Pudina Rice

Typically this kind of rice has lot of variations both with/without onions... I made a typical south indian one.. hope you like it

Ingredients:

Cooked Rice - 2 cups
To Grind:
Fresh Mint/Pudina - 1 cup
Fresh Coriander leaves - 1/ cup
Green chilli - 1
Salt to taste

For Tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp 
Urad Dal - 1 tsp 
Channa Dal - 1 tsp 
Red Dried Chillies -  2 Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Lemon Juice - 1/2 lemon
Oil - 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Grind all ingredients in "To Grind" to a fine paste.
2. Heat oil in kadai,  add mustard seeds. Once it splutters, add Channa Dal, Urad Dal & red chillies
3. Once the dals, turn brown, add curry leaves
4. Pour the ground mint/coriander paste & cook for 2 mins
5. Add lemon juice & rice, mix till the rice is thoroughly mixed. Serve hot with chips.

 Tips:

• Use Basmati Rice for better taste.

Lemon Rice

Hey this one is one of my favorite variety rice.. this reminds me of my school days when I used to take Lemon Rice to school in Lunch Box and it is finished by my friends in no time.. whether hot or cold.. this is always a tummy filler...

Ingredients:

Cooked Rice - 2 cups
Lemon - Juice extracted from 1 lemon
Salt
For tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Channa Dal - 1 tsp
Cashews - 4 to 5 ( broken into pieces)
Asafoetida - a generous pinch  
Green Chillies - 2 (cut into slits)
Red Dried Chillies -  2
Ground nuts - 10 to 12  
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig Coriander Leaves for garnish 
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp  
Oil - 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Heat oil in kadai, add mustard seeds. Once it splutters, add Channa Dal, Urad Dal, green & red chillies, cashews and ground nuts.
2. Once the dals, ground nuts & cashews turn brown, add curry leaves, asafoetida and turmeric powder.
3. Pour this tempering over warm cooked rice (in a wide bowl).
4. Add salt and lemon juice & mix till the rice is thoroughly mixed.
5. Garnish with coriander leaves & serve hot with chips.

Tips:

• You may used preserved lemon juice as well. But the lemon rice tastes best with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Try using Basmati Rice, it will taste even better.
  

 

Coconut Rice

I made Coconut Rice for the Variety Rice plate.. This rice itself is a complete meal. It is a dish with no onions & garlic so it can be made on pooja days as well..

Ingredients:

Cooked Rice - 1.5 cup
Fresh Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
Salt to taste
For tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Channa Dal - 1 tsp
Cashews - 4 to 5  ( broken into pieces)
Asafoetida - a generous pinch
Green Chillies - 2 (cut into slits)
Red Dried Chillies -  2
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Coriander Leaves for garnish
Appalam/Urad Papad - 2 (broken) (optional)
Oil - 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Heat oil in kadai, add mustard seeds. Once it splutters, add Channa Dal, Urad Dal, green & red chillies, cashews and appalam.
2. Once the appalams are fried,  dals & cashews turn light brown, add curry leaves & asafoetida.
3. Add grated coconut and saute for 1 to 2 mins
4. Add cooked rice & salt & mix for another 2 to 3 mins till the rice is thoroughly mixed.
5. Garnish with coriander leaves & serve hot.

Eggless Vanilla Sponge

My daughter is now going to school.. She wanted cake for Friday's Snack box.. I made this Eggless Vanilla Sponge which she loved and the recipe is so simple that it can be made easily.

Ingredients:

Self-raising flour - 1 cup (125 gms)
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Unsalted Butter (Melted) - 60 ml (1/4 cup)
Condensed Milk - 1/2 tin (200 ml)
Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp
Milk - 80 ml (1/3 cup)

Method:

1. Pre-heat Oven in 120 deg for 10 mins. Grease & dust the baking time (5'X5') square tin.
2. Sieve flour & baking soda separately
3. Combine all wet ingredients (butter, condensed milk, vanilla essence & milk)
4. Pour-in sieved flour & soda mix in wet ingredients
5. Mix all with an electric hand mixer for less than a minute without any lumps
6. Bake at 150 deg for 50 mins and then increase the temperature to 180 deg & again bake for 10 mins

Tips:

• If you do not have self-raising flour, you can use 1 cup all purpose flour & 1 tsp of baking powder and sieve well
• You may serve this cake with whipped cream, chocolate jam or with hot tea
• You may add dry fruits & nuts to give a bite to the cake
• This cake can be used also for Desserts, Truffles, etc.

Brunch Menu - North Indian Thali (Simple)

Hi.. I am going to put up few Brunch Menu to make on Weekends or special days like Birthday or Festivals.

Last Sunday I made North Indian Thali... which consisted of

1. Bhindi Masala

2. Lasooni Dhuli Moong Dal

3. Boondi Raita

4. Phulkas

5. Rice

6. Mirchi ka Achar

Lasooni Dhuli Moong Dal

LASOONI DHULI MOONG DAL

This is the Simplest Dal EVER!!!. I prepare this when I am too Lazy or need to prepare dal in a jiffy...

Ingredients:

Dhuli Moong Dal - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Green Chillies - 2 to 3 (Slits)
Garlic Cloves - 6 to 7
Oil for tempering
Jeera - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Lemon Juice - 1.5 tsp (approx. 1/2 lemon)
Green Coriander for Garnish

Method:

1. Pressure Cook Dal with Salt & Garlic Cloves & Turmeric Powder
2. Heat oil in tempering Kadai, add Jeera & Green Chillies. Let it splutter for 30 secs.
3. Pour the temper over dal & add water if required
4. Add Lemon juice & coriander for garnish.

Bhindi Masala

BHINDI MASALA

A perfect side dish for rotis or rice.

Ingredients:

Bhindi/Okra -  2 cups, cut into slits

Ginger-Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp

Onion - 1 (Chopped)

Tomato -  1 (Chopped)

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp

Coriander Powder - 1.5 tsp

Garam Masala Powder - 1.5 tsp

Amchur Powder - 1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

Oil - 2 tbsp

Jeera - 1/2 tsp

Method:

• Heat Oil in Kadai, add Jeera, Ginger-garlic paste, onions & Tomatoes. Fry till it is cooked.
• Add all dry masalas & add Bhindi. 
• Cover & cook till bhindi is cooked. Add salt & saute for 2 mins and serve hot.