Thursday 15 May 2014

Udupi Tomato Rasam | Udupi Vegetarian Recipes

Udupi Vegetarian Recipes
Udupi tomato rasam has ripe red tomatoes, cooked tur dal, saaru podi or rasam powder and tamarind as its main players other than the finishing touch of tempering of spices and garnish of coriander leaves. Fresh coconut is also used by most Udupi home cooks. It is the saaru podi which sets this flavorful rasam apart from the everyday rasam. It is a lovely warming soup to sip on a cold dull day or if you are sick with a nagging cough or cold.


Udupi Tomato Rasam Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 5
Main Ingredients: tomato   


Ingredients

    Cooked tur dal - 1/2 cup
    Tomatoes - 2, large, mashed lightly
    Tamarind - soak medium lemon sized ball in 1/2 cup warm water and extract the juice
    Water - 4 cups
    Saaru/rasam podi - 2 1/2 tbsps, heaped
    Green chilies - 2, slit
    Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
    Jaggery - 1 tbsp
    Salt to taste
    For tempering:
    Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
    Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
    Red chilies - 1, tear into pieces
    Curry leaves - 1 sprig
    Coriander leaves - 2 tbsps, finely chopped
    Oil or ghee - 1 tbsp (preferably coconut oil)
    For Saar/Rasam podi:
    Red chilies - 7-8
    Coriander seeds - 2 tbsps
    Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
    Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
    Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp
    Curry leaves - 1 sprig
    Grated coconut - 1 1/2 tbsps (optional)
    Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp

Method

First make the rasam/saaru podi/powder. Dry roast fenugreek seeds on low flame till it turns light red. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Dry roast mustard seeds on low flame for 4 mts. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Next dry roast coriander seeds and cumin seeds for 4-5 mts on low flame or till it emits a nice aroma. Dry roast curry leaves and red chilies on low flame till the chilies turn crisp. Remove to the bowl and set aside. Allow to cool. Add asafoetida and grind to a slightly coarse powder. Set aside.
   
Udupi Tomato Rasam
In a stainless steel bowl, add water, tamarind extract, salt, turmeric powder, green chilies, chopped tomatoes, jaggery and curry leaves. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 7 to 8 mts or till the raw smell of tamarind disappears.

Add the cooked tur dal, rasam powder and grated coconut and continue to cook on medium high for another 6-7 mts. Reduce the flame and add fresh coriander stalks.

While the rasam is simmering, prepare the tempering. Heat oil or ghee in a small pan, add mustard seeds and as they splutter, add urad dal, red chilies, curry leaves and asafoetida. Once the dal turns red, pour the tempering to the simmering rasam.

Add fresh coriander leaves and turn off flame. Place lid and allow to rest for a few minutes before serving with warm rice.

Friday 21 February 2014

Cooking Tips Trivia


  • Easy Garlic Skin Removal- Garlic skin comes off easily if the garlic flakes are warmed a little before peeling.
  • Green peas - Preserve them by keeping them packed in polythene bags in the freezer. Store green peas for 2 years; all you have to do is to tie the shelled green peas in a cloth and dip in boiling water for three minutes. Then dip in chilled water for three minutes. Dry under the fan till the extra moisture is removed and then pack into airtight jars or sealed packets. Freeze & use them when peas are too costly.
  •  For storing eggs for longer time say for about 30-40 days, you should apply any cooking oil with the help of brush on the egg shell.
  •   If the inner side of the cooker is black - Boil it by adding a piece of tamarind or lemon peel to the cooker. Copper cookware can be cleaned using salt and vinegar.  To remove the stains of citrus fruit juices from the floor, cover the stain with coconut oil and rub well. The stain will vanish in 3-4 days.
  •  Oil stain may be removed by rubbing the area with a piece of lime dipped in salt.
  • Keep Ants away - Put two to three cloves in the sugar. In case of honey place a few peppercorns to the bottle of honey.
  • Save rice from insects - Dry 50 g. of mint leaves, powder them and add to 10 kg. of rice. This will keep insects away AND will also add a delicious flavor to the cooked rice
  •  Keep Cockroaches away by placing cucumber peels in drawers and in corners

Friday 8 November 2013

Carrot and Moong Dal Salad South and North Indian Reipes

Carrot and Moong Dal Salad with beautiful colors and is a healthy and nutritious salad. Very easy to make this recipe for homemakers. At the Evening time can be served as snack. 

This recipe will serve 4.

Ingredients for Carrot and Moong Dal
  • 1/2 cup split moong dal (washed)
  • 2 cup shredded carrots (gajar)
  • 3 teaspoons Oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
  • ¼ cup shredded coconut (gola) here using shredded frozen coconut
  • 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped (hara dhania)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon ginger finely shredded
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Carrot and Moong Dal Salad South and North Indian Recipes
Preparation of Carrot and Moong Dal
  1. Changing the water 4-5 times Wash moong dal, and 2hr-3 hours soak it.
  2. Moong Dal should be double in volume After soaking. Drain the water.
  3. Mix lemon juice, ginger, salt, black pepper and sugar in a small bowl to make dressing and set aside.
  4. In a sauce pan heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the cumin seeds as seeds crack add the moong dal.
  5. Cook for 3-4 minutes stirring continuously. Don’t over cook that will make dal dry.
  6. Turns off the heat and remove the pan, let it cool for 5-8 minutes.
  7. Add carrots, cilantro and coconut mix it well.
  8. Add the cilantro and dressing to the carrot and moong dal, mix it well. Let it sit for about fifteen minutes before serving.

Friday 30 August 2013

Lemon Rice - Simple South Indian Dish


Recipes from an Indian kitchen with a focus on North and South.
Lemon rice is a simple recipe which i rarely make at home but will be very handy for lunch box on weekday mornings'

Ingredients : Quality

Boiled Rice        -  2 cups

Lemon water    -     1/3 cup

Oil            -        6 Tbsp

Black Mustard seeds         -       1/2 tsp

Curry leaves    -     Few

Green Chilies      -     3 to 4

Salt           -        As per taste

Turmeric powder     -          1/4 tsp

Peanuts    -         1/4 Cup




Lemon Recipe South India

Preparation Method


Step 1 : Prepare boiled rice and keep it aside.Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds,allow it to splutter.Add turmeric powder and peanuts,fry till brown.

Step 2 : Now add green chillies,curry leaves,salt and fry it for 2 minutes.Take it off from the flame and add lemon juice to it and mix well.

Step 3 : Now add this mixture to the boiled rice & mix well.

A very simple South Indian dish which can be put together in a dash.Serve it with pappads and pickle.

Thursday 11 July 2013

Hyderabad Haleem | Home Made Recipe

My Chicken Haleem Recipe, is a time saving recipe which can be prepared and served with in one and a half hour. Usually Haleem is slowly cooked for six to seven hours which results in a paste like consistency with the taste of spices and meat blending with wheat but my Chicken Haleem recipe is very easy to make and prepare. It has a great taste which is quite similar to the Beef Haleem flavor.

Ingredients
  • 1 kg  boneless chicken
  • wheat2 cup
  •  (whole, crushed and soaked in water for 1 hour)
  • 3 medium size onions
  • 1/2 cup yellow lentils (soaked and boiled)
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp garlic paste
  • 2 tsp red chili powder
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tsp gram masala powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
  • 2 inch cardamon stick
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 cumin powder
  • 1 cup cooking oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh chopped coriander
  • 1/2 cup fresh chopped mint leaves
  • 6 small chopped green chilies
  • 2 tbsp finely sliced ginger
 
 
Method
  1. Heat oil in a pan, fry onions till golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and spread on kitchen peeper to drain oil. When it is cool and crisp, crumble with hands and keep set aside.
  2. In a large pot add 6 cups of water and wheat boil gently for about 30 minutes or more until very tender and soft. Remove from heat and keep set aside.
  3. Grind boil yellow lentils and keep set aside.
  4. Heat oil in a large pot add ginger paste, garlic paste, red chili powder, coriander powder, salt, turmeric powder, bay leaves, cumin powder, cardamon stick, gram masalaa, black pepper powder and 1/2 cup of water and saute 2 minutes, Now add chicken bone less pieces and grind yellow lentils.
  5. Now add the cooked wheat and mix well, add oil . Do check the salt and add more if needed.
  6. Let it simmer for at least 25-30 minutes and keep stirring between. Cook until  mixture becomes thick.
  7. Remove from heat and garnish by fresh chopped coriander, fresh chopped mint leaves, chopped green chilies, sliced ginger, and fried onions.

Monday 1 July 2013

Moong Dal Chaat

Moong dal ki chaat – you can prepare moong dal within 10min in your favorite kitchen.It is very healthy and tasty nutritious and its a flavourful snack indeed.

Ingredients – This can serve for 6 persons
  • 1 cup yellow moong dal (split yellow gram)
  • salt to taste
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • 1 cup pomegranate(anar)
  • 1 cup chopped spring onions (with the greens)
  • 1/2 cup chopped raw mangoes
  • 3 tbsp chopped mint leaves (phudina)
  • 3 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)
  • 2 tsp finely chopped green chillies
  • 2 tsp chaat masala
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
Moong Dal Chaat - Simple recipes

Simple Preparation - just in 6 steps


1. Clean, wash and soak the moong dal in enough water for ½ hour and drain well.
2. Combine 4 cups of water and salt on a broad pan and bring to boil.
3. Add the moong dal and cook till half done. Ensure that each grain of dal is separate.
4. Drain using a strainer and keep aside to cool for 10 minutes.
5. Combine all the ingredients including the dal in a large bowl and mix well.
6. Serve immediately.

Sunday 28 April 2013

Aloo Portaha | Popular in North India

Potato is everyone's favourite. This aloo partaha is filling and tasty and when eaten with pickle and curds it taste even better. A must try!!.With North Indians Alooo Portaha  is extremely popular in north india, these are best eaten with chilled yogurt and your favorite pickle or chutney.

Ingredients:


For Dough:-
3 cups atta / whole wheat flour
Just over 1/2 cup water
2 tsp salt (or to taste)
A few drops of oil

For Aloo Filling:-
3 medium sized potatoes
2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp jeera / cumin powder
1/2 tsp ajwain / omam / carom seeds
1 tsp chaat masala (or garam masala)
1 tsp salt
A handful of coriander leaves, chopped fine 


How I Made It:

Put the mashed potatoes, coriander and cumin powders, cumin seeds, turmeric, chilli powder, salt to taste, chopped fresh coriander and grated ginger into a large mixing bowl. Blend all ingredients well by stirring. Once well mixed, keep aside for later.

Put the flour, oil/ghee and all the ingredients (except the water) into a large mixing bowl.
Rub together to form a crumbly mix.

Now slowly add water, a little at a time and knead well to make a smooth, pliable dough. Cover and set aside for an hour.

Divide the dough into golf ball-sized portions and roll between your hands till they are smooth and without cracks.

Very lightly flour a rolling board or clean counter surface and roll each ball into a 5" circle. Now take a tablespoon-full of the potato mix and spoon it into the centre of the circle you just made. Slowly lift the edges and bring together in the center to form a pouch. Press the ends together tightly to close the pouch. Once sealed, press down gently to flatten so that you have a flattened pouch.

Lightly flour your rolling surface and roll this pouch into a 7-8" circle. Don't worry too much if the filling oozes out. This happens often but can be avoided by using a very light hand to roll out the paratha. Just gather up the filling and either keep aside or try to put it back into the paratha and pinch the dough to seal. 


Also if you're just starting out with Aaloo Parathas, do not worry about getting the perfect round shape as it takes a little practice to achieve. Whatever the shape, it tastes just as good! For convenience roll out as many parathas as you like, stacking them, ready to cook with a layer of cling film between each paratha.

Heat a griddle and fry the parathas one at a time like this: Put a paratha on the griddle. Do the first flip when you see tiny bubbles rise on the surface of the paratha. As soon as the first flip is done, drizzle a bit of oil on the top and spread well over the surface of the paratha. Flip again in 30 seconds and drizzle oil on this surface too. The paratha is done when both sides are crispy and golden brown.

Serve with chilled yogurt and your favourite pickle or chutney.

Thursday 21 March 2013

VIETNAMESE MANGO SALAD

The versatility of the green mango is commendable since it tastes equally delicious when cooked or eaten raw. It's no wonder that the streets hawkers make a living by selling cut slivers of mango with  a sprinkling of salt and chilli powder. In kerala, they make a pickle, where the mango is soaked in brine with a green chilli stuck in for flavour! For variation, the crunchy VIETNAMESE MANGO SALAD with roasted peanuts, chives, basil and more. So the nexttime you give the supermarket a miss and find that all the mangoes on the streets are hard, don't be disappointed.

INGREDIENTS:
VIETNAMESE MANGO SALAD
  • Green mango (julienned) 280 gm
  • Basil leaves 20 gm 
  • Onions (finely slliced) 40 gm
  • Carrots (juliennes) 60 gm
  • Fresh red chillies (sliced) 20 gm
  • Chives (for garnish) 8
  • Sugar 30 gm
  • Lemon juice 50 ml
  • Browned onion 25 gm
  • Roasted peanuts (crushed) 30 gm

METHOD:

1) For the dressing, mix the lemon juice, sugar and light soya till the sugar dissolves.
2) In a mixing bowl, combine the green mango juliennes, corrot juliennes, sliced onions, fresh red chilli slices and basil leaves.
3) Add the dressing and toss.
4) Transfer to serving bowls and sprinkle browned peanuts on top.
5) Garnish with chives and serve.

Tuesday 5 March 2013

ALLEPPEY FISH CURRY

WELCOME the MANGO SEASON this year with some aromatic ALLEPPEY FISH CURRY using Green Mangoes and a Fresh Salad from Vietnam.

Everyone waits with bated breath for the first sign of the 'king of Fruits'on the streets. It was through the research for recipes for the new menu that I discovered why the flavourful Alleppy Fish Curry from Kerala hasbeen one of the restaurant's highlight dishes for the past 16 years.Since the menu was conceptualised to have a strong accent on seafood with a variety of fish, crabs, prawns, lobsters put together with home-style recipe.
Chif Alok Anand is the Executive Chef, Taj Coromandel, Chennai

WELCOME the MANGO SEASON this year with some aromatic ALLEPPEY FISH CURRY using Green Mangoes and a Fresh Salad from Vietnam.
Alleppey Fish Curry
INGREDIENTS:
  • Seer fish cubes 600 gm
  • Green mango (sliced) 60 gm
  • Chilli powder 250 gm
  • Fresh green chilli (slit in halves) 30 gm
  • Cocont milk 150 gm
  • Shallots (diced) 150 gm
  • Ginger (juliennes) 30 gm
  • Garlic (finely chopped) 25 gm
  • Coconut oil 80 ml
  • Salt of taste

METHOD:
1) Heat coconut oil in a pan.
2) Add the shallots and saute till is cooked.
3) Add chopped garlic and ginger juliennes. Cook for some time, stirring gently.
4) Then add slices of green mango, chilli powder and turmeric powder.
5) Now add the slit green chillies.
6) Now add the slit green chillies.
7) Now add the second press of cocunt milk, add salt and bring to a gentle boile. Let it simmer till is cooked. (3-4 minutes)
8) When the fish is cooked, add the coconut milk
9) Adjust seasoning.
10) Enjoyed best with steamed rice or appam.

Thursday 14 February 2013

CHANA MASALA


Chana Masala is a popular North Indian Food Recipe for non veg lovers. Very tasty and Spicy recipe will be prepard within 30 minutes and Serve on its own in shallow bowls or over a hot cooked grain, if desired.

Ingrediens :

  • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 3 medium onions (peeled and minced)
  • 2 clove garlic (peeled and minced)
  • 2 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 3 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 6 tablespoons chopped tomatoes
  • 2 cup water
  • 4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 3 teaspoons ground roasted cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon amchoor powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 lemon (juiced)
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • Salt to taste

Chana Masala
Method to prepare the Chana Masala:

1.  Heat oil in a large skillet.
2.  Add onions and garlic and sauté over a medium heat until browned (after 3-5 minutes turn heat to medium-low.
3.  Add the coriander, cumin (not the roasted cumin), cayenne and turmeric.Stir for a few seconds.
4.  Add the tomatoes.Cook the tomatoes until browned lightly.
5.  Add chickpeas and a cup of water and stir.
6.  Add the roasted cumin, amchoor, paprika, garam masala, salt and lemon juice.
7.  Cook covered for 10 minutes.
8. Remove the cover add the minced chili and ginger.
9.  Stir and cook uncovered for 30 seconds.

Serve on its own in shallow bowls or over a hot cooked grain, if desired.