Friday, 28 March 2014

RAVA DOSA

RAVA DOSA


 
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rava dosa – easy crisp dosa made with semolina, rice flour and all purpose flour.
Author: GOPINATH VELCHAMY
Recipe type: breakfast
Cuisine: south indian
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients
  • ½ cup unroasted rava/suji/fine semolina
  • ½ cup rice flour
  • ¼ cup maida/all purpose flour
  • 1 green chili, chopped
  • medium sized onion, finely chopped
  • ½ inch ginger, finely chopped
  • 8-9 curry leaves, chopped
  • 1-2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
  • ½ tsp crushed black pepper
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • 1.5 to 2 cups water or as required
  • salt as required
  • oil or ghee or butter for frying the dosa
Instructions
  1. mix all the ingredients mentioned above except oil.
  2. keep aside for 30 to 40 minutes.
  3. heat the tava or non-stick pan.
  4. spread 1 or 2 tsp oil.
  5. if using non-stick pan then no need to spread oil.
  6. with a ladle pour the batter from the edges towards the center.
  7. sprinkle ½ or 1 tsp of oil from the top.
  8. let the base becomes golden or crisp.
  9. flip and cook the other side.
  10. when both the sides are cooked, remove the dosa from the pan.
  11. prepare all the dosas this way.
  12. serve the rava dosa hot with coconut chutney.
  13. rava dosa has to be served immediately.
  14. otherwise they become dry once they become cold.
  15. rava dosa is best had when they are hot.

Monday, 10 March 2014

Russian Salad

                                                      Russian Salad   




Despite the name, this is one of the most typical Spanish salads, mainly eaten in summer time, ideal for outdoor parties, and fabulous as cold starter. We like to make "tapas" with it. Better when 1 or 2 days old as flavors mix and mellows

 Ingredients




  • Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 15 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, and peel.
  • If using raw vegetables, steam until firm, drain and reserve.
  • Boil potatoes in their skins for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain and cool, then peel and dice.
  • In a big bowl flake tuna. Add potatoes and the rest of ingredients, except mayonnaise. Add salt to taste.
  • Spread enough mayonnaise just to add moisture, about 1 cup, reserving 1 cup for garnish. Mix well.
  • Chop two eggs and carefully fold in the potato and veggies mixture.
  • Arrange the salad on a big shallow serving plate, giving it a nice oval or round cake shape.
  • Spread enough mayonnaise on top to cover, same as frosting a cake.
  • Slice reserved 2 boiled eggs and nicely arrange on top, as well as some cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper stripes, olives and greens for garnish.
  • Dust with paprika if you like.
  • Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. It must be served cool. Keep tightly covered in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. It gets even better the following days.
       

Saturday, 1 March 2014

Andhra Chicken Pickle Recipe

             Andhra Chicken Pickle Recipe





Andhra Chicken Pickle Recipe

Andhra Chicken Pickle

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 
Total time: 45 Minutes
Shelf Life: 4-5 days

Ingredients:
Chicken Pieces (with bones) - 1 kg
Salt - 1 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tbsp
Oil - 1/4 kg
Red Chilli Powder - 3 tbsp
Ginger-Garlic Paste - 2 tbsp
Chopped Cilantro - 1/4 Cup [optional]

To Temper
Asafoetida/Hing - 1/4 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Dry Red Chillies - 3
Curry Leaves- Few

To Roast and Grind
Coriander Seeds - 3 tbsp
Cloves - 3
Cinnamon Stick - 2 (2 inch pieces)
Poppy Seeds - 1 tbsp
Fenugreek Seeds - 1 tsp
Green Cardamom - 2
Cumin Seeds - 1 tbsp


Andhra Chicken Pickle Recipe


Method:

1. Dry roast all the ingredients under 'To Roast and Grind' cool and grind to fine powder.
2. Mix salt and turmeric powder with chicken pieces well. In a pan or wok add chicken pieces and cook for 10-12 minutes in slow to medium flame, stir in intervals. With chicken water itself it get cooked so we don't have to add water.
3. In a another pan or wok heat oil and add 1/4 of cooked chicken pieces and fry well until fully cooked and brown. Take out and add next batch of chicken and repeat same until we fry 1 kg of chicken so we will fry it 4 batches.
4. In the same pan add items 'To Temper' and allow mustard to splutter. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute until raw smell goes off.
5. Now add fried chicken pieces, red chilli powder mix well and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add spices powder we prepared on step 1, mix and cook for 2-3 minutes.
7. Add chopped cilantro if using and off flame.



Andhra Chicken Pickle Recipe

Note ~

  • Shelf life of this pickle is less so it's better if you consume with in 2-3 days.
  • This pickle is little on spicy side, reduce chilli powder if you don't eat spicy food.
Have a nice day.

Pasi Paruppu Payasam

             Pasi Paruppu Payasam (Moong Dal Kheer)





                                         


Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup Pasi Paruppu (Moong Dal/Split, skinned Mung Bean)
  • 1/2 cup Jaggery, or as per taste
  • 1/4 cup boiled Whole Milk, or as needed - See Tips
  • 3-4 Cashews, broken, see Tips
  • 1-2 tsp Ghee, see Tips
  • Pinch of Cardamom Powder
    Optional Additions
  • Pinch of Edible Camphor (Pacha Karpooram)
  • 3-4 Raisins
Tips
1. Whole Milk: Addition of Milk gives a rich taste and I personally prefer a little amount along with water. But you can increase the amount if you prefer cooking the dal with milk, instead of water as I have done. If Vegan or avoiding milk, opt for Coconut Milk instead. Many households prefer it over whole milk.

2. Ghee: Homemade Ghee or Ghee made from cultured butter is better health wise than regular commercially sold ghee. If Vegan, use coconut oil or simply dry toast the lentils and Cashews.

3. Nuts and Dairy Free: If you are on an Nut free or Dairy free diet, simply omit the nuts and replace the Milk with any safe options you would use. You can make this with just water instead of milk as well. Yes, there would be a difference in taste but it would still be a nutritious and tasty option to add to your menu.
Method
1
In a skillet, heat about 1/4 tsp of ghee and toast the lentils for 2-3 min in low-medium heat until aromatic. It should not change color since that would increase the cooking time. You can dry roast it as well although a little bit of Ghee makes it immensely aromatic and better tasting.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
2
Now pressure cook this in about 1 cup water for 6-8 minutes in high heat (or until 1 whistle). You can otherwise cook this in just milk (or a mix) to give it a richer taste.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
3
You should be able to mash it with your spatula.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
4
The amount of Jaggery would depend on your taste buds and the kind of jaggery you get at the stores. For us, I take about 1/2 cup worth (when broken)
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
5
break it into tiny pieces (if available as slabs)
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
6
Place it in a bowl and pour boiling water on top of it - just enough to submerge the jaggery. I do this in order to remove any impurities in the jaggery. Its not necessary per se though I would personally recommend it. If you don't want to do this, go to step 12
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
7
The hot water will help to dissolve the jaggery. Using the back of a spatula, break lumps if any.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
8
Now sieve it into another bowl. You can break up those few jaggery pieces remaining in your sifter and add it along with. Set aside.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
9
In the same skillet that you used to roast the lentil, add the remaining ghee. I use about 1.5 tsp of Ghee in this recipe. You can add more or less as per your need. Roast the cashews
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
10
and when it slightly starts changing color, add the raisins, if using. Set aside.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
11
Take the cooked lentil and heat it up (low-medium heat ) over stove top. Add the jaggery water.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
12
Stir to combine and cook for 3-4 minutes for the flavors to combine. Since the jaggery is already melted, the heat can be at low. If  you skipped step 6, then you would have to add the jaggery pieces directly to the lentils but keep the heat medium and keep stirring so that the jaggery can melt. The stirring is to avoid the lentils burning.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
13
Once the jaggery has melted / mixed well, add the milk.  The amount of milk would depend on the consistency you prefer. We prefer the "pour-in-your-tumbler-and-drink" consistency;  tumblerhere (not Tumblr! ) referring to South Indian way of saying cup! :).  But if you prefer the "enjoy-with-a-bowl-and-spoon", then simply add few tbsp or skip the milk completely.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
14
Add the cardamom powder and the roasted nuts (and raisins). Mix and stir for another 2-3 minutes.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
15
until combined. Though adding Saffron is traditional in almost all festive desserts, this one is an exception. It just does not need saffron since it does not provide that distinctive color or taste that it normally does to more milk based desserts. Add a pinch of Edible Camphor, if using. Be careful about the amount. A wee bit goes a long way.
Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes
It tastes best when the flavors are combined well. If you get more lentil type earthy taste, then it means you need to give it time for the flavors to combine.  Just let it sit at room temperature for few minutes and tada - you have a warming, nutritious and festive dessert ready. We love it warmed and believe that it tastes way better than when chilled or at room temperature. So serve it warm.Moong Dal Kheer Recipe |  Paruppu Payasam | Payasam recipes