SYF & HWS – Garlic – Event Announcement
SYF & HWS – Sizzle Your Food and Health With Spices… SpicyTasty is happy to guest host SYF & HWS Series by Anu. GARLIC has been chosen as this month’s theme. We invite you all (bloggers and non-bloggers) to participate in this event and share your recipes with us. This event starts from today, July 6 and ends on Aug 5, 2012. Anu from Anu’s Healthy Kitchen is the founder of this event. Now lets talk about this wonderful spice – GARLIC followed by rules of the event. Garlic is a wonderful aromatic and flavorful spice. It is widely used around the world for its pungent flavor as a seasoning or condiment. Garlic is a fundamental component in many dishes of various regions such as Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and America. Garlic is also known for its medicinal...
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Baingan Masala – Stuffed Eggplant Curry
Stuffed Eggplant Curry is a spicy, tangy and peanutty curry in which eggplants are slit and stuffed with a spicy masala and cooked in a spicy nutty curry. This is generally served with rice or roti. This is my favorite dish and it makes you lick your fingers till the last bit. Also try our Ennai Kathirikkai which is another exotic eggplant dish. Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 60 minutes No. of servings: 5 Spice level: 4 out of 5 Ingredients: Small or medium Indian eggplants (brinjal) – 6 Chopped onion – 2 cups (one big onion) Garlic – 5 cloves Roasted Peanut powder – 1/3 cup Cinnamon stick – 1″ piece Cloves – 2 Red chili powder – 2 tsp (adjust to your spice level) Coriander powder – 1 tsp Garam masala – 1/2 tsp Methi seeds...
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Vanilla Ice cream
Vanilla is the most popular flavor among ice creams. This is a simple and delicious recipe for Vanilla Ice Cream and I used my old fashioned Aroma ice cream maker to prepare this. You can use vanilla bean or pure vanilla extract. Vanilla beans are generally available in grocery stores and super markets or you can buy them from ebay or amazon.com in large quantity for less price. If you are using vanilla extract try to use the pure extract which is always good. After preparing the ice cream store it in an air tight container covering the box with a cling wrap or a plastic sheet and then with the lid. You can store it upto 2 to 3 weeks or if unopened you can store it for long. It is always good to have homemade ice cream...
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Half and Half Pizza
This is called Half and Half Pizza because of the two different sauce in it. I have used Alfredo sauce and marinara sauce. Alfredo sauce is a creamy, cheesy white sauce which usually accompanies pasta. Marinara is an Italian tomato sauce with onion, garlic and herbs. You can just use marinara sauce or Alfredo sauce or both just like how I have used. I like my pizza loaded with toppings. You can add any of your favorite vegetables or meat in the pizza. I feel less guilty because of adding all these vegetables. I like them sauted as well. Cheese is another important ingredient that makes pizza interesting. I have used fresh mozzarella and fontina cheese. I like to explore with different types of cheese. You can use your favorite cheese. Just mix and match or go with one type....
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Strawberry Jam
This is a simple recipe for making Strawberry Jam without using pectin (gelling agent). It is delicious and believe me you won’t go back to the store bought jam again. Though it is a little time consuming it’s totally worth it. If you make it in a large quantity and can it, you can also give it as presents to your friends and family. Here, I have just told you how to make the jam but soon I will be writing another post for Canning (method of preserving food). I have to get a couple of supplies required for home canning. I used candy thermometer for this recipe. It is a good investment and you can use it for various recipes. If you don’t have one or don’t want to buy one then don’t worry…I have also given you another...
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Chayote and Lima Beans Lentil Curry- Chowchow Mochakottai Kootu
I bought some frozen lima beans after studying about its nutrition facts and benefits. I made a South Indian lentil curry with chayote and lima beans which is a traditional dish. Chayote is called chowchow or seemai kathirikkai in tamil, lima beans also known as Butter beans is called mochakottai in tamil. Lima beans are available in different colors. They are rich in dietary fibers which reduces blood cholesterol level and the risks of cancer. They are also rich in protein, folate, vitamin B6 and B12, antioxidants, iron, manganese, calcium, potassium and more. I don’t think we need more reason to add this to our diet…;) Enjoy this nutrition rich food with rice or roti or as a side with rice and rasam/kuzhambu. Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes No. of servings: 5 to 6 Spice level:...
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Cantaloupe Berry Smoothie
This is a simple and delicious smoothie with berries and cantaloupe blended with milk. You can use fresh or frozen berries for this smoothie. This is a good way to incorporate fruits in your diet and kids will love it. My husband and I generally have these smoothies for breakfast or after a heavy workout. I am sure it will definitely quench your summer thirst. Enjoy… Ingredients: Half Cantaloupe Fresh strawberries – 3/4 cup Fresh blueberries – 1/4 cup Milk – 1 cup Sugar – 2 tbsp Honey – 1 to 2 tbsp Method of Preparation: Peel the skin off the cantaloupe and remove the seeds and pith. Cut into small cubes. Hull the strawberries. Now blend everything together until smooth. Add or cut sugar and honey according to your taste. Serve it in a tall...
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Mulai Keerai (Thotakura) Kootu – Amaranth Greens and Lentils Curry
Amaranth greens, a nutritious leafy vegetable is popular in Indian cuisine. They are a good source of vitamin A and C, folate, thiamine, niacin and other dietary minerals including calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese. It is called mulai keerai in Tamil, thotakura in Telugu. In this dish, I have cooked Amaranth leaves in a spicy lentil curry. This can be served with steamed rice or roti (Indian bread). Ingredients: A bunch of amaranth leaves (about 3 to 4 cups tightly packed) Shallots (small red onions) – 10 (peeled and cut into small pieces) Ginger – 1″ piece Moong dal – 1/3 cup Toor dal – 3 tbsp Garlic pods – 2 One medium size tomato Green chili – 1 Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp A pinch of asafoetida Salt to taste Oil – 1 tsp For Masala: Oil...
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Tomato Onion Pickle – Thakkali Vengaya Thokku
This is a quick and simple multipurpose pickle that can be served with rice or idli/dosa or roti. This is another signature dish from my mom and a container of this pickle is found in her refrigerator through out the year. Since tomatoes are not seasonal, you can make this pickle anytime of the year and enjoy it. It’s spicy jam and makes a wonderful spread for bread. I would say I am obsessed with this pickle…:) You may think I have used a lot of oil but the pickle requires that much to stay fresh. Try to use sesame oil which makes it more tasty and flavorful. You can get it from any Indian stores here in the U.S. Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes Yield: 8 to 10 oz (250 grams) Spice level: 4 out...
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Salan for Biryani – Curry Sauce
Salan is a Hyderabadi dish and generally served with Biryani or roti. Hyderabad is located in South India which is popular for its cuisine. Their food is spicy and rich in flavors. Today I am going to share the recipe for Salan in which tomato and onions are cooked in blend of spices along with peanuts and tamarind juice. This spicy and a little tangy gravy is a prefect combination for Biryani. You can also serve it with layered parottas or other rotis. Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time:30 minutes No. of servings: 7 to 8 Spice level: 4 out of 5 Ingredients: Small onions – 15 (or equivalent amount of red onions) Medium size tomatoes – 2 Green chilies – 3 Garlic cloves – 6 Freshly grated or ground Ginger – 1 tbsp Curry leaves – 10 to...
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Raw Mango Rice – Manga Sadham
It’s mango season and time to try different recipes with mangoes. They are widely grown in India and there are many varieties available. We make a lot of dishes with ripe as well as raw mangoes. Today I have shared one of those recipes, Raw Mango Rice which is a simple and tasty dish. It is called Manga Sadham in Tamil, Maamidikaya Pulihora in Telugu and Mavinkayi Chitranna in Kannada. It is specially made for Ugadi festival. Raw mango is well seasoned with spices and lentils and mixed with cooked rice. You can make this dish for a quick lunch or dinner. This rice can be served with something spicy such as Mirchi Masala or Tomato Kuzhambu or Salan for which I will be posting the recipes soon. Ingredients: Finely grated mango – 2 cups Cooked rice – 3...
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Spicy Mushroom Curry
As the name indicates this is a spicy dish which is a perfect combination with roti or pulao or ghee rice. I wanted to try a different version of mushroom curry. So I mixed up a couple of different recipes and tried this dish and it turned it out so good. My husband (GS) and I liked it so much. I used baby bella mushrooms which is my favorite. Try this dish and let me know how it turns out. Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 50 minutes No. of servings: 5 Spice level: 4 out of 5 Ingredients: Mushroom – 250 gram (1/2 lb) One big onion chopped Tomatoes – 2 One Jalapeno (cut into big pieces) Ginger – 1 “ Garlic cloves – 3 Dried long red chilies – 8 Cashew nut – 2 tbsp (soaked in water)...
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Parangikkai Karamani Kootu – Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry
Butternut Squash is a type of winter squash which is pear shaped, has a yellow skin and an orange flesh inside. It has a sweet and nutty taste. It contains many important nutrients such as vitamin A and C, potassium, fibre, iron and magnesium. Since it has a sweeter taste, generally many of us don’t use this vegetable often in Indian recipes. But when it is not ripe it is not that sweet and can be used in making Sambar (Lentil Soup) and Kootu (South Indian Curry) or other dishes. It has a thick skin and it is generally peeled, stalks and seeds are removed before cooking. Their seeds are edible and contains oil and protein. You can serve them toasted as a healthy snack. Coming to Azuki beans (karamani or red chori), it is a good source of...
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Berries and Peach Soda
It’s summer time and are you ready to beat the heat?… I am going to share my recipes for blended fruit juices and many other summer drinks which will definitely quench your thirst. Most of them are rich in antioxidants and other vital nutrition and vitamins. This non-alcoholic mocktail is a combination of strawberries, blackberries and peach along with sparkling water which gives a fizz and makes it so refreshing. I got the idea of making this soda from Giada’s show and I tweaked it according to my taste. You will love this and will always want to have a pitcher of juice in your refrigerator to serve your family and friends. You can also serve theme at parties and not the least, kids will love it. So come join me… Ingredients: Fresh or thawed frozen strawberries – 1...
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Triple Berry Smoothie
Berries are nutritious and low in calories. They are naturally sweet (though some are tart). They are rich in antioxidants which helps to fight cancer, heart disease and provides other health benefits. I have used three types of berries in this smoothie but you can try this with any berries that you have on hand. You can also add a tbsp of flax seed or protein powder to this smoothie. Start your day with a glass of smoothie and add berries to your diet for a healthy life style. Ingredients: Fresh or Frozen Strawberries, Blackberries and Raspberries – 1/2 cup each (preferably unsweetened frozen berries, thawed) Low fat flavored yogurt – 1/2 cup (you can also use plain yogurt) Honey – 2 tbsp 1/2 cup of ice cubes 1 cup of low fat milk Method of Preparation: In a blender, add all...
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Aloo Palak Curry – Spinach Potato Dry Curry
Aloo Palak Curry (Spinach Potato Dry Curry) is a tasty Indian dish in which potatoes and spinach are cooked in a spicy mixture. This is a dry version of this dish which can be served with rice or roti (Indian flat breads). Most of us have some kind of greens and potatoes at home. So if you want to make a delicious curry for lunch or dinner then this is the dish. Even if you are not a huge fan of spinach, you will love this dish and you can also make kids eat spinach this way. Try this dish and let me know how it turns out. Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes No. of servings: 4 to 5 Spice level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Boiled Gold Potatoes – 2 big ones (or 8 baby...
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Pattani Kurma – Peas Korma
Kurma (or Korma) is a popular South Asian dish which is basically braised vegetables or meat in a creamy curry. There are different styles of kurma. Pattani Kurma is a popular South Indian dish which is served along with idli/dosa or roti or variety rice. Shredded coconut and cashew nut along with various spices are used for the kurma. I prefer to use dried peas. You can also substitute it with fresh or frozen green peas. The rich and creamy kurma is definitely a crowd pleaser. Easy to make for parties or get together. Try and let me know your comments. Preparation time: 8 hours (soaking time) Cooking time: 45 minutes No. of servings: 4 to 5 Spice level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Dried green or yellow peas – 1 cup (Soaked over night) One big onion chopped...
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Homemade White Bread and Dinner Rolls
Homemade bread and dinner rolls are very easy to make. My bread is made from the scratch and it’s fresh without any preservatives. I have always wanted to bake bread at home and enjoy it for the breakfast and finally my dream came true. There are a lot of recipes online for homemade bread. I was so confused about which one to follow. Finally, I got a good recipe on youtube which was posted by Candra. It was easy and the result was amazing. I used the dinner rolls or pav buns for the Pav bhaji dish that I have recently shared with you all. Enjoy your breakfast with the fresh home baked bread and let me know your comments. Preparation time: 2.5 hours Cooking time: 20 to 25 minutes Yield: 12 dinner rolls and One big loaf Ingredients:...
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Pav Bhaji
Pav Bhaji is a popular Indian fast food dish from Mumbai. It is a mixed vegetable curry with a special blend of spices (Pav Bhaji masala) that you can find in any grocery store in India or the Indian stores in the U.S. It is served with Pav (buns) instead of roti. This dish made its way from street food to restaurants and slowly became popular all over India. The recipe varies from place to place but the general procedure remains the same. Mashed potatoes and sauteed onions and tomatoes with a few other vegetables and spices are blended together to make this dish. Pav is toasted on a griddle with lots of butter. This is a comfort dish and the right place to enjoy is from the street side vendors. Here I am bringing the street food to your...
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Kalkandu Chakkarai Pongal – Sweet Rice Pudding
Chakkarai Pongal or Sakkarai Pongal is sweet rice pudding from India and is made during festival times (specially Pongal festival) and other special occasions. We can either add jaggery (unrefined whole cane or palm sugar) or sugar for preparing this dish. Today I have prepared this dish with sugar which is why it is called Kalkandu Chakkarai Pongal (crystallized Sugar Pudding). My mom makes it often since it is my dad’s favorite. She makes it in an open bronze pot (vengala paanai in tamil) which gives a unique and authentic touch to this dish. But my version is a pressure cooker and non stick pot method. Some people even prepare this dish in mud pot and it is amazing. I have always wanted to cook food in mud pots and pans. Hope I will do it some day. Okay...
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