Karuvepillai Thuvaiyal/Curry Leaves Chutney
Curry leaves are the essence of South Indian cooking. They give rich favor & aroma to any dish and they are used in a lot of recipes. Its usually used as a seasoning but here is a recipe with curry leaves as the key player. One of my good friends Lavanya of famed Home Cook Recipes sent me this recipe to publish here with some wonderful pictures. She was my classmate & roommate in college. I am really glad that she sent us this and it is with pleasure I share this with you. She made this dish and she said it came out very well and she is as excited as me to share it to our readers. Ingredients : Curry leaves : 1 cup Toor dal : 1tbsp Channa dal : 1 tbsp Urad dal : 1tbsp...
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Sweet Potato-Yam Curry
It’s been almost a week since I posted a recipe. We had some of our friends (including nithu and her husband ganesh) visiting us and we were busy playing host. They were in town to see the Detroit International Auto Show and it was a great experience to see all the new vehicles. Nithu and I had a great time. Sweet potatoes or Yam are rich in nutrients such as dietary fiber, beta carotene (equivalent to Vitamin A), Vitamin C & Vitamin B6. I knew it was better than potatoes, but this is what Wikipedia has to say about it: In 1992, the Center for Science in the Public Interest compared the nutritional value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables. Considering fiber content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium, the sweet potato ranked highest in...
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French Onion and Garlic Soup
French onion soup is a delectable and rich soup that’s rich in taste and great to devour. Onions and garlic give it a nice aroma (check your breath after though) and the bread chunks the great texture. This is my favorite starter any time I go to a restaurant in India. I tried this soup from Sanjeev kapoor’s Vegetarian Cookbook. Preparation Time: 45 minutes No of servings: 3-4 Spice Level: 1 out of 5 Ingredients: Vegetable stock : 4 cup Onion : 2(big)(cut length wise) Cheese : 1/4 grated Garlic : 5 (chopped) Brown Bread : 3 slices Olive oil : 2tbsp White pepper powder : 1/4tspn Salt : required to taste Carrot : 1 medium (cut lengthwise) Method Of Preparation: Cut the bread into slices and just toast it with olive oil. Remove it from heat and keep...
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Peas Pulao
This is a another simple dish to prepare and is good for health as it has the flavor of cumin seeds and pepper. Paneer butter masala is a good combination with peas pulao. Ingredients: Basmati rice – 1 1/2 cup Onion (medium size) – 1 Green peas – 3/4 cup Green chillies -3 Ginger garlic paste – 1 1/2 tbsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Black pepper – 1/2 tsp Cloves – 3 Cardamom – 2 Cinnamon stick – 1″ Bay leaves – 2 Cashew nut (broken) – 1/4 cup Oil – 2 tbsp Ghee – 2 tbsp Salt to taste Method of preparation: Soak the basmati rice in water for 20 mins. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Coarsely ground cardamom, cinnamon and cloves together. Add them once the cumins splutter. Add bay leaves and...
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Foodie Rendezvous – 1
Food tastes its best when we enjoy it with others. In a blog all about food, what could be better than to showcase recipes from my fellow foodie bloggers? We are going to bring a few recipes every week to the limelight here. We encourage you to visit their blogs and leave them a comment or two to show our appreciation for the effort they put into sharing their recipes with us. RCI-Chakka-Kumbil Appam/ Steamed Jack fruit dumplings – Bharathy of Spicy Chilly An exotic dish made from jackfruit. Very nice! Fruit Cake – Sailus Kitchen Just check out the pictures of this fruit cake and you’ll want to make this yourself. Madras Shrimp Curry – Shankari of Stream of Consciousness Hailing from Chennai, how can I not like this recipe? 😉 Potato and Eggplant Gravy – Archana’s kitchen...
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Chilli Parotta (Paratha)
Parotta (or paratha), as we call it down south, has to be one of the most popular items in restaurants. Both kids and adults love it. If you are stuck with frozen paratha’s like me, you could try this quickly instead of having plain parathas. All you need is a few vegetables you will find in your fridge anyway. Preparation Time: 45 minutes No of servings: 4-5 Spice Level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Parathas : 6 (Frozen parathas) Onions : 1 (Medium) Tomatoes : 2 (Finely chopped) Green Bell Pepper : 1 Cumin Seeds : 1 tsp Curry leaves : 3 Green Chilies : 3 (Slit Lengthwise) Red Chili Powder :1 tbsp (or) chili sauce Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp Ginger and garlic paste : 1 tbsp Salt : according to your taste Garam Masala : 1 tsp...
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Tomato Chutney
Its a typical south Indian dish which is often consumed with idli or dosa. This is a very good side dish for idli, dosa, and it takes such a short time to make. The best combination for this chutney is idli and chutney (idli) powder. One of my favorite breakfast dishes. Preparation Time:20 minutes No of servings: 4-5 Spice Level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Tomato : 3 Onion : 1(Medium) Red chili : 5 to 6 Cumin seeds : 1 tsp Oil : 1tbsp Curry leaves : 4 to 5 Mustard seeds : 1 tsp Urad dal : 1 tsp Method of Preparation: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a kadai add cumin seeds, onions , tomatoes, Red chilies. Fry them untill the onions and tomatoes get soft and onions turn into golden brown. Remove from heat and...
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Rasam
Ingredients: Tamarind paste : 1 tsp (or small lemon size tamarind) Rasam powder : 1 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Black pepper – 1 tsp Garlic cloves – 2 Curry leaves – a few oil – 2 tsp Salt to taste Method of preparation: Add tamarind paste and salt to 350 ml of hot water. If you are not using the paste, extract the tamarind juice from the lemon sized tamarind and use In between, grind cumin seeds, black pepper, garlic, curry leaves Heat oil, add the ground masala and fry for a minute or two Now add the tamarind water to the masala followed by rasam powder Let it boil for few seconds and then remove from heat. Serve hot with steamed rice and papad/veg curry Tags: rasam,...
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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...
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Ennai kathirikkai
This is a South Indian spicy dish which is served along with rice or chapathis. People who don’t like Eggplant/brinjal will definitely become a eggplant lover if they taste this. Ingredients: Small brinjals/eggplant – 8 Oil – 1/3 cup Whole tamarind – one small lemon size (soaked in hot water) Mustard seeds – 1 tsp Curry leaves – a few Salt to taste For masala: Oil – 1 tsp Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Urad dal – 1 tsp Channa dal – 1 tbsp Sesame – 1 tbsp Black pepper – 1 tsp Cloves -2 Red chillies – 8 (if small 9-10) Coconut – 1/2 cup Peanuts – 2 tbsp Asafoetida – a pinch Salt to taste Method of Preparation: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, cloves, coriander...
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Paruppu Urundai Kozhambhu
Preparation Time: 60 minutes No of servings: 3-5 Spice Level: 3.5 out of 5 Ingredients: For Paruppu Urundai : Channa dal : 1 cup Red chili : 5 to 6 Oil : for frying Cumin seeds : 1/4 tsp ginger : 2 tsp(Finely chopped) Garlic : 2 Curry Leaves : 6 Onion : 1/2 (finely chopped) For Kozhambhu: Onion : 1/2(Medium size)(Slit lenghtwise) Tomato : 2 Vegetables : carrot,green peas,beans(1 cup) Green chili : 3 Sambhar Powder : 2tbsp(If you are out of sambhar powder add corriander powder(1/2 tbsp)and red chili powder(1 1/2tbsp) Turmeric powder :1/4 tsp Ginger Garlic paste : 1 tbsp Curry leaves : 6 springs Oil : 2 tbsp Coconut milk : 1/2 cup Corriander leaves : for garnishing Method of Preparation: For Paruppu Urundai : Soak channa dal with whole red chili for two hours....
Read MoreAloo Mutter
This is a simple side dish to make for chapathy or dosai. It’s really easy to cook in a very short time with few simple ingredients that you will find in your pantry. Preparation Time: 45 minutes No of servings: 4-5 Spice Level: 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Potato -250gm (diced into small cubes ) Green peas -1 cup Onion -1 (chopped) Tomato – 2 (chopped) Ginger & garlic paste – 1tsp Cumin powder – 1/2tsp Turmeric powder -a pinch Coriander powder -1tsp Garam masala – 1/2tsp Red chilli powder-1/2tsp( or according to your taste) Salt -to taste Method Of preparation: Heat oil in a pan add onion fry well, add ginger & garlic paste, tomotoes, red chili powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala and salt fry well. Add potatoes and green peas. Now add 1...
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Morkuzhambu
Morkuzhambu (Yogurt and Spiced Coconut Curry) is a popular dish in Tamil Nadu and Kerala (South India). It plays an important role in the traditional wedding menu and festivals. It can be prepared quickly and easily. Vegetables such as okra, colocasia, chayote, squash, winter melon are generally used for making this dish. Cook the vegetable accordingly before adding it to the sauce. Yogurt or buttermilk can be used to make this dish. If you want it to be thick and creamy use yogurt (2% or whole milk). For a less fat version, use low fat butter milk or yogurt. This dish is served with cooked rice and papad or thogayal (chutney). Preparation time: 30 minutes. No. of servings: 6 Spice level: 2.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Plain yogurt – 4 cups Shredded coconut – 3/4 cup (preferred fresh or frozen)...
Read MoreVegetable pulao
Ingredients: Basmati rice – 2 cups Oil – 3 tbsp Chopped carrot -1/2 cup Chopped beans – 1/2 cup Peas – 1/4 cup Green chillies – 2 Chopped Onion – 1 cup Fennel seeds – 1 tsp Cloves – 3 Bay leaf – 1 Cinnamon stick – 1″ Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp Ghee – 2 tsp Salt to taste Method: Wash and soak basmati rice for 15 mins Heat oil in a pan and add coarsely ground cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf followed by whole fennel seeds Once they splutter, add the chillies, onions, ginger garlic paste and saute Now add the vegetables and toss for a few minutes Now drain the water from the rice and add it to the above mixture and combine well Transfer the contents to a pressure cooker, add 3 1/2 cups of...
Read MoreTomato Thokku
Ingredients: Tomatoes : 10 (Ripe) Garlic : 15 Vegetable Oil : 150 ml Gingely oil : 50 ml Fennel seeds : 2 tsp Turmeric Powder : 1 tsp Red chili powder : 2 tsp (According to your spice level) Salt : according to your taste Method of Preparation : Boil the tomatoes (Put the tomatoes in a boiling water just 3 minutes and remove it from heat and put it in ice cold water, so you can peel the skin very easily) and now peel the skin of tomatoes and mash it or you can just grind it. Grind the garlic in to paste and keep it aside. Heat Vegetable oil (150 ml) in a heavy bottomed pan add fennel seeds fry them and add the tomato paste, garlic paste ,red chili powder , turmeric powder and salt into...
Read MorePoricha Kuzhambhu
This is something different and simple from other poricha kuzhumbhu recipes. When you want to cook something delicious, simple but in a short time. Here is the recipe. Preparation Time : 40 minutes No of servings : 3-4 Spice Level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Drumsticks : 8(Frozen or You can use fresh ) Onions : 1 (Big) (sliced lengthwise) Tomatoes : 2 (finely chopped) Coriander powder : 1 tbsp Red chili powder : 1 1/2 tbsp Cumin powder : 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder : 1 tsp Garlic : 8 Curry leaves :6 springs Coriander leaves : 2 tbsp (for garnishing) Coconut : 2 tbsp (Grated) Oil : 2 tbsp For seasonings: oil : 2 tsp Mustard seeds : 1/2 tsp Urad dal : 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds : 1 tsp Method of Preparation : Heat oil in...
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 MoreKadappa Sambhar
Preparation Time : 40 minutes No of servings : 3-4 Spice Level : 2 out of 5 Ingredients: Split daliya(Pottu kadalai) :3 tbsp Onion : 1(medium)(sliced lenghtwise) Tomato : 2(small) Green chili : 4 Coconut : 2 tbsp Cumin seeds : 2tsp Asafoetida : a pinch Curry leaves : 8 springs salt to taste Garlic : 3 Ginger : 1 inch(chopped) oil : 1 tbsp Mustard seeds : 1 tsp Urad dal :1 tsp Fennel seeds : 1 tsp Water : 1 cup coriander leaves : few(for garnishing) Method of Preparation: Fry half of the sliced onions with garlic (2) ,cumin seeds ,green chili(2),ginger(1/2 inch)and coconut (chopped) in a oil.Fry it for few minutes or till the onions turn in to Golden color . Now add split daliya (3 tbsp) to the above mixture and remove from heat.Let it...
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