Paneer fried rice, manchurian, Lunch menu 23

This week's Lunch menu is an Indo Chinese menu. Fried rice and Manchurian combo takes place rarely in my Kitchen, as personally i am not a fan of big fan of it. I was left with Paneer and a packet of baby corn in my refrigerator, so decided to go for this combo. To make it complete, i made fruit custard, one of my most favorite dessert. Right from the childhood, i love fruit custard. My mom makes this so often during mango season. Those days it was so rare and unique and so we look forward to this custard a lot. I happened to see some mango in the market yesterday, so wanted to include this in the menu.

Hyderabadi Veg Dum Biryani, cauliflower pakoda, Lunch menu 22

Most of the houses will cook Biryani for a Sundal lunch. I have already posted Paneer biyani meal. This week's menu comes with a family's favorite Hyderabadi style Veg Dum biryani. Few week's back when my son ordered Veg biryani in a restaurant, it came with raita and cauliflower pakoda. I really loved that combo and shared the same today in our Indian lunch menu.

Methi missi roti, Jaipuri veg pulao, Lunch menu 21

I planned to make a South Indian lunch for this week, but was running out of coconut and other stuff, so planned to make a North Indian platter with the available veggies. Jaipuri pulao, the rich veg pulao recipe, which is one of the popular recipe in Jeyashri's ktichen, paired with dhaba style dal, was a super hit combo at home. I have tried this methi missi roti for Jeyashri's kitchen mobile app. As i had methi leaves in the refrigerator, i wanted to make that too. 

Arai puli kuzhambu, chow chow kootu, Lunch menu 20

After a short trip to Hong kong and had outside food for 5 days, we all craved for a home made food. This arai puli kuzhambu is one of my favorite . Few days back when i was talking with my sister, she was telling about amma's chow show kootu. So i decided to make that too, as i suddenly started craving for that. Though i don't know why the name arai puli kuzhambu, but i learned the recipe from my perimma. I saw her making this in my mom's kitchen and tried making at home. This is one of our family's favorite too. I planned to make a jeera rasam, but didn't make rasam.

Pavakkai pitlai, eggplant fry, lunch menu 19

This week's lunch menu is loaded with veggies as i had to clean up my fridge before leaving for a short vacation. In the plate i have my favorites, yes i love pavakai pitlai a lot. I still remember the pavakkai pitlai, my grandmother makes. The magic touch of her hands makes this dish so yum. Even after many years, i could recall the taste and smell of the pitlai she makes. My mom also makes it so yum, but i got the exact recipe and the technique of making bitter gourd pitlai from my sister. She clearly explained me the difference between arachuvitta sambar and pitlai and the right amount of spices for both. And coming to the  pan fried eggplant, i am a huge fan of eggplant and this one i love it a lot. And incidentally this happened to be a no onion no garlic menu platter.

Dum Paneer kali mirch, ajwain paratha, lunch menu 18

It's almost 4 months now, i have started the lunch menu series. Thank you all for the support and motivation, which keeps me going. This week is a long weekend here in Singapore and i planned to make a meal with some paneer gravy. I planned to make Dum paneer kali mirch, a creamy delicious paneer recipe, which doesn't require the addition of tomatoes. Yes i had only one tomato when i started planning for the menu, so I decided to make this Dum paneer Kali mirch. Call me lazy, bit bored to make chapathi, decided to make Ajwain parathas and the entire menu was a super hit at home. They all polished off everything, before i finish my clicks. Check out my collection of Indian Lunch menu ideas.

Paneer Methi makhani, masala rice, lunch menu 17

Paneer gravies are our all time favorites, and i prefer to relish it during the weekends. The Paneer methi makhani is one among my favorites in my Paneer recipes collection. When i was planning for this week's lunch menu, i was thinking to make rotis only, but suddenly the idea of making plain paratha came in. It has been many years since i made it at home. We enjoyed the meal completely. We had some left over Millet curd rice and we had that in the last.

Pumpkin kuzhambu, Potato fry, lunch menu 16

This week's lunch menu is loaded with veggies. I have been experimenting with the Master chef jar of my new Preethi zodiac mixie. This week we have few of my favorits on the plate. Pumpkin is the veggie i used to hate during my childhood days, but later when i started cooking i developed a taste for it and now it is my favorite too. I love to add pumpkin in kuzhambu, Sambar and make soup out of it. I am yet to try the sweet version of the pumpkin curry which my mom makes quite often.

Milagu Kuzhambu, Paruppu Thogayal, Lunch menu 15

A popular Tamil brahmin style lunch combo is chosen for this lunch menu. Milagu Kuzhambu, fondly called as molagu kuzhambu, mixed with hot rice, accompanied with paruppu thogayal and sutta appalam(fire roasted papad), a divine combo in our house. But generally in addition to this we make one kootu or curry to include one vegetable in our meal. Generally Milagu kuzhambu is made on Saturdays or Sundays, the day we take oil bath. The reason is the pepper prevents us from getting cold after an oil bath. Also milagu kuzhambu is a must in post partum food. We include garlic in milagu kolambu when making for newly delivered moms. This spicy pepper gravy pairs beautifully with Aviyal and Seppankizhangu roast( arbi fry).

Vendakkai Sambar, Pineapple rasam, lunch menu 14

After 2 weeks of vacation and generous flow of food in weddings and family functions, finally cooked up a meal for our lunch menu post. Since i didn't cook for the past 2 weeks i am so enthusiastic to enter into the kitchen. I had some frozen chickpeas and i decided to make sundal using that.

This week's lunch menu has

• Varagu rice (Kodo millet)
• Vendakkai sambar (with freshly ground sambar masala)
• Pineapple rasam
• Cabbage, carrot, peas poriyal (must try)
• Chickpeas sundal
• Store bought mixture- I bought the mixture from Sri krishna sweets, i have posted the recipe of similar madras mixture

If you want to know how i cooked the millet, do mention it in the comment box, i will make a detailed post on it. 

Stay tuned for interesting posts coming up in Jeyashri's kitchen. Great weekend ahead. 

Keerai molagootal, kurkuri bhindi Lunch menu 13

A simple South Indian lunch meal accompanied with a payasam is for this week's lunch menu. We all love Keerai molagootal and thengai thogayal combo. I planned to make ladies finger curry but kids asked for kurkure bhindi. Generally they don't ask anything much, so i decided to make it for this week's lunch menu. 

This week's lunch menu has

• Keerai molagootal
• Plain rice
• Thengai thogayal
• Kurkuri bhindi
• Mixed veg raita
• Sago carrot kheer

I have scheduled posts for the past 2 weeks as i was on a vacation to Chennai. I will be back with new recipes and interesting lunch menu ideas in the coming up weeks. Stay tuned.

Lauki kofta, Masala paratha Lunch menu 12

Most of the time we make South Indian food for weekend lunch. But at times the North Indian food also takes place in the menu. But that will end mostly with curd rice. We get fresh Lauki in local shops and Indian shops over here too. I generally don't buy lauki often but i got it this time. I planned to make the lauki channa dal kootu but changed my mind and made this lunch menu platter.

On the plate

• Masala square paratha (with video)
• Lauki kofta recipe
• Mango salad 
• Curd rice

Do give this combo a try and stay tuned for interesting recipes coming up in the next week.

Rajma chawal, Kesar lassi, Lunch menu 11

Rice and Rajma, called as Rajma chawal is a super comfortable and one of our family's favorite meal. I always keep stock of soaked Rajma in my freezer so that i can make Rajma any time i want.  Mostly  i pack Rajma and rice for kids lunch box. Some times when i am not in a mood to cook and elaborate meal on a weekend, i make Basmati rice and rajma along with some lassi. So Today's lunch menu is Rajma chawal.

On the plate 

• Cashew pulao
• Rajma masala
• Kesar lassi
• Masala onion. 

For the masala onion, i thinly sliced the onions. Added it to a wide bowl. Added  1 finely chopped green chili, few chopped coriander leaves and a dash of chaat masala. Add salt to taste.

Mix well. Make it just before serving.

Mor kuzhambu, Cabbage Paruppu usili, lunch menu 10

Mor kuzhambu and paruppu usili is a classic combo in Tamil Brahmin house. When i got married, most of the sundays will have Vazhaipoo paruppu usili and vatha kuzhambu. Though i love both the combo of vatha kuzhambu and mor kuzhambu for paruppu usili, most of the time i end making in Vatha kuzhambu only for paruppu usili.
The family loves both the combos and for them the veggie in the paruppu usili matters, especially the kids. We make usili with beans, cabbage, vazhaipoo, methi leaves and avarakkai. But some how it is difficult to make the kids vazhaipoo usili. So i always make kootu with vazhaipoo and they happily finish that.

Coming to today's lunch menu, we have a simple platter but yet a very popular combo.

• Mor kuzhambu (recipe with video)
• Cabbage paruppu usili (recipe with video)
• Onion vadam (mom made)
• Plain rice

The onion vadam is home made by my mom. Her onion vadam is loved by all in the family and she always packs exclusively for my daughter, her only grand daughter(rest all are grand son) .  

Stay tuned for the interesting recipes coming up in Jeyashri's kitchen in the coming week. 

Paneer Biryani, Caramel payasam Lunch Menu 9

Paneer Biryani in pressure cooker a super hit one pot meal. Last whole was too busy with my brother in lawa family around. We had so much fun with everybody and roamed around the city crazily. Once they all left i am not in a mood to cook an elaborate meal. So made an one pot Paneer biryani for lunch.
This paneer biryani is always a super hit among my friends and guests. Also in my debut TV show in Jaya tv, i made this Paneer biryani.
This weekend's lunch menu, Lunch menu 9, has (click on the name for recipes)

• Paneer Biryani
• Caramel payasam ( i used rice ada instead of rice)
• Millet curd rice 
• Avakkai mango pickle
• Onion raita (do check out to see the tip)

Do try the interesting lunch menu combos from Jeyashris kitchen. Stay tuned for more recipes coming up next week. 

Sambar Sadam, Vazhakkai fry, Lunch menu combo 8

This weekend lunch menu combo comes with the most popular Restaurant style Sambar sadam with raw banana fry | vazhakkai fry. Generally we make bisibelabath, but this sambar sadam takes place in my kitchen, so rarely. We all love the raw banana fry so i want to pair it up with sambar sadam. This menu is similar to the quick lunch served in restaurants. We all enjoyed this South Indian lunch menu combo.

This week's lunch menu has

• Restaurant style Sambar style recipe ( with video)
• Vazhakkai fry (raw banana fry) 
• Home made vadam
• Cut mangoes
• Curd rice 
• Cut mango pickle 

Stay tuned for more interesting recipes coming up in Jeyashris kitchen. 

Kuska Biryani, pattani kurma, Lunch menu combo 7

Kuska Biryani is a popular one in Tamilnadu especially in the village side. Basically Kuska biryani is made using Seerga samba rice and this biryani doesn't have any veggies in this. Usually it is paired with a kurma. I have first tasted this Kuska biryani in my childhood through our neighbor aunty, who introduced so many yummy delicacies to me.
The addition of coconut milk and whole spices makes it so rich and tasty. This week's lunch menu comes with a yummy combo of Kuska biryani and pattani kurma. Also we have Kurunai vadai, which i learnt from the same aunty. And to top all, i made elaneer payasam for dessert. My daughter was asking me to make Elaneer payasam for a long time. Finally made this yesterday for the weekend lunch menu.
Check out the Collection of Indian lunch menu ideas

This week's lunch menu has

• Kuska biryani
• Pattani kurma
• Kurunai vadai
• Elaneer payasam

I kept little plain rice for curd rice, but as such the menu was filling, no one took the plain rice with curd. 

You can replace pattani kurma with potato kurma or baby corn kurma. 

Vazhaipoo kootu, Vendakkai fry lunch menu combo 6

Planning lunch menu on a weekend is always a task for most of us. Actually cooking is not a task, what to cook is the task. I have started this Lunch menu combo series upon the request from many friends and readers. And this series is gaining a good response from all of you and that motivates me to do more. Thank you all so much. Check out my collection of Indian lunch menu ideas.
Vazhaipoo kootu | Banana flower kootu, the one which my mom makes during our childhood days but i never used to eat banana flower in any form. But when i started cooking after marriage, i used to crave for this kootu. Our taste always change right. Vazhaipoo is very good for uterus and amma always insist me to take vazhipoo frequently. The combo of kootu and fry is always a super hit at home.

This week's lunch menu has

1. Brown Sona masoori rice
2. Beetroot curry
3. Vendakkai varuval
4. Vazhaipoo kootu
5. Paruppu rasam
6. Curd (not in picture) 

Click on the name to get the recipes. See you all with an interesting menu next week. Stay tuned to some interesting recipes coming up in Jeyashris kitchen in the coming up week. 

Keerai thandu Mor kootu, Broccoli podimas Lunch menu combo 5

Vatha kuzhambu is one of the most favorite item in our home. I can say the only dish i can make exactly like my mom is Vatha kuzhambu. We generally make Vatha kuzhambu using different veggies but personally i prefer the Vengaya Vatha kuzhambu and Drumstick Vatha kuzhambu. We generally make paruppu usili or some kootu as an accompaniment for vatha kuzhambu. Many people love to have with spicy potato curry too.
Mor kootu is a simple and nice recipe, generally made using keerai thandu and vazhai thandu. This my mom makes it so well but somehow i forgot to make it for so many years. So made this with tender spinach stem.
This week's lunch menu includes my favorite recipes from Jeyashris kitchen.

On the plate we have

• Plain rice
• Vengaya vatha kuzhambu (with video)
• Broccoli podimas ( chettinad style usili)
• Keerai thandu mor kootu
• Kaju katli ( it is store bought, but i have given the link for the recipe in jeyashris kitchen)

Methi Thepla, Aam ka panna, Lunch menu combo 4

This week's lunch menu combo comes with an simple yet interesting combo. We always get fresh methi leaves here in Singapore throughout the year. I pick a bunch of palak and methi leaves from the nearby Indian store and make pulao, dal out of it. Though i make Methi theplas for dinner, i generally prefer don't prefer to include greens in my diet. Whenever i get a chance to make theplas for lunch i will make it.
Aam ka panna, yet another delicious raw mango drink.  We get raw mango in Singapore quite often. Since it is mango season everywhere i thought i will include this drink in this week's lunch menu. I added jaggery instead of sugar in the aam ka panna.
Rajam, chole and other legumes will always be in stock in my freezer. So whenever i want to make anything with legume, i can make it without much planning. Please check my post on how to freeze legumes.

This week's menu include

• Methi thepla
• Curry leaves Pulao
• Dal Makhani
• Aam ka panna ( i used jaggery instead of sugar)
• Cut alphonso mango.

You can include curd rice in this menu too. I generally add curd rice in our Lunch menu, but today the family didn't wanted it, so skipped making thayir sadam.