Brinjal Surprise!!(gravy dish)

Ingredients:-
Baby brinjal(small eggplant)-1/2kg
Coconut-1/2(grated)
Kashmiri chilly-10
Coriander seed-2tsp
Cumin-1tsp
Methi(fenugreek)-1/2tsp
Clove-5-6
Cinnamon-2 pieces
Ginger-1inch piece
Garlic-1small pod
Tomato-3(chopped)
Onion-2(chopped)
Turmeric-1/2tsp
Coriander leaves and Pudina(mint leaves) for garnishing .


Method;-

• Slit brijal in the middle in to parts crosswise keeping its stem.
• Fry  red chillies,coriander,methi cloves,cinnamon in oil.
• Now grind it along with coconut ,cumin,ginger and garlic to fine paste.
• In a sauce pan fry onion till dark brown color.
• Now add turmeric tomato and salt to taste and fry till tomato melts in the gravy.
• Now add a glass of water and drop brinjal one by one.
• Cover and cook for 10 mins.Now add the masala paste and cook till done.
• Garnish with coriander and pudina(mint leaves)

Goda Masala..a Maharashtrian masala

Goda masala is blend of spices roasted and powdered together..Normally all maharashtrian or neighboring states use this masala in their daily cooking .When i came to belgaum after my marriage i heard a lot about this masala but never tried this.But about 8 years ago my neighbor gave me this masala and i used this for my chicken and other veg dishes and it  was awesome.
                  It is different from garam masala because it has copra and white sesame seed.Both has its own flavor and aroma..So if you really want to try some maharashtrian cuisine then this masala is a must.

Ingredients

1. Coriander seeds-200g
2. Copra(dried coconut)-1/4(grated)
3. Cinnamon-50g
4. Cloves-50g
5. Dagad phool(black stone flower)-1/4 cup
6. Bay leaf-4-5
7. Black cardamom-5-6
8. Green cardamom-8-10
9. Pepper corn-50g
10. Mace(javethri)-4-5
11. Nutmeg-1(crushed)
12. Sesame seed(white thil)-100gms
13. Star anise-6-7
14. Cumin-100g
15. Asafoetida-1tsp
16. oil for frying-3tsp

Method

• Dry fry copra till its light brown and then transfer it to a plate.
• Now in a same pan add sesame seed and dry roast till it changes its color to medium brown.Mix it with fried copra.
• Now fry all the ingredients one by one in that same pan till coriander turns to light brown .
• No need to roast  the masala's separately.But 1st roast only the coriander seeds for few mins and then add each ingredients one after the other. 
• After roasting all the masala grind only the masala's roasted in oil first.
• After that in the same blender add copra and sesame seeds and grind to fine powder.In between the grinding take a little break and open the lid and mix the masala with the spoon.
• Once the both the masala's are done,mix the both the ground masala and grind it again till both blends well.
• Allow it to cool and then store it in an air tight container.

Gobi Matar(cauliflower and green peas)Masala

Ingredients:-

Peas-1cup(fresh)

Cauliflower-2cups(florets)

Onion-2 (chopped )

Ginger-Garlic Paste-2tsp

Garam Masala powder-1tsp

Red chilly powder-2tsp  Tomato-1(chopped) turmeric powder-1/2tsp salt to taste oil-1tsp

Method :-

• Heat a table spoon of oil in a pan.Add chopped onion,saute for few mins.
• Now add all powder masala and mix it well.
• Now add ginger-garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes then add the chopped tomatoes and salt to taste.fry it nicely.let the tomato melts completely in the gravy.
• Now add washed cauliflower florets and peas,cover and cook over low flame till peas are soft.No need to add water.
• Serve hot with roti or chapati.

                                   

Dil Bhara Methi Khichidi

Only 4 days left for valentine so i want to dedicate my dishes to all the couples who are in love...So cook hearty dishes and enjoy with your beloved.... so lets start with my  Dilbhara Methi Khichidi..

Ingredients:-
Broken basmathi rice-2cups
Fenugreek leaves(methi)-2 bunch(chopped)
Cumin-1tsp
Green chilly-5-7
Ginger-Garlic paste- 2tsp


Method:

• Separate the methi leaves and cut them into small pieces.Wash the rice and drain  and keep aside.
• Heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds and the green chillies.
• Mix in the methi leaves and stir for few mins.
• Now add ginger-garlic paste and fry for few more mins.
• Mix in the rice and continue to cook for another 3-4 mins.
• Add salt and enough water for the rice to get cooked.Cover with a lid and cook over a low flame till the rice is tender.
• Serve with curd and cucumber salad.

Garam Masala powder

Ingredients:-

1. Coriander seed-250gms
2. Cumin -100gms
3. Cinnamon-50gms
4. Cloves-50gms
5. Star anise-25gms
6. Black cardamom-4
7. Green cardamom-6
8. Bay leaf-3
9. Fennel-25gms
10. Kasoori methi-1/4 cup

Method

• Dry Roast all the  ingredients till you get nice aroma .
• Make a fine powder in a mixer grinder.Aromatic garam masala is ready.
• Store garam masala in an air tight container.

Red chilly powder

Ingredients

Kashmiri Red chilly-200 gms

Guntur or flat red spicy chillies-50gms

Coconut oil or vegetable oil-2tsp

Salt-1/2tsp

Method

• Sun dry chillies for 3-4 hours or fry chillies on  a low flame till  it changes its color to dark red.
• Now powder the chillies in a mixer grinder along with salt to a fine powder.
• Now add 2tsp of oil and  mix it again in a  mixer grinder to get that dark red color.
• Store in an air tight container once it comes to room temperature .

Sambar powder

Ingredients:-
Kashmiri red chillies-2 cups
spicy flat red chillies-1 cup
           or
Guntur chillies- 1cup
Coriander seeds-1cup
Chana dal-1/4 cup
Pepper-1tbsp
Fenugreek-1tsp
Asafoetida-2tsp
Sesame seed-1tbsp
cumin-1/4 cup
Turmeric-1tsp
Rice-2tsp


Method:

• Dry roast chillies in a heavy bottom pan over low flame till its changes its color then transfer it to a plate. 
• Same pan put coriander and chanadal and fry for few mins.
• now add cumin,pepper and rice and fry further few mins on a low flame.
• At last add fenugreek,sesame seed and fry till the coriander seeds changes its color to medium brown.
• Now switch off the flame and add turmeric and asafoetida and mix it nicely.
• Now mix all the ingredients and make fine powder.
• Let it cool down then store it in a container.

cabbage sandigey(cabbage vodi in konkani).

Vodi is a specialty of GSB konkani's a type of sun dried rice fryums .Its also very famous in other parts of south india,but this type of vodi is only prepared by  Konkani GSB's. Actually we love to have papad or vodi along with  our rice and dal whether its lunch or dinner some fried item is a must.

vodi is a dried snack which is light and crispy when its fried and goes well with rice and dal or sambar .It aslo goes well with our south indian kanji/ ganji /pej ( boiled red rice with starch) in konkani .Normally people prepare this in summer and use it for rainy season.

          Every year i prepare this with different combination,i use garlic or onion in place of cabbage.

Ingredients:-
Rice(dosa rice)-11/2
Sabudana-1/2 cup(soak for an hour)
       or
Beaten rice-1/2 cup(grind it along with rice)
Cabbage-2 cups(chopped finely)
Red chilly-15
Coriander-1tbsp
salt to taste

Method:-

• Soak rice for about 10-12 hours in 11/2 liters of water
• Grind  rice to fine paste along with chilies and coriander.(if you are using beaten rice instead of sabudana then grind it along with rice)
• Now heat a heavy bottom pan and mix the paste,soaked sabudana and salt.
• Now add  2 lts of boiled water to the paste and keep on stirring to avoid any lumps.If it is too thick then add some more boiled water and keep stirring all the time.cook over a low flame.
• Cook till it starts bubbling. cook further for 5 mins.
• Now switch off the flame and add chopped cabbage.
• Cover and keep over night.
•  To prepare vadies, spread some plastic sheet outside or in the balcony or in the terrace ,drop the mixture with a spoon or with the fingers into small lumps.Dry in sun for  a day and next day turn over,dry again for 2 or 3 more days till its completely dry.
• Store  in an  air tight container.t

tips:

 1. Be careful when you are adding salt to the vadi batter,as it shrinks to 1/2 of its original size when it dries.So add little less salt than normal.

2.its better to make the mixture night itself to save your time and energy so that you can start spreading this as early as possible in the morning.

Sanna idli(savory cabbage idli) a konkani delicacy

Sanna idli is a konkani dish.We have it along with rice and dal for lunch or dinner.It is different from the normal idli.It is spicy and stuffed with cabbage and onion.You can prepare this with or without cabbage also.

Ingedients:-
Dosa rice -1cup
Turdal-2tbsp 
Cabbage-11/2 cups( chopped finely)
Onion-1 big(chopped finely)
Coconut-1cup (grated)
Red chilly dry-7-8(roasted in tsp of oil)
                   or
Red chilly powder-2tsp
Tamarind-1 marble sized ball
Salt to taste

Method

• Soak dal and rice together for 3-4 hours.
• After 4hours drain the water and grind rice-dal mixture along with coconut,red chillies and tamarind to a coarse paste(rava consistency ).
• Now add salt,cabbage and onion .
• Batter should be little thicker than dosa batter.
• Now grease the idli cup and steam it in a cooker with out the whistle for 30 mins or till cooked . Just check  by pricking knife or fork for double sure .If it is cooked then the knife will come out clean otherwise cook further few more mins.

Note:-Same you can prepare with the idli rava.Then no need to soak with dal .Just grind dal along  with coconut,red chillies and tamarind and mix this to rava( washed and soaked for 10 mins).
Serve along with dal and rice.We put coconut oil while serving.

Mixed vegetable...a sankranthi special(Maharashtriran delicacy)

This dish is a specialty of  Maharashtra and north Karnataka. .Normally people prepare this on sankranthi day.Makara sankranthi is one of the most auspicious occasion for hindus and it is celebrated in almost all parts of the country.Its a harvest festival.In this time you will get fresh different variety of vegetables.So this dish is a must in this festival.Normally we use minimum 5 diffident vegetable to prepare this dish.Here i have used 7 types of veggies. 

Ingredients:-
Mixed variety of beans-2 cups(i have used the tender bean pod too) cut into small pieces.
Green peas-1/2cup
carrot-2(cut into 1inch long pieces)
Spring onion-1 bunch(5-6 bulbs)(cut into long pieces)
Gurellu chutney-3tsp
Chilly powder -1tsp
Garlic-5-7 cloves(chopped finely)
Green chillies-4(chopped finely)
turmeric-1/2tsp
cumin-1tsp
salt to taste
oil-1tbsp

Mixed veggies(fava beans,flat beans 

Method

• wash and cut all the vegetables.
• heat oil in a heavy bottom pan add cumin,let it sizzle then add choppped green chillies,garlic saute for sometime.
• now add turmeric and  Garam Masala powder   fry for a second.
• now add all chopped veggies and salt.Cover and cook till veggies are soft and dry.
• Serve hot with roti or rice.

Carrot salad,Mixed vegetable, Sweet khichidi dry roti,2 types of chutney,s Stuffed Brinjal moth beasns dry masala, Stuffed curd rice balls  and jeera rice.

Stuffed Indian Bread with cottage cheese and peas(Matar Paneer kulcha)

Ingredients for  dough:-

Maida(all purpose flour)-2cups
Wheat flour-1cup
Active dry yeast- 1tsp
sugar-1tsp
ghee(clarified butter)-1tbsp
warm water-1/4 cup
Milk  for kneading dough

Method:-

• To prepare yeast solution take a small bowl with little warm water mix in sugar and yeast.leave for 15 mins and your yeast is ready.
• Sieve maida and wheat flour add salt and ghee. Mix it well.Now add prepared yeast.Knead the soft dough with milk.Leave it for 2 hours.

 Ingredients for  filling:-
Paneer(cottage cheese)-200 gms
Frozen peas or fresh peas-1cup
Garam masala-2tsp
Chilly powder-1/2tsp
Ginger-1inch piece
Garlic-6-7 cloves
Green chilly-4
Mint leaves-1tbsp chopped
Coriander leaves-1tbsp chopped
salt to taste

Method

• Add all the ingredients except cottage cheese in a mixer grinder and grind it to a coarse paste. 
• Now mix the paste to the cottage cheese and  prepare the filling 

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 6

Step 5

How to proceed: 

Step 1-Make small balls from the dough and roll into disc shape. Add a spoon full of the prepared mixture.

Step 2-Now fold the one side 

Step3-Now fold the othe side.

Step4-Now fold both the side to make a square shape.

Step 5-Roll into square shape roties and brush ghee while rolling

Step 6- Fry the kulchas on hot griddle by applying ghee(clarified butter) on both the sides.

Serve hot with any salad or with chutney or with tomato sauce.

Butter chicken

Butter chicken 

Ingredients for marination:-

Chicken pieces-1kg

Curd-1cup

Edible  orange-red color-1/2tsp

Ginger-garlic paste-1tbsp

lime juice-1tsp

salt-2tsp

Apply all the ingredients and marinate for at least 6-7 hours or overnight for that soft and juicy results.

Ingredients for the gravy:-

1. Tomato puree-2 cups
2. Ginger-garlic paste
3. Brown onion paste-1tbsp
4. Cashew nut -10(soak and make fine paste)
5. Cinnamon-2 pieces
6. Cloves-6-7
7. Fennel seeds-2tsp
8. Kasoori methi-2tsp
9. Green Cardamom-4-5
10. Cardamom(badi elichi)-2
11. Coriander-1tsp
12. cumin -1tsp
13. Red chilly powder-3tsp
14. Green chilly-2 chopped
15. Butter-1heaped tbsp
16. coconut paste(optional)-2tbsp

Method:-

• To prepare brown onion paste fry 4 medium sized onion sliced to golder brown and grind it to fine paste.
• Dry roast 3-9 ingredients and powder(use it as garam masala)
• Heat half the butter on a medium flame in a heavy-bottom pan,put it in the chicken along with the marinate.Cover and cook for about 20 mins.After the liquid has evaporated,stir fry the chicken for sometime.
• Heat the remaining butter in sauce pan add chilly powder,garam masala,tomato puree and salt to taste fry for sometime.
• Now add brown onion paste and the ginger garlic paste and saute further till the puree thickens and the fat separates.
• Now add the cooked chicken,chopped green chillies and both  cashew and coconut paste.
• Add 2 glasses of water ,a tsp of sugar and cover and cook over low flame for about 10 mins.
• Just before serving pour some melted butter and creme and finely chopped coriander leaves.
• Serve hot with indian bread(roti) or ghee rice.

 Note:you can use boneless chicken for this preparation.

Stuffed pomfret with boiled eggs

 Ingredients:-
For the 1st marination:
Pompret-4(slit half the pompret from middle with a sharp knife)
vinegar-2tsp
chilly powder-2 tsp
salt-1tsp
turmeric-1/2tsp


Rub this all ingredients to the fish and let it remain for 15 min or until the 2nd masala gets ready.


For 2nd marination:-
Mint leaves-1 cup
coriander leaves-1 cup
green chilly-6-7
cumin seed-1tsp
lemon-1
onion-1(chopped)
garam masala-1tsp
coriander seeds-1tsp
salt-1tsp
cornflour-2tsp
boiled eggs-3(sliced)


Grind all the ingredients except eggs to a fine paste and now apply masala on the fish and stuff the fish with egg slices and the masala paste.Tie the fish with a string to avoid the stuffing to come out.Once you done with all your fish.Take a pan and shallow fry with oil on both the sides.Use a lid to cover the fish while frying.Fry till dark brown.
Serve hot with finger chips.

Garlic chutney

Garlic chutney

Garlic is a widely recognized health enhancing supplement around the world.Garlic promotes the well being of the heart and immune systems with antioxidant properties and helps maintain healthy blood circulation.Garlic has germanium in it.Germanium is an anti-cancer agent and garlic has more of it than any other herbs.Another health benefit  of garlic is it helps regulate the body's blood pressure.So whether you have a problems with low or high blood pressure garlic can help equalize it .It is also a good choice for killing and expelling parasites such has pin worms from the body.
         In addition to all these health benefits,garlic is packed with vitamins and nutrients .Some of them are vitamin A ,B,B2  and C,calcium ,Zinc, potassium, protein and many others.

                                I still remember whenever i had this tonsillitis my amma(mom) used to advise me to have garlic with beaten rice.Just crush few garlic cloves and have it  along with beaten rice,chew it for some time and swallow it.It acts like a antibiotic. Another   mom's remedy, when ever our servant used to complain of pain in her fingers due to peeling off the skin around her finger tips,my mom used to fry some garlic along with some salt and used to tie them around her finger and believe me the pain just vanishes within no time.so garlic is a very useful herb.I try to add this in my daily diet in some forms.Today i want to share this tasty garlic chutney which we use to carry when we used to travel by train  along with our soft idlies.Let me start with the ingredients for this lovey chutney.


Ingredients:-
coconut-1/2(grated)
garlic cloves-8-10(crushed slightly)
red chillies-6
tamarind-1marble sized ball
salt-1tsp
coconut oil or any other oil-1tsp


Method:-

Oondi(steamed rice balls) a mangalorean special

• Fry garlic and red chillies in coconut or any other vegetable oil till garlic changes to light brown color.
• Now grind garlic ,red chillies ,tamarind coconut and salt to fine paste with very little water to fine paste.
• serve with dosa,chapati or idli.

Note:-If you want to keep this for a couple of days then add little more oil while frying garlic and just don't add any water while grinding.

hot and sweet mint chutney

 Fresh Mint  has  cool rich pungent flavor. that pair well with anything whether its tandoori dishes or fried pakodas or our south indian dosa and idli or north indian paratas or any drinks. It may  also help in indigestion,headaches and other health problems.Mint is low in calorie and high in vitamins and minerals..Fresh mint is a very good source of  vitamin C to help boost your immune system.Vitamin C also has antioxidant properties.I think this information is helpful to all those who hardly use mint in their daily diet. So  thought of sharing some chutneys.Today i am sharing this hot and sweet chutney.

Mint chutney

Ingredients:-

Fresh mint leaves-1bunch

Green chillies-6-7

Coriander leaves-1/4 bunch

Garlic5-7 cloves

Ginger-1 inch piece

Mustard-1/2tsp

Saunf(fennel seeds)-1tsp

tamarind-1 marble sized ball

sugar-2tsp

salt-1/2tsp

oil-1tsp for seasoning.

Method:-

Crispy Egg pakoda..

• clean and wash the leaves.
• Grind it along with all the ingredients axcept mustard seeds.Add little water while making the paste.
• Now prepare seasoning.Add a tsp of oil.when the oil get hot put mustard and let it sizzle.Then just add this to the chutney.

Chicken Tangdi Kabab

curd rice(south indian yogurt rice with fruit and nut)

Curd rice or mosaranna in kannada is most popular rice dish in  south india and Maharashtra.In many temples this dish is served as pasadam(blessed food)after offering to god.Therefore this dish is very divine for me.Many people prefer it with lime or mango pickle, which is a great combination hence this is bit sour.Normally we serve this at the end of our lunch or dinner.If you are travelling and you prefer home cooked food then this is the best choice.I also prefer this dish for picnics and for the my kidslunch box.Because of curd and fruits this dish is very cooling effect which makes a perfect summer dish too.

Ingredients:-

rice-1 cup(basmathi rice or sona masoori)

curd-1/2ltr

for seasoning:-

green chilly-2-3 chopped

mustard-1tsp

curry leaves-5-6

ginger-1inch piece

oil -1tsp

for garnishing:-

pomegranate seeds-1 cup

cashew nut-8-10 roasted

raisins-1tbsp

grapes-1/4 cup chopped or cut into half

Method:-

• prepare rice by adding 21/2cups of water in a pressure cooker and cook till 30 mins or boil 1ltr water in a sauce pan and then add washed rice and cook till its sticky and soft.Then strain the water. Allow it to cool completely.
• In a bowl add cooled rice in that put  thick curd and salt to taste( you can add little sugar if you want).
• Now prepare seasoning .heat the small seasoning pan put some oil then add mustard let it sizzle then add green chilly and ginger .At last add curry leaves and switch off the gas.Pour this over the rice-curd mixture.Mix it well.
• At last garnish with pomegranate seeds,cashew nut ,raisins and with grapes.

Oondi(steamed rice balls) a mangalorean special

Oondi is a specialty of mangalore.In konkani we call it oondi and in tulu they call it pundi but the taste and the method is same.oodi goes well with any kind of chutney or with any curries.Even you can serve this with home made ghee or jam or with honey.I served with Garlic chutney.

oondi with garlic chutney

Ingredients:-
Par boiled rice(white ukda,katsambar in konkani) - 2cups
coconut-2cups(grated)
salt to taste
For tempering:
mustard-1tsp
fenugreek seeds(methi)-1/2tsp
Urad dal-1tsp
ghee or any oil-1tbsp

Method:-

• soak boiled rice overnight or 5-6 hours  and next day morning grind it along with coconut and with 2tsp of salt to a coarse paste.
• In a kadai or thick bottom sauce pan put a table spoon of ghee or any vegetable oil.
• when the oil gets hot add urad dal let it change its colour to light brown add mustard followed by fenugreek seed.Let it change its colour to light brown
• Now add the ground rice and coconut mixture add 5 glasses of water and keep stirring all the time until its dry and leaves the side of the kadai.

Note: you can add more coconut if you like for that extra coconutty flavour

• now make round balls and just make a small well in the middle.
• now place the container in the pressure cooker or idli steamer and steam for about 20 minutes on high and 10 minutes on low flame.

2nd method

2 -cups idli rava

1/2 -1 cup freshly grated coconut

Salt to taste

4- cups of water 

Soak rava for 20 -30 mins,then strain the water and keep aside.Grind coconut coarsely with a cup of water.Add this to the soaked rava.Add remaining water and salt to taste and mix it well.
Rest is same as 1st method.

• Serve hot with any chutney or sambar.

Note: Don't put too much water in the cooker.

sliver fish curry manglorean style( mothyaley ambat )

Once again i am posting ambat but this time it is with fish.As i have mentioned in my last post of matki ambat this dish is also mild spicy but  really great in taste.you can really enjoy the flavor of the fish.Normally we prepare this fish ambat with less smelly fish like,silver fish,butter fish ,lady fish or with king fish.But if you like less spicy curry then you can try it with the other fishes too.

Ingredients:-

Silver fish-1/2kg(scale,clean,wash)

coconut-1/2(grate)

red chillies-7-8(roasted in oil)

tamarind-1 marble sized lump

onion-1chopped finely for seasoning 

Method:-

• Grind coconut,red chilly and tamarind to a smooth paste.
• Heat a sauce pan add the masala and bring it to a boil.
• Now add the cleaned fish and let it simmer for about 5 min and switch off the gas.
• Now prepare for the seasoning in a small pan.Add little coconut oil in that add chopped onion and fry till brown.
• Add this to the curry,cover for 10 mins.
• Serve hot with rice.
•