BESAN FLOUR PEDA

Easy to make sweet. Very tasty too.

Ingredients

Milk……250ml.

Dessicated coconut…3/4cup

Besan flour ……1cup

Ghee……1/4cup

Sugar…..3/4 to 1cup

Cardomom powder…1/2tsp

Method

I didn’t have dessicated coconut so fried coconut scrapings in a tawa.

Dry roasted it.

In a mixer jar grind coconut and milk into a fine paste.

In a kadai add 1/4cup ghee and add sieved besan flour mix well and fry for 3to 4mts.The raw smell should go and nice aroma will come.

Then add sugar according to your taste.and cardomom powder.

Mix well but not syrup.

Then dessicated coconut and milk mixture to it

Mix well till it is creamy.

It will get thickened.

Cook in medium flame.

It will leaves the sides of the pan.

To test when we take a small portion and make balls it will be intact.If not ready after making balls it will crumble or it will break.

RED CHILLI CHUTNEY FOR MASALA DOSA

I have shared many chutney receipes.Today I am sharing a chutney recipe for spread in on masala dosa.Not only that can have with ordinary dosa too.

Ingredients

Red chillies….4

Kasmiri red chillies…4

Tamarind……gooseberry size

Cumin seeds….1/4tsp

Onion……1/4cup chopped

Garlic…..5to 7cloves

Roasted channa dhal…..2tbs

Oil……1tbs

Salt as needed

Soak chillies and tamarind in warm water for 30mts.

In a pan add 1tbs oil add cumin seeds and then add garlic cloves and fry a little.

To a jar add red chillies,tamarind,onion,roasted channa dhal and add cumin seeds and garlic pods.

Add required amt of salt and grind to a smooth paste.

This chutney can used for neer dosa too

BEANS PORIAL WITH COCONUT MILK

Green beans are rich sources of Vitamin.A,Vit.C and Vit.K.Also rich in thiamine,niacin,VitB6,Vit.E.

They are good sources of minerals especially manganese. It is a good source of calcium,iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

They are good sources of complex carbohydrate.

BEANS when cooked with coconut milk is very tasty.This recipe is different from the regular method.

Ingredients

Beans …….chopped(250 gms)

Onion…1 or 2

Garlic…..6 to 10 cloves

Oil

Salt as needed

For grinding

Red chillies…… 4 to 5

Garlic….. 4 to 5 cloves

Coconut milk……1/4 to 1/2 cup

Method

Cook beans with very little water (1/2) tumbler.Keep aside

In a pan add oil when it gets heated add the grinded paste to it. Saute a little.

Add chopped onion and garlic and fry.

When it is sauted add the cooked beans to it.

Pour the coconut milk to it and lower the flame. Also add few curry leaves.

Mix well and when it dries remove from fire.

Serve with rice and sambar

NEER DOSA

Among dosa varieties this is easy to prepare. Few ingredients and different in taste. Neer dosa literally meaning water dosa in Tulu. This is a crepe from rice batter.This delicacy from Tulu Nadu region and a part of Udipi-Mangalorean cuisine.

It is known for its simple preparation method and lack of fermentation.It is usually served with coconut chutney,sambar or other nonveg. curries like chicken,mutton or egg curry.

The rice has to be soaked for few hours.

Here I have used raw rice also added coconut scrapings while grinding the batter. We can also coconut milk instead of coconut scrapings which adds to the taste.

Ingredients

Raw rice….1 cup

Coconut scrapings….1/4 to 1/2 cup

Salt as needed.

Method

Soak raw rice for 5 hrs.

Wash and drain put it in a mixer add coconut scrapings and then add little water to it. Grind it into a batter the consistency should be smooth.

Add needed salt to it.

Then add two to three cups of water and mix well.

The batter should be like that of rawa dosa batter consistency.

First heat dosa tawa. When it gets heated rub oil to grease the tawa.Now pour the batter with a dabara or a small bowl.

The dosa will have lots of hole . Needn’t flip the dosa.

When it is ready serve it when hot with side dish of your choice.

When you prepare dosa don’t keep on one above the other it will get sticky.

One of my friends suggested to add 1 green chilly while grinding to add to its taste.

RICE PUTTU/KERALA STYLE

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Kerala ,South India
Diet: Vegetarian

Rice puttu is common breakfast eaten in South Indian States not only in Kerala but also in Tamil Nadu and parts of Karnataka. It is made in steamed cylinders of ground rice layered with coconut scrapings. Puttu is served hot with sweet dish such as palm sugars and and bananas or with curries such as dal,chickpeas and non vegetarian curries.

Traditionally it was made in bamboo logs which gives a lovely aroma.

I made it from store bought rice flour.We need a special vessel called puttu kudam which is the puttu maker.This comes in two parts .The top cylindrical part is for steaming puttu.If we don’t have puttu kudam it can be steamed in idli pot. I have bought the upper steamer which can be kept on top of cooker or pressure pan.

Ingredients:

• Rice flour….1 cup
• Coconut scrapings….1/2 to 3/4 cup
• Salt as needed.

Method:

• Take cup of puttu flour in a mixing bowl
• Add salt .Mix well.
• Now sprinkle water as needed.To get a soft puttu the amount of rice flour to water ratio is important. When you hold between palms it should form lumps. When you press it should break or crumble.Break all lumps.
• I keep in cooker so kept water in it and covered the pan.
• Now first place the perforated disc in the cylinder.
• 
• Add 2 to 3 tbs of coconut scrapings in the vessel.
• Then add puttu flour till it reaches half of the cylinder.
• Then add 2 or 3 TBS of grated coconut then putting flour.
• Finally finish it with coconut scrapings and cover with lids.
• Place the cylinder portion on top of the pressure pan.
• 
• Water should boil
• Steam puttu till you see the steam releases through the top vent in the cover.
• The time taken depends on the flour.
• Remove the cylindrical part from the pan and cook for 3 to 4 mts
• Then using a skewer which comes with the puttu steamer and remove the steamed puttu.

Serve puttu with black kadalai curry, potato stew, banana ,moong dhal and papadam.

Choice is yours.

KERALA STYLE CHICKPEAS CURRY

I have already shared with you Channa curry for bhatura. This is a side dish for poori,roti,chappathi and this is different. Just like other receipes in Kerala we add Coconut for this recipe.

Ingredients

Chickpeas……..1 cup

Onions…..2

Tomatoes….2

Pepper powder….1/2 tsp

Coconut scrapings… ..1/2 cup for a extracting milk.

Ginger garlic paste….1 tsp

Cornflour…2 tsp

Lemon juice…1 lemon

Coriander leaves.

Coconut scrapings…..1 tbs(optional)

Garam masala powder….1 tsp or vegetable masala

Turmeric powder ….1/2 tsp

Cook chickpeas till it becomes soft.

Method

In a kadai .put oil in it. add 1 piece cinnamon. (Optional)

Now add onion fry a little and then add tomatoes

Now add pepper powder ginger garlic paste,garam masala or vegetable masala saute it after adding salt.

Add channa dhal then add coconut milk and corn flour mixed in water and allow. It to boil. Check for salt.

Cook and when done add lime juice and chopped coriander leaves.

COOKING TIPS

1. While preparing dough for poori mix 1tsp gram flour with it. The color of poori will be good
2. While preparing kesari add milk.
3. To de skin garlic put in hot water then in cold water.Drain the water. Easy to remove the skin
4. While breaking coconut wet it before.
5. If dosa dough is watery add rawa also grind coconut and add to it.
6. To check whether we have added salt to curry, check the bubbles if it is added it will boil in the centre,if not it will have bubbles in the corner.
7. Can add little oil to the idli batter it will be soft for longer period

LIFE HACKS

We have tricks for making day to day routine easier.I am going to share few.

1. To remove odour from fridge can dip a piece of cotton in any essence and keep it in the fridge.
2. When we use new nylon threads soak in soap water for some time and then use it
3. Can keep few pieces of mosquito mats under a paper where we keep clothes. This puts off small insects
4. To de skin garlic soak it water for few seconds and then remove it will be easy.
5. Excess fried papads can be stored in ziplock covers and store it in fridge.it will be crispier.
6. To retain the freshness of ginger garlic paste pour little oil and store it.
7. When we use fried onions to decorate Briyani add a dash of sugar it will turn red quickly.
8. To ripen fruits faster store them in paper bags
9. When we cook cauliflower add little milk to retain its whiteness.
10. When we store paneer in fridge store in a blotting paper it will be fresher.

KERALA STYLE BANANA FLOWER THORAN/VAZHAPOO PORIAL/BANANA FLOWER STIR FRY

Banana flower is known as annans heart.This is used as a vegetable..It is large which grows from the end of the bunch of bananas. It has outstanding medical properties.It is also known as banana blossom. It is packed with essential minerals such as phosphorus,calcium,potassium,copper, magnesium and iron.It is a rich source of Vitamins like A,C,E and also fiber and iron.It is packed with dietary fibre.

It has got antioxidant properties.It is good for diabetic patients.

It can be added to salads,stir friesand herbal tea.

Ingredients

Banana flower …..1

Green gram dhal…..1 cup

Mustard seeds…..1 tsp

Shallots….few or big onion 1 chopped

Turmeric…..1/2 tsp

Green chillies…3

Salt as needed

Curry leaves…few

Cumin seeds…1/2 tsp

Garlic.. 3 to 4 cloves

Oil…..as required

Method.

Boil green gram.It should not be mushy. Keep aside.

Just pulse coconut scrapings,g.chillies, garlic clovesand cumin seeds.

In a kadai add oil. I have used coconut oil.

Add mustard seeds when it splutters add curry leaves and chopped onion.

Fry and then add chopped banana flower add little salt.Dont add water.Fry for few minutes.

Now add grinded masala and turmeric and mix well.keep in centre and cover with a lid in a medium flame.

When it is almost cooked add boiled green gram and mix well.Again cook for3 mts in low flame.

It shd be dry.

Serve with rice as a side dish.

SAMBAR SADAM

I have given many lunch box recipes.

One such tasty recipe is sambar sadam. This recipe is a South Indian style .

I have cooked rice and dhal seperately then added veggies .This is a good combination of rice,lentil and vegetables which is a healthy one.

For sambar rice I have used a powder which I have made at home. Another option is to use sambar powder.

Ingredients for the powder.

Coriander seeds…..1 TSP
Chana dhal……….1 TSP
Urad dhal……..1/2 TSP
Pepper corns ….few

Cumin seeds 1/2 TSP
Red chillies….1

Fenugreek seeds….1/4 tsp

Fry these ingredients and powder it.

Another option is to add 2 TBS coconut scrapings and grind into paste.

I have fried coconut scrapings and added to the rice.Since I had this powder without coconut.

Ingredients

Ghee…….2 or 3 TBS
Mustard seed……1/4 TSP
Urad dhal…..1/2 TSP
Rice….1 cup

Toor dhal….1/4 cup

Redchillies…1

Shallots……few

Tomato ….1

Potato….1

Drumstick…few pieces/Peas/Brinjal/Beans(any veggies of your choice)

Carrot……1

Tamarind…..small gooseberry size

Curry leaves….few

Coriander leaves chopped 1 TBS

Turmeric powder…..1/2 tsp

Method

Cook rice and dhal seperately.

In a kadai.Add ghee.

Now add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal and red chilly.

Now add curry leaves,shallots, tomato fry a little then add drumstick and carrot.Add salt.

Fry then add turmeric Powder and then the powder which has been made.

Then add tamarind extract and allow the veggies to get cooked.

Now add cooked dhal and rice to it. If you want you can add fried coconut scrapings.

It will get thickened after sometime so while adding water be careful.

When rice,dhal, tamarind extract and vegetables blends well remove from fire and finally add chopped coriander leaves.

Serve with papad,salad or Cathal.