quick

SAGO-TOMATO KHICHIDI

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Today breakfast had to be the potato sago/

sabudana/ javarisi khichadi.Even the potatoes

were put to boil.In the spur of the moment I got

the idea to make with tomato.

Served with raita,it was a good breakfast .

https://calinskitchen.com/2020/10/27/sagopotatopeanut-khichidi/

👆🏻The link to the basic sago+ potato khichidi.

Now to today’s recipe.

INGREDIENTS

250 gm sago/ sabudana ( soaked overnight)

3 medium sized tomatoes puréed

2-3 boiled potatoes

1-2 green chillies chopped

1 small piece ginger chopped

A handful of roasted peanuts or cashewnuts

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp cummin powder

A pinch of asafoetida

Few curry leaves

Coriander leaves for garnishing

3 tbsp oil/ ghee

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp sugar or jaggery (I always add sugar to

balance the acid in tomato purée)

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1-2 dry chillies

METHOD

•Heat oil,and add mustard seeds,curry leaves,

dry chillies .

•Next add the ginger,green chilies and the

tomato purée,sugar,salt and the spices,and

sauté for 5 minutes.

•Add the soaked sago and cook covered on a

low flame.

• Once the sago pearls are cooked,add the

lightly mashed boiled potatoes,and roasted

nuts.Remove from fire.

• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with

raita.

You could try the same recipe with lime .

Omitting the tomato purée and chilli

powder.

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BLUEBERRY,CARDAMON BROWNIE ROCK CAKE

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Those who are following me know that I’m

trying out varieties of these rock cakes .Rock

cake like cookies . They are soft inside and melt

in mouth cakes, and easy to make.

This time I mixed half almond flour and half

all purpose flour ,and the texture was good .

I used blueberry ( as it’s in season ).You can use

any other berries of your choice .

Now to the recipe ..

INGREDIENTS

100 gm butter

100 gm sugar ( use half brown sugar)

2 tbsp.cocoa powder ( unsweetened)

100 gm almond flour

100 gm all purpose flour

1/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

3-4 tsp cardamon powder

A few blueberries

A pinch of salt

METHOD

Melt the butter and chocolate in a bain-marie

( double boiler) .

Beat eggs,sugar,cardamon powder,salt together

for few minutes.

Mix the egg mixture in to the chocolate mixture

Mix the flours and baking powder together

Fold the mixed flour into the chocolate mixture

and mix till well blended with milk .

Even if the mixture looks thick do not worry,it

will be soft .

Place rustic spoonfuls in a greased tray ,and

bake in a 180 C oven for 25 minutes.

Allow to cool and store .

Can be served with ice cream too😋.

QUICK RAW BANANA VADA

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Yesterday I made raw banana Bajji ( valakkai Bajji).

Here’s the proof 🤪

To continue my story of on the spot innovation.

After making the fritters, there were leftover

marinaded banana slices.

I kept it in the fridge ,having an idea to make

some crispies out if it .While tossing the slices,

in the pan I changed my mind , broke in 2 slices

of bread and tossed with the masalas for few

seconds.

Then, I switched off the flame ,and thought for

a while how to make it interesting than a crispy

So let’s get to the recipe to know how…,

INGREDIENTS (makes 6)

1/2 of a raw banana slices marinaded in 1 tsp chilli powder,1/4 tsp turmeric,salt

3 slices bread

1 tsp ghee

1 onion chopped

2 green chillies chopped

A handful of chopped coriander leaves

A little water to moisten bread

1 egg ( vegans can opt out)

2 tblsp wheat flour

1/4 tsp garlic paste

A little oil to shallow fry

A handful of Panko crumbs or breadcrumbs ( optional)

Salt to taste

METHOD

Heat the ghee, and toss in the marinaded

banana slices, till brown .

Add the bread and mix in with the banana,and

toss for another 2-3 minutes.

Remove from fire.Sprinkle little water, on the

bread . Add the rest of the ingredients and

knead to get the consistency of a vada.

Heat oil in a shallow frying pan and fry these

vadas to a golden brown color.

I served it with South India’s dish ‘ Sambhar

Sadam ,valathandu chutney (banana stem) and

this cutlet. It was excellent!

Do try my innovated recipe , and post in your

comments and suggestions!

WHEAT ENERGY LADOO

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This is wonderful energy providing ladoo.With

the richness of nuts,Edible gum ( badam pisin),

Coconut ,honey ….is undoubtedly healthy.

So do try healthy stuff during these times,and

keep your family fit !

To the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

1 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup almonds

1/2 cup cashewnuts

1/2 cup dates ( I used date syrup)

Pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds or any seeds

of your choice

1/2 cup badam pisin ( you can add 1 cup but I

had only 1/2 cup ….effects of lockdown)

1/4 cup powdered sugar/ jaggery

3/4 cup coconut ( coconut chips cut from

fresh coconut and ground coarsely ,

1/4 tsp nutmeg powder

1/4 cup raisins

1/2 tsp cardamon powder

A pinch of salt.

1/4 -1/2 cup ghee

METHOD

Heat 2-3 tblsp of ghee and roast the gum first.It

should swell to a crunchy stage.Remove from

pan and set aside.

Lightly toss the almond,cashew,raisins for 1

minute in the leftover ghee in the pan.Remove

from pan and set aside.

Add another tblsp of ghee and roast coconut till

light brown. Remove from pan .

Heat the remaining ghee to the pan,and add the

wheat flour,and roast till you get a nice aroma

from the flour ( on medium flame).

Add the remaining ingredients and the roasted

ingredients into a food processor or blender

and pulse for few seconds only .

Make ladoo and store.

If the ladoo is crumbly to shape add ghee.

Note: You could use boora / Tagar sugar if you prefer to use

POHA-SEMOLINA IDDLI

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Healthy , low calorie,healthy iddli . Fermenting

time is just 20- 30 minutes.No need to use fruit

salt.

I tried using a pinch of baking powder in a

tsp of vinegar ,after soaking to create the

fizz ,and it worked.

Grind the poha (rice flakes /Aval in Tamil)

coarsely, without adding it whole.

Now to the recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 cup coarsely ground poha ( rice flakes/AVAL)

1/2 cup semolina ( rawa)

1 cup curd

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp.pepper corns coarsely ground

1/2 tsp cummin seeds

Few coriander leaves chopped

A small piece ginger chopped

1 green chilli chopped

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients together ,cover and set

aside for 20-30 minutes.

After 30 minutes , add a little water to get the

consistency of iddli batter.

Pour into iddli moulds and steam for 10

minutes.

Serve hot with chutneys of your choice.

The same can be mixed and kept overnight for

the next morning breakfast.

So , do try and post in your comments and

suggestions!

COUNTRY SUGAR COCONUT BURFI

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A sweet with country sugar,very addictive,melt

in mouth unique in taste and colour.

With lots of coconut,cashew,semolina,and the

sugar it is awesome ! It tastes better if made the

day before .

Now to the recipe

INGREDIENTS

2-3 cups scraped coconut

1 cup country sugar ( you can add more if you

like)

1/4 cup coarsely ground cashewnuts

1/4 cup roasted semolina ( rawa)

1/2 tsp powdered cardamon

1/4 tsp powdered ginger

a pinch of salt

2 -3 tblsp ghee

1/4 cups milk

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients together in a non stick

wide pan.

Cook on medium flame till thick,and forms a

lump .

Transfer to a greased plate . Allow to cool and

cut into desired shapes.

BREAD ‘N’CHEESE BAKE

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This is the easiest and yummiest breakfast .

Cheesy , creamy , and healthy too.

Well, the previous day I had baked wheat bread

and half of the loaf was remaining .

Thought to make sandwiches,but that seemed a

little more work on one of my lazy mornings,so

plan diverts ,took to another successful dish .

Just one touch of the mixer, and there you are

relishing a healthy breakfast.

To the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

1/2 loaf bread

1 cup goat cheese/ any cheese you prefer

4 eggs

1/2 cup milk

Few spinach leaves/ leeks

2 sliced green chillies

Pepper to taste

1 tblsp butter

Salt ( if using goat cheese ,please check for salt)

1/4 tsp nutmeg grated

slices of capsicum

METHOD

Break the eggs into the mixer directly.

Add cheese,milk and run the mixer , for 2-3

seconds.

Next add the spinach( Palak leaves) and again

blend for another second.

Add the green chillies,nutmeg,pepper powder.

Arrange the bread on a greased dish . Crumble

it slightly and pour the egg mixture over it .

Top it with slices of capsicum and bake in a

moderate ( 180C) oven for 25 minutes.

Serve warm / hot.

RICOTTA CHEESE PASTA

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This is the simplest but excellent for a quick

meal.

Ricotta cheese is a type of cheese which could

be used in desserts and savoury dishes too.

I made a different creamy blend to this pasta

with chickpea flour. In fact,soaked ground

chick peas will give a hummus like texture.

I used a little of the left over tomato sauce I

made for my previous post on macaroni ( link

provided below

Click the link for tomato sauce

method.

https://calinskitchen.com/2020/02/20/roast-chicken-macaroni/

I used only leeks in this recipe .You could use

any vegetables or additions to your choice!

To the recipe now

INGREDIENTS

1 packet pasta ( coooked as per instructions)

1-2 cups chopped leeks

100-200 gm ricotta cheese

1 tblsp chickpea flour / 50 gm chickpeas soaked

and ground

1 tsp. red chilli powder

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp ground mustard /mustard sauce.

1/2 tsp turmeric ( for the color)

Butter/ olive oil -2 tblsp.

Thin strips of green chillies ( optional)

Pepper to taste

1-2 tsp vinegar

Salt to taste

METHOD

If you are using whole chickpeas , first grind

it with garlic pepper,vinegar and a little

mustard

If using flour- Heat a little butter and slightly

roast the flour . Add to the cheese with chilli

powder and turmeric and blend to a paste.

Set aside.

Heat butter in a wok, add leeks and sauté for 5

minutes.Add the boiled pasta,and the cheese

mixture, and 2 tblsp of the tomato sauce and

mix till well blended .

You can add scrambled, poached , or omelette

strips to serve.

BANANA’N’ RUM UPSIDE DOWN CUPCAKE

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Wow ! This was delicious !Banana combined

with brown sugar and rum was tooo good.Easy

on the mix and time.Worth the try!

To the recipe right away

Turned upside down!😀

INGREDIENTS

1+1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda

A pinch of cinnamon powder

A pinch of salt

1/4 cup oil

1 tsp banana essence

1 tblsp rum

1/4 cup yoghurt/ curd

2 eggs

3-4 yellaki banana/red banana/your choice

3/4-1 cup brown sugar

Extra brown sugar

5-6 tsp . butter

METHOD

Mix the dry ingredients together.

Mix the wet ingredients till sugar is dissolved.

Now mix the wet ingredients, into the dry

ingredients and mix well with a spatula .

Slice the bananas.

Add 1/2 tsp butter in each cupcake tin.

Sprinkle the extra sugar according to your taste

Keep 1-3 slices of banana at the bottom, and

scoop on the cake batter.

Bake in a moderate oven (180C) for 20-25

minutes or until done.

Can be served with cream, ice cream , or

served plain.

FRITTATA ( LEEKS ‘N’ CILANTRO)

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Frittata originated from the Italian cuisine , is an egg based dish ,like an omelette or a

crustless quiche.

This is not folded like an omelette , it is fried in a pan , flipped over carefully with a plate

and served like a pizza.

You can serve with sauces if you like . I topped with a tangy chilli sauce.This can be

served with any of your favourite sauces too.

You can make this for breakfast or dinner within minutes.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1/2 of all 3 coloured capsicums chopped (yellow,green,red)

1 cup coriander leaves/ spinach leaves

1 big leeks chopped fine

1 tsp chilli paste

1/2 tsp pepper powder

1/2 cup Parmesan/ cheddar/mozzarella cheese grated

1/2 cup milk

Salt to taste

1 tblsp butter to sauté the capsicum and leeks

Oil for frying

METHOD

Beat the egg with salt, and add to the flour.

Mix in milk and water to make a thick ( pancake batter).

Saute the capsicum and leeks lightly and add to the batter.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix well .

Pour a little oil into a pan , add the batter .

Cover and cook on a low flame till cooked on one side.

Flip to the other side with the help of a plate.Return to pan and cook on the other side .

Serve with sauce .

Variations :Paneer , prawns,chicken, minced meat , mix of your favourite veggies can be made into your choice of frittata.

Tip: Instead of adding grated cheese ,you could make cheese sauce / white sauce for a creamy flavour and add to the batter.

Anyway , try your innovations too,and post in your comments and suggestions!

ORANGE N HORSE GRAM RASAM

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Rainy days,monsoon times call for comfort foods like hot steaming rasam with rice ….I

thought to share with you all today an awesome orange rasam recipe loaded with

Vitamin C.

I used the tropical Kamala orange,you can use any orange.This is a combination with

horsegram which is good for fat loss,and a good source of energy.Horsegram rasam is

considered to be a good remedy for cough and colds too.It is also a good relief for those

with arthritis….and many more benefits if you search.So let’s move on to this simple and

easy recipe.

INGREDIENTS

Extract of one orange

1 tblsp.peppercorns

2 tblsp.horsegram or Kollu

1 tsp cummin seeds

1 tsp.coriander seeds

8-9 pips of garlic

1 -2 dry chillies

1/2 a tomato

1/4 tsp.asafoetida

Curry leaves

1/4 tsp.turmeric

light tamarind water 2-3 cups

salt to taste.

1/4 tsp.mustard

1/4 tsp.methi

2 red chillies

2 tsp.oil

METHOD

Grind the bold listed coarsely and set aside.

Heat oil ,add asafoetida,curry leaves,mustard,chillies,and methi and sauté for a minute.

Next add the ground mixture and sauté for a further two minutes.Add 1/2 cup water and

boil for 5-10 minutes.Next Add tamarind water and allow to reach a boil.Add salt to

taste.Add orange juice and remove from fire.Serve hot with plain or steamed rice.

HORSE GRAM LIME RASAM- click on for lime and horsegram rasam

CHOW CHOW CHUTNEY

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Chow chow a pear shaped vegetable/fruit ,belonging to the gourd category along with

melons cucumbers and squash is rich in vitamin C and is a good coolant for summer.You

could cook with dal ,make avial,or make pies like apple,or pear pie.Iv posted  a chow

chow recipe along with other chutneys before and here’s the link to it. HEALTHY

VEGETABLE CHUTNEYS

Today i want to share another version of chow chow chutney.

INGREDIENTS

1 big chow chow (150-200 gm)

2 tblsp.ulundu (urad dal)

few curry leaves

2 tblsp.coriander

2 tsp black cummin seeds or the normal cummin seeds

tamarind (half the size of a lemon)

5-6 pips of garlic

10-12 dry chillies (reduce if you like)

salt to taste.

juice of 1 lime

1/2 -1 tsp sugar/jaggery/honey

1-2 tblsp.gingelly oil.

METHOD

Peel the chow chow and cut into tiny cubes.Heat the oil ,and add the cut chow

chow,curryleaves,garlic to it and fry till you see the vegetable turning light brown at the

edges Transfer to a plate.In the same pan,roast the rest of  the ingredients till you see the

urad dal turning brown.Remove from heat,and powder this first.Add the fried chow

chow to the powder and grind again to a coarse or fine paste.Add lime juice , sugar and

salt to taste.

Can be served with iddli,dosai,vada,bajji,or used like a dip for fries.

PANEER KOFTA IN SPINACH

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This recipe is a healthy dish,and eyecatching dish ,which can be served with rotis or

pulaos.Summer calls for inclusion of fruits and veggies,and this one undoubtedly is the

best dish to serve for lunch or dinner.(vegan lovers)

So,now let’s get into the recipe.

INGREDIENTS

For the kofta

1 packet paneer(200gm)

2-3 potatoes boiled and mashed lightly

2-3 green chillies finely chopped

1 tsp.pepper powder

1/2 tsp cummin seed powder

1/4 cup cashew ground coarse(optional)

1 tsp.ginger paste.

1 tblsp.flour

salt to taste

oil to fry

METHOD

Grate the paneer and mix the rest of the ingredients ,and bind well.Make koftas and deep

fry in oil till golden brown and set aside.

 

For the spinach or palak gravy.

INGREDIENTS

100-150 gm palak or spinach leaves

2 green chillies

2 dry chillies

1-2 onions chopped fine

7-8 cloves peeled garlic

1/2 tsp.grated nutmeg

1 tsp.garam masala powder

1 tsp cummin seed powder

1 piece cinammon

1 tsp.honey

1 small tomato (for the color)

1/2 red/yellow capsicum (julienned)

1/2 tsp.red chilli powder /flakes.

juice of 1 lime.

salt to taste

2 tbsp.oil/butter

METHOD

There are two methods you could prepare the spinach puree.

1.Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 5 mins,then immedietely plunge into cold water

and drain , blend into puree and use.

2.Saute the leaves directly in oil with garlic,green chillies,cummin seeds ,blend well and use

If you have opted for the no.1. method grind the garlic,green chillies,and cummin seed

with the palak,and set aside.

Heat 2 tblsp.oil ,add the onions with the cinnamon ,and dry chillies and saute till brown.

Next add the rest of the ingredients with the puree and cook on a low flame ,till partially

thick.Add the fried balls and simmer for 2-3 minutes.You could add fresh cream if you

like while serving

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREEN GRAM ,URAD DAL LADOO

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Today i would like to share with you a high protein ladoo with whole green gram and urad

dal or ulundu(white lentil).These two pulses are the best source of proteins and

minerals.Good for boosting energing levels,rich in fibres ,helps to reduce cholesterol

levels ,improves cardiovascular health. Urad dal is also good for women as it has iron, folic

acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium which makes it a healthy pulse.

For the recipe now.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup urad dal (ulundu or white lentil)

1 cup whole green gram

1/4 cup ghee

1.5 cups jaggery /vellam (you can make with sugar too,and the sweetness can be adjusted to your taste.)

a pinch of salt.

1/2 tsp.cardamon powder

1/4 cup  whole peanuts (raw or roasted)

METHOD

Heat 2 tblsp.ghee and roast the green gram ,and urad dal till you get a nice brown color.

Roast the peanuts if you are using the raw ones in a little ghee and set aside.

Now powder the green gram and the urad dal fine.Add the jaggery and pulse for a minute.

Next add the peanuts and pulse for another minute.Add cardamon powder and salt.

Make ladoos whist warm.Add  ghee enough to form the shape only.No need to add more.

This can be stored for more than a week

 

 

 

FUSION FRUIT RASMALAI

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The fruit here is the soft pear ,stewed in the milk with ginger chips  added to the flavor.

The recipes in the fusion are pear in ginger syrup,and the basic rasmalai recipe.

The soft golden pear is the small category of the pear and is less crunchy ,and blends well

with this recipe.You could make a variation with stewed pineapple,and ripe mango too.

Let’s get into the recipe  now.

For the Rasmalai

1 heaped cup milk powder

1 egg

2 tblsp.ghee or oil

1/4 tsp.baking powder

Method

Bind all these together .Set aside for 5 minutes.Make into shapes you like and drop into

the pear milk  mixture.

For the pear stew.

3-4 soft pears

1/8 cup ginger chips

500 ml.milk

few strands of saffron/yellow color

1/2 tsp.cardamon powder.

3-4 tblsp.sugar

Method for stew

Boil the milk with the peeled and cored pears,sugar,and the rest of the ingredients.

When the pear is tender and soft, remove the pear pieces in a different bowl,lower the

flame ,and drop the prepared rasmalai ,into the boiling milk mixture.

Once you see the rasmalai balls floating remove and arrange with the stewed pears.After

you finish with all the rasmalai making,heat the milk till its lightly thick .Pour over the

pear and rasmalai .After it is cool ,keep in the refridgerator and serve cold.

It’s a quick and easy dessert to make within minutes.You can add slivered almonds,

cashewnuts,or pistachios.

Note:Do excuse the blur in the photo.

 

 

 

 

 

PROSO MILLET ‘N’CASHEW KATLI

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The idea of this recipe came to me when i was watching a health programme,explaining

the benefits of this awesome millet called pani varagu(Tamil)Barri (Hindi).Olden days

man’s diet has been mostly millet based,and these type of rich nutrient grain ,has a

common opinion that millets are a poor man’s crop.After watching this programme, i was

determined to include this millet in my family menus.The maiden intro as a sweet,( all

have a sweet tooth including me).The best news for diet watchers is that this millet is

totally gluten free.

A healthy serving of proso millet daily slows down the aging process as it has

antioxidants,strengthens the nervous system,strengthens the bones,and prevents heart

diseases,prevents formations of gall stones,lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels

and many more.Please surf the internet for more information.

For the recipe now…

INGREDIENTS

1 cup proso millet(powdered)

1 cup cashewnuts (powdered)

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp.cardamon powder

a few saffron strands mixed with 2-3 tblsp.milk

2 tblsp.ghee

50 gm mawa (optional)

silver vark  3-4(optional)

METHOD

Heat sugar  in a little water(1/8 cup).Add the mawa and keep heating till it bubbles.

Next add ghee (reserve a little to grease later).Add both the flours,with the saffron milk

and cardamon,and cook till you see the mixture leaving the sides of the pan.Remove from

fire and allow to cool .After it is cool, roll the soft dough between two sheets of oil paper

into a thin layer.Press on the vark sheets on the top,and cut into desired shapes.

Note:You can directly powder this millet in a grinder, and grinds very quick into a fine powder.