Thursday, March 13, 2008

Kathirikai Pulikuthi Curry -VoW -Brinjal Curry

This is so very simple and easy to prepare. For brinjal lovers this is a yummy recipe. Its is very tangy and spicy at the same time .This would be my entry for the event Vegetable of the week hosted by Pooja-Creative Ideas ..Here it goes !!



Raw Materials Required

Brinjal - 5-6 nos
Red Chilli - 1 tsp
Dosai Mulga podi -2 tsp
Sambhar Powder -2 tsp
Salt as desired
Tamarind -2 lemon size balls
Oil -3 tsp
Mustard Seeds -1 tsp
Urdh dhal -1/2 tsp
Hing a couple of pinches

Preparation Style

Wash the brinjal and cut four slice of the it. Do not cut through the brinjal because you need to fill in the masala powder. On the other side mix all the powder and salt together. Fill each brinjal with a couple of spoons of the powder and set it aside. Soak the tamarind in water for a couple of hours before preparing the dish.

In a small kadai add oil and mustard seeds. Allow it to crack and the urdh dhal and hing. Then slowly add the brinjal. Add the tamarind water to it . See to that the brinjal is soaked in the tamarind water. Let the gas be on low flame and cook for about 20-25 mts time. Do not disturb the brinjal while cooking because it make break .The tamarind liquid would reduce itself and shrink to a thick paste. Once you see the paste is thick and the brinjal is cooked off the gas and serve it with rice. Enjoy!!!!!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Beans Parup Usali


I used to never new to make parup usali initially. I learnt this technique from one of my friend. My husband loves them. Parup usali and rasam, that's the combination that we always have at home. But i like parup usali with plain rice. Mouth watering ..I really love them ..We can make with beans, banana flower (Vazhapoo) ,Kothavarangai (cluster beans).I made them with beans ....Its is a Sunday menu at my place. So just wanted to share with all my friends.

Raw Materials Required

Bean -1/2 lb
Chaana Dhal -1cup
Methi Seeds -Just few of them
Red chilli -4-5
Mustard Seeds -1 tsp
Oil- 2-3 tsp
Haldi-1/2 tsp
Salt as per taste

Preparation Style

Soak the dhal,methi and red chilli for a couple of hours. After a couple of hours course grind the soaked ingredients by adding haldi,a couple of pinches hing and salt just enough for the channa dhal.Do not add much water.Transfer them onto the idli steamer and steam them for 10 -15 mts. While this is happening cut the beans and wash them.In a small kadai add oil and mustard seeds and allow it to crack. Then add the beans and little salt for the beans alone and allow them to cook for few minutes.

On the other side take the cooked dhal from the steamer and allow it to cool for sometime. Then crumble the dhal into small pieces. One you see the beans is cooked add the dhal mixtures and toss it well. Serve it with hot rasam rice ...Enjoy

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Happy Women's Day!!!!!

Today we celebrate International Women's Day. I wish all the women a great year ahead with all their achievements personally and professionally. I found this very apt poem which represents all of us .
A Rose that God Created
A ROSE THAT GOD CREATED
God created the rose in the likeness of a woman.
The rose represents her beauty.The stem represents her strength.The petals are soft as her delicate skin, the fragrance so pure and so sweet.The leaves represent her arms outstretched, always loving and giving and for perfection --- He made her heart of pure gold.
Thank you God for making me a woman...
Now coming to the recipe part
This is one of the comfort food at my place.Quite easy and simple one .Once a week its a must menu ..Its best combination would be tomato rasam or lemon rasam..Here it goes ..

Raw Material Required

White pumkin (Squash) -1/2cup
Yellow pumkin (Squash) -1/2 cup
Chaana dhal -1/3 cup
Curry Leaves few
Kuttu powder -1 1/2 tsp (Rice and Chilli -Dry roasted and grind)
Haldi -1/3 tsp
Oil-2 tsp
Mustard seeds -1/2 tsp
Urdh Dhal -1/2 tsp
Hing a couple of pinches
Salt as desired

Preparation Style

Pressure cook the dhal and the veggie together. In a small kadai add oil and mustard seeds. Allow it to crack and add urdh dhal . Allow the dhal to change color and add the cooked veggie and dhal mixture. Add hing,haldi, kuttu powder and curry leaves and salt to it .Let it come to a boil and serve it hot with rice.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Bottle Gourd (Lauki) Kofta Curry


I think kofta's are Indian version of meat balls served with thick gravy. Koftas can be made of potato , mixed vegges and malai. I have only made lauki kofta and never tried making malai kofta .Would have to try it next time for sure. But last week i made lauki kofta and wanted to share with you all .Here it goes...

Raw Materials Required

Lauki (sorakkai) - 2 cups, (peel and grate the lauki )
Green chillies - 2-3 (chopped)
Ginger - 1 tsp (grated)
Besan (chick peas flour) - 1-2 cup (reqd for binding purpose)
Onion - 1 1/2
Tomatoes - 3
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tsp
Cashew -4-5
Cream -1/2 cup (used Half and Half)
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Kitchen King Masala -1/2 tsp
Oil for deep frying
Salt to taste

Preparation Style

Kofta Preparation

Peel the gourd 's skin and grate them. Add salt to it and squezz the water out of it. Add chillies, ginger and salt. Mix them well and add the besan to it. Just enough besan to bind the gourd and then make small balls out of it. Then deep dry these small balls and until they are golden brown and the koftas are cooked properly.


Gravy Preparation

Grind onion , tomato ,cashew and ginger garlic paste together. In a small kadai add little oil and gravy. Allow the gravy to come to a boil and start to loose color .Then add all the masala and let it boil for sometime. Add the cream and little salt ad mix them well. Then add the kofta's and give them a toss with the gravy. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve them hot with chapati..