Besan Ladoo July 2, 2007

Succeeded in making besan ladoo at the third attempt,finally.

The first time,it turned out like halwa.The second time,it was too too raw.

And,finally,got lucky the third time.

Ingredients : [ for making 5-6 ladoos]

• 1 cup besan(gram flour)
• 1 cup sugar ,powdered finely
• 1/4 cup ghee

Procedure:

• Heat the ghee in a frying pan.Once ghee is heated properly,keep it in low flame and put the besan into it.
• keep sauting the besan till it turns golden brown.Dont overdo it ,or it will get burnt.
• Take it off the stove once it reaches golden brown (not dark burnt brown).
• Leave it to cool for a few minutes and when it is lukewarm,add the fine powdered sugar to it
• Mix it properly and shape it into small round balls as shown in picture

Yummy Pasta ! June 19, 2007

An easy breakfast or dinner or snack dish.Though,takes a little while to boil the pasta.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pasta [I've used penne pasta.Same procedure should hold for any type of pasta]
• 1 small onion,chopped
• 1 small tomato chopped
• 1/3 a cup of tinned tomato puree
• 1 tsp chilli flakes (or) simply,the flakes inside dry red chillies can be used
• coriander leaves to garnish.

Procedure

To make the pasta first :

• Boil some water in a vessel.Once it starts boiling,add a tsp of salt.And then add the pasta.It ll take around 20 minutes for the pasta to cook properly.Keep checking to see if the pasta is done.Once its soft and can be cut easily with a fork or knife its done.Once cooked, drain out the water using a strainer or colander,whatever.Keep the pasta aside.
• Heat 2 tsp oil in a frying pan.Once heated,add the chilli flakes and then the onions.
• Saute onions till they turn golden brown.Then add the chopped tomatoes and the tomato puree.Add a little (1 tsp) of chilli powder if you want spicy pasta
• Keep sauting till the oil separates.Once it separates,add the pasta and mix well.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot ! 

Rajma Gravy June 18, 2007

Rajma is one of my favorites.I can have it in any form.Here is a simple recipe for rajma gravy.

Ingredients:

• Rajma,soaked for 4-6 hours or overnight
• 1 small onion,chopped
• 1 small tomato chopped
• a few curry leaves
• coriander to garnish
• a pinch of turmeric
• 2 tbsp of sambar powder
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• salt to taste

Procedure:

• Boil the rajma in pressure cooker,for 1 whistle (In case it is still hard,leave it on for 2 whistles).
• Take it out,drain the water and keep aside
• Heat the kadai.Pour 2 tbsp oil.
• Once oil is heated ,add mustard seeds .Once they splutter,add the onions.
• As onions turn golden brown,add the chopped tomatoes and saute a little.
• Then put the tamarind paste ,a pinch of turmeric,sambar powder/chilli powder as per taste and add a little water.
• Let it be on medium heat .
• Then add the rajma and add water as per the consistency that you want. Leave it on medium heat for 5 minutes or so.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

Indian Hash Browns June 15, 2007

 

People like me who dont have the facilities to make idli or dosa,mean,I dont have a grinder(Heh,some excuse for being ignorant),are always searching for easy breakfast.

Hash Browns are considered a breakfast food in the United States.I indianised it a little ‘cos it was too bland for my taste.

Ingredients :

• 2 potatoes
• 1 small onion
• a tsp of chilli powder
• half tsp of sambar/garam masala powder of your choice
• salt to taste

Procedure:

• Peel the potatoes and chop it to very fine small pieces.If you’ve a grater,still better.grate it.
• Similarly,chop the onions to really fine pieces.
• Mix both potatoes and onions in a bowl.Add salt to taste.Also add the chilli/sambar powder according to how spicy you want it to be.
• Take a flat base frying pan,or dosai kal .Pour some oil on it.Once oil is heated,put this mixture on the pan and flatten it properly so that its as thin as shown in the pic.
• Wait for the bottom side to become golden brown.Once done,turn it over to the other side carefully and wait till it turn golden brown as well.
• Serve hot,either by itself or with ketchup !

Tomato Dal June 5, 2007

For the mossst lazy of the lot ! It cant get easier than this.

Ingredients:

Thoor dal , a handful or 2 handfuls maybe for thicker consistency
2 medium sized tomatoes.
a pinch of turmeric
1/2 a tsp tamarind paste
2-3 dry red chillis
2-3 green chillies
Procedure

Soak the thoor dal in a bowl of water.Add in the chopped tomatoes and the pinch of turmeric and chopped green chillies to this bowl.
Pressure cook this for around 5-6 whistles.Even more ,if you want it really really mashed.
Heat a tsp oil in the kadai.Add mustard seeds and the dry red chillies
Once they splutter,add in the dal mixture and keep it on medium heat for a few minutes .Add the 1/2 tsp tamarind paste and mix well.
Tomato dal is ready to serve !

Aloo Bhindi June 5, 2007

Like I said earlier ,this is a blog for the laidback and the lazy (simply, ‘cos thats me.” .So,there shall be no recipes that require a lot of effort and hardwork.

Here is another easy one.Perhaps,we can call it Aloo Bhindi.

All my recipes are picked from the net ,after googling.In case ,I dont have the ingredients mentioned,I just add in whatever I have.

Ingredients :

• Ladiesfinger ,sliced.
• Potatoes,chopped.
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 small tomato chopped
• 2-3 tsp oil
• 2 tsp sambar/masala powder
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• mustard.to season.

 Procedure:

• Heat the kadai.
• Add 2 tsp oil.Once heated,add mustard seeds.
• Once mustard seeds splutter,add the chopped onions.Fry a while,till golden brown.
• Then add the sliced ladiesfingers. saute for a while,till they are a little fried.
• Add the chopped potatoes,pinch of turmeric,the sambar and the chilli power.Keep sauting.
• Saute till potatoes and ladiesfinger are cooked well.Dont add any water.
• Once u feel they are almost cooked,add the tomatoes. Saute till everything is mixed well.
• Serve hot with chapatis or rice.

Potato curry May 31, 2007

 

An all time favorite , especially ‘cos its easy to make,and goes well both with rice and with chapathis.

Ingredients :

• 5-6 Potatoes.
• 1 medium sized onion,chopped.
• a pinch of turmeric
• 2 tbsp chilli /sambar powder
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 2-3 tbsp oil

Procedure :

•  Boil the potatoes in pressure cooker,maximum 2 whistles.
• Peel the skin,and mash them slightly .
•  Heat the kadai,pour 2-3 tbsp oil.
• Add a li’l mustard seeds for seasoning.
• Once mustard seeds splutter,add the chopped onions.
• Saute onions till golden brown.Once they reach that color ,add the mashed potatoes,pinch of turmeric, 2 tbsp of sambar/chilli powder (according to how spicy you want it to be) , salt to taste.And saute for a while ,till potatoes reach golden brown color.
• Serve hot with chapatis or even as a side dish with rice and rasam/sambar.

Cauliflower Poriyal May 24, 2007

 Here is a simple recipe I got from a bachelor friend. He never knew what he was making but it turned out quite nice.
And i hate soggy cauliflower.I had vowed never to buy cauliflower again after my first attempt at cauliflower curry.
But this one changed my mind.
Simple,easy,and pretty tasty too.

Ingredients :
1 medium cauliflower
3-4 tbsp sunflower oil
salt to taste
a pinch of turmeric
2 tsp chilli powder/sambar powder/garam masala powder.
mustard to season.

Method:
1.Pluck the cauliflower florets.Wash them well.Keep aside.
2.Heat the kadai,add 3-4 tbsp oil .Add mustard seeds.
3.Once mustard seeds crackle,add the cauliflower florets and saute well.Add salt to taste ,a little turmeric,2 tbsp or sambar/chilli powder or any garam masala powder as you like it.
3.Saute at intervals.Close it and keep it for a while till the florets get cooked.Can sprinkle a little water once in a while if you feel its sticking to the kadai.But dont pour too much water.
4.Once cooked,can garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or chapathis.