HOW TO COOK BASMATI RICE| BASMATI RICE IN PRESSURE COOKER

INDIAN COOKING BASICS

How to cook a perfect basmati rice for pulao and biryani is a repeated query i get from readers. I wanted to make on cooking of basmati rice for a long time and finally made it today. After coming to singapore, i started using basmati rice frequently. I started exploring so many brands and finally was comfortable using Lalquila and India Gate basmati rice. Even Kohinoor also i tried once and i am happy with the results. I am not here to promote any brands ,since it is the common question asked by readers, i thought i will mention it in the post.
Check out these recipes using basmati rice:

• Soya Chunks biryani
• Schezwan fried rice
• Jaipuri pulao

Scroll down to read the tips given below.

DRUMSTICK LEAVES PORIYAL RECIPE | MURUNGAI KEERAI PORIYAL

Murungai keerai |drumstick leaves is a very good for health but due to laziness to clean the leaves i buy this rarely. Also whenever i visit little india only especially if in the evenings only i get fresh leaves. Recently i made frequent trips to the Indian store i bought this murungai keerai. I love this in adai and also the curry|poriyal. During our child hood days we used to have the drumstick tree at home and whenever we want just pluck the leaves from it and make fresh curry. The fresh murungai ilai amma used to put in the home made ghee, wow i could recollect the smell still now.
   Childhood days stories are never ending. Let me continue to the post. How to make drumstick leaves poriyal | murungai keerai poriyal. This is best for lactating mothers.

KADALAI PARUPPU CHUTNEY | CHANNA DAL CHUTNEY | SIDE DISH FOR IDLI|DOSA

Kadala paruppu chutney is yet another yummy and tasty recipe which i learnt from the friend's mil, from whom i learnt the Kola urundai. This chutney is a perfect side dish for idli|dosa. The addition of mustard seeds in the recipes make it very unique and flavourful. The taste was close to the murugan idli kadai tomato chutney . Check out my Chutney recipes .

RAW BANANA KOFTA | KACHA KELA KOFTA CURRY RECIPE

Koftas are always popular among the gravies we make for chapathi. I have posted few kofta recipes here such as Malai kofta , Palak kofta and Cabbage kofta. Though koftas take place rare in my kitchen, we all love it very much. This raw banana kofta is one among the recipes which i gave for the magazine and i made this without onion and garlic. Today i tried it again with a gravy which includes onion and garlic. A best pair with both roti and jeera rice.

SAMAI UPMA RECIPE | MILLET RECIPES

South indian breakfast recipes

Saamai | Little Millet in English | Kutki in Hindi| Chama in malayalam| Sama in telugu, is a very healthy variety of millet. Samai arsi is is best for diabetic people and has high fibre content  too. Samai upma i recently tried for breakfast and it was a super hit too. I made in the same style of semiya upma . This samai upma is ideal for breakfast and also for dinner too.
Check out my other millet recipes:

• Thinai pesarattu
• Bajra roti             

JAIPURI VEGETABLE PULAO | VEG PULAV RECIPE

Vegetable pulao or veg pulao is an easy recipe and i have posted few varieties of pulao here. This jaipuri veg pulao i have tried once by seeing the Youtube Video of a Ruchi Bharani. I personally love her videos and the way she explains itself motivates me to make the dish. This Veg pulao is quite rich in taste and involves items like cream, cashew and butter but all in very small quantity only. Especially on weekends and the day you have guest, this veg pulao is a must one to try .
Check out my

• Baby corn pulao
• Tawa pulao 

CHETTINADU YAM KOLA URUNDAI | CHETTINAD RECIPES

Kola urundai is a popular dish of chettinad, a small town called Karaikudi in  tamilnadu. Chettinadu cusine | recipes will be very delicious and i have lot of friends who hail from chettinad, during my school days. This kola urundai generally they make with beetroot, yam, snake gourd and Vazhaipoo too. I asked my school friend regarding few chettinadu recipes, that i have tasted at her home. She gave few and asked me to talk to her mother in law as she is an expert in cooking. I noted down few recipes to ask her and called her up. She explained each and every recipe so clearly and with tips too. The energy, her chettinadu slang, her enthusiasm at this age is super contagious.I strongly felt these recipes should not be missed out and has to be treasured. I tried few recipes of her and will be posting here one by one. Check out my

• Chettinadu potato biryani
• Vazhaipoo vadai

BAJRA ROTI RECIPE| BAJRA KI ROTI | MILLET RECIPES

Bajra also called as Pearl millet in English/ Kambu in Tamil, even available in USA in the name cattail millet. Millet recipes are getting very popular now a days. I have explored few recipes with millets and will be sharing here every week. Bajra, is a very old variety of millet used in Tamilnadu and Kambu khool is a popular one which is made with bajra. Rotis are made with bajra in the state of Gujarat, Rajasthan. I remember eating bajra roti, jowar roti when we visited Jaipur few years ago. I have tried both jowar roti and bajra roti at home. Will post jowar also soon.
   This has so many health benefits.As bajra is rich in fibre, it helps in weight loss. Best suitable for Diabetic people. I personally felt the rotis are too bland in taste, but when i tried for the second time i had with proper side dish. It tasted very nice. Never serve this with simple raita or salads. Since it is a gluten free flour, i can't make it without the addition of wheat flour. So over to the recipe of bajra ki roti.

    You can serve with

• Masoor dal tadka
• Aloo Capsicum masala
• Peas masala
  

HOME MADE GINGER GARLIC PASTE RECIPE| INDIAN KITCHEN BASICS

Ginger Garlic paste was one which i was planning to post for a long time. Last week a friend asked for the recipe, especially to store the Ginger garlic paste, i thought i will post this recipe soon. Though i know fresh Ginger garlic paste will always be goo, but for working people and also for busy mornings, if we keep it handy for a week or two it will be very useful. Instead of buying the store bought Ginger garlic paste, it is always easy to make the home made one.

THAKKALI KUZHAMBU RECIPE | SOUTH INDIAN KULAMBU RECIPES

Thakkali kuzhambu is in my to do list for a long time. This  South Indian Kuzhambu recipe i have tasted in restaurants and in friend's place few times . As i saw nice ripe tomatoes in the market 2 days back ,wanted to try a recipe with Tomato. My sister make this very well and asked her the recipe over phone and tried it yesterday for lunch. It turned out very well and was quite flavourful too.
  Check out my

Kathrikkai puli kuzhambhu

Poondu Kuzhambhu