Instant Puliyogrey!!

Normally we buy instant puliyogrey mix or we have to prepare our own powder which is a very long process .But  this puliyogrey is  simple easy and quick prepare.All you need is Sambar powder. I think everybody has got Sambar powderso if you feel like having puliyogrey here is the quick way to make it..

              I got this recipe from my co-sister in law.Her mum used to prepare this for her tiffin when she was a kid.So i have also started preparing this  for my kids and now it  is their favourite dish .you can use left over rice too and it takes approximately 10mins. 

Ingredients:-
Cooked rice-2 cups
sambar powder-2tsp
Tamarind pulp-2tsp
Jaggery -2tsp
Mustard-1tsp
Grated dry copra-1tbsp
Ground nuts-1tbsp
Black sesame seed-1tsp
Curry leaves-8-10
Salt to taste


Method:-

• Mix jaggery in tamarind pulp till it dissolves .
• Now heat a kadai or pan put some coconut or ground nut oil or any other veg-oil and then add some ground nuts and fry till they turns to light brown.
• Now add some mustard and let it crackle.Now add sesame seed followed by curry leaves.
• Now its time to add  Sambar powder, saute  till its changes to dark red colour, immediately mix in tamarind pulp and  salt to taste.bring to boil.
• Now add the cooked rice and mix it well.
• Garnish with grated copra and serve hot .

Note: you can use basmathi or any  other local rice for this preparation.

Stir fried bottle gourd peel with potato and chow chow

stir fried bottle gourd with potato and chow chow

We GSB's eat  a lot of different vegetable peels which is tasty  and healthy too.So in my todays dish its not the bottle gourd but its peel is the main ingredient i am using along with some potato and some chow chow(simey badaney in kannada).

My mom used to prepare this dish at that time i remember she used to tell how to choose the gourd It should be  free from blemishes or dark spots and it should look soft and tender with shiny outer cover.So when we cook the peels it should melt in the mouth.

bottle gourd peels

Ingredients:-

bottle gourd peels

Bottle gourd peels-2 cups(cut into long stripes)

Potato-1(cut into long stripes with the peels)

chow chow-1 small(peel off the skin and cut into long stripes)(optional)

Chilly powder-1tsp

Mustard seeds-1tsp

Asafoetida-1tsp

Salt to taste
oil-1tbsp

Method:-

• Heat oil in a kadai add mustard seeds .Let it crackle for some times then add chilly powder followed by asafoetida.
• Now add bottle gourd peels,potato and chow chow and salt to taste.
• Cover and cook on low flame till done.
• Serve hot with rice and dal.

Stir fried bottle gourd peels

Eggless Zebra cake!!

Y'day was my hubby's Birthday so i wanted to bake some special cake for him so thought of this.Actual recipe is with egg but i thought of making it eggless and it really came out fluffy and nice.

       

Eggless zebra cake

Ingredients:-

Maida(all purpose flour)-11/2 cup

Sugar-1 cup(powdered)

Cocoa Powder-1tbsp

Milk-1/2 to 1 cup(as required)

Vanilla essence-2 tsp

Vinegar-2tsp

Baking powder-11/2 tsp

Baking soda-1/2tsp

Cooking oil-3/4 cup

Method:-

• Preheat the oven to 200/400F.Grease the mould  and set aside.
• Now beat the Powdered sugar with oil till it dissolves.You can use blender for mixing the sugar.
• Add vinegar and mix it again.
• Now add baking powder and baking soda and blend it nicely.
• Next add  milk and  the vanilla essence  and blend it again.
• Now its time to add flour.Add little flour at a time and blend.
• If the mixture is too thick then add little milk.
• Now divide the cake batter into 2 equal parts.
• Mix the cocoa powder to one part of the batter gently with a spoon or spatula without any lumps. 

How to proceed:-

before baking

• Now place the greased  mould on a flat surface.
• Now pour a ladle full  plain batter in the middle of the pan.
• Now gently pour the cocoa batter over the 1st batter.
• Repeat with the 2 batters alternately until both the batter used up.
• No need to spead the batter as you put the 2nd batter the 1st will automatically goes sideways.
• Now lower the temperature to 180/350F and bake for 30-35 mins till the toothpick comes out clean.
• Take it out and let it cool for sometime and transfer it to a wire rack for 15-20 mins.
• Now Zebra cake is ready.  

inside view

Hot n tangy Calamari(squid)

Ingredients:-
Squid-1/2 kg
Onion-2 sliced 
Ginger-Garlic paste-2-3tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2tsp
Green chilly-6-7(roughly chopped)
Red chilly powder-1/2tsp
White vinegar-1tsp
Tamarind juice-1tsp
Lemon juice-1tsp
Green chilly sauce-1/2tsp

How to clean the squid:-
1st step-Remove head from squid body
2nd step-Peel off the skin.
3rd step-pull out the cartilage or thin plasic sort of thing from the inner body.
4th step-cut into rings
5th step-wash and keep aside.


Method:-

• Marinate the rings with vinegar,chilly sauce,turmeric powder,ginger-garlic paste and little salt.
• Heat oil in a pan add chopped onion,green chillies and saute for few mins or till onions turns to light pink color.
• Add the red chilly powder and saute for a second.
• Now add the marinated squids and keep stirring on medium flame.
• Now add the tamarind juice,cover and cook for 5mins or till its cooked.
• Squeeze some lemon juice and serve hot with steamed rice.

Hinga (asafoetida)chutney....

GSB Konkani's want this chutney almost daily.The main flavor comes from asafoetida.This chutney goes well Protein rich (Soya bean and horse gram) dosor any other dosa ,idli or kottey idli..

Asafoetida chutney

Ingredients:-
Coconut-1cup(grated)
Green chilly-2
Red chilly-1
Tamarind-a small marble sized lump
Asafoetida-a small marble sized lump 
         or
Asafoetida powder-1small tsp
Salt to taste
Mustard seeds and curry leaves for tempering.
 Oil-2tsp

 red chilly and green chilly

Method:-

• Fry  chillies and asafoetida  with a tsp of oil as shown in the picture.
• Now grind all the ingredients to smooth paste.
• Now take a small pan add a tsp of oil,heat on medium flame.Now drop some mustard and let it crackle followed by curry leaves and switch off the gas.
• Garnish the chutney with the this seasoning.

French beans kismori......a.konkani dish

french beans kismori

Kismori is typical konkani dish mostly prepared using fried bitter gourd or carrots but just for a change i tried this with  french beans

Ingredietns

French beans-1/4 kg(finely chopped)

Onion-2 finely chopped 

Green chilly-2 chopped 

Coconut-2tbsp(grated)

Ginger-small piece(finely chopped)

Coriander leaves for garnishing 

Lemon juice-1tsp

Salt to taste

chopped french beans

Method:-

• Blanch beans till its soft.
• Now heat a pan add ginger,green chillies followed by blanched beans and salt.Stir for 5mins.Switch off the gas and transfer this to seving bowl .
• Garnish with chopped onion,grated coconut and sprinkle some coriander leaves.
• Add some lemon juice before serving.

Protein rich (Soya bean and horse gram) dosa..Muchkat or doddak in konkani

A healthy protein rich dosa is very good choice for kids and those people who are on protein rich diet,specially  overweight and obese people.This dosa contains horse gram and soya beans,both are rich in protein ,iron and other vitamins which is essential in our daily diet.If you really want to shed those extra pounds then start including horsegram and soyabean in your daily diet. You can prepare so many dishes like horsegram-soya bean usli,idli using soya and urad dal & horsegram. 

         This is my Bapama's(grand mom) recipe with little jo's twist.

 Ingredients:- 
Horse gram-1 cup
Rice(dosa)-2 cups
Soy bean-1/2 cup
Salt to taste

Method:-

• Soak soy bean and Horse gram for  about 6-7 hours.
• Soak rice for about an hour.
• Now grind soy bean and horse gram together to fine paste till  fluffy and keep aside.
• Grind rice to coarse paste  like  semolina/rava with little water.
• Add rice batter to the soya-horse gram batter ,mix it well and keep it overnight  for fermenting .The batter should be little thicker then the usual dosa batter. In summer  i would suggest you to keep only for 3-4 hours for fermenting. 

How to proceed:-

1st method:-

• Heat a thick bottom pan as shown in the picture.
• Add 2tsp of oil put some mustard,let it crackle immediately put a ladle full batter and spread it slowly but it should be thicker then the normal dosa.
• cook on a slow fire covering with a lid.
• Fry on both the sides till brown and crisp. 

2nd method:-

• Heat a non-stick dosa tava or normal iron griddle apply oil and spread the batter like we make normal dosa and fry on both the sides till crispy. Serve hot with Hinga (asafoetida)chutney or  sambar

Rava urad dal idli...satvik food..specially for shivrathri

Today is shivratri festival so we hindu's fast whole day....but according to GSB's fasting means they just avoid rice,garlic and onion.So is quite common to prepare this idli because rava is allowed in our fasting.

 Ingredients:-
Urad dal-1 cup
wheat semolina(rava)-21/2 cups
Salt -2tsp

Method:-

• Soak urad dal for 4-5 hours
• Now grind the dal into smooth paste, the batter should not be too thick as we have to add rava later.

• Now take a clean muslin cloth or any white cloth and put the rava ,tie it and steam it in a double boiler or in a idli steamer as shown in the above picture for about 10-15 mins on a midium flame.Make sure that water won't go inside the rava  so tie the cloth properly.

• Now spread the rava,on a plate to cool a bit.

• After 30 mins mix the rava with the urad dal batter and leave it overnight to ferment and aslo add 2tsp of salt.

• Next day morning,give it a nice beat and add some more water if needed.The batter should be medium thick.
• Now boil the water in a idli steamer and grease the idli cups, fill it and steam idlis for 15 min. 1st 10 mins on high flame then 5 mins on medium flame.
• Now open the lid and take out the idli cups and let it cool a bit.Then scoop idli out of the cup and transfer it to a bowl.
• Serve hot with Ginger chutney or any chutney of your choice.

Note: if you are using wet/electric grinder then add 3 cups of rava instead of 21/2 cup.

Palak paneer( cottage cheese in spinach gravy)

Palak Paneer is a specialty of north India but now it is quite famous in south India too especially vegetarians love this dish.I prefer home made paneer for my dish as it is very creamy and soft.

Palak paneer ,rice,curd ,dal and roti

Ingredients:-
Spinach(palak)-2 bunch
Full cream milk-1ltr(for paneer)
             or
Paneer-250g(cubed)

Palak Paneer

Cream-1/2 cup
Curd-1tbsp
Tomato-1chopped
Onion-2(chopped finely)
Cloves-5-6
Cinnamon-2 (inch pieces)
Cardamom-2
Green chilly-3-4
Ginger-1small piece
Garlic-8-9 cloves
Cumin-1tsp
Chilly powder-1tsp
Sugar-1/2tsp(optional)
Kasoori Methi(dried methi leaves)-1heaped spoon(optional)
Ghee or Oil-1tbsp(for cooking)


Method for making paneer:-

• Heat  milk on a high flame and when it comes to boil add lemon juice or vinegar to curdle.Once the milk curdles discard the water and  collect the cheese and transfer into a muslin cloth and tie it and keep under a weight for an hour .Let all the water to drain.
• After an hour you will get nice soft paneer .now keep this in the refrigerator for about 30 mins-1hour.
• After an hour take it out and cut into cubes and keep aside.

Method:-

• Separate the leaves of spinach from its stem.Now wash it properly and finely chop.
• Heat a pan add 2tsp of oil or ghee in that add cloves, cinnamon,cardamom,ginger,garlic,tomato,  1 choppped onion,Green chilly and little salt(as spinach too contain little salt).Saute till moisture evaporates.
• Now add chopped spinach leaves and fry till its half cooked or changes its color(dark green).
• Let it cool now trasfer this to a blender and make a fine paste.
• Before taking out add 3/4 of the cream and add to the paste and blend it well just for a second.
• Now heat a sauce pan add remaing ghee or oil,add cumin seeds .Let it crackle now add the chilly powder and 1onion chopped and saute till it turns to light pink followed by curd.Fry for few mins till oil comes to top.
• Now add the ground spinach paste and the kasoori methi if you are using
• Bring to boil at this stage add cottage cheese(paneer) pieces and boil again.check for salt and add sugar if you are using.Switch of the gas.
• Before serving add fresh remaining cream and serve with roti. 

Roti Pizza

I  always try to make my kids lunch box more interesting by packing something  new,yummy and tasty.But daily trying new recipe is a big headache so i try something new with the same old dish, In short i give a new look to my simple dish .Here i have tried to give a new look to  my simple roti..........a pizza look.

Ingredients:-

Wheat flour-2 cups

Egg-12

Onion-2 chopped

Capsicum-2 chopped

Green chilly-2 chopped

Mozzarella cheese -200g

Oregano for garnishing

Pepper powder-2tsp

Method:-

• Mix wheat flour,salt,a tsp of oil  and water to make a soft dough and keep it covered  for 30mins.
• In a bowl grate mozzarella cheese and keep aside.
• Now divide the dough into 6 big balls and roll into thick disk.
• In a bowl beat 2 eggs for each roti at a time until light and fluffy.Now add 2tsp of onion,1/4tsp of chilly,2tsp of capsicum,2-3 tsp of grated cheese and salt to taste.Mix it well.
• Heat a non-stick pan and start frying roti in a medium flame.1st fry roti on one side  and then flip it to fry on the other side.At this stage spread the egg mixture and sprinkle oregano and pepper and cover with a lid.now simmer the gas and let it cook.Now open the lid and serve hot with tomato sauce.
• Prepare all the roti in the same way.
• Yummy roti pizza is ready  for kids lunch box.

Note: you can use cheese over the roti instead of mixing with the egg.

Palak Parata(spinach parata)

Ingredients:-

Palak(spinach)-2bunch

Wheat flour-3cups

Green chilly-6-7

Ginger-1 inch piece

Garlic-5-6 cloves

curd-1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Method:-

• Grind palak,green chilly,ginger and garlic to fine paste with very little water.
• Now add this paste to wheat flour and also add some salt 
• Now knead soft dough using curd and little oil or ghee.
• Now make 10-12  big lemon size balls and roll into disk 
• Heate a  griddle or tava and fry on  both the sides using little ghee( clarified butter) or with any vegetable oil.
• Serve hot with butter or curd or  with tomato sauce.

Spicy Prawn Curry...konkani style( sugta hinga udka upkari)

This is my grand mom's recipe and one of my favourite dish.I love this dish because its spicy and slightly different from our typical konkani curry.In this curry we do not use coconut ,only red chillies and tamarind and asafoetida which is cooked in coconut oil for flavor.That is why this dish is called sungta( prawns)hinga udka(asafoetida water) upkari.This special curry  we can  prepare with either prawns ,mussel or shark not with any other fish.It i s very simple and easy curry.So those who love spicy can try this. 

Ingredients:-

Prawns-1kg(shelled and de-veined )

Kashmiri Red chilly-15-20

Tamarind-1 big lemon sized lump

Asafoetida-2tsp (if it is in powder form)or 1marble sized ball

Salt to taste.

Coconut oil-2tbsp

                 

Method:-

• Roast red chillies with a 1tsp of coconut oil on low flame till it changes to dark red.
• Now grind chillies and tamarind to a fine paste and keep aside.
• Heat a sauce pan and add coconut oil.
• In that add ground masala paste and asafoetida powder or asafoetida water and bring to boil.
• Now add the prawns and cook until the gravy thickens.
• Serve hot with rice.

Actually its a dry dish which you can keep for couple of days without refrigerating.All you have to do is heat it twice.The next day it tastes heavenly.I prefer this dish little wet which goes well with my boiled rice.The real taste comes from the coconut oil and the asafoetida. 

Bottle gourd and rice pudding

 I love bottle gourd for its huge benifits as i have mentioned in my last post  bottle gourd halwa.So i try to add bottle gourd in some or the other form..Today i used in my rice pudding and it was tasting better.I have also added some dates to make it more nutritious.This is really good for kids and for adults too.

Ingredients:-

Bottle gourd-1small(grated)

Basmathi rice-2tbsp

Full cream milk-1ltr

Sugar-11/2 cup

dates-1/2 cup(chopped finely)

cinnamon powder-1/2tsp

cashew nut,raisins and dates for garnishing-1/4 cup

Method:

• Soak rice in water for 30 mins.
• Pressure cook  grated bottle gourd  and dates for 15 mins without any water (as it contains lot of water ).
• grind  the rice to smooth paste.
• heat a heavy bottom sauce pan and boil the milk along with rice paste and when it comes to boil add cooked bottle gourd and dates and continue boiling until the mixture thickens.
• If it is too thick then add  a cup of water and then boil.
• Once it is done add cinnamon powder and then refrigerate for 2hours.
• Before serving garnish with cahsew nut,raisins and dates. 

Steamed eggless muffins

This muffin recipe is  from my very old collection .Earlier i used to do all my cakes in a steamer or in a cooker,but never tried  this muffins. when i saw one muffin recipe in some magazine i thought of trying ,as it was very easy and quick to make.I am sure your kids are really going to love this .So if you are looking for something quick and easy then you can try this different kind of muffins for a change.

Ingredients you need :-
Maida(all purpose flour)- 1 cup
Powdered sugar-3/4cup
Fruit essence or vanilla essence-1heaped tsp
Baking soda-1/2tsp
Baking powder-1tsp
Curd-1/2cup
cashew nuts-5-6 chopped finely
Sunflower oil-1/2cup
yellow food color-2drops
Vinegar-2tsp
Mixed fruit jam for 


Method:-

• Sift maida flour ,soda and baking powder together.
• Now beat sugar,essence,food color and oil in a blender  until creamy.
• Now add vinegar and curd,blend it well.You can use hand blender too.
• Now fold in maida and nuts gently in the  same direction.
• Now grease the muffin moulds( you can use paper cups)
• Fill all the moulds 1/2 full .
• Now put the water into idli steamer or pressure cooker and switch on the gas.
• Place the muffin moulds  in preheated steamer and steam for 15 min,after 15mins check with the toothpick  whether it is cooked  or not .

you can use different types of icing to decorate this muffins .Here i have used just a drop of mixed fruit jam .

Steamed butter fish in banana leaf

Ingredients:-

1. Butter fish-4-5
2. coconut -1tbsp(grated)
3. green chilly-7-8
4. ginger-1inch piece
5. garlic-5-6 cloves
6. coriander leaves-1tbsp
7. mint leaves- 1tbsp
8. cumin seeds-1tsp
9. Turmeric-1/2tsp
10. salt to taste
11. lemon-1

Method

• Clean and make some slits  on the fish.Apply lemon juice,salt and turmeric and keep side for 10min.
• In the mean time make a coarse paste from 2 to 8 no ingredients .
• Now apply this to marinated fish and  keep aside.
• Make 4-5 pieces of banana leaf and start wrapping.
• Place each fish on the banana leaf along with some paste and  fold the banana leaf and intact with the toothpick. 

Fish before wrapping

wrapped fish

• Now heat a frying pan and keep one by one wrapped fish and cover  with a lid , cook over a low flame for 10 mins.If you feel banana leaf is burning add a table spoon of water and cover again.let it steam in its own juice.
• Serve hot with rice and fish curry.

fish after steaming

Davangere Benne Dosa(butter dosa)

This dosa is named after one small city of Karnataka called Davangere.This city is famous for different types of dosa.Today i want to share one of the famous dosa called Benne means butter .The flavour and the aroma of the  this dosa is dominated by butter  as blob of butter is used while making this dosa and for diet concious i recommend  low fat butter  which is as good as normal butter.

Ingredients:-

Dosa rice-2cups

boiled rice-1/2cup

Beaten rice-1tbsp

Urad dal-1/2cup

Methi seeds(fenugreek)-1tsp

Butter for preparing dosa-2tbsp

Method:-

• Soak all the ingredients  together for 8-9 hours.
• Grind to smooth paste with water.The batter should be medium consistency.Add salt and keep overnight.
• Next morning give a nice stir and start preparing dosa
• Heat a griddle or non-stick dosa tava and spread a ladle full to spead the 12 diameter dosa and add a teaspoon full butter and fry on both the side till you get that brown color.
• Serve with a dollop of butter ,chutney and sambar.

Dil Daar thepla(Gujarati Cuisine)

Gujarati's day starts and ends with this dish..Thepla is a all time favorite Gujarati cuisine.They preserve it for couple of days.It is the best choice for picnics and for travelling.Normally they make it in round disk shape as you all know only 3days left for valentine i thought of making heart shape so you too can make and share with your loved ones.  

Ingredients:-
Wheat flour-2cups
Chickpea flour(besan)-1/2cup
Rice flour-1/2cup
Green chilly-4-5
Red chilly powder-1tsp
Coriander leaves-2 cup(chopped)
Garam masala-1tsp
turmeric-1/2tsp
Asafoetida-1/2tsp
yogurt-1cup
Ghee for kneading dough-2tbsp


Method:-

• Mix all the ingredients together and knead to a soft dough with  little water and ghee.
• Make 15-18 balls and roll into thin 8-10 diameter rounds.
• Heat the skillet on high heat and put some ghee and start frying thepla one by one until brown spot appears on both the sides.
• Serve it as a evening snack or have for breakfast with gujrathi chevdo or can have for  lunch or dinner with any vegetable curry.