Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Egg Curry for Blog Hop Wednesday


Hope you are all doing well. I am not able to post frequently because of my naughty son who has recently developed a habit of sleeping less during afternoon. So am not finding time. Thanks to Blog Hop Wednesdays that creates a way to spend time for me to blog.

This week I am paired with Anamika of Taste Junction. I like her way of writing. Her blog looks stunning and stylish; so are her recipes.

This Egg Curry that I have chosen to try is different from what I usually make. I do not add Yoghurt and Kasoori Methi. Check out my usual curry here.

It came out really well and will prepare often in the future.



Here goes the easy North Indian recipe.

Ingredients:
  • Eggs 3
  • Onions (Medium) 2
  • Tomatoes (Medium) 3
  • Ginger-Garlic Paste ¾ tsp
  • Chilli Powder ½ tsp
  • Coriander Powder 1 ½ tsp
  • Cumin Powder ½ tsp
  • Garam Masala ¼ tsp
  • Turmeric Powder 1/8 tsp
  • Green Chillies 1-2
  • Kasoori Methi 1 tsp
  • Yoghurt 1-2 tsp
  • Cumin 1/4 tsp
  • Salt
  • Oil

Preparation:

Chop Onions and Tomatoes. Slit Chillies.

Method:

  • Boil eggs. Peel its skin and make a small slit. Puree the chopped Tomatoes.
  • Heat Oil in a Pan. When hot, add little Oil and Salt. Add Turmeric Powder and Chilli Powder. Mix well and then add eggs. Fry till its skin gets a roasted coating of the Powders. Remove and keep it aside in a paper towel.
  • Now add some more oil in the same Pan. Add Cumin and allow it to crackle. Add Chillies, and Ginger-Garlic Paste. Few seconds later add chopped Onions and fry till slightly brown.
  • Add Tomato puree and fry till oil separates. 
  • Add all the other Masala Powders and Salt except Garam Masala. Boil till its raw smell goes off and then add yoghurt. Mix well and allow boiling.
  • When it is almost done, add kasoori Methi and Garam Masala. Boil for few more minutes and then serve.

Serves: 2
Serve with Chapati or Biryani.

Linking this recipe to Blog Hop Wednesdays of Radhika's Tickling Palates.


Friday, September 16, 2011

Okra / Vendaikkai Pachadi


Okra contains Vitamin A & C and is a good source of Iron & Calcium. To get rid of its sliminess, it is either stir-fried for a long time on a low flame, or acidic ingredients like Tamarind, Tomato or Yoghurt is added which also helps its cooking faster.

This is a simple and usual stir fry but with the addition of Tamarind. I learnt this recipe from my Chithi (Mom’s sister) and very much fond of this because of its tangy taste. This goes well with Curd Rice or Rice with Sambar / Dhal Curry.



Ingredients:
  • Okra ½ kg
  • Sambar Powder 1 tbsp leveled
  • Turmeric Powder 1/8 tsp
  • Asafoetida 1-2 pinch
  • Dried Red Chillies 1-2
  • Tamarind – small gooseberry size
  • Pearl Onions 3-4
  • Curry Leaves 4-5
  • Mustard Seeds and Urad Dhal ½ tsp each
  • Water 2-3 tbsp
  • Salt
  • Oil

Preparation:
  • Cut Okra into very fine pieces. Peel and Chop Pearl Onions. 
  • Cut Chillies into two. Soak Tamarind in water for 2-3 minutes and extract its Juice.

Method:
  • Heat little Oil in a Pan. When hot, add Mustard seeds. Wait till it pops up and then add Urad Dhal & Curry Leaves. 
  • Few seconds later, add Onions and fry till slightly brown.
  • Add chopped Okra. Sprinkle all the Powders and Salt. Mix well and fry for a while.
  • Now add Tamarind Juice. Mix well and fry till done.

Serves: 2
Serve with Rice and Sambar/Dhal Curry/Curd.

This goes to Herbs & Flowers: Curry Leaves of Taste Junction initiated by PJ of Seduce your Taste buds. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Methi Corn Pulao


Deepthi of Good Food Recipes has sent in this Thank you Award for participating in her Healthy Snacks Event.. Thanks dear..



Well, coming to the recipe, I came across this Pulao in almost all blogs that I visit often. Usually I prepare Pulao only with Vegetables. When I decided today to make this Pulao, I feared whether my little one would like it. Most of my time went waste thinking what to substitute if he doesn’t like the recipe. This happens always whenever I try a new recipe.

Finally made up my mind to prepare this; had dosa batter in hand. Dosa and Idli batter has helped me in many different tough situations. Thanks to those who invented this.. :-)

I made this in no time. I would bet this is the easiest pulao if corn is available ready. I used frozen corn. (he hee ..., so easy)

My son didnt give me much work, he liked and had this with Raita. I felt very much relaxed after feeding him. (Appada..)



Ingredients:

Basmati Rice 1 ½ cups
Kasoori Methi 3 tsp
Corn ¾ cup
Green Chillies 3-4
Ginger-Garlic Paste 1 ¼ tsp
Water 3 cups
Salt
Butter and Oil

Whole Garam Masala

Cumin seeds ¼ tsp
Aniseeds ½ tsp
Cloves 3
Green Cardamom 2
Cinnamon few sticks
Bayleaves 2

Preparation:

Chop Onions lengthwise. Soak Rice for 20 minutes. Slit Chillies.

Method:

  • Heat Butter and Oil in Pan. Thrown in whole Garam Masala.
  • When the seeds crackle, add chopped Chillies and Ginger Garlic Paste. Few seconds later, add the chopped Onions and fry till translucent.
  • Add Corn and Kasoori Methi. Mix well and fry for a while.
  • Add Rice. Mix and fry for few minutes.
  • Add 3 cups of Water, Salt and ½ tsp Oil. Stir well. Increase the flame to a high and allow boiling.
  • When the water level decreases the rice level (you can see small holes), simmer the flame (the lowest), close the lid and cook for another 5-6 minutes. Now open the lid. Use a fork to see whether rice is done. If not, cook for some more time.

Serves: 2
Serve with hot and spicy Kurma and Raita. 

Linking this recipe to "Any one can cook" series of Taste of Pearl city.



Maida Biscuits


Sangee of Typical Indian Cooking has passed three cute awards to me yesterday.. Thanks a lot dear.




Coming to blog hopping,  I missed all fun and excitement last time as my son and I had high fever.

This week, I am paired with Vardhini of Zesty Palette; I like almost all her recipes. Do check out her space if you haven’t; you will definitely find yummy recipes with clear step by step instructions and pictures.

It was quite difficult for me to choose from her space; I don’t know what to try first. Finally decided to make these biscuits for my little one.

Vardhini had used a healthy combination of Maida and wheat flour with ghee. My little one and my hus don’t prefer ghee; so I don’t buy ghee except during festive occasions. Also, I had more unused Maida; so used only Maida Flour and Vanaspati.



Ingredients:
  • Maida 1 ½ cup
  • Vanaspati/Dalda 3 tsp
  • Cumin seeds 1 tsp
  • Salt
  • Oil for deep frying

Method:

  • Combine Maida, Cumin and Salt in a wide bottomed vessel. Mix well. Add Dalda and crumble with hands.
  •  Add Water little by little so as to form tight dough. Leave it for an hour.
  •  Divide the dough into 3-4 balls, quite big in size. Roll them like chapati. (not too thin).
  •  Cut into diamond or any desired shape and fry until slightly brown.
  • Transfer them to paper towels and then serve.  
 
Linking this recipe to Blog Hop Wednesdays event by Radhika of Tickling Palates. Check out other blog hoppers here.

    Monday, September 12, 2011

    Kadai Chicken


    Normally I avoid preparing chicken recipes with Chapati. The reason is its very difficult to prepare a veg gravy separately for me. So I go with only veg gravies.

    I was craving to prepare chicken gravy with chapati, dont know the reason exactly; just like that. Yesterday was that day; I planned and made Whole Moong Dhal Kuzambu for lunch in excess so that I can have it for dinner. I made this recipe like kadai vegetables and with some more spices.

    Kadai Chicken is thick gravy mostly served along with Chapati, Naan or any Indian Bread. I feel it is so special because of the addition of both chopped and pureed Onions and Tomatoes along with capsicum.

    I couldn’t take a better picture as it vanished soon.





    Ingredients:

    • Chicken ½ kg
    • Chopped Capsicum ½ cup
    • Green Chillies 2
    • Onion (Medium) 1
    • Tomato (Big) 1
    • Aniseeds ½ tsp
    • Cumin ¼ tsp
    • Cloves 3
    • Chilli Powder ¾ tsp
    • Coriander Powder 1 ½ tsp
    • Garam Masala ¼ tsp
    • Ginger – Garlic Paste 1 ½ tsp
    • Chopped Ginger and Garlic 1 tsp each
    • Cream 4tbsp
    • Water 1 to 1 ½ cups
    • Salt
    • Oil

    To fry and grind:

    • Onions (Medium) 2
    • Tomatoes (Medium) 2

    To marinate Chicken

    • Yoghurt 3 tbsp
    • Chilli Powder ¾ tsp
    • Turmeric Powder ¼ tsp
    • Salt

    Preparation:

    • Slit green chillies. Cut Capsicum and Tomato (Big) into cubes. Chop Ginger and Garlic into fine pieces.
    • Chop Onions lengthwise. Marinate Chicken and refrigerate for at least one hour.

    Method:

    • Roughly chop Onions (2) and Tomatoes (2). Heat little Oil in a Pan. When hot, add chopped Onions. Fry till they turn translucent. Keep it aside. Now add Tomatoes and fry till its skin separates. Grind them to a paste when cooled.
    • Heat Oil in a pan. When hot add aniseeds, cumin and cloves. When the seeds crackle and turn slightly brown, add lengthwise chopped Onions, chopped Ginger and Garlic. Few seconds later, add Ginger-Garlic paste and Chillies. Fry till onions turn translucent.
    • Now add cubed Tomatoes. Fry till its skin separates.
    • Add Capsicum. Fry for a while and then add the Tomato-Onion Paste. Throw in all the powders and Salt.
    • Mix well and fry for some more time. Add marinated Chicken pieces and water. Close the lid and allow boiling.
    • When it is almost done, add the cream, mix well and cook for five more minutes and serve.

    Serves: 2
    Serve with any Indian bread or any flavored Rice.

    Monday, September 5, 2011

    Brinjal Gravy


    Fever has ruined our normal life since last week. Both my son and I fell ill. All my plans for Vinayaga Chadhurthi and my son’s b’day were collapsed and we celebrated in a very simple way. Now we are okay.

    Sometime back, I received this award from Nupur. Thanks Nupur..

    Coming to the recipe, this goes well with curd rice, especially with seasoned curd rice (thayir sadham - thalichadhu). This can also be mixed with rice and would be a perfect tangy lunch. I learnt from Vimitha to use Oven for peeling the Brinjal’s skin.


    Here is the recipe..

    Ingredients:

    Brinjal (small) 4
    Extract from small gooseberry sized Tamarind
    Tomato (small) 1
    Chilli Powder ½ tsp
    Coriander Powder 1tsp
    Cumin Powder ¼ tsp
    Turmeric Powder 1/8 tsp
    Asafoetida 1-2 pinch
    Pearl Onions 3-4
    Curry Leaves
    Mustard Seeds3/4 tsp
    Urad Dhal1/2 tsp
    Salt
    Oil

    Preparation:

    Peel and chop Pearl Onions. Cut Tomato into four halves.

    Method:

    Puree the Tomato.

    Cook Brinjals in Oven until mushy. Remove and scoop the flesh out of the brinjal when cooled.

    Heat Oil in a Pan. When hot, add Mustard seeds. When they complete popping up, add Urad dhal. Few seconds later, add Pearl onions, Curry Leaves.

    When Onions turn golden brown, add Tomato Puree and fry till the oil separates.

    Now add the Brinjals, all the Powders and Tamarind extract. Fry on a low flame till done.

    Serves: 2
    Serve with Curd Rice or can be mixed with steamed Rice.
       

     Coming to the seven links game passed to me by Sobha Shyam of Good Food,

    The most beautiful post – Beans Paruppu usili and Awards

    This post is really colorful not because of the recipe, but because of the awards I created and gave to some of my blogger friends.

    The most popular post – Whole Moong Dhal(Pachai Payiru) Kuzhambu

    This recipe has got the highest number of hits in my blog. I make this healthy curry atleast once in a week. I am surprised that many are not much aware of this curry.

    The most controversial post – nothing so far.

    The most helpful post – How to prepare Idli and Dosa Batter??

    I gave many tips related to Idli and Dosa Batter to some of my friends. It was a hit with them. So I put all the tips known to me to prepare this Post. Unfortunately, I am still not able to upload any pics and may be that is the reason I didnt receive any comment though it has more hits.

    The post that was surprisingly successful – Dates-Banana MilkShake

    I made this milkshake with leftover fully ripe bananas. I am really surprised that many liked it and got more comments.

    The post that did not get the attention it deserved – Baby Food Ideas

    This post has huge hits but unfortunately with no comment. I sat down hours together to think and type this post. I really do not know whether this post helped any Mother.

    The post I am proud of – Chettinad Chicken Kuzhambu

    I am really proud of this post as I searched for this recipe days together in internet. I found many recipes and this is a combined version of those.


    I am passing this seven links game to some of my friends..
    1. Rinku Naveen of Rinku’s Kitchen Treats
    2. Reshmi Mahesh of Easy Cook
    3. Soujanya of Souju’s Home
    4. Charishma of cherie’s stolen recipes
    5. Nupur of UK Rasoi – Day to Day Recipes