Monday, November 19, 2012

IDIYAPPAM | SEVAI | IDIYAPPAM RECIPE

PLAIN IDIYAPPAM AND THENGAI SEVAI

Idiyappam | Sevai | string hoppers is a very rare dish we make it at home. My mom makes it regularly using the traditional  Sevai Nazhi , which is very tough( i feel) but we used to help her when we were kids. She makes variety of Sevai and i will soon post the recipes of the sevai soon. My kids don’t prefer much and only me and my hubby only eat this and whenever i make this i do for dinner only.So never had chance to click. Somehow  last week i managed to make this for breakfast and clicked too. This is very handy if you don’t have Idli | dosa batter at home. I used the idiyappam flour but you can use plain rice flour too.
Also check

Idiyappam 1
INGREDIENTS:(FOR PLAIN IDIYAPPAM)YIELDS APPROX. 10 PIECES
IDIYAPPAM FLOUR | RICE FLOUR 1 CUP
WATER 1AND 1/4 CUP
SALT 1/2 TSP
OIL 1/2 TSP
SUGAR AS NEEDED
COCONUT(SCRAPPED) 1/4 CUP
METHOD:
  • In a pan add water and add salt and oil to it. Keep the flour in a wide bowl. When you see small bubbles of water switch off the flame and add it slowly to the flour. when it is warm mix it nicely with a spoon and with you hands make it into equal portions to fit into the press.
  • Use the omapodi achhu for this.
Idiyappam step 1 Idiyappam step 4
  • Grease an idli plate and press medium sized circles . Steam this for 5 minutes. After a minute take it out from the idli plate and transfer it a wide plate and cover it with a damp cloth to keep it moist and to avoid drying. Repeat the process for the rest of the dough. If you are going to have it with coconut and sugar just add the sugar to the mix and start mixing it gently. Add coconut in the last and mix well.
Idiyappam step 6 Idiyappam step 7
  • If you like coconut milk you can serve it with coconut milk too.
Idiyappam 2
INGREDIENTS FOR THENGAI SEVAI | COCONUT SEVAI:
PLAIN IDIYAPPAM 1 CUP
COCONUT(SCRAPPED) 1/4 CUP
OIL 2 TSP
MUSTARD SEEDS 1/2 TSP
CHANNA DAL 1/2 TSP
URAD DAL 1/4 TSP
PEANUTS 1/2 TBLSP
GREEN CHILLI 2
COCONUT OIL 1 TSP
SALT TO TASTE
CURRY LEAVES FEW
Thengai Sevai 1

METHOD:
  • In a pan add oil and add mustard seeds, channa dal,urad dal, chopped green chilli, peanuts and saute in a medium flame till the dal and peanuts become golden brown.
  • Add this to the plain idiyappam and add a tsp of coconut oil.
  • In the same pan saute the coconut in a low flame till it gives a nice aroma.
coconut sevai step 2 Coconut sevai step 3
  • Add this also to the plain idiyappam and mix it gently with clean dry hands.
  • Add curry leaves to this. ( I didn't’ t have and so i didn’t add)
You can have Idiyappam with Vegetable Stew.
Thengai Sevai 2
     NOTE:
  1. While boiling the water to make idiyappam do not boil too much.
  2. Do not steam the idiyappams for too long. Else it will become rubbery.
    

Thursday, November 15, 2012

KOLLU PODI RECIPE , HORSE GRAM PODI

 Kollu podi recipe, healthy podi varieties with step by step pictures
Hope you all had a wonderful Diwali celebrations. We too had a great Diwali and after having all the sweets and oily food for the past few days, we started craving for a simple food and suddenly i thought about this Kollu podi and made the same today. I have heard that Kollu | horse gram is recommended for people who wants to reduce weight .
IMG_0852
INGREDIENTS:
KOLLU | HORSE GRAM 1/2 CUP
TOOR DAL 2 TBLSP
OIL 1/4 TSP
DRY RED CHILLI 2
BLACK PEPPER 1 TSP
GARLIC 2 PODS (OPTIONAL)
ASAFOETIDA A PINCH
SALT AS NEEDED
IMG_0839
METHOD:
  • Heat a pan and add oil to this. Roast the horse gram | kollu  and toor dal to this and nicely roast it without getting burnt. Keep it aside and roast the red chillies, garlic (if using), black pepper, asafoetida in a medium low flame. In the last add salt and switch off the flame.
IMG_0813 IMG_0819
  • Combine the roasted kollu and spice mixture. Allow them to cool completely. Grind it into a fine powder using a mixer.
IMG_0821 IMG_0824
  • When done allow the podi to get cool by spreading this in a plate. After 15 minutes, using a clean dry spoon transfer it to a dry container and store it .
  • This can be mixed with hot rice along with few drops of sesame oil.
  • Even you can have this with Idli | Dosa too instead of milagai podi.
IMG_0869

Monday, November 12, 2012

HAPPY DIWALI TO YOU ALL

DIWALI WISHES
The festival of lights bring you joy,
prosperity and good luck through the rest of the year.
Happy Diwali to you all.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

COCONUT BURFI | THENGAI BURFI |EASY DIWALI SWEETS RECIPE

Coconut burfi
 Thengai burfi | coconut burfi is a very easy and simple sweet made mainly with just two ingredients. If you are opting to make an easy recipe for Coconut burfi just follow this recipe which i tried from Rak’s Kitchen. Will post my version of Thengai burfi later. Check out my complete list of diwali recipes

Friday, November 9, 2012

MIXED NUTS CHIKKI | DRY FRUITS BRITTLE| EASY SWEETS RECIPES

   Though mixed nuts chikki is not a recipe which we make for diwali at our home but i have heard from few of my friends that they make this during Diwali  of Holi. This one sounded very easy to me and so i made with the dry fruits which I had in my hand. Go ahead to make this easy mixed fruits Chikki for this Diwali. Also check out my

Mixed nuts chikki
INGREDIENTS: ( YIELDS 15 PIECES APPROX)
MIXED NUTS 1 CUP
SUGAR 3/4 CUP
LEMON JUICE 2 TSP
SAFFRON A PINCH
WATER 2-3 TBLSP
Chikki 3
METHOD:


  • Dry roast the mixed nuts (I used cashew nuts, badam,peanuts )in a pan for 2 minutes in a medium flame without getting it burnt.
  • Keep it aside and Chop them roughly.
  • Before start with the sugar, grease a butter paper with ghee | butter and grease the rolling pin too.
IMG_0238 IMG_0224
  • In a pan, add sugar and add 2-3 tblsp of water.
  • When the sugar starts melting add the saffron. Keep the flame low.
  • Add lemon juice to this. The addition of lemon juice is to avoid crystallisation of sugar.
  • Saute till the sugar gets caramalized and you see a light golden color.
IMG_0239 IMG_0240 IMG_0241
  • Now add the dry roased mixed nuts to this and give it a quick stir and transfer this to the greased butter paper. At this stage for me it is difficult for me to handle the camera in one hand and do the stirring too.Sad smile
  • Spread them evenly using the greased rolling pin and when it is warm cut them into desired shapes. You have to just put the lines .After it is completely cool you can break them into pieces according to the marks u made.
IMG_0243
  • Store them in airtight containers and enjoy these chikkis.
Mixed Nuts chikki
Note:
  1. Do not add too much lemon jiuce as it will make the chikkis sour.
  2. Do the entire process in low flame.
  3. I actually took it little early as i had a fear that it will get burnt, so the chikkis look pretty pale.
  4. You can add pistas, raisins too in the chikki.
  5. I used unsalted de skinned peanuts.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

AVAL MIXTURE | CHIVDA RECIPE | DIWALI SNACKS RECIPES

Poha chivda | aval mixture with video

Poha Chivda is a low fat snack made with aval | poha , a less oil and not a deep fried mixture. Though i already posted South Indian Mixture recipe, i have a few request from readers for a healthy diwali recipe which they can make for their parents | in laws, this poha chivda immediately came to my mind. So if you want to try something healthy this time, make this poha mixture | aval mixture. I learnt this recipe from my friend Janani, long back when we met for a evening tea .
Aval Mixture 2

Aval mixture | poha chivda

  Preparation Time : 5 mins | Cooking Time : 10 Mins |Serves: 3-4

     Poha| aval  1 cup 
     Green chili  2
     Raw peanuts  4 tblsp
     Roasted gram dal | pottukadalai  4 tblsp
     Sugar  1 tsp
     Salt  as needed
     Mustard seeds  few
     Dry coconut (kopra)   1 tblsp
     Turmeric powder  1/4 tsp
     Oil   1 tblsp
                                               Video of How to make Poha chivda 
              
              
     


Method with step wise pictures: 

Aval Mixture 3

METHOD:
  • In a pan,  roast the poha , with 1 tsp of oil ( use medium thin poha) till it turns golden brown.
  • Be careful not to make it burnt.
  • Keep it aside. In the same pan add oil and add mustard seeds and slit the green chillies and add to it.
  • Powder the sugar in a mortar and pestle.
  • Add the roasted gram, peanuts and powdered sugar and salt to this.
  • When the peanuts,and dal turns golden brown switch off the flame and mix it to the roasted poha. 
  • Mix this nicely.
  • Store this in a airtight container . Enjoy with hot tea | coffee.
Aval Mixture1 
Note:
  1. You can add a few tablespoons of roasted cashew nuts also.
  2. Few curry leaves can be added while adding the mustard seeds.

Monday, November 5, 2012

MILK PEDA |PAAL PEDA RECIPE | EASY DIWALI SWEETS RECIPES

MILK PEDA WITH MILK POWDER AND CONDENSED MILK

Milk peda
  Milk peda | Paal peda |Dhoodh peda  is a very simple and easy dessert made with milk. If you are running out of time but still wanted to try out an easy sweet then this milk peda is the exactly perfect sweet for you. The entire process can be done in Microwave oven but since i don’t have microwave oven i made it in the stove top. It took less than 10 minutes for me for the entire process. Check out my badam peda recipe . See my full collection of diwali recipes

Sunday, November 4, 2012

OMAPODI RECIPE | DIWALI SNACKS RECIPES

Omapodi is an easy snack made  during diwali . My mom mostly make it to mix it with South Indian Mixture but in my in laws place they love to eat it as such too. and both my kiddos love to have omapodi . Apart from mixing this in mixture this can be used in chaat recipes for garnishing too.
Check out my

Omapodi
INGREDIENTS:
BESAN | KADALAI MAAVU | GRAM FLOUR 1 CUP
RICE FLOUR 1/4 CUP
OMAM |AJWAIN SEEDS 1 TSP
WATER 1/4 CUP + 2 TBLSP
SALT AS NEEDED
BUTTER or OIL 2 TBLSP
OIL FOR DEEP FRYING
RED CHILLI POWDER 1/2 TSP (OPTIONAL)
Omapodi 3

METHOD:
  • Sieve the gram flour and rice flour for even mixing.
  • Dry roast the omam in a pan and soak this for 15 minutes in 1/4 cup of water.
  • Keep the water aside and grind this in a mixer using the soaked water.
  • Normally the omam will not get grind smoothly as it is in a very small quantity.
  • Even if it is slight coarse also ok. Using the remaining soaked water extract the omam water by mashing the ground omam with your hands . filter it using a tea strainer.
  • Use this water to mix the water. If u don’t want to discard the omam nicely mash with hands and add half of it to the flour to make the dough.
step 4 step 6
  • Make a sticky dough by adding 2 tblsp of soft butter or hot oil . add salt to taste. If adding chilli powder add while kneading the dough.
  • Use the small dotted hole one for making omapodi and keep a portion of dough inside the presser and start pressing it into the hot oil by making circles.
step 3 step 7
  • Flip it after sometime . Take out and drain in a kitchen towel when the oil sound subsides.
step 8 step 10
  • When it is cool, break it into pieces and store it in an airtight container.
Omapodi recipe
Note:
  • Do not add too much omam as it will give a bitter taste to the omapodi.
  • If the dough is kneaded tight  or kept open for a long time it will be difficult for you while pressing.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

RAVA LADDU RECIPE |RAVA LADOO | DIWALI RECIPES

  Rava laddu or Rava ladoo is a simple and exotic sweet made with Semolina or sooji. Though i attempted this for the first time, i have tasted this many times. But i always like the texture to be smooth and not the grainy rava texture. I just followed my Besan ladoo recipe replacing rava instead of besan. Try this easy and yummy Rava ladoo for this Diwali. Check out my collection of Ladoo recipes.
Rava ladoo recipe

INGREDIENTS: Makes 13- 14 ladoos

RAVA | SOOJI | SEMOLINA 1 CUP
SUGAR 3/4 CUP
MELTED GHEE 1/4 CUP
CASHEW NUTS FEW
CARDAMOM POWDER A PINCH(OPTIONAL)
Rava ladoo

METHOD:
  • In a pan add 1 tsp of ghee and roast the cashew bits and keep it aside.
step 2
  • In a same pan roast the rava till it for 5 to 10 minutes in a medium flame. Do not get it burnt or the change the color.
  • Allow this to completely cool.
  • Grind this into a fine powder along with sugar.
step 4 step 6
  • Add cardamom powder(if adding) at this stage and pulse once for even mixing.
  • Transfer this mixture to a wide bowl.
  • Add the roasted cashew also to this and mix well.
  • Melt the ghee and add this to the rava sugar mixture.
step 8 step 9
  • Mix well with a spoon and make it into round balls.
  • The mixture will be easy to handle only. If you feel that you can’t make balls, just sprinkle 1 tblsp of milk .
step 10
  • This can be stored in a air tight box for 4-5 days in room temperature.
Rava ladoo recipe
Note:
  1. If you want to make it with less ghee you can add half of ghee and half of milk too.
  2. But if u do this this has to be consumed in a day.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

MYSORE PAK RECIPE | DIWALI SWEET RECIPES| SOFT MYSORE PAK

Recipe of Mysore pak with Video

Mysore pak recipe
This is the first time i am making Mysore Pak , but to my surprise it turned out extremely well and tasted exactly like Krishna Sweets Mysore pak. I made few batches and packed for my friends when i visited them during Navaratri. When i was searching in google for mysore pak recipes most of the recipes which i have come seen involves 2-3 cups of Ghee. And i finally i landed in here . Go ahead to try this delicious soft Mysore pak for this Diwali and surprise your family and friends.
Check my traditional Mysore pak recipe too. Check out the post on consistency of sugar syrup.