Feb 26, 2015

Summer Specials

Summer in India is hot and humid.The heat drains us out and hence eating healthy and staying cool is mandatory.

Few pointers:  (all of us are aware but just to refresh our minds)
  • Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.  
  •  Eat light food that helps in easy digestion - so less oil ,less spice and less junk.
  • Reduce tea / coffee 
  • Eat at regular intervals.
  • Avoid spicy, fried and extremely salty food.
  • Eat fresh (food spoils faster in summer)
  • Protect yourself from UV rays of sun.
Must have's during summers-
  • Water
  • Fresh fruits 
  • Fresh Fruit Juice
  • Raw Mango Panna/Kokum Sharbat/Coconut water
  • Curds / Yogurt-Buttermilk / Ragi /Finger Millet
  • Vegetables (in form of salads,Juice) - Cucumber ,carrots,tomato,cabbage
Healthy Salads



Enjoy your summer !! Stay healthy !! Stay Cool !!


Feb 19, 2015

Bhendi fry Version II / Okra fry

Bhendi fry or Okra fry is simple and easy vegetable ,crispy and tasty too.This is South Indian version with coconut.

Ingredients:
Bhendi fry Version II / Okra fry
  • 1 cup Bhindi/ Okra 
  • (finely chopped)
  • Seasoning
  • Oil-2tbsp
  • 1/2 tsp Mustard
  • 1/2 tsp Jeera
  • 1/2 tsp chana dal
  • 1/2 tsp urad dal
  • Hing-pinch
  • Turmeric-pinch
  • Bhath pwd-1-2 tbsp
  • Curry leaves-few
  • Salt-taste
  • Fresh coconut-2tbsp
Method -In a pan ,heat oil,prepare the seasoning-add the items -mustard,jeera,chana dal,urad dal,hing,curry leaves, once done,add the vegetable and fry well till crisp.Add salt bhath pwd and mix well.Garnish with coconut .Serve hot with chapati or rasam rice.


Thanks for stopping by..

Please do check other interesting recipes you can make from South Indian Side Dishes under Menu Planner.


“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ― Aristotle

Feb 15, 2015

Rice Fritters /Rice Pakoda

Rice  Fritters / Rice Pakodas  is spicy crisps made from cooked rice. It is tasty crispy and delicious.


Ingredients-
Rice Fritters  /Rice Pakoda
Rice Fritters
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 tbsp gram flour
  • Green chillies-4-5 finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp dhania jeera pwd
  • ½ tsp Bhath pwd
  • ½ tsp Jeera
  • ½ tsp ajwain/oma 
  • few chopped  coriander leaves
  • Salt to taste
  • Hing-pinch
  • Oil for frying
  • Method In a bowl, add all the ingredients except oil and mix together to form the batter  add  water as required.Heat oil in a deep pan. Make small balls and flatten it. Set it on a plate.In a kadai,heat  oil , slowly slide in the pakodas deep fry till golden brown on both sides.Drain on absorbent paper.Serve hot with chutney or sauce.


Thanks for stopping by...

 Also don't forget to check the other " Snacksvariants under Menu Planner.


You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.C. S. Lewis 

Feb 12, 2015

Maida Puri

Maida Poori is simple poori made from Maida (all purpose flour)  i/o of wheat flour. It is fluffy, soft and yummy. Enjoy with spicy Sabzi of your choice.


Ingredients:
  • 1.5 cups maida /all purpose flour
    Maida Puri
  • 2 tbsp chiroti rava /semolina
  • 3 tbsp  curds/dahi 
  • salt-pinch
  • 1 tsp oil-kneading
  • oil for frying

Method - Mix all ingredients with water and make a soft dough. Make puris and deep fry them in hot oil. The puris will not turn brown so don't worry.Serve hot with sabzi of your choice.



Thanks for stopping by..




Do check interesting sabzi's under "Veggie Delight" Menu Planner.

"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."Albert Einstein

Feb 10, 2015

Besan Bread Toast

Besan Bread Toast is a interesting recipe made from spicy besan batter with tomatoes and onions, topped on bread. A yummy and crunchy snack is ready in no time.

Prep Time: 15mins

Cook Time:15 Mins
Total time:30 mins
Servings: 4
Author: Smita

Ingredients:

1 cup besan/gram flour
Besan Bread Toast
Besan Bread Toast
Bread slices
1/2 cup onions (chopped finely)
1/4 tomatoes (chopped finely)
Green chillies-1-2 (opt)
turmeric pwd-pinch
Hing-pinch
Red chilli pwd-1/4 tsp
Garam masala-1/4 tsp
Jeera-1/2 tsp
Carom seeds-1/2 tsp
salt as required
water (mixing the batter)

oil-toasting /shallow frying 


    Method- In a bowl, add mix all ingredients except bread. Add little water and mix well ,ensure no lumps are present. Cut the bread into halves. Take the bread slices, apply the  besan batter on the bread slices, using a knife and spread all over.(or dip the bread in the besan batter ) Next heat a tava,add  oil,roast the bread with the batterside. Once it is slightly brown, fry the other side. Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.




    Thanks for stopping by..

    Don't forget to check other interesting Sandwich recipes under "Bread Bites"-Ingredients Search


    "We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are."Max de Pree

    Feb 5, 2015

    Navil Kosu Uppittu / Knol Kol Upma

    Navil Kosu Uppittu or Knol Kol Upma or Upit is the simple upma blended with the green Knol Kol. It is tasty spicy and filling breakfast. A nice, hot and healthy breakfast for chilly winter mornings. Navil Kosu or Naval kol is known as Kohlrabi in English.


    • Rava or sooji- 1cup
    • Water - 2 cups
    • Navil Kosu-1 cup (finely shredded)
    • Onion- 1big finely chopped
    • Green chillies-6-7
    • Curry leaves-few
    • Oil-1-2 tbsp
    • Mustard-1/2tsp
    • Jeera-1/2tsp
    • Channa dal-1tsp
    • Urad dal-1tsp
    • Hing- a pinch
    • Turmeric-a pinch
    • Fresh coriander-few
    • Lemon juice-1tbsp
    • Salt to taste
    • Freshly grated coconut-1/2 cup

    Method:  Fry the rava well until slightly brown and aromatic and keep it aside. Boil water. Heat oil in a pan add mustard,jeera when they begin to splutter , add channa and urad dal fry about 2 minutes until light brown. Next add onion, navil kosu, hing, curry leaves, green chillies and fry well. Once done add fried rava ,salt and mix well next add the boiling water slowly. Stir until all the water is gone. Add the lemon juice. Close the lid and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves and coconut and serve Navil Kosu Uppittu /   Knol Kol Upma hot.

    You can also add Dhania-Jeera Powder/Kalamiri Powder for additional spicy flavor.





    Thanks for stopping by..

    Do check for 16 Upma Varieties that you can make!


    "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure".Colin Powell 

    Feb 2, 2015

    Chutney Sandwich

    Chutney Sandwich

    Chutney Sandwich : eat it as snack or at picnics.Everyone loves it.Simple and easy.Simple lunch box recipe for kids.

    Prep Time: 10mins

    Cook Time:10 Mins
    Total time:20 mins
    Servings: 4
    Author: Smita

    Ingredients:
    • Bread
    • Butter 
    Green Chutney:
    • 4-5 green chillies, chopped 
    • Coriander leaves,Mint
    • Fresh grated coconut -1/2 cup
    • Roasted gram dal-hurikadle
    • 1 tsp. tamarind paste
    • Salt to taste

    Method: Grind all the chutney ingredients to a smooth paste with little water.Keep aside.
    Remove the edges of the bread slices,apply butter,green chutney .Apply butter,chutney and on another bread slice ,place this on top layer.Toast it .Cut it in triangle shape and serve.


    Thanks for stopping by..

    Don't forget to check other interesting Sandwich recipes under "Bread Bites"-Ingredients Search

    Moong Rasam / Hesarukalu Saaru

    Hesarukalu Saaru is a simple rasam variety made from Moong / Greengram -Nutritious and healthy , try it if you want something tangy and spicy accompaniment for rice.Enjoy hot as soup as well.


    Moong Rasam, Hesarukalu Saaru
    Moong Rasam / Hesarukalu Saaru
    Ingredients:
    • 1 cup Hesarukalu / Green Moong
    • (cooked well)
    • 1 tsp Jaggery
    • 1/4 tsp Tamarind paste
    • Salt as per taste

    For Grinding
    • 2-3 tsp Coriander seeds
    • 1/2 tsp Jeera
    • 1-2 Kala miri
    • 2-3 Dry red chillies
    • 3-4 tbsp Grated coconut, Fresh
    • 1 tomato chopped

    For seasoning
    • 1 tsp Mustard
    • 1-2 tsp Ghee
    • 1-2 strands Curry leaves
    • Hing-pinch
    • Turmeric-pinch


    Method: Pressure cook the legumes well.Grind together the items mentioned under For Grinding.Keep it aside.Take a pan , add the ground paste to the cooked Moong.Add water and mix well.Let it boil for some time.Next add tamarind paste, jaggery and salt ,simmer for 10-15 mins.Season with the mustard ,hing and curry leaves.Enjoy Hesarukalu Saaru hot with rice.


    Thanks for stopping by..

    Do check other interesting recipes under "Saaru N Rasam" Menu Planner.

    "Believe you can and you're halfway there."Theodore Roosevelt

    Healthy Platter

    Healthy Platter
    Eat Healthy Stay Cheerful