Monday, December 5, 2011

DAL MAKHANI RECIPE| SIDE DISH FOR ROTI (with video)

dal makhani 1
Dal makhani is a creamy punjabi style gravy, served with roti or jeera rice. Every one will have their own version or recipe for dal makhani, today i am sharing my own version of how to make creamy dal makhani. Punjabi style dal makhani  is a popular dabba special recipe. The recipe is updated with video. Check out my

Friday, December 2, 2011

CARROT RICE RECIPE

     Carrot Rice recipe is one of the simple recipe which my mom makes for our lunch box when we were in school. I still remember , most of the time my mom sends an extra box for my friends who are a big fan of her carrot rice. Today i am sharing the recipe of simple carrot rice.
Check out my

Carrot rice

INGREDIENTS:
CARROTS (GRATED) 1 CUP
BASMATI RICE 1 CUP
SAMBAR POWDER 1 AND 1/2 TSP
ONION 1 NO
TURMERIC POWDER A PINCH
GARAM MASALA A PINCH
CORIANDER LEAVES FEW
OIL 1 TBLSP
CUMIN SEEDS 1/4 TSP

Carrot rice 2
METHOD:

  • Cook the rice using 1 and 1/2 cup of water. Add little salt and a tsp of oil while cooking.
  • Don’t over cook the rice.
  • IMG_8273
  • Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and when it splutters add the onions and saute them till they become brown.
  • Add the grated carrots and throw in the sambar powder, turmeric powder and salt to this and cook for 5 mins in a medium flame, sauting in between .
IMG_8269 IMG_8271
  • Now add the garam masala and switch off the flame. Mix well.
  • Now add this to the cooked rice and mix gently without mashing the rice.
IMG_8272 IMG_8276
  • Garnish with coriander leaves.
Carrot Rice 1

Note:
  1. Ginger Garlic Paste can be added before adding the onions.
  2. While cooking the rice add a clove and cinnamon stick to get the masala flavor.
 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

EGGLESS RAISIN MUFFINS

     In my kids school, every week friday kids have to take a fruit for snack and the teacher will mention as to what fruit to send by sending a mail to the parent a week ahead. This week it was given raisins and i decided to make muffin and include raisin in that. When i was going through a tarla dalal book(growing kids) i got hooked up with this recipe. Check out my


muffins
INGREDIENTS:(yields 12-13 muffins)
ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 3/4 CUP
WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR 1/4 FLOUR
BAKING POWDER 1/4 TSP
BUTTER 1/4 CUP
MILK 1 AND 1/4 CUPS
VANILLA ESSENCE 1/4 TSP
QUICK COOKING OATS 3 TBLSP
RAISINS(CHOPPED) 1/4 CUP
ENO FRUIT SALT 1 AND 1/2 TSP
SUGAR 1/3 CUP
MUFFIN
METHOD:

  • Sieve the flour twice along with baking powder to ensure even mixing.
  • Beat the sugar an butter till it becomes creamy.
IMG_9119 IMG_9121
  • Now add the milk and mix gently.
  • Add the chopped raisins( i didn’t chop) and oats to this.
  • Add the vanilla essence.
  • Reserve few raisins for garnishing.
IMG_9122 IMG_9128
  • Add the eno fruit salt followed by a tblsp of water.
  • Mix gently and pour this in muffin liners.
  • Add few raisins on the top
IMG_9129 IMG_9132
  • Preheat the oven at 150 degrees.
  • Bake for 15- 20 mins. Mine got done in 18 mins.
  • Once done cool them in  wire rack .
IMG_9133 IMG_9134
  • I packed this muffins for my kids snack box and they loved it a lot.
muffins

Thursday, November 24, 2011

KARA KUZHAMBHU RECIPE | KARA KUZHAMBHU WITH MOCHAI

  This recipe of Kara Kuzhambhu i learnt from my sister long back, but somehow forgot about this and one day while talking to her she was telling me to post the recipe of kara kuzhambhu in my space. So today i am sharing the recipe of kara kuzhambhu . she normally adds Rajma(red kidney beans ) i added mochakottai instead of that.
Also check my
Thatta payar kuzhambu
Maa vathal kuzhambu

kara kuzhambhu 2

INGREDIENTS:
BRINJAL(SMALL)2 NO
SHALLOTS7-8 NO
GARLIC2-3 CLOVES(OPTIONAL)
TOMATO1 NO
TAMARIND EXTRACT1 AND 1/2 CUP
DRIED MOCHAKOTTAIFIST FUL
SAMBAR POWDER2 TBLSP
COCONUT(SCRAPPED)2 TBLSP
CUMIN SEEDS1 TSP
PEPPER CORNS1/2 TSP
ASAFOETIDAA PINCH
OIL2 TBLSP
MUSTARD SEEDS1/4 TSP
CURRY LEAVES FEW

kara kuzhambhu 1
METHOD:

  • Soak the dried mochai with enough water for 6-8 hours.
  • Pressure cook this with little salt for 2 whistles and keep aside.
  • Cut the brinjals lengthwise and peel the skin of the shallots.
  • Chop the tomatoes and keep aside.
IMG_9071 IMG_9072
  • In a pan add oil and throw in the mustard seeds and when it crackles add the curry leaves and the onions.
  • Saute the onions in medium flame till the onions become golden brown.
  • When it is done  add the brinjals and tomatoes and cook till the tomatoes becomes mushy and the brinjals become tender.
  • Add the mochai to this and saute well.
IMG_9076 IMG_9078
  • Now add the tamarind extract and add the sambar powder,turmeric powder and salt to this.
  • Bring it to a nice boil till the
  • Grind the coconut, cumin seeds and pepper corns into a fine paste adding a little water.
IMG_9081 IMG_9082
  • Add this ground paste to the boiling kuzhambhu and mix well.
  • Boil this for 2-3 minutes.
IMG_9083 IMG_9084

kara kuzhambhu 3


Monday, November 21, 2011

EGGLESS DATES AND WALNUT CAKE|BAKING BEGINNER’S RECIPE

          After a super hit of my Eggless Orange Cake from Pratibha’s space i bookmarked her eggless dates cake and this is the second time i am making this. This i made for my hubby’s birthday ,as he is a great lover of dates and nuts, without any second thought i baked this for him. We all enjoyed this very much and thanks Prathiba for the recipe. As today is my co-sister’s Birthday I am posting thought i can give her a visual treat.  For original recipe Click Here.
eggless dates cake
INGREDIENTS:
ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 1 CUP
SEEDLESS DATES 18 NO
MILK 3/4 CUP
SUGAR 3/4 CUP
OIL 1/2 CUP
BAKING SODA 1 TSP
CHOPPED WALNUTS 1/4 CUP

DATES CAKE
METHOD:

  • Soak the dates in warm milk for 15 minutes.Alternatively you can microwave this for few minutes.
  • When the milk comes to a normal temperature grind this into a smooth paste along with sugar.
IMG_9486 IMG_9492
  • Sieve the flour and baking soda together to ensure even mixing.
  • Transfer the mixture to a wide bowl and add oil to this and whisk together to blend this well.
  • Dust the chopped nuts with little flour and add to this mixture.
  • Slowly add this to the flour.
IMG_9494 IMG_9496
  • Grease a pan with oil and dust with flour.
  • Transfer the mixture to the tin and bake at 160 degrees for 30- 35 mins.
  • Mine got done in 32 mins. Insert a knife in the center to check whether it is baked  or not.
  • I garnished this with few walnuts. This step is optional.
IMG_9498 IMG_9500
  • Cool the cake in the tin for sometime and invert it on a wire rack . Let this cool in the wire rack for few minutes.
  • Cut this into pieces and serve.
  • Always allow the cake to cool completely before you cut.
eggless dates cake
Note:
  1. You can add chopped cashews also.
  2. I added 1/4 tsp of vanilla essence to get the vanilla flavor.
  3. The color of the eggless dates cake depends upon the variety of dates you use.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

SOUTH INDIAN MIXTURE – MADRAS MIXTURE RECIPE

Madras mixture recipe- South Indian mixture  

  As mentioned in my Previous post i am sharing the recipe of south indian mixture|madras mixture which we make for diwali and now i packed for my in laws as I am leaving in a day to India. I have very fond memories associated to this mixture. Amma makes in a huge lot during Diwali and we indulge in this mixture along with our every day meal. I can still feel the taste of the mixture while writing this post. The entire friends gang will be waiting for amma's mixture during Diwali season. I don't know i am making justice to her recipe in this post, but i can say this South Indian mixture got a great a great welcome at my house and the kids loved it.
Check out my
Here comes the recipe for South Indian mixture.
Madras- mixture

INGREDIENTS:
KARA BOONDHI 1 CUP
OMPODI | SEV 1 CUP
RIBBON PAKODA 1/4 CUP
MULLU MURUKKU 2-3 NO
PEANUTS 1/4 CUP
ROASTED GRAM | CHUTNEY DAL 1/4 CUP
RICE FLAKES 1/4 CUP
FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER 1/4 TSP
CURRY LEAVES FEW
SALT TO TASTE
CASHEW NUTS FEW(OPTIONAL)
CORNFLAKES A HAND FUL(OPTIONAL)
South-Indian-Mixture

METHOD:

  • Deep fry the peanuts, roasted gram,rice flakes(thick or thin) curry leaves, cashew nuts, cornflakes separately in oil and drain the excess oil in a kitchen towel. While frying them add little salt to the oil.
IMG_0377 IMG_0380 mixture
  • This time i didn’t use the cornflakes as i am sure my Fil doesn’t like that.
  • As i am running out of cashews i didn’t add this time.
  • Mix all the ingredients together and add crushed pepper to this.
IMG_0385 IMG_0386
  • Crush the ompodi , ribbon pakoda and murukku into small pieces .
  • Mix well nicely. Put this in a airtight box and shake this nicely.
  • Flavorful mixture is ready to consume.
  • Store this in an airtight box and enjoy with tea | coffee.
Madras-mixture

Monday, November 14, 2011

KARA BOONDI RECIPE

   Kara boondi recipe,with video,  a deep fried snack made using gram flour, generally mixed with South Indian Mixture too. I made for this diwali and wanted to post the recipe before that. I made this to put it in mixture. But somehow, i couldn’t get time to post this before diwali. Again i am making South Indian mixture for my in laws as i am visiting them shortly.  Now i am sharing the recipe of Kara boondi. This recipe came with a lot of tips to make perfect boondi. Please read the post completely and do try this at home. Check out my
Kara boondi