Month: April 2021

MINI IDDLI SAMBHAR

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Mini iddli /coin iddli/14 iddlis….and many more names to this interesting dish.The size of the iddli will be the size

of a coin, and there are special iddli plates for steaming them.

Kid’s favourite dish,and a restaurant style dish.In the restaurants its called ’14 iddlis’ as only 14 mini iddlis are added

to the dish.

These little iddlis are sunk in sambhar and have to be eaten with a spoon only.Can be served with a little chutney.

Some make the same with only ‘iddli podi and ghee.

The sambhar for this dish are mostly preferred with onions and no vegetables .This is a good dish for breakfast or

dinner.Good for lunch boxes too.

Now to the recipe…

INGREDIENTS

For the iddli

2 cups of iddli batter IDDLIS (SOUTH INDIAN FOOD)-link to iddli batter

Steam for few minutes .This cooks faster than the normal iddli steaming time.

Add 14 iddlis in each serving bowl ,pour hot sambhar to the brim and serve with chutney (chutney is optional)

For the sambhar

a handful of red onions chopped or whole/1 chopped onion

2 cloves garlic

2 tomatoes chopped

1 green chilli

1/2-1 tsp chilli powder

1.5 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp cummin seed powder

1/4 tsp pepper powder

1 cup tuvar dal /moong dal/masoor dal washed

salt to taste

1-2 tsp ghee

1 tsp jaggery powder

For tempering

1-2 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp fenugreek seeds

2 dry chillies

1/4 tsp asafoetida

curry leaves

METHOD

Heat oil in a pressure pan,add the curry leaves and asafoetida first and the rest of the ingredients listed for tempering.

Next add onions and sauce till it turns pink.

Add tomatoes and the spices with salt and sauce for 2 minutes .

Add washed dhal and stir for 2-3 minutes.

Add 1-2 cups water and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles.

Allow the steam to release, and mash the mixture with a hand blender or spoon.

Add water is required with jaggery and allow 1 boil.

Garnish with coriander leaves.

Pour over steamed iddlis and add ghee on the top.

The sambhar I have posted today is without tamarind.If you like add a little tamarind extract with the dhal.

For few more sambhar varieties 4 TYPES OF SAMBHAR-click on this.

For sambhar powder SAMBHAR POWDER -(if you are adding sambhar powder add 2 tbsp, and omit spices I have

given in today’s recipe

RAW BANANA ERISSERY

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Erissery is a dish from the Kerala cuisine, and this is my version of the dish.The toughest part is to title a dish

when its your version of the recipe.As I had a dish like this from one of the Kerala restaurants,decided to extract

the title from the same cuisine, after all clouded confusions.

Now…moving to today’s recipe-This is made with only raw bananas, no mixture of any other vegetables as they

usually do in preparing the authentic erisserry.With roasted ground coconut and the mixture of dry mango

powder makes it special when served with seafood meals.Raw banana is widely used in Kerala cuisines.

Chips,fries,sweets and vegetable side dishes like Avial and erissery….are some of the dishes made with this vegetable,

hence this vegetable is unavoidable in Keralite cuisines.

A brief note on health benefits -People with weak digestive system should have this in limited quantities,as it may

cause bloating and indigestion!

Positive fact, is that it is a fibre rich food good for diabetics,and heart patients.Rich in VitaminC and other nutrients

which contains antioxidants,and strengthen the immune system.

To the recipe

INGREDIENTS

2-3 raw bananas peeled and cut

1 tsp dry mango powder (amchur powder)

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp pepper

few curry leaves

salt to taste

2 tsp coconut oil/ghee

Grind to a coarse paste

3 tbsp slightly roasted coconut

1 tsp roasted raw rice/1 tsp rice flour

1 tsp cummin seed

1/2 tsp mustard

1 green chilli

METHOD

Wash the cut vegetable with salt water ,and then with normal water.

Boil the bananas with amchur powder,turmeric, salt and sufficient water.

Do not cook it dry, let there be little liquid remaining.

Add the oil, and the paste and cook for 3 minutes.

Add pepper and remove from fire.

DILL LEAVES ‘N’ EGG WRAP

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This is a good recipe for breakfast snack, and a good option for a wholesome lunchbox category.

Dill leaves is a fragrant leaf, with a strong flavour.It has excellent digestive properties,anti-flatulent and anti-diabetic

properties.

This leaf can be cooked with dal ,meat ,added to biriyanis, soups, salads .Even juices are made with this herb as it

prevents excessive acid formation in the digestive system, reduces bloating…..and many more if you search for the

health benefits.

Check for another post with dill leaves CHICKEN DILL LEAVES BIRIYANI

Now today’s recipe is a simple an easy recipe with only few ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

4-5 eggs

1-2 tbsp butter/oil

a little pepper (optional)

1/4 cup milk

1 big onion chopped

salt to taste

Grind to a coarse paste

2-3 green chillies

a small piece of ginger

2-3 cloves garlic

few dill leaves (3 tbsp)

METHOD

Heat oil in a pan, add onion, eggs and scramble .After a minute add the milk and then the ground paste.

Scramble till slightly moist .(do not make it too dry)

Use as a filling in chapathis,or any type of wrap.

Can be used in sandwiches too.

Do try this recipe and post in your suggestions and views.

OKRA-PANEER TANDOORI FRY

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This is a stir fry recipe with tandoori masala.It’s a dish to be served when simple vegetarian meals needs adornment.

You could try the same recipe with potatoes opting out the paneer for another variant.

Okra/ladies finger/bhindi/vendakka …many translations to this wonderful brain vegetable.Some have an aversion to

this vegetable because it produces a slimy effect when cooked without any acid.

The positivity of this slime is,that it binds the cholesterol in the body during digestion preventing absorption into the

body and excretes out of the body.

To deslime okra you have to add acids like lime, tomatoes, tamarind.You could cut roundels of this vegetable,fry it till

brown and add to salads.

Apart from the title of ‘brain vegetable’ this vegetable has excellent source of vitamins and nutrients which supports

the immune system.Rich in protein,fibre and low on calories, good for lowering blood sugar and overall health.

Check my previous posts on ladies finger recipes.

Now to today’s recipe

INGREDIENTS

200 gm ladies finger(top and tip only cut )

200 gm paneer (cottage cheese)

1 tbsp oil/ghee/butter

For the masala

1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder /chilli powder

1 tsp cumin seed powder

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

1/2 tsp amchur powder(dry mango powder )

2 tbsp curd

juice of 1 lemon

salt to taste

1 tbsp mustard oil /any oil

METHOD

Slit the vegetable in the centre vertically on two sides, taking care not to cut through completely.

Make a paste with the masala ingredients, and apply on the vegetable.Set aside for a few minutes

Heat a non stick pan or a thick bottomed pan, add oil and the marinated vegetable and allow to fry on medium heat .

Add the cut paneer and toss for a few minutes till the masalas are well blended.

Garnish with coriander/methi (dried/fresh fenugreek )leaves and serve.

CUCUMBER,ORANGE,MINT JUICE

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The sun seems to spread its heat aggressively,and the need to quench your thirst soars high.

To keep us hydrated we need to have juices which contribute to the moisture retention in the body .Fruits and

vegetables which have more water content should be included during this time .

So here’s to an absolute refreshing drink to beat the heat…

INGREDIENTS

3 cucumbers

1 -2 oranges

few mint leaves

a pinch of salt

honey /sugar to taste

1/2- 1 cup water

METHOD

Blend all the ingredients in a juicer /or juice extractor and serve.

GOBI-CHEESE PESTO PARATHA

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This is a stuffed paratha with grated cauliflower, cheese and basil pesto.Good for a snack or breakfast .

You could make this with finely chopped cabbage too.The blend of the pesto and the cheese makes the

recipe special.You can make any shape you prefer.(Photo shows roll shaped paratha).

Do try this recipe and post in your comments and suggestions!

To the recipe …

INGREDIENTS

For the paratha

2-3 cups wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup curd

1 tsp sugar mixed in 1/2 cup milk

1 tsp salt

oil to soak the dough

METHOD

Mix all to a soft dough with water if needed.Apply a little oil and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Divide into portions and dip each portion in a bowl of oil and allow to rest for minimum 1 hour.

Apply oil on the rolling board and spread the dough.

Keep filling in the centre, and roll into any shape you like.The thickness of the rolled dough should be a little more than

a chappathi.

Cook with butter/ghee on both sides.

You can make this dough 1 day ahead and keep in the fridge (after the resting time).

Wrap in cling film tight to retain moisture.

A note about the resting time-The more the resting time the texture will be good.

You could prepare the dough at noon, and keep in the fridge at night if you have planned for breakfast.

Ingredients for the filling

2 cups cauliflower gratings

1/2-1 cup grated cheese (any cheese of your choice)

1 tbsp butter/ghee

1/2 -1 tsp.pepper powder/chilli flakes

1/4 tsp nutmeg powder

salt to taste

1/2 cup basil leaves ground coarse

Method

Heat butter in a pan,and saute the cauliflower for 5 minutes.

Add the grated cheese, and switch off the flame.

Next add the rest of the ingredients .

Check salt and use as filling.