Nov 25, 2010

RED CABBAGE RICE WITH PARUPU PODI

Red cabbage rice with paruppu podi is a recipe where roughly chopped red cabbage is sauted with Indian spices and mixed with cooked rice. I tried and tasted this recipe from Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes for this months T&T by Padmaja of Seduce Your Tastebuds event by Lakshmi

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About Red cabbage is a vegetable from cabbage family with red/purple leaves.On cooking normally it turns into dark purple(blue).If you want to retain the red color can add a spoon of vinegar or a piece of lemon at the cooking time. This vegetable can be used in salads or cooked as a side dish.Red cabbage is rich in fiber,'C'vitaminand beta-carotene also.

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INGREDIENTS:----
Basnati rice -- 1 cup
Onion -- 1 medium
Red cabbage -- 1 cup chopped
Red chilli powder -- 1/2 tea sp
Coriander powder -- 1/2 tea sp
Curry leaves --- a few
Mustard seeds -- 1/4 tea sp
Urad dal -- 1/4 teasp
Paruppu podi -- 2 tab sp
Salt -- 1 tea sp or according to your taste
oil -- 1 tab sp

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1.Cook rice with 1&1/2 cupr water and 1/2 tea sp oil let it sit for a while and spread the rice in plate to cool (can use leftover rice also.)
2.Heat oil in pan add mustard seeds and urad dal let them splutter.
3.Then add chopped onion and curry leaves and cook till onion become transculent.
4. Add chopped red cabbage,red chilli powder,coriander powder,salt stir well and cook for few minutes or till the red cabbage changes it's color in ti blue.
5. Now add paruppu podi stir well then add cooked rice mix well to combine every thing.
serve hot..

Nov 22, 2010

RIZ AU LAIT- FRENCH RICE PUDDING

Rice pudding is a dessert made with rice and milk are found neary every area of the world.With different variations it is served as a poridge, dinner or dessert. When used as a dessert it is commonly served with sweetener.Recipe is almost the same in every country.The dessert is boild like Indian Kheer or payasam or baked like Sütlaç Turkish rice pudding.In France it is a creamy rice pudding cooked in both ways(boiling abd baked ways) with chopped fresh fruits and served as a dessert. Cooking method is almost same like Indian rice pudding only thing they use egg yolks, vanilla,cinnamon. It tasted really great with choped strawberrys.
RECIPE SOURCE :-- FAMOUS FRENCH DESSERTS

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serves 6 people if you want can reduce the ingredients.
INGREDIENTS:--
Milk --- 4 cups
Vanilla -- 1 pod (scrap the seeds) or 1 tea sp extract
Cinnamon -- a big pinch
Sugar -- 1/2 cup or according to your taste.
Arbirio rice -- 1 cup can use any other round short grain rice.
Unsalted butter -- 3 tab sp
Egg yolks - 2 egg yolks
Salt -- a pinch
METHOD:---
1. Heat milk in a heavy bottom pan add vanilla extract (cut the vanilla pod and scrape the seeds in to milk if you are using vanilla pod),salt a pinch and let the milk boil in a very low flame.
2. Now boil 4 cups of water add rice and cook till half done.
3. Remove the rice from hear and strain the water.
4. Add this half done rice to the boiling milk.
5. Cover and let it cook for 40 minuts in a very low heat keep string in between.
6.Add butter and stir well.
7.Add egg yolks one by one and stir well,add cinnamon mixwell and switch off the heat.
Serve warm or cild with chopped fruits like raisins,cherries,straberrys or any other fruits you like.
This delicious creamy rice pudding goes to priya's AWED-FRENCH event by DK OF CHEFINYOU

Nov 20, 2010

AMRITSARI ALOO (PUNJABI)


SPICY POTATOES IN PUNJABI FLAVOR.....
How time flying so fast. It's already 1 month finished in Tripoli.When I came here I seriously thought that to post my recipes every day. but because of this chilled weather ..May be I became lazy.Any way comming to the recipe it's from Punjabi cuisine AMRITSARI ALOO. YOU CAN SERVE THIS AS A SIDE DISH OR A SNACK.Ihope potato is a favorite vegetable for every one so this one is a great choice for potato lovers with a nice blend of punjabi flavors(masala)

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INGREDIENTS:--
Aloo -- 250 gms (potato)
Onions -- 2 sliced
Ginger garlic paste -- 2 teasp
Ajwain -- 1/2 tea sp
Besan -- 1/2 cup (chickpea flour)
Coriander powder -- 1 tea sp
Red chilli powder - 1 tea sp
Garam masala powder -- 1/2 tea sp
Tandoori masala powder -- 1/2 teasp
Anardana powder -- 1/2 tea sp(dried pomegranate seeds powder)
Turmeric powder -- 1/4 tea sp
Salt -- 3/4 tea sp
Oil for deep frying
Corainder leaves -- 1 tab sp chopped




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METHOD:---
Cut Aloo in to long pieces.
Mix besan,salt,ginger garlic paste,turmeric.ajwain,garam masala,tandoori masala,1/2 tab sp oil and 2 tab sp of water mix well.
Add potato pieces to this mixture mix well to marinate and leave a side for 10 minutes to marinate.
After 10 minutes heat oil in a deep frying pan deep fry the marinated potato pieces till light gloden color.
Or you can grill the potato pieces in grill till crisp and golden color.
Remove the potato pieces from oil and keep a side.
Now heat 2 teasp s oil in a pan add onions, saute till light brown in color.
Then add remaining marinate paste (if you have) stir well for few seconds.
Now add fried potato pieces chilli powder,anardana powder stir well.
Check the taste and adjust salt, stir well to coat every thing garnish with coriander leaves.
Serve hot as a snack or a side dish with dal and rice or with roti.
enjoy your meal.
This aloo Amritsari is for Flavours of punjab at Pari's Foodelicious event started by Nayna
And also for cws-Anardhana at samayalarai and event by Priya

Nov 15, 2010

VARO (INDIAN PRALINE WITH MIXED NUTS) FOR ICC

Varo a Indian praline with mixed nuts.This version of Indian praline is from Sindhi cuisine.Sindhi people make this as a Diwali special sweet.This Varo is very similar to chikki The only difference is we use jaggery in chikki in Varo it is only sugar.This months Indian Cooking Challenge recipe is Varo.After a long break again I joined ICC, Thanks Valli.Valli choosen two recipes of varo among them I tried from Simply sindhi recipes. here I go....

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INGRADIENTS:----
Mixed nuts -- 1 cup chopped (I used Almonds, Pistachios and Cashew nuts)
Dry coconut slices -- 1 tab sp
Sugar --- 1 cup
Ghee (clarified butter) --- 2 tea sp
Cardamom powder -- 1/2 tea sp
Poppy seads --- 2 tea sp (Idid'nt use poppy seads due to lack of this ingredient)

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METHOD:--
Mix all nuts,dry coconut slices and poppy seads(if using) in a bowl.
In a heavy bottomed pan heat clarified butter then add sugar cook in a low flame till the sugar melt.
Let the sugar melt and reaches the caramel stage in to a light brown color(this process will take 5 min.).
Add nuts mixture, cardamom powder and stir well to coat the caramelized sugar.
Pour this mixture on to a greased plate or on a rolling bord.
Flat the surface with a rolling pin, This has to be done very fast otherwise the mixture starts harden as soon as it removed from heat.
Make marks with a grease nife when it is little warm.
Leave it a side to set for some time.
Break in to pieces and store in a air tight container.

Nov 11, 2010

KATHRIKKAI KOSTHU -- EGGPLANT IN TAMARIND GRAVY

Pongali and coconut chutney or coriander chutney is my favorite since I tried and taste with eggplant gostu.A good combination with dosa and I enjoyed this with roti also.Making process of this eggplant gostu is just like baingan bharta but little difference in seasoning and we don't use tamarind in baingan bhartha.No onion and garlic in this recipe but if you like can add onion and garlic in seasoning.

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Recipe Source : Chef in you
INGREDIENTS:--
Eggplant ---1 large (kathrikkai, vankaya, brinjal)
Tamarind paste -- 1 tab sp (soak gooseberry size tamarind in hot water for 10 mi and extract juice with 1 cup water.)
Salt -- 1/ teasp or accordind to your taste
FOR SEASONING:--
Oil -- 1 tabsp
Split black gram -- 1 tea sp(urad dal, minapappu)
Split pigeon peas -- 1 tea sp(tour dal, kandipappu)
Mustard seeds -- 1/2 tea sp
Dried red chillies -- 3 broken
Asafortida -- a pinch
Curry leaves -- a spring


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METHOD:--

Wash wipe eggplant and apply little oil .
Cook whole eggplant on direct flame on a gas stove or you can broil it in a oven till tender.
Remove from flame and let it cool,peal the skin and chop.
Mix tamarind paste with 1 cup water if you are using tamarind pulp or you like to use tamarind then extract the juice with 1 cup water and keep it ready.
Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds let them popup then add lentils, broken red chilies and fry for a minute.
Now add tamarind juice and curry leaves cook till the raw smell of the tamarind disappear. It will take 10 to 15 min in a low flame.
Add asafoetida mix well then add chopped eggplant.
Stir well to combine every thing well and let it boil for another 5 min.
Check the consistency that should be like chutney, if it is too watery then boil for some more time.
Serve with pongali






Nov 7, 2010

ATTA LADDU

Hi friends Iam back after a long break.This time Ihave taken realy a long break, Many things happened in my life. Moved in to a new country . Hope you all doing great and belated Diwali wishes to all of you. This recipe I wanted to post in my Diwali sweet series but I couldn't make it.Now I am going to start posting my recipes from today,hopefuly like how I use to post recipes before my break.The recipe is Atta laddu which I made for Diwali.

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INGREDIENTS:---
Atta -- 1 cup(whole wheat flour)
Jaggery -- 3/4 cup or you can use sugar according to your taste
Ghee (clarified butter) --- 3/4 cup
Cardamom powder -- 1/2 tea sp
Cashew nuts -- 1/4 cup broken
Raisins -- 1/4 cup
METHOD:--

  • Make sugar powder if you are using sugar or grate jaggery.
  • Heat ghee in a pan fry broken cashew and risins till golden remove and leave a side.
  • Add wheat flour to the same ghee and fry till atta turns into light pink in color by the time you can smell the nice aroma.It takes about 10 minutes.
  • Now add fried cashew and raisins,cardamom powder mix well for a minute.
  • Add grated jaggery or powdered sugar stir for 5 more minutes anf switch off the flame.
  • Make golf ball size balls out of this wheat flour mixture when the mixture is still warm
  • This mouth-watering atta laddu will stay for 1 month
You can add sliced and fried almonds to this laddu

Oct 17, 2010

HAPPY VIJAYADASEMI


HAPPY VIJAYADASEMI TO ALL

Jun 28, 2010

RAW ONION CHUTNEY


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Onion a common vegetable that we use in every day cooking. Onion a underground vegetable grows in single bulbs,native to Asia and Middle East and cultivated for over 5 thousand years. Greeks and Egyptians used them not only for their culinary use but also as an item for purchages though barter system in their markets.It was used in thair offerings to God's,and king's.Even nowOnion is an indispensable vegetable in many Indian recipes.It was used for it's medicinal properties in ancient India. But some vegetarian Hindus and jains don't eat onions because they are underground vegetables,as there is likelyhood of any micro-organisams or tiny life forms getting injured when the plant is pulled up to secure the bulb.Except such strictly vegetarian communitys most of the Indian kitchens will have onions in their every day menu.According to Ayurveda Charaka Samhita and shushruta Samhita ( ancient Ayurvedic text books )onion is a strengthening food.Like garlic onion is also from lilly(allium family).The anti bacterial property of onion has long been recognized by ayurveda.Onion reduces bad cholesterol and controles high blood pressure. It is having blood sugar regulating qualities also.Because of it's anti inflammatory agents onion helps to prevent Asthama.Onion soup is one of the best remedies for soothing cold. Juice of boiled onion clears phlegm, even eating a raw onion helps you to clear phlegm from throat and mouth and even it helps in controling flu.Onions are very helpfull to maintain healthy bones specialy for women those who are passing through menopause. Onions may bring tears to you eyes and bad breath from mouth. But onions will most certainly bring delicious taste to your recipes.
Here I am with onion chutney recipe:-----

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INGREDIENTS:----
Onion --1 big
Green chilies --- 15 no.
Split urad beens --- 1 tea sp (urad dal, Minappappu)
tamarind --- 2 inch piece( or you can use 1 tea sp tamarind pulp also)
Cumin seeds ---1/2 tea sp
Dry coconut -- 2 trab sp grated
Freah coriander leaves --- 1 cup chopped
Oil -- 1 tea sp
METHOD:----
1. Heat oil in a pan add urad dal,green chilies, cumin seeds and fry till nice aroma comes out this will take 7 minutes in a medium flame.
2. Then add grated dry coconut and fry for a second.
3. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
4. In the mean while soak tamarind in water for 5 minutes (If using tamarind).
5.Place fried ingredients in to a blender jar and grind in to a coarse paste then add onion pieces, chopped coriander, salt to taste, tamarind and grind in to a coarse paste (no need to add water moisture in the onion will be enough for making the chutney)
6. Remove from the blender jar in to a serving bowl and serve with idli, dosa, pongali, and steamed rice.

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Note:--- Choose onions clean. dry avoid sprouting onions moisture at there neck and dark patches.
Always store onions in a dry place where they get good ventilation like wire baskets.
Most importent part is when you slice the onion you get tears in your eyes the compound that causes the eyes to burn is a phytonutrient known as a allyl sulfate that produce sulfur- compounds released by the onion s ruptured cells are exposed to air to prevent this
Peel the onion and drop them in cold water for 1 hour then slice the onion.
Cut the onion in to two and place them in a container and leave it in the fridge for 1 hour then chop the onion
You may store the chopped or sliced onion wrapped tightly in a news paper and place it in a zip lock cover or sealed container and place it in the fridge but use these onion with in 2-3 days

Jun 21, 2010

BOTTLE GOURD JUICE

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Bottle gourd.. such a fantastic vegetable but many people dislike to include in there meal. This easy digestive vegetable has many benefits. Now a days ayurvedic doctors and yoga guru s are giving advises to include bottle gourd in every ones diet. Even for elder people also,this vegetable is usefull as it is having lot of medicinal values. Especially it contains 'o' cholesterol, high in dietary fiber and protein. Bottle gourd prevents excessive loss of sodium, very effective for urinary disorders, because cooked bottle gourd cools the body system. now a days bottle gourd juice is very popular in weight reduction.A glass of bottle gourd juice with a pinch of salt and 1 tea sp of lemon juice will be very help full in preventing urinary disorders, excessive thirst and tiredness. So start using bottle gourd in every day meal as it is a very common and less expencive vegetable in India. Here I am with very healthy bottle gourd juice in two versions.
FIRST VERSION------
INGREDIENTS:---
Bottle gourd pieces --- 1 cup (peal the green skin and remove the seeds)
Ginger -- 1/2 tea sp chopped
Lemon juice -- 2 tea sp
salt -- a pinch (or )
honey --- 1 tea sp (if you have any urine disorders then please don't add honey)
You can use sugar also but it will increase the calories.

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METHOD:---
Blend all the ingredients in a blander in to a fine paste.

Add water mix well and serve.
If you want you can strain the juice, but wen you strain the juice fiber will be removed and that is not good for health, not recommended too.
Have this juice once in a day only.
SECOND VERSION---
INGREDIENTS:---
Lemon juice -- 1 tab sp
Honey --- 1 tab sp or Rock sugar(patikabellam, Kalkanda)
Bottle gourd pieces -- 1 cup
Pineapple pieces -- 1/2 cup
cucumber pieces ---1/4 cup
ginger --1/2 tea sp chopped

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METHOD:----
Blend all above ingredients in a blender in to a smooth paste and add 2 glasses of water and blend for 1 second again.

Add 1 tab sp lemon juice and 1 tab sp honey or rock sugar(kalkanda, patikabellam) mix well to dissolve and serve.
If you are in a low calorie diet then this juice will be a good combination with any salad.
In that case don't add honey or sugar a pinch of salt will be replaced.
you want to really reduce your weight not only drinking this juice will help you have to do yoga or exercise and a 1/2 hour brisk walk also will give a good results...








Jun 13, 2010

COOKED RICE AND VEGETABLE CUTLET

Yessssss it is COOKED RICE CUTLET WITH VEGETABLES .....

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We have seen this recipe in a TV show, before that I use to make pakodi s with left over rice. Some times after a party left over rice is a big question mark for me in that case this is a great idea to finish that rice.in that tv show she didn't add vegetables but adding fresh grated vegetables will give a great taste to the cutlet, no need to add potato because we are using corn flour, chick pea flour,bread crumbs for binding, they helps to give a crispy texture also. Of course you can use fresh cooked rice also.
Wow girls Priya,Sailaja and Sharmila How did you find that!!!!! I thought only I know the recipe... heee hee hee great yaar thank you all for the comments and here I goo with the recipe..........

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INGREDIENTS:---
Cooked rice --- 2 & 1/2 cups (you can use left over rice or vegetable pulav or any non-vege pulav will give great taste in this you have to remove hole spices)
Onion -- 1 big finely chopped
Fresh coriander leaves --- 1 tab sp finely chopped
Carrot -- 1/4 cup grated
Cabbage --1/4 cup grated or finely chopped
Spinach --- 1/4 cup finely chopped
Green chilli chopped --- 1 tab sp
Besan (chick pea flour) -- 1 tab sp
Corn flour -- 1 tab sp
Fresh Bread crumbs -- 1 cup
Red chilli powder ---1/2 tea sp
Salt --- 1 1/2 tea sp or according to your taste
Garam masala powder -- 1 tea sp(optional)
Oil for deep frying

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METHOD:---
1.Mash the cooked rice with hand well, add chopped onion, chopped green chilies,grated vegetables, chopped spinach, chick pea flour,corn flour,fresh bread crumbs, salt, red chili powder,garam masala (if using) mix well to combine every thing.
2. Now make Small balls out of this mixture, give desire shape and deep fry in hot oil till golden color.
3. Remove from oil serve hot with tomato sauce or hot garlic sauce
Note:- Mash rice with hand only don't use blender or mixee if you use blender or mixee rice will become very soggy(fine paste) that won't give a good taste to cutlet
Use fresh bread crumbs and mix them with rice mixture this will help you in binding and helps in remove extra moisture from rice mixture and vegetables also and your oil won't spoil trust me and try this with any cutlet not only this one you will get nice crisp cutlets
You can shallow fry them but deep fry gives a better and crispy texture.







Jun 12, 2010

GUESS THE INGREDIENT......

Today is Saturday, suddenly it was raining here and weather became little pleasant. We were carving for some thing deep fried for our dinner, first we thought of making pakodis or puri and curry but suddenly amma changed her idea and this recipe was born.She didn't add potato in this and they are not regular bread rolls.Now friends try to GUESS WHAT THE MAIN INGREDIENT IS.........
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Recipe coming up..............................

Jun 7, 2010

CHOCOLATE MILK PUDDING

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Pudding normally made with milk, eggs or starch,some times with rice also and served most often as a dessert. But there are some savory dishes which are very famous as puddings. In India puddings are famous for desserts like rice pudding (kheer), Bread pudding, Bread and butter pudding, caramel custard. First time I was inter duce China grass by my MIL she use to make with instant china grass power and milk and it is a favorite dessert at my place.When I was a kid amma (my mom) use to make caramel custard pudding with milk, eggs, sugar that is my all time favorite. I usually make milk pudding with china grass with vanilla flavor but one fine day I saw this chocolate milk pudding in Priya s blog that was very interesting..and it came out very well, taste awesome also we just loved it Thank you so much Priya for this delicious Idea of chocolate milk pudding.....

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INGREDIENTS:---
Milk -- 1&1/2 cups

Sweetened condensed milk -- 1/2 cup
Chocolate powder -- 2 tab sp
Agar agar (china grass) powder -- 1 tab sp
Chocolate chips -- 1 tab sp
Vanilla essence -- few drops
METHOD:---
1. Mix milk and condensed milk in a tick bottom pan and bring to a full boil then add agar agar powder mix well keep in a low flame and stir till agar agar get dissolved.
2. Remove from the heat and divied this milk in to two bowls.
3. Add vanilla essence in one bowl and chocolate powder and chocolate chips in another bowl mix well to dissolve chocolate powder.
4. Take another big bowl or 2 or 3 small bowls.
5. pour vanilla milk mixture first.
6. Next pour chocolate milk mix slowly in the middle of the vanilla milk mix leave it a side to cool then keep it in the fridge for an hour.
7. Serve chilled with any toping or with fruits.
Enjoy your dessert chilled...

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Jun 5, 2010

MANGO JAM

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Ahhh almost finished my raw mango recipes for this year. Raw mangoes are turned in to ripe sweet fruit so now they are in very sweet taste. If they are any raw mangoes in the market they don't taste sour but little sweet taste will be there. this sweet and sour taste mangoes are not perfect for pickles and chutneys. This sweet and sour mangoes are good for Salsa,salads and some curries but not for pickles and jams.For jam we have to use fully ripe mangoes, that gives a better taste to jam.But some people use half ripe mangoes also for jam... Who don't like jam spread on a crisp toast for break fast? Jam is my all time favorite with bread toast or a chapati or roti, that too if it is a mango jam thats it yummmm.
Mango pulp -- peal mango and cut in to bite size pieces and make pulp in a blander add 1 tab sp water if require(better make pulp without water).


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INGREDIENTS:----
Mango pulp --- 2 1/2 cups

Sugar --- 200 gms
Cloves -- 4
Cinnamon powder --1/2 tea sp
Citric acid ---- 1/4 tea sp or
lemon juice -- 1 tab sp
METHOD:---
1.Take mango pulp, sugar, cloves in to a thick bottom pan and start cooking, bring to a full boil and reduce the flame, keep string.
2. cook this mixture in a low flame till the mixture become thick, means if you drop a little jam on a plate that should not spread.(this will take 20 to 25 minutes time)
3. In this stage add lemon juice or if you like to add citric acid then mix 1/4 tea sp citric acid to 1/4 cup of hot water and add this citric acid mixture, cinnamon powder mix well to combine every thing.
4. Remove from heat and let it cool then pour mango jam in to sterilized glass jar, seal when it is completely cool.


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Remove cloves before you pour the jam in to jar.

Keep this jam in fridge because I didn't use any preserves I used lemon juice if you want to keep this for long time then you can add preserves so that jam will stay for long time.
Like pickles don't use a wet spoon to scoup out the jam always use a clean and dry spoon.
If you like can add a pinch of yellow food color for more bright color.





Jun 1, 2010

RAW MANGO AND CABBAGE CHUTNEY

In the array of my mango recipes, this chutney recipe is new one to me also. Few day back Harichandana of Indian cuisine posted this spicy and tempting chutney with Raw mango and cabbage Really it is a perfect side dish for every thing like rice, dosa, idli and chapati. I made little changes like I gave a seasoning after grinding the chutney and increase the red chilies.thank you so much for the recipe Chandana...


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INGREDIENTS:----
Cabbage --- 1 cup chopped(I used the bowl what I presented the chutney in the pic. that is nearly 200g of cabbage)
Raw mango --- 1 medium size, very sour and green mango
Dry red chillies -- 12 to 15 or according to your taste
Chana dal -- 1 tab sp (split chick peas)
Urad dal -- 1/2 tab sp (split urad bean)
Fenugreek seeds -- 1/4 tea sp
Mustard seeds --- 1 tea sp
Oil --- 4 tea sp
Salt -- 1 1/2 tea sp or according to your taste
FOR SEASONING:----
Oil --- 1 tea sp
Mustard seeds -- 1/2 tea sp
Asafoetida -- 1/4 tea sp
Curry leaves -- 1 spring
METHOD:----
1. chop cabbage, peal and chop mango in to small pieces and leave a side.
2.Heat oil in a deep frying pan add chana dal, urad dal,mustard seeds and fry till light golden color then add fenugreek seeds and Dry red chilies and fry for 3 min. remove from flame and leave it to cool.
3. In the same pan add chopped cabbage and fry for 2 to 3 min. or till the raw smell disappears, remove fro the flame and let it cool.
4.Grind roasted dals, mustard, fenugreek seeds,red chillies in to afine powder then add cabbage, chopped raw mango pieces, salt and grind in to a coarse paste if required sprinkle water(I did't add any water, if you run your blender with gaps for every 2 sec. that will help you to grind your chutney with out water).
5. Heat oil for seasoning in a small frying pan add mustard seeds let them splutter then add asafoetida and curry leaves add this seasoning to chutney mix well ti combine every thing check salt one before you serve.If require add some salt and mix well.
Serve with hot steamed rice, dosa, idli, chapati or any thing you like...enjoy...


May 28, 2010

MAGAYA - SUN DRIED MANGO PICKLE

One more pickle like Avakaya during this summer time made with raw mangoes and stays for long time (more then one year).Magaya is a very popular pickle like Avakaya in coastal Andhra.Making of this pickle is totally different then Avakaya and a perfect side dish for curd rice and pongal....
INGREDIENTS:-----
Mangoes - 6 big
Mustard powder -- 200g
Salt - 250g
Red chili powder - 250g
Fenugreek powder - 50g
Turmeric -- 1 tab sp
Oil ---- 400g
FOR SEASONING:----
Dry red chilies -- 10 broken
Asafoetida - 1/2 tea sp
Mustard seeds --2 teasp

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METHOD:---
1.Wash,clean mangoes with a dry cloth, peal the skin and slice the mangoes in to very thin slices (like potato chips)
2. Shift the mango slices in a wide bowl add half salt and turmeric powder combine well to coat salt and turmeric each and every piece.
3. Cover this marinated mango pieces bowl with a lid and leave a side for 1 day.
4.Next day morning you can find this marinated mango pieces ooze there juices. Now squeeze the juice lightly from mango pieces and spread the mango pieces on a big plate.
5. Sun dry this squeezed mango pieces with sap in a very hot sun for 1 day or till the wetness in the mango piece disappears.(this process will take 1 day in Indian peak summer ).
6. In the mean while dry roast the mustard and then fenugreek take care that the seeds should not splutter remove and make a fine powder.
7. Add remaining salt.red chili powder, mustard and fenugreek powder, sap to mango pieces mix well to combine every thing.
8.Heat oil in a deep frying pan add mustard seeds let them splutter then add broken red chilies and asafoetida remove from flame and let it cool.
9 Add this seasoning to mango and spice mixture mix well to combine every thing leave it for a day.
From third day you can use this pickle.
Enjoy this delicious pickle with curd rice or pongali or even with plain steamed rice.
store the pickle in a ceramic or glass jar don't use plastic jars
Make sure that you don't touch water while making the pickle and clean each and every thing like mixing bowl ladle and mangoes with a dry cloth and dry them properly.
Use a clean and dry spoon every time to take out the pickle from jar.



May 19, 2010

SPROUTED MUNG AND MANGO SALAD

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Sprouted mung beans are popular alternative to meat for vegetarians. Sprouted mung beans are hign in Potassium,Calcium.Iron, Fiber,Magnesium and B vitamins.Sprouted mung beans are excellent diet food because 1 cup of sprouted mung beans contain less then 30 calories but high in protein, only 2 grams of fat and very rich sorce of dietary fiber and they are very easily digestible. They do not generally create abdominal gas or bloating. This fiber and vitamin rich little sprouted beans can be eaten on their own or combine with rice to make Khichari or mix with vegetables and greens to make healthy soups or make a paste with sprouted mung beans to make delicious crepes or mix with seasonal fruits and nuts to make healthy salads. So sprouted mung beans are one of the most recomended food for the people who are in weight loss diet. Instead of having idlis and dosa s for break fast 1 cup of sprouted mung beans with any seasonal fruit will be a very good choice for weight loss diet and now it is the Mango season in India so here is a very simple salad for this hot summer break fast.
INGREDIENTS:----
Mango --- 1 big ripe
Sprouted mung beans -- 1 cup 250 ml or 200 g
Honey -- 1tab sp (if required)
Black pepper powder --- 1/4 teasp
Cinamon powder --- 1/4 tea sp
METHOD:----
1. Peal and cut the mango in to bite size pieces
2. combine all above ingredients in a salad mixing bowl
Serve immediately.
If you like to have this salad chilled then leave it in the fridge for 1 hour before you serve but this won't stay crisp for long time in the fridge, mango pieces will become soft.
Check my POMEGRANATE& MOONG SPROUTS SALAD

May 15, 2010

MAMIDIKAYA MUKKALA PACHADI - INSTANT MANGO PICKLE

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In a typical Andhra meal PACHADI will take the first place.A traditional andhra meal will not complite with out ooragaya and pachadi. Ooragaya means pickle which is made of seasonal fruits and vegetables and uses a liberal amount of chilli powder,spices and oil.Pachadi(chutney) is typically made with vegetables and roasted green or red chilies,spices, it consumes less oil then pickle and stay for 1 or 2 days. Normally pachadi s are made with vegetables like ridge gourd, eggplant,etc. and greens like Gongura, coriander and mint leaves, coconut and also with some lentils like toor dal and urad dal. In mango season we make pachadi with mangoes for an instent use before avakaya get ready to use. Today I am here withone of the mango pachadi for instant use....
INGREDIENTS:---
Mango --- 1 big
Coriander seeds --- 1 1/2 teasp
Dry red chillies --- 50g
Mustard seeds -- 1 tea sp
cumin seeds -- 1/2 teasp
Fenugreek seeds -- 1 tea sp
Salt -- 10 g
Turmeric powder -- 1/2 tea sp
FOR SEASONING:----
Oil --- 50ml
Mustard seeds --- 1 tea sp
Dry red chilies -- 4 broken
asafoetida -- 1/4 teasp

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METHOD:-----
1. Heat a teasp oil in a deep frying pan add one by one mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and dry red chilies and fry till nice aroma comes out in a low flame.
2. Wash and clean the mango with a dry cloth and chop the 1/4th mango with skin, peal the skin and cut the remaining mango in to bite size pieces.

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3.first grind the fried spices with salt and turmeric powder in to a fine powder.

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4.Add bite size mango pieces to the spice powder and again grind in to a fine paste(dont add water grind this mango and spice mixture with gaps for every 2 sec.If you find diffecult in grinding open the lid and mix with a spoon and again grind for 2 sec.)

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5. Remove from the blender(mixee jar) add chopped mango pieces check the salt if required add some salt mix well to combine every thing and take it out in to a serving bowl.

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6. Heat oil in a deep frying pan add mustard seeds and let them splutter then add broken dry red chilies. asafoetida swithch off the flame and add this seasoning to chutney mix well.
Serve with idli, dosa, pondali, curd rice, rice and dal(annam, muddapappu) enjoy the fresh mango pickle.

May 11, 2010

MAMIDIKAYA TURUMU PACHADI - GRATED MANGO PICKLE

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Here is the next pickle from Mango season,which is very easy to make and stay for long time(more then one year).This is an instent pickle which you can use from the next day.It tastes little different then Avakaya but process is almost the same only thing we grate the mangoes for this pickle instead of making pieces.For this pickle we can use any verity of raw green mangoes. Mangoes should be fully mature, raw, green and very sour in taste. You can serve this pickle with any thing like Idli, Dosa, Pongal, Curd rice,Rice . But my choice is when you mix this pickle with leftover rice (don't add ghee or butter that will spoil the pickle taste because ghee dominates the pickle flavor) in the next day morning mmmm that is the best way to eat this pickle for me. and here is the recipe.... INGREDIENTS:----
Mangoes --- 6 no. really big size mangoes measure the grated mango that should be 2 kg s or 12 cups with rice cooker measurement cup.
Salt ---- 250 g
Mustard powder ----200 g
Fenugreek powder ---- 1 tab sp
Red chilli powder --- 250 g
Turmeric powder --- 1 tab sp
Oil ---- 1/2 kg
Dry red chillies --- 10 no. broken
Mustard seeds --- 25 g

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METHOD:----
1. Wash mangoes and wipe with a clean dry cloth and great with skin till the seed and remove the seed and take this grated mango in to wide bowl
2. Add turmeric powder,fenugreek powder, mustard powder, salt and red chilli powder and mix well to combine all ingredients very well.


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3. Heat oil in a deep frying pan till smoking point add mustard seeds and let them splutter then add broken red chilies remove the pan from fire and let it cool to room temperature.

4. Then add this oil with mustard seeds and dry red chilies to grated mango mixture mix well and cover with a lid and leave a side for 1 day.


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5. next day morning again mix with a clean,dry ladle and check salt if required add salt or red chilli powder at this time mix well and enjoy the pickle.

May 6, 2010

AVAKAYA - A TREDITIONAL ANDHRA MANGO PICKLE FROM ANDHRA PRADESH

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Muddapappu,avakaya with hot steamed rice and ghee is the most wanted combination for Telugu people,OrPerugu annam (curd rice, cooked rice mixed with yogurt)with avakaya but most of the Telugu people likes with muddapapu(cooked and mashed pigeon peas with little salt)Avakayi, neyi(clarified butter/ghee) with steamed rice. From Ugadi (the telugu new year day) we start useing mangoes in our cooking that is the day we offer God the first crop of raw mangoes in Ugadi pachadi, After one month from Ugadi day the pickling mangoes will start coming in to the market. In this Hot summer season every Telugu household look forward for Avakaya making season. My mom will check for a good day and she first starts with making Mustard powder and fenugreek powder and then in the mid day after lunch She start mixing the pickle, by the time she finished mixing the pickle it will be evening 4o clock. Every year Amma makes this pickle for 3 households myself, my sister,my brother and for amma herself. I am so lucky that I got this treasure (avakaya pickle recipe) from my amma and to day here I am with the traditional Andhra pickle Avakaya.. And my choice is Hot rice with Muddapappu, Ghee and Avakaya yummmmmm heaven.. ok here I go with the recipe.........

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INGREDIENTS:----
Mangoes -- 6 big (we use peddarasalu)
Salt -- 250 g or 2 1/4 cup with rice cooker cup
Turmeric --- 2 tab sp
Mustard power -- 250g or 2 1/4 cup (Dry 200 grams black mustard in hot sun for 2-3 hour or heat a deep frying pan and heat mustard till they hot when you touch with your hand, take care that mustard should not splutter when you fry them. Let them cool for some time and grind in to a fine powder. Grind mustard seeds very slowly giving gap in between every 2 sec. otherwise oil may come out from the mustard seeds )
Fenugreek powder- 2 tab sp
Fenugreek seeds --- 1 tab sp

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Red chilli powder --300 g or 3 1/4 cups
Oil --- 1/2 kg ( good quality sesame oil)or idayam gingely oil.
Garlic - 100 grams(Garlic should be added on third day.

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METHOD:-----
1. Clean mangoes with a lightly wet cloth and leave a side for dry .
2. Now cut the mangoes vertically in to half that the hard stone in the inside the mango is also cut in to two parts,discard the in side soft seed and their will be a thin layer stick to the hard part of the seed discard that layer also and clean the mango pieces with a dry cloth. Leave the hard shell of mango seed to the mango piece. that means each piece should contain the hard stone part so that the mango piece should not become soft after pickling for a year.
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3. Now take half oil (I gave 1/2 kg oil in thair half means 1/4 kg oil) in to a big bowl or plate and add turmeric powder and fenugreek seeds to this oil mix well and add mango pieces to this oil and leave a side for 15 min. This will help to retain hard the mango piece in the pickle for long time.
4.Then add the mustard powder, fenugreek powder, salt and red chilli powder to the mango pieces and combine well with a ladle or with you r hand to combine the ingredients well and coat the mango pieces with the masala well.
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5. place this mango pieces mixture in a jar or a glass bottle (don't use plastic jars or bottle) and pour the leftover 1/4 kg oil on top of the mango pieces and cover tightly and leave a side for 3 days.
6. On third day clean and peel the garlic cloves.
7. Now open the pickle jar and mix with a clean and dry ladle and check salt if required add some more salt and check once again, add garlic cloves and again mix well care fully again cover tightly and leave for 1 more day.
8. This will stay for 1 year.
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NOTE:-- Choose the mangoes very carefully. Mangoes should be fully mature, raw, green and very sour in taste.
Especially for avakai choose the mangoes with high fiber, normally in Andhra pradesh we use peddarasalu or cheruku rasalu or any verity of rasalu mangoes if you don't find this verity then you can use any long verity which is fibrous, green and sour because when you pickling this fibrous mangoes the pickle will stand till the next season without going soft.
make sure that you don't touch water while making the pickle and clean each and every thing like mixing bowl ladle and mangoes with a dry cloth and dry them properly.
Don't compromise in ingredients like oil, salt and chilli powder these three ingredients are soul for this pickle (not only this every pickle). If you compromise in this three ingredients your pickle will spoil by the next day it self. So don't compromise with salt and oil measurements.
Can reduce the quantity of mustard powder in this case pickle (gravy) will become watery
first day what oil we pour in the pickle may not be visible but on the third day you can find the oil floating on top.

May 4, 2010

MANGO JUICE

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It's already mid summer in India. Power cuts and hot winds are started, this is the season for a tropical fruit which is a favorite fruit for almost every one. Mango the king of the fruits,this year they already in the market. Naturally April and may is the starting for the green mangoes and some verity of mangoes will turn in to fruit. There are hundred s of verity's of mangoes in India but in andhra pradesh especially in costal andhra pradesh there is one more verity mangoes called RASALU(juicy mangoes).
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This mangoes are specially cultivated in Krishna district. There are verity's in this mangoes they are Chinna Rasalu (small juicy mangoes),pedda rasalu or cheruku rasalu(big juicy mangoes) and nujiveedu rasalu. Nujiveedu rasalu is more sweet and tasty in this verity.
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Usually this mangoes will start coming in to the market in April and stop by may when Banganpalli mangoes starts coming in to the market. This Rasalu mangoes are specially used for pickle(avakaya) when they are green and raw once they start ripe they become very juicy and sweet at this time we can only use this mangoes for juice only, we can not cut this mangoes in to pieces. Normally we press the ripe mango from all sides and make small hole on top and squeeze all the juice in to a glass or a bowl no need to add sugar to this juice . One pedda rasalu mango weighs 3 kg and gives more then 1 litre thick juice you can make 2 ½ to 3 litres delicious mango juice by adding water to this.
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Also we dry this mango pulp in sun and make sun dried mango candy s (mamidi tandra). In my child hood I use to skip lunch for this rasalu mangoes. Me my sister, brother and cousins use to sit in a circle and enjoy each mango......... ohhh those golden days........... anyways here I am with a simple recipe of Mango juice....
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Mangoes ---- 1 big( nice ripe big pedda rasam mango – 1 or chinnarasalu mangoes 3 or any other good quality ripe mangoes 3... If you are using any other mangoes peal the skin and cut in to small cubes)
If you are using rasalu mangoes press the mango from all sides to easily squeeze the juice make hole on top and squeeze the all juice and remove the skin and seed.
sugar – 1 cup if required (I didn't add sugar because I used peddarasalu mangoes they it self very sweet in taste)
Ice cubes – 1 tab sp or according to your taste(instead of ice cubes you can add water in sufficient quantity)
Blend all above ingredients in a blender to make the juice smooth and combine the ingredients well.
Pour the juice in to glasses and serve with more ice cubes if require.
Enjoy the summer special delicious drink....
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Mango juice is very beneficial for Anemia, Excessive thirsty condition, mental stress and it energies the body,removes the toxins and helps in constipation because mango is rich in c vitamin, carotene, niacin, riboflavin and calcium....
So enjoy a healthy seasonal fruit in the season......