PENNE ARRABIATA RECIPE – PASTA RECIPES

  If you are looking for a easy weeknight dinner or even a simple lunch on lazy days , then this penne arrabiata is a perfect recipe. Whenever we go to pasta mania here in Singapore, as we are vegetarians we have very less options and since we don’t prefer any cheesy or creamy pasta we always end up ordering this penne arrabiata.  The best thing is my kids like this very much and so i have wanted to attempt this at home and it turned out well.

INGREDIENTS

PENNE PASTA	1 CUP
TOMATO	3 NO
ONION	1 NO
GARLIC	2 PODS
CHILLI FLAKES	1 TSP
OREGANO POWDER	1/2 TSP
PEPPER POWDER	1/2 TSP
SALT	TO TASTE
SUGAR	1/4 TSP
OLIVE OIL	1 TBLSP
GRATED CHEESE	1-2 TSP( FOR GARNISHING)

METHOD:

• Cook the pasta in 4 cups of water in a wide pan by adding salt and a tsp of oil.
• When it becomes soft drain the water and run the pasta through cold water. Toss this with a tsp of oil and keep aside.( this is to avoid sticking of the pastas with each other)

• Finely chop the onions, garlic and tomatoes.

• In a pan add oil and the garlic and after few seconds add the onions.
• When it turns pink add the tomatoes and and cook in a medium flame.

• Add chilli flakes, oregana , salt, sugar and pepper powder.
• Cook in a low flames till the tomatoes turn mushy  and it becomes a thick sauce.

• Add the cooked pasta to this and mix well.

• Serve hot with grated cheese on the top.

 

• Check out my other Pasta Recipes here.

SWEET CORN RICE RECIPE| NO ONION NO GARLIC RECIPE

This is yet another easy lunch box recipe and if your kids love corn then go ahead to give this a try.

INGREDIENTS:
SLIGHTLY ADAPTED FROM:APPETIZING RECIPES

SWEET CORN | FROZEN CORN	1 CUP
PANEER(CUBED)	1/4 CUP( OPTIONAL)
ITALIAN SEASONING | PEPPER POWDER	1 TSP
BASMATI RICE	1/2 CUP
GARAM MASALA	1/2 TSP
OIL	1 TBLSP
GREEN CHILLI	2 NO
SALT	AS NEEDED

METHOD:

• Soak rice in 1 cup of water for 20 minutes and pressure cook this by adding salt and a tsp of oil.
• Cook this into long separate grains and allow this to cool.
• In a pan add little oil and fry the paneer cubes (if using)till golden brown.

• Thaw the frozen corn. If using fresh one pressure cook this separately and take out the corn kernels.

• Add oil in a pan and throw in the slit green chilli.
• Add the corn kernels and the paneer cubes and saute for few minutes.
• Add the Italian seasoning( i used oregano powder) and garam masala and salt to taste.

• Mix well. Add the cooked rice and mix gently without mashing the rice.

• Serve with any raitha of your choice.

Note:

1. You can add fried cashew nuts if you are making for kids.
2. Finely chopped onions can be added in the first to enhance the taste.

SPICY BUTTER MILK (NEER MOR) RECIPE- SUMMER COOLER.

  Neer Mor or Masala Chaasis prepared usually during rama navami along with Kosumalli and my mom makes this almost everyday during summer. It is a very healthy drink .

INGREDIENTS:

PLAIN YOGURT	1 CUP
WATER	2 CUPS
GREEN CHILI	1 NO
GINGER	1 SMALL PIECE
CORIANDER LEAVES	FEW
CURRY LEAVES	FEW
OIL	FEW DROPS
MUSTARD SEEDS	1/4 TSP
ASAFOETIDA	A PINCH
SALT	AS NEEDED

METHOD:

• Grind chili, ginger, coriander leaves, curry leaves coarsely.
• Whisk the yogurt with a hand whisk and add 2 cups of water to this.
• Add the coarsely ground mixture to this and add salt to this.
• Temper with mustard seeds and asafoetida.
• Serve chilled.

KOSUMALLI – CARROT AND CUCUMBER SALAD – RAMA NAVAMI RECIPE

     Kosumalli or kosambari or vada paruppu is a traditional dish prepared in our family during all festivals and grand feasts. During rama navami also they prepare this along with neer mor(spiced butter milk) and panagam. Though i wanted to post the panagam recipe, when i was about to make this i noticed that i was running out of jaggery which is the main ingredient of making panagam. So i headed upon to post the recipe of kosumalli.

Will update stepwise pictures soon.

INGREDIENTS:

YELLOW MOONG DAL	1/4 CUP
CARROT	1 NO
CUCUMBER	1 NO
SALT	AS NEEDED
OIL	1/2 TSP
MUSTARD SEEDS	1/4 TSP
ASAFOETIDA	A PINCH
GREEN CHILLI	1 NO
COCONUT GRATED	1 TBLSP(OPTIONAL)
LEMON JUICE	1 TSP
CORIANDER LEAVES	FEW

METHOD:

• Boil a cup of water nicely and when it comes to a rolling boil, switch off the flame and put the yellow moong dal to this and let this sit for 15 – 20 minutes.
• Drain the water and add the transfer this to a wide bowl.
• Grate the carrots and cucumber and add to the dal.
• Add salt and temper with mustard seeds, green chili , asafoetida and coriander leaves.
• Mix well. Add lemon juice and mix nicely.
• Add the grated coconut(if using) just before serving.

KARUVEPILLAI KUZHAMBHU RECIPE – TAMARIND GRAVY WITH CURRY LEAVES

WITH GARLIC

     As kids are around at home, though i cook something new , i couldn’t take pictures. This recipe was lying in  my draft  and wanted to share this with you.

INGREDIENTS

TAMARIND EXTRACT	2 CUPS( FROM A GOOSEBERRY SIZED LEMON)
RED CHILLI POWDER	1TSP
CORIANDER POWDER	1 TSP
GARLIC	5 PODS
SMALL ONION	7-9 NO
CURRY LEAVES	2 FISTFUL
SESAME OIL	2 TBLSP
TURMERIC POWDER	1/4 TSP
ASAFOETIDA	2 PINCHES
SALT	AS NEEDED
JAGGERY	1/4 TSP
FENUGREEK SEEDS( VENDAYAM)	1/4 TSP
CHANNA DAL	1/4 TSP
MUSTARD SEEDS	1/4 TSP

 

• Dry roast curry leaves (3 pods)and garlic separately for few minutes.

• In a pan, add oil and throw in the mustard seeds, vendayam, channa dal .
• Peel the skin of garlic and shallots(small onion)

• Add this to the oil and fry them till golden brown.

• Add the tamarind extract and add the turmeric powder, red chili powder and coriander powder. Add salt, asafoetida and jaggery to this.

• Grind the roasted garlic and curry leaves into a smooth paste.
• Add to this tamarind gravy and boil nicely in a medium flame, till it reaches a kuzhambhu consistency.

• Enjoy with rice smeared with sesame oil and this taste yum with any type of kootu.

I am going on a break for a week, and this space will be updated as usual as i don’t want to disappoint my readers. Will be back to routine from 2nd of April.

Keep visiting.

PARUPPU PODI RECIPE

Recipe of paruppu podi updated with video.
 Paruppu podi is one of the simplest recipe and we all love this podi with hot rice and papad. any variety of kootu will go will this. Check out my garlic paruppu podi recipe too.


                                              Video of how to make paruppu podi 

Preparation time: 5 mins| Cooking time:15 minutes| Yields: 1/2 cup plus approx.
INGREDIENTS:

TOOR DAL	1/2 CUP
PEPPER CORNS	1 TSP
RED CHILI	2 NO
ASAFOETIDA	1/4 TSP
SALT	AS NEEDED

• Dry roast the ingredients till the toor dal turns into a golden brown color.

• When it is cool, grind it into fine powder.

• Enjoy with hot rice.
• Garlic flakes can be added while roasting if you like the garlic flavor in the podi

KOVAKKAI CHUTNEY , KOVAKKAI THOGAIYAL | TINDORA CHUTNEY

Kovakkai Chutney recipe, with video, a chutney with tindora pairs well with rice and with idli and dosa too.   
 A few days back when i was invited for lunch by my friend she made a wonderful platter of Andra Meals. She is a very talented cook and i have learnt a lot of cookery tips from her. In that menu there was a yummy thogaiyal and when she told it was made from tindora| kovakkai i  was so surprised and i took the recipe from her and tried kovakkai chutney today. Hurray! i got the exact taste.


INGREDIENTS: Serves 3-4

KOVAKKAI | TINDORA (CHOPPED)	1 CUP
RED CHILLIS	4 NO
CUMIN SEEDS	1 TSP
CHANNA DAL	1 TSP
URAD DAL	1 TSP
TAMARIND	A SMALL GOOSE BERRY SIZE
COCONUT(GRATED)	2 TBLSP
SALT	AS NEEDED
ONION	1 NO
CORIANDER LEAVES	A HANDFUL
GARLIC	2 cloves
CURRY LEAVES	FEW

 
                                                 Video of how to make Kovakkai thogayal

METHOD:

• In a pan add 1 tsp oil, and throw in the curry leaves, Garlic, channa dal, urad dal, red chili, tamarind and when the dals turn golden brown add the cumin seeds and put off the flame and allow this to cool.

• In the pan, add the kovakkai and cook it covered in a medium flame for 7 to 8 minutes.

• When this cools down, grind it in a mixer along with the roasted dal mix.
• Add coconut while grinding.

• When 3/4 th is done,

• add finely chopped onions and coriander leaves and grind coarsely.
• Add a little of water while grinding.

• If you want just temper with mustard seeds at the last before serving.

• Enjoy with hot rice smeared with oil.

NOTE:

1. This can be had with dosa or chapathis too.
2. I loved the Kovakkai Chutney  with breads too as a spread.

LEMONADE – WITH HOME MADE LEMON SYRUP

   Summer has started and most of us don’t feel like eating anything rather than drinking lots of water and having fruit juices. My mom’s sister makes this lemonade with home made lemon syrup, one for every summer and even my athai also makes this. Suddenly i thought of making this and i asked my mom to pass on the recipe to me from her sister.

INGREDEINTS:

LEMON JUICE(SQUEEZED FROM FRESH LIME)	1 CUP
SUGAR	2 CUPS
GINGER	A BIG PIECE
WATER	2 CUPS
SALT	A PINCH

METHOD:

• Peel the skin of the ginger and roughly chop it.
• Put sugar, water and ginger pieces in a vessel and boil till the sugar comes to one string consistency.

• Put off the flame, cover it  and allow this to completely cool.
• Discard the ginger. Add a pinch of salt.
• Squeeze out lemon juice from fresh lemons.
• Filter this and add to the sugar syrup.

• This yields approximately 2 and 1/4 cup of syrup.

• Store this in a clean glass bottle.
• While serving add 1/4 portion of lemon syrup to 1 portion of water.
• Add a tblsp of extra syrup if you want more.
• Mint leaves can be added while serving and fresh lemon wedges can also be added while serving.

NOTE:

1. Never add the lemon juice when the syrup is hot or warm.
2. Do not squeeze out too much of  juice from the lemon. This will give a bitter taste to the lemonade.
3. This syrup if properly handled will stay good in refrigerator for 30 to 45 days