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

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

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.

• 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.

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

• 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 .