Mixed Dal Curry – Mixed Lentil Soup
This is a protein packed lentil soup with no oil. This is a quick and simple recipe. And this is suitable for the 28 Day Weight Loss and Detox Program. I have used four types of lentils (dals) in this recipe. Lentils are a good source of protein and fiber along with folate, vitamin B and minerals. Red (or pink) lentils contain a lower concentration of fiber than green lentils (11% rather than 31%). I have added whole masoor dal, green split pea, split pigeon peas and channa dal (bengal gram) along with spinach. This is a healthy and tasty dal or soup. You can serve it with brown rice or white rice or roti along with a salad. Here you go… Preparation time: 30 minutes No. of servings: 5 to 6 Spice level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Whole Masoor...
Read More
Cabbage Milagootal – Cabbage Lentil Curry
Palakkad is a city in Kerala. And molagootal is a popular dish among Palakkad Iyers. It is a simple and mild curry made with a wide variety of vegetables such as cabbage, okra, winter melon, chayote, spinach or any of the vegetables of your choice. Today I have made molagootal with cabbage. Try and let me know if you like it. Here you go… Ingredients: Chopped cabbage – 2 cups Toor dal – 3/4 cup a pinch of asafoetida and turmeric powder Shredded coconut (frozen or fresh) – 1/4 cup Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Dry red chilies – 3 Salt to taste For Seasoning: Oil – 1 tsp Mustard seeds – 1 tsp Urad dal – 1 tsp Curry leaves – 6 to 7 leaves Dry red chili – 1 A pinch of asafoetida Method of Preparation: Pressure...
Read More
Mango Dal
I had raw mangoes sitting in my fridge for a long time. I was wondering what to make and one of my friends here make this mango dal often. I like this a lot and it is easy to cook. So I tried this Mango Dal and it came out really good. Time of Preparation : 25 minutes Spice Level : 3 No of Servings : 2 to 3 Ingredients: Raw Mango (cut into small cubes) – 1 Onion (medium size)(roughlychopped) – 1 Tomato (chopped) – 1/2 Garlic (crushed) – 2 Green Chillies (long)(slit lengthwise) – 2 Split Pigeon Peas / Toor dal – 1/2 cup Oil – 2 tbsp Salt – to taste For Seasoning: Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp Curry leaves – a few Asafoetida – a pinch Red chillies – 1...
Read More
Sorakaya Mor Kootu / Bottle Gourd Yogurt Curry
Bottle gourd mor kootu is very easy to make and it is very tasty too. We can make Mor kootu with Pumpkin or Ash gourd or with Plantain stem too. We can serve it as a side for rice or chappati. Time of Preparation : 25 minutes Spice level : 1 No of Servings : 3 Ingredients Bottle gourd (cut into small cubes) – 1 Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp Grated coconut – 1/2 cup Cumin Seeds – 1 1/2 tsp Green chillies – 2 Curd – 1 cup Salt – to taste For Seasoning: Mustard Seeds – 1/2 tsp Red chilly – 1 Curry leaves – a few Asafoetida – a pinch Oil – 1 tsp Method of Preparation: Boil the bottle gourd with turmeric powder in a vessel or pressure cook it for 2 whistles. Make a...
Read More
Thakklai kai Pitlai – Thick Lentil Soup with Tomatillo
Pitlai is a traditional South Indian dish. It is nothing but another type of lentil soup with a few variation in the method of preparation. This is a combination of a sambar and kootu. Bitter gourd pitlai is a famous dish and you can substitute bitter gourd with any other vegetable. Today I have used tomatillos. I have never used it before and was under the consumption that it will be like tomatoes. But today I learnt that just the outer look is like a tomato and the inner flesh is more like a gooseberry. I loved the taste. You can serve white rice and lentil soup along with papad. It is a relish. Here you go… Preparation time: 30 minutes No. of servings: 5 to 6 Spice level: 3.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Tomatillo – 5 Toor dal or Split...
Read More
Pulinkari – Spicy Tamarind Sauce with Veggies
Pulinkari is a traditional dish from Kerala, South India. It is made of tamarind sauce with ground coconut and spices. It is very simple to prepare and a tasty dish. I learnt it from my mother in law who cooks very good, authentic Kerala dishes. You can prepare this dish on a busy day cause it wont take much of your time and serve it along with white rice, any vegetable stir fry and papad. Here you go… Preparation time: 20 minutes No. of servings: 4 to 5 Spice level: 3.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Seedless whole tamarind – 1 tbsp Okra or Pumpkin or colocasia or ash gourd – 1 cup Shredded coconut – 1/3 cup Fenugreek seeds – 1 tsp Dried chillies – 3 Raw rice – 1 tbsp Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Oil – 1...
Read More
Sorakaya kootu – Bottle Gourd Stew (Version 2)
Kootu/lentil stew is always a comfort food and very easy to make. Kootu/lentil stew is a popular south Indian side dish which is usually cooked with lentils and any vegetables. I love making kootu and it tastes so good. Recently I tried making a different version which I learnt from one of my friend. It came out really tasty and yummy. Try this recipe and let me know how it turned out for you. Here is the previous version of this Bottle Gourd Kootu recipe I posted a couple of years back. Preparation time : 45 minutes No of servings : 3-4 Spice level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Sorakaya/Bottlegourd : 2 cups Channa dal/Bengal gram : 1 1/2 cup Coconut : 1/2 cup Green chilies : 4-5 Cumin seeds : 1 tsp Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp...
Read More
Cauliflower Thakkali Kootu – Cauliflower Tomato Curry
Kootu is a South Indian dish made of vegetables and lentils along with spices. You can serve kootu with rice and papad or stir fried vegetables. Today I am sharing the recipe for tomato cauliflower kootu with split pegion peas. Preparation time: 40 minutes No. of servings: 4 Spice level: 3.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Cauliflower florets – 1 cup Tomatoes – 4 Split pigeon peas or toor dal – 3/4 cup Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp Channa dal or Split Bengal gram – 1 tbsp Urad dal or split white lentil – 1 tsp Dry red chili – 4 Black pepper – 1/2 tsp Shredded coconut – 1/4 cup Oil – 1 tsp Salt to taste Whole tamarind – 1 tbsp Cilantro for garnishing Seasoning: Oil – 1 tsp Mustard seeds – 1...
Read More
Cabbage Kootu (Version 2)
Cabbage kootu is one of my favorite dish. It is simple and tasty and it goes well with both white rice and chappathy. So whenever I make this dish, I make some extra amount to cover for both lunch and dinner. That way your time is saved. Here you go… Preparation time: 30 t0 35 minutes Spice level: 2.5 out of 5 No. of servings: 3-4 Ingredients: Chopped cabbage – 2 cups Split pigeon peas (toor dal) – 1/3 cup Coriander seeds – 1 and 1/2 tsp Cumin – 1 tsp Shredded coconut – 1/4 cup Salt to taste Seasoning: Split white lentil (urad dal) – 1 tsp Mustard seeds – 1 tsp Cumin – 1 tsp Curry leaves – few Green chilies – 4 Dry red chilies – 2 Asafoetida – a pinch Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp...
Read More
Methi Kootu
My cousin told about making methi kootu using whole masoor. Both methi and whole masoor are highly nutritious. Methi is rich in Iron, Phosphorous, calcium and vitamins whereas whole masoor are essential source of inexpensive protein in many parts of the world for those who adhere to a vegetarian diet. These are also very rich in iron. This kootu is very simple and very healthy. Preparation time : 35 minutes No of Servings : 3 Spice level : 3 Ingredients : Methi Leaves – a bunch (chopped) Masoor dal whole (whole baby lentils) – 1/3 cup Onion – 1/2 (finely chopped) Tomato – 1/2 (chopped) Sambar powder – 1 1/2 tsp (according to spice level) Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Seasoning vadagam – 1 tsp Oil – 1 tbsp Asafoetida – a pinch Salt – to taste Method of...
Read More
Podalangai kootu(Snake Gourd with Lentils)
My mom made this kootu yesterday and it tasted really good and yummy. Kootu is a combo of vegetables and lentils. It’s very easy to make and goes well with rice, vathakuzhambhu, rasam and sambhar. You can make kootu with any kind of vegetables with the same recipe only substituting the main vegetable. After I go home I think this easy recipe is going to make me cook this kootu often. I am learning a lot of new recipes from my mom. Ingredients: Snake Gourd: 2 cups(clean up the seeds inside and chopped into slices) Channa dal : 1/4 cup oil: 2tbsp Onion: 1/2 (medium) Tomato : 1 Ginger : 1/2 tsp Green chilies : 5 Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp Salt: required to taste Coconut : 1/2(shredded) For Seasonings: Mustard seeds : 1 tsp Urad dal : 1 tsp Curry leaves...
Read More
Bottle Gourd Koottu – Bottle Gourd Curry
This yet another recipe from my mother inlaw’s kitchen. I have never tried bottle gourd before and didn’t know it was so easy to cook. It’s very healthy and makes for a tasty side dish for chapathies and rice. Besides its healthy properties, there is a little known fun fact about this vegetable. Its dried and cored skin is used to make traditional musical instruments like Tambura and Veena. 🙂 I am sending this recipe to Pooja of My Creative ideas who is hosting  “Vegetable of the Week ” – Bottle gourd Event And I am submitting this recipe to Srivalli of Cooking 4 all seasons Who is hosting Curry Mela Event. Thanks for reminding me srivalli. Ingredients: Bottle Gourd : 1 no Channa dal : 1/4 cup Onion : 1/2 Tomato : 1 Water : 3/4 cup...
Read More
Mixed vegetable kootu/Mixed vegetable curry
This is mixed vegetable curry with spices, a south Indian dish which is simple and healthy. Spices like jeera, pepper and red chillies are used. They give a good flavour for the dish and have good values. Pepper is good for digestion, cold and flu. Cumins are good appetizer. Squash and carrot can be replaced by any other vegetables like beans, plantain, pumpkin, etc. Ingredients: Yellow squash (chopped) – 2 cups Carrot (chopped) – 1 1/2 cup Tomato -1 Grated coconut – 1/4 cup (adjust to taste) Green chilly (2″) – 1 Dried red chillies (2″) – 2 Channa dal – 1 tsp Urad dal – 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Black pepper – 1 1/2 tsp Coriander seeds – 1 tsp Oil – 2 tsp Method of preparation: Chop the vegetables length wise at about 1″...
Read More
Cabbage Kootu
This is a typical vegetarian side dish that is a part of a traditional south Indian meal. Because of cabbage’s suttle flavor it best compliments spicy gravies like vatha kuzhambhu, Milagootal. Preparation Time: 40 minutes No of servings: 3-5 Spice Level: 3.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Cabbage : 2 cups(finely chopped) Channa dal : 1/2 cup Onion : 1/2(finely chopped) Tomato : 1 Green chilies : 3(according to your spice level) Curry leaves : 4 to 5 Oil : 2 tsp Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp Fennel seeds : 1tsp Mustard seeds : 1 tsp Urad dal : 1 tsp Asafoaetida : a pinch Ghee : 1 tbsp Coconut : 3tbsp(shredded)(optional) Ginger : 1/2 tbsp(finely chopped) Salt : according to your taste Method of Preparation: Soak the channa dal for 15 minutes .Because when you soak the dal it’s...
Read MoreBrinjal (Eggplant) Kootu
This is one of my favorite recipes at times when we have unexpected guests . It is very easy to make and it usually takes about 15 minutes to do it. Preparation Time : 35 minutes No of servings : 3-4 Spice Level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Brinjal/Eggplant : 1(big) Tamarind : lemon size Turmeric Powder : 1/3 tsp Asafoetida : 1/3 tsp oil : 2 tsp Mustard seeds : 1/3 tsp Red chili : 2 Toor dal : 1 tsp Green chili : 2 Curry leaves : few springs Methods of Preparation: Glaze the Brinjal/Eggplant with oil and roast in direct flame by turning side to side so the skin sears a little bit(Try this step if you have a direct flame or Gas stove) Otherwise Heat some oil in a pan and add the brinjal...
Read MoreAppalam kootu
Preparation time: 30 mins No. of Servings: 3-4 Spice level: 2.5 out of 5 Ingredients Gram dhal(kadalai paruppu) :1/2 cup Appalam : 5 to 7(or Appalam poo) Potato :1(medium size) Green Chillies : 4 nos(according to your spice level) Ginger : 1 inch(finely chopped) Garlic :3 nos Onion :1(Medium)sliced Tomato :1(sliced) Turmeric powder :1tsp Coconut:1/4 cup shredded(optional) Salt totaste For Seasoning Mustard seeds:1tsp Red chillies :1 no cumin seeds:1 tsp Fennel seeds:1tsp Curry leaves :few springs Method of Preparation Soak the gram dal for 20 mins. After that pressure cook the dal with turmeric powder, half onion,half tomato,Green chillies,ginger, garlic and a little oil. Cook for 3 whistle . Fry the Appalams and allow it to cool. Boil the potato ,peel the skin and mash it well. Take a pan , heat oil and add the seasonings after it...
Read MoreChristmas Recipes
Recent Comments