Sweet and sour chicken wings

You Need:

To marinate:Maida - 1 tsp
Corn Flour - 1 tsp
Rice flour - 1 tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp
Red Chilly Powder - As per spice level for chicken.

To Fry:
Soy Sauce - 1 tsp
Garlic chopped - 1 tsp (optional)
Soy sauce - 1 ½ tsp
Tomato Ketchup - 2 tbsp
Green chillies - 1 no ( chopped)
Corn Starch - 1 tbsp (diluted in little water)
Salt - As needed
Oil - As needed



Clean the Chicken Wings and dry it thoroughly. Make a marinade with all the ingredients mentioned in the ‘to marinate’ section and marinate the Wings; keep it aside for 20 minutes.Heat at least 2 inches of Oil in a pan on medium high heat and deep fry the Wings until crispy.Drain the excess Oil on a paper towel.

In another pan heat 2 tbsp of Oil on medium high heat and saute the Onion, green chillies and chopped garlic and saute for few min. Take care not to burn it.
Add Soy Sauce, Ketch up and mix well. Add little water and let it cook for few min.
Once mixed well, drizzle the Corn Starch Water and combine as fast as possible. You will get a thick paste like consistency. In this stage, Add the fried Chicken Wings and mix wellOnce coated well, move it to a serving dish and serve hot.


Note: While making the sauce, add Salt only after adding all the sauces as most of them contains Salt.
Do keep everything ready before you start making the sauce as the whole process is very fast.


Yummy Baby Corn Manchurian is now ready to be served.

Food Festive - Dec 2012

Isn't your mouth watering ..:P:P


Recipes Soon!!

Green Peas Curry


Green peas is most commonly loved vegetable by all ages. Be it for fried rice or as side dish, it tastes awesome. Check this awesome green peas curry recipe...I'm sure you would eat an extra roti during your meal..:)

You Need:

Green peas - 1/4 kg
Onion - 3 nos
Tomato - 2 nos
Curry leaves - few
Chilli powder - 2 tbsp
Jeera powder - 1/2 tbsp
Coconut - 3-4 chunks
Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp
Salt To taste 
Oil As needed 




Grind the coconut and coriander seeds to a fine paste by adding little water. Finely chop the onions and tomatoes.

Boil the green peas with enough water in pressure cooker for 2 to 3 whistles. Keep aside.

Heat the oil in a non stick pan, add onions and fry till golden brown. Add curry leaves and salute for a min. Add the tomatoes and cook till mashed and oil separates from the mixture. Add all the spice powders, salt, enough water and cook for 5 min till the raw smell goes off.

Taste the curry and check the consistency as well. Finally add the boiled green peas and mix well. Cook for 10 min in low flame till the masala is well coated the green peas.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve as a side for roti, chappathi.

Mint Chutney


You Need:

Mint leaves - 1 bunch

Onion - 1 no
Tomato - 1 no
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Red chillis - 3 nos 
marble sized tamarind - Lemon size
Salt - To taste
Oil - To fry 




Chop onions and tomatoes. Heat oil in a pan. Add urad dal and dry red chilies and fry till they turn brown. Add the chopped onions and fry till they turn transparent. Now add the chopped tomatoes and fry till raw smell goes. Add the mint leaves and tamarind and fry for a few minutes. 
Cool and grind this mixture with salt and water. 

Very healthy and tasty side dish for dosa and idli's. 

Coriander Chutney


You Need:

Coriander leaves - 1 bunch
Ginger - 1 small chunk
Tomato - 1 no
Salt - To taste
Green chilli's - 2 to 3 nos (As per required spice level)
Oil - To fry
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dhal - 1 tsp



Clean the coriander leaves and blend all the items except mustard seeds, urad dhal and oil in a mixer by adding little water.

Take a pan, add oil. Once heated, add the mustard seeds. Once popped, add urad dhal. Fry till color changes. Then add the coriander mixture and fry well till the raw smell goes and the mixture is cooked well.

Serve as a side to your idli's, dosa's. Even you mix with plain rice and serve as coriander rice. 

Fallooda - An Indian dessert


After with all the spicy non vegan recipes, I'm here with a delicious, yummilicious, finger-licking drink to your taste buds..... Falooda!! As the name sounds different..this one is truly an different dessert/drink:) 

There are lot more versions in falooda...The authentic one calls for use of FALOODA SEV ( which can be prepared at home ( Check Here) and also use of basil seeds. I used vermicelli which we use for making payasam etc.  And also I didn't use basil seeds (Nanari ) as I didn't get it near my place. This is my version, simple and easy. 

You Need: (Serves - 1 no)


Rose Syrup - 6 tsp 
Whole Fat milk - 1 cups
Sugar - As per taste
Cashew nuts/Almonds/Pista - For garnish
Cherries - For garnish
Vermicelli - 4 tsp per serving
Vanilla Ice cream - 1 or 2 small scoops


FALOODA

If using, Soak the basil seeds for 30 min or more. Chop the nuts into mini bytes.

Once the milk is boiled, add the sugar, rose syrup (4 tsp) and mix well. Refrigerate this. Prepare this first in the morning and keep handy so that you can just use instantly when your guests arrive in evening.

Just before serving, take a pan, add water just enough to cover the vermicelli and cook. Strain the water and keep aside. It takes hardly 5 min.

Take the serving glasses, add the 2 tsp of rose syrup, then the boiled vermicelli, then slowly pour the chilled milk over the sides till 3/4 filled. Then top it with vanilla icecream. Garnish with nuts and cherries.

Note:
1. Be careful while pouring milk and ice cream so that you can form a layer.
2. Use of basil seeds is healthy version. After chilled milk, add the basil seeds. Then ice-cream and nuts.
3. The vermicelli should be in separate strands like in payasam. If the vermicelli is cold, it will stick to each other like in upma. So prepare this at last before serving guests. Add directly into glass while it is as separate strands.


The taste of ice-cream with the flavored milk, with healthy basil seeds and bytes of vermicelli along with crunchy nuts makes this dish unique......Mouth Watering isn't..? :)


Chettinad Fish curry


This is traditional south Indian style fish curry......Authentic village style curry:) It has nice aroma and taste yummy...Must try by sea food lovers..:)

You Need: 

Fish - 1/4 kg ( you can use prawns as well)
Onion - 3 nos 
Cumin seeds - 3 tsp
Coconut - Little less than half of coconut 
Cashew  nuts - 3 tsp (Optional)
Chilli powder - 3 to 4 tsp ( As per required spice level)
Coriander powder - 1 to 2 tsp
Green chilli's - 2 nos (Optional)
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - few
Curry leaves - a handful
Salt - To taste
Oil - To fry



Clean and wash the fish. Pat dry and keep aside.

Grind the coconut to a fine paste. Then add onions and cumin seeds and grind well. This is the masala which gives the authentic taste to this curry.

Heat the kadai, add oil. Once heated, add mustard seeds, fennel seeds, curry leaves. Salute for a min. Then add the grinded masala and 1 cup of water. Let it boil well. Once it starts to boil, add the spice powders and salt. Cook well for 10 to 15 min in medium flame. Meanwhile add water to the tamarind and extract the tamarind juice from it. Add it to the curry.

Check the salt, spice and tamarind sour taste, curry consistency in this stage and add any if required.

Once the curry is cooked well, add the fish pieces and let it cook in low flame for 5 to 7 min.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with rice.

Authentic, South Indian style fish curry is now ready.

(South Indian )Fish Puttu (Shredded Fish fry)


I adopted this recipe from my aunt near my native place Tuticorin. This is south Indian style fish puttu or shredded fish stir fry. This is traditional Kerala dish with the addition of scrambled egg. 
This is very easy to make and tastes awesome. You can try using chicken and prawns in this recipe. 

You Need:

Fish ( I used sheela fish) - 1/4 kg
Onions - 5 to 6 nos (Finely chopped)
Chilli powder - 2 to 3 tsp ( As per required spice level)
Curry leaves -  a handful
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Fenugreek seeds (Vendhayam) - Pinch
Turmeric powder - pinch
Salt - To taste
Oil - To fry
Coconut powder - 3 tbsp (Optional)



Boil the fish in non stick pan with enough water for 3 to 5 min. Dont overboil. Just enough to shredd the fish into pieces. You can use the remaining water (stock) in your fish curry.

Remove the outside skins and bones if any. Keep aside.

Take a kadai, add oil. Once heated, add mustard, fennel seeds and curry leaves in order. Salute each for a min. Then add the finely chopped onions, salt to taste. Fry till it turns golden brown colour. Add the chilli powder and salute well. Once the mixture is cooked and blended well, add the shredded fish pieces and stir well. In the last stage add coconut powder if using and salute for a min.

Once the fish pieces and coconut(if using) are blended well with the masala, switch off the flame.

This fish stir fry goes well with any kinda rice or as appetizer.

Truly a yummilicious appetizer and different fish recipe. 

Bread Malai

My first introduction to this dish was in one of my friend's house in US. Thereafter, I serve this dessert whenever I invite my friends to home. This is also called as Shahi Tukra:)

You Need:

Bread - 6 
Milk - 1 lt
Badam - 15 (soaked overnight, peeled and chopped, Optional)
Sugar - 1 cup or Condensed milk - 1/2 tin
Ghee / Oil - To deep fry
Saffron - 3 to 4 strands ( If using sugar)


Deep fried bread in saffron flavored malai (Pic 1)


Bread Malai using condensed milk

Take the bread pieces, remove the sides (optional) and then cut into triangles.

Option 1:  Deep fry the bread slices in oil (Pic 1) .
Option 2: Alternatively if you are calorie conscious , you can also roast it in little oil/ghee in non stick tawa (Pic 2).

If you follow option 1, it tastes little more crispy than optional 2. But, I stress again, both the method tastes very similar and highly delicious. Guaranteed!

There are two ways to prepare the malai.

Way 1:

Sugar Syrup: Take one cup of sugar and one cup of water. Stir continuously till the sugar is dissolved. Add pinch of cardamom powder for flavor. Stir till it changes to light golden color syrup. Soak the bread pieces one by one in hot sugar syrup for a min and remove. Keep the remaining sugar syrup aside.

Take a non stick pan, add milk, remaining sugar syrup. You can add saffron now. The one litre milk should be reduced to 1/2 litre. Stir continuously till the mixture starts to thicken. This is called malai/rabri.


Soak the roasted bread slices in hot malai mixture and keep it in the refrigerator. Serve chilled. Top it with nuts.

Way 2:


This method is not time-consuming since the addition of condensed milk. Take a non stick pan, add milk, condensed milk. Stir continuously till the mixture starts to thicken. The one litre milk should be reduced to 1/2 litre.  Pour the rabri over the bread pieces and sprinkle almonds. Serve chilled.

Truly a royal dessert. Also called as Double ka meetha,  in the state of Andhra Pradesh.  Its another dessert which is really to die for! 

PS: No drooling over my bread malai :P

Vegetable Manchurian

2 cups finely chopped capsicum, cabbage, carrot, beans and spring onion whites (packed cups)
2 tbsps maida/all-purpose flour
2 tbsps cornflour
1/2 tbsp rice flour
1 tbsp ginger-garlic-green chilli paste
1/4 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
warm water as required (less than 1/2 cup is needed)
salt to taste
oil for deep frying
For sauce:
1/4 cup spring onions, finely chopped
1 1/2 tbsps finely minced garlic
1/2 tbsp finely minced ginger
2 finely chopped green chillis
1/2 tsp red chilli powder (preferably Kashmiri)
2 tsps soya sauce
1/2 tbsp chilli sauce
2 tsps vinegar
2 tbsps tomato sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
salt as required
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 1/2 – 2 tbsps finely chopped coriander leaves OR spring onion greens
1 Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy bottomed vessel.
2 In a bowl, combine maida, cornflour, rice flour, salt, ginger-garlic-green chilli paste, pepper pwd, soy sauce, salt and all the finely chopped vegetables. Sprinkle little water to make a thick mixture. Add water little by little and use only as much water as required to form small balls. You should be able to make small balls as shown in the picture above.
3 Carefully place each ball into the hot oil. Do not crowd the vessel. Reduce flame and deep fry the vegetable balls till cooked. Increase the flame towards the end of the cooking process and fry till they turn golden brown. Remove onto absorbent paper and keep aside.
4 Heat oil in a large wok and once the oil is piping hot, add the chopped garlic and stir fry for a few seconds. Add the green chillis and ginger and stir fry on high for a few seconds.
5 Add the whites of spring onions and stir fry on high for 2 mts, constantly tossing them.
6 Add the vegetable balls and stir fry for another 3 mts. They should retain their crunch. Reduce to medium heat and add the brown sugar, soya sauce, tomato ketchup, chilli sauce and vinegar. Mix well and cook for 2 mts. Add 3-4 tbsps of water and cook for 2 mts.
7 Toss on high flame for 1-2 mts. Turn off heat. Garnish with the chopped spring onion greens and/or coriander leaves.

Sweet & Sour Chicken

I adopted this recipe from one of the food blog and did little variation to suit to my hubby's taste. 

You Need:

Chicken - 1/4 kg ( Use boneless chicken breast pieces)
Onion - 2 nos (Finely chopped)
Capsicum ( I used red ones) - 1/4 of one piece.
Tomato sauce - 10 tsp
Soy sauce - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - As per required spice level
Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp ( Just for flavor)
Garlic - 2 nos (Finely chopped)
Corn flour - 2 tsp
Maida flour - 1/2 cup
Salt - To taste
Oil - To fry



Wash and cut the chicken breast into small chunks. Take a bowl, mix maida, salt and chilli powder and make a paste by adding little water. Dip the chicken pieces in this maida mixture and deep fry till golden color in very low flame. Make sure you don't burn them.

Drain the excess oil using tissue paper and keep aside.

For the curry: Chop the onions, garlic and capsicum. Take a pan, heat 2 tsp of oil. Add onion, saute  till translucent. Add garlic and fry till raw smell goes. Add tomato sauce, soy sauce, chilli powder, pepper powder, salt and one cup of water. Wait till it boils. Add the capsicum and cook covered for few more mins. Check the spice and salt level in this stage and add if needed. Add the chicken bites and mix well.

Meanwhile, mix corn flour in water and add to the curry. This is for thickening the curry. Let it cook for few more mins. The curry would have thickened well. Switch off the flame once the desired consistency has come.

Tips: Add more chilli powder to overcome the sweetness of tomato sauce.
Add 3 tsp of rice flour in maida mixture to get crispy texture to chicken bites.

Sweet, sour, spicy and crispy chicken curry is now ready to be served with pulav or with plain rice. 

Gulab Jamun (Version II)


You Need:

Gulab jamun mix (Any brand)
Water - 2 cup
Sugar - 2 cups
Cashew nuts - 5 gms ( coarsely grind it)






Add 1/4 measure of water to 1 measure of MTR mix and knead the mix gently into a dough. The dough should not be two thick or thin consistency. If water is less, it will become hard and if water if more, it will break. Set aside for 5 min. Make small balls and keep the smmal bites of cahew nut in each ball and then futher round it into smooth balls. .Fry in hot oil/ghee over a low flame until golden brown. Soak the gulab jamuns in hot sugar syrup until they completely absorb the syrup and serve. The syrup should be made earlier and kept hot

To make sugar syrup, mix 2 cups of sugar with 2 cups of water in a deep pan. Add 3-4 cardamom pods, slightly crushed. Stir constantly with a spoon on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until sugar is all dissolved in water and the syrup turns to slight golden color.

Check out here Version I recipe of Gulab Jamun.

Yummy golden brown balls in flavored sugar syrup with chunk of cashewnut is now ready to be gulped…:)


Rava Kesari


You Need:

Rava - 1 cup
Sugar - As per sweetness
Cashew nuts - For garnish
Raisins - 2 tsp
Milk - 2 cups
Water - 1 cup ( you can also use 3 cups of water or milk)
Ghee - 4 tsp
Yellow food color - pinch





Take a non stick pan, fry the semolina in little ghee until it is lightly browned. Keep aside.
Then fry the raisins and nuts in little more ghee.  Keep aside.
Then bring water and milk to a boil. Add the rava and stir continuously to avoid clumps. Reduce to medium low flame. Stir until the mixture thickens and rava is cooked well. If required, add more water for the rava to cook.
Once the rava is cooked, add the sugar to the rava and it will liquefy the mixture again. To it add 2 tsp of ghee and yellow food color. Cook till the mixture starts to thicken. Switch off the flame. Add the nuts and raisins.

Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Either way it tastes splendid. 

Traditional Kesari is ready now. Enjoy this sweet delicacy with a cup of tea:)

Prawn - Drumstick Curry


This recipe is adopted from my MIL. Trust me, you'll never go wrong with this recipe. The prawn and drumstick combination is really mouth watering..:)

You Need:

Prawns - 250 gms
Onions - 1 no
Tomato - 3 nos
Drumstick - 1 no
Brinjal - 2 nos ( I didnt have stock at home)
Coconut - 1/4 of one full coconut
Fennel seeds (sombu) - 1 tbsp
Chilli powder - As per required spice level
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Tamarind - one small lemon size
Curry leaves - few
Coriander leaves - For garnishing
Salt - To taste



Take a pressure cooker, add oil. Once heated, add onions and fry well till translucent. Meanwhile , add water to tamarind and leave it for few min. Extract the tangy water from the pulp and keep aside. Then add tomatoes, chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, salt, tamarind water, brinjal, drumsticks, curry leaves and cook for 3 to 4 whistles.

Meanwhile, grind the coconut and fennel seeds to fine paste by adding little water. Open the cooker and add this coconut mixture and cook open for 5 to 10 min. Check the spice and salt level in this stage. Add more if needed. Add water if you require more gravy.

Switch off the flame once the coconut mixture is blended well with the masala and the curry has acquired the desired consistency.

Garnish with coriander leaves.

Mouth watering prawn curry is ready to be served.

Chettinad Prawn masala fry

This recipe has been adopted from my MIL. Trust me, this is really a finger-licking dish. This is must try if want you to win your man's heart..:)

You Need:

Prawns - 250 gms
Onion - 3 nos
Tomato - 3 nos
Chilli powder - As per spice level
Green chilli's - 2 nos ( Optional, I personally like spice from green chilli's)
Curry leaves - one handful
Salt - To taste
Turmeric powder - pinch
Coriander leaves - For garnish


Chop the onions and tomatoes. Clean and wash the prawns. Dont forget to take the vein at the back of the prawn.

Heat the oil in the kadai, add onions and saute till it becomes translucent. Add curry leaves and sliced green chillis and stir for few more min. Dont avoid using curry leaves. It really enriches the flavor. Then add tomatoes. Add salt now which will make the tomatoes to cook fast. Add chilli powder and little water for the mixture to cook and to avoid burning.

Cook till the mixture is cooked completely and tomatoes are mashed well. Check the spice and salt level in this stage and add if needed.

Once the mixture is cooked well and add the prawns. Dont add water as sufficient water will ooze out from the prawns itself.

It is well known fact, that it takes very few minutes for the prawns to get cooked. Stir the mixture well so that the prawns are well coated with masala.

Garnish with coriander leaves.

Spicy and finger licking prawn masala fry is ready to be served. You can serve this as side dish or as an appetizer. 

Masala French Fries (Indian Version)


You Need:

Potato - 2 nos
Chilli powder  As per your spice level
Maida flour - 4 tbsp
Corn flour - 2 tsp
Salt - As per your taste
Oil - To fry




Cut the potatoes into one inch cubes and wash well in cold water. Pat dry.
Take a bowl, add the remaining ingredients except oil, and mix well. Add the potatoes to this flour mixture and mix well. If required, sprinkle water to bind the flour and potatoes.

Keep this aside for two min. Meanwhile, heat the oil to fry the potatoes.

Deep fry the potatoes in medium low flame in batches.

Crispy, spicy and salty potato fries are now ready.

Tomato Soup (Homemade)


Wanna make tomato soup as in restaurants....Here you go..:)

You Need: (Serves - 2)

Tomatoes - 3 nos
Onion - 1 no
Garlic - 6 nos
Pepper powder - As per required spice level
Cream - 1 tbsp (Optional)
Tomato sauce/ketchup - 4 tsp
Corn flour - 2 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Water - 3 cups



Cut the onions and tomatoes into small pieces. Remove the skin from garlic and keep aside. Mix corn flour in sufficient amount of water and keep aside.

Take a non stick pan, heat oil and fry the garlic till slightly roasted.
Then add onions and fry till cooked. Then add tomatoes and little salt for the tomatoes to cook fast.

Once the tomatoes are cooked / mashed well and raw smell is gone, add three cups of water. Let it boil for 15 min in medium low flame. Then add the corn flour mixture, tomato sauce, cream and pepper powder. Stir well and let the soup thicken. Check the salt and spice level.

Tips: Top it with little cream for garnishing. Add deep fried bread pieces/croutons if required for enriched taste.

Serve these restaurant kinda "Tomato Soup"....Nothing says comfort like a bowl of tomato soup during monsoon season.


Chocolate Rava Kesari

You Need:

Rava - 1 cup
Sugar - As per sweetness
Cashew nuts - For garnish
Raisins - 2 tsp
Milk - 2 cups
Cocoa powder - 2 to 2 1/2 tsp
Water - 1 cup ( you can also use 3 cups of water or milk)
Ghee - 4 tsp



Take a non stick pan, fry the semolina in little ghee until it is very lightly roasted and you get nice aroma of rava. Keep aside.
Then fry the raisins and nuts in little more ghee.  Keep aside.
Then bring water and milk to a boil. Add the rava and stir continuously to avoid clumps. Reduce to medium low flame. Stir until the mixture thickens and rava is cooked well. If required, add water for the rava to cook.
 Mix the 3 tsp of melted ghee and cocoa powder in a separate bowl. 
Once rava is cooked well, then only add the sugar to the rava and it will liquefy the mixture again. To it add the cocoa-ghee mix. Cook till the cocoa mix is cooked well and the mixture starts to thicken. Switch off the flame.

Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Either way it tastes splendid. 

Different and delicious kesari is now ready.
Serve to your guests and this will be "talk of the day" :)

Chicken 65


Chicken 65 is one of the most common non-vegan appetizer in our country. Very simple and yummy dish. Trust me, there's not a chance to go wrong with this recipe.

You Need:

Chicken  (Boneless) -500 gms
Ginger and Garlic paste - 4tbsp
Yogurt/ Thick Curd -4 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4tsp
Red chilly powder - 2 to 3 tsp ( As per required spice level)
Red food color( if required) - pinch (Avoid, if using kasmiri chilli powder)
Salt to taste







Take a large bowl mix in the ginger and garlic paste, curd, red chilly powder, turmeric powder, salt and food color. Mix well to from smooth and thick paste, add the chicken pieces to the masala paste and  marinaded for 4 hours. Heat enough oil to deep fry the marinaded chicken pieces. Deep fry the chicken pieces in batches till crisp and golden color. 

Crispy, spicy chicken 65 is ready to be served.


Navratri Special....

Wishing all my friends, a happy and prosperous dussehra!

Here's some of the delights I made on this auspicious day for my family and neighbors ....Do check the photos now...the recipes will be up soon! I hurry, I forgot to take a pic of Sundal and Susiyum.....check out in last pic...:)

Ciao!

Vanilla flavored Kesari

Spicy Diamond Biscuit 
Gulab Jamun with cashew filling


Chocolate flavored Kesari

Phirni - A Bengali dessert 
2 in 1 Kesari

The platter of delights

Paniyara Omelette(Muttai Appam)


I learnt this omelette recipe from my mom. She used paniyaram utensil to make these paniyara omlette. You can also call it as muttai appam. I grabbed them as and when she took them out from the mould. Very attractive and tasty side dish.

You Need:

Eggs - 2
Green chilli's - 1 or 2 nos
Salt - To taste
Onion - 1 no (Finely chopped)
Oil - 1/2 tsp





Take a bowl and add finely chopped onion, green chilli, salt and mix well by adding little water. Now add and beat the eggs and whisk till fluffy. Put the paniyaram mould on heat. Pour little oil in all holes. Pour this egg mixture in all holes till its up to 3/4 of  the hole.  Turn it with a skewer or knife slowly and cook for another minute. Take them out and serve hot.

This dish surely be the "dish of the day" during any potluck or kitty party.

Brinjal Chutney

Got bored of Coconut chutney...Try this Brinjal chutney. It is an excellent side dish for traditional idli's and dosa's. 


You Need:

Eggplant - 1 no
Tamarind pulp - 2 tsp
Tomato - 1/2 no
Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
Green chilli - 3 to 4 nos
Salt - To taste


For tempering:

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - Few
Oil - As needed




Wash the eggplant and place it directly on medium low flame. Cook till the skin turns to black completely and brinjal looks little shrunk as in the picture. Turn the brinjal constantly so that it is evenly cooked.  Place the brinjal directly on medium flame until the skin turns to black completely and the brinjal looks a little shrunken. Remove from heat and let it cool. 

Peel the skin and remove the pulp. Add tamarind, green chillis, tomato, coriander seeds and salt to the eggplant pulp. Grind it to a fine paste. 

Take a non stick pan, add 2 tsp of oil. Once heated, add the ingredients given under tempering. Then add the grinded paste and cook for 3 to 4 min in medium flame. 


Yummy brinjal chutney is now ready. The simplicity of these dishes which make it to be more attractive by working women. You can store this in fridge for a week.

Simple Paneer Butter Masala


This is very simple dish with very less ingredients but it taste yummy.

You Need:

Paneer - 200 gms
Onion - 3 nos
Tomato - 4 nos
Chilli powder - 2 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
Jeera powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - To taste
Butter - 2 to 4 tbsp


Grind the onions to a fine paste. Also grind the tomatoes to puree. Slice the paneer into cubes.

Take a non stick pan, heat butter. You can fry the paneer slices in butter till roasted. This is purely optional. Once butter is heated, add the onion paste. Salute well till the onion is cooked and turned light golden brown color. This step is more important as the onion enriches the taste of this dish. Once onion is cooked, add tomatoes puree.

Let the mixture cooks for about 10 min in medium flame. Add the spice powders and salt now. Add enough water and cook covered. The mixture should be cooked well till the butter/oil separates from the sides. Check the gravy consistency, if required add little more. Once the gravy is ready, add the sliced paneer cubes and cook covered for few more min and switch off flame.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with roti or naan. A very simple and yummy paneer dish is now ready.

Dahi - Aloo Chaat


Chaats, a savory snacks is quite famous in our country from road side stalls to hi-5 restuarant, you can find this in the menu. It is assortment of spicy, sweet-tangy flavour.

You Need:

Potatoes - 2 small nos
Puri's - 6 nos
Onion - 1 no 
Chilli powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
Salt - To taste
Curd - 5 tbsp

You Need - For Sweet-tangy sauce

Dates - 20 nos (Small Pieces)
Jagerry - 1 1/2 cups (Grated)
Tamarind (adjust) 1 lemon size ball
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Water 2 cups.
Salt - A pinch
Chat masala - 1 tsp (Optional)




Aloo preparation:

Peel the potatoes and cut them into small pieces. Take a non stick pan, heat 2 tsp of oil. Once heated, add onions and fry till golden brown color. Then add potatoes, chilli powder, garam masala, and salt. Add little water and cook covered till the potatoes are well cooked and mashed. The water should be evaporated. Potatoe masala is ready now.

In a non stick pan, add the tamarind along with the water and bring to a boil until it becomes thick paste. Once cooled down, grind tamarind mixture along with dates to a fine paste. Pour this tamarind-date paste back to non stick pan,cook for 10 mins on medium flame. Add the grated jaggery and allow it to melt with the tamarind date mixture.  Add all the spice powders and pinch of salt. Continue to cook till it becomes little thick, approx 20 mins on medium low flame. Turn off heat and allow it to cool. Sweet tangy sauce is ready now.

Take a serving plate, break the puri's, add potatoe masala and top it with sweet-tangy sauce and curd. Sprinkle chilli powder and serve these delicious chaat as evening snacks.
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