Togari Kayi Saaru

Togari Kayi Saaru is a simple rasam variety made from fresh Togarikayi/ Green Pigeon Peas. ( Tuvar Dal - fresh version ) Nutritious and healthy , try it if you want something tangy and spicy accompaniment for rice. Togarikalu (in Kannada ) or  Tuvar Lilva is a bean variety  mostly available during winter season in India.

Togari Kayi Saaru 

Ingredients:
1 cup Fresh Togarikayi /Pigeon Peas

(cooked well)
1 tsp Jaggery
1/4 tsp Tamarind paste
Salt as per taste

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

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 Togari Kayi Saaru hot with rice.


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

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

Potato Toast

Potato Toast is a simple and easy snack recipe made from humble bread and potatoes. The butter and spices makes this very delicious and tasty. Kids will love it.

Ingredients 

•    Bread slices - 4 

•     Potato - 1 cup (boiled and mashed)

Potato Toast

•    Green chillies - 1 finely chopped (opt)

•    Salt to taste

•    Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp

•    Turmeric Powder - a pinch

•    Dhania-Jeera Powder - 1/2 tsp

•    Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp

•    Butter 

Method-In a bowl add the boil potato and mash it well, next add the masala powders, salt ,chopped chillies and mix well. Next heat a tava, meanwhile apply butter one side of the bread and on the other side apply the mashed potato spread. Put on the tava, toast the buttered side first until golden brown. Flip over and add butter and roast the potato side till golden brown. Serve the potato toast hot with ketchup and hot cup of tea/coffee.

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Please dont forget to check other interesting recipes you can make from Bread under "Bread Bites"

Butter/Ghee - homemade method

Butter / Ghee Making process - 

Learn how to make butter /ghee at home with the below steps, most of you will definitely know, have complied for the newbies !

Steps-

1. Collecting Cream-
2. Boil the milk as usual, collect the cream formed on the milk in a container and store it in refrigerator. Keep doing this activity everyday till sufficient cream is collected.
3. After you have collected 2or 3 cups of cream, you can use it to make butter.
4. Collecting Butter/Butter milk-
5. In a mixer jar, or in a food processor add the cream, next add  1 cup of water. Turn on the mixer or food processor. Initially, the cream will begun to smoothen and you will get smooth whipped cream forming over the top in the jar. Continue the mixer, till the butter and the buttermilk gets separated. Collect the butter using the strainer in a vessel. Keep the buttermilk in the refrigerator.
6. Preparing Ghee 
7. Making the Ghee -  Next place the vessel with the butter on moderate heat, keep stirring let it simmer for 15-20 mins till you get the aroma of Ghee coming .Strain and store in a dry container.

Enjoy healthy ghee on your dosas, idlis or the butter on parathas.

The buttermilk is equally good for your healthy. 

Spice up the buttermilk and enjoy !

Butter

Ghee

Beetroot Palya Ver II

Beetroot Palya Ver II  is  easy to prepare. Very healthy, colorful blended with groundnut masala it is tasty and delicious.Try it out.

Beetroot Palya Ver II

Ingredients:

• 2 beetroots,finely chopped
• 1-2 tbsp coconut shreds (opt)
• Groundnut powder-2tsp
• Bhath Pwd-2 tsp
• salt to taste
• oil, 
• 1/2 tsp Mustard
• 1/2 tsp Chana Dal
• 1/2 Urad dal
• 1/2 tsp Jeera
•  Few curry leaves
• Few corainder leaves (chopped)
• Hing Pinch

Method: Cook the beetroot in pressure cooker. Keep aside. In a pan, heat oil and add mustard,chana dal,urad dal,hing,curry leaves and fry well.

Once done, add the beetroots, add salt ,masala powders and mix well. Fry it for 2-3 min on low flame. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve this Beetroot stirfry hot with rasam rice or chapati.

(you can add grated coconut if req)

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Please do check other interesting accompaniment for Indian Breads under "South Indian Side Dishes"


"Action is the foundational key to all success."Pablo Picasso

Badam Puri

  Badam Puri

Badam Puri is a yummy dessert that can be enjoyed on special occasions or festivals. 

Rich and tasty layered delight-crispy from outside and soft within.

Ingredients: 2 cups-maida 2 cups sugar 1 cup ghee 1 tsp. Elachi pwd Oil/Ghee for - frying 1 tbsp grated dry coconut Milk Rice flour

Method:  Mix sugar, water and make a syrup.  Add cardamom powder and keep aside. In a bowl,add the flour, ghee and milk knead well and make a soft dough . Rest it for 4-5 hrs. Take a small sized ball of dough and roll into a round shape,  then fold it into half and half like cone. Fix a clove in the centre of the triangle. Fry these triangle folded pieces in the heated oil/ghee .  Fry till golden color and remove it. Dip these puris into the sugar syrup and then remove it on to a plate. Decorate with grated nuts and coconut. Thanks for stopping by.. Enjoy other delicious traditional Kheer recipes under "Desserts".

Cauliflower Paratha / Gobi Paratha

Cauliflower Paratha aka Gobi paratha is very healthy and nutritious. Enjoy as weekend breakfast or brunch. Hot and delicious.

Ingredients  

Cauliflower Paratha / Gobi Paratha

• Wheat flour 3 cups 
• Potato 1 small (boiled and mashed)
• Florets cauliflower (boiled and mashed)
• Red chilly pwd1/2 Tsp
• Garam masala pwd1/2 Tsp 
• Dhania jeera pwd-1/2 tsp
• Salt to taste   
• Ghee or oil for frying   
• Jeera-few 
• Green Chillies 1-2 (addln spice/opt)

    

Method :

1.Knead the flour with water, a little salt,oil into a soft dough.Cover it for 4-5 hours.

2.In a Kadai heat oil, add  jeera,Then add the chilly and garam masala powders, and fry for a while. Add the mashed vegetables, salt and mix well.Fry till dry set aside to cool. Divide the mixture into balls. 

3.Make a small chapati with the dough,keep this ball in the middle and bring all the sides together, flatten them with your fingers, or use the rolling pin to make the paratha 

4.Heat a tava, put in the paratha, turn on both sides till done.Add oil or ghee all around the edges, fry both sides, carefully turning over until evenly brown. 

Serve Cauliflower Paratha / Gobi Paratha  hot with pickle or curds.

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Please do check other interesting Paratha recipes under Roti N Parathas in Menu Planner.

Beetroot Avalakki / Beetroot Poha

Beetroot Poha or Beetroot Avalakki is spicy and quick breakfast recipe.Poha (Oggarane Avalakki ) is easy to cook, adding vegetables to it makes it more nutritious and tasty.This one is with red beet -healthy loaded with nutrients. Enjoy!

Beetroot Avalakki / Beetroot Poha Ingredients: 1 cup poha ((flaked rice /avalakki) 1 cup beetroot (finely grated) 5-6 green chillies, finely chopped Salt to taste For Seasoning: 2 tbsp. oil 1/2 tsp. mustard 1/2 tsp.cumin seeds 1 tsp chana dal 1 tsp. Urad dal 2 tsp. peanuts Hing- a pinch Curry leaves-few Turmeric pwd-pinch For Garnishing 2 tbsp. grated coconut Few coriander leaves Method: Soak the poha in water for 5-10min. Wash  and drain the water completely. Heat the oil in the pan, fry the peanuts and keep it aside . Next add seasonings and fry till done. Add green chillies and grated beetroot and stir fry. Once done add the poha and mix well. Add salt, coconut ,peanuts and coriander leaves to the poha.Add lemon juice. Mix well  and serve hot.

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 Also don't forget to check out the other "Avalakki/Poha "varieties under Ingredients Search.


Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement.C. S. Lewis 

Ganesh Chaturthi

वक्रतुण्ड   महाकाय   सूर्यकोटि   समप्रभ

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा 


Ganesha festival is celebrated with great joy across most states in India. People bring Ganesha idol home and welcome him with sweets and delicious food and lots of devotion and love. Elders and kids alike enjoy this auspicious festival. People cook variety of dishes on this day.








Enjoy these easy recipes during the Vinayaka /Ganesha Chaturthi.

Browse through the links to get a list of dishes you can prepare .


1. Kadabu / Karanji

2. Steamed Modak 

3.  Kosambri / Sundal

4. Kheers / Payasam

5. Chitranna

6. Nucchina Unde / Steamed Lentils Snack


Wishing everyone a wonderful festival , Enjoy

Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed Cauliflower / Masala Gobi  is easy and simple sabzi / Palya. Blended with masalas and spices it tastes yummy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cauliflower /Gobi (cleaned and chopped)

  

  Mashed Cauliflower

• 1 cup Potato (boiled and mashed)
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
• 1-2 tsp Kitchen king Masala
• Fresh coriander
• Salt for taste

Seasoning-

• Oil-1-2 tsp
• Jeera-1/2 tsp
• Hing-Pinch
• Turmeric-Pinch

Method: Boil the cauliflower for 10-15 mins till soft. Next in a pan, add oil, jeera ,turmeric, once done add Caulifower florets and fry. Next add in the mashed potatoes and mix it. Add the masala and sautee for a couple of mins. Add the salt in as per taste. Cover and cook till done. Saute in between. Once done garnish it with coriander and serve hot with Chapatis or Jeera Rice.



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Please do check other interesting Paratha recipes under Roti N Parathas in Menu Planner.

Slush Time

The amazing sweet lime and orange slush

The saviour to summer !

Try this cool and refreshing slush in summers.

 A very nice way to add awesomeness to your summer.

Ingredients

• 1 medium orange
• 1 small sweet lime ( moosambi )
• Water ( about 2 cups )
• Sugar - 2 full spoons
• A tea strainer (washed and clean)
• Aluminum foil

Serves 2

Method

Before you start make sure you have 3 cups of the same size and make sure your work area is near the sink . Slush is made from juice so you need to first cut the orange and sweet lime in halves and squeeze them separately in different cups. Once you have got the squeezed juice ( its okay if the seeds and the pulp are with the juice ),mix both the juices, take a cup, fill it with water and transfer the squeezed juice via the tea strainer and stir. Add 2 spoons sugar and mix the juice. Once that is done pour the juice equally into 2 cups and cover/ wrap the foil so that the top part of the cup is covered. Let it freeze for 1-2 hours. After freezing remove the newspaper, take a spoon and mush the ice. 


Your amazing slush is ready!!! ; ) : )

Summer Vegetable Salad

Summer Vegetable Salad is a combination of healthy raw  vegetables with spices with lemon juice. Get your dose of proteins.

Summer Vegetable Salad

Ingredients

• 1cup Cucumber
• 1 cup Tomato 
• 1 cup Onion
• 1 carrot grated
• 1 cup capsicum 
• oil 1 tsp
• Pepper pwd-1/2 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Lemon juice

Method: Cut the vegetables in long thin slices . In a bowl, add the chopped cucumber ,tomato, onion, carrot and mix. Add salt, pepper pwd, lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves and mix and serve.



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Don't forget to check other nutritious and healthy "Salad "delights under Menu Planner.


"Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go."

Chitranna -Easy One Pot Meal

Chitranna (ಚಿತ್ರಾನ್ನ-Kannada) is a simple and a quick rice based dish or one pot meal that can be made easily. With steamed / cooked rice dashed in with aromatic spices in the oggarane /seasoning, with or without coconut tastes yummy and perfect !!!

Have Fun Preparing these -Spicy or Mild  , Tangy and Tasty.


1. Raw Mango Rice- Maavinkayi Maaja -Tangy and Spicy

2. Just Chitranna - Simple and Easy

3. Kabul Kadle Chitranna -Chana with rice

4. Curry Leaves Chitranna -Karibevu delight

5. Nellikayi Chitranna- Gooseberry Rice

6. Coconut Chitranna-Fresh and delicious

7. Kayi Sasive Chitranna - Traditional and Spicy

8.  Nimbe hannu Chitranna-Lemon Rice -the all time favorite

9.  Tamarind Chitranna -Puliyogare

Enjoy this Karnataka Special !!


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Don't forget to check other interesting One Pot Meals under "Rice"


"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."Mahatma Gandhi 

Krishna Janmashtami / Gokulashtami

Krishna Janmashtami / Gokulashtami is celebrated as Krishna's birthday across various states in India.

In Southern India, Krishna's favorite Poha or Avalakki / puffed rice is made for naivedya -an offering to the lord along with variety of sweets and crisps and ofcourse Butter !!

Enjoy the varied collection of Avalakkis you can make for Krishna Janamashtmi / Gokulashtami.

• Poha / Avalakki

1 Avalakki Payasam

2 Corn Avalakki

3 Avarekai-Avalakki

4 Cucumber Poha

5 Avalakki-fritters

6 Poha Kheer

7 Sihi Avalakki

8 Gojju Avalakki-All time favorite

9 Mosaru Avalakki / Curd Poha

10 Tomato Poha


Have a wonderful festive time !!

Bansi Rave Upittu / Broken Wheat Upma

Bansi Rave Upittu ಬನ್ಸಿ ರವೇ ಉಪ್ಪಿಟ್ಟು or Broken Wheat Upma is simple and easy to prepare. A perfect, filling, nutritious and healthy breakfast recipe. This is made with Wheat Rava is slightly yellowish in color unlike the normal rava/sooji . Enjoy this lapsi Upma hot during the monsoons.

Ingredients:

Bansi Rave Upittu / Broken Wheat Upma

• Bansi rava- 1cup (Broken Wheat )
• Water - 1- 2 cups (adj)
• 1/2 tsp Dhania jeera pwd
• Salt for taste
• Coconut-2-3 tbsp
• Ghee-1/2 tsp

• Seasoning
• Oil-2 tbsp
• Mustard -1/2 tsp
• Hing- pinch
• Jeera-1/2 tsp
• Channa dal-1tsp
• Urad dal-1tsp
• Cashews-few
• Curry leaves-few
• Green chilies-5-6
• Onions-1/2 cup chopped

Method: Fry the rava for 10-15 mins and keep it aside. Boil water in a separate vessel. Heat oil in a pan add mustard, jeera when they begin to splutter ,add channa dal and urad dal , red chilies fry until light brown. Next add hing, curry leaves, and fry. Add onions and fry well. Next add fried rava, salt and mix well, add hot water. Mix well. Cook till the water is gone. Simmer and close the lid for 2-3 min. Garnish with  coconut and serve Bansi Rave Uppitu hot.

(add more water in case the rava is not cooked well )

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Do check for other easy breakfast recipes Sevai Upma, Tomato Avalakki, Gojju Avalakki.


"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."Abraham Lincoln 

Masala Idli

Masala Idli

Masala Idli is interesting twist to the normal idlis. Soft with a blend of onions and seasonings gives it a great taste. Enjoy hot with chutney.

Idlis are fun. They are soft, fluffy and easy to prepare.A perfect breakfast for all days. Jazz it up with some spices and veggies and you have a masala idli.

Prep time: 12 hrs

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 12 hrs 20mins

Servings: 20 idlis

Author: Smita

Ingredients : 

• Idli Batter 
• Onion : 1finely chopped
• Green chillies : 1 or 2, chopped
• Coriander leaves : few chopped
• Mustard seeds : 1 tsp.
• Curry Leaves : 5-6 nos.
• chana dal:1/4 tsp
• urad dal:1/4 tsp
• Salt to taste
• oil:1/2 tsp
• Chutney pwd:2 tsp (opt)

Idli Batter-   Wash and soak ¾ cup urad dal for 4 hours. Drain off the water and blend well till the batter becomes fluffy. If using IDLI rava, use 2 cups. Wash the rava well 2-3 times and mix with the urad dal batter. Transfer to a large bowl cover and set aside overnight or at least for 8-10 hours.

Method-  In a pan, heat oil. Prepare seasoning with curry leaves, mustard seeds ,chana dal ,urad dal, green chillies once done pour it in the idli batter. Next add chopped coriander leaves,onions ,salt to the batter and mix well. Add chutney pwd and mix .Set for 5 mins.
Apply oil onto the idli plates and pour the batter in a spoon. Steam it in pressure cooker for 15-20 mins on medium flame. Serve hot with ghee,chutney or saagu.

Thanks for stopping by, 





Do check other exciting breakfast recipes for your weekend.


We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future."George Bernard Shaw 

Khara Avalakki

Khara Avalakki is a quick snack recipe, enjoy with your evening tea/coffee.

 Avalakki upkari is easy to prepare, healthy and tasty too. A quick snack for small bites at evenings.

Khara Avalakki / Avalakki Upkari is made from home made chivda.

Ingredients:

Khara Avalakki

• Home made Chivda/ Poha-2 cups
• Pudina chutney-1/2tsp
• Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
• Onion-1/2 cup finely chopped
• Raw mango pieces-few
• Carrot-2 tsp grated
• Cucumber, tomato pieces-1/2 cup

Method: In a bowl, add chivda, add pudina chutney, chaat masala, add the chopped raw vegetables, toss well. Serve immediately.

  

You can add fried crisps/boondi as well.


Thanks for stopping by do check other interesting Poha / Avalakki recipes.

Oggarane Dabbi / Masala Dabba

The famous Indian Spice Box or the Oggarane Dabbi aka Masala Dabba is found in most of the Indian kitchens.

It is a seven mini box set meant for organizing your daily spices/herb requirements.

Each set is different depending on the food habits based on regions of India.

Below is a list of the basic items that can be filled in-

• Type A

Mustard Seeds

Cumin Seeds

Chana Dal

Urad Dal

Turmeric Powder

Ground Nuts

Red Chilies

• Type B

Mustard Seeds /Sasive

Cumin Seeds /Jeera

Fenugreek or Coriander Seeds /Menthya

Garam Masala

Tumeric Powder

Red Chili Powder

Coriander Powder

A traditional and authentic way of reducing time for your daily cooking. 

You can fill in the spices /herbs as per your daily requirement used for the seasoning on everyday basis.

For the newbie's this is a must so that you do not forget adding the spices ;).

You get various versions of these dabbas.

Make your own version !!

Enjoy Cooking!

Yogurt Sandwich

Yogurt Sandwich is a simple and healthy sandwich which can be easily done. Fresh and tasty with a right mix of vegetables blended in thick curds and masalas. Perfect for kids.

Prep Time: 10mins

Cook Time:20 Mins

Total time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Author: Smita

Ingredients:

Yogurt Sandwich

• Bread Slices
• Butter

• 1cup thick yogurt
• 1/4 cup tomatoes
• 1/4 cup cucumber
• 1/4 cup onion
• 1/4 capsicum 
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chaat masala/Sandwich masala
• few corainder leaves
• 1-2 green chilies-opt

Method -Finely chop the vegetables. Next in a bowl add all the ingredients and mix with thick curds .Apply butter on bread, add the filing on the bread ,top with another bread slice. Grill the sandwich on the toaster.Serve hot with ketchup or chutney.

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