Month: November 2008

Kadai Paneer Recipe

Kadai Paneer Recipe

On our recent trip to the Farmer’s market, I went nuts over the varieties of the bell peppers they had on sale. The colors were vibrant and the prices were pretty decent too. Usually the ones in the regular grocery are pretty expensive but also 

Black Beans and Methi Stir Fry (Usal)

Black Beans and Methi Stir Fry (Usal)

 When I saw her event for FIC Black or Purple I was intrigued to say the least. She wants us to send her food that has hues either of black or purple. I am not sure about purple, but to prepare food that has hues 

Lemon Rice Recipe(Chitranna)

Lemon Rice Recipe(Chitranna)

Lemon Rice also called Chitranna in Kannada is an easy to prepare yet flavorful rice dish. This is also a good way to use the left over rice or maybe a quick dish idea when unexpected guests arrive. The flavor of this depends on the strong seasoning (Tadka) that is prepared before the cooked rice is added. Even though the seasoning is prepared using simple and  readily available ingredients like curry leaves, asafetida, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, daals they combine together to form an aromatic, sapid base to accommodate the rice. Peanuts add a nice crunch while the coconut balances the taste and adds little bit of sweetness.

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Growing up in Bangalore we used to live very close by to Venkateshwara Temple and some days this would be offered as Prasadam after the Lord’s Maha Mangala Aarthi. Some days the prasadam would be different but their Curd Rice and Cucumber kosambari were the ones to die for! During our summer holidays we used to make a bee line to collect this prasada and savor it after we got back home. The Prasad would be served in a special leaf cup called “donne” and that would maybe enhance the taste of this rice.

There are different variations even for this simple recipe. My mother prepares this without adding onions, while my MIL makes this by adding onions and sometimes even garlic. But usually onion and garlic is avoided while serving this as Neivadyam.

This is my contribution to Rice Mela hosted by Srivalli.

Ingredients:
  

 

  • 2 cups cooked rice (make sure it is fluffy and grains are separated)
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • ¾ cup chopped onion (optional)
  • ½ cup shredded coconut
  • ½ cup groundnuts
  • 3-4 green chillies (chopped finely)
  • Juice of a lemon
  • Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing
  • salt

For the seasoning (tadka)

  • 2 tsp urad daal
  • 1 tsp chana daal
  • Curry leaves
  • Asafetida
  • 1.5 tsp Mustard seeds
  • Cumin seeds
  • Oil
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Method:

  •  Take a big plate and spread out the rice making sure there are no lumps. Add salt, mix and keep aside.
  • Take a heavy bottom pan, add oil on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and allow to splutter, next add the cumin seeds, curry leaves, asafetida. Mix well. Now add the peanuts, green chillies, both the daals and roast until the peanuts get crunchy.
  • Note: The flavor comes from mustard seeds, so add more thatn usual. Also the quantity of oil should be more than usual.
  • Add the chopped onions (optional) and fry until it gets transparent.
  • Add the rice, turmeric and mix thoroughly. Cover the lid and let it cook for a while.
  • Finally add the coconut, chopped coriander leaves and juice of a lemon. Mix well. Serve hot.
  • Note: Make sure to add the lemon juice when the prepared rice has cooled down a little, else it tends to add sourness to the rice.

 

Garlic Chips

Garlic Chips

  I think I have not met a person who enjoys and loves garlic as much as my husband. There is this sense of delight and element of joy whenever he sees it or savors something that has garlic in it. In fact he goes 

Malai Kofta Curry

Malai Kofta Curry

Malai Kofta classic dish of Moghul origin is a rich, decadent dish usually prepared during special occasions. Deep fried vegetable balls are prepared and simmered in a special creamy sauce/curry and served along with rice and rotis/Naans (Indian flat bread).   Whenever we go to a 

Daal Ka Pulao / Vegetable Khichidi

Daal Ka Pulao / Vegetable Khichidi

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I have heard from many people that they plan their menu for the entire week in advance. I have tried to do that but most of the times the plan does not work out as expected. The reasons being there are some last minute changes; unexpected leftovers from previous days or requests from the family members for something different or some experimenting on my part to try out new dishes etc. So I don’t plan way in advance but I am in awe of those people who plan and maintain it.

I restrict my menu planning for the current day or at maximum for the next day. The next day planning usually involves soaking for idli/dosa batter, soaking some beans or sprouting some beans.Usually I am pretty much done deciding the menu before I head to work. Of course, there are exceptions when I plan on the way back home and even worse on occasions when I don’t know what to do until I return back home.

Anyways there are days when I get caught up at work, have to meet a deadline and it gets difficult to leave work on time.  So it is tiring when I reach back home and don’t have the energy to cook the planned menu. Instead I look for some quick fix up’s easy yet nutritive and most important easy to clean. This is one such recipe that my mother used to make often for breakfast. It is a one pot meal and has a good combination of rice, lentils, vegetables and easy on the palette too.

  • Ingredients:
  •  1 cup rice
  • ½ cup split moong daal
  • 1 cup diced vegetables (carrot, peas, beans, potato etc)
  • ¾ cup chopped onion
  • Salt
  • Mustard seeds
  • Curry leaves
  • Jeera (cumin seeds)
  • Turmeric a pinch
  • Little cloves, cinnamon
  • Chopped coriander leaves
  • Oil
  • To make the coconut masala
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 3 garlic pods
  •  1 inch ginger
  • 3-4 green chillies

Method:

  • Wash the rice and moong daal separately and keep aside.
  • Grind the coconut masala with as little water as possible and keep aside.
  • Heat a pressure cooker, add oil then add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon and mix well.
  • Add the chopped onions and sauté until it turns light brown.
  • Add the ground masala and mix for about a minute. Add the vegetables, add more oil if needed and mix well. There is no need to wait for the vegetables to get cooked.
  •  Add the moong daal, rice and mix well. Wait for less than a minute and add water. (The amount of water depends on one’s preference, if you prefer this muchy then add 5 cups of water else 3.5 cup is sufficient)
  • Check for seasonings. The salt and spice level should be on the higher side.
  • Add the chopped coriander and cook until done.

 Serve hot with tomato, cucumber raita and papads. 

 

Seasoned Yogurt Rice (Mosaranna)

Seasoned Yogurt Rice (Mosaranna)

Diwali came by and went on in a jiffy as usual.  But along with that came flurry of activities, cooking, hoarding, more cooking and packing of caloriesJ. Diwali is just an excuse, but frankly the hoarding starts a week before when the preparation of sweets,