Wednesday 30 April 2014

MALABAR AVIYAL

Whenever I see ash gaurd,pumpkin,aviyal is the first item my mind will think to make it off.I Love aviyal.
I like to have it even for dosa,adai,chappati,puri,anything.My mom used to prepare it in dry form,my MIL used to prepare it in little bit watery form.But both tastes awesome.Now we will see how to prepare aviyal.

INGREDIENTS

  1. Ash gaurd/chow chow/cucumber-3/4 cup
  2. pumpkin-1/2 cup
  3. Potato/raw plantain/sweet potato-1
  4. Drumstick-1
  5. Carrot-1
  6. French beans/cluster beans/ground beans-10-15
  7. Yam-1/4 cup
  8. Coconut oil-2-3 tblsp

TO GRIND

  1. Grated coconut-1 cup
  2. Green chilli-2
  3. Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
  4. Curry leaves-8-10
  5. Raw rice/rice flour-3/4 tsp
  6. Curd-2 tblsp

METHOD

  • Cut all the vegetables into 2 inch long pieces .
  • Grind coconut with chilli,cumin seeds,curry leaves,rice/rice flour into coarse paste using curd.Use whipper mode to grind.
  • Take a pan preferrably pressure pan.Put all the vegetables one by one.Add turmeric powder (only little),salt.
  • Stir it well.Cover it with pressure pan 's lid without adding weight.Allow the vegetables to cook.If there is no water sprinkle some water(not too much) since some vegetables added will release water by itself.
  • Cook till veggies turn soft but firm not overcooked.
  • Then add the grinded mixture and mix it well.
  • Drizzle some TABLESPOONS of coconut oil into the pan.Add some more curry leaves .Give a quick mix.
  • Switch it off.Transfer the contents into a serving bowl.Now malabar style aviyal is ready.


TOMATO GARLIC RASAM

                                         
I  usually don't have the habbit of making rasam daily.If my kids are not feeling well or if I feel  lazy ,I make rasam as it can be prepared in no time even though i don't like it to a great extent.
Now over to recipe.
INGREDIENTS
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  1. Tamarind-small lemon size
  2. Tomato-2(one finely cut into small pieces,one into four pieces)
  3. Garlic-5-6 flakes
  4. Rasam powder-1 tsp
  5. Pepper powder-coarsely crushed half a tsp
  6. Jeera powder-1/4 tsp
  7. Turmeric powder-A pinch
  8. Jaggery/sugar-to enhance the overall taste
  9. Hing-1/8 tsp
  10. Boiled Toor dal-1/2 cup .mash it and dissolve it in a cup of water.
  11. Salt-to taste
TO TEMPER

  1. Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
  2. Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
  3. Curry leaves-few
  4. Ghee-1/2 tsp

METHOD




  • Pour some hot boiling water over tamarind.Let it sit for 10 minutes.Alternatively u can microwave tamarind along with some water in a bowl for 2 minutes .And u can extract pulp from tamarind easily if u follow second method.I feel comfortable  by this way.
  • Take a deep pan(not a frying pan).
  • Pour some ghee .When it is hot,add mustard seeds,cumin seeds.Once it started to splatter ,add curry leaves.
  • Add tomatoes which is cout into 4 pieces(Reserve the other ).Saute for a minute.
  • Add tamarind pulp ,turmeric powder,rasam powder,pepper powder,jeera powder,salt,hing to the sauted tomatoes.
  • Since I forgot to add garlic,I added seperately into a pan by adding ghee into it and fried it for 1-2 minute.
  • Then I added garlic into the boiling rasam.No need to add seperately.U can add garlic while tempering itself and continue the process.
  • Let it boil for few minutes.
  • Then add toor dal water into it.
  • Now at this stage add finely chopped toamato pieces into it.
  • Add lots of coriander leaves.
  • Allow to boil till it becomes frothy (Don't boil for long time.just frothy is enough).Immediately transfer rasam into bowl and cover it with lid to retain the flavours)

Now rasam is ready to serve .

MULTICOLOUR VEGETABLE CURRY



Multicolour vegetable curry


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Since I had all vegetables in my fridge,but not enough to make a curry with a single veggie alone,I decided to plan for mixed veg curry making use of all veggies.Moreover nobody in my home likes kootu,avial except me and my mil.Here comes the recipe.
INGREDIENTS
  1. Chow chow-3 nos
  2. carrot-1
  3. Potato-2
  4. Fresh Or frozen green peas-2 handfull
  5. Grated coconut-2-3 tblsp
  6. Green chilli-1(Increase it if u want it little more spicy)

FOR TEMPERING
  • Mustard seeds-Half a tsp
  • Urad dal-1 tsp
  • Curry leaves-few

TO GRIND
  1. Coconut grated-2-3 tblsp
  2. Green chilli-1(Increase if u r spicier)

METHOD
  • First heat a pan.pour some oil into it.put items mentioned in the tempering
  • Then add veggies one by one the order of potato,chow chow,carrot leaving peas at this stage.
  • Put some turmeric powder and required amount of salt.Give a stir.Sprinkle some water only very less.Cover with a lid.

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  • After 5 mts,mix once again.Now add peas at this stage.Again mix it.Sprinkle water if required.Once again cover it with a lid.Let it cook.

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  • Check if veggies are cooked.After it has cooked,add the grinded mixture to it.Stir well to coat all veggies with grinded mixture.

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  • Add some drops of coconut oil into it and switch it off.

Now curry is ready to serve with hot steamed rice along with some kulambu or rasam.
NOTE:
U can use any vegetables of ur choice.U can add some onion after tempering and continue the rest of the procedure without adding coconut and green chilli.Instead add some red chilly powder.That will also taste good.


POMEGRANATE JUICE

Earlier I am not a great fondie of juices.But nowadays I like juices rather than having it as a fruit.So when I was searching in the net for making pomegranate juice,I looked so many sites and roughly got an idea how to make it.i adapted to my own style while making juices.But this juice is simply superb.The real twist is adding ginger,mint.The mint and ginger are perfect combination with pomegranate.Really I likedddd it very much.

                                                                                    INGREDIENTS

Pomegranate-1 full fruit
Ginger-1 inch piece
Mint-10 leaves
Sugar-to taste





METHOD

  1. Cut pomegranate.Deseed it.Peel the skin of ginger.Wash mint leaves.


  2.Put all the ingredients into mixie  jar.Use whipper option to grind.
     Don't whip it at a stretch.Give a gap in between.
     Use strainer to strain the juice .U can use a big spoon to ease the process of straining.

3.Return the left over strained item back into blender.Again whip it  adding some water and continue the process.Dont add more water as it will make juice very watery.
Pour it into tall juice tumblers and add ice cubes if u want.
Have a refreshing juice loaded with lots of nutrients .





Tuesday 29 April 2014

BADAM MIX

I bought ready made badam mix  powder from Nuts n Spices for my son.And it was over .And my husband also asked me to make a try .I  myself attempted so many times during my first pregnancy since i had more nausea  at that time hating coffee,tea,any malted beverages.So I started to recollect what I did earlier.And it turned out good close to store bought powder.
           Now I'm sharing the recipe here.


INGREDIENTS

  1. Badam/Almond-1 small cup
  2. cardamom-few
  3. Saffron- few strands
  4. Sugar-1 tablespoon


METHOD

  • Roast badam in pan until it  loses it's wetness inside.It should be crisp.U can do in microwave oven for 3-4 mts turning badam for each and every minute or until crisp.
  • Likewise do for cardamom .And for whatever nuts u use.Just give warm ness to saffron strands.That's enough.saffron won't withstand much heat.
  • Put all the ingredients into the mixer.
  • Turn on the mixer using whipper mode.
  • Just whip now and then.
  • Don't use pulse option .It will leak oil from nuts.
  • Repeat the process till u get fine powder.


Store the powder in air tight container to retain freshness.
U can store for days.

TO PREPARE BADAM MILK:
      Take 2 spoons of  badam powder,2 spoons of sugar,1 cup of hot milk.Spoon it till sugar dissolves.
      Serve it hot or chilled as you wish.

NOTES
U can add nuts of ur choice.u can even add cashews,pistas,combination of all .


CANTALOUPE/MUSKMELON JUICE

Nowadays everywhere hot sun is showing anger towards each and every person .In chennai itgetting worse as days are passing.Even though kathiri veyil has not yet started,its very tough to tolerate.So nowadays I made a habbit to have one juice everyday.Today I  made cantaloupe juice(kirni palam in Tamil).
I still remember the days I hate this fruit and never turned towards this fruit.But it's my MIL  who introduce this fruit 's taste.The first time I tasted,I didn't liked it to be frank.But nowadays after knowing the health benefits of this fruit,I changed my views.And now I liked it's taste.
Now over to recipe.



INGREDIENTS

CANTALOUPE(KIRNI PALAM) - HALF A FRUIT
SUGAR-4 TEASPOONS.
HONEY-OPTIONAL

METHOD
Cut the fruit into two halves.Now take out the seeds from it using scoop or small round laddle.
Using knife,seperate the pulp portion from outer skin.
Transfer the contents into blender.

Add sugar .If you are health conscious you can add honey.I added sugar only.
Blend it until all had blended nicely.
Now refreshing juice is ready to serve.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

HOMEMADE PIZZA SAUCE

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Here's the recipe for making pizza sauce.

Ingredients:
Tomato-3-4
Onion-1 small size
Garlic pods-2-3
Dried oregano-1tsp
Dried basil leaves-1tsp
Any Italian seasoning-optional
salt-to taste
Red chilli powder-1tsp

Red chilli sauce-1 -2tsp
Finely or partially crushed pepper powder-1/2 to 3/4 tsp
Tomato sauce/ tomato ketchup-1 -2 tblsp
Salsa-1-2 tsp
Sugar-1tsp
Olive oil-2 tblsp.If not any oil is ok.

Method:
  1. First blanch tomatoes.Remove skin and deseed it .Then grind it to make puree along with onion,garlic.
  2. Take a pan.Drizzle some oil.
  3. Put all the grinded items into it.Leave it for 2 minutes in simmer.
  4. After 2 mts,add all dry seasoning powders,spices,sauces,salt everything.
  5. Let the spices and the puree marry each other for sometime till they reach thick semi consistency.
  6. Check the taste.If anything found missing add it according to ur spice buds of your tongue.

     That's it.Your pizza sauce is ready at home free from preservatives.
     It can be refrigerated for 2 weeks.


As I've already made pizza using ready made pizza base with this sauce,only this small amount is remaining.Oh!I forgot to click snaps while making pizza.Next time I will share pizza recipe .