Sugar : 3tblsp
4.    Water : 3 tsp
5.    Cardamom powder : 1/2 tsp

METHOD

1.    Sprinkle water to beaten rice.
2.    Add Sugar ,Cardamom powder and grated coconut.
3.    Mix through with hand and Keep aside for some time.
4.    Your snack is ready.

 

 

MANGO JUICE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

 

    1.    Ripe mangoes chopped : 4 cups
    2.    Sugar : 4-5 tblsp  
    3.    Ice cubes 

METHOD

1. Blend the  chopped mangoes, sugar and ice cubes in a blender till all get mixed to a smooth paste.
2. Serve with ice cubes on top

 

SOYA CHUNK MASALA RECIPE

Soya Chunks are a meat analogue /nutritious meat extender. It  cooks easily and  has a protein content equal to that of the meat but it has  no fat content. Soya chunk masala is a spicy dish .

INGREDIENTS 

1.    Soya chunk : 2 cups
2.    Coconut pieces : 1 tblsp

3.    Finely chopped onion : 3
4.    Finely chopped tomato :1(small sized)
5.    Finely chopped ginger and garlic : 1 tsp
6.    Coriander powder :1/4 tsp
7.    Chicken masala : ¼ tsp
8.    Chilly powder  : 3 tsp
9.    Turmeric powder : a pinch
10.  Pepper powder : a pinch
11.  Curry leaves : 1 spring
12.  Oil : 1-2 tblsp
13.  Salt as required

 

METHOD

1.    Boil soya in water for 5-10minutes (usually packaged soya requires 5 mins only to cook) by adding pinch of salt.
2.    Soak  soya  with cold water and sieve  and squeeze it well to remove water content and cut it into two pieces.
3.    Marinate boiled soya with coriander powder, chicken masala , chilly powder(1tsp) ,turmeric powder ,pepper powder ,salt and keep aside .
4.    Heat oil in a pan and fry coconut pieces.
5.    Add chopped onion ,finely chopped ginger and garlic and fry until onion turns soft and translucent.
6.    Now  add 2tsp of chilly powder, salt to onin and fry for few seconds.
7.    Finally add marinated soya, curry leaves, half of a tomato and 1/2-1 cup of water and cook  for few more minutes and serve hot.

 

VEGETABLE MANCHURIAN RECIPE

Vegetable Manchurian   is a popular Indian Chinese appetizer Which can be made in two versions – dry , wet. Its prepared almost on the same lines as Gobi Manchurian except usage of  finely chopped mixed vegetables instead of Gobi (Cauliflower). Here I tried wet form of Vegetable Manchurian. 

 

INGREDIENTS   

1.    Finely chopped capsicum, cabbage, carrot  : 2 cups
2.    Cornflour : 2 tblsp
3.    All-purpose flour( Maida) : 2 tblsp
4.    Rice flour : ½ tblsp
5.    Ginger-garlic-green chilli paste : 1 tblsp
6.    Black pepper powder : ½ tsp
7.    Oil for deep frying
8.    Salt to taste.

For Gravy

1.    Finely minced garlic : 1 1/2 tblsp
2.    Finely minced ginger : 1/2 tblsp
3.    Finely chopped green chillis : 2
4.    Red chilli powder : 1/2 tsp
5.    Soya sauce : 2 tsp
6.    Chilli sauce : 1/2 tblsp
7.    Vinegar : 2 tsp(optional)
8.    Tomato sauce : 2 tblsp
9.    salt as required
10.  Oil : 1 tblsp
11.  Spring onion 

METHOD

1.    Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy bottomed Wok.
2.    Mix  maida , cornflour, rice flour, salt, ginger-garlic-green chilli paste, pepper  powder salt and all the finely chopped vegetables in a bowl. Sprinkle a tblsp of water to make a thick mixture.  After that  use only as much water as required to form small balls.
3.    Place each ball into the hot oil. Reduce flame and deep fry the vegetable balls till cooked. Increase the flame towards the end of the cooking process and fry till they turn golden brown. Keep aside on absorbent paper.
4.    Heat oil in a pan add the chopped garlic, giner, green chillies and stir fry for a few seconds.
5.    Mix a tblsp of cornflour in water. Keep aside.
6.    Add 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and add the  soya sauce, tomato sauce, chilli sauce and vinegar.
7.    Add the cornflour mix slowly and keep stirring till it takes a thick gravy like consistency. Cook for 1-2 minutes .Turn off heat.
8.    Add the balls to the gravy at the time of serving. Garnish with chopped spring onion

SUGGESTIONS

  The usage of sauces can be adjusted according to your taste. Also you can try a variety of veggies to make the balls

 

POHA RECIPE

 Poha  is  a popular breakfast recipe of west and central India, especially  Madhya Pradesh. It is very easy to cook and takes less time. 

 

INGREDIENTS   

1.    Poha  : 2 cups
2.    Thinly sliced onion  : ¾ cup
3.    Thinly sliced Potato (1inch size)  :1/4 cup
4.    Peanuts  :1/4 cup
5.    Green chillies  : 2 (slit)
6.    Turmeric powder  : a pinch
7.    Lime juice  : From 1 lemon
8.    Salt to taste

To temper

1.    Oil  : 1-2 tblsp
2.    Mustard Seeds  : ½ tsp
3.    Chana dal : ¼ tsp
4.    Urad dal : ¼ tsp
5.    Curry leaves : 1 spring

 To Garnish

1.    Chopped onion
2.    Coriander leaves
3.    Sev

METHOD

1.    Put Poha in a sieve and wash under running water for 2-3 minutes and keep aside to drain.
2.    Heat oil in a pan and temper with the items given under the title “ To Temper”,also add green chilles at this step and let these  items splutter well.
3.    Add onion and fry till it become soft and ranslucent.
4.    Add potato and peanuts and stir fry frequently and allow to cook for few minutes.
5.    Meanwhile drain the poha completely to remove the water content and add it to the pan.
6.    Add turmeric powder and salt and stir well to get it mixed and cook for another minute.
7.    Now switch off the stove and add lime juice over poha
8.    Garnish with coriander leaves ,chopped onion and sev.
 

VEGETABLE KORMA RECIPE

Vegetable korma is a spicy , tasty and healthy dish as it contains a combination of veggies.It can be used as a side dish for chappati , roti ,puri ....

INGREDIENTS   

1.    Finely chopped onion : 1
2.    Potato cut into cubes  : 1
3.    Carrot cut into cubes  : 1/2 of 1
4.    Green peas : 1 cup
5.    Sweet Corn : ¼ cup
6.    Pepper powder : a pinch
7.    Salt to taste
 

To temper

1.    Coconut oil : 1-2 tblsp
2.    Mustard seeds : 1 tsp
3.    Finely chopped ginger : ½ tsp
4.    Finely chopped garlic  : ½ tsp
Curry leaves : 1 spring

To Grind

1.    Coconut grated : 3/4 cup
2.    Green chillies : 4
3.    Fennel seeds : 1 tsp

 METHOD

1.    Heat oil in a pan and temper with the items given under the title “ To temper”
2.    Add chopped onion and fry till it turns slightly golden brown.
3.    Add cubed potato, carrot, green peas , corn and boil till the veggies are well cooked.
4.    Meanwhile grind the coconut , fennel seeds, green chillies along with water.
5.    Mix grated contents to the veggies and stir well.
6.    Sprinkle a pinch of pepper powder and cook for 5 more minutes
 

SUGGESTIONS

  

    You can add veggies of your choice like beans, cauliflower etc.Don’t forget to sprinkle pepper powder it will give a great taste.