Coriander Chutney / Chutney for chapathi

Yesterday I wanted to have chapathi for dinner but didn't have the mood for all the chopping for the side dish. I then remembered this chutney which my grandma used to make for chapathi.Ingredients:Serves: 2-3Cilantro /Coriander leaves - Half a bunch (around 20 stems), Clean, chop off the bottom part.Grated Coconut - less than 3/4 cupShallots/Pearl onions - 2Garlic - 3 clovesGreen Chillies - 3Cumin seeds - 1/2 tspCoriander seeds - 1 tspTamarind - about a small gooseberry/cranberry size, you can avoid if you only have paste, using paste may change the color of the chutneySalt to tasteFor seasoning:Oil - 1 tspMustard seeds - 1/2 tspUrad dhal -...

Read more »

Spinach Chutney / Keerai Masiyal

This is a quick, easy and simple keerai masiyal (Blended greens) which can be made in less than 20 mins. We enjoyed this for Sunday's lunch with potato fry and it was a simple and tasty lunch. Paired with Potato fry or just egg poriyal, this is a great comforting meal.Ingredients:Serves - 2Baby Spinach - Around 8 oz or a bunch of regular spinach - Washed and drained (can use any green leafy veg)Shallots/Pearl onions - peeled - less than 3/4 cupGarlic - 5 clovesGreen chillies - 4Cumin seeds - 1/2 tspTomato - 1/2 of a ripen oneOil - 1 tspSalt to tasteFor seasoning:Oil - 1 tspMustard seeds - 1/2 tspUrad dhal - 1/2 tspCurry...

Read more »

Indian Style Cold Coffee

I have always been a great fan of cold coffee back in India, though I do not drink it often.Once I had wanted to drink cold coffee and tried the Iced Coffee in Starbucks, but was not satisfied. Maybe I should have tried Iced Latte or something of that kind. Yesterday I was bitten by an interest to drink Indian Cold Coffee and came up with this.Ingredients:Serves - 1Instant coffee powder - 1 tspBoiling water - 2 tbspSugar - 2 heaped tsp (or to taste)Chilled Milk - 1 cup - 200 mlIce cubes - optionalMethod:Mix in the coffee powder and sugar in boiling water and let it cool. When cool mix the coffee, milk in a blender until frothy. Serve with crushed...

Read more »

Pasiparuppu Upma / Moong dhal Upma | Upma Recipes

This is one of the signature dishes of my Grandma and I love it. It has a little lot of process for a upma but worth the effort. This upma doesn't need a side dish but coconut chutney would be appropriate if you like one.Ingredients:Serves - 2 or 3; Soaking time - 2 hrs;Preparation time - 30 minsSplit Moong dhal/Pasiparuppu - 2 cupsGinger - 1 tbsp crushedSalt - to tasteYellow onion - 1 medium, choppedGreen chillies - 5, split and cut in halfFor seasoning:Oil - 3 tspMustard seeds - 1 tspUrad dhal - 1 tspChana dhal - 2 tspCurry leaves - a fewMethod:Wash and soak the moong dhal for a minimum of 2 hrs. I soaked for 12 hrs, planned for breakfast but...

Read more »

Paneer Tawa Masala | Indian Curry Recipes

Ever since I saw Paneer Tawa Masala in Denny's blog Oh Taste N See I bookmarked it to give it a try sometime. Come Christmas and we didnt have any plans to go out so I started on a cooking spree today. Made Bellpepper Mushroom Pepper Fry and Paneer Tawa Masala to go with the Peas Pulao. This was sure a winner. I am sending this to Blog Bites 9: The Holiday Buffet event conducted Nupur of One Hot Stove.Ingredients:Paneer - 7 oz (I used half of a 14 oz pack I bought last week) - cut into 1/2" cubesCumin seeds - 1/2 tspOnion - 1 medium sized - choppedGreen Bell Pepper - 1 large, cut into 1/2 inch piecesGinger Garlic...

Read more »

Bellpepper Mushroom Pepper Fry

I made Bellpepper Mushroom Pepper Fry for lunch today to go with my peas pulao.This was inspired from Bellpepper Mushroom subzi from Denny's Oh Taste N See. I am sending this to Blog Bites 9: The holiday buffet event hosted by Nupur of One Hot Stove. The idea of this event is to try out any recipe from another blog and get it to the holiday buffet. Today being Christmas, I had every reason to make special dishes different from south-indian which would normally feature in our kitchen, one of those being this Bellpepper Mushroom Pepper fry.This was bit dry and so I wouldnt name it as a subzi :)Ingredients:Mushrooms - 10 oz pack -...

Read more »

Thiruvadhirai Kootu | Indian Curry Recipes

Thiruvadhirai Kootu is made of many vegetables. The number of vegetables used for preparation during vradham should be in odd number, five, seven, nine or eleven.This version of the kootu does not use any onions or tomatoes nor does it involve any grinding the masalas.Ingredients:Serves: 4-5. Preparation time: 15 mins, Cooking time - 20 minsMixed vegetables - 4 cups I used a mix of poosanikai (white winter melon), brinjal (Indian eggplant),plantain,carrot and canned chick peas.Can use any kind of vegetables.Tamarind - size of a small lemon - soak in warm water and extract juice.Coriander powder - 3 tbspChilli powder - 3/4 tspTurmeric powder -...

Read more »

Thiruvadhirai Kali

Thiruvadhirai is one of the famous vradhas celebrated for Lord Shiva. It is observed on the tamil month of Margazhi. Observing Thiruvadirai vradham would bring long life to the husband and thereby prosperity and goodlife to the family. After the vradham for the whole day on the Thiruvadhirai, at sunset we would cook Kali and Kootu and offer to God and then take food. I am new to this ritual since this was not practised in my mother's home but is in my husband's place.This is the version of Thiruvadhirai Kali as my MIL taught me.Ingredients:Serves - 2-3. Preparation time: 40 minsRaw rice - 1 cup Jaggery crushed- 1 1/2 cupsWater - 4 1/2 cupsGhee...

Read more »

Couscous Upma | Upma Recipes

Yesterday I was thinking about a simple and healthy breakfast and came up with couscous upma. Couscous is a cereal native to North africa. A single serving (1/4 cup) of plain couscous has 6g of protein and 2g of fiber and 31g of carbs. It makes a tasty, hearty and satisfying meal.This was the first time I am trying couscous and I loved it.Ingredients:Couscous (Original/Plain) - 1 1/2 cupsWater - 1 1/2 cups + 2 tbspOnion - chopped - 1 cupCarrot - chopped into small pieces - 1/2 cupGreen bell pepper - chopped - 1/2 cup(can add any vegetable of your choice)Green chillies - 3 or 4 smallMustard seeds - 1/4 tspCumin seeds (jeera) - 1/4 tspOlive oil...

Read more »

Seppankilangu fry (Colocasia/Taro root fry)

To go with our Simple Dhal we made a super-spicy and crispy seppankilangu fry. Ingredients:Colacasia - 1.5 lbs (around 9-10 roots)Chilli powder - 4tbspTurmeric powder - 1/4 tspTamarind paste - 1 tsp or extract thick juice from a big gooseberry size tamarindAsafoetida - a pinchOil for shallow frySalt - to tasteMethod: Cook the colocasia roots with 2 tbsp salt in a pressure cooker for 3 or 4 whistles.When done, peel the skin and cut into 1/4" thick pieces.Mix the chilli powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida, salt with the tamarind juice in a wide bowl.Heat oil in a pan for shallow fry. Coat the pieces in the spice mixture and place...

Read more »

Simple Dhal (Kaaran poruppu) | Indian Curry Recipes

This is a simple dhal recipe which can be put together in less than 20 mins. Ingredients:Serves 3-4Toor dhal - 1 cupOnion - chopped 3/4 cupGarlic - 5-6 cloves crushedTurmeric powder - a pinchChilli powder - 1/2 tspCoriander leaves/Cilantro - few twigsFor seasoning:Cumin seeds/Jeera - 1/2 tspMustard seeds - 1/2 tspThalippu vadagam(badaga) - 1/2 tspCurry leaves - a fewMethod:Cook toor dhal in a pressure cooker with 3 cups of water, turmeric powder, salt and a drizzle of oil. Allow 3 whistles. When done and still warm seperate the dhal water and mash the dhal. Add garlic, onion, chilli powder and the dhal water and cook for another whistle....

Read more »

Pork Tenderloin en Croute

This is an elegant, but easy dinner. I got this recipe from my daughter Kim. It's been a family favorite for years. One tenderloin makes a special romantic dinner for two.  Make two tenderloins to serve six for entertaining. It makes an elegant presentation.Just two ingredients. Puff pastry sheets and peppercorn seasoned pork tenderloin. One tenderloin per package already perfectly seasoned. Place on foil-lined baking sheet. Roast for 22 minutes @350. Thaw the pastry sheets and roll out slightly.Lay the pre-roasted tenderloin on the pastry sheet and fold over.  Pinch the ends to seal. Remove the foil...

Read more »

Baked Apple Pancake

This is a lot like our favorite strawberry pancake. The batter is the same. The addition of the sliced apples, cinnamon and brown sugar make it a favorite for a fall or winter breakfast. It will make your kitchen smell wonderful in the morning. It will puff-up slightly. You can use a glass or pottery pie dish or a cast iron skillet. Melt the margarine in a pie dish in a 425 oven. Gather your ingredients: batter, cinnamon and brown sugar mixture, and sliced apples sprinkled with a little lemon juice and tossed in a bowl. Add the apples to the bubbly hot melted margarine/butter. Sprinkle half the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture...

Read more »