Month: January 2011

Chutney and Plain Dosa Recipe

Chutney and Plain Dosa Recipe

In our house Dosa chutney or Idli chutney gets transformed from a breakfast ritual to a Friday Dinner ritual. If it is Idli one week, then it is Dosa the other week. I soak the daal and rice Thursday morning while leaving for work and 

Kashay– Nutritional Spiced Hot Drink

Kashay– Nutritional Spiced Hot Drink

Kashay (In Konkani) is a hot milk beverage that is common in many Konkani households. It is a spiced drink that is not only potent but a nutritional powerhouse as well. This is preferred as beverage choice by many people instead of the regular tea 

Horse Gram Curry and Rasam (Kultha saar upkari)

Horse Gram Curry and Rasam (Kultha saar upkari)

kulith_saar_upkari

Konkani cuisine uses lot of Horse Gram (called as Kulith) in its cooking; there is the ghashi, koddel, chutney, dosa and this saar/upkari. This is a simple dry curry and rasam, delicious and nutritious as well. Horse gram is first soaked, cooked and then finally seasoned. The cooked water is used to make the rasam by flavoring with seasoning of garlic. Since the cooked water is used, there is no wastage or loss of nutrients of any sort. 

  

Horse gram is an excellent source of iron and molybdenum.  It is considered helpful for people with iron deficiencies, weight loss and maintaining body temperature. It is also recommended for people who have knee pain problems.  

I pretty much follow the same procedure for this as I do while making Chana Saar/ Upkari, Lima Beans Curry or the Black Eyed Bean Saar upkari. I usually make a saar/upkari once a week using either of these beans. The combination goes well with plain rice and a small dollop of ghee.

 

horse_gram_dill

Ingredients: (Horse gram subzi /Kultha upkari) 

  • 1 cup dry Horse Gram/ (soaked overnight) [Hurali/Huralikalu in Kannada, Kulith in konkani]
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 3-4 green chillies
  • 3-4 curry leaves
  • 1 cup chopped dill leaves (substitute with coriander leaves, palak etc) [shepu bhaji/ Sabbasige sappu]
  • ¼ cup shredded coconut
  • Salt
  • oil 

Ingredients: (Horse Gram Saaru /Kultha Saaru) 

  • water available after boiling horse gram
  • 1 medium tomato, chopped finely
  • 2-3 green chillies, slit into 2
  • ½ cup chopped coriander leaves
  • 2 Tbsp tamarind paste
  • 5-7 garlic cloves, crushed and skin removed
  • 1-2 dried red chillies
  • 3-4 curry leaves
  • Salt
  • oil 

hulikayi_saaru_palya

Procedure: (Horse Gram upkari/curry) 

  • Make sure that the beans are soaked overnight or for about 8-10 hours in enough water. 
  • Pressure cook the soaked Horse Gramin sufficient water. This takes a long time to cook, I have to let it cook for 6-8 whistles). Keep aside and let it cool. 
  • Take a heavy bottom pan. Add oil and prepare the seasoning with mustard, curry leaves. 
  • Add onion, green chillies, salt and sauté until the onions turn transparent. Add the chopped dill and continue to stir. 
  • Meanwhile open the pressure cooker and drain the cooked water completely into another vessel (do not throw this water away; this is used for making the rasam/saaru). 
  • Add the cooked horse gram to the mixture and stir well. 
  • Note: it takes time for the horse gram to get the salt into it. So add salt and keep sprinkling water and mixing. 
  • Check for taste. Add more salt, chilli powder, if required. 
  • Finally add the coconut and mix again. 

Procedure: (Horse Gram Rasam) 

  • In a separate vessel/sauce pan transfer the pressure cooked water from the horse gram. 
  • Add finely chopped tomatoes, tamarind paste, slit green chillies and salt to this cooked water. 
  • Let this cook on low flame for about 20-25 minutes stirring in between. The liquid will reduce and make it little thick. 
  • Meanwhile heat a separate pan (for seasoning) add 2 tsp oil. Add all the crushed garlic and stir until it turns light brown. Add curry leaves and broken red chillies. 
  • Add this garlic seasoning to the boil rasam and close the lid. Garnish with coriander leaves. 
Cabbage Chutney

Cabbage Chutney

Wishing dear Readers a Happy Makar Sankranthi/ Pongal. Intrigued by the title? I know I was when I first heard this concept of cabbage chutney.  As I have said earlier for me chutney is something that is made of coconut, chilies, spices, herbs and souring 

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a staple in America and represent half of the cookies baked in each year. They sure are a delight for young and old alike with their soft cores, crispy edges and rich chocolate taste.  The Holiday week last month gave me 

Kid’s Snack: Chana Aloo Tikki

Kid’s Snack: Chana Aloo Tikki

Aloo_tiiki

This recipe draws inspiration from the beloved Aloo Tikki, a crispy and flavorful potato-based snack. Tikki, which means “patties” in Hindi, is a versatile dish often enjoyed with chutney or as a filling in chaat recipes.

The other day, I had some leftover cooked garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and decided to experiment. Combining the idea of Falafel with traditional Tikki, I mixed the mashed chickpeas into the regular Tikki dough to create these protein-packed Chana Aloo Tikki. While the addition of chickpeas doesn’t change the taste drastically, it boosts the nutritional value with plenty of protein and fiber.

The kiddo has been surprisingly enthusiastic about this snack (fingers crossed!), so I sometimes include it as a side for his lunchbox. To save time, I prepare the dough the previous night, and in the morning, I quickly fry up a few and pack them fresh.

For a creative twist, try adding finely chopped vegetables like cabbage or carrots to the dough. This not only makes the Tikkis healthier but also adds a colorful crunch. You can even substitute garbanzo beans with any legume or bean of your choice—lending the recipe endless versatility. Enjoy these delightful patties as an afternoon snack with hot tea; they pair wonderfully with a side of ketchup or your favorite chutney.

chana_potato_tikki

Ingredients: 

  • 3/4 cup cooked garbanzo beans/ canned is also fine
  • 1 big potato (peeled and boiled)
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  •  1 tsp Aamchur powder (optional)
  • 1 tsp Jeera (cumin seeds)
  • 1 Tbsp coriander leaves (chopped)
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • Oil
  • Salt

Method:

  • (If using the canned beans then ignore this step) Soak the garbanzo beans in enough water overnight. Pressure cook the beans until it is soft (not mushy).
  • Drain the water and then using a potato masher mash the beans until there are no lumps.
  • Similarly mash the potato (peeled and boiled) and keep aside.
  • On a big plate combine mashed potato, beans along with the other ingredients (except oil and bread crumbs) well making sure there are no lumps. Taste for seasonings and adjust taste.
  • Heat a flat bottom pan (preferable non-stick) and spread around 1 tsp of oil.
  • Divide this mixture into big lemon sized balls, take one and using the tip of your hands flatten it.
  • Coat this thoroughly in the bread crumbs on both sides and place them on the pan. Continue the same process for the remaining balls.
  • Put little oil around each patty and cook until it is done.
  • After one side is cooked, gently turn it on the other side and let it to cook. Transfer to plates after they are evenly browned on both sides. Eat with ketchup!
Spicy Pepper Jeera Rasam

Spicy Pepper Jeera Rasam

  Winter is upon us and along with it comes the essential cold, cough sneezing sniffling etc. So at home, I try avoiding medicines as far as possible and look for some easy home made remedies. So far we have had good success with black