Author: redchillies

Dum Aloo/ Potato Biryani

Dum Aloo/ Potato Biryani

As you know, Biryani is rice based dish jazzed with meat, vegetables, dry fruits and aromatic spices which engulfs the taste buds. People who are experts in making this labor for hours in the kitchen to come up with its exotic taste. However this is 

Moolangi Polo/ Radish Dosa

Moolangi Polo/ Radish Dosa

Sanna Polo is a specialty in Konkani (predominantly South Kanara) cooking. It is used as side dish and made predominantly of coconut and lentils and I make it often. When I saw an easy variation of this recipe (with radish) on Lakshmi Canteen blog I 

Simple Noodles with vegetables

Simple Noodles with vegetables

The other day a friend of mine asked me as to why I have not been posting Kids’ recipes often. She said it is helpful for moms like her with picky eaters to get some ideas for lunch boxes or otherwise. Well, I agreed and told her that I have not been posting as I intended, which was once a month but it is just not happening.

 It is not that I don’t try some new stuff on the kiddo, but it is just the lack of time to post the recipes. Juggling between work, kiddos activities, his homework, household stuff sometimes I feel there is just not enough time. Thankfully it is not the lack of enthusiasm to post or cook so I am pretty sure that once I find time I will be posting often.

Noodles are an all time favorite of the kids and so I prepare it often. I don’t add any type of sauce in this; it is just noodles tossed with toasted garlic and vegetables. You can add or subtract vegetables of your choice

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups noodles (cooked, it is hard to give this measurement, so this is approximate)
  • ½ cup broccoli + ½ cup capsicum (any veggies of choice)
  • 2-3 spring onion finely chopped (top and white part discarded)
  • 1 small onion (chopped lengthwise)
  • 2 tsp ginger + garlic paste
  • A pinch of red chilli flakes
  • ½ tsp Crushed black pepper/pepper powder
  • 1 Tbsp Oil
  • salt to taste

Method: 

  • Boil the noodles (as per the instructions on the package) along with salt. Add 1-2 drops of oil while boiling.
  • Toward the end I add the broccoli florets and let it cook for a minute. Drain the water and keep aside.
  •  Take a big heavy bottom pan, and add oil on medium to high heat, put in the ginger garlic paste and cook until brown.
  • Start adding the vegetables, onion first sauté and then add the chopped capsicum and cook.
  •  Add the cooked noodles (along with broccoli) and mix well with the vegetables. Drizzle little oil if necessary.
  • Add the chopped spring onion. Finally add the crushed/freshly milled white or black pepper and red chilli flakes. 

Appe Huli /Raw Mango Rasam

Appe Huli /Raw Mango Rasam

For those in the United States hope you had a wonderful long Easter weekend. We had a relaxing three days, giving us a break from the hectic and sometimes crazy weekdays. The weather was perfect; not too hot or cold, accompanied with a beautiful sunshine 

Tindora Subzi/ Tendli Upkari/Ivy Gourd Stir Fry

Tindora Subzi/ Tendli Upkari/Ivy Gourd Stir Fry

One of the well loved vegetable in our house (just after potatoes) is Ivy Gourd/Tindora. Along with Tindora Rice, Tindora Coconut Curry, this is one dish that I make often when we have Tindora at home. I keep this very simple by adding only the 

Chatpata Chutney Sandwich

Chatpata Chutney Sandwich

Sandwiches are tasty snack can be put together in a jiffy and are perfect for lunches, picnics, outings and kids lunchboxes. 

I enjoy eating sandwiches for lunch; they are light yet filling and doesn’t make you feel drowsy. Definitely good if you have one of those long boring Thursday afternoon status meetings that can put you off to sleep 🙁 

I made this on a whim while I was working from home one day. I had the necessary chutneys on hand and felt like eating something ‘Chatpata” (which means ‘sweet, tangy, sour and delicious’ in Hindi). So I added all the different constituents of Chaat onto a bread and made this delicious sandwich.  Now unlike most other sandwiches, this sandwich is a bit difficult to carry to work and tricky to assemble. So you might be limited to eating this at home! 

There are two types of chutneys that I have used for this sandwich. The green chutney made of fresh coriander/cilantro is easy and versatile. It can be used in chaats as condiments for vada pav, samosa, pakodas, khandvi, dhoklas and great for sandwich spreads as well. You can add fresh mint and enhance the flavor even more. In fact, the inspiration for this green chutney comes from Jaya @ DSM who had prepared it during a fun family outing. 

The quintessential component of chaats, tangy and sweet tamarind chutney enhances flavor of any dish. 

If you do not have the time to make it at home, then the chutneys are readily available at the Indian stores. The one’s from Deep are the best in quality as well as taste. 

Recipe Source: Adapted from Jaya @ DSM

Ingredients:

Green Coriander Chutney Recipe

  • 2 cup coriander leaves (cleaned & stems removed)
  • 1 garlic clove ( peeled )
  • 1-2 green chilies
  • 2 Tbsp roasted peanuts ( I do not remove the skin)
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • Salt

Method:

  • Grind all the ingredients together to a smooth sauce. Transfer to a bowl.
  • You can store this chutney in the fridge for about 4-5 days.

Tamarind Dates Chutney Recipe

This tangy, sweet and sour chutney is a delicious condiment.

Recipe Source: Adapted from Imli ki Chutney

Ingredients:

  • 200 gms tamarind (remove seeds)
  • 100 gms dates (pitted)
  • 150 gms jaggery
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds (roast and grind coarsely)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Red chilli powder as per taste 

Method

  • Heat water in a saucepan and put the tamarind, dates, jaggery and cook on a medium flame till the dates and tamarind become soft. Switch off flame and allow the mixture to cool.
  • Grind the mixture to a smooth sauce. Put sauce back into the saucepan and onto a medium flame and add remaining spice ingredients.
  • Bring the sauce to a boil and switch off the gas. Allow to cool and transfer to a bowl.

Assembly

  • Slices of white or soft wheat bread (as required)
  • 1 small cucumber (one with less seeds)
  • 1 medium tomato
  • 1 medium potato (boiled, peeled and sliced into rounds)
  • ½ cup cilantro chutney (recipe above)
  • ½ cup tamarind date chutney (recipe above)
  • Salt

Method:

  • Remove the edges from the bread.
  • Peel the cucumber and cut the cucumber into thin circles. Cut the tomato into circles.
  • Take 2 slices of bread. Spread 1-2 teaspoon of green chutney evenly on one bread. Arrange 4 slices of cucumber on each end top it off with sliced tomatoes and sliced potato. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over them.
  • Spread a spoonful of tamarind chutney evenly on the other slice of bread. Turn it around and place this on top of the veggies, to make a sandwich. Cut it diagonally.
  • Repeat the procedure for all the bread slices. Serve immediately, else it will get soggy. 

Spicy Garlicky Potato Fry

Spicy Garlicky Potato Fry

The one vegetable that comes to mind when I think of comfort food is potato. I crave for some potato dishes when I am hungry; a simple potato curry along with rasam not only satisfies the taste buds but chases away the blues.  No wonder