Showing posts with label Tiffin items. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tiffin items. Show all posts

Kara Kozhakattai

Author: Aarthi / Labels: ,



 
 Kara Kozhakattai/ Uppu Kozhakattai

Ingredients:
for the outer covering
1 cup Idiappam flour or rice flour
1 1/2 cup water
1 pinch salt
1/4 tsp oil

for the filling or poornam
1 cup urad dhal
green chillies
salt to taste
Oil and mustard for seasoning

Soak urad dhal for 2 hrs. Grind coarsely with green chillies and salt.
Steam the paste in idli cooker. Crumble the steamed paste. Splatter mustard in some oil and saute the crumbled pieces. Keep aside.


Boil water with salt and oil. Pour the idiappam flour slowly in water and keep stirring
to form a dough like consistency. Make cup shapes with the dough and fill the filling/poornam
Close the cup to form kozhakattais. Steam the kozhakattais.


Serve hot and enjoy!!

Paneer Tikka- grilled

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,



Panneer Tikka (grilled)

Recipe and Photo courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)

Here is another wonderful recipe for Paneer Tikka. My mother cooked Paneer Tikka in the grill mode of the microwave oven and it turned out wonderful.

Ingredients

For the marinade

Thick yogurt 2 cups
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder 3 tsp
Salt to taste
Ginger paste 1/2 tsp
Green chilli paste 1/4 tsp
Jeera powder 1 tsp
Chat masala 2-3 tsp
Garam masala 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder 3-4 tsp
Red color-a few pinches (optional, not used here)

We also need

Fresh paneer 1 slab
Mixed vegetables to be set in the skewers like colored bell peppers, tomatoes, onions etc
il or melted butter 3 tbsp

Mix all the above mentioned marinade ingredients into a smooth paste.
Cut paneer into cubes and cut the different colored vegetables into squares.
Marinate the paneer and vegetables together in the yogurt paste atleast for 2 hours
Arrange the paneer and vegetables in the skewers and drizzle more paste if desired
Also drizzle some oil or melted butter on all sides and place the skewers in the grill
Let it cook till there is a change in color, crispy on the outside and soft inside.
Fresh paneer tikka is ready to be served.

Vegetable Cutlet

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,

Veggie Cutlet

Recipe and Photo Courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)

Mom is an expert in cutlets. Here is the recipe..

Ingredients:
1 cup finely chopped mixed veggies (carrots, beans, peas)
2 cups boiled and mashed poatoes (2-3 potatoes)
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp chat masala
salt to taste
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp oil, oil for shallow frying
2 cups bread crumbs
4 tsp maida (all purpose flour) made to a thick paste with suffiecient water

Add oil in a kadai. Add the onions, salt and saute till transparent. Add the mixed veggies and continue to saute till soft. Sprinkle some water if required.
Add turmeric, chilli powder, chat masala and more salt if required
Add the mashed potatoes and continue to saute for a few minutes
From this mixture, roll out small balls and pat them to the shape of cutlets.
Dip each cutlet in this maida paste such that they get a uniform coating.
Now drop these cutlets in a plate filled with bread crumbs. Toss it over and make sure that it is well coated with a layer of bread crumbs
Heat some oil in a pan sufficient for shallow frying.
Fry these cutlets on both sides till they are well done and crisp.
Serve hot with ketchup

Arisi poori/ Arisi vadai/ Rice poori

Author: kittymatti / Labels:



Arisi Vadai
Recipe and Photo Courtesy: Kamala (grandma) , Mythili (my aunt)

Another fantastic recipe given by my Kamala paati!It is simply superb and irresistible. I can eat this all day!

Ingredients:

1 cup boiled rice/ Puzhungal arsi
1 cup grated coconut
5-6 green chillies
salt to taste

Soak boiled rice for 3 hours. Drain the water completely.
Grind together soaked rice with coconut gratings salt and green chillies to a semi-fine paste.
Do not add water while grinding. you want it to be like a vada batter. Smear oil on a plastic sheet. Roll out a ball of the dough with wet hands. Pat it on the sheet as thin as you can.
Slip it into hot oil and deep fry. You will surprised to see it puff up just like a puri. Turn over and continue frying till it is golden brown.


Serve with pulimolagai/ molaga thokku or just eat it as it is...

Maddur vada/ Maddur vade

Author: kittymatti / Labels:

Maddur Vada


Photo Courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my Parents)

I love all the Karnataka tiffin items. Maddur vada is generally not served in all restaurants. However, there are a couple of fast food joints which serve this awesome snack..

Ever since I went back to Chennai, I tried to a find a perfect maddur vade recipe. I searched several websites and finally came upon thisrecipe as given by Shri. Kamat. We slightly altered the measures and tried it. It was a huge hit and it is my signature appetizer whenever I invite people for dinner.

Mom made this last week and sent the picture...

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup rice flour
1/4 cup maida
1/4 cup rava/ sooji
1 cup finely chopped onions
4 green chillies finely chopped
salt, hing - 4 dashes
1/3 cup skinless broken peanuts
1 tsp white til/ sesame seeds,
1/4 tsp jeera
Curry leaves -2 sprigs chooped
Coriander leaves chopped - 1/4 cup
1 inch ginger- grated
1/8 tsp cooking soda -optional
1 ladleful oil (for mixing, do not heat)
Oil for deep frying

Mix all of the above ingredients. Add some water if required. Bring it to a chappathi dough consistency.
Take a smal balls, flatten it out on oil smeared plastic sheet. It should be as thin as possible. Poke it with a fork at few spots to prevent puffing.
Deep fry till golden brown on both sides. Serve with tomato ketchup or chutney.




This recipe goes to State Specials event hosted by Shanti, representing Karnataka.

Upma Kozhakattai and an award

Author: kittymatti / Labels: , ,

Recipe and Photo Courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)
(recipe reposted with new picture)

This tiffin item reminds me of my friend Barathi.. For some reason, I always called him upma kozhakatai!
An intersting recipe.. Best way to make upma haters eat upma... I got this recipe from the scratch from my granny olly.

To make the upma kozhakattai odasal (base mix):

8 cups raw rice
1/2 cup toor dal
1 tbsp urad dal
2 tbsp jeera
Grind to a coarse powder like idly rava consistency ( finer than arisi upma odasal)

To make Upmakozhakattai:

1 tbsp toor dal
2 green chillies
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp urad dal
1/2 tsp channa dal
2 red chillies
1 sprig curry leaves
salt, hing 4 dashes
2 cups water
1 cup odasal (refer above)

Soak toor dal and green chillies for 1/2 hr. Remove and grind to a smooth paste.
Add oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds. Add channa dal, urad dal, curry leaves and red chillies.
When the dals get brown, add water, add salt, hing, dal-chillil paste.
Allow it to come to a boil. Add the odasal, briskly stirring the mixture with the other hand. Close and cook till soft and done.
Roll out tiny balls and shape it like oval kozhakattais (like an egg). Place it on idly plates and steam for 12 minutes. Serve with onion-brinjal ghotsu and thengai/ coconut thogayal!




This recipe representing TN state goes to State Specials event hosted by Shanti

I thank Nithya, Padma, Hema and Ramya for the Kreative blog award. Thank you so much guys! Im really honoured!
The rules for this award are :
1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

Here are 7 things about myself
1. I enjoy cooking and love to see ppl eat well. I enjoy eating too (obviously).
2. I love socializing and enjoy people oriented activities.
3. I am a restless person, cannot sit idle. I just need to do something or atleast sleep!
4. I cannot manage without 8 hours of sleep and frequent meals.
5. I try my best to please everybody, not that I am successful all the time :)
6. I always wish for and dream of the most ideal situation where everything is nice and rosy.. Everything should be happy, everyone should be nice... Like a typical Vikraman movie (If u watch Tamil movies directed by him, u should get the pic :) hahaha)
7. Like most cancerians, my interests keep varying almost every month.. I can never have a single all time hobby!


I want to pass this award to every other blogger I know, but according to the rules I can nominate only 7 other bloggers
They are
Karthikeyan of the Best Hangout
Sowmya of Visit my Kitchen
Deesha of Vegetable Platter
Shanti of Shanti Krishnakumar's cookbook
Mahimaa of Indian Vegetarian Kitchen
Avisha of Simply Sindhi Recipes
Ammu of Nature Kitchen
Please pass this to another new set of creative bloggers
Thank u Nithya, Padma, Hema, Ramya again!

Bajji/ Bonda

Author: kittymatti / Labels:


Recipe courtesy: Janaki (my granny)

Commonly known as pakora in the North, bajji is a universal apetizer in every desi restaurant. Tasty and quick, bajji/bonda is the fav of all! My sister loves bajji and it is her greatest weakness :)
My maternal relatives lived in a joint family (about 18 - 20 members under a single roof) for several years. I still remember the cooks making thousands of bajjis and these the hot bajjis were served with coconut chutney and curd rice :)
Why curd rice??? well, they say-it is for digestion! (because of oil and besan). I really don't know if it aids digestion, but I think eating a spoon of curd rice after every bite of bajji is heavenly!! However, whenever amma makes bajji, the side dishes include coconut chutney, tomato chilli sauce (ketchup) and curd rice.. Oh, it is a complete meal by itself!

I got this recipe from my granny olly.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 cup besan flour
1 tsp maida flour (all purpose flour) -optional
1 pinch cooking soda (optional)
2 tsp chilli powder (vary according to taste)
salt to taste
4 dashes of hing
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 ladleful heated oil (about -6 tbsp)
Oil for fying
Sliced veegies of your choice (may include, onion, potato, raw banana, brinjal/eggplant, whole cauliflower flowerets, chayotes (chow- chow), carrots

Mix together rice flour, besan, salt, chilli powder, turmeric, cooking soda, maida flour and hing. Add the hot oil on top of the dry mixture and mix it with your hands (let the hot oil sink into the flour and cool a bit before you put yr hands)

It will now be a semi- dry mixture. Add enough water to bring it to a bajji batter consistency ( more watery than dosa batter).

For bajiis, dip the thinly sliced veggies in the batter and deep fry in hot oil. until golden brown. Check again for salt after frying. Add more if required for the next batch.
Serve with coconut chutney and tom-chi sauce. If you wish, keep a bowl of curd rice
(well salted) by the side and ensoy maadi !!

This recipe goes to Shanti's Lovely Winter Recipes event

Bread upma

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,

Bread Upma
Photo Courtesy: Priya (my friend)
(reposted for Srilekha's event)
Finally, a tasty upma! Infact it is so tasty that my sister and I had a big fight over sharing it :) It is the healthiest and tastiest tiffin loaded with vegetables. Even kids who hate eating their veggies are sure to love this..

Ingredients:

Oil - 5 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Jeera (cumin seeds) 1/2 tsp
Channa dal-1/2 tsp
Urad dal 1/2 tsp
Broken cashews 1 tsp
Chopped onions 3/4 cup
2 tomatoes
Assorted veggies chopped (beans, peas, potatoes, carrots) -1 1/2 cups
Bread slices 6-7 cut into pieces
Salt to taste
Chilli powder tsp
Turmeric 1/4 tsp
Chopped coriander for garnishing
1/4 tsp garam masala/curry powder - optional

Cooking Directions:
Heat oil in kadai, splutter mustard seeds, channa dal, urad dal, cashews, fry till golden brown. Add chopped onions. When glassy, add tomatoes and saute.
When the tomatoes get soft, add all the veggies. Add salt, chilli powder, turmeric and hing.
If you wish add a 1/4 tsp of garam masala. Saute well till cooked. Sprinkle some water and close and cook if necessary.
Now, add the fresh bread pieces. Mix well and cook for some more time till the bread blends with the upma.
Finally, garnish with coriander leaves. Check for salt again. Serve with ketchup or curd/yogurt.
[Alternatively, you can fry the bread pieces separately before adding them]




This recipe goes to Srilekha's breakfast series event

Thavala Adai

Author: kittymatti / Labels:

Recipe courtesy: Kamala (my grandma)
Photo courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)

This is a true delicacy!! It is a traditional recipe given to me by my Kamala paati. She makes the awesome thavala adais.
Mom made these adais few days back and sent me the picture!
(recipe reposted with picture)


Ingredients:
1 cup boiled rice (puzhungal arisi)
1/4 cup toor dal
1 half of a broken fresh coconut (grate it completely)
1 tsp jeera
1 tsp peppercorns
salt to taste
hing 3 dashes

Soak boiled rice (puzhungal arisi) for 2 hours and the toor dal for 1/2 hour.
Grind separately the soaked rice to a slightly coarse paste (like idly rava consistency).
Please do not add any water. The paste must be thick.
Grind the toor dal separately to a coarse paste (1 dal should be broken into 4 parts), again without water.
Mix the two pastes together evenly. Add grated coconut, jeera, pepper, hing, salt.
Mix evenly to a dough. Take out a ball of the dough and flatten it out in the shape of urad vadas (with the hole in the centre like a donut).
Use a heavy thick broad aluminium/ indalium kadai, add lots of oil (for about 2-3 inches on the surface).
Place these flattened out adais on the sizzling oil and roast evenly on either sides till golden brown and crunchy!!!
Served with molagapodi (chutney podi) and oil and some puli molagai (molaga thokku)

Since I don't have such beautiful traditional vessels or heavy kadais here, I just use the iron dosa griddle. Ofcourse, nothing like doing it the authentic way...It makes a huge difference!!

Dosai (various batter recipes)

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,





Dosai

Photo Courtesy: Aarthi (my sister)


Dosa batter

Photo Courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (My Parents)
I am reposting the dosa recipes for Padma's Dosa corner event



Making dosa is an art! My mom and sister make super crisp dosas. Different people use different proportions to make the dosa batter. I shall list the various proportions and the kind of final dosa you will get by using these proportions.

Regular Dosai/Dosa

Variety 1:
1 cup urad dal
3 1/2 cups raw rice
1 tsp methi seeds............................................thnx mom, olly

This batter is only good for dosas. You cannot make Idli in this batter. Also, you can make both soft and crisp dosas. The soft white dosas are exceptionally good when you use this proportion. Especially when you take dosas for lunch box, it is always better to take white soft dosas coz crispy dosas taste bad after they lose heat. Also raw rice dosas are easier to swallow when they lose heat!


Dosai (with raw rice only)

Photo Courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)

Variety 2:
1 1/2 cup raw rice
2 1/2 cups boiled rice/ idly rice
1 tsp methi seeds
1 cup urad dal....................................(the recipe I use regularly)- thnx chithi papa , shanth, booma

This batter is good for making both dosas and idlis.

Variety 3:
2 cups raw rice
2 cups boiled rice/ idly rice
1 tsp methi seeds
1 cup urad dal...............................................thnx panda

Good for both Idlis and Dosas. Idlis are very soft

Variety 4:
1 cup urad dal
4 cups boiled rice/ idly rice
1 tsp methi seeds.................................thnx aarthi, siyamee, subha

OR

1 cup urad dal
4 cups boiled rice/ idly rice
1 tsp methi seeds
1/4 cup Poha/ Aval......................thnx Siyamee
This batter is excellent for Idlis, crisp doas and Masala dosas.


Variety 5:

For Karnataka style Dosas,
We use this batter for mysore masala dosa and set dosa, the original recipe is from Lakshmi's blog. Also try Prathibha's Paper dosa recipe.. Im gonna try it today!



Mysore Masala Dose
Photo Courtesy: Aarthi (my sister)

Set Dose

Also, depending on the quality of urad dal, if the urad does not increase much in volume, reduce the urad dal:rice ratio to 1:3 instead of 1:4

Soak the dal and rice separately for 4-5 hours. Methi can be added either to the rice or the urad dal. Drain the excess water. Wash well. Grind the urad dal first for 45 minutes in a grinder. If you are using a mixie, grind till fluffy and super smooth. Remove the urad batter. Next put the rice mixture and grind for 22 min adding water to the batter. The rice batter should not be very fine. You should be able to feel the coarse texture when you run your fingers in the batter (some what like fine sooji rava consistency).

Remember to keep an eye on the batter as it absorbs a lot of water, heating up the grinder. Add water as and when required. Mix the two batters, add enough salt and allow it to ferment for atleast 12 hrs in room temperature. If you live in a cold environment, allow it to ferment atleast for a day. The batter volume should have doubled and you should be able to smell the sourness of the fermented batter.

Pour a ladleful of the batter in the centre of a preheated iron griddle. Swiftly spread it in circles to make dosa. Add some oil. When cooked on one side, flip and continue to cook till golden like shown in picture.

Watch how to make a dosa


Morkali / More kali

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,

Mor Kali
Photo Courtesy: Aarthi (my sister)
Photo courtesy: Janaki (my grandma), Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)

Simple and tasty, traditional South Indian dish. There was a time when I hated the sight of dishes like morkkali, puli upma etc... Today, I sincerely think that there is nothing more tasty than these!!!
(partly reposted)
Ingredients:

Sour buttermilk 2 1/2 cups
Rice flour 1 cup
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp urad dal
1/2 tsp channa dal
4 black dried salted chillies (mor molagai)
2 green chillies slit
1 sprig curry leaves
6 tbsp gingely oil
Salt to taste, hing -2 dashes

Make a thin batter with buttermilk and rice flour.
Add oil in a kadai. Add mustard, channa dal, urad dal, curry leaves, all the chillies. Once the salted chillies become black, add the batter and salt, hing.
Stir constantly and cook in medium flame. It will take a long time for the rice flour to cook. Don't hesitate to add more oil if required.
Go on till the oil separates and a koozhu/ kkali consistency is achieved (semi solid paste like). You can even transfer it to a tray and cut out morkali cakes like in the picture.
Serve with mango thokku.

Alternatively, you can cook morkali in the microwave using just 2 tsp oil.

This recipe goes to Srilekha's breakfast series event

Authentic Kuzhi Paniyaram

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,

Kuzhi Paniyaram/ Kaara Apam
Recipe Courtesy: Subhasini (my friend)

All these years I have been under the impression that kuzhi paniyaram is always made only with the dosai batter...Everytime I eat paniyaram in the restaurants, something tells me that this is not the regular dosa batter. Later, I learnt the perfect recipe from my friend Subha who cooks authentic Chettinadu and Coimbatore cuisine.

Ingredients:
1 cup raw rice
1 cup idly rice or boiled rice
1 cup sago (Javvarsi/ sabudhana)
1 cup rava (semolina)
1 cup urad dal
For garnish:
finely chopped onions
finely chopped cilantro (coriander leaves)
finely chopped green chillies
mustard seeds and urad dal fried in a little oil-till mustard cracks and urad dal gets brown.

Soak urad dal in a container
Soak raw rice and boiled rice together in a container
Soak rava and sago together in another container
Allow it soak overnight.

Now grind the urad dal first till fluffy. Keep aside
Grind the rice mixture for a few minutes till each grain breaks into 3 parts.
Half way through, add the sago-rava mixture and grind together to a smooth batter.
Now mix the urad batter and the rice-sago-rava batter.
Add salt to taste and allow it to ferment till the batter doubles in volume

Garnish with cilantro, onions, green chillies, mustard and urad dal
Add some ghee in the paniyaram griddle holes and pour batter in them.
Roast on both sides till golden and well cooked
Enjoy with a chutney of your choice!

Some tips:
The texture of ingredients in the batter are very different. That is the reason the grinding is done separately. If you are feeling too lazy, you can grind them all together, the taste will remain the same :)

Sevai (coconut and tamarind flavoured)

Author: kittymatti / Labels:


Thengai Sevai and Puli Sevai

Recipe and Photo Courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)

In today's busy world, the best method to make sevai is to use the store bought dried instant sevai noodles,cook it in boiling water and garnish it suitably. If you want to make Sevai from the scratch, have a look at this recipe . My aunt Bhooma is an expert in making sevai from the scratch.

Sevai noodles from scratch

Ingredients:

1 cup boiled rice
salt, hing 4 dashes
3 tsp coconut oil

Soak boiled rice for 4 hrs. Drain, rinse and grind to a fine batter adding water. The batter should be like that of idly batter consistency. Add salt and hing to the batter and mix well. Heat coconut oil in a kadai, add the batter and stir continuously till dry and becomes like a ball. Pinch out tennis balls sized dough and place them in idly plates. Steam for 20 minutes. When the balls are still hot place them in a sevai press and press through till the noodles are collected at the base plate.

Coconut Sevai garnish:

4 cups fresh sevai/ cooked instant sevai
2 tsp coconut oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp urad dal
1/2 tsp channa dal
1 sprig curry leaves
1 tsp peanuts
1 tsp broken cashews
1 cup coconut gratings
Salt to taste

If you are using instant sevai, cook the noodles in a hot pot of water and drain. Keep aside.
Add coconut oil in a kadai. Splutter mustard seeds. Add the dals and nuts.
When the dals get brown, add 1 cup of coconut gratings and salt. Stir for a minute.
Add sevai noodles and mix evenly.
Serve with morkozhambu and vathal/vadam crispies.

Note: Boiled peas (handful) can be added as garnish

Tamarind Sevai Garnish:

4 cups sevai
2 tsp gingely oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp channa dal
1/2 tsp urad dal
salt to taste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp paeanuts
1 tsp broken cahews
1 sprig curry leaves
Pulikaichal paste 2 tbsp.

Add oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds
Add the dals, cashews and peanuts.
After the dals become golden brown, add 4 cups of fresh sevai and mix well. Add enough salt.
Add about 2 tbsp of Pulikaichal paste (puliyogare mix) and mix well till it spreads evenly.
Serve hot!

Arisi Upma (Rice based Upma)

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,

Arisi Upma, Kanthal, Gothsu

Photo and recipe courtesy: Padmini, Srinivasan (my parents)

I am re-posting this recipe. I got the picture from my parents 3 days back.
This is a healthy upma with rice and lentils. Arisi upma is generally made in a brass pot. It cooks really well in brass. Especially the kaandhal (the charred upma) is the tastiest part.. I eat arisi upma only for the kandhal :) You can even make this upma in a kadai, however the kanthal is not as tasty as the kanthal from a brass pot!



I got this odasal recipe from my granny olly.

To make the arsi upma odasal (the base mix):

4 cups raw rice
3/4 cup toor dal
1 tbsp urad dal
2 tbsp jeera
1 tsp peppercorns

Grind the above to a coarse dry mix. Be careful while grinding. You don't want the mix to be very powdery. Store in airtight container/ refrigerator (to prevent insects)



To make the upma:
4 tbsp oil (gingely oil preferred)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp channa dal
1/2 tsp urad dal
2 sprigs curry leaves
3 dried red chillies
1.5 cups water
1 cup arisi puma odasal (refer above)
salt to taste
hing 4 dashes

Add oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds. Add urad dal, channa dal, curry leaves, red chillies. Roast till dals become golden in colour.
Add water, salt, hing. Allow it to come to a boil.
While it boils, stir in the odasal, quickly mixing the upma with the other hand.
Simmer for a while by keeping the vessel closed. Keep a bowl filled with water on top of the lid (to act as a weight, hence aiding the cooking process).
After 6-7 minutes. Remove and check if kanthal (charred layer) is formed.
The upma must be cooked by now. Allow it to cook more if required.
You will be able to remove the kanthal only after it cools well.
Serve with onion- brinjal gothsu and coconut/thengai thogayal... The best combo!!!

Aval Upma / Maharashtrian Poha

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,


Aval Upma / Poha
Photo Courtesy: Aarthi (my sister)

I have 2 variations of poha recipe. One is from my grandma / aunt and the other from my sister and bro-in-law.

Variation 1:
This recipe is from Aarthi & Rajesh (sister, bro-in-law)

Ingredients:Thick Aval/ Poha 2 cups
1/2 tsp jeera seeds
1 onion finely chopped
1 potato steam cooked and partly mashed
salt to taste
oil -3 tsp
Turmeric 1/4 tsp
3-4 slit green chillies
1 tbsp coarsely broken peanuts
Juice of 1 lime
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing


Soak poha in very little water for about 5 minutes. Keep aside.
Add oil in a kadai, splutter jeera seeds and coarsely broken peanuts.
When golden brown, add green chillies and onions. Fry till golden brown.
Stir in the precooked potato. Add salt, turmeric. Mix evenly.
Add the soaked poha. Simmer for 10 minutes. Put off the stove and squeeze out the juice of 1 lime and mix evenly. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Variation 2: (Re posted)

I got this recipe from my Kamala paati and aunt Mythili. It is the Maharashtrian style poha. I posted this recipe a month ago. Thought I could add this along with the new post....

Ingredients:
Aval/ Poha 2 cups
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 onion finely chopped
1 potato steam cooked and partly mashed
salt to taste
oil -3 tsp
turmeric 1/4 tsp
3-4 slit green chillies
5 tsp grated coconut
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp sugar
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Soak poha in water for about 5 minutes. Drain the excess water. Keep aside. Add oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds. Add green chillies and onions. Fry till golden brown. Stir in the precooked potato. Add salt, turmeric. Mix evenly. Add the soaked poha. Add coconut gratings and stir well. Add sugar and simmer for 10 minutes. Put off the stove and squeeze out the juice of 1 lime and mix evenly. Garnish with coriander leaves.
Calorie per serving: 360 cal. Courtesy: http://caloriecount.about.com/



This recipe goes to 15 minute cooking event hosted by Mahimaa


My friend Karthikeyan tried this recipe and sent his aval upma pic...Great na!!!

Spinach Pizza

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,

Spinach Pizza

I remember those days in India.. Amma used to make Pizzas at home.. We loved eating Pizzas the Indian way. Amma used to add chilli powder and saute the veggies, add it on the base and top it with tom-chi ketchup! Such a yummy pizza no pizza joint can offer. It was one of my fav tiffin those days.!

Slowly our idea of making Pizza changed..We started enjoying pizzas at different Pizza joints in India...

Who does not love Pizzas!! I am a big pizza fan.. Infact, I feel guilty if I don't eat a pizza once in 15 days! (sometimes once a week)... My favourite is Papa Johns! Monday 5.99 $ single topping pizza deal is the most satisfying pizza!! I also like Crespo Pizza in Houston.. Here is our new Pizza recipe- from the scratch.

Initially when I came to the US, I would wonder how ppl could eat single topping pizza. I found it sooo strange. According to me, a pizza must be loaded with veggies. However, of late I just prefer a single topping pizza with just jalapenos! The magic of America!...The other pizza I like is spinach pizza.

The Dough (pizza base) Recipe

This recipe is from Dave Latimer and Sriram (my uncle)

Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour (maida)
3 tbsp olive oil (can be substituted with any refined oil)
1 cup water
4 tsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp sugar
salt- just sprinkle (about a tsp is enough)
[Too much salt kills all the flavour. Do not add salt to taste. Just sprinkle to bring out the flavours]

Microwave 1 cup water for just 20- 30 seconds till warm. Mix yeast, sugar and warm water. Allow it to sit till it froths up.
Mix flour, salt and oil dry. Add the yeast water and continue to mix well thoroughly. Make a firm dough. Sprinkle some more oil in your hands and smear it around the dough.
Close with a wet kitchen towel. Allow it to rest for about 6 hours. Punch the dough as it increases in volume for every 2 hours. It is actually enough if you allow it to sit for 2 hours. However, the texture improves if the dough sits for long.
Divide the dough into two equal halves. Roll out the dough with a rolling
pin first. Bring it to the size of a chappati/ tortilla. Then hand toss the dough by slapping between the two hands till the pizza is b/w 10 -12'.

Pizza Sauce
Alfredo sauce is the best option for Spinach Pizza. However, since I didn't have it at home, I used the regular pizza sauce.
Any store bought pizza sauce is good enough. Since I make Italian only once in 2 weeks, I prefer to buy the sauce. If you cook Italian food regularly, you could make your pizza sauce. This is the recipe for the tomato pizza sauce.

Ingredients:
8-10 Roma Tomatoes
1/8 tsp dried basil
1/8 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper

Boil tomatoes in water till the skin cracks. Peel off the skin. Keep aside
Add the peeled tomatoes and all the other ingredients to a pan and bring to boil.
Add water to bring to desired sauce consistency.

For the Spinach Pizza

Makes 2 pizzas of 10-12'

1 cup frozen chopped spinach, 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
2 cups shredded pizza cheese blend (or) mozzarella cheese
1 cup pizza sauce
Pizza base rolled out

Saute spinach with 2 tsp oil and 1/2 cup water in an open pan. Saute till spinach is well cooked and dry. At this stage, you can sprinkle 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional).
Divide the dough into 2 parts and roll out 2 pizzas as described above.
Add a layer of sauce (you can use either Alfredo or the regular sauce) on top of the base.
Add a thin layer of spinach
Add shredded cheese
Bake at 450F for 10 min or till cheese just starts to brown.
Divide into 4 parts and serve hot!

Some useful tips:
Be very careful with the amount of salt you add. Im so used to South Indian cooking, I have the habit to adding salt liberally. Just sprinkle when you make pizza base. Do not add salt to spinach.
The pizza base texture improves on resting. Punch the dough once in 2 hours for best results.

For any other veggie pizza, just change the spinach topping to the veggies of yr choice. Follow the same recipe.

Bhaji (Pav Bhaji)

Author: kittymatti / Labels: , ,

Photo courtesy: Priya (my friend)



My favourite restaurant order! Hot pav bhaji after school... Mom used to make Pav Bhaji every Monday evening. Here is Amma's Pav bhaji recipe

Serves 2-3 people

Ingredients:

2 tomatoes- pureed
1 onion chopped
2 cups assorted cut veggies (beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes)
1 capsicum (bell pepper) - very finely chopped
1 lime
1 tsp kasoori methi (optional)
coriander leaves for garnish
1 tbsp pav bhaji masala
ginger garlic paste 1 tsp (optional)
2 tbsp butter / oil
1 tsp chilli powder
salt to taste
a pinch of turmeric

Pressure cook the assorted veggies with salt and a pinch of turmeric. Mash them coarsely in a food processor or hand masher. Keep aside
Add butter in a kadai, when it melts, add chopped onions. Fry till crisp
Add ginger garlic paste and saute well (optional)
Add very finely chopped capsicum and saute till done. (You can alternatively pressure cook bell peppers with the other veggies and skip this step)
Add the pureed tomatoes.
Stir in salt, chilli powder, kasoori methi (optional), pav bhaji masala and saute for a few minutes.
Add the mashed veggies and mix well.
Add more water if necessary to bring to bhaji consistency.
Put off the heat.
Garnish with chopped raw onions, coriander leaves, butter and a little lime juice.
Serve hot with butter toasted pav buns!
Yummy!!!

Chilli Parotta / Kothu Parotta / chilli barotta

Author: kittymatti / Labels: ,

Chilli Parotta
Photo and recipe Courtesy: Aarthi (my sister)

Laccha Paratas are called Malabar Parotta/ Kerala Parotta or just Barotta in South India. Here is the Chettinad chilli barotta recipe.. I love this dish. You can easily alter this dish to suit your taste. This is the best way to make a quick tiffin in your style!

Ingredients:
1 onion - cut long
1 tomato - cut long
1 capsicum/ bell pepper (small) - cut long
1 handful frozen diced carrots+peas (optional)
salt to taste
chilli powder 1/2 tsp (vary according to taste)
turmeric 1/4 tsp
Ginger-garlic paste (optional)
1 tbsp masala chilli sauce / tom-chi sauce (optional)
2 slit green chillies
1 tsp garam masala
3 big parottas (store bought - frozen)
2 tsp oil

Heat the frozen paratas on a griddle and roast till done. Tear the parottas into thick strips. Keep aside.

Keep the burner in high flame and stir ingredients quickly.

Add oil in kadai. Add ginger-garlic paste (optional). Saute well
Add green chillies, onions, saute till transparent, stir in bell peppers. Saute till crisp
Add tomatoes, saute till soft
Add salt, turmeric, chilli powder. Mix well
Add garam masala, tomato chilli sauce (optional)
Stir in the parotta pieces and give it a good stir till it blends with all the spices.
Serve hot with onion raita.

Note: Parotta can be substituted with chappatis or naans.

To make this dish Indo-Chinese, substitue garam masala, chilli powder and turmeric with red chilli sauce, green chilli sauce and Soy sauce!

Vazhaipoo Vadai / Banana Flower Vada

Author: kittymatti / Labels:

Vazhaipoo Vadai
Photo Courtesy: Srinivasan and Padmini (my parents)



Vazhaipoo Vadai is a delicacy! This is my mom's vazhapoo vadai recipe :)

Ingredients:

¾ cup toor dal
¼ cup channa dal
3 red chillies
1 green chilli
Salt
hing 3 dashes
1/2 onion chopped (opotional)
3 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1 sprig curry leaves

Soak the dals and chillies for 45 min in water. Drain and grind in a mixie to a coarse batter (just like Masala vada).
Take a vessel with 6 cups water and add 1/2 cup butter milk to it.
Carefully take out the edible portions of the banana flower. Chop them and allow them to sit for a minute in buttermilk-water. This step is to prevent the flower from changing colour.
Drain out the excess water pat them dry with paper towels.
Add sufficient salt, hing, chopped onions, coriander, curry leaves and vazhaipoo to the batter. Mix evenly.
Take out tiny balls of batter and flatten out on oil smeared plastic sheets.
Deep fry in hot oil till golden brown on both sides

Serve hot with coconut chutney!


Poli / Boli / Puran Poli / Obbattu

Author: kittymatti / Labels: , , ,

Sweet Poli

Photo Courtesy: Padmini and Srinivasan (my parents)

We make poli atleast twice a year. We make it for Saraswathi Pooja and Bhogi.

At home, we make poli in two ways. My mom makes poli with channa dal and jaggery while my granny makes it with channa dal and sugar. You can make it either way. I like both the recipes

Ingredients:

For the filling:
1 cup channa dal
1 cup powdered jaggery (gur) or 1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp elachi (cardamom) powder
1 tbsp ghee

For the covering:
1 cup maida (all purpose flour)
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/3 cup oil
a pinch of salt
water for kneading
Ghee for roasting.

Mix together flour, turmeric, a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. Add oil and mix evenly. Slowly sprinkle water and knead to a dough. Keep aside. Close with a wet paper towel and allow it to rest atleast for 3 hours.

Pressure cook channa dal. Drain out excess water and blend cooked dal and jaggery/sugar and cardamom together in a food processor/mixie.

Add ghee in a kadai, stir in the dal-sugar/gur paste and stir well continuously till most of the moisture is gone. It should be like a ball of dough. allow it to cool. This is the filling (puran)

Assembling the Poli
Pinch out a small ball of the dough. Flatten it out to the size of puri. Make another puri. Add the puran (about 2 tbsp) on top of one puri and close with the other. Seal the edges with wet hands. Press with hands. Roll it out with a rolling pin as this as possible to the size of a chappathi. Use sufficient flour for dusting (while rolling).

You can also add the puran in the centre of 1 puri and fold the ends together like a purse with wet fingers and flatten out to the size of chappati.

Add the poli on a hot tawa. Let it cook till some brown spots appear on one side. Flip it, after a few seconds, add a tsp of ghee and roast till golden, flip again and roast with a tsp of ghee on the other side. Smear a little more ghee on top of it and serve hot!


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