Coriander Parathas

Ingredients
2 -3 bunches coriander (wash and spread on paper towels, let dry completely.)
1 tsp. poppy seeds
1 tsp. sesame seeds
2 tbsp. minced onion.
1 tsp. very finely grated ginger
2 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
Lemon juice and salt to taste
cooking oil
wheat flour

Method
Chop the coriander leaves very finely.
Lightly roast the sesame seeds and poppy seeds.
Mix together ingredients 2 to 9.
Knead a soft dough with wheat flour.
Prepare stuffed parathas as usual using the coriander mixture.
Roast on greased tava adding little oil.
Serve hot with yogurt or pickle.

Pudina Paratha

Ingredients:
Whole meal flour 250 gms.
Mint leaves 1 cup
Oil 3 tbsp.
Salt As per taste

Method:

1. Sieve flour.
2. Dry mint leaves on a hot griddle and then powder.
3. Mix flour, salt and mint powder, add water to make a semi hard dough.
4. Knead well, cover and keep aside for 10 minutes.
5. Divide into 8 equal portions,
6. Roll out each portion with a rolling pin to approximately six inch diameter.
7. Cook rolled portion (paratha) on a Tawa (griddle plate), on moderate heat for 3 minutes. Turn it and smear half a table
spoon of oil on paratha. Repeat the same on the other side.
8. Cook on low heat till golden brown. Serve hot with Dal Pakhtooni or curry
of your choice.

Dal Paratha

Ingredients:

1 cup Wheat flour
2 tsp Oil
Salt To Taste
For the filling
1/2 cup Yellow moong dal
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1 pinch Turmeric powder
1 pinch Asafoetida
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder
2 tsp Oil
Salt To Taste
Oil As needed

Preparation:

* Sieve the wheat flour and knead to a soft dough by adding enough water. Keep aside.
* Soak moong dal for one hour. Wash and drain all the water.
* Cook the moong dal 1 cup of water.
* Heat oil in a pan, add the cumin seeds, asafoetida. Fry till they pop up. Add the cooked dal, salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and mix well.
* Cook until the dal mixture is dry. Let it cool.
* Take some portion of dough , make a small puri. Put some moong dal stuffing in center. Close from all sides and roll again into thick, round paratha.
* Heat a tawa ( griddle), put the daal ka paratha and cook on both sides by adding some oil.
* Serve daal paratha hot with curry.

Era Vadai

Ingredients
1. Prawns - 1/2 Kg
2. Green Chillies - 5
3. Saunf Powder ( Sombu Powder) - 3/4 spoon
4. Coriander Leaves - 1/4 Bundle
5. Finely Chopped Onion - 1 pc
6. Finely Chopped Carrot 1/2 pc
7. Marie Biscuit or Rusk - 3 pc
8. Dalia(Odachakadalai) - 5 spoons
9. Lemon Juice - 3 spoons
10. Salt to taste
Method
Step 1 :
Grind in Mixie(NO WATER) 7 / 8 from above

Step 2 :
Clean Prawns in Running water (Use turmeric to clean)

Step 3 :
Mix 1 / 2 and grind (dont grind too much.Should be like 1/2 ground)

Step 4 :
Mix with Step 3 result all from the above 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 9 / 10

Step 5 :
Mix result of Step 4 and Step 3 ( Taste and see if something is less pl add the same)

Step 6 :
Pour Oil in PAN once the oil is hot make the result in step 5 into small round coins and fry.

Cauliflower Paratha

For the filling:

1.Shredded Cauliflower(food processor works great) – 1.5 cup
2.Ginger shredded – 1 tbsp
3.Coriander powder – 1 tsp
4.Green chillies, finely chopped – 1 tsp
5.Salt – 1 tsp
Dough:

1.1.5 cups whole wheat flour
2.0.5 cups warm water
3.1 tsp olive oil
4.1/2 tsp salt
5.Butter/Ghee – at room temperature for making paratas
Method
1.Make sure all moisture is squeezed out from the shredded cauliflower. Mix salt, ginger, chillies and coriander powder to it. Keep aside.
2.In a bowl, mix whole wheat flour and water. Knead for 4 mins and then add salt and olive oil. After incorporating the oil well, cover the dough with moist cloth and set aside for 15 mins. The consistency of the dough should be similar to that of roti dough. The dough should be mildly sticky to allow for easy rolling.
3.To make parathas
1.Take a ball of dough (about 2.5 inches in diameter) and roll out into a little roti; thickness about 1/3 inch.
2.Brush ghee or butter and place 1 tbsp of the filling. Bring all ends of the roti together, make a potli (bag) like so, thus sealing the bag.
3.Dust the rolling surface with flour and roll the filled ball of roti into thickness of 4-5 mm.
4.Heat a cast iron pan and add a little butter/ghee.
5.Place the paratha and cook for about 30 secs.
6.Flip the paratha, brush butter and cook this side for about 30 –40 secs or until well done.
7.Repeat steps 1 through 6 until you exhaust all your dough.
8.Serve with yoghurt.

ULUNDHU URUNDAI MORKOZHAMBU

Ingrediants:-

For Ulundhu Urundai:-
Urad dal- 1 cup
Salt- To Taste
Oil- For Frying

For MorKozhambu:-
Curd- 1 cup(shouldnt be sour)
Turmeric Powder - A Pinch
Mustard - 1/2 tsp
Methi - 1/2 tsp
MorMilaga - 3-4(Curd Chillies)
Curry Leaves - A Few.
Oil- 2 Tbsp
Salt - To Taste

For Grinding:-
Dry Red Chillies - 3
Coriander Seeds - 1 tsp
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Bengal Gram - 2 tsp
Shredded Coconut - 2 Tbsp
Ginger - a small piece.
Method
1) Soak the urad dal for an hour and grind them into a smooth paste.



2) Add salt and mix well



3) Roll them into ball size and deep fry them and keep it aside.



For the Kozhambu:-



1) Soak all the ingrediants for grinding expect ginger and coconut in 1/2 cup of water for about an hour.



2) Now grind the soaked ingrediants along with the ginger and coconut to a smooth paste and keep it aside.



3) Mix this paste to the thined curd along with turmeric and salt.



4) Heat 2tbsp of oil in a kadai, add mustard and allow it to splutter.



5) Then add the methi,curry leaves and the mormilaga. Followed by the curd mixtures.



6) Allow it to just rise a bit and take care not to allow it to boil..if it boils then the gravy will curdle..and will not taste good..



7) Add the vada half an hour before serving..

Neiyi Urundai (Ghee Balls)

Ingredients Needed:
1. Green Moong Dal Powder
2 cups2. Ghee 1-1/4 cups
3. Elaichi Powder
4. Sugar Powder In the ratio of 1:1
5. Cashews, Raisins and Badam

Method:
1. Fry Green Moong on tawa without adding oil, till upi get a good aroma.
2. Cool and make the Dal into fine powder. (Sieve and Measure it)
3. In one portion Dal powder add one portion of Sugar powder.
4. Mix elaichi, fried cashew, badam, raisins .
5. Melt ghee and pour over dal mixture.
6. When still hot, make balls.
7. Cool and store in an Air Tight Container

Pottu kadalai Urundai

Ingredients
Roasted Split chick peas (pottu kadalai)- 1 1/2 cups
Jaggery – 1 cup
Water – 1 cup
Cardamom – 1 powdered


Method
1. Pour the water in a heavy bottom pan and bring it to boil. Now add the jaggery and cardamom into the boiling water and stir it continuously.
2. Allow it to boil . Pour a drop of the boiling Syrup into a cup of water and check the syrup density to be good enough. The syrup should not dissolve in the water.
3. Now pour the syrup over the split chick peas and make small balls immediately.

Badushah

Ingredients
Maida/All purpose flour – 1 lb
Dalda – 200 gm
water – 300 ml
lemon salt – 1/4 tbsp
baking soda – 1 pinch

For Sugar Syrup:
sugar -1/4 lbs
water – 1/4 ltr
Milk – 100ml

method
Sift the flour and put it in a bowl. Add the baking soda, lemon salt , melted dalda ( I don’t have lemon salt so I akipped it and also no dalda so I add vegetable oil)and add water little by little and make it a smooth dough just like the way you make it for parotta. No need to keep it for a long time to become smooth. But knead it by your hand. Give a exercise to your hand. It is very important the dough must be so smooth. Now seperate the dough into small balls , flatten the balls. Curve the edges with your fingers to from ridges. Now press the bottom of the dough with your finger so that the dough pops-up at the center.

Making the Syrup:
Add the sugar and the water. Make it to boil. when it starts to boil add milk to it. Allow 10mins for the syrup to boil. If there is any foam remove it with a spoon with holes. If you touch the syrup it should stick with your fingers. Remove it from fire and allow it to cool.

Frying the Dough:
Now the dough is prepared and ready to fry. Heat oil in a pan. Don’t over heat it. Put a small dough and check the heat. If the dough is fried well and floating remove the oil pan from the fire and throw all the badushah you made. (It must remove from fire before you throw the dough in) .

Once you throw the dough in it will settle down in the oil. Now press it with the ladle after sometime the badushah start to float on the oil.

Now place the pan again in the fire and in low flame allow it to cook for 10mins to 15mins. So now you will see the nice brown color.

Drain it from oil and allow it to cool. Once it is cool drop this into the syrup you made before. Keep it in the syrup for 5mins.

Now remove it from syrup if you have any more remaining syrup pour it on top of the badushah.

Now the delicious badushah is ready to go.

Chicken Lollies

Ingredients:
Chicken breasts - 8
Oil for frying

For marination
Ginger-Garlic paste - 5 tbsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice - a little
Breadcrumbs - 1 cup
Orange colour - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste

For batter
Corn flour - 1/2 cup
Egg whites - 2
Kashmiri powder or Pinch Red colour - 1/2 tsp
Water - 3/4 tbsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Ajinomoto - 1/2 tsp

Method:
1. Mix the ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder and the lemon juice to form a paste.
2. Take 8 tender chicken breasts. Clean and remove the skin and debone, keeping the winglet bone intact.
3. With a knife tip make a deep slit along the thick edge of the breast, taking care not to penetrate the opposite side.
4. Open out the flaps thus formed. Gather the flaps at the end of the bone. The bone will now resemble a drumstick with all the meat at one end.
5. Marinate the drumsticks with the marinade. Leave aside for half an hour.
6. Mix the ingredients for the batter to for a smooth batter.
7. Mix the colour with the breadcrumbs to give an orange colour.
8. Heat oil in a kadai. Dip the drumsticks, one at a time, in the batter and roll in breadcrumbs and deep fry over a medium flame till they are all light golden brown in colour.

Spring Chicken

Ingredients:
Boneless chicken (boiled and sliced) - 250 gms
Egg (optional) - 1
Cornflour - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Onion (sliced) - 20 gms
Ginger-garlic paste - 20 gms
Green peas (boiled) - 30 gms
French beans (julienned and boiled) - 20 gms
Chicken stock - 100 ml
Honey - 1 tsp
Soya sauce - 2 tsp
Ajinomoto - 1/4 tsp
Spring onion (chopped) - 10 gms

Method:
1. Beat the egg, cornflour and salt together and coat the chicken slices with it.
2. Heat oil and deep fry the chicken till golden brown and keep aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan and fry the onion till light brown.
4. Add ginger-garlic paste and stir fry for 2 minutes.
5. Add green peas, french beans and chicken pieces and stir fry for two more minutes.
6. Add the stock, honey, soya sauce, chilli sauce, ajinomoto and salt to taste.
7. Cook over low heat till done.

Chicken Lollipops

Ingredients:
6 chicken wings-cut off one bone and collect all the flesh at one end
1 egg-slightly beaten
1 cup cornstarch / cornflour
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp salt oil for deep-frying

Method:
Mix together the chicken, egg, cornflour, garlic and ginger paste, 1 tsp salt and enough water so that the chicken pieces are 'coated' with the batter. Leave thus about 1 an hour.

Heat the oil and deep-fry the chicken wings over high heat to begin with and then lower the heat till wings are almost cooked through. Drain on absorbent paper.

Just before serving, heat the oil again and fry the wings in hot oil till brown, drain on absorbent paper and serve.

Kothavaranga - potato poriyal

Ingredients:

Kothavaranga (gawar) (chopped) – 1 cup
Potato (chopped) – 1 cup
Onions (chopped) – 1
Tomato (chopped) – 1
Ginger-garlic (finely chopped) – 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Jeera – 1 tsp
Split urad dal – 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds (methi seeds) – ½ tsp
Chilli powder – 1 tbsp
Turmeric – a pinch
Salt – as needed
Oil – 2 tbsp

Method:

Heat oil in a pressure pan and add mustard seeds, split urad dal, jeera and fenugreek seeds. Once the mustard starts to splutter add onions and fry till they turn golden brown. Add the tomatoes and chopped ginger-garlic. After the tomatoes turn soft add chilli powder, turmeric and salt. Finally add the chopped vegetabes (potato and kothavaranga) and 1 cup of water and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Remove from heat, wait till the pressure subsides and check if all the water has evaporated. If not heat for a few minutes till all the water evaporates. This dish goes well with chapathi or rice.

Pasipparuppu Sadam

Ingredients

Basmathi Rice - 1 cup
Moong Dal - 1/2 cup
Onion (small size) - 1 chopped
Garlic - 7 cloves chopped
Green Chillies - 6
Red Chillies - 5
Tomato - 2 chopped
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Butter or Ghee - 1 or 2 tblspn
Salt to taste

For Tempering

Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Urid Dal - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - few
Cumin/Seeraham Seeds - 1 tsp
Fennel/Sombu Seeds- 1 tsp

Method

1.Pour oil in a pan/cooker and add mustard seeds. Let it crackle and add urid dal, and curry leaves.
2.Add cumin, fennel, and chilles one by one and allow it to fry in the same oil. [careful not to burn the cumin seeds, otherwise it goes bitter]

3.Saute onion and garlic till they become light golden brown.
4.Add chopped tomatoes, turmeric, butter, and salt to the mixture and cook until oil floats on the surface and then add moong dal and cook for 5 minutes.
5.Add rice and 3 cups of water and cook until it is done.

Kathirikkai Vellai Mochai Puli Kozhambu

Ingredients:
Brinjal- 4 or 5 (slit it into 4,but do not remove the top)
vellai mochai- 1 cup cooked
small onions- 10 (peeled & sliced)
garlic- 4 pods
tomato - 1
tamarind paste- 1 1/2 tsp(or more if you need)
turmeric- 1/4 tsp
sambar powder- 1 1/2 tsp
coconut milk- 1/2 cup
curry leaves
vadagam- 2 tsp

Method
Pressure cook field beans with some turmeric and salt for 2 whistles.Heat oil in kadai and fry onions , garlic and curry leaves . Then add brinjal and cook till half done. Now add tomato,turmeric and salt. After sometime add sambar powder and tamarind paste. Add 1 cup water and boil for 10 minutes. Then add mochai and coconut milk. Blend well and boil again for 5 more minutes. Cook till the right consistency (not too thick,not too thin). Finally add fried vadagam and add to curry. Serve with hot rice.

chicken and mushroom soup

Ingredients:
Butter - 2 Tbsp
Garlic - 2 tsp, chopped
Onion - 1/2 cup, chopped
Celery stalks - 1/4 cup, chopped
Parsley - 2 Tbsp, chopped
Mushrooms - 200 gm
Potato - 1 medium, peeled and grated
Chicken joints - 500 gm
Salt and pepper to taste
Water - 3 cup
Milk - 2 cup
Butter - 1 Tbsp

Method

1. Melt the butter in a skillet. Add garlic, onion, celery and parsley and cook stirring till fragrant.
2. Reserve few slices of mushroom for garnish and add the rest to the skillet. Add potato, chicken, salt and pepper and water. Simmer till the chicken is cooked.
3. Lift the chicken pieces with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate. Cool the contents in the skillet and blend till smooth.
4. Remove the bones from chicken and shred the meat. Add the chicken meat to the blended soup. Add milk and simmer gently for 3 minutes. Taste and correct the seasoning. Transfer to serving bowls
5. Brown the reserved mushroom slices in 1 Tbsp of butter and sprinkle on top of each bowl and serve hot.

Chicken Coconut Soup

Ingredients
1 chicken breast
1 cup chopped mushroom
1-1/2 cup coconut milk
3 cups chicken stock
3 tbsp chopped lemon grass
1 tbsp ginger root
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup chopped spring onion
2 green chillies, chopped finely
3 tbsp chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Method
Boil chicken till pink in colour.
Drain and keep the water as stock.
Discard skin and bones, and shred into small pieces, keep aside.
In a saucepan, mix all the ingredients except chicken and lemon juice.
Bring it to boil.
Let it cook for another 20-25 minutes on slow flame.
Add chicken pieces and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Add lemon juice.
Serve hot, garnished with coriander leaves.

Chicken Soup

Ingredients:
500 gms chicken bones
100 gms boneless chicken
(Skinned)
30 gms all purpose flour
1 tsp garlic, chopped
½ tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp white pepper powder
2 bay leaf
2 green chilies
½ tsp garam masala powder
salt to taste.
1 tsp oil

Method:
Clean and wash chicken bones.
Clean, wash and cut chicken into small pieces
Put chicken pieces in a deep pan. Add 1¼ liters water, chopped garlic, bayleaf, slit green chillies and bring it to a boil.
Boil for half an hour. Strain and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Put cumin seeds when it crackle put flour, cook for a minute on a slow flame and then add reduced chicken stock, chicken pieces, white pepper powder, garam masala powder and salt.
Bring it to a boil and serve.

Drumstick Pickle

Ingredients:
15 drumsticks
1 tsp methi (fenugreek seeds)
3 tsp mustard seeds
20 dried red peppers
1/4 tsp asafoetida
1 tbsp turmeric powder
100 gm tamarind
2 tbsp vinegar
3 pods garlic-peeled
3 tbsp salt
1 cup refined oil
2 tbsp sesame oil

Method:
Scrape the drumsticks lightly and cut into desired sized pieces. Steam them for 5 minutes.

Grind together the methi, sarson, red chilies and tamarind to a fine paste.

Heat oil and add garlic, ground ingredients, heeng, salt and haldi. Mix well and add the drumsticks.

Cook on low flame for 5 minutes.

Take it off the heat and cool. Add the vinegar and sesame oil, transfer into a clean jar and leave for 3 days, before serving.

Date Pickle

Ingredients:
• 500 gm Dates
• 1/2 Cup red chili powder
• 1/2 Cup garlic paste
• 1/2 Cup ginger paste
• Salt to taste
• 5 tsp Oil

Method:
• Soak the dates in water for 1 week, in the refrigerator.
• After 7 days, the dates will be very soft.
• Remove the seeds from the dates and then strain them.
• In a pan, heat oil.
• Add garlic, ginger, red chili powder and salt.
• Then add the date paste and cook for 5 min.
• Remove it and cool.

Beetroot Pickle

Ingredients
250 gms. fresh juicy beetroots
250 ml. spicy vinegar

Method
Peel and slice beetroots thickly.
Add salt to 1 litre water in a large vessel.
Bring to boil, add beetroot, cooking till tender but firm.
Slices should not become soft and break.
Drain well, spread on a clean kitchen cloth.
Dab out excess moisture.
Pile into a sterile jar, pour spicy vinegar over them.

Chilli Crab

Ingredients

Crab - 1 Kg.(Washed and Cleaned)
Onion - 4 (finely chopped)
Tomato - 4 (Finely chopped)
Ginger Garlic Paste - 3 tbsp
Chilli Powder - 3 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tbsp
Masala Powder - 1 tbp
Red Chillies - 2
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tbsp
Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. When it splutters add red chillies.
When it is cooked, add onions wait till it become golden in colour.
Add tomato and saute for a while.
Add ginger garlic paste and mix well.
Add Chilli Powder and Turmeric powder and pour 1 glass of water.
Add salt and close with a lid.
When it is dried saute for a while.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Crab Masala

Ingredients

1 lb Crabs- cleaned with shells on
5-6 Garlic cloves finely chopped
1/2 " Ginger finely choped
2 Green Chillies slit
1/2 tsp Tamarind pulp
1 small Tomato
2 Shallots
A small bunch of Coriander leaves
5-6 Curry Leaves and a small Red Chilli
1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1/2 tsp Chilli Powder
Salt to taste
Vegetable Oil

Method:
Heat oil in a pan. Add curry leaves and red chilli. Fry till aroma comes out.
Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for a couple of minutes. Now add the chopped onions and fry till soft.
Add green chillies and the powders to the masala. Make a paste out of the tamarind pulp with some warm water and add this as well.
Add chopped tomatoes and the uncooked crab and mix well. Add 1/2 a glass of water and salt and cook on low flame till the crab is cooked.
Garnish with chopped coriander and serve Hot with rice.

You can use the same recipe for prawns, mussels or any other shell fish.

Crab Curry

Ingredients :

Crab claws- 8 (cleaned & washed)
Coconut milk- 1 can (14 oz)
Medium onion- 1 (chopped)
Ginger- 1 inch piece
Garlic- 5 cloves
Dried red chilies- 10 (soaked in little warm water)
Crushed poppy seeds- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tsp
Cumin powder- 1 tsp
Tamarind paste- 1 tablespoon
Oil- 5 tablespoons
Salt to taste.

Method :

1. Grind the soaked red chilies, ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder & poppy seeds.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add the ground mixture and fry for 10 minutes with constant stirring.
3. Add little water if it sticks to the pan.
4. Then pour half of the coconut milk with 2 cups of water and simmer for 10 more minutes over low heat.
5. Now add the crab claws & salt and cook for 3-4 minutes.
6. Add the tamarind paste & the remaining coconut milk and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until the crab is well cooked. Serve hot with rice.

Y

Carrot Milkshake

Ingredients
10 baby carrots
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups boiled, cold milk
Pinch of cardamom (powdered)

Method
Grate the carrots and blend all the ingredients.
Refrigerate for half an hour and enjoy the carrot milkshake.

Grape Milkshake

Ingredients
1 cup black grapes washed & cleaned
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
250 ml. milk well chilled
2-3 scoops vanilla or black currant icecream (optional)

Method
Add 1/2 cup water to each, grapes and sugar, separately.
Boil grapes for 3-4 minutes, or till soft. Cool.
Boil sugar, water till a drop pressed between fingers feels sticky (1 thread consistency)
Blend grapes till smooth, sieve.
Add to sugar syrup, boil and simmer further for 5 minutes.
Cool very well.
Just before serving, blend grape concentrate and milk till frothy.
Pour into transparent glasses.
Top with a scoop of vanilla or black currant icecream if desired.
Serve immediately.

Apple Milkshake

Ingredients:
2 - medium sized apples (should be firm )
3 cups - milk (chilled)
1 to 2 tsp - sugar
1/2 tsp - cinnamon powder
1 tsp - honey
10 to 15 - ice cubes (crushed)
apple slices for decoration

Method

1. Peel the apples and dice into cubes.
2. In a blender mix all the ingredients to a smooth shake.
3. Serve chilled and decorate with apple slices.

Ridged Gourd Sambar

Ingredients
Ridged gourd / Peerkanakai – 2 peeled and cut into small cubes
Onion – 1 medium
Tomato – 2 medium
Moong dal / Pasiparuppu – 3/4 cup
Sambar powder – 11/2 tsps
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder – 1/2 tsp
Cumin – 1 tsp
Garlic pods – 4
Asafoetida a pinch
Tamarind paste – 1/4 tsp
A handful of chopped cilantro
Ghee / oil – 2 tbsps

Method
1. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and fry the moong dal until a nice aroma comes out from the dal. (slightly brown in color). Add enough water , turmeric and asafoetida and pressure cook the dal.
2. Add little water to the ridgegourd pieces and cook seperately. Don’t over cook the vegetable.
3. Heat 2 tbsps of oil in a frying pan and pop mustard, cumin and add the sliced onion and garlic and fry until soft. Add the chopped tomato cook till the tomatoes are mashed well add the sambar powder, chilly powder fry for few more minutes.
4. Now combine everything together. To the cooked dal add the cooked vegetable and the prepared masala, tamarind juice and salt. (if you feel the sambar is too thick you can add water at this stage)
5. Finally garnish with cilantro. This sambar goes well with rice, dosai and chapathi.

Kai Murukku

Ingredients Needed:
1. Boiled Rice - 1 cup (soak in water for 2 hours)
2. Red Chilli dried 2
3. Hing
4. Butter = 1-1/2 tsp
5. Chutney Dal Powder 3 tsp
6. Salt - to taste
7. Water - if needed
8. Coconut Oil - 2 tsp for applying in hands
9. Oil for deep frying.
Method:
1. Grind Rice with Chilli into fine paste and keep in cloth to take out extra moisture.
2. Add Dal powder, Butter, Salt, Hing and mix well. (Sprinkle water if needed)
3. In a cloth or kitchen towel take small amount of dough and sprial it in circular motion (like turning a tap or a screw). Make minimum 2 rounds. As you know, more will make it bigger. Follow the same procedure for remaining.
4. Let it dry for about 30 minutes and deep fry in hot oil till done.
5. Cool and store in air tight container.

Vaazhaipoo Kola Urundai

Ingredients


Banana flower -1
Chutney dal/roasted chana dal-3/4 cup(powdered)
cashews-6 chopped finely
corainder leaves- a few chopped finely
onion- 1 chopped finely
salt to taste
oil for deep frying
To grind
green chillies-3 or acc to taste
poppy seeds- 1 tsp
cinnamon- 1 small piece
cloves-2
Saunf- 1/2 tsp
ginger - a small piece
garlic- 3 cloves chopped finely


Method


Takeout the florets from the banana flower. Then remove the stamens from them. Get a clear idea of how to do it HERE. Chop the florets finely. Boil water in a pan and add salt and the florets.When the florets are cooked , drain them and squeeze them well to remove excess water.
Add the chutney dal powder to it and mix well. Add chopped onions, cashews,coriander leaves and the ground masala to the banana flower mixture. No need to add water. Make small balls and deep fry in hot oil.

Payar Thoran

Ingredients
Payar (long beans) 2 cups chopped fine
Salt - as per taste
Turmeric - ¼ tsp
Green Chilly - 3-4
Garlic - 3-4 cloves
Coconut Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Coconut - 1/2 cup shredded

Method
Chop long beans very fine.
Mince garlic and green chilly together.
Shred coconut and mix with minced garlic, green chilly and turmeric.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and urad dal.
When mustard seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry for a few seconds.
Add long beans to pan along with 1 cup of water and cook on medium heat.
When almost done, add salt, and coconut-mix and mix well and cook till beans is done and water is fully evaporated.

No Oil Spicy Mango Pickle

Ingredients
2 medium raw mangoes
3 tbsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1 tbsp. red chilli powder
1/4 tsp. asafoetida
1 tbsp. coarsely crushed mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. nigella seeds (optional)

Method
Chop mangoes into big (1") chunks.
Discard seeds. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. Salt and 1/2 tsp. Turmeric.
Rub to coat all pieces, place aside for 3-4 hours.
Put in a colander to drain out water.
Spread on a clean absorbent cloth for 2 hours.
Take piece in a large bowl.
Sprinkle all other ingredients and toss to blend evenly.
Put pieces in a clean glass jar, keep aside.
Allow to mature for two days in a clean dry corner.
Shake jar daily. Refrigerate.

Banana Halwa

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp Nutmeg ground
1 tablespoon Pure Ghee
3 medium bananas ripe, peeled and mashed
1 cup Sugar

Method:

* Heat ghee in a heavy pan. Add bananas and cook over low heat, stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking. Cook for 10 minutes, or until bananas have browned and resemble soft toffee. Add more ghee as neccessary.
* Add sugar and continue stirring until dissolved.
* Add nutmeg and cardamom; remove from heat.
* Spread halwa into a deep, large plate. Allow it to cool and cut into squares.

Turkey with Chestnut

Ingredients
1 turkey
6 cups chestnuts boiling salted water
1 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup cream
2/3 cup dry bread or cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons grated onion broiled sausages (for garnish)

Method
Shell and skin the chestnuts and drop them into boiling salted water. Cook them until they are soft.
Put them through a potato ricer and combine them with the remaining ingredients.
Fill cleaned turkey with the dressing.
Roast the turkey uncovered in a slow over 300o f until tender.
Season with salt and pepper when it is half cooked.
Serve on hot platter and garnish with broiled sausages.

Turkey Biryani

Ingredients
1 lb. turkey (cut in medium pieces)
cardamom to taste
cinnamon to taste
5 tbsp. clarified butter
cloves to taste
1 tsp. all spice powder
1 tbsp. garlic (paste)
1 tbsp. ginger (paste)
5 onion
salt to taste
5 tomato
1/2 cup yoghurt
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
10 green chilies
2 tsps. red chili powder
2 1/2 cups rice (basmati)
2 tsps. coriander powder

Method
Marinate turkey with yoghurt, chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and
salt. Set aside for atleast 4 hours.Add 3 tablespoons of oil to the frying pan. Add ginger
garlic paste when oil is hot and fry till golden brown.

Now add cut onions, green chillies and fry till onion is transparent. Add tomatoes and fry
well. Add mint and coriander leaves and set aside to cool. Once cooled, blend all this in a
blender till the mixture becomes finely grinded.

Add ghee and oil to a frying pan, when heated add cloves, cardamom and cinnamon. Fry
till brown. Now add salt, the blended and the marinated mixtures and mix well. You can
also add mint and coriander leaves while cooking.

If you are using pressure cooker let the mixture with turkey cook for 2 whistles. Otherwise
for frying pan cook the mixture for 30-40 minutes, till the meat is half cooked. Meanwhile
wash the basmati rice well and drain the water. Once the meat is ready, add water and
basmati rice.

Rice to water ratio should be 1:2(the water includes the gravy from cooking the meat).
Add salt to the mixture. Let the rice cook. Once done serve hot with curd raita

Turkey Fry

Ingredients
1/2 kg turkey breast
2 cups broccoli florets
1 capsicum, thinly stripped
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp sesame oil
2 sprig spring onion, chopped finely
1/2 onion, chopped finely
1/4 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp grated ginger paste
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/8 tsp black pepper powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt as per taste

Method
Mix and wash dals well. Soak for 30 minutes.
Pressure cook till soft but not overcooked. (Approx. 3 whistles)
Mash a little with the back of a spoon, while hot.
Heat butter in a deep pan. Add seeds, allow to splutter.
Add onion, ginger and green chillies.
Stir fry till soft, add masalas (red chillies and salt) and dals, mix well.
Bring to a boil. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Garnish with chopped coriander and lemon juice.
Serve hot with rice, rotis, etc.

Cashewnut Thenkuzhal

Ingredients:
raw rice - 1 cup
cashewnuts - 100 gms
ghee - 1 tblsp
powdered salt - 3/4 tasp
oil - for deep frying

Method:
1. Soak rice for 10 minutes.
2. Drain well and spread over a towel to dry under shade (for 1/2 an hour)
3. Powder it in a mixie and sieve.
4. Grind cashews to smooth thick paste with just enough water.
5. Mix this with flour, add salt, melted hot ghee and mix well.
6. Sprinkle little water if necessary and knead like a thick dough.
7. Fill dough in greased murukku maker with 3 eyed disc.
8. Prepare small murukkus on top of a wet towel.
9. Deep fry few at a time in hot oil till the oil holds.
10. When crisp take out and put in a colander or on absorbent paper to drain excess oil.

Store in air-tight containers.

Paneer Makkanwala

Ingredients :
Paneer - as required
Butter - 2 1/2 tbsp
Oil - to deep fry paneer pieces.

Grind together:
Onions - 2
Ginger - 1 " piece
Garlic - 6 flakes
Red chillies - 3
Tomatoes - 5 medium sized
Coriander leaves - 1/2 bunch
Curry leaves - few
Grated coconut - 1 1/2 tbsp
Poppy seeds - 2 tbsp
Cinnamon - 1 " piece
Cloves - 4
Cardamoms - 2
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Dhainia powder 0 2 tbsp
Salt - required amount

Method :
1. Cut paneer into cubes, and deep fry in oil.
2. grind masala without adding water. Heat half of the butter and one tablespoon of oil, add the ground masala and fry well till ghee separates from it.
3. Add fried paneer cubes and 1 tablesppon of butter, with little water.
4. Reduce the flame, cover and keep for few minutes.
5. Stir carefully in between.
6. Remove from fire and serve garnished with coriander leaves.
7. Finely cut onions and lime pieces can be served as accompaniments.

Kurma for Ghee Rice

Ingredients :
Mixed diced vegetables - 4 cups (carrot, potato, cauliflower, beans and peas)
Salt - to taste
Garam MAsala powder - 1 tsp
Ghee or oil - 3 tbsp

Grind together :
Garlic - 5 flakes
Green chilles - 8 (fry both with little oil)
Coconut scrapings - 5 tbsp
Ginger - 1" piece
Onion - 1 big
Coriander leaves - 1 bunch

Method :
1. Fry the vegetables in ghee.
2. Add the ground masala with enough water, salt, garam masala powder and sugar for taste.
3. Keep in pressure cooker and cook for 7 minutes after the vent has been put.
4. Garnish with coriander leaves and squeeze lime juice of desired.
5. Instaed of masala powder, fry aniseeds, cardamom, cinnmon, bayleaf and cashewnuts.
6. Pour on top of the kurma, mix well and then remove from fire. serve with Ghee Rice.

Omapodi

Ingredients

Omam - 15 gms
Gram flour - 2 cups
Rice flour - 2 cups
Table salt - to taste
Oil - for frying

Method:

Fry the omam well, powder it and sieve it fine.
Similarly sieve the rice and gram flours too.
Mix the omam powder, rice flour, gram flour, salt and butter and mix well.
Add water to get a thick paste-like consistency.
Heat oil in a kadai. Test how hot it is by dropping a pinch of dough into it - if it sinks, the oil hasn't become hot enough. If the dough springs to the top with bubbles all around it, then the oil is just ready.
Pass the dough through the special omapodi strainer and fry golden brown. Keep flipping the sides till the omapodi is done.
Store in an air tight container.

Spicy Sev

Ingredients
2 cups gram flour (besan)
1/2 tsp. ajwain (omam) seeds
1 1/2 tsp. red chilli powder
1 tbsp. oil
salt to taste
2-3 pinches asafoetida
water to make dough
oil to deep fry

Method
1.Mix the chilli, oil, salt and seeds into the flour.
2.Add enough water to make a dough which is quite gooey.
3.It should not be pliable but sticky.
4.Grease the inside of a Sev-press, fill with the dough.
5.Press into hot oil, and fry lightly on both sides.
6.Drain well and cool before storing.

Variation:
You may adjust the chillies as per taste.

You may omit chillies to make bland sev.
You may add finely crushed dried herbs (eg. mint) for add flavour.

Deepavali Legiyam

Ingredients:
Peppercorn - 2 tsps
Cumin seeds Jeera - 2 1/2 tsps
Coriander seeds - 2 1/2 tsps
Bishop weed seeds/Ajwain - 25 grms/3tbsps
Dry or fresh ginger - 30 gm
Cardamom - 1gm/2 to 3
Nutmeg or jaadhikkai - ½ piece
Ghee or clarified butter - 100gms
KandaThipli (Desavaram Pipala mool) - 10 to 12 sticks
Crumbled Jaggery (equal to the amount of ground paste) - 50 grms

Method:
1. Smash all the dry and medicinal ingredients in a mortar and pestle.
2. Pour some water and soak them for about 10 - 15 minutes
3. Grind into a soft paste in a blender.
4. Add 1/2 cup water and thoroughly mix up the paste and place in a heavy bottomed wok or vessel
5. Cook it on a slow flame, stirring it all the time with a flat ladle so that no lumps are formed.
6. When the water is nearly evaporated add the crumbled jaggery and stir it in.
7. Add spoonfuls of ghee and keep stirring.
8. When the lehiyam comes together in a ball and the ghee is separated from it, turn off the heat.
9. Stir in the honey and store in an airtight container.
10. Take one spoon of lehiyam on Deepavali after taking bath and before you eat anything else.

PS: This lehiyam can also be made using readymade powders that are available in many local medicine shops. Mix the powder with two times the water and cook in a heavy bottom vessel. Add jaggery and ghee until the lehiyam comes together and the ghee is separated.

PASTA SALAD

Ingredients

1. 100g-pasta
2. 1/2 cup- curd
3. 1/2 cup-mayonnaise sugar to taste salt to taste white pepper to taste

Method

Boil the pasta .

Beat the curd and mayonnaise in separate bowls and mix together.

Sprinkle sugar,salt and pepper to taste to the curd-mayonnaise paste.
Mix the pasta to the curd mayonnaise paste and refrigerate.

Ready to serve once chilled.

PANEER FINGER

iNGREDIENTS
1. MAIDA 1/4 CUP
2. CORN FLOUR 1/4 cUP
3. MILK 4 TSP SOY SAUCE aND
4. TOMATO SAUCE- 4TSP
5. PANEER-1 PACKET SALT

METHOD
MIX ABOVE ALL WELL EXCEPT PANEER, ADD SOME WATER AND MAKE IT AS BATTER.

CUT PANEER AS THIN FINGER AND DIP IT IN BATTER FRY WELL IN OIL.

GARNISH WITH CORRINDER LEAVES

DATES KHEER

Ingredients

1. 2cups thin coconut milk fresh or canned
2. 1 cup dates deseeded and chopped in to small pieces
3. 1/2 cup whole milk (optional)
4. 1 ot 2 tsp jaggery, powdered
5. 1tsp elaichi /cardamom, powerderd
6. 3 to4 tsp cashwes


Method

Keep aside few pieces of date for garnishing and grind the rest to asmooth paste along with the half the coconut milk.

Empty the paste into a heavy bottemed pan and bring to boil on the stove.

Addthe remaining coconut milk ,jaggery elaichi and boil well if the mixture is too thick ,add milk and boil for some more time .

Adjust the sweetness according to yourtaste.

Remove from Stove Garnish with the remaining date pieces and fried cashews and serve hot.

Khari Pudi

Ingredients

2 cups maida (plain flour)
1/4 cup rice flour
2 tbsp. rice flour separate
1/2 tsp. omam seeds
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1/5 tsp. asafoetida powder
2 tbsp. oil
2 tbsp. ghee
Salt to taste
Some dry flour for dusting
Oil to deepfry

Method:

1. Mix together plain flour and 1/4 cup rice flour.
2. Add salt, seeds, 2 tbsp. oil, asafoetida, turmeric, mix well.
3. Add enough water to make a not too soft pliable dough.
4. Take a pingpong ball sized lump, shape into ball, roll.
5. While rolling use dry flour for dusting.
6. Roll into a large chappati. Apply ghee on top with back of spoon.
7. Sprinkle some rice flour all over.
8. Starting from one end, roll into a tight swiss roll.
9. Cut into 3/4" to 1" thick slices.
10. Take one, roll over it lightly once or twice only.
11. The pudi shoud just flatten enough to stay together.
12. Do not roll to make thin again.
13. Place on a clean cloth, to dry a bi.
14. Keep aside. Repeat till all dough is over.
15. Heat oil in a heavy frying pan.
16. Let in few pudis at a time in hot oil.
17. Fry on med. To low flame till very lightly golden.
18. Flip sides and repeat above.
19. Drain and keep aside to cool.
20. Cool completely before storing.

Thenkuzhal

Ingredients
Rice - 2 Aazhakku
Broken Greengram (Payathamparuppu) - 1 Handfull
Broken Black gram (Uluthamparuppu) - 1/2 Aazhakku

Method

The above mentioned ingredients should be ground into fine flour in a mill.

Cool the ground flour, sieve, and add 2 tsp Ghee, 1 tsp table salt, 1/2 tsp jeera. Mix well.

Squeeze through the tubular press and deep fry them.

Sitaphal Rabdi

Ingredients
1 cup sitaphal pulp
2 litres whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
4 almonds
4 green pistachios, unsalted
1/4 tsp. saffron strands
1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
1 tsp. chopped fragrant red rose petals

Method
Crush almonds and pasta coarsely, or cut into thin slivers.
Boil milk in a clean heavy pan.
Simmer for ten minutes, after it starts boiling.
Stir occasionally while boiling.
Add sugar, stir till dissolved.
Take off fire, add saffron, cardamom, almonds, pastas.
Cool to room temperature.
Add sitaphal pulp, chill for 3-4 hours till very cold.
Put in individual serving bowls sprinkle very few chopped petals to garnish.
Serve chilled.

Olan

Ingredients:
Ash Gourd - 100gm
Pumpkin - 100gm
Green Chillies - 4nos
Red Gram Dal - 1tbs (soaked in the water for about 6 hours)
Grated Coconut - 1/2quantity (Squeeze out 1/4cup of the milk from the coconut without adding water. Take one more cup of milk from the coconut)
Salt - to taste
Coconut oil - 1tbs
Curry leaves - 1sprig


Method:

1. Remove the covering of the ash gourd and pumpkin and cut it into small pieces.
2. Cook the vegetables and red gram dal in water.
3. Add enough salt and the green chillies.
4. When it is done, add 1cup coconut milk and boil.
5. When it thickens well, add 1/4cup coconut milk.
6. Bring to a boil and remove from fire.
7. Add 1tbs coconut oil and the curry leaves and mix well.

Chili Cheese Toast

Ingredients :

Bread slices - 12
Cheese cubes - 3
Pasteurised butter - 100 gms
Green chillies - 3
Salt - Little
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp

Method :

1. Apply little butter to bread slices.
2. Chop green chillies into thin round pieces.
3. Grate cheese using a fine cheese grater.
4. Mix all the other ingredients together, for filling except bread.
5. Keep little of the filling in between two slices of bread.
6. Press and toast using a sandwich toaster. (Both sides till brown)
7. Serve with ketchup or mint chutney.

Rice Flour Rings

Ingredients :

Rice flour -2 cups
Water - 3 cups
Salt - 2 tbsp
Oil - to deep fry
Grated fresh coconut - 1 1/2 tbsp

Powder coarsely :
Black pepper - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Method :

1. Heat water in heavy vessel or deep frying pan.
2. Add salt, a teaspoon of oil and grated fresh coconut to the water.
3. When it starts boiling reduce flame completely and put the flour as a heap in the centre of the water.
4. Insert a laddle and close with a lid.
5. Allow to cook for 7 to 10 minutes in reduced flame.
6. Remove from fire and stir briskly with laddle.
7. When it becomes luke warm add cumin, pepper powder, and knead well like chappathi dough. (If necessary sprinkle little warm water).
8. Knead smoothly using enough oil to handle the dough.
9. Make lemon sized balls.
10. Roll it out into fingers on oiled working surface.
11. Jioin both the ends to form a ring.
12. Make all the dough in the sma emanner.
13. Deep fry in hot oil till golden brown and crisp.
14. Serve with coconut chutney or pickle.

Shrimp Fry

Ingredients:

* Onion - 1 big (finely chopped)
* Coconut pieces - 3 tbs (finely chopped)
* Ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp
* Fennel seeds - 1 tsp (crush coarsely)
* Dried red chillies - 4
* Oil - 3 tbs
* Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
* Cilantro and curry leaves

To Marinate:

* Shrimp - 1 lb
* Chilli powder - 3 tbs
* Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
* Coriander powder - 1 tsp
* Fenugreek powder - 1/4 tsp
* Lemon juice - from 1 lemon
* Fresh ground black pepper - 2 tsp
* Salt to taste

Make a paste with all these ingredients.

Method:
Clean the shrimp and marinate it.
Let it marinate for 2 hrs in the refrigerator.
Finely chop the onion and coconut pieces.
Heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard and add the chopped onion and cocunut.
Put the red chilly pieces in to it and fry.
Add the ginger and garlic paste and fry until the raw smell goes.
Now add the marinated shrimp and cook.
Don't add any water as the shrimp has a better moisture content.
Now add freshly crushed fennel seeds and fry the shrimp until done.
Add the chopped cilantro and fresh curry leaves at the end and serve hot.

Fried Shrimps

Ingredients

1 pound of Shrimps
2 large Onions
1 tsp of Chilli powder
1 tsp of Coriander powder
1/2 tsp of Cumin powder
1 tsp of Garlic paste
1 tsp of Ginger paste
1.5 tsp of Lemon Juice or 2 pieces of "Kokam" or 1 gm of Tamarind soaked & crushed in some water
1 clove of Garlic, finely chopped.
Salt to taste
1 tbspn of Oil
Chopped Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:
Clean the shrimps by removing the shell & deveining them.
To the washed shrimps, add the above mentioned spices, ginger-garlic paste & lemon juice or kokam/tamarind paste. Marinade the mixture for app. 1/2 hour.
Finely chop the onions & keep them aside.
Heat some oil in the pan. Season it with chopped garlic. Add the chopped onions & stir fry till they are golden brown.
Add the shrimps & stir fry them very nicely. Cover the pan with the lid & let the shrimps cook on low flame for some time.
Stir fry the mixture once again until the shrimps are cooked & the water begins to evaporate.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Tandoori Shrimp

Ingredients:
Shrimps - 1/4 kg
Egg - 1, beaten
Chilli paste - 1/4 tsp
Onion - 1 tbsp, chopped
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Celery - 1 1/2 tbsp, chopped
Parsley - 1 1/2 tbsp, chopped
Ginger powder - 1 tsp
Garlic powder - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste

Method:
1. Clean the shrimps, removing their shells and de vein them.
2. Boil in salt water for about 5 minutes.
3. Add the chilli paste, onion, pepper, celery, parsley, ginger and garlic to the beaten egg.
4. Add salt to taste and mix the batter well.
5. Coat the shrimps generously with the batter and place on a dish in a flat tandoor or grill.
6. Grill for about 30 minutes.
7. Serve hot in a platter, garnished with ginger strips and lemon wedges.

Mushroom Samosa

Ingredients:
Dough
225 gm flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp oil
4 tbsp water

Filling
2 tbsp oil
1 chopped onion
300 gm diced mushrooms
1 tsp ginger paste
2 chopped green chillies
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp ground cumin seeds
2 tbsp chopped coriander
2 tbsp lemon juice
oil for frying
salt to taste

Method:
Combine all the dough ingredients and make into stiff dough.

Heat oil in a pan and saute onions.

Add the rest of the filling ingredients and cook until the mushrooms are tender. Sharpen with lemon juice.

Add chopped coriander and seasoning. Cool.

Divide the dough into small balls, roll out into circle and cut into two halves.

Moisten the edges and shape into cones. Fill a teaspoon of the mixture and seal.

Fry the samosa in hot oil until golden in color.

Serve hot with mint chutney.

Cocktail Samosas

Ingredients
For Crust:
maida- 1 cup
oil - to fry
1 teaspoon to knead maida.
salt - to taste.
take maida in a pan,
add salt and knead.
(cover this dough with a wet kitchen napkin until the filling is ready.)

For filling:
boiled potatoes - 3 or 4
oil - 2 teaspoon
onion - 1 v. thin slices
jeera - 1/2 teaspoon
salt, turmeric, chilli powder, fresh coriander
peas (optional)
chat masala - 1 teaspoon

Method
Heat oil in a pan, add jeera.
Then add onion. After the onions turn transparent, add turmeric, chilli powder, salt and heat for a few more seconds.
Then add the boiled potatoes (smashed). Add peas and green coriander if desired. And the filling is all ready.
Now, make balls out of the dough (size that of a puri).Cut it into half. Use these 2 halves to make 2 samosas.
Put the filling onto the centre. Fold as a triangle. Fry them.
Arrange them in a plate. Now sprinkle some chat masala on to them.Your samosas are ready... and enjoy the party.

Sweet Samosa

Ingredients:
Maida - 1 cup
Fine Rawa - 1/4 cup
Salt - a pinch
Oil and Vanaspathi - for deep frying

For inner filling
Cashewnut - 1/2 cup
Musk melon seeds - 1/2 cup
Powdered sugar - 1 cup
Cardamom powder - little

Method:
1. Mix rawa, maida, salt with enough water to form a thick dough.
2. Keep aside for half an hour closed with wet cloth.
3. Knead well again to make the dough soft and pliable.
4. Dry cashewnuts, melon seeds under hot sun for one hour.
5. Powder separately, and mix together with powdered sugar and cardamom powder.
6. Make small balls from the maida dough and roll it out into very thin chappathis.
7. Put it on top of a greased samosa mould.
8. Spread little filling on top, wet the edges and seal well.
9. Remove samosa from mould and deep fry in oil in reduced flame till crisp and golde

Seafood Salad

Ingredients
1 cup shrimps
1 cup lobster
1/2 cup crab meat
1/2 cup squid rings
1 cup tuna fish
1/4 cup mussels
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Salt as per taste
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
1 head lettuce, shredded

For Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp white pepper powder
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp garlic paste
Salt to taste

Method for Dressing:
Mix all the ingredients of dressing
Shake well
Refrigerate for 4 hours

Method for Salad:
Clean all the seafood
Boil them separately till tender
Drain and make small pieces
Heat oil in a pan
Toss the seafood in it
Add parsley, salt and pepper powder
Let is simmer for 7-8 minutes
Remove from fire
In a salad dish, spread shredded lettuce
Then spread warm seafood
Sprinkle onion
Shake the dressing well and top the salad with it
Serve warm

Roast Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
1 chicken- whole, with skin
2 tsp butter
1 glass white wine
150 ml chicken stock
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp spring onion paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1/2 tsp basil
200 gm sliced mushrooms
salt and pepper
1 tbsp tomato puree
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped herbs
1 tbsp cream

Garnish
Roasted walnuts, chopped


Method:
Place chicken in a roasting tin. Cover chicken breast with butter. Pour over the wine and stock.
Roast at 220 degree C for 1 hour or until the chicken is tender and colored. Cool.
Heat oil; saute pring onion, garlic and basil for 1 minute.
Stir in the mushrooms, wine, seasoning and tomato puree.
Reduce over a high flame until the wine evaporates. Cool.
Stir in lemon juice, herbs and cream. Whisk in the juices without any fat from the roasting tin.
Carve the chicken.
Spoon over dressing and garnish with an extra helping of herbs and chopped walnuts.

Chicken and Noodle Salad

Ingredients:
Rice noodles - 160gms
Boneless chicken (shredded) - 160gms
Salt and pepper - to taste
Oil for frying
Capsicum (julienned) - 80gms
Carrot (julienned) - 80gms
Spring onion (julienned) - 40gms
Sesame-soya dressing - 75ml
Black sesame seeds - 1tsp, roasted

Method:
To make Sesame-Soya Dressing
1. Combine 40ml sesame oil with 25ml soya, 10ml oyster sauce and 5g red chilli flakes.

To make Chicken and Noodle Salad
1. Soak the rice noodles in warm water for 20 - 25 minutes and drain.
2. Set aside on a clean cloth and allow to cool.
3. Dust the chicken with salt and pepper.
4. Heat the oil in a wok and stir-fry the chicken till cooked.
5. Remove from heat and allow the chicken to cool.
6. Place all the remaining ingredients in a bowl along with the dressing.
7. Add the chicken and toss well.

Lemon Rasam

Ingredients:


Toor dal (cooked) - 3 tablespoons
Water - 2 cups
(you can cook 2 to 3 tablespoons of toor dal in 2 cups water and use the entire content for this rasam)


Ginger (grated) - 1 teaspoon


Green chilli (slit vertically) - 1


Asafoetida powder a pinch


Turmeric powder - quarter teaspoon


Rasam powder - 1 teaspoon


Lemon juice - 2 tablespoons (use readymade or squeeze juice from 2 lemons)


Salt as required


Ghee - 2 teaspoons


Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon


Chopped coriander leaves
Method:


Mix the dal and water. Add turmeric powder, asafoetida powder, green chilli, ginger and salt and allow it to boil in medium heat.


Keep the lemon juice ready.


Add the rasam powder and let it boil for a minute. Now, reduce the heat and add the lemon juice. Stir well and remove from heat.


For the seasoning, heat ghee and add cumin seeds, when it sizzles, add it carefully to the rasam. Garnish with coriander leaves.


Serve hot with white rice.

Tomato mint masala kootu

Ingredients:


Onion - 1 big - finely chopped (can be omitted)


Tomatoes - Large red ripe juicy - 3


Oil for seasoning


Turmeric powder - quarter teaspoon


Mustard seeds- half teaspoon


Urud dal - 1 teaspoon


Red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon


Curry leaves - 1 sprig


Salt as required
Grind together using very little water:


Mint leaves - 1 small bunch


Coriander leaves - 1 small bunch


Grated fresh coconut - half cup (I used 2 tablespoons of dry, ground desiccated coconut)


Poppy seeds (khas khas or gasa gasa) - one and half tablespoons (soak in wate for 10 minutes)


Grind chillies - 3


Cumin seeds - half teaspoon


Mustard seeds - quarter teaspoon


Method:


Blanch the tomatoes: Boil water and add the tomatoes. After a few minutes the skin will peel off. Drain water and cool it. Remove the skin completely.


Cut the blanched tomatoes into one and half inch cubes. Keep it aside.


Heat oil in a kadai and add the mustard seeds. When it pops, add urud dal and curry leaves.


Add the chopped onions anf fry till it changes color.


Add chilli powder and turmeric powder. Stir for a minute and add the ground masala.


Mix required amount of salt and stir till good smell comes.


Add the tomato cubes and half cup water. Allow it to boil till the gravy thickens. Stir occasionally.


Garnish with mint leaves and serve hot with iddli, dosa or chapathi.

Beans carrot palya

Ingredients:


Chopped green beans - 1 cup


Diced carrot - ¾ cup


Salt to taste


Oil for seasoning - 2 teaspoons


Mustard seeds - ¼ teaspoon


Urud dal - 1 teaspoon


Turmeric powder - less than ¼ teaspoon


Asafoetida powder - 1 pinch


Desiccated coconut - 1 tablespoon

Method:


Wash the carrot and beans together. Drain water and transfer it to a microwave container. I used the Microwave rice cooker.


Microwave on high for 8 minutes partially opened.


Heat oil in a kadai and add the mustard seeds. When it pops, add the urud dal.


When the urud dal turns golden, Reduce heat and add the cooked beans and carrot. Stir.


Add the turmeric powder, asafoetida powder and salt. Stir until even distribution.


Turn off the heat and garnish with desiccated coconut.

TOMATO THOKKU

Ingredients:

8-10 ripe medium tomatoes, chopped or pureed
2 tsp mustard seeds
2 tsp red chilli powder (or to taste)
1/2 tsp asafoetida powder
1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds, powdered (optional)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander seeds, powdered
5-6 curry leaves
Salt to taste
2 tbsp oil

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a wide pan. Add the mustard seeds, cover, and let them pop - then put in the various powders, curry leaves and fry for 15-20 seconds on high.

2. Lower the heat and add the chopped/pureed tomatoes. Stir well to mix.

3. Bring the heat up to medium-high and cover the pan. Let the tomatoes cook in their own juices till they soften and break down.

4. Once the tomatoes are soft, take the lid off and let it cook, stirring occasionally, till the liquid evaporates and the sauce reduces to a thick paste.

5. Let the thokku cool, then store in a clean airtight jar in the refrigerator.

Raw Papaya Chutney

Ingredients:
grated raw papaya - 2 cups
green chillies - 7
garlic flakes - 4
oil for frying
grated fresh coconut - 1 cup
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
salt as required
cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
curry leaves - few

Method:
1. Grind green chillies, garlic, cumin seeds and coconut together to smooth paste.
2. Heat oil in kadai, add mustard seeds, curry leaves and then grated papaya.
3. Fry well till raw smell is lost. Add little water, close with lid and cook till moisture is absordbed.
4. Add ground paste and cook in medium flame for few minutes. Remove from fire.

Raw Papaya Soup

Ingredients:
Onion - 1
Chopped raw papaya pieces - 1 cup
Carrot - 1 (dice finely)
Bayleaf - 1
Grated cheese - 1 tbl sp
Butter - 1 tbl sp
Salt and pepper - as required

For spice bag:
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Crush the above ingredients coarsely and tie in a clean muslin cloth.

Method:
1. Heat pressure pan (or) cooker with butter.
2. When it melts add bayleaf and chopped onion.
3. Fry for one (or) two minutes in reduced flame.
4. Add chopped carrot and papaya pieces.
5. Fry in medium flame for another two minutes.
6. Pour just enough water to cover the pieces. Add spice bag and close the lid.
7. Pressure cook in reduced flame till first whistle.
8. Cool down, discard the spice bag and grind the pieces to smooth paste in a mixie.
9. Strain well and dilute with enough water.
10. Add salt, sugar and pepper as per individual taste.
11. Reheat and serve hot with finely grated cheese sprinkled on top along with bread sticks.

Soya Dosai

Ingredients:
Par boiled rice - 3 cups (idli rice)
Raw rice - 1 cup
Soya beans - 1 cup
White urad dal - 1/4 cup
Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp.
Salt - 3 tsp
Oil as required.

Method:
1. Wash and soak rice varieties with fenugreek and urad dal together for 2 hours.
2. Soak soya beans in enough water separately for 6 hours.
3. Grind everything together to a smooth paste
4. Add salt at the end and take out from the grinder.
5. Allow the batter to ferment until next day morning.
6. Prepare dosa's by spreading a ladle full from centre to edge on a hot dosa pan (tawa). Fry till crisp and golden.
7. Serve along with suitable chutney and sambar.

Payatham Paruppu Payasam

Ingredients :
Green gram dal (Moongh Dal) - 3/4 cup
Water - 1 1/2 cups
Jaggery (powered) - 1- 1 1/2 cups
Cardamoms - 4-5
A few cashewnuts broken into pieces
Milk - 1 1/2 cups
A few raisons
Small piece coconut, cut into tiny pieces - 1
Ghee - 1 tbsp
A pinch of cooking camphor (opt)

Method :
1. Boil dal to a light brown colour. Remove, cool : wash.
2. Add water, set to boil. When Dal has cooked, mash thoroughly.
3. Add jaggery and continue to cook till jaggery has dissolved.
4. Add milk, boil further for 2-3 minutes, remove from fire.
5. heat ghee, fry cashew nut pieces, coconut pieces and raisons, each separately. Add cardamom powder, along with camphor, mix all of it.

Varations :
1. This payasam can be prepared with coconut milk also. For this, use gratings of half the coconut and if desired 1/2 cup milk as well.
2. Take out first milk, then second, and third milk.
3. Add to the dal the third milk (add some water if the quantity is not sufficient), set to boil, when done, mash thoroughly.
4. Add second milk and jaggery, cook till done.
5. Add first milk, boil just once and remove from fire.
6. Add ordinary milk and garnish as before.

Sevai Kheer

Ingredients
1 litre milk
1/2 cup fine vermicelli broken to 1" bits
1 tsp. ghee
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
15-20 strands of saffron, crushed in 1 tsp. hot milk
10 almonds, blanched and thinly slivered
10 pistachios, unsalted, thinly slivered

Method
Heat ghee in a heavy deep pan.
Add broken vermicelli, stir till lightly roasted.
Add hot milk, stir gently to bring to a boil.
Reduce heat allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
Add sugar, stir till dissolved.
Add cardamom, saffron, cardamom, almonds and pistachios.
Mix and take off fire.
Serve hot and wholesome.

Paruppu podi

Ingredients
1cup roasted gram dal (pottu kadalai in tamil)
½ cup gram dal (chana dal)
½ cup sesame seed
3-4 dry red chillies
1tbsp cumin
Desiccated coconut (optional)
2pinch asafoetida
Salt to taste.

Method
Roast the dals, sesame seeds, chillies and cumin separately till golden brown and aroma rises. After cooling grind all the ingredients together to make powder. This podi is served first with ghee and rice.

Vendakkai sambar

Ingredients
1cup medium cut okra
½ cup medium cut onions
1cup thoor dal
1cup tamarind water
1cup tomato puree
1tsp dhaniya powder (coriander)
½ tsp turmeric powder
1-2 tsp sambar powder
Chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and water as per requirement.

For tempering
½ tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp cumin seeds
Asafoetida
Red chillies
Curry leaves
2tsp oil or ghee
Method
Fry the okra in 2 tsp oil in a pan for 10 –13 min till it gets soft. Keep separately. In a saucepan add tamarind water, turmeric and salt and bring to boil. Now add the okra, onions, sambar powder and dhaniya powder and let it cook for another 10 minutes.
Add tomato puree to this and again it should come to a boil. Finally add pressure-cooked and mashed dal and stir together. Add water if the sambar gets too thick. That depends on how you want the sambar to be. Temper with given ingredients and add cilantro. A small tip. As soon as you temper, cover the sambar or rasam with a lid. This will keep the aroma trapped inside the dish and will later fill the whole house with mind blowing aroma.

Sorakai Pal kootu

Ingredients
1cup chopped sorakai (bottle gourd)
½ cup cooked chana dal
½ cup coconut
Green chillies
1tsp pepper powder
½ cup milk
½ tsp turmeric
Salt
For tempering
Mustard seeds
Cumin seeds
Curry leaves
Red chillies
Oil
Method

Pressure-cook the dal and sorakai together. Only 2 whistles in the pressure cooker. It should not get over cooked. Grind coconut and green chillies along with pepper. Add the coconut mix to the sorakai and dal. Also add salt and turmeric and bring to boil. When the coconut gets cooked completely, remove from heat, add milk and stir gently. If your dal and sorakai has got cooked more. In a separate saucepan cook the coconut mixture and later add the dal and sorakai. This way you would not over cook the sorakai.
Temper it with the given ingredients.

Gobi Palak

Ingredients:
Cauliflower - 1 large
Spinach - 3 bunches
Green chillies - 5
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Dhania powder - 1 tsp
Tomatoes - 2
Big onions - 2
Garlic - 7 flakes
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp
Grated fresh coconut - 2 tblsp
Cashewnuts - 10
Poppy seeds - 1 tsp (soaked in hot water)
Coriander leaves - 1 small bunch
Curry leaves - 15
Oil - for frying
Milk - 1/2 cup
Fresh cream - 2 tblsp
Grated cheese - 1 tblsp

Method:
1. Wash cauliflower and cut into small flowerets.
2. Heat water in a broad vessel. When it starts boiling, add cauliflower pieces (gobi) with little salt and turmeric powder.
3. Switch off the stove and close with lid.
4. After few minutes, drain the water completely, dry up over a towel and deep fry cauliflower till crisp and golden. Keep aside.

For Masala:
1. Peel garlic, dice tomatoes and cut onions finely.
2. Wash and chop palak finely.
3. Heat little oil, fry slit green chillies and palak in medium flame.
4. When moisture is evaporated completely, remove from fire. Allow to cool and grind it along with grated coconut, cashew, poppy seeds, coriander leaves and curry leaves.
5. Heat rest of the oil in a broad kadai. Add cumin seeds, garlic and then onion.
6. Fry till golden. Add 1 tsp sugar, tomatoes, dhania powder, garam masala powder and chilli powder.
7. Stir for a minute and pour the ground paste and salt. Add water if necessary.
8. Boil for a few minutes, add milk and mix well.
9. Just before removing from fire, mix deep fried cauliflower. Sprinkle grated cheese on top. Serve with finely cut onions and lemon pieces.

Sugar Coated Cashew Nuts

Ingredients:
Whole Cashews - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 1/4 cup
Water - 3/4 cup
Rice flour - 1 tsp
Milk - 2 tsp
Cardamom powder - little
Ghee - 1 tsp

Method:
1. Dry roast cashew nuts in reduced flame, taking caution not to discolour it. Alternatively keep it in hot oven at lowest temperature for 10 minutes to dry it properly.
2. Heat sugar, water together and stir till it is dissolved.
3. Add milk and boil briskly. Milk helps in separating dirt from sugar.
4. Remove dirt which comes on top using a spoon. This is a must to obtain white coated cashews.
5. When one string consistency is reached, remove from fire.
6. Add roasted cashews and keep stirring till it becomes thick.
7. Using a perforated ladle take cashews alone and keep it in a separate vessel.
8. Sprinkle a pinch of rice flour on top of cashews.
9. Heat remaining sugar by adding little more water till it reaches thick string consistency.
10. Remove from fire and allow to cool for a while. Stirring constantly, pour it on top of cashews in the other vessel, little by little, gently stirring the cashews to coat on all the sides.
11. Sprinkle little rice flour when it is still warm on top of cashews. This helps to retain white colour on cashews.
12. Repeat the process 4-5 times till cashews are thickly coated.
13. While doing final coat add cardamom powder and ghee to the syrup after removing from fire. Ghee gives good shine to the final product.
14. Allow the cashews to cool thoroughly by spreading over a broad plate and then pack it in air tight container.

Gul Gul

Ingredients:
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Thick Coconut extract - just enough to mix dough
Ghee - 1 tblsp (for dough)
Cardamom powder - little
Oil and Ghee together - for deep frying
Cashewnuts - 2 tblsp (finely chopped and fried in ghee)
Kesar colour - little

Method:
1. Sieve wheat flour through fine mesh sieve.
2. Add a pinch of salt, ghee, cardamom powder, kesar colour and blend well.
3. Sprinkle coconut extract little by little and knead to a stiff dough.
4. Knead well till it becomes soft and pliable.
5. Keep closed under wet cloth for 30 minutes.
6. Make small marble sized balls out of the dough.
7. Roll it out into very thin chappathis. Roll it as thin as possible.
8. Keep little fried nuts lengthwise at one end and roll up like a mat tightly.
9. Deep fry in hot oil till crisp.
10. Meanwhile add 1/2 cup water to sugar and boil till it reaches half string consistency.
11. Switch off stove and dip deep fried gulgul in the hot syrup.
12. Take it out and arrange on a flat plate.

Rassogolla

Ingredients

1 litre: Milk
300 gm: Sugar
05 ml: Lemon juice
3 drops: Rose essence
1 litre: Water

Method
1.For the preparation, heat the sugar and the water in a deep pan and bring to a boil.
2.Boil the milk. Add the lemon juice and curdle the milk. Remove from fire and strain through a muslin cloth.
3.Hold under running water or dip in a bowl of cold water for 1 minute. Squeeze out the excess water.
4.Knead till very smooth. Make balls of desired size.
5.Now place the cheese balls in boiling syrup and cook for 15 minutes.
6.Switch off the flame and let the dumplings stand in the liquid until cool.
7.Chill for a minimum of 2 hours.
8.Mix in the essence before serving.

Uppittu

Ingredients

1cup: Semolina (Rava)
¼ cup: Sliced Potato
½ cup: Sliced Onion
½ tsp: Grated ginger
3tbs: Grated fresh coconut
Chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp: Sugar
2 tsp: Ghee
Salt to taste

For Seasoning
2 tbs: Peanuts
1 tsp: Mustard seeds
1 tsp: Black gram (urad dal)
1 tsp: Red dry chilli
¼ tsp: Turmeric powder
A pinch: Asafoetida
Curry leaves few
3 tbs: Oil


Method
1.Heat a pan and slightly roast rava in a low flame. Keep aside and allow it to cool.
2.Heat 3 tbs of oil and add the seasoning ingredients except turmeric powder and asafoetida.
3.When the mustard splutter, add turmeric and asafoetida and sauté well.
4.Add the onions and fry till it soft. Then add potato fry for few minutes. Add 11/2cup of water, salt to taste and bring to boil. Cover and cook the potato.
5.When it is done, mix grated ginger and sugar. Turn heat to low flame.
6.Add roasted rava little by little. Keep stirring while adding, so that there will not be any lumps.
7.Close the lid and cook for few minutes.
8.Garnish with coriander leaves and grated coconut.
9.Sprinkle ghee over it and serve hot.

Carrot vadai

Ingrediants

1.Grated carrot-1cup

2.Thur dhal -1cup

3.Garam masala powder-1tsp

4.Cilantra leaves

5.Curry leaves

6.Green chillies-5

7.Big onion -1

8.Chilli powder-1tsp

9. Salt

10.Hing-a pinch
Method of Preparation :

1.Soak the thur dhal in water for 30min and half grind it without adding water.

2.Don't grind it to a smooth paste,then vada will not be crispy.

3. Add grated carrot , chopped onion,curry leaves,cilantra,green chillies,
salt,hing,chilli &garam masala powder to grinded dhal.

4.Mix thoroughly and make out small vadas.

5.Fry the vadas in oil.

Bhindi Paratha

Ingredients
250 grams ladies finger
1/2 tbsp jeera
1 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 garma masala
Salt to taste
100 gms onion
250 grams of wheat flour

Method
Take a Pan, put oil and saute jeera.
Fry bhendi and onion, add chilli powder, garam masala powder.
Take a big bowl put wheat flour, salt and the bendi mixture.
Mix gradually, and keep it aside for 1 hour.
Make small balls of it and roll them and roast them on a tava.
Serve with dals or vegetable gravy.

Bhindi Masala

Ingredients:
500 gms/1.10 lb okra/bhindi
3 onions, chopped long thinly
5 green Chillies
1 inch ginger
10 flakes garlic
4 tomatoes ripe red
2 tsp mango powder
3 tbsp Oil
3 tsp garam Masala
2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp Coriander powder
Salt as required
coriander leaves

Method:
1. Half grind garlic, ginger, chillies, coriander leaves, check it do not grind to paste.
2. Add salt, little oil, coriander powder, mango powder, garam masala and turmeric powder in to the mixture and keep it aside.
3. Slit the bhindis from the center and cut potatoes in round shapes and make deep cuts on them.
4. Now fill bhindis with all the prepared mixture and on the potatoes.
5. Heat oil in a wide pan add onions, stir and then slide bhindis and potatoes gently in the pan.
6. Stir it gently so that the masala does not come out. Keep it on slow fire and cover it with lid, let it cook till the bhindis have become dark green in color and almost cooked.
Now add finely chopped tomatoes. Again cover it with the lid and cook it on slow fire till the tomatoes almost disappear.
Serve with hot chappatis/phulkas

Bhindi Curry

Ingredients

10 chopped Bhindi
1 chopped Onion
2 Green Pepper of medium hot (depends on taste)
1/2 inch Ginger
Salt (depends on taste)
1/2 tsp Oil
Little Jeera, and Mustard seeds

Method:

Make a paste of Green Pepper, Ginger, and salt. Keep it ready to add in the curry later.
Take oil in pan and heat it. Put Mustard seeds and Jeera, after a few seconds add Onions and bhindi and keep fry until Bhendi get soft. If required then add 1/2 tsp oil extra and let it to fry.
Add Paste of Green pepper, Ginger and salt and fry it for a few more minutes. If required, then add grated copra. Now, it is ready to serve hot Bhindi curry alongwith Chappati or Rice.

Capsicum Pulao

Ingredients:
2cups Rice (Uncooked)
1/4cup Yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 cup mixed vegetables
1/4cup Red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4cup Green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup Chopped scallions(green onion)
1 tbsp Lemon juice
2 tbsp Oil or ghee
3 cups water
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Heat kadai with oil or ghee, add salt and all three bell peppers,green onions, mixed vegetables and simmer till peppers are soft. Then add the lemon juice,rice and mix well.
2. Add the above mixture to the rice and add 3 cups of water and Cook.

Serve hot with curry & raita.

Beans Pulao

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups long grain rice
1/2 cup beans boiled
1 tbsp. broken cashews
1 tbsp. soft small raisins
4 green chillies slit
1 tbsp. coriander finely chopped
2 onions cut into strips
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
3-4 pinches asafoetida
2 cloves
2 bayleaves
2 cardamoms
1" cinnamon
4-5 black peppers
3 tbsp. ghee or oil
1/2 tsp. garam masala
salt to taste
lemon to taste

Method
Wash and soak rice in salted water for 30 minutes.
Heat oil, fry onions till crisp. Drain.
Fry cashews till light brown, drain, keep aside.
Add cumin seeds to remaining oil, allow to splutter.
Add asafoetida, cloves, bayleaves, cardamoms, cinnamon, peppers, stir.
Add green chillies, drained rice, stir gently till well coated. Add raisins.
Add 6 cups water, bring to a boil. Simmer covered till 3/4 done.
Add more water if required.
Add beans, fried cashew, onions (save some for garnish), garam masala, salt and
lemon to taste.
Stir gently with a spatula. Cover and finish off cooking till all water evaporates.
Garnish with coriander and some saved fried onions.
Serve hot with kadhi or a spicy curry.

Vegetable Pulao

Ingredients
3 cups of rice, boiled
A bunch of coriander leaves.
3-4 green chillies.
2 tsp of coconut, shredded
3 medium onions,sliced fine.
1/2 an onion, chopped.
A few sticks of cinammon, a few
cardommom seeds, a few cloves.
1 1/2 tsp red chilli powder.
salt to taste.
2 flakes garlic.
1 inch piece ginger.
Ghee or melted butter for frying.
1 cup of cauliflower flowerets.
Some mixed frozen vegetables like beans, carrots and green peas.
3 tsbp ghee(clarified butter)

Method
Grind together the 1/2 onion, coconut, garlic, ginger and coriander in the blender, to make a smooth paste.
Keep aside.
Fry the onions in a the ghee or melted butter.
Also add the cloves, cinnamon and cardommom.
When onions are browned properly, add the red chilli powder and fry for 30-45 seconds.
Now add all the vegetables,including the cauliflower and sprinkle some water on it.
Keep covered and cook on a low flame till the vegetables are cooked.
This might take approximately 15-20 minutes.
Keep sprinkling water periodically to speeden up the process, but do not add excess water as it will ruin the pulao.
When the vegetables are done, transfer the vegeables to a big mixing dish, add all the boiled rice, salt to taste and the blended masala.
Mix thoroughly and then heat it either in a microwave or on low heat on the cooking range.It is heated again to let the salt spread across the dish.
Serve with Raita.

Egg Balls

Ingredients
4 egg (separate egg yolk & white)
milk 1-1/2 ltr.
sugar 1 cup
cardamom (optional)

Method
Take a non-stick deep casserole or Kadhai
Boil milk to 3/4 of the quantity.
While the milk is boiling, beat the egg white till frothy.
When you find the milk has reached to 3/4 of the quantity add sugar, cardamom.
Take a tablespoon of egg white froth and leave it to the boiling milk, go on doing till the froth is over.
Simultaneously keep on turning the froth that has been dropped in the milk.
Now beat the egg yolk slightly and pour the same in the milk (this helps to thicken the milk).
Let this cook for 5 more minutes and then cool it down. Keep it in the freezer.
This recipe if cooked properly gives you the taste of Ras Malai.

Egg Khima

Ingredients
6 eggs
1 small diced onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic
1/4 ginger
1 small diced tomato
1 green chilly

Method
Heat oil in pan and add onion, saute it til turns brown
Then add tomato, ginger, garlic and green chill cook it well for minute or so
Then add eggs one at time and stir the mixture on medium heat until egg is cooked.
Once the eggs are cooked add some salt and pepper for seasoning
Continue to break to egg in to kernel like particles.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with bread and hot sauce.
Hope you enjoy your egg khima

Egg Toast

Ingredients
2 eggs
1/2 glass milk
Sugar 2.5-3 table sps
Bread

Directions:
1. Beat the eggs,milk and sugar.
2. Dip bread in the mixture.
3. Take a frying pan and fry the bread soaked in egg until golden brown.
4. Take off fire and serve it hot.

Banana Erucherry

Ingredients:
6 raw bananas, peeled, cut into long pieces
8 curry leaves
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 red chillies
salt to taste
3 green chillies, sliced
2 cups coconut scrapings
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp coconut oil

Method:
1. Mix banana pieces with turmeric and salt and cook till soft.
2. Mash slightly.
3. Grind 1 cup coconut, 1 red chilli and cumin to a fine paste.
4. Add to banana mash. Reserve.
5. Heat oil.
6. Add mustard seeds, green chillies, curry leaves and red chilli pieces.
7. Add one cup coconut scrapings and fry till golden.
8. Add the banana mash and mix well.
9. Serve hot.

Kuzhal Puttu

Ingredients:
1 kg raw rice
1 cup coconut gratings
salt to taste
a little water

Method:
1. Clean and soak for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Drain all the water, spread the rice on a cloth for water to get absorbed.
2. When rice is quite dry, powder it in the dry grinder or the mixi.
3. Sieve the flour, remove the grit, put this back again, grind and sieve.
4. Repeat the process till all the rice has been made into flour.
5. Take 2 cups of the sieved flour, lightly roast on a low flame. See that there are no lumps while roasting. Remove from fire, cool.
6. Add salt to 3 tbsp of water mix and add this to the flour and mix the flour to resemble bread crumbs. Keep this aside for half an hour.
7. Use a puttu kuzhal, fill it up with the mix like below.
8. Spead some coconut gratings at the base, put it some flour, coconut gratings and again flour. Repeat the process ending with coconut. Close the kuzhal and keep it in a vessel of boiling water. Cover the vessel and boil for a while till steam comes out of the kuzhal. Remove the kuzhal from boiling water.
9. Place the kuzhal on a plate, open both ends and with a stick or a ladle, gently push the cooked puttu out.
It will be cylindrical in shape. Cut this into thick slices.

Serve hot with kadalai curry or sugar and banana.

Plantain Chips

Ingredients
Raw (Green) Plantains
Oil
Salt
Water

Method
Mix salt with water to make a salt solution. Skin the plantains.
Boil the oil in a frying pan. Once the oil is boiling, slice the skinned plantains to about 1/16" thick, directly into the oil.
Control the heat so that the plantains are not burned.
Once the plantains are about half fried (the color starts to change), sprinkle the salt solution into the oil as needed.
Fry the plantains to a crispy stage. Remove the fried plantains from oil and drain them in paper towels.
Once the fried plantains are at room temperature, keep them in closed container.

Adhirasam

Ingredients:
• 1/2 kg Rice
• 300 gm Jaggery
• Oil for frying

Method:
• Soak rice in water for half an hour.
• Spread it on a large cloth or newspaper for half an hour.
• When it is three fourth dried, put it in a mixie and powder it.
• Dissolve jaggery in minimum water and mix well.
• Put this on heat.
• Cook it until the jaggery syrup becomes thick like a paste.
• Combine this syrup with the powdered rice and mix well to make dough.
• Cover it and leave it for about 8 hours.
• Take 2 cups of oil and heat it.
• Make a ball of out of the dough on a plastic sheet and flatten it by hand.
• Fry in oil until it becomes golden brown on both sides.

Kara Thenkuzhal

Ingredients

Raw rice - 4 cups
Tur dal - 1/2 cup
Urad dal - 1/2 cup
Cumin seeds - 25 gms
Chilli powder - 3 tablespoons
Asafetida powder - 2 teaspoons
Butter - 100 gms
Table salt - to taste
Oil - for frying

Method:

Wash and clean the rice well.
Let it out to dry and once it has dried completely, powder it nicely.
Fry the pulses orange, powder them and allow them to cool.
Mix the powdered rice, powdered pulses, cumin seeds, asafetida powder, chilli powder, butter and salt together, without adding water.
Take a little of this mixture, add water to it to get a dough like consistency.
Heat oil in a kadai. Test how hot it is by dropping a pinch of dough into it - if it sinks, the oil hasn't become hot enough. If the dough springs to the top with bubbles all around it, then the oil is just ready.
Take some of the dough and pass it through the special thenkuzhal strainer and deep fry till it turns golden brown. Keep flipping the sides till the thenkuzhal is done.
Store in an air tight container.

Butter Murukku

Ingredients
Rice flour - 2 cups
Urad dal - 1/2 cup
Unsalted butter - 3 tsp
Sesame seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Hing - 1 pinch
Refined oil as required
Salt to taste

Method
1. In a heavy bottomed pan, fry Urad dal till light brown and let it cool.
2. Grind it into a fine powder.
3. To this add the rice flour & the rest of the ingredients except butter.
4. Melt the butter and add it to the dry ingredients.
5. Mix it well & mould it into a dough.
6. (Make sure it has the right consistency to pass through the murukku pressure).
7. With the help of a murukku presser/mould, fry it in a deep pan of heated oil, until they are golden brown in colour.
8. Drain them in a paper towel to remove excess oil, let them cool.
9. Store in an air tight container.
10. Enjoy crispyand tasty homemade butter murukku.
11. Everyone at your home will love it.

Tomato Rasam

Ingredients:

3-4 tbsp. Red Gram Daal
4 large tomatoes (finely chopped)
1/2 tsp. Garlic paste
1-inch piece of ginger (finely chopped)
21/2 cups water
1tsp Garlic grated
1 or 2 green chilies finely chopped
Coriander leaves finely chopped
Salt to taste chili or pepper powder to taste.
1/2tsp. turmeric powder
1tsp. mustard seeds
1tsp. cumin seeds
1-2 whole dried red chili (halved)
A pinch asafetida
Few curry leaves
2tbsp. oil

Method:

* Pick, wash and pressure cook the daal and keep side.
* Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, dried chili and asafetida.
* When mustard seeds start to splutter add garlic, ginger, tomatoes and green chilies.
* Add salt, chili & turmeric powder and a cup of water.
* Simmer for 5-6 minutes and add the cooked daal and 11/2 cup of water and bring to boil.
* Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves.

Pudina Rasam

Ingredients:

Pudina Leaves
Cumin Seeds
Green Chilli
Tur Dal - 1/4th cup
Salte to taste
Water as required
Lemon Juice as needed
Pepper - optional
Coriander Leaves - optional

Method:

Separate Pudina leaves from the stock and wash it.
Fry the pudina leaves without oil in a nonstick pan along with few cumin seeds for 2 minutes.
After it cools put it in a mixer along with one green chilli.
Keep aside.
Pressure cook Tur Dal with four times water.
Now mix pudina paste, salt and bring to a boil.
Then squeese some lemon juice as per your taste
You can also add pepper to make it spicy.
Garnish with coriander leaves

Drumstick Rasam

Ingredients

1-2 Drumsticks, tender and fleshy ones
1 Tomato, quatered
1/4 cup Tur dal
a lemon sized ball of Tamarind or 1 tsp tamarind paste
1 tbsp Rasam Powder
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Jeera seeds
1-2 Red Chillies (dried)
a pinch of Hing
a few Curry Leaves (kadipatta)
Oil or Ghee for frying
A few Coriander leaves, chopped fine

Method:

Pressure cook the tur dal till it's soft (3-4 whistles)
Soak the tamarind in 4 cups water and strain the juice
Pour this juice in a vessel and add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, rasam powder and salt. Keep on gas in medium flame.
Boil the drumsticks seperately till cooked.
Remove the insides of the drumsticks and put it in the tamarind water mixture.
Bring the whole mixture to a boil.
Add the tur dal and boil on medium flame for 5-6 mins.
Season with mustard, jeera, hing, red chillies, curry leaves & ghee (you can season in oil also).
Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon juice, serve hot with rice.

Sweet Pongal

Ingredients

Moong dhal - 1/2 cup.
Rice - 1/2 cup.
Milk
Coconut
cashew
jaggery
raisins (khish-mish - dry grapes)
cardamom
ghee.

Fry the moong dhal (before washing) till it becomes little light brown (it
will start smelling). Then soak rice and dhal separately for 10 minutes.
Thoroghly wash and keep it in cooker with the right water (lesser is o.k)and
cook it seperately (in two different containers). Meanwhile cut coconut in
very small pieces and fry in ghee. Fry cashew and raisins also separately.
Break the jagerry and put in water (very little) and make a syrup. This is
done because sometimes jagerry has mud and stones. After we make the syrup
strain it through tea strainer. Put the rice and dhal in a big vessel and
add milk (may be one cup) and cook it till all the milk gets absorbed. Add
jaggery syrup and again cook till even it gets absorbed. Add three big table
spoons of ghee, powdered cardamon and cook again for a while. Add fried
coconut, cashews and raisins.

Rava Pongal

Ingredients

Rava 1 cup
moong dal 1/3 cup
water 4 1/2 cup
salt 3/4 tsp
cashews 1 tsp(broken)
ghee 4 tbs
curry leaves
ginger 1/2 tsp
peppercorn 1 tsp
cumin seeds 1/2 tsp

Method:

1. In a dry pan add rava and fry it till raw smell goes off.
2. Remove it from the pan and keep aside.
3. To the pan, add 2 tsp of ghee and fry peppercorn and cumin for 2 mins at medium heat.
4. Grind this to a powder and keep aside.
5. Add the remaining ghee and fry cashews, curryleaves, ginger and keep aside.
6. In a thick vessel add moong dal and fry till it smells or golden brown.
7. Add 1 1/2 cup of water to dal and 1/2 cook.
8. In a cooker place a vessel containing remaining water, rava and the seasoning mixture.
9. Bring to boil and stir the mixture.
10. Add weight and cook it for 8-10 mins.
11. Add ghee when it is removed from the stove.
12. Eat it with coconut chutney.

Paal Pongal

Ingredients:
1 cup of Raw Rice
2 cups of Milk
2 cups Water
Salt to Taste

Method:
Boil Water in a pot and add Rice when water boils.
Add milk to this when rice is half cooked.
Add salt to taste (add little less salt than you add normally) and stir well.
Stop cooking after the rice is fully cooked and the mixture is 90% Solid.

This rice can be had with any curry or simply with jagerry and banana

Green Tomato Pickle

Ingredients
250 gms. firm green tomatoes
1 large hard apple, peeled, cored, diced
1 large onion finely chopped
1 tsp. fresh mint leaves finely chopped
10-12 long hot green chillies, chopped
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4tsp. cinnamon-clove powder
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. oil

Method
Heat oil in a heavy pan, add onions, stir.
Add 1 tbsp. Vinegar, simmer till onions are transparent.
Add tomatoes, apples, cook till mixture is mushy.
Add all other ingredients, allow sugar to dissolve.
Simmer till thick, and there is no water residue.
Pour into sterile jar, cool and seal.

Green Pepper Pickles

Ingredients
green pepper - 250 gm
lemon - 5
turmeric powder - a pinch
asafoetida powder - a pinch
mustard seeds -1 tsp
salt to taste
cooking oil - 4 tbsp

Method
First of all keep a clean and dry container ready.
Clean the green pepper thoroughly and pat them dry with a clean cloth.
Then, transfer them into the container.
Add lemon juice over them such that they are fully immersed in the juice.
Heat oil in a kadai, add mustards seeds, asafoetida powder and turmeric powder and pour it over the pepper and mix well.
Keep it aside for a week and use it with a dry spoon.

Bitter Gourd Pickle

Ingredients
1/4 kg bitter gourd (small variety)
2 tbsp saunf (aniseed)
2 tbsp red chilli powder
1 tsp asafoetida
salt to taste
1 tbsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp dried mango powder
1/4 tsp citric acid
1/4 garam masala
1 tbsp coarsely crushed coriander seeds
2 tbsp coarsely crushed mustard seeds
250 gm oil

Method
Peel and apply turmeric and salt to bitter gourds.
Keep aside for 1/2 hour.
Put them in boiling water with the citric acid.
Boil for 5-7 minutes. Remove from water and wipe dry.
Heat half the oil, add asafoetida, saunf, coriander seeds.
Remove from fire. Add all the masalas and mix well.
Cool and fill in the gourds. Tie them up securely with string.
Arrange them in a glass or pickle jar. Heat remaining oil a little.
Add a few pinches citric acid and 1/3 tsp salt. Pour over the gourds.
Allow to tenderise for 3-4 days more. Remove string before serving.

Green Chilli Pickle

Ingredients:
1 kg green chillies - chopped
1 cup salt
1/2 kg mustard oil
1 tbsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp turmeric powder
200 gm ginger - finely ground
250 gm garlic - finely ground
100 gm cumin seeds - roasted and ground
200 gm large mustard seeds - roasted and ground
1 cup sugar
200 gm tamarind
3 cups of white vinegar

Method:

Marinate the chillies in salt for at least two hours.
Soak the tamarind in the vinegar for at least two hours and extract the pulp.
In a large vessel heat the mustard oil and add red chilli powder and turmeric powder.
Add the ginger and garlic and mix well. Continue stirring for some time.
Mix in the cumin powder and mustard powder.
Pour the tamarind-vinegar pulp and mix well.
Add sugar and cook on low heat for some time.
Now add the chillies and cook for 10-15 minutes on low heat till the oil seperates.
Serve.

Mixed Vegetable Pickle

Ingredients:
2 - carrots
2 - raw mangoes
50 g - green chillies
2 - karelas (bittergourd)
5 - lemons
50 g - fresh ginger
3 tsp - red chilly powder
2 tsp - mustard (rai) powder
1 tsp - hing
1 tsp - turmeric powder
3 tbsp - oil
salt to taste

Method

Slice the vegetables into small pieces (de-seed karela).
In a jar, add the veggies, chilly powder, turmeric, mustard, hing, salt and two lemons cut into small pieces. Mix well.
Heat oil and when cool, add to the pickle mix.
Then add the juice of the other three lemons and mix well.
The pickle is ready the next day and can be preserved for 10 to 15 days.

Ginger Pickle

Ingredients:
2 cups ginger-shredded fine
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp salt to taste
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp chilli powder or to taste
1 tsp asafoetida powder

Method:
Mix all the ingredients and cook over high heat.

When it comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for a minute or so.

Store in a clean jar.

Lemon Sevai

Ingredients:
2 cups prepared sevai
1 - 1 1/2 tbsp bengalgram dal (chana dal)
juice of one large lemon
2 tbsp gingely oil
1 tbsp chopped coriander
salt to taste

Seasoning:
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
a pinch of asafoetida
1-2 red chillies, broken
2 green chillies, slit
2 sprigs curry leaves
large pinch of turmeric powder

Method:
1. Soak bengal gram dal for 1/2 hour and when soft, strain all the water, set aside.

2. Take out juice of the lemon, add salt, mix. Keep sevai on a plate.

3. Heat oil, add seasonings given in that order. When done, add soaked gram dal, stir fry till all the water us absorbed and the dal has turned soft. Remove from fire. Pour onto sevai.

4. Add lime juice, chopped coriander and mix thoroughly, but lightly (use a fork for this).

5. Serve with coconut chutney.

Coconut Sevai

Ingredients:
2 cups prepared sevai
1/2 - 1 cup coconut gratings
1 tbsp blackgram dal (urad dal)
1 tbsp gingely oil
1/2 - 1 tbsp ghee
4-6 cashew nuts (broken into small pieces)
1 tbsp chopped coriander
salt to taste

Seasoning:
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
large pinch of asafoetida
1-2 red chillies, broken into 2-3 pieces each
1-2 green chillies, slit
1-2 sprigs curry leaves

Method:
1. Soak blackgram dal in some water for about 1/2 hour; strain all the water and set aside.

2. Heat oil - ghee together, fry cashew nut pieces to a golden brown, remove and set aside.

3. Add seasonings in the order given; when mustard is done add soaked dal and stir on low heat till it turns light brown in colour and all the water has been absorbed.

4. Add coconut gratings, pinch of salt (or more to taste) and stir fry on low heat till gratings turn light brown in colour.

5. Remove kadai from fire, add sevai, fried cashew nuts and chopped coriander, mix all of it lightly and thoroughly.

6. Serve hot with curry leaf chutney.

Ellu Sevai

Ingredients:
2 cups prepared sevai
1 tbsp ghee
4 tbsp ellu (sesame seeds)
1/2 cup powdered jaggery

Method:
1. Clean and dry, roast ellu in a kadai on medium heat, stirring all the time. When all the seeds have crackled and it is done, remove from the fire, put on a plate to cool.
2. When sesame seeds is sufficiently cooled, put it in the dry grinder of the mixie, run it 1-2 times. Add jaggery, run for sometime till both are well blended. Thi is ellu podi. Remove from the mixie.
3. Put the prepared sevai on a plate, add the prepared powder. Heat ghee, pour on top of this and mix all of it lightly using only the tips of your fingers.