Popular Recipes

Showing posts with label South Indian Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Indian Food. Show all posts

Thursday, April 10, 2014

High Fiber Idlies

Here I am in a time crunch to Cook....Click and Blog. However, I do post pics and short recipes on my facebook page ...
https://www.facebook.com/Thesizzlingpan

Here is the recipe from last week that I posted there-(Just Copy and Pasting :))

High Fiber Idlies

1 cup urad daal
1.25 cups brown rice
1.25 cups wheat dalia
1/4 cup cooked rice



Soak, grind and ferment like usual idli batter. Steam and serve hot with sambar and chutney. I had them 'duboke" in sambar.. With some sev on top... Just the way my dad used to like :))





Sunday, February 9, 2014

"Tamarind Quinoa" and "Cranberry Panchamrut"

"Puliogare"(Tamarind Rice) ..the quick version with MTR Puliogare powder..has become my 'to-go' favorite recipe! The rice comes out so flavorful and is ready in minutes! I almost sound like a MTR spokesperson don't I ;)
 In the quest to find more ways to use Quinoa in 'acceptable' ways in an Indian household...I came up with the 'swap' version...where the boiled rice is replaced with boiled Quinoa...and you have a nutritious,wholesome and 'Tangy-Spicy' meal ready!
Spicy-Tangy-Sweet Panchamrut:
Panchamrut is a maharashtrian favorite...sort of  a 'Chutney" made with roasted peanuts, coconut, tamarind, jaggery, green chilies etc. To add to the 'Sweet-tangy' theme..I added dried cranberries to give a boost of color and flavor!

Ingredients:
For Tamarind Quinoa:
3/4th cup quinoa boiled as per package directions with some salt
1tbsp roasted peanuts
1-2tbsp MTR Puliogare powder
1tsp each Urad dal, chana dal
1/2tsp Red chili powder
1/2tsp mustard seeds
few curry leaves
2tsp oil
Cilantro for garnish

Method:
1) Boil quinoa till fluffy.Fluff with a fork and let it cool.
2) Heat oil, add mustard,the dals and fry till light brown. Add the peanuts, puliogare powder,chili powder curry leaves and the boiled quinoa, toss.
Done!
Cranberry Panchamrut

Ingredients:
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
1/4 cup dry roasted coconut
1/4cup dried cranberries
1tsp maharashtrian goda masala
1tsp jaggery
1tsp oil
2 green chilies
1/2 tsp each mustard, cumin, methi seeds
1/2tsp Tamicon tamarind concentrate
1/2tsp red chili powder
1/2tsp turmeric
1 pinch asafetida(hing)
few curry leaves
salt

Method:
1)  In a blender, turn the coconut,peanuts, tamarind, jaggery into coarse paste
2) Heat oil, add mustard, cumin, methi seeds, curry leaves, turmeric.Add the coconut-peanut paste and the rest of the spices and some water
3) Add the cranberries and cook for 1 min.
Serve like 'Chutney" with Chapati/ rice/ Ghavan etc




Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year 2014 with Colorful Mini Idlies made with Vegetable Purees!!!

Here's Wishing You and all the Lil Ones a Happy and Healthy New Year 2014 filled with lots of Colorful veggies and fruits!!!



 It was New Years Party and I was planning on making Idlies. I had seen 'Colored Idlies' on a food forum I subscribe to and couldn't resist making these lil nutrition packed bite-size idlies for the Lil ones.I was surprised that the vegetables did not impart much of a taste to the idlies and gave gorgeous colors. They looked too pretty to be real and can make the Prettiest of the Appetizers!!
Doesn't it look like a Artist's Color palette? 
Batter-
 After steaming the idlies-
 Recipe:
1 Cup Urad dal
2 Cups Rice
Salt
2tsp Oil
Oil Spray
Green peas puree(about 2tbsp for 1/2 cup batter)
Grated beets(about 1tsp for 1/2cup batter)
 Turmeric (about 1/2tsp for 1/2 cup batter)
Method:
1)Soak the dal and rice together for 4 hours.
2) Grind into fine paste in a mixie/blender with water to make a semi-thick consistency batter.
3) Ferment overnight till the batter doubles in size ( I pre-warm the oven for 8 mins on the oven 'warm' setting.Then turn the Oven OFF.Put the batter in the oven and cover with a lid.OR you can leave the oven light on overnight to make some warmth in the oven and help the batter rise.)
4) Just before cooking Idlies, add the salt, stir gently 2-3 times.Over mixing will result in flat idlies.
5) Spray the idli stand  (I used a microwaveable min idli stand) with oil cooking spray. Add vegetable puree to 1 cup batter in separate bowls.Mix gently.Add more puree if needed to achive desired color. 
 
6)Add batter to the idli molds and steam for 15-20 mins .
7) Serve steaming hot along with Chutney/ Sambar or Skew them into skewers/ toothpicks for the Prettiest of Appetizers!

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Saturday, December 7, 2013

"Mix Daal" + Brown Rice Idlies/ Dosa with Mint-Spinach Peanut Chutney


It is amazing that how a cooking process/ way of cooking changes the same 'batter' into two extremely different textures!! The same batter results into a Crispy thin Dosa and Tender fluffy idlies!
I have experimented with a bunch of variety of Idlies (You can find the recipes here-http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Indian%20Food)....and today I used 3 different daals and brown rice to make this delicious idli-dosa combo lunch!

Here is "E's favorite way to eat dosa..."Topi" Dosa....dosa folded like a hat!

Ingredients:
1.5 cups Long grain brown rice
1/3 cup Urad daal
1/3 cup Moong daal
1/3 cup Chana daal
salt
Sliced carrots(optional) for Idlies

Method:
1) Soak the daals and rice together for 4 hours.
2) Grind into fine paste in a mixie/blender with water to make a semi-thick consistency batter.
3) Ferment overnight till the batter doubles in size ( I pre-warm the oven for 8 mins on the oven 'warm' setting.Then turn the Oven OFF.But the batter in the oven and cover with a lid.OR you can leave the oven light on overnight to make some warmth in the oven and help the batter rise.)
4) Just before cooking Idlies, add the salt, stir gently 2-3 times.Over mixing will result in flat idlies.
5) Spray the idli stand with oil cooking spray. Add sliced carrots(optional), add batter and steam for 15-20 mins
6)Serve hot along with Chutney and Sambar

Dosa
1) Heat a nonstick pan on medium heat.When heated apply oil to the pan with a paper towel.
2) Spread a large spoonful batter thinly into circular shape quickly.
3) Add few drops of oil to the sides.Let it crisp up and turn golden brown.
4) Serve hot along with Chutney/Potato bhaji/ sambar

Mint-Spinach Peanut Chutney

1/2 Cup roasted peanuts
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
10-12 mint leaves
2-3 green chilies
1/2tsp ginger
1/2tsp cumin
salt
sugar
 In a blender/mixie and all the ingredients and blend into a fine paste with some water.






Monday, March 25, 2013

South Indian Fiesta!! Semi-homemade Puliogare and Pesarattu with Tomato-Ginger Chutney

Need I say..I LOVE South Indian food?? With all the Idli and Dosa recipes I post....you know it by now...I love that cuisine!! My friends A, P,V and T have a lions share in that. I have had the most deliciousssest of the foods cooked in their kitchens!
In the past couple weeks, I cooked these delicacies for a birthday and a baby shower and thought of sharing them with you all!
Semi-Homemade Puliogare :
It's the small things that make a BIG difference. I bought the MTR Puliogare powder and I love that stuff.So yummy..it's perfect! I jazzed up the rice with a 'tadka' of extra peanuts, urad dal, chana dal, red chilies, curry leaves and the colorful festive Pomegranate! Small additions making it look and taste more 'mouthwatering'!
Ingredients:
1 Cup long grain rice
4-5 tsp MTR puliogare powder
4tsp Peanuts
2tsp Urad dal
2tsp Chana dal
1/2tsp mustard seeds
2 Dried Red chilies
few curries leaves
Chopped cilantro
1/4 cup Pomegranate seeds for garnish
salt
4tsp oil

Method:
1) Wash the rice, drain and keep aside for 30 mins.
2) Boil 2 cups water.Heat 1tsp oil, saute the rice for 2-3 mins. Add the boiled water and some salt (very imp!!...makes the rice tasty).Let it cook till all the water is gone and the rice is cooked.Turn off the heat.Keep it covered for 5 mins. Then spread it on big platter to cool off.This way the grains will remain separated.Let it cool completely. You can cook the rice a day before too and store in refrigerator.
3) In another pan, heat 3tsp oil, add the mustard seeds, peanuts.Fry for 1 min.Add the curry leaves, dal,red chilies and fry till dals are golden.Add the MTR Puliogare powder,mix. Add the cooked rice, mix.Adjust for salt.
5) Before serving, garnish with chopped cilantro and pomegranate seeds.


Pesarattu with Tomato-Ginger Chutney:

 I had my first Pesarattu at 'P's house. I loved how healthy and easy to make this dosa was..and ever since this 'light green dosa' is a staple in our kitchen!
Ingredients:
1 Cup Green whole moong
1/4 cup rice flour
1/2 inch piece of ginger
1tsp cumin seeds
1-2 green chilies
salt
oil

Method:
1) Soak the green moong for 8-10 hrs. Drain the water. Let them sprout for a day or two.
2) Grind together sprouted moong, ginger, cumin, chilies. Make into fine paste.
3) Add the rice flour, salt and mix
4) Heat a non stick pan/tawa, brush lightly with oil (I use a small piece of paper towel dipped in oil an drub it on the tawa).
5) Place a large spoon of batter and spread into a dosa. Let it cook on low-medium flame till it crisps up.
 6) Roll it and serve with Sambar and chutney
Sambar recipe:http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/12/brown-rice-idlis-and-dosa.html
 Green Peanut Chutney: http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-little-tummies-spinach-dosa-with.html


 Pesarattu Uttapa:
With same batter, make Uttapas with chopped onion, green chilies,cilantro and sliced tomato in the center!




 Tomato-Ginger Chutney:
Ingredients:
2 large Ripe red tomatoes chopped
1/2 inch piece of ginger
2 red chilies
3tsp urad dal
1tsp chana dal
3tsp roasted chana dal(daala/pandharpuri dal)
1tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp cumin seeds
salt
2tsp oil
8-10curry leaves

Method:
1) Heat 1 tsp oil, add 1/2tsp mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin, half of the curry leaves, red chilies, roasted chana dal etc and fry. Add the tomatoes and fry for few mins, till they are cooked and most of the water evaporates.Add salt, ginger piece.Let it cool completely.
2) Grind into fine paste.
3) Tadka: Heat 1tsp oil, add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, drizzle over the chutney.











Friday, February 8, 2013

'Wheat Dalia' Idlis

After the "Oatlis OR Oats Idli" (http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/09/fusion-cuisine-oatli-oat-idlis.html) , the " Ragidlis OR Ragi Idli "(http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/08/nutritious-and-delicious-ragidlis-ragi.html), the "Brown Rice Idlis"(http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/12/brown-rice-idlis-and-dosa.html) and the "Masala Corn stuffed Brown Rice Idlis" (http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2013/01/masala-corn-stuffed-brown-rice-idlis.html)....here comes another one!!!

Wheat Dalia Idlis!!!!!

Couple weeks ago..when I posted my "Brown Rice Idli" recipe on a facebook forum "Bon Appetit'...a fellow member ( Gayatri Tatke )....said she makes "Wheat Dalia Idlis" and they come out 'even softer than our regular idlis". Now..... you know me!! I had to try these ASAP!!!
Loved them!! The color is well...a little "Wheatish"...but you wouldn't miss the Rice in the Idlis!!

 Ingredients:
2 Cups Wheat Dalia (Cracked wheat-I had the coarse variety)
1 Cup Urad daal
salt

Method:
1) Soak 1 cup urad daal and 2 cups wheat dalia for 8 hrs separately.( I soaked it in the morning and ground it at night) Grind into fine paste and let it ferment overnight. I warm the oven on 'warm' for 5 mins and then keep the batter in the Oven and TURN IT OFF.
After fermentation add salt to the batter.
2) Spray the Idli stand/mold with non stick cooking spray
3) Steam for 20 mins
4) Serve hot along with Sambar/Coconut Chutney/ Spicy Powder Chutney
Sambar and Chutney Recipes:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2013/01/masala-corn-stuffed-brown-rice-idlis.html

Spicy Powder Chutney:
 I bought the MTR "Spiced Chutney Powder" and mixed it with yogurt.( you can mix it in Oil too..but  I prefer yogurt)


Monday, January 28, 2013

'Masala Corn' Stuffed Brown Rice Idlis

Finally...after two weeks of  sneezing and coughing....I am back to myself!!! Yeah!!! And now I am craving all the yummy spicy Indian food:))
So there goes a combination of my two favorite things- "Masala Butter Corn" and my new found favorite "Brown Rice Idlis".... to make the delicious and nutritious "Masala Corn Stuffed Brown Rice Idlies"

When I visited "The Steamy Affairs" in Pune last year..they had any and every variety of Idli..which you could think of!! There was Idli Manchurian..there was Buttermilk Idli...then there was Jungli idli....crazy names...but delicious !
Stepping on their footsteps..I am trying out my very own Idli combos!!!


Masala Corn:

1 cups frozen-(thawed to room temp) corn kernels
1/2tsp chili powder
1/2tsp kitchen king masala
1/2tsp chaat masala
1/4tsp mustard seeds
1tsp oil
salt
 Masala  Corn=Heat 1tsp oil, add mustard seeds,corn, salt, ,chili powder, masala etc. Sir fry till properly heated.
You can eat this by itself, with a squeeze of lemon and a dap of butter.( chopped raw onions and cilantro if you like)

Brown Rice Idli
2 Cups Brown Rice
1 Cup Urad daal
salt

Method:
1) Soak 1 cup urad daal and 2 cups brown rice for 8 hrs. Grind into fine paste and let it ferment overnight.After fermentation add salt to the batter.
2) Spray the Idli stand/mold with non stick cooking spray
3) Add few masala corn kernels, then idli batter, then masala corn kernels and then idli batter again into the molds.
4) Steam for 20 mins
5) Serve hot along with Sambar and Coconut Chutney

 Sambar and Chutney Recipe:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2012/12/brown-rice-idlis-and-dosa.html




Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Brown Rice Idlis and Dosa

Brown Rice....how many times have I decided to start using it..mainly as "Rice"....but somehow my palate isn't ready...and I keep postponing it.

Few months ago, when "E' was performing a dance at the Ganapati festival, we had the crispiest, yummiest Dosa at one of his friends house. 'V' makes excellent South Indian food.I was amazed at how delicious and crispy the Dosa was..and could hardly make out....that it was made with brown rice, neither by color nor texture nor taste.
Couple days ago....I made up my mind..and bought a 2lb bag of Brown Rice at Walmart for $ 1.32(good deal ha!!)
Inspired by "V''s Brown rice Dosa....I decided to make the batter and mark the beginning of "Brown Rice" era at home!


Batter--
2 Cups Brown rice
1 Cup Urad Dal
Water to soak
Soak the Rice and Daal separately in water for 5-6 hours.The water should cover the rice/daal and little over it.
Grind into a fine paste with the water that it was soaked in.So the rice doesn't loose any essential vitamins.
Let it ferment overnight.I preheat the oven to 'warm' for 5 mins, TURN IT OFF, before I put the batter in a large vessel and keep it overnight in the oven to ferment.
After it ferments and fluffs up...add salt to taste.
Idlis-
Steam the batter in idli stand for 15-20 mins. Serve hot with sambar and chutney





Dosa--
Preheat non stick pan/tava
Smear oil with a paper towel on the tava.
Spread a spoonful batter onto the tava and let it cook on low-medium flame till it browns and crisps up.
Serve immediately with Sambar and chutney.



 Sambar--

1 Cup well cooked Toor dal/masoor dal
1/2 cup Veggies like drumsticks, pumpkin, raddish, gourd,potato etc
1 tomato sliced
1/2 onion sliced
1/2tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp Cumin
1/2tsp Methi seeds
2-3 tsp Sambar masala ( I used MTR brand)
1tsp red chili powder
1/2tsp turmeric powder
1/2tsp Tamarind concentrate
1/2tsp Jaggery
Curry leaves
2 Red whole chilies
2 tsp oil
salt

Heat the oil, add the mustard seeds, cumin,methi seeds, curry leaves, red chili.Fry for few seconds.Add the onion,tomatoes and veggies and fry for 2-3 mins.
Add turmeric, sambar masala,chili powder and the daal.
Add enough water to make desired consistency and then add the remaining ingredients. Let it boil for few minutes till the veggies cook.Serve hot!


 Coconut-Cilantro Chutney--
1/2 cup fresh coconut
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
3-4 green chilies
1/4tsp ginger
1 clove garlic
1/2tsp cumin
salt
sugar
few drops lemon juice
1tsp oil,1/2tsp mustard, curry leaves for tempering

 Grind coconut,cilantro,chilies etc into a fine paste in a blender. Heat 1tsp oil add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Let it crackle and then add to the ground Chutney.






Monday, August 27, 2012

"Nutritious and Delicious" - 'Ragidlis' =Ragi Idlis/ Nachani Idlis and Ragi Dosa with Coconut-Spinach Chutney and Sambar

Sometimes,there are some simple things to do....and somehow you have never made them before!! I have made 'Idli's zillions of times and I always have tons of 'Nachani'/ Ragi on hand for little 'A'...but never did I make 'Ragidlis' before!! The other day,'S'  and I were talking about healthy 'grains' and she mentioned to me that she had tried these once before. I just couldn't wait to try these myself!!
These are excellent health food for kids, adults and diabetic patients.
'Ragidlis' were obviously brown/reddish colored and tasted great! The same batter made excellent dosas. 'M' loved the dosa better....it came out crisp just like paper dosa! Sorry the picture isn't that great...but believe me..there was 'crunch' in every single bite!!!
Ingredients:
Ragidlis/ Ragi Dosa
1 Cup urad dal
2 cups Ragi flour/ Nachani flour
salt
1tsp oil
Cooking spray to spray idli molds.

Coconut-Spinach Chutney
 3/4 cup shredded fresh coconut/ frozen coconut
1 cup chopped fresh tender spinach leaves
1 clove garlic
1-2 green chilies
salt
sugar
few drops of lemon juice
Grind all the above ingredients till smooth.
Tempering: Heat 1tsp oil, add 1/2tsp mustard,1/2tsp cumin, pinch of asafoetida.Pour on the chutney.

Sambar:
1 cup well cooked Toor dal  (cook in pressure cooker)
1/2 cup well cooked masoor dal
1 cup cut up veggies- drumsticks, onions, eggplants, zucchini, carrots,cauliflower etc
1 tomato sliced/chopped
2tsp Sambar masala
1tsp red chili powder
1tsp turmeric powder
7-8 curry leaves
1/2tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp cumin seeds
1/2tsp tamarind concentrate
1tsp jaggery
1-2 red dried chilies
1tbsp oil
salt
1) Heat  oil, add mustard seeds, cumin,red chilies, curry leaves.Add the vegetables and stir for 2-3 mins. Add the sambar masala, turmeric,red chili powder etc. Add the cooked dal and water.
Let it simmer till the vegetables cook. Add tamarind, jaggery, salt etc and boil for another 5-6 mins.

Method:
1) Soak Urad in water for 5-6 hours.
2) Soak Ragi flour in water for 1 hour.
3) Grind the dal into smooth paste. Blend the ragi flour paste in blender couple times.
4) Mix ground up dal+ ragi and let it ferment overnight in warm place.The batter will rise 2-3times.
5) Add salt and 1tsp oil to the batter. Make batter in the Idli molds and steam for 20 mins.

 6) For Dosa: Heat a  non stick pan. Lightly coat with oil. Place a large spoonful batter and make a circle by spreading quickly. Let it cook on medium -low flame. Remove when crisp and done.
7) Serve the Idli/ Dosa hot along with steaming hot sambar and fresh coconut-spinach chutney!!