Tuesday 30 September 2014

Peanut Delight–Navarathri Recipes(Day 4)

Fourth day of Navarathri –Peanut Delight

Peanut laddos are always favorite in my house. It is good for your health and its increases the Hemoglobin level. Mostly this is offered to God as prasadam and in many villages it’s done only during festivals. First I was confused with Kadalai urundai which we normally do for Karthigai Deepam Festival. It is very easy to make and all the ingredients are always available at home. Traditional Ladoos will be always a good for a festive season.


Prep time

Cook time

Serves

20 mins

10 mins

4 persons

 

Cuisine:  South Indian (Festive Sweet) 

Ingredients

 

 


Method

1. Dry roast the groundnuts in a kadhai while stirring continuously for about 10 minutes till they get spots on them. Remove it in a plate and wait till it gets cool down.

2. Remove the outer skin by rubbing them in between your palms and then clean them. In a blender pulse them for 3 times .Take jaggery in a bowl with little water and when it starts boiling, strain the impurities and again keep it back in the stove.

3. No need to check for consistency. Add the peanut powder to this boiling jaggery syrup along with cardamom powder and nuts. Mix everything properly and remove from the fire.

4. Make small size balls and arrange it on a plate greased with ghee.

5. Here a quick version of peanut ladoo is ready.

Pictorial




Notes

It will be a bit hard coz we have used jaggery.

Sunday 28 September 2014

Nellikai Sadam(Amla Rice)-Navarathri Recipes(Day 3)

Third day of Navarathri –Nellikai Sadam(Amla Rice)

It’s a simple lunch box recipe. We got to prepare many variety of rice in the fast world where people opt mostly the fatty junk foods. Actually I loved this Amla rice when I tasted in one of the Amman temple in Bangalore. It was really tasting good. Gooseberry is a nutritious vegetable which is rich in Vitamin C, A. It is known as Amla in Hindi and Nellikai in Tamil. Gooseberry is used widely in Indian cooking and it is also known for its medicinal value. This amla rice is a very simple rice variety and it will just take less than 10 minutes to make this, if we have cooked rice. So whenever I find any such rice items that suit my lunch boxes, I try them.

 I offer this Amla rice as a prasadam for this Navarathri season.


 

Prep time

Cook time

Serves

10 mins

15 mins

2 persons

 

Cuisine:  Karnataka (Rice variety)

Ingredients

Seasonings

 

 

Recipe Video Link 

Method:

1. Wash the gooseberries and shred it. Keep everything ready.



2. Heat a pan with oil, add mustard seeds and allow to splutter then add urad dal, channa dal. Let it fry until it turns into golden brown colour.



3. I actually sauté green chillies (slit lengthwise) and grated ginger.



4. Add cashews and wait till turns golden brown.Now add peas and shredded gooseberry (amla) and turmeric powder. Allow it to fry over low flame until the water content is gone. Add salt, curry leaves and asafetida and mix well. Let it cook for 2 minutes and turn off the stove. Add the cooked and cooled rice to the prepared mix add and combine well. 



The gooseberry rice is ready to serve with papad or any poriyal (stir fried vegetables).


Notes

  • Some of them like to add roasted peanuts which gives extra taste to this amla rice.
  • No need to add lemon juice because already it has the sour flavor in nature.
  • Addition of coriander leaves is purely optional.
  • On the other hand, grind green chillies and ginger. Keep it aside. (Optional).

Sakkaravalli Kizhangu(Sweet Potato) Poli-Navarathri Recipes(Day 2)

Second day of Navarathri –Sakkaravalli kizhangu(Sweet potato) Poli

 

Puranpoli is very common in all the parts of India. Then I thought of making the puran poli with sweet potatoes. Poli is traditional sweet flat bread made in India in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Andhra Pradesh. Sakkaravalli kizhangu poli is something new to me.But for a long time wanted to give a try. I love the channa dal puran poli which none can say “NO” to it. It is damn simple to make it and yet yummy. 

I love sweets... One more delicious sweet from Gujarat.



Prep time

Cook time

Serves

1 hour(soaking included)

20 mins

3 persons

 

Cuisine:  Gujarati (Festive Sweet)

For the stuffing

Outer layer for poli

 

 

 

Method

1. Combine the flour, rava, and rice flour, salt and ghee.  Add enough water and make soft dough. Cover and keep it for 30 minutes or even one hour.Cook sweet potato until soft in a pressure cooker.Dont cook for a long time or else you will get the fibre strands which wount be good for the poli.

2. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into small pieces and mash it well. As usual boil jaggery with little water and strain the impurities.Now mix with the mashed potato and cook for 5 to 10 minutes until the entire mixture is combined well.Keep it aside to cool.

3. Add cardamom and mix it well. Make small balls out of the maida mixture.Grease the sheet and place the prepared balls and start do the poli tapping with fingers to form a circular shape.

4. Take a doubled amount of sweet potato mixture and place it in the middle of the dough and close the edges.Flatten the dough ball into medium size discs with your fingers using some ghee.  Use oil to roll into small puran poli.Heat tawa and roast the poli on both the sides till golden color.

5. Serve hot with ghee.

Notes

Grate the jaggery and add along with the sweet potato.

 

Saturday 27 September 2014

Peanut(Groundnut) Sundal-Navarathri Recipes(Day 1)

First Day of Navarathri – Peanut(Groundnut) Sundal

 

Peanut also known as “ground nut” is loaded with nutrients .It comes in  handy for vegetarians because it is packed with protein and also serves as a good source of fiber. This is one very simple recipe that my mom always made on rainy days. Takes just few minutes to make. A bowl of this and a cup of hot tea will be awesome for rainy days.. It is also a healthy snack for toddlers. There is something about steamed hot peanuts. Even now, I always dry roast a bottle of peanuts with salt and store them. It serves as an immediate energy boost when I most need it. Peanut sundal is one of the easiest snack that you can enjoy at all times.



Prep time

Cook time

Serves

10 mins

5 mins

3 persons

 

Cuisine:  South Indian (Snacks)

Ingredients

 


Method

1. Pressure cook peanuts for 1-2 whistles with salt and water.Grind coconut with green chillies and keep aside.

2. Heat oil and do seasoning with mustard seeds, hing, red chillies and curry leaves. Once mustard spatters, drain water and add cooked peanuts.

3. Cook for 1-2 minutes and remove from stove top.

4. Garnish with the blend coconut mixture and serve as prasadam.

Friday 12 September 2014

Milagu paal (Pepper Milk)

This spicy hot milk is such a perfect remedy for cold and cough. We used to take this masala milk when we suffer from severe cold or throat infection. This milk gives good relief from cold, dry cough and sore throat. Turmeric has lot of medicinal values. When combined with milk it proves to be a fantastic mixture as well an all-natural cure for a number of ailments. Because of its antioxidant content, turmeric milk has some benefits for both the inside and outside of the body. For a  good night sleep, heat up a cup of milk and add a pinch of turmeric, the warm milk combined with turmeric has a warming effect that will help aid in sleeping.


Prep time

Cook time

Serves

10 mins

5 mins

4 persons

 

Cuisine:  South Indian (Hot Drink

Ingredients

 

 

Method                                   

1. Crush the peppercorn and cardamom seeds in mortar and pestle or mixer.

2. With little water add palm sugar or candy and melt by boiling.Using filter remove the impurities and keep the water.

3. Boil half litre if milk and keep aside.

4. Now Add turmeric powder, panagarkandu and crushed pepper to a glass or cup of warm milk and mix it well.

5. Serve this hot.

Notes

Best medicine for cold and cough

Serve warm to the kids which gives a better result.

Addition of ginger is not necessary because pepper itself gives a great relief.

Monday 8 September 2014

Mullangi Keerai(Radish Greens) Stir fry

Radish greens are available in plenty during the winter season.  These leaves, unless they are fresh and tender, do taste a little bitter. Radish greens or Mullangi keerai or mooli ke patte - Like any other greens, radish greens are also packed with vitamins and minerals. Most of them, use beets and radish and throw way the greens.


 

Radish greens contains more vitamin C than the root. In Punjab, cooked radish greens are a popular dish. My kids don’t prefer greens at all. But after eating greens in different form of ways, they love greens like anything in day to day life. I constantly strive to bring a different touch to the greens and in the process make them appreciate the need for healthy eating.Radish,the root vegetable has greens that are abundant in health benefits.They are too hard and fibrous to eat raw,but tehir firm stems and crisp leaves hold up well when sauteed lightly.


Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 15 mins

Cuisine: Punjabi (Side Dish)

Ingredients

Seasonings

 

 

Recipe Video:

Method

1. Wash and clean the radish greens.  Remove the thick stalk and chop the leaves finely. Grind coconut and cumin seeds in the mixie for a second without adding water and keep it aside.

2. Heat spoonful oil in a kadai or pan and add all the ingredients mentioned under the seasoning list. Add onions and sauté till the onions turn transparent which is followed by garlic too.

3. Then add radish greens, salt and mix well, cover with a lid and cook in reduced flame till the leaves become soft. Stir occasionally and it will cook for 15 minutes. Be patience till it gets cooked properly. Sprinkle water and stir in between for even cooking.

4. Add the coconut mixture and mix well . Serve with plain hot rice.

Notes

A few squeezes of lemon juice give it a light edge.Don’t ever trash the greens of any veggie .

Use can sauté cumin seeds and channa dal in place of urad dal.Take care while adding the salt. The leaves reduce in volume after frying, if you are not sure how much salt to add, add it once the leaves are almost fried and reduced.

Health benefits

Radish greens are an excellent source of Vitamin C. In fact they have far more calcium, protein and vitamin C than the roots. It contains cancer protective properties and aids in digestion. It also helps to flush toxins from the body. Radish leaves have more of Iron, Calcium, Vitamin C, phosphorous than the radish itself. The leaves of radish are diuretic, antiscorbutic and have a laxative effect.

 

Apricot Milkshake