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Showing posts with label chutney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chutney. Show all posts

Sunday, February 9, 2014

"Tamarind Quinoa" and "Cranberry Panchamrut"

"Puliogare"(Tamarind Rice) ..the quick version with MTR Puliogare powder..has become my 'to-go' favorite recipe! The rice comes out so flavorful and is ready in minutes! I almost sound like a MTR spokesperson don't I ;)
 In the quest to find more ways to use Quinoa in 'acceptable' ways in an Indian household...I came up with the 'swap' version...where the boiled rice is replaced with boiled Quinoa...and you have a nutritious,wholesome and 'Tangy-Spicy' meal ready!
Spicy-Tangy-Sweet Panchamrut:
Panchamrut is a maharashtrian favorite...sort of  a 'Chutney" made with roasted peanuts, coconut, tamarind, jaggery, green chilies etc. To add to the 'Sweet-tangy' theme..I added dried cranberries to give a boost of color and flavor!

Ingredients:
For Tamarind Quinoa:
3/4th cup quinoa boiled as per package directions with some salt
1tbsp roasted peanuts
1-2tbsp MTR Puliogare powder
1tsp each Urad dal, chana dal
1/2tsp Red chili powder
1/2tsp mustard seeds
few curry leaves
2tsp oil
Cilantro for garnish

Method:
1) Boil quinoa till fluffy.Fluff with a fork and let it cool.
2) Heat oil, add mustard,the dals and fry till light brown. Add the peanuts, puliogare powder,chili powder curry leaves and the boiled quinoa, toss.
Done!
Cranberry Panchamrut

Ingredients:
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
1/4 cup dry roasted coconut
1/4cup dried cranberries
1tsp maharashtrian goda masala
1tsp jaggery
1tsp oil
2 green chilies
1/2 tsp each mustard, cumin, methi seeds
1/2tsp Tamicon tamarind concentrate
1/2tsp red chili powder
1/2tsp turmeric
1 pinch asafetida(hing)
few curry leaves
salt

Method:
1)  In a blender, turn the coconut,peanuts, tamarind, jaggery into coarse paste
2) Heat oil, add mustard, cumin, methi seeds, curry leaves, turmeric.Add the coconut-peanut paste and the rest of the spices and some water
3) Add the cranberries and cook for 1 min.
Serve like 'Chutney" with Chapati/ rice/ Ghavan etc




Saturday, December 7, 2013

"Mix Daal" + Brown Rice Idlies/ Dosa with Mint-Spinach Peanut Chutney


It is amazing that how a cooking process/ way of cooking changes the same 'batter' into two extremely different textures!! The same batter results into a Crispy thin Dosa and Tender fluffy idlies!
I have experimented with a bunch of variety of Idlies (You can find the recipes here-http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Indian%20Food)....and today I used 3 different daals and brown rice to make this delicious idli-dosa combo lunch!

Here is "E's favorite way to eat dosa..."Topi" Dosa....dosa folded like a hat!

Ingredients:
1.5 cups Long grain brown rice
1/3 cup Urad daal
1/3 cup Moong daal
1/3 cup Chana daal
salt
Sliced carrots(optional) for Idlies

Method:
1) Soak the daals and rice together for 4 hours.
2) Grind into fine paste in a mixie/blender with water to make a semi-thick consistency batter.
3) Ferment overnight till the batter doubles in size ( I pre-warm the oven for 8 mins on the oven 'warm' setting.Then turn the Oven OFF.But the batter in the oven and cover with a lid.OR you can leave the oven light on overnight to make some warmth in the oven and help the batter rise.)
4) Just before cooking Idlies, add the salt, stir gently 2-3 times.Over mixing will result in flat idlies.
5) Spray the idli stand with oil cooking spray. Add sliced carrots(optional), add batter and steam for 15-20 mins
6)Serve hot along with Chutney and Sambar

Dosa
1) Heat a nonstick pan on medium heat.When heated apply oil to the pan with a paper towel.
2) Spread a large spoonful batter thinly into circular shape quickly.
3) Add few drops of oil to the sides.Let it crisp up and turn golden brown.
4) Serve hot along with Chutney/Potato bhaji/ sambar

Mint-Spinach Peanut Chutney

1/2 Cup roasted peanuts
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
10-12 mint leaves
2-3 green chilies
1/2tsp ginger
1/2tsp cumin
salt
sugar
 In a blender/mixie and all the ingredients and blend into a fine paste with some water.






Monday, March 25, 2013

South Indian Fiesta!! Semi-homemade Puliogare and Pesarattu with Tomato-Ginger Chutney

Need I say..I LOVE South Indian food?? With all the Idli and Dosa recipes I post....you know it by now...I love that cuisine!! My friends A, P,V and T have a lions share in that. I have had the most deliciousssest of the foods cooked in their kitchens!
In the past couple weeks, I cooked these delicacies for a birthday and a baby shower and thought of sharing them with you all!
Semi-Homemade Puliogare :
It's the small things that make a BIG difference. I bought the MTR Puliogare powder and I love that stuff.So yummy..it's perfect! I jazzed up the rice with a 'tadka' of extra peanuts, urad dal, chana dal, red chilies, curry leaves and the colorful festive Pomegranate! Small additions making it look and taste more 'mouthwatering'!
Ingredients:
1 Cup long grain rice
4-5 tsp MTR puliogare powder
4tsp Peanuts
2tsp Urad dal
2tsp Chana dal
1/2tsp mustard seeds
2 Dried Red chilies
few curries leaves
Chopped cilantro
1/4 cup Pomegranate seeds for garnish
salt
4tsp oil

Method:
1) Wash the rice, drain and keep aside for 30 mins.
2) Boil 2 cups water.Heat 1tsp oil, saute the rice for 2-3 mins. Add the boiled water and some salt (very imp!!...makes the rice tasty).Let it cook till all the water is gone and the rice is cooked.Turn off the heat.Keep it covered for 5 mins. Then spread it on big platter to cool off.This way the grains will remain separated.Let it cool completely. You can cook the rice a day before too and store in refrigerator.
3) In another pan, heat 3tsp oil, add the mustard seeds, peanuts.Fry for 1 min.Add the curry leaves, dal,red chilies and fry till dals are golden.Add the MTR Puliogare powder,mix. Add the cooked rice, mix.Adjust for salt.
5) Before serving, garnish with chopped cilantro and pomegranate seeds.


Pesarattu with Tomato-Ginger Chutney:

 I had my first Pesarattu at 'P's house. I loved how healthy and easy to make this dosa was..and ever since this 'light green dosa' is a staple in our kitchen!
Ingredients:
1 Cup Green whole moong
1/4 cup rice flour
1/2 inch piece of ginger
1tsp cumin seeds
1-2 green chilies
salt
oil

Method:
1) Soak the green moong for 8-10 hrs. Drain the water. Let them sprout for a day or two.
2) Grind together sprouted moong, ginger, cumin, chilies. Make into fine paste.
3) Add the rice flour, salt and mix
4) Heat a non stick pan/tawa, brush lightly with oil (I use a small piece of paper towel dipped in oil an drub it on the tawa).
5) Place a large spoon of batter and spread into a dosa. Let it cook on low-medium flame till it crisps up.
 6) Roll it and serve with Sambar and chutney
Sambar recipe:http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/12/brown-rice-idlis-and-dosa.html
 Green Peanut Chutney: http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-little-tummies-spinach-dosa-with.html


 Pesarattu Uttapa:
With same batter, make Uttapas with chopped onion, green chilies,cilantro and sliced tomato in the center!




 Tomato-Ginger Chutney:
Ingredients:
2 large Ripe red tomatoes chopped
1/2 inch piece of ginger
2 red chilies
3tsp urad dal
1tsp chana dal
3tsp roasted chana dal(daala/pandharpuri dal)
1tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp cumin seeds
salt
2tsp oil
8-10curry leaves

Method:
1) Heat 1 tsp oil, add 1/2tsp mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin, half of the curry leaves, red chilies, roasted chana dal etc and fry. Add the tomatoes and fry for few mins, till they are cooked and most of the water evaporates.Add salt, ginger piece.Let it cool completely.
2) Grind into fine paste.
3) Tadka: Heat 1tsp oil, add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, drizzle over the chutney.











Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Brown Rice Idlis and Dosa

Brown Rice....how many times have I decided to start using it..mainly as "Rice"....but somehow my palate isn't ready...and I keep postponing it.

Few months ago, when "E' was performing a dance at the Ganapati festival, we had the crispiest, yummiest Dosa at one of his friends house. 'V' makes excellent South Indian food.I was amazed at how delicious and crispy the Dosa was..and could hardly make out....that it was made with brown rice, neither by color nor texture nor taste.
Couple days ago....I made up my mind..and bought a 2lb bag of Brown Rice at Walmart for $ 1.32(good deal ha!!)
Inspired by "V''s Brown rice Dosa....I decided to make the batter and mark the beginning of "Brown Rice" era at home!


Batter--
2 Cups Brown rice
1 Cup Urad Dal
Water to soak
Soak the Rice and Daal separately in water for 5-6 hours.The water should cover the rice/daal and little over it.
Grind into a fine paste with the water that it was soaked in.So the rice doesn't loose any essential vitamins.
Let it ferment overnight.I preheat the oven to 'warm' for 5 mins, TURN IT OFF, before I put the batter in a large vessel and keep it overnight in the oven to ferment.
After it ferments and fluffs up...add salt to taste.
Idlis-
Steam the batter in idli stand for 15-20 mins. Serve hot with sambar and chutney





Dosa--
Preheat non stick pan/tava
Smear oil with a paper towel on the tava.
Spread a spoonful batter onto the tava and let it cook on low-medium flame till it browns and crisps up.
Serve immediately with Sambar and chutney.



 Sambar--

1 Cup well cooked Toor dal/masoor dal
1/2 cup Veggies like drumsticks, pumpkin, raddish, gourd,potato etc
1 tomato sliced
1/2 onion sliced
1/2tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp Cumin
1/2tsp Methi seeds
2-3 tsp Sambar masala ( I used MTR brand)
1tsp red chili powder
1/2tsp turmeric powder
1/2tsp Tamarind concentrate
1/2tsp Jaggery
Curry leaves
2 Red whole chilies
2 tsp oil
salt

Heat the oil, add the mustard seeds, cumin,methi seeds, curry leaves, red chili.Fry for few seconds.Add the onion,tomatoes and veggies and fry for 2-3 mins.
Add turmeric, sambar masala,chili powder and the daal.
Add enough water to make desired consistency and then add the remaining ingredients. Let it boil for few minutes till the veggies cook.Serve hot!


 Coconut-Cilantro Chutney--
1/2 cup fresh coconut
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
3-4 green chilies
1/4tsp ginger
1 clove garlic
1/2tsp cumin
salt
sugar
few drops lemon juice
1tsp oil,1/2tsp mustard, curry leaves for tempering

 Grind coconut,cilantro,chilies etc into a fine paste in a blender. Heat 1tsp oil add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Let it crackle and then add to the ground Chutney.






Thursday, May 26, 2011

"For Little Tummies"- Spinach Dosa with Walnut or Peanut Chutney and Potato Bhaji

As a mother of two little kids,sometimes 'putting a meal together' seems like a problem solving process to me.There are various conditions- it has to healthy, can be ready in less time, it is not too tricky to make, can be made with ingredients that are on hand etc etc. With all the conditions...finally you should be able to make something that everyone in the family likes and tastes good too!
I thought this dosa was a good example of that.It is made from rice and urad flour (so no need to blend soaked rice and dal like in traditional dosas), has spinach for the 'health boost', the green color appeals kids, and it tastes good too!
Ingredients:
Spinach Dosas:
2 cups Spinach washed and pureed
1 and 1/2 cup Rice flour
1 cup Urad flour
1/2 cup Sooji/Rava
1/4th cup Yogurt
salt
oil

1) Mix all the above together and add water to make a smooth batter.Let it soak for 30-40 mins.
2) On a non stick pan, apply oil . Add about 1/2 cup batter and spread to make a round.
3) Once golden brown on one side, carefully flip on the other side and let it cook for another minute or so.

4) Serve with Peanut Chutney or Walnut Chutney/ Potato Bhaji/Sambar

Walnut Chutney :
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2010/05/for-little-tummies-sandwiches-with.html

Peanut Chutney:



1/2 cup Roasted shelled peanuts
1 green chili
1 clove garlic
1/2tsp ginger paste
1/2tsp cumin seeds
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt
sugar
Blend everything together in a mixer with little water to get a smooth consistency.

Potato Bhaji:

3 medium boiled potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 onion sliced
1tsp ginger garlic paste
few curry leaves
1 green chili sliced
1/2tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp cumin seeds
1tsp Turmeric
salt
oil
1) Heat about 2tbsp oil.When it os hot, add the mustard seeds, cumin, onions,curry leaves, ginger garlic paste, chilies.Fry for 3-4 mins.
Add turmeric powder.
2) Add the chopped boiled potatoes, salt and mix.
3) Fry for a 2 mins and take off the flame.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

'Everyday cooking'-Butternut Squash curry and chutney

Butternut Squash





Went grocery shopping last evening with 'E'. 'M' stayed @home because he wasn't feeling very well( and well..he isn't a grocery shopping enthusiast either!) He has this theory,where scientists work on making a 'food capsule',which you take once every 6 months..and you don't need to go grocery shopping,cook, eat and do the dishes! How convenient..and ya..how lazy????
Anyways......
At the grocery store,there were these fresh pumpkins and all kinds of colorful squash.'E' loved to look at those and touch them. I usually buy the 'precut' butternut squash,as it makes my life easier and they do a pretty good job of cutting into neat squares.But yesterday I thought..oh well..'E' will love to take a whole one home.So I bought this whole butternut squash.
This morning 'E' woke up and sensed that we are getting him ready for his pre school(Which just started last week..and ohh boyy..there is a lotttt of crying and 'mumma' mumma' there.) He started crying and telling me he doesn't want to go to school.Just to distract him,I reminded about the pumpkins we saw at the grocery store yesterday...and that mumma is going to make 'pumpkin curry/bhaaji' for him today after he comes back from school. I got him ready..and started for school.Throughout the way he kept crying..and telling me 'I want to eat pumpkin bhaaji..I want to eat Pumpkin bhaaji'!!!!! My poor little one...he thought if I make the bhaaji now,he doesn't have to go to school! How innocent!

Squash Curry/Bhaaji





Ingredients:
2 cups Butternut Squash cut into cubes
1 green chilli
5-6 Curry leaves
1/4tsp methi seeds
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 cup ground peanut/cashews(I use cashews because 'E' is allergic to peanuts)
Turmeric,asfoetida,salt to taste
1tsp oil
1/2 cup Water
Method:
1) Heat 1tsp oil,add cumin,methi,mustard,turmeric,asfoetida,curry leaves.
2) Add the precut squash.
3) Saute,add water,salt,water and simmer for about 7-8 mins
4) Add peanut/cashew powder,mix
5) Garnish with coriander.
6) Serve with warm rotis/chapatis/rice
Squash Chutney





This year when we visited India,my mother in law mentioned that pumpkin is her favorite vegetable.She said,it not only tastes good,but you can use all the parts of the pumpkin and nothing goes waste.She makes curry/bhaaji out of the pulp(is that what you call it?) ,she makes chutney from the pumpkin peel/skins and dries the seeds to use as snack later! Wow! I decided to follow her foot steps and use the squash to the fullest!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Squash peels ground in a blender
1/4 cup peanut/cashew powder
1/4 tsp Cumin,mustard ,sesame seeds
1 green chilli ground along with squash peels
1 clove garlic ground along with squash peels
Turmeric,asafoetida,salt,sugar,chilli powder to taste
1tsp oil
Method:
1) Heat oil,add mustard,cumin,sesame seeds.Add the ground squash peels.
2) Saute on low flame for 6-7 mins
3) Add salt,peanut powder,chilli powder,sugar.
4) Saute again for 2-4 mins.
Feel good about using the squash to the fullest and stretching the dollar!