Idiyappam/Nool Puttu

Not sure what is this called in your place. It is famous by the name idiyappam I guess. But in our place its called as Nool Puttu. This is a quick and easy breakfast item. However, I have this any time I like not necessarily for breakfast. What you require is a very good idiyappam maker and an idly steamer or normal steamer. The combination for this is enormous. The basic combo is green peas curry, chicken stew, veg kuruma, egg curry, egg roast etc. Refer to the curries in my blog I have tagged.

Ingredients:
Rice Flour/Idiyappam Powder       1 cup
Water                                              1 ¼ cup
Salt
Coconut oil

Method:
1. Dry roast the rice flour in a pan for 2 mins.
2. Remove from flame and heat 1.25 cups of water with little salt. Do not boil this just heat.
3. Now add this into the roasted flour and mix well with a wooden spoon.
4. Mix it until you can knead it with hand. The dough will be super-hot, be careful.
5. Knead well. Meanwhile, heat water in the steamer.
6. Now, apply oil inside the idiyappam maker, the tip and even on the idly steamer racks.
7. Fill the maker with the dough and pipe out. Refer to the image of the end-product.
8. Top with some grated coconut and steam for 5-7 minutes.
9. Yummy idiyappams will be ready to serve.

Green Gram/Cherupayar Curry

One of the best combinations for puttu, chappathi and even idiyappam. Easy and quick made curry.

Ingredients:

Green Gram/Cherupayar                1 cup

Coconut                                          1/2 cup

Garlic                                              2 cloves

Cumin seeds                                   1 tsp

Green chilly                                    1

Turmeric Powder                            1/4 tsp

Red Chilly Powder                         1 1/2 tsp

Mustard Seeds

Coconut oil

Curry Leaves

Salt

Method:

1. Cook the green gram in pressure cooker with enough water for 1 whistle.

2. Into this cooked green gram, add salt, turmeric powder, red chilly powder and boil for 5 mins.

3. Grind the coconut, green chilly and cumin seeds to a fine paste.

4. Add this to the cooked green gram.

5. Meanwhile, heat coconut oil in a pan and sputter mustard seeds and add chopped garlic and curry leaves.

6. Add this to green gram and cook until you get the desired consistency.

7. Enjoy the curry with some hot puttu or chappathi :)

Bombay Vegetable Sandwich

I had this first time from a restaurant in UAE and totally loved it. So filling but not at heavy. Super yummy and easy vegetable sandwich. There you go. This recipe can make 4 sandwiches.

Ingredients:
White bread             8 slices
Potato                      1
Capsicum                1 small
Onion                      1 small
Tomato                    1 small
Mint leaves              handful
Coriander leaves      handful
Yogurt                      1 tbsp
Green chilly             1
Ginger                      1 small piece
Mozzarella cheese   1 tbsp shredded
Butter
Salt

Method;
1. Boil potato and keep aside.
2. Chop onion, capsicum and tomato.
3. Mash the potato, add chopped vegetables and salt.
4. Now prepare the paste for the bread.
5. In a grinder add yogurt, ginger, green chilly, salt, mint leaves and coriander leaves.
6. On one side of each bread spread the paste.
7. Add the vegetable mix on one slice and spread evenly.
8. On the other slice add cheese,
9. Now combine this and toast with butter on both sides and until the cheese is melted.
10. Yummy veg sandwich ready to serve :)

Mushroom and Spinach Oats Porridge

Healthy and tasty savory oats recipe. I have done this in my way, you can tweak it with different sauces, truffle or even cheese.

Ingredients:
Oats                           2 cups
Mushroom                 1/2 tin
Spinach grated           1/2 cup
Garlic                         2 cloves
Crushed Red chilly    1 tsp
Dried Thyme             1/2 tsp
Dried Parsley             1/2 tsp
Chicken Stock Cube 1
Water                         3 cups
Nando's sauces or hot sauce
Salt

Method:
1. In a pan, heat butter, add chopped garlic, mushrooms, dried thyme, dried parsley and salt.
2. Saute this until mushrooms turn light brown.
3. To this, add spinach and cook until well done.
4. Meanwhile, boil 3 cups of water and add chicken stock cube, mix well and keep aside.
5. Once spinach is done, add oats, crushed black pepper and saute for 2 mins.
6. Add the prepared chicken stock to this and cook until the oats are done.
7. Finally add the crushed red chilly, off the flame and serve hot.

Tomato Chutney..!

 One of the best combination with Dosa or Idly. Tangy and little spicy chutney. 

Ingredients:
Tomato                  2
Onion                    1
Chana dal              1 tsp
Garlic                    2-3 cloves
Dried Red Chilly   2
Salt
Mustard Seeds       1 tsp
Hing Powder          a pinch
Turmeric Powder   1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder 1 tsp
Curry Leaves
Coconut Oil

Method:
1. Heat coconut oil in a pan.
2. Add chana dal, chopped garlic, chopped onion and dried red chillies.
3. Saute this until onions are transparent.
4. Add the chopped tomatoes, salt and saute until completely soft.
5. Add a pinch of turmeric powder, a pinch of hing powder and 1 tsp of chilli powder.
6. Off the flame and cool it.
7. Blend this into a fine paste.
8. In another pan, heat coconut oil and sputter mustard seeds, curry leaves and a ping of hing powder.
9. Pour this over the grinder paste and your tasty tomato chutney is ready to serve! 

Palak Paneer...!!!

This is a yummy veggie recipe... This is basically a combination of spinach, tomato and paneer with some Indian spices... :)
Lets start with the recipe..

Ingredients:

Spinach(Palak)	300 gm
Green chilly	3
Water	3 cups (for blanching spinach)
Onion	2
Garlic	5 cloves
Ginger	a small pc
Tomato	1
Cumin seeds	½ tsp
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Red Chilly powder	½ tsp
Asafoetida/ hing powder	a pinch
Garam Masala	½ tsp
Bay leaf	1
Kasuri Methi	1 tsp
Paneer / cottage cheese	300 gm
Whipping cream	2 tbsp.
Butter	2 tbsp.

  Salt

Method:

1. Clean the spinach thoroughly under running water.
2. In a vessel boil 3 cups of water. Off the flame and add spinach into this.
3. Keep it for around 2-3 mins. Drain excess water.
4. Pour cold water over the spinach to cool it down before grinding it.
5. In a blender add spinach and green chillies and blend into a smooth paste.
6. In a pan heat butter and add bay leaf and chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
7. Now add chopped ginger and garlic and sauté until the raw smell goes off.
8. Add chopped tomato and sauté until they are soft.
9. Into this add turmeric powder, red chilly powder and hing powder and sauté for a min.
10. Now add the spinach paste into this along with 1/2 cup of water, add salt and cook until the raw smell of spinach goes off.
11. Once the curry have reached the desired consistency add the cubed paneer pieces (I sauted it in butter).
12. Add the whipped cream and kasoori methi above the curry. Off the flame and serve hot with chappattis or nan :) :)

Mushroom Pulav..!

This is one of my personal favorite. I like mushroom made in every style. This pulav has a very different flavor as it is cooked in coconut milk. This goes well with butter chicken, chicken kuruma or any other curries. I have taken this picture along with Chicken Kuruma. I will be uploading the Kuruma recipe after this.

Ingredients:
Basmati Rice                  2 cups
Mushrooms                    2 tins of 200 gms or 400 gms fresh 
Onion                             3 (sliced)
Green Chilly                  4 or as per taste
Ginger - Garlic paste     1 tsp
Cinnamon                      2 small stick
Cloves                            5-6
Cardamom                     3-4
Bay leaves                     2
Coconut Milk                3 cups (for 1 cup basmati it should be 1.5 cups of water)
Ghee
Salt

Method:

1. Soak the rice for 15 minutes in water.
2. In a bottom thick vessel add ghee, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
3. Once this is heated, add onions, green chilly, salt and saute till translucent.
4. Then add ginger-garlic paste and saute until the raw smell goes.
5. Add mushrooms and saute for 5 mins.
6. Now add the rice and fry for 5 mins.
7. Into this add coconut milk, cover and cook until the rice is cooked well.
8. Serve hot with curry of your choice :)

Avial.....!!!

Hi all.... I know its been a quite long time now.... Got really busy with house,friends and family.... So its yet another year here..... Lets all pray that may it be more better than last year and may we all have a blessed year ahead..... 

Now here is another famous south Indian side dish.... This is my all time favorite.. I love it the way my mom cooks this for me... I would eat a lot of rice just with this... Its easy to make tasty to eat and really healthy as well....

Preparation Time : 5 mins

Cooking Time : 20 mins

Serves : 3

Ingredients:

Assorted veggies	3 cups
Grated coconut	½ cup
Green chilly	2
Jeera	a pinch
Water	1 tbsp
Yogurt	¼ cup
Turmeric powder	½ tsp
Green Mango	2 slices
Coconut oil
Salt
Curry leaves

Method:

1. Cook the veggies with turmeric powder, enough water,green mango and salt.

2. Meanwhile, grind grated coconut,jeera, green chilly, and 1 tsbp of water together in a grinder to a thick paste.

3. Once the veggies are almost done, add the ground paste and mix and cover and cook for 5 mins.

4. Now add yogurt into this and mix and cook for another 2 mins.

5. Off the flame and add 1 tbsp of coconut oil and curry leaves. 

6. Serve hot with steamed rice :) :)

Note:

• You can add any veggies as per your taste. I used carrot,drum stick, ash gourd, snake gourd, ivy gourd and raw plantain.

Bindhi/Okra/Lady's Finger Masala......!!!!

One of the vegetable which is rich in Vitamins. This is indeed a best dinner for all. This goes well with chapattis.

Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 20 mins

Serves : 2 - 3

Ingredients:

Lady's Finger	500 gms
Onion	2
Ginger (chopped)	1 tbsp
Garlic (chopped)	1 tbsp
Green chilly	2
Tomato	1
Turmeric powder	½ tsp
Coriander powder	1 tsp
Kashmiri chilly powder	1 tsp
Garam masala	½ tsp
Cumin seeds
Coriander leaves
Salt
Oil

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan and fry the lady's finger cut into medium pcs with salt.

2. Fry until slightly crispy.

3. Now drain the fried okra and keep aside.

4. In the same oil sputter cumin seeds.

5. Add sliced onions into this ans saute until golden brown. Add salt(careful with the amount since we added while frying okra).

6. Now add the chopped ginger, garlic and split green chilies.

7. Once this is saute well, add turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder and garam masala and mix well and saute.

8. Add sliced tomato into this and saute until soft.

9. Now add the fried okra into this and mix well and close and cook for 5 mins.

10. Now open the lid and stir fry or another 5 mins. Top with coriander leaves and serve hot with chapattis.... :)

Chana Masala.....!!!!

One of my all time fav! Chana Masala!!!

Preparation Time : 10 - 15 mins

Cooking Time : 15 mins

Serves : 2 - 3

Ingredients:

Chana (White chick pea)	1 cup
Onion	2
Ginger	1 pc
Garlic	5 cloves
Green chilly	2
Tomato	1
Cardamom	3
Cloves	3
Cinnamon stick	1 small pc
Bay leaf	1
Cumin seeds	1 tsp
Kashmiri Chilly powder	1 tsp
Turmeric powder	1/2 tsp
Coriander powder	1 tsp
Garam masala	1 tsp
Salt
Oil

Method:

1. Pressure cook the chick pea with enough water and salt and keep aside.

2. Make a paste of kashmiri chilly powder, turmeric powder, coriander powerder, garam masala with little water and keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan and sputter cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaf and cumin seeds.

3. Add slices onions in to this and add required salt and saute well.

4. Once onions are done, add ginger, garlic and green chilly and saute again.

5. Add tomato into this and mix well until soft.

6. Once this is done, add the prepared paste into this.

8. Saute this until the raw smell goes off.

9. Now add the cooked chana into this and mix well.

10. Close and cook until the gravy thickens and reaches the desired consistency.

11. Off the flame and add freshly chopped onions and coriander leaves.

12. Serve hot with chapattis :) :)

Dal Curry......!!!

An easy Dal recipe which goes well with rice, chapattis and nan....!

Preparation Time : 10 mins
Cooking Time : 30 mins
Serves : 4

Ingredients :

Toor Dal	½ cup
Onion	1
Garlic	4 cloves
Tomato	1
Green Chilly	2
Turmeric Powder	½ tsp
Red Chilly Powder	1 tsp
Mustard Seeds	1 tsp
Cumin Seeds	½ tsp
Curry Leaves
Coriander Leaves
Salt
Oil

Method:

1. Clean and cook the dal with 2 garlic sliced and salt.

2. Heat oil in a pan and sputter mustard and cumin seeds.

3. Once completely popped, add chopped onion and saute.

4. Add chopped garlic, green chilly and saute again.

5. Now add turmeric powder and red chilly powder and mix well.

6. Once the raw smell goes off add tomato and saute it until soft.

7. Now add this to the cooked dal and mix well.

8. Boil this for a minute and off the flame. Add curry leaves and coriander leaves.

9. Serve hot :) :)

Chilli Gopi......!!!

I am a big fan of this dish.... There are a wide varieties of recipes made out of cauliflower including Chinese and Indian... This one is a North Indian cuisine... Its easy to make and its really yummy........

Preparation Time : 10 mins
Cooking Time : 15 mins
Serves : 2-3

Ingredients:

Cauliflower	1
Onions (Chopped)	1
Ginger (chopped)	small piece
Garlic  (chopped)	5 cloves
Green Chilly	2
Tomato	1
Turmeric Powder	½ tsp
Kashmiri chilly powder	1 tsp
Cumin Seeds	½ tsp
Coriander leaves
Salt
Oil

Method: 
1. Separate the cauliflower into small florets.
2. Put this in hot water with turmeric powder, this helps to clean it. Drain the water after 10 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a pan and add the cauliflower with salt and fly till slightly crispy and keep aside.
4. Now, drain the excess oil and sputter cumin seeds. 
5. Add chopped onions and saute well. 
6. Add ginger, garlic an green chilly and saute again.     
7. Now add turmeric powder and chilly powder and saute until the raw smell goes off.
8. Now add tomatoes and saute until they are soft.
9. Once done, add the fried cauliflower and mix well. Add more salt if required.
10. Close and cook for few minutes until dry.
11. Add chopped coriander leaves.
12. Serve hot... :)