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STUFFED CHEESY MUSHROOMS IN BUTTER MASALA

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A dish to be served with fried rice ,pulao,rotis.

A little effort added ,to a delicious cheesy dish .

Mushrooms considered to be an immunity

builder,having anti-carcinogenic properties

should be included in your diet at least once a

week .For a wider study on health benefits,do

search the Internet .

Choose the bigger button mushrooms,as the

scooping out,and stuffing the will be easier.

To the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

1 packet button mushrooms

1 onion chopped chopped fine into small cubes

1 tomato chopped fine

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1-2 green chillies chopped fine

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp butter

Grated cheese

Salt to taste

METHOD

•First remove the stalks from each mushroom,

carefully and scoop out the inside neatly out.

•Do not discard the stalks and the scoops.

•Wash and cut fine .

•Heat butter and add onions,tomatoes,green

chillies,and the rest of the spices and cook till

thick.

•Add the stalk- scooped out mixture and stir in .

•Cook on high heat for 3 minutes ,and remove

from fire.

•Fill the mushrooms with this filling.

•Top it with cheese and grill for 5 minutes,and

set aside.

For the butter masala

2 onions

3 tomatoes

10 cashewnuts

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp cumin seed powder

1 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder

1 tsp garam masala powder

25 gm butter

1 tbsp kasuri methi leaves

1 tsp sugar/ honey

1 tsp amchur powder/ 1 tbsp lime juice

Salt to taste

METHOD

•Grind the onions, tomatoes,cashews together.

•Heat butter in a pan,add chilli powder,garam

masala powder,and immediately add the

ground paste with salt.

•Let it cook till the tomatoes and onions are

well cooked.

•Add the rest of the ingredients and cook for

few minutes .

•If there is any liquid in the grilled mushroom,

add into the masala .Remove from fire.

•Place the grilled mushrooms on the hot

masala.

•Garnish with boiled eggs and chopped greens

of your choice like leeks or spring onions .

•Serve hot.

The stuffed mushroom alone can be served as a starter too.

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4 RECIPES WITH IDDLI+HOPPER BATTER

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The recipes i’m going to post now are made with remaining iddli and hopper batter.Even

if the batter is less you can turn it into a serving .

I shall begin with hopper batter ,which was my childhood favourite,and my mom’s

speciality.

I reminisce the days when we woke up to the floating aroma from the kitchen,and

mom’s touch ( which all experience) on these pancakes with perfection still make me

drool.

So let me start with that recipe first…

1. BANANA APPAM / PANCAKES

INGREDIENTS

1 -2 cups left over hopper batter

2 eggs

2-3 bananas mashed

2 tblsp ghee

Jaggery or Sugar to taste

1/2 tsp cardamon powder

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients into the batter .You can make this in the hopper pan itself or use

pancake griddles to make .Pour a little ghee or oil in the pan you are using.Cook on both

sides and serve.

2. Nutty Jaggery Paniyaram

INGREDIENTS

1 cup hopper batter

1/2 cup nuts of your choice

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp ghee

Jaggery powder to taste

1 egg

Ghee or oil for frying

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients into the batter ,and pour into paniyaram moulds or make

pancakes.

Moving on to Iddli batter

1. SAVOURY VEGETABLE PANIYARAM

INGREDIENTS

1 cup batter

1 carrot grated

1 onion cut fine( spring onions/leeks could be used)

1-2 green chillies cut fine

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2 tsp cummin

1/2 tsp pepper coarsely ground

1 tsp ghee

1 egg (optional)

Oil to fry

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients into the batter.

Heat the mould,add a tsp of oil in each mould,and pour batter to fill.Once it is cooked on

one side,turn over and cook till golden brown.

Serve with coconut chutney.

This is a quick and easy breakfast.

Suited for lunch boxes and snack time.

2.SPINACH ‘N’ CHEESE PANIYARAM

INGREDIENTS

1 cup iddli batter

Handful of spinach leaves

2 pips garlic

1 tsp cummin seeds

1 small tomato chopped

2-3 green chillies chopped fine

1 onion chopped fine

1 tsp oil or ghee

3-4 tblsp grated cheese.

Oil for frying

METHOD

First grind the spinach, cummin seeds,garlic to a fine paste and mix in with the rest of

the ingredients.

Use the paniyaram mould to make like for savoury paniyaram.

This does not need any chutney or dip to be served with.

Variation: You can add 1/2 cup rawa (sooji,rulang) to 1 cup dosa batter.Add water to

make a thin batter.Add few cut onions and green chillies with coarsely ground pepper

and cummin and make rawa dosas.

Note:I have not added salt in the above recipes.As the batter will have salt,please do

check for salt when you make the savoury ones.

BANANA ‘N’ RUM MUFFINS

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This is very easy recipe ,with a different taste compared to other banana muffins i have posted,so do try this recipe and let me know your comments.

INGREDIENTS

100 gm Butter( melted)

1 cup sugar ( brown / coconut sugar)

3 -4 bananas mashed

1 egg

2 tblsp rum or brandy (optional)

1.5 cups flour

1 tsp.baking soda

1/4 tsp salt.

Few crushed walnuts

img_20180601_1859107841147091727.jpg

METHOD

Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately.Mix all together till well

corporated.

Pour into muffin moulds and bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees )for 25-30 minutes.

MUTTON KANJI

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This kanji,commonly known as nombu kanji,prepared mostly during the period of

Ramadan is a favourite to many. Sourced from the middle eastern cuisine with channa

dhal or gram dal used as a variation.

In Asian cuisine it’s the green gram dal which is opted for ,which gives a lovely flavour to

the kanji.

The recipe I’m going to share with you is a ‘ one pot’. if cooked .It is best to cook in a

pressure cooker to get the correct consistency easily , without hassle.

Let’s get into the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup raw rice (white or red)

1/4 cup green gram dal (moong dal)

250 gm minced mutton/chicken

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2 – 1 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp. turmeric powder

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1/2 tsp cummin powder

whole spices (2 cardamon,4-5 cloves,a piece of cinnamon,small piece sea moss,1/2 tsp fennel seeds)

2 green chillis chopped

few small onions

curry leaves

1 tomato

2-3 tblsp oil or ghee

1-2 cups coconut milk (optional)

salt to taste

img_20180530_200707605_ll484516238.jpg

METHOD

Wash the rice and dHal and set aside.

Heat oil or ghee in a pressure cooker,add the whole spices with curry leaves.

Next add the onions,tomato,ginger garlic paste , meat and the rest of the

ingredients,except the coconut milk and saute well for few minutes .

Add 5-6 cups water or 4-5 inches above the rice level.

Cook on a medium flame for 4-5 whistles and allow steam to release on its own.

Remove lid add coconut milk and salt. Adjust the kanji to the consistency you like by

adding more hot water .Simmer for 5 minutes after adding milk and serve hot

Some like it with a dash of lemon juice,so if you are adding lemon juice add when you serve.

Variation :Vegetables like carrot,beans ,few spinach leaves ,fenugreek or methi leaves can be added .

VEGETABLE BAR CUTLETS

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It is called bar cutlets because of the shape and the method.

You can make this filling the previous day and refridgerate for a precise bar.

This recipe is not the same as for making any cutlet,so do try and let me know your

comments.

INGREDIENTS

1 big carrot

Few beans cut fine

2 kno-khol cut fine

you can add 1-2 vegetables of your choice in addition to the vegetables listed

1 big onion chopped/ 1 leek/ spring onion

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 tsp pepper powder/chilli powder

1/2 tsp.cummin seed powder

Salt to taste

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup gramdal flour

1 tblsp.butter or oil

Oil for frying

METHOD

Heat a tblsp of oil and add the chopped onions ,green chillies,and the cut vegetables and

saute till half cooked.

Mix gram flour, breadcrumbs in a little water ( 1/4 – 1/2 cup water) in a separate bowl

and set aside

Once the vegetables are half cooked add the gramdal mixture and cook till thick

Transfer the cooked mixture into a square tray .Flatten neatly and set aside or in the

fridge till cold.

Cut into bars or squares and shallow fry till golden.

If you like it more crunchier toss in breadcrumbs and fry.

Serve with mint chutney or sauce.Good to serve with a vegan meal.

CURD RICE

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To combat summer strokes it is essential to go an extra mile ,to provide the right food to

your family.

Curd rice is comfort food , quick and easy to make.

During hot days,quick and cooling indulgence is preferred by all ages.

Some do not know to make curd rice,so this recipe is for their note.

I always make non- tempered curd rice ( oil free).Hotels serve the tempered rice,and

some prefer it.

I will be sharing both.

So for the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cooked rice

1 or more cups thick curd or yogurt

1/2 cup milk

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp.sugar

1 small carrot grated

1-2 green chillies chopped fine

Few rose petals ( option)

Green grapes,black grapes ,or pomegranate is your preference and option.

METHOD

Mash the cooked rice slightly .Add milk ,curd and mix well with salt and sugar

Add the veggies and fruit of your choice.

For the tempered rice

For tempering:

1 tsp ghee/ oil

1/2 tsp.mustard

1 dry red chilli

Small piece of ginger chopped

1 green chilli chopped

Few cashewnuts ( optional) / channa dal / urad dal 1/2 tsp.

METHOD

Mix the curd rice like the non tempering step and set aside.Heat oil in a pan add

mustard,curry leaves,and the rest of the ingredients.When the mustard splutters and the

cashewnuts turn light brown ,pour over curd rice.Serve with pickle,chips or papads or

any fry of your choice.

You could garnish with coriander leaves.

PUMPKIN ‘N’ ORANGE JUICE

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Today my recipe for juices will be a VitaminC rich combination.

Pumpkin and orange of the same color ,are excellent cooling agents.

In this present times,where pollution is grave,and the food adulteration is done without

any consideration,it is compulsory to mix vegetable juices to retain the nutrients,that

drain when the body becomes acidic. Having an alkaline body promotes good health.

So.. today my recipe for the day on healthy juices will be pumpkin and orange.It is also

important to use honey or palm candy (panagalkandu) as a sweetner during summer

times.

Dwelling on the health note..:It is good for skin,hair ,removing toxins from arteries.

It is rich in Vitamin D .The present medical world finds lot of patients with a deficiency

of Vitamin D which sources to be hazardous to mankind.

When nature has blessed us with its wonderful creations ,we should use it for our

benefits.

In short Orange and pumpkin are two good providers to good health..

Now let me go into the recipe.(Please do not discard the skins or seeds of the

pumpkin,only wash it thoroughly)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pumpkin diced

2-3 oranges

honey

a pinch of salt

a piece of turmeric root(optional)

2-3 cups water

METHOD

Peel the orange,and all ingredients to the juice extractor and blend it fine.

Serve chilled if you like.

 

 

 

 

CUCUMBER JUICE

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Summer is taking on..in Chennai.It’s compulsory to keep us hydrated to combat the heat by lot’s of fluids.

To add to the list of Healthy juices,I bring a healthy coolant recipe.

For the recipe now

INGREDIENTS ( serves 4-5)

3-4 cucumbers ( English cucumber)

A small piece ginger

A small piece of turmeric root

2 amla/ nelli (seed removed)

A pinch of salt.

2-3 glasses of water.

Honey or any sweetner you like

METHOD

Blend all the ingredients in a juice extractor preferably.Serve chilled if you like.

Note: Do not discard the skin and seeds of the cucumber.Cut only the edges.

SWEET POTATO ROTI

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I made this roti with a mixture of ragi

(kurakkan flour).

I have made puris by mixing boiled

potatoes to the dough,but this was the

first time I tried with sweet potatoes.It

was soft and tasty too.To dip in.. you

could make any curries of your choice

Well,I made paneer masala to serve

with it.

So now.. let’s move on to the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sweet potato mash(boiled or steamed)

2-3 green chillies chopped fine

1 tblsp curd

1 tsp salt

1 tsp.pepper powder

1.5 cups ragi or kurakkan flour

1/2 cup plain flour (maida or wheat)

METHOD

Add all the ingredients into a mixing

bowl and bind to a soft dough,using

enough water to bind.Set aside for ten

minutes.

Roll on floured board to make thin

circles of the dough.

Heat a griddle and make rotis.

Smear with ghee or butter and serve.

QUICK FISH WRAP

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This recipe came up,when I had to prepare a quick dinner.I tried this simple and quick

recipe with sword fish fillets.You could try with any type of fish(boneless) you like. I’m

going to share with you the recipe for the simple fish filling.I have used chappathis for

the wrap( you could find the recipe for the dough in my previous posts.)CHAPPATHI EGG ROLL

So let’s get into the simple and quick wrap recipe.

INGREDIENTS

250 gm fish fillets or cubed

1 small bokchoy or any greens you like

Few pieces of capsicum julienned.

1-2 tsp.chillie flakes

1 inch piece ginger chopped fine.

1 tblsp vinegar

1 tsp cornflour

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tblsp.butter or oil

Salt to taste.

METHOD

Heat butter in a pan and cook the fish lightly on both sides for 2 minutes or untill light

brown.Shove the fish to a corner of the pan,add ginger,bokchoy,and the rest of the

ingredients,and saute for another 2 minutes.(do not add water).Remove from fire and

use to make the wrap. Make chappathis and apply beaten  egg on one side.After egg is set

and cooked,remove from fire keep the filling on the side of the egg .Roll and serve.

You can add grated cheese if you like.Can be served with pickled veggies or lettuce or any

salad leaf .Do send in your comments and suggestions.

PAPAYA AND GINGER JAM

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Well, amidst the hustle and bustle of the ongoing season,I am posting this recipe,as I thought this being a wonderfulecipe,could be used in making tarts,biscuits,pies cakes,biscuits …and even as a spread on bread crackers,rotis….Kids will really love the taste.

The creation story in short,papaw bought to make vegetable pickle ,turned a little ripe…and though this can be made into a lovely salad I thought to make this jam which was on my mind for a long time.So this turned to be the moment for it..The ginger in it gives a lovely taste.To add to this ,I have added a permisson fruit too ,asit has the same texture of papaw.So do try this awesome jam and send in your comments.

For the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

400 gm papaw ripe or partially ripe

1 very ripe permisson fruit or Japanese fruit (see picture below) –optional

1//2 cup finely grated or ground ginger

a pinch of salt

1 cup water

400 gm sugar 

1 tblsp.lime juice /1/2 tsp.tartaric acid/cream of tartar

METHOD

Add all the ingredients into a thick bottomed pan and cook till it reaches the thick jam stage.Mash well while cooking.

Once it’s thick and done allow to cool and store in sterilised jars.Can be refrigerated after a day or two.

RICH MUTTON CURRY

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This is a rich mutton curry,with coconut 

and nuts paste.Can be served with any rice

or any rotis, stringhoppers and hoppers.

I love to make this recipe in the pressure 

cooker as I like the meat to be really very 

tender.Solet’s move on to the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1 kg lamb/mutton

1 tblsp.ginger garlic paste

2 onions chopped

3-4 green chillies chopped

1 big tomato

2 potatoes peeled and cut into fours(add when adding coconut paste)

1/4 cup curd

1 tblsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp methi seeds,or fenugreek

1 tblsp coriander powder

1 tsp garam masala powder

1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 coconut grated

10 almonds

10 cashewnuts

1 tblsp peanuts.

1 cup light tamarind water.(add when adding paste.)

3-4 tblsp ghee +oil 

For tempering

Onions,mustard,saunf,curry leaves

METHOD

First mix in all the ingredients (except the 

bold listed) with 1 tblsp oil,and pressure 

cook for 5 whistles.

Whilst this is cooking saute the bold listed in 1 tblsp ghee till coconut is light brown.

Grind to a paste.Once the meat is done,add the paste with the tamarind water.

Temper with mustard,onions,and saunf and curry leaves.

Pour on to the gravy ,cover with vent on again and cook on medium flame for another 10 minutes.

WHITE PEPPER’N’KHUS RICE 

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This rice was my own creation and 

imagination.Not very spicy but very tasty.

Quick rice category,can be made in the 

normal rice cooker . It’s flavoured with 

white pepper and white poppy seeds 

together.Do try this recipe and send in 

your comments and suggestions.

Now for the recipe..

Ingredients

200 gm rice

2 tblsp.white pepper

2 tblsp white khus khus seeds

1/2 cup milk/coconut milk

100 gm lean Lamb/mutton

2 tsp ginger garlic paste

2-3 onions sliced
 handful of cashewnuts

Few raisins

1/2 tsp sugar

Small piece of rampe (pandan leaves)

1/4 cup ghee

Salt to taste

METHOD

First grind the khus khus seeds and white 

pepper together.(you can add cashews for grinding if you like)

Wash rice and add all the ingredients 

except the bold listed,and put on cooking 

mode in the rice cooker.

Fry the onions with a little salt and 1/4 tsp 

sugar till brown.Add the cashew and 

raisins and saute for further 1 minute.

After the rice is 3/4th cooked just sprinkle 

on top and cook till done.Mix well and 

serve with accompaniments of your 

choice.

FOR VEGANS -You can use paneer or 

vegetables or only plain whole cashews,

Substituting meat.

ALOO PARATHA

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This is a very good recipe,good for lunch 

boxes,and can be served at any meal.This 

is a very famous paratha in India.Not too 

spicy,and can be served with mint chutney

raita,or any plain curry of your choice.Can 

be served plain too.

I have posted recipes of potato filling for 

chappathis and dosai,and also recipe for 

making the wheat chappathis dough.Today

 I will be giving you a different version of 

the dough with left over whey water. (after

 making cheese).Never throw the water 

after you make paneer or cheese.Store the 

water in the fridge and use when you 

make rotis,and puris,as it is a protein rich 

nutrient water.Even if milk curdles do not 

throw you could mash and use the curdled

 milk and the water to make rotis.

So..let’s get into the recipe now.

For the dough

500 gm wheat flour

1/4 cup maida or plain flour

Enough whey water to bind

2 -3 tblsp oil or melted ghee

Salt to taste
Method

Take 1 cup whey water,and add the oil and

 salt to it.Next keep adding the flour 

gradually and mix to a soft dough.Set 

aside.

Always add flour to the water.This method 

does not need muscle power to knead.

This way the chappathis turn soft and 

fluffier.10 minutes of resting is more than 

enough to get soft chappathis.

For the filling

4-5 potatoes boiled 

2 tsp.amchur powder(dry mango powder)

1/2 tsp asafoetida

4-5 green chillies chopped fine

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1/2 tsp.garam masala powder

1/2 tsp.cummin powder

salt to taste

Mash the potatoes and mix the rest of the 

ingredients and mix well.Bind like for 

cutlets and set aside.

Roll the dough lightly and keep each 

cutlets in each chappathi.Seal and roll into 

a ball.Do like this for the rest of the dough.

Heat a griddle and add a little ghee or 

butter .Roll lightly the prepared dough and

cook on a medium flame till done.Apply 

ghee on top for a richer taste and aroma.
Serve hot with chutney or anything of your choice.Kids will love it.

Note:You could add finely chopped greens to the potato mixture.

Dried methi leaves could be added to the dough.

Do send in your comments and suggestions

BRUSSEL SPROUTS PICKLE

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Brussel sprouts have a resemblance of tiny

cabbages in appearance and are highly 

protein rich,and packed with nutrients.It

is an excellent source of Vitamin C,K,A,and 

also good for eye related diseases.

Brussel sprouts is incredibly nutritious 

good for anaemic,heart,patients.

Safety note:When I searched the pointers on health benefits I noted that it is not too safe for patients with thyroid dysfunction,as the goitrogens which may contain in this vegetable,will be a factor to induce swelling

Well,in fact this brussel sprout is not much 

welcome in my home,so I thought I should 

try pickling it.This way it will,surely be 

relished.I looked into an old recipe book

with many pickles especially red cabbage.

It was there I extracted the idea from and 

made my inclusions too.

So here’s the recipe now..

INGREDIENTS

150-200 gm brussel sprouts

1/4 cup peeled garlic

10 green chillies slit

1 tblsp or more red chilli powder (depending on your taste)

1/2 tsp turmeric

Enough rock salt for marination

Half bottle vinegar 

1 tblsp peppercorns

Salt to taste

METHOD

Clean the sprouts by removing discolored 

leaves.Wash,dry on cloth and mix with 

enough rock salt and turmeric.Cover and 

set aside for 24 hours.

Next day squeeze out the former juice and 

arrange in a sterilised glass bottle.

Heat the vinegar preferably in a clay 

pot,with peppercorns.When it reaches a 

boiling point,switch off and add the green 

chillies,red chilli powder and garlic to the 

brine.Leave closed for 5 minutes.Check for 

salt taste and adjust to your taste .Pour 

vinegar whilst hot into the bottle and add 

the chillies and garlic.Press the veggies to 

the bottom and if the vinegar level is less 

than the level of veggies,you could heat 

some more vinegar,and pour.Use after 3-4 

days.Do not forgot to shake the bottle once 

a day.

You could use these pickles in sandwiches wraps,and salads too.

Do send in your comments and suggestions