PUMPKIN MASOOR SOUP

Masoor dal along with pumpkin makes a very tasty, healthy soup. It is simple, easy to make and healthy too.

Pumpkin is  one of the very low calorie vegetables and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; However, it is rich in dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins. The vegetable is one of the food items recommended by dieticians in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs. Pumpkin is a storehouse of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-A, vitamin-C and vitamin-E.

Masoor daal is used in every household to make curries or sambar. It is a very common lentil and easily available as well. Masoor daal cooks very fast and does not need any kind of soaking before cooking it. Even tough people may treat it as a simple lentil; it has many properties which are good for health. People who are pure vegetarians can eat this lentil everyday. They will get the same amount of strength that non-vegetarian people have.

Many times we see that people complain about having less blood in their body.

Pumpkin masoor soup

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PULI KUTHI UPPERI (STIR FRIED VEGETABLES WITH TAMARIND PULP)

When my aunty visited my place yesterday, we were discussing about the olden days recipes as she is also a very good cook and much interested in making and feeding her own children as well as grand children.  Though I am aware of the recipe and made it long ago, could not post it.

Puli kuthi upperi is made with certain vegetables viz. lady's finger, raw banana, green brinjal, flat beans, red pumpkin.  Colacasia leaf is also included in this and it is a main ingredient in this vegetable.

This tangy stir fried vegetable can be served as a side dish for dal rice, molagootal rice, rasam rice or as a side dish for chapati too.  It is a unique,  tangy,   recipe of Palakkad (Kerala State) enjoyed specially during rainy season when the colacasia leaf is available abundantly.  The lady's finger is also a unique one which we get long greenish, whitish in colour.

Puli kuthi upperi (stir fried vegetables with tamarind pulp)

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BITTER GOURD CURRY l PAVAKKA KUZHAMBU l PAVAKKA PITLA

Bitter gourd is  very bitter in taste and will not be liked by all.  However, considering the health benefits and  its medicinal properties that aid in diabetes, liver issues, stomach complaints, skin ailments such as psoriasis and blood purification, we much include this in our diet atleast once in a week.

It is an  antioxidant, fight  against cancer, to lower cholesterol, to combat HIV, kidney stones, measles, as well as malaria.   particularly high in vitamins C, A, folates, thiamin, zinc, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese and dietary fiber.

My in laws house, they just finely chop the same and put in curd and salt and have it along with their meals.

bitter gourd curry, pavakka or parakka pitla,pavakka kuzhambu

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BEETROOT TOMATO SAAR

Beetroot is a super-storehouse of both vitamin C and iron.   Both are essential elements for health.  The beta cyanin in beetroot can help detox your liver, having a knock-on effect for your bloodstream, by helping the body to eliminate toxins and potentially preventing the build-up of fatty deposits. Beetroot juice helps  to reduce high blood pressure.  Tomatoes are powerful blood purifiers and clear up urinary tract infections.   They have anti oxidant properties as they are high sources of vitamin C and vitamin A. The Vitamin A especially wards off macular degeneration and improves eyesight.   High in fiber they are freely used by weight watchers.

Today, I made Beetroot rasam following Ms. Dahlia Twinkle’s recipe of www.simpleindianrecipes.com.  As I was making it, thought of adding little bit of ingredients and make the saar.  My daughter when she was in baby sitting used to tell me Aunty’s tomato saar is very tasty.  Thought will give a twist to the Tomato Saar and the recipe is here.

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NEER DOSA

Neer  dosa  preparation is is very simple, easy to make and good for the people who cannot consume Urid dal.  Recently, I was going through some recipes and comments and happened to read that one person had stated that he cannot consume urid dal. He loves dosa, can you suggest some recipes.  I had mentioned to him about this recipe.  Hope he will be enjoying it.

I happened to eat this dosa at Sion in a hotel when myself and my husband were out one day.  I liked it very much and want to make the same. Though I could not succeed in making the same as it was served in the hotel in a plantain leaf, it was tasty with chutney and sambar, I made it in my way.

My son loved it and has taken to college several times.  Lastly when I made it, he just had the dosas plain without any accompaniments.  Today I was having aam ras in the fridge and tasted with it and it was awesome.  I told him to try but he was reluctant.  Somehow I do not know why he just got up and took a bowl of aam ras and finished the dosas within 10 minutes.  When I asked him, he said I was right.

Now it is your turn to enjoy this dosa with aam ras. (mango puree)

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SABUDANA VADA (SAGO VADA)

Normally, people eat sabdu dana kichadi, sabudana vada etc. on the day of Vrat, Upwas.  Normal days also you can prepare and eat this as there is no hard and fast rule that it has to be made on Vrat day only. This is a lovely item liked by me vada and kichadi, anytime, i am ready to eat so also raw hard Amrud, Peru.

I have already posted sabudana kichadi and have been waiting for making this vada.  Today I was clearing my raw material rack, I found around half a cup of sabudana (small pearls) in one corner.  So did not miss the chance.  washed it and soaked thinking that i will make kichadi only like that the time passed and could not make it.  So in the evening was hungry and for snx what to do.  Normally, we have to soak the same for 2-3 hours but this was lying in the vessel since morning around 0800 hours to 1630 hours.

sabudana vada with sweet curd and sauce

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AAVAKAI PICKLE, AAVAKAI MANGAI, AAVAKAI URUGAI (MANGO PICKLE)

Mango season is on and it is time to post mango recipes.    Pickles, I love a lot specially Vadu Mangai (tender mango pickle), Mango thokku, Manga curry etc. list is endless.  Another variety of mango pickle which lasts for a longer period, made and kept for the offseason too.   Let us try today to learn how to make Avakka Mangai i.e. Avakka Mango pickle.

AVAKKAI 

Video:

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INSTANT SWEET LIME PICKLE ( SWEET AND SALTY ), SATHUKUDI PICKLE

Sweet lime pickle sweet and savory version.  This pickle can be made instantly.  While selecting sweet lime or moSambi, you should choose the same with thin skin.  It can be made with sugar as well as salty instantly.  I have made pickle out of lemon in the same manner.

INSTANT SWEETLIME PICKLE (SWEET)

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PANEER BURJI

Paneer burji is a very simple dish, can be made very easily.  I made the paneer at home.

Paneer dishes  are liked by everyone especially when it is home made. The paneer made by me is with low fat milk. Paneer with some capsicum, onion and tomato is awesome.

This can be had as it is or can be served with toasted bread or as sandwich or with chapti, phulka etc.  It is a very simple, healthy and delicious dish which can be made very fast.

Paneer burji

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METHI PUMPKIN PURI

Everyday, to make a different breakfast for my children is a difficult task for me. mummy please donot make this, do not make that, do not want to eat idli, dosa. Was thinking what to make.  Saw little bit of methi and a piece of pumpkin in the fridge.  so tried with these two ingredients and the outcome was a lovely dish.

Methi  pumpkin  puri can be made for breakfast, lunch, snx, dinner anytime with a cup of tea you will not refuse. chopped methi with boiled pumpkin and masala, a lovely dish, make it and enjoy.



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