Paruppu urundai Kuzhambu

Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu is a famous South Indian Dish.When i try to make this kuzhambu sometimes the lentil balls will dissolve so for the safer side i will cook them before dropping in the kuzhambu.

Ingredients:

Tamarind  - small lemon size
Hing - a pinch
Sambar Powder - 2 tspn
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tspn
Mustard Seeds - 1 tspn
Urad Dal - 1/4 tspn (split)
Fenugreek Seeds - 1/4 tspn
Jeera - 1/4 tspn
Curry leaves - few
Coriander leaves - few
Salt as required

To Grind: 

Toor Dal- 1/2 Cup
Channa Dal - 1/4 Cup
Rice - 1 tspn
Red chilli - 2


Method:

1. Soak toor dal,rice and Channa dal for 1 hour with red chilly.

2. Soak tamarind and extract the juice.

3. After one hour grind toor dal,channa dal, rice ,red chilly with hing and salt.

4. Add turmeric powder and curry leaves with the grounded dal and mix well.

5. Now make small balls out of dal paste and cook it in the idli plate and keep it aside.

6. Add oil in a pan and heat it. when it is hot add mustard seeds when it splutters, add urad dal, fenugreek seeds and curry leaves.

7. Add 2 tspn of sambar powder and fry a min. Now add tamarind juice,salt and allow it to boil.

8. Once it boils add the cooked lentils balls and allow it to cook for 5 mins.

9.Add Chopped coriander leaves and switch off the flame.

10. Paruppu urundai kuzhambu is ready to serve with white rice.

Cutlet

Vegetable cutlets are great blend of vegetables and spices. These are great as an appetizer or evening snack. Especially kids like it very much.

Ingredients:

Potato - 2
Vegetables - 1 Cup ( I used carrots,beans and peas)
Chopped Cilantro - 2 tspn
All Purpose flour - 3 tspn
Breadcrumbs - 1 Cup
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Curry Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Maida - 3 tspn
Oil to fry

Method:

1. Boil the potatoes until they are tender.

2. Once cooked peel the skin off and mash the potatoes.

3. Steam the chopped vegetables.

4. Squeeze the vegetable to drain the excess water and make it dry.

5. Mix all the ingredients together.

6. Add water to All Purpose flour to make a batter and keep aside.

7. Make the mixture into small balls and shape into flat round or heart shape.


8. Dip each one in the flour batter, and roll them into breadcrumbs and set aside.

9. Take a pan.Add oil and heat on medium flame.

10. Fry the cutlets until they are golden brown on both sides.

11. Repeat this until all cutlets are done.Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Note: If the oil is too hot cutlets will burn, if oil is not hot enough cutlets will break.So make sure the oil is medium hot while frying.

Sambar

Sambar is a very popular dish in South India. It is served with white rice or even as a side dish for idli, dosa and pongal.My mothers sambar is the best, I dont know whether its because of the affection with her.I learned this recipe from her.
  

Ingredients:

Toor dal - 1/4 cup
Tamarind - small lemon size
Tomato - 1 
Sambar Onion - 4
Mixed Vegetables - 1 cup ( I used carrot, potato,beans)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Sambar Powder - 2 tsp or (Chilli pwdr-1tsp,Coriander pwdr-2 tsp,Jeera pwdr- 1/2 tsp)
Hing - a pinch
Salt as required 
Mustard - 1 tsp
Urad dhal - 1 tsp (split)
Curry leaves few
Coriander leaves
Coconut flakes - 1 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Salt as required 

Method:


1. Soak tamarind in hot water and extract 1 1/2 cups of tamarind juice and discard the pulp.

2. Pressure cook the dal with turmeric powder, hing and shallots.

3. Heat a tbsp of oil in a vessel, add mustard seeds,when it splutters,add urad dhal,curry leaves.and vegetables saute for a few minutes.

4. Then add tamarind water,turmeric powder,salt as needed,sambar powder and water as required.

5. Let it boil until the vegetables are cooked well.

6. Mash the dal well and add to the sambar.

7. Garnish with coriander leaves, coconut flakes and serve with steamed rice.

 
  

Chicken Biryani

Biryani is the only recipe which is loved by all ages.Chicken Biryani is so delicious and aromatic.There are different varieties of making Chicken Biryani.This is my mother-in-laws special.I haven't heard this method of making biryani before. I learned chicken biryani from her.It is very different and tasty.Lets see how to make the delicious chicken biryani.

Ingredients:

Chicken Pieces - 4 (large)
Basmati Rice / Jeeraga samba - 2 Cup
Coconut Milk - 1 Cup
Turmeric Powder - 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Ghee - 25 gm
Oil - 2 tbsp
Coriander Leaves

To Grind:

Onion - 1 
Cardomom pods - 3
Cinnamon Stick - small piece
Cloves - 5
Garlic - 1/4 Cup
Ginger - 3" piece
Green Chilly - 6
Fennel Seeds - 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Soak the rice for half an hour.

2. Pressure cook the chicken pieces with water,salt and 1 tbsp turmeric powder  for 3 whistles.

3.In the mean time take a pan, add  oil and fry all the ingredients (To Grind ) seperately.

 4.Allow it to cool and grind to a fine paste.

4. Take a vessel, add coconut milk, 2 cups of water,Paste,ghee and 1 tsp turmeric powder and heat it.

5. When its boiling add rice, chicken pieces and required salt.Close the lid and let it cook.

6. Once its cooked garnish with coriander leaves.

7. Chicken Biryani is ready to serve. You can serve chicken biryani with raita.

Chicken Fry

There are various ways of cooking chicken. Chicken recipes are famous world wide. Chicken fry is a delicious dish. It is easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

Chicken - 1 kg (washed and cut into pieces)
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Ginger & Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
Lemon Juice - 2 tsp
Corn Flour - 3 tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry

Method:

1. Mix all the above ingredients except oil and keep it aside for half an hour.

2. Take a pan and add oil and heat it.Keep the heat at medium flame.

3. When the oil is hot add chicken pieces and fry on both sides.

4. Chicken fry is ready to serve.

chicken fry is ready to be served.

chicken fry is ready to be served.

Maida Biscuit

Maida biscuits / Sweet Diamond Biscuits are very easy to make. Its my daughters favorite snack.It is one of the easy snack recipe that you can even make it for your kids whenever they want.These biscuits are quite addictive.

Ingredients: 

All Purpose Flour / Maida  - 1 cup 
Powdered  Sugar - 1/2 cup 
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp 
Salt  a small pinch 
Oil   for deep frying
Ghee - 2 tbsp

Method: 

1. Mix flour, salt, sugar, ghee and baking soda well.  
  
2. Add water little by little. Using your hands, knead it to a soft dough.Do not add more water.

 
3. Heat oil in a pan to deep fry. 

4. Take the dough and knead for a minute and divide it into  big balls. 

5. Make  each ball of dough into flat as chappathi. It should be medium thick not too thin or too thick.

6. Take a knife, cut the dough horizontally and vertically. Slowly, remove them from the surface & keep them in a plate or tray to fry. Repeat with the rest of the dough. 

7. When the oil is hot enough, add it to the oil, turn heat to medium heat.

8. Fry well on both side until they turn light brown & crisp. 

Vanilla Cookies

This is a very basic cookie. It  is tasty and so easy to make when you want something sweet. My daughter loves vanilla cookies.

 Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour - 1.5 cup
Baking Powder - 1/4 tbsp
Salt - 1/2 tbsp
Unsalted Butter - 3/4 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Egg - 2
Vanilla Extract - 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.

 
3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and continue to whisk for about 1 minute. 

4. Add the flour, salt and baking powder and mix it all until its all combined.

5. Using a small spoon place dough on to the parchment lined baking sheets, make sure to place them a few inches apart.
 
6. Bake for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown around the edges. 

Allow it to cool completely and enjoy!

Fish Fry

 There are various ways of preparing fish fry. The fried fish would taste better if marinated and left for long. It works as a side dish or even as a starter.

 Ingredients:

Fish - 6 pieces
Red chilli powder - 2 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tbsp
Corn flour - 2 tbsp
Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp
Salt as required.
Oil for frying.

Method:

1. Add all the above ingredients to  marinate.

2. Let them rest for 30 min.

3. Heat oil in a pan. When it is hot add the fish pieces and fry on both sides.

4. Repeat the same process to fry rest of the fish pieces.













5. Tasty fish fry is ready to serve.It goes well with rasam rice and curd rice. 

Chow Mein

Chinese noodles are versatile and there are so many ways to prepare them.It’s one of the easiest foods to prepare at home.My daughter likes chow mein very much.One of the most popular Chinese noodles in the US is chow mein.

Ingredients:

5 ounces Wheat Flour Noodles
Sesame oil - 1 tsp
Dark soy sauce - 1 tsp
Cornstarch - 1 tsp
Groundnut oil - 2 tsp
Light soy sauce - 2 tsp
Black pepper Powder
Onion - 1 (medium size)
Carrot - 1/4 Cup
Cabbage - 1/4 Cup
Celery - 1/4 Cup
Salt to taste.

Method:

1. Cook the noodles for 3 minutes in a pan of boiling water and run them in the cold water to stop further cooking and drain them.

2. Add 1 tsp of sesame oil, and toss well to prevent them from sticking.


3. Heat a wok over a high heat, add the peanut oil.When the oil is hot add onions and fry them then add carrot and fry for a min.

4. Now add celery and cabbage add fry for a min and cover with a lid till the veggies are done.Then add pepper powder and salt and keep it aside.

5. Take the same wok.Add oil and heat it, when it is hot add the noodles then add thick soy sauce and light soy sauce and toss well.

6. Add veggies to it and mix well.

7. Now its ready to serve.

Fish Kuzhambu or Fish Gravy

When I think of meen kuzhambu, I always have the feel that my mother-in-law is the best.After marriage, though I used to ask her the recipe and do the same what she says, I feel the taste never comes like hers.I am little bit ok now a days.

Ingredients: 

To Grind:
Small Onion -6
Garlic Pods - 4
Tomato - 1
Chilli powder - 2 tsp
Coriander powder - 3 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Coconut - 1/4 cup
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Pepper - 1/2 tsp

To Marinate:
Fish Pieces - 10
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp

For Gravy:
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Fenugreek - 1/4 tsp
Oil -3 tsp
Onion - 1 (chopped finely)
Tomato - 1 (chopped finely)
Curry leaves - few
Coriander leaves - few
Tamarind Pulp - 1 cup

Method:

1. Soak tamarind in water and extract pulp.

2. Clean and cut the fish to desired size.Add Chilli powder,Coriander powder, Turmeric powder and Salt.Mix them well and marinate it for 30 min.

3. Heat oil in a kadai.Add onions and saute it.Then add garlic,tomatoes,cumin seeds,pepper,chilly powder,coriander powder,turmeric powder and coconut..Saute them well and allow it to cool.Then make a paste.

4. Heat oil in the same  kadai.When the oil is hot add mustard once it splutters, Add Cumin,Fenugreek & curry leaves.Add chopped onions,Fry well till its translucent.

5. Add tomatoes and fry till it is soft.Then add the paste and fry for a while.

6. Add tamarind pulp and required water.

6. Let the gravy boil.Fish can be added once the gravy thickens.Let the fish cook for 15 - 20 min.

7. When the oil starts oozing out from the gravy, add chopped coriander leaves and remove it from flame.The taste of the gravy changes based on the type of fish used.

It goes well with white rice,idly or Dosai.