Monday, March 30, 2015

Water Melon Juice

             Summer can be enjoyed with the various cool and delicious juices. One such easy to make is  the Watermelon juice, as the Water Melon is available everywhere and is also very economical.

Water Melon Juice


Ingredients :

Sliced pieces of Watermelon ( Seeds removed )    4 cups
Sugar    6 - 8 tsp.
Coconut Milk   1/2 cup.

Method :

1. Blend the Watermelon in the mixer with sugar. Mix the Coconut Milk. It can be refrigerated or not as per our desire. The tasty Watermelon juice is ready.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Rava Dosai

             Rava Dosai is being prepared by me for several years. But it became perfect only, after watching the cookery demo. by Venkatesh Bhat in Vijay TV.

            Thanks to Bhat and Vijay TV.

Rava Dosai


To prepare 10 Dosais :

Ingredients :

Rava / Sooji    1/2 cup
Maida   1/2 cup
Rice Flour     1/2 cup.
Onion    3 - 5
Green Chilly   2
Ginger   1 small piece
Almonds, Cashew
Pepper,   Cummin , Salt,   Curry Leaves,  Coriander Leaves.

Method :

1. Mix Rava, Maida, Rice Flour and salt. Add the finely chopped nuts and green chillies and Ginger. Add the coarsely powdered Pepper and Cummin. Add the chopped Curry leaves and Coriander leaves.

2. Add water and make a batter as watery as Rasam.This watery consistency of the batter is the main secret of the thin and crisp Rava dosai.

3.Heat the Dosai Tawa, sprinkle the finely chopped onion and after a few seconds, pour the batter on the onions uniformly in the shape of a Dosai using a small cup. Do not touch the Tawa.You can see pores forming throughout on the surface of the Dosai, indicating the right consistency of the batter. 

4.Wait patiently till the batter gets cooked on medium flame.The bottom becomes slightly brown. You can remove from the Tawa or flip to the other side and remove, as per your desire.The yummy Rava Dosai is ready.

 

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Vazhaikkai Pachadi / Raw Banana Raitha

                                 This recipe was passed on to me by my daughter, who had relished this in a dinner hosted by one of her friends at home. It is very easy to prepare and tastes good.


Vazhaikkai Raitha




Ingredients :

Raw Banana 1
Curd    1 cup

For Seasoning :

Onion( optional )  1 ( to be finely chopped )
Grated coconut  ( optional )  1 tbsp
Green chilly ( chopped )   2
Salt, Oil, Mustard, Urad Dhal,
Channa Dhal, Hing

Method :

1. Cook the banana till it becomes soft. I always pressure cook carefully in a small cooker with little water and great care as it is fast and fuel efficient.

2. Mash or grate the cooked  the cooked Banana.

3. Heat oil and add the given things for seasoning till they are done. Cool.

4. Add the curd, salt, Coriander leaves. Mix well. The special Pachadi is ready.

Note :

Honestly speaking, it can be said to be a Pachadi by mixing our Vazhaikkai Podimas and curd.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Vengaya / Small Onion Chutney

              This Vengaya Chutney with little Tamarind is a unique Chutney of the Tirunelveli region. This goes very well with all Dosai  Varieties, especially Kurunai Dosai.

            Vengaya Chutney is very popular in Coimbatore. But Tamarind is not added.


Small Onion Chutney


Ingredients :

Small onions    1 cup
Red Chillies    4
Tamarind       a small piece

For Seasoning :

Salt, Oil, Mustard,  Curry Leaves,  Hing

Method:

1. Heat 2 tsp. of oil,roast the Chilly and Keep aside.Heat the same Kadai and sauté the onions till they turn golden brown. Soak the Tamarind in warm water.

2. After they cool, grind all the ingredients with little water, not very fine and very coarse.

3. Season with Mustard and Curry Leaves. The tasty Vengaya Chutney is ready.


Saturday, March 21, 2015

Paruppu Podi / Powder

                               This Paruppu Podi is the version of my mother in law.This is very ideal with lots of protein and advised to be used from kids to adults.

Paruppu Podi


Ingredients :

Toor Dhal   1/2 cup
Channa Dhal / Kadali Paruppu  1/2 cup
Pasi Paruppu / Moong Dhal 1/2 cup
Pottu Kadalai / Roasted Channa Dhal  1/2 cup
Red Chillies        4
Salt

Method :

1. Roast all the ingredients one by one in a Kadai till an aroma comes. Pottu
    Kadalai is to roasted only for a few seconds.

2. Powder together in a mixer with salt to the desired consistency. Garlic can also be added.

Note :

I always use less chillies as the powder can be used for all ages. More Chillies can also be added. Black Pepper can also be used instead of Chillies.Along with the chillies , little Pepper can be added for flavour.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Chappathi Noodles

                          This recipe, I came to know from a demonstration in a local TV channel. It is very simple and sure to be enjoyed by the kids. It is the best alternative for the regular Noodles, made from Maida, which is not so advisable. The vegetables make the dish very nutritious with the fibre content. This can be easily prepared with the left over 3 or 4 Chappathis.With the vegetables added, it can be a good evening tiffin for four.

Chappathi Noodles


Ingredients :

Chappathis    4
Onion   2
Carrot, Beans Capsicum, Cabbage ( sliced )Peas    1 -2 cups.
Spring Onion ( if available )    1
Garlic    5 pods
Green Chillies ( finely chopped )  2
Tomato Sauce   1 tsp.
Soya Sauce 1 tbsp
Salt, Oil.

Method :

1. Roll the Chappathis and cut them into long and thin shreds.

2. Heat 2 tbsp. of oil, sauté the onions, add the finely chopped Garlic,Chillies
    and the vegetables. Add salt. Saute well. The vegetables are supposed to be
    crunchy. So saute your family's taste, half or full cooked.

3.Add the shredded Chappathis, Tomato and Soya sauce. Mix well. Coriander
   leaves can be added. Those who like it to be exactly Chinese, can add
   Ajinomoto and Vinegar. Instead of finely chopped green chillies, Black or
   White pepper powder can be added. The tasty vegetable noodles are ready.
 

Friday, March 6, 2015

Chutney Powder

        This Chutney Powder, made out of Pottu Kadalai ( Roasted Channa Dhal ) is very handy, when we are short of time.This can also be used as a thickening agent. It can be mixed with little water, made into a paste and added to any gravy which is watery.It tastes better than Rice Flour as a thickening agent.It is also easier and quicker than Kadalai Mavu or Arisi Mavu which used for thickening take a few minutes to get cooked.


Chutney Powder


Ingredients :

Pottu Kadalai    1 cup
Red Chillies    2 - 4
Garlic Pods ( optional )   4
Salt.

Method :

1. All the ingredients  must be crisp and dry. Keep them in the sunlight for
    2 hours.Or else slightly dry roast them in a Kadai. Let them cool.

2. Finely powder all the dry ingredients with the salt in a mixer.Store in an 
    airtight container.This can be kept in the shelf and used. If garlic is not 
    added, it can be used for many months. With Garlic, it is better to be used 
    within two months. The multi purpose Powder is ready for use.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Milagu Kuzhambu

                  Milagu Kuzhambu is a gravy for rice. My mother in law is an expert in making this Kuzhambu. Milagu meaning Pepper is good for health.It is highly recommended for women after child birth.

Milagu Kuzhambu


Ingredients :

To roast :

Pepper    1 tbsp.
Coriander Seeds    2 tbsp.
Zeeragam    1 tsp.
Raw Rice    1 tsp.
Kadalai Paruppu     1 tsp.

 Other Ingredients :

Avaraikkai / Drumstick  / Garlic / Brinjal
Tamarind  1 small lemon size.
Small Onions    20
Curry Leaves
Grated Coconut   2 tbsp.
Mustard, Oil, Salt, Turmeric Powder.

Method :

1. Heat 1 tsp. of oil and roast the 5 ingredients till an aroma comes out. Rice and Kadalai Paruppu are just thickening agents. They can be deleted, if not preferred. After they cool, finely powder them. Then add 10 small onions, 4 pods of garlic and 2 springs of Curry Leaves. Grind them with minimum water.

2. Soak the tamarind in warm water and take 3 cups of Tamarind water. If the Tamarind is very good without dust, it can be ground in the mixer with the onion.

3. Heat 2 tsp. of oil, sauté the base vegetable with 10 small onions for 3 minutes. Add water, little salt and cook the vegetable till it becomes soft, absorbing the water.

4. Then add the Tamarind water mixed with Masala, Onion, Curry leaves paste. Add salt, Turmeric powder. Mix well and let it boil on a medium flame till it reduces to half. Then add the coconut, finely blended in the mixer. Simmer on low fire till the gravy becomes thick.

5. Heat 2 tbsp. of oil, add Mustard and curry leaves. Add to the gravy.The hot and tasty Milagu Kuzhambu is ready