Sunday, 8 May 2016

CURRY LEAVES POWDER

Curry leaves have got several medicinal properties and helps in curing stomach related ailments, grow hair etc.  I have posted few curry leaves recipes and the links are here:


I have already posted curry patta idli,  curry patta idli fry, curry patta rice,  curry leaves kuzhambu, curry leaves kuzhambu rice,  curry patta gun powder,  curry leaves mor kuzhambu,   curry leaves adai,  curry leaves dhokla etc. 

I am very fond of this powder along with hot rice and ghee or gingelly oil.  My mom used to make this for us and one urula (morsel) of rice is compulsory to have it with ghee or gingelly oil before the normal food we eat.

Today is MOM's day and I dedicate this to my mother.  The dish was forgotten for some time and  my sister in law reminded me about this as I was having some stomach related issues.

Now let us look at the recipe now:


CHANA DAL CHUTNEY

We make varieties of chutney for idli, dosa.  This chutney is dedicated to my friend's periyamma who used to make it along with phulka.  The hot phulkas made in coal is very delicious along with this chutney.  I cherish the memory of this dish even now though it has been more than 40 years have been passed.

In fact I learned to make chapati from her at the age of 12.  She always used to invite me to have this dish whenever she makes it, normally once in a week, as after learning to make chapati, I used to help her out to prepare the same as she was very old.

Now let us look at the recipe now:

CURRY LEAVES ADAI

Curry leaves are good for health.  It cures the stomach related issues, good for hair growth etc.  I always add the curry leaves while grinding so that it does not go waste as we tend to remove and throw the same while eating.

Yesterday, I was thinking of making adai.  But after eating the same, the stomach is very full and I used to get gas problems because of the chana and tuvar dal.  So I thought of incorporating few curry leaves in it and making the adai. Although we use curry leaves while making adai, we use less quantity.  

This adai was awesome with white butter and jaggery and with the besan ghattee ki achar recently I made.

I have already posted curry patta idli,  curry patta idli fry, curry patta rice,  curry leaves kuzhambu, curry leaves kuzhambu rice,  curry patta gun powder,  curry leaves mor kuzhambu,   curry leaves dhokla etc. 

Now let us look at the recipe now:


other curry leaves recipes:  

MANGO SEED SUBZI



Mango seed has got medicinal values.  The dried mango seed can be rubbed in the chandan paste making stone and can be consumed for stomach related issues.

In the olden days, my mother used to say Manga puliku mara puli means for making the mango subzi, we have to put the tamarind also.

I got to taste the subzi from my neighbor who is a Jain Marwadi.  She makes various items which are quite new to me and is a source for new recipes.   Though  I am aware that the mango seeds are edible and have got medicinal values, never ventured to try the same.  However, recently I came across one T V show in which the dried mango seeds are used for making pickle.

Hence I tried to sun dry some mango seeds and kept.  When the neighbor gave me the dish, I was so excited to taste it and liked.   Now I am making a subzi out of this and sharing with you.

Let us look at the recipe now:




Friday, 6 May 2016

LAVALOLIKKA / LOLOLIKKA /LOOBIKKA PICKLE

Recently I had been to Kerala and visited one of my family friends house.  My friend's wife took me to her house at Paravoor.  I was greeted with this lovely fruit in front of her house.  Could not believe that the tree was full of this red, greenish berries similar to cherries.

When I checked with her what this fruit is, she said it is known as loobikka or lololikka in Kerala and normally they make pickle out of it.

I tried to eat one fruit to know the taste of it.  It was very sour and I could not eat it, but I decided to collect the same and make pickle out of  it.  Any sour item I find will go for pickle first and then I explore the possibility of making other items.  We can make jams also out of this.  I felt we can make syrup with it like we make kokum sharbat.  Since I did not have much time to explore all these at Kerala, I had to satisfy t myself with making only pickle out of this and collected few berries.  It is also known as scram berry.


this fruit is commonly known as lovi-lovi or batoko plum, a flowering plant native to the Phillipines  is also found in Asia and Africa.  It is very common in South India especially in Kerala and known as loika or lavalolikka.

The fruits are produced in bunches and resemble cherries. The fruit is round and shiny, turning from light green to a deep red colour upon ripening. Each fruit measures 1 to 3 centimeter in diameter. The flesh is crunchy but sour and acidic in taste. The fruits are edible but generally not eaten fresh but made as jams, preserves, and syrups. 

I tried to find out names in other languages but could not succeed.  If anyone knows the name can please update me.  The English name is  Flacourtia inermis.  After a day long search I found the names:  

Flacourtia jangomas  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flacourtia_jangomas

  • Bengali  : bNaichee
  • Assamese : poniol
  • English : coffee plumIndian cherryIndian plumrukamruneala plum
  • Hindi : talispatri
  • Thai : takhob
  • Sanskrit : sruvavrkshavikankatah
  • Malayalam : lubicalovlolica, (ശീമനെല്ലിക്ക)



Now let us look at the recipe now:




FRESH MANGO JUICE

The season is of mango and it is too hot every where and the DIL mange something thanda, thanda, cool, cool.  During this hot season, everyone should make it a point that they hydrate their body.  Must drink lot of water, tender coconut etc. to avoid any heat related issues.


During the recent visit to Kerala, I happened to drink this fresh mango juice and decided to make it at home after returning  and post it as I liked it very much and would like to share with you all as you should not miss the seasonal drink.



It is very simple to make and you will definitely ask for more.  We are familiar with aam panha during the season but this drink too is tasty like aam panha. Only difference is that this is fresh and in aam panha, we boil it.



Now let us look at the recipe 






Thursday, 5 May 2016

BESAN GHATTE KA ACHAR/BESAN NIMBU KA ACHAR



Besan nimbu ka achar or Besan Ghatte ka achar is a Rajasthani cuisine.  Recently, I happened to see the same in a TV show and wanted to try the same.  My neighbour is a Rajasthani and used to give us various kinds of pickles and dishes which used to be very  tasty and bit punchant for us.  She  is also a  very good cook  and if I want something, she always used to help me out  in preparing the dish with her recipe.

I could not watch the full episode of that particular recipe hence I explained to her what I saw and my neighbour gave me the recipe.  Also I went through the net but was not happy with it as it differed from what I saw.  Hence I am adopting the method of my friend and sharing you the recipe here.  

I prepared this for the first time and it turned out so well that I could not believe  that I could make it at the first attempt.  As usual I did not check the time, however, you can make it within an hours time totally.  Now is the season of mango and do not miss the opportunity of enjoying this pickle.

Let us look at the recipe now:


ANGOORI KHEER

Today my blog is turning 3 years old.  I am thankful to all my viewers  for visiting the blog, their  valuable suggestions and support without which it would not have been possible for me to continue this lovely journey with the fond memories of my father in whose name I started the blog three years back.

I started this journey as a hobby and now I am very keen to improve the same and is on my way thought it will take some time for me to do so.  

On this day, I wanted to post a sweet recipe only and I chose to prepare the Angoori Kheer.  The angoor as made with home made paneer and it turned out well and liked by all.  This day is more important in my life as my son also completed his diploma in Television through a renowed college at Chennai and the convocation was on 3rd May and we returned from Chennai yesterday. 

Its a double whammy and I decided to make the kheer today and post it.  Actually I wanted to try the same with the grapes, but have no time to go to the market and get it as I am too tired to do so.

But you will definitely enjoy this version of kheer.  Now let us look at the recipe now:


Saturday, 16 April 2016

RICE FLOUR MASALA BHAKRI

Rice flour bhakri is a holiday breakfast dish at home as  we have to serve them hot.  Normally, I make it on a Saturday/Sunday for breakfast with potato stew.  My daughter loves this if I serve them hot.  Once I made the mix flour bhakri for myself and she happened to taste it.  Normally, they do not even look at this.  When she tasted it, she liked it and asked me to prepare for her also.  That day onwards, she started eating this.

Since I love to mix onion, bit of masalas in it, I prepare the way I am going to elaborate below the recipe.  If you make it only with the rice flour, you can call it as ari pathiri, a famous Kerala Muslim Cuisine which is served with non veg curries.

Here I am presenting the same with the potato stew which you would also love but mind you that you must have the same from tava to the plate.

Let us look at the recipe now:


POTATO STEW

Potato stew is a simple side dish recipe which can be served with puttu, idiyappam etc.  But my daughter loves to have it with Bhakri (any kind of bhakri) hence I make this for her.

It is a mild dish prepared in coconut milk.  If not coconut milk, I use fresh cream also, but the taste differs.  I never use the ready made coconut milk as I prefer to take the pain of making the coconut milk at home.

It is a kerala special dish with puttu, idiyappam which they serve steaming hot  in banana leaf which I love to eat.  If you prefer, you can use the ready made coconut milk.

Let us look at the recipe now: