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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Avalakki Payasa Ver II

Avalakki Payasa/ Poha Kheer is simple and easy dessert recipe. Delicious and tasty made during festivals as well. Enjoy this flattened rice pudding warm or cold. This is the jaggery version.

Avalakki Payasa/ Poha Kheer

Ingredients

• Poha - 1/4 cup
• Jaggery -1/4 cup 
• Milk - 2 1/2 cups
• Ghee - 1 tsp
• Cashew nuts/Raisins -5-6
• Pistachio -few pieces
• Elachi pwd -1/4 tsp
• Saffron -2-3 strands (soaked in milk)

Method
In a pan, heat ghee fry  the dry fruits and keep it aside. Next fry the poha with little ghee. Once done, add milk to the pan, simmer and cook till the milk thickens. Keep stirring in between. Next add jaggery, cardamom powder, saffron and mix well. Garnish with dry fruits.
Enjoy either hot or chilled.


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"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time".Leo Tolstoy

Capsicum Coconut Stir Fry

Capsicum Coconut Stir Fry is a spicy side dish for Indian breads .A blend of masala with coconut added to capsicum . Capsicum or Bell Pepper / Simla Mirch is a vegetable where we can keep experimenting various combinations. 

Capsicum Coconut Stir Fry

Ingredients

• Capsicums (Bell Pepper)-2 big chopped
• Oil 3 Tbsp
• salt to taste

Seasoning

• Mustard seeds 1 Tsp
• Cumin seeds /Jeera 1 Tsp
• Hing-Pinch
• Urad Dal 1/2 tsp
• Chana Dal 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric-pinch
• Curry leaves-few

Grinding

• Bath Masala-2 tsp
• Coconut-1/4 cup

Method-Heat oil for in a frying pan over moderate heat. Add items mentioned in seasoning Once done add capsicums and saute for 1 - 2 min.Meanwhile grind Bhath masala with coconut without water coarsely .Next add this mix  to capsicum and stir-fry over low heat for 5 - 7 minutes till capsicums are tender.Add salt mix well.Serve hot with chapati or rice.

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“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Dr Seuss

Pineapple Sheera

Pineapple Sheera is yummy flavored sweet that can be made in very less time.  Enjoy this delicious desert during pineapple season along with your kids.

Pineapple Sheera

Ingredients

1	cup Chiroti rava (semolina or sooji)
1	cup Milk
1/2	cup Ghee
	Few Raisins
1	cup  Sugar
	Few Cashew nuts/Badam  1 tsp  Cardamom Powder/ kesar 1/4 cup pineapple puree few chopped pineapple pieces Method

• Roast rava in the ghee till aromatic
• Add sugar and warm  milk and lower the flame. Add the pineapple pulp and pieces. Simmer and cover with lid till it blends in. 
• Add raisins and cardamom powder to garnish.
• Add fried cashew nuts/Badam and  kesar (opt)
• Enjoy with 

little ghee on the top.

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

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled Cheese Sandwich is simple and quick snack fix. Enjoy. You can serve it as appetizers for party. Brown or white bread can be used.  It is a basic sandwich yet most the easiest and the tastiest of all.

Ingredients-

1. 8 to 10 slices of bread 
2. Butter
3.  Grated cheese as required
4. Chaat Masala-as req
5. Pepper powder-as req
6. Italian herbs-as req

Method- Apply butter on the slices. Next top it with grated cheese, sprinkle pepper pwd , Italian herbs and chaat masala. Cover it with another buttered bread. Grill the sandwich.

Enjoy hot either plain with chutney or ketchup or a nice cup of tea or coffee.

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

Hoorna Holige/Puran Poli

Hoorna Holige is a awesome mouthwatering dessert made during Hindu festivals like Ugadi, Vara Maha Lakshmi, Holi, Diwali It is also called as Obbattu in kannada and Puran Poli in Marathi. Enjoy !

Ingredients:

For Hoorna

• Chana Dhal 1 cup
• Jaggery 1 to 1 1/2 cup 
• Cardamom 5-6
• Dry coconut-2-3 tsp
• Khus Khus (opt)

 

For Dough

• Maida Flour 1 cup
• Chiroti Rava 1/4 cup
• Ghee

Method: In a bowl ,mix the flour with water, a little salt and ghee and make a soft dough.Knead well and cover for few hours.

Hoorna - Soak the chana dal overnight .Next day pressure cook the chana dal .  Once done strain the water from the cooked dal and keep it aside.(we can make tasty rasam with the dal water).Next grind the shredded jaggery,cooked dal and cardamom in a mixer .

Once done in a kadai,add little ghee ,add this mix and fry till it done.Next make it into small balls.

Make small chapati with the dough,keep this Hoorna ball in the middle and bring all the sides together, flatten them with your fingers, next  make the holige.Heat the tava and carefully place the holige on the tava and cook the obbattu on a medium heat, add ghee on both sides turning gently. Serve either hot with ghee or enjoy with milk.

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

Badam Sheera

Badam Sheera is yummy flavored sweet that can be made in very less time Semolina blended with powdered Almond, fresh ghee, sugar and other flavors makes it very delicious. Enjoy this healthy dessert warm, it is sinful! 

Sheera is Sajjige in Kannada. 

Badam Sheera is a perfect brain food for your child as well. Almonds are loaded with nutrients.

Badam Sheera

Ingredients

1	cup Chiroti rava (semolina or sooji)
1	cup Milk
1/2	cup Ghee
	Few Raisins
1	cup  Sugar
	Few Cashew nuts/Badam  2-3 tbsp  Badam /Cardamom Powder (homemade/Mtr) Crushed Badam pieces Method - Roast rava in the ghee till aromatic. Add sugar and warm  milk and lower the flame. Simmer and cover with lid till it blends in. Add raisins and cardamom powder badam powder mix well. Garnish with  fried cashew nut and kesar.

• Enjoy with little ghee on the top.

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

Pineapple Gojju

Pineapple Gojju  is a yummy, tangy and tasty side dish / gravy for hot chapatis or rice. Pineapple gojju is an all time traditional favorite dish of Karnataka, a must during festivals ! Enjoy! 

(gojju is a kannada word for a sweet n spicy tangy gravy)

              Pineapple Gojju 

Ingredients

1. 1 cup Pineapples (chopped)
2. 1/2 tsp mustard
3. 1/2 tsp jeera
4. 1/2 tsp chana dal
5. 1/2 tsp urad dal
6. Hing-pinch
7. Turmeric-pinch
8. Curry leaves-few
9. 1 tbsp Rasam pwd 
10. 1-2 tbsp gojju pwd
11. 2-3 tsp jaggery
12. 2 tbsp tamarind juice
13. 1-2 tsp Dry coconut grated
14. Salt to taste

Method- Cook chopped pineapple in water for 10 mins. Next in a kadai, heat oil in a pan and add mustard,chana dal, urad dal, hing, turmeric pwd, curry leaves once done add  pineapple and fry. Next add Rasam (Saaru) powder and Gojju pwd, tamarind paste, jaggery, salt, water and mix well.  Cook for 5-10 minutes, keep stirring in between till the gravy thickens. Add dry coconut and mix. 

Serve Pineapple Gojju hot with chapati / akki rotti.

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Maavinakayi Chitranna /Raw Mango rice

Maavinakayi Chitranna /Raw Mango rice is tangy and spicy mix of raw mango with ground red chilies and coconut.Exclusive South Indian rice variety  during the mango season ಮಾವಿನಕಾಯಿ ಚಿತ್ರಾನ್ನ - enjoy it hot.

Maavinakayi Chitranna /Raw Mango rice 

Ingredients

Rice -1 .5 cup (cooked )
Raw Mango grated-1 cup

(keep few aside for garnishing)

Red chillies-7-8 (both varieties)

Mustard-1 tsp

Coconut-2 tbsp

Oil

Peanuts-few

Seasoning

Mustard-1/2 tsp
Chana dal-1/2 tsp
Urad Dal-1/2 tsp
Hing-pinch
Curry leaves-few

Turmeric-pinch
Oil-1 tsp

Method
Cook the rice and spread the rice on a plate.
Grind  raw mango pieces  along with  grated  coconut,red chillies and mustard with little water.Heat oil in a pan,fry peanut till brown in color,keep it aside.Add all items under seasoning,Next add the  ground mixture and fry well.Next add rice and salt,peanuts and raw mango shreds for more tangier taste and mix well..Serve hot.

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Do check other interesting one pot meals under "Rice"


'Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change' Stephen Hawking

KadleKaalu Masala Gravy

KadleKaalu Masala Gravy is a easy gravy for your chapati or rice.A blend of coconut with masala the gravy is tasty and spicy . Chana is Brown Chickpea , a legume variety , healthy and rich in proteins,gluten free and vegan delight.

Ingredients

                        KadleKaalu Masala Gravy

• 1 cup boiled Kala Chana(kadle)
• Salt-taste
• Water
• Sambhar pwd-2 tbsp
• Coconut-1/4 cup grated
• Onion-1/2 cup chopped
• Tomato-1/4 cup chopped 

Seasoning:

• 1 tsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds 
• 1/2 tsp jeera
• 1/2 tsp channa dal
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
• hing -pinch
• curry leaves-few

• Method :  Cook the chana well. Grind grated coconut ,onion with sambar pwd . Next in a vessel , add the cooked channa  add the ground paste and mix. Add salt, chopped tomato  and mix well. Cook on low heat for 5-10 mins. Heat oil in a pan,add the seasoning items , once done add to the sabzi. Garnish with coriander leaves.
  Serve hot with white rice or chapati.

"The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique." Walt Disney


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Maida Paratha

Maida Paratha is simple and easy Indian bread variety. Something different - enjoy hot with curries.

Ingredients

Maida Paratha

1. Maida / All purpose flour – 1 cup
2. Oil – 2 tsp
3. Salt – to taste
4. Butter
5. Baking pwd-1/4 tsp
6. Curds- for mixing
7. Carom seeds/Ajwain-few
8. Chili flakes-few

Method-

In a bowl mix the flour, baking powder and salt carom seeds,chili flakes and add yogurt knead and make a soft dough. Knead well, adding oil to the dough. Cover and let it rest  for 2-3 hours. Make chapatis. Heat a skillet (tava) , gently put in the chapati add oil ,turn on both sides till done. 

Serve Maida Paratha hot with butter and enjoy.

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Do try out Cabbage Akki Rotti ,  Methi Paratha , 

also check other breakfast recipes under Menu Planner.

There's a way to do it better - find it.Thomas Edison

Badam Milk

Badam Milk is an easy and delicious drink .This is made from instant MTR Badam mix.Enjoy it hot or cold.

A) Hot Badam Milk

Ingredients

• Milk - 2 cups
• MTR Kesar Badam Mix - 2 to 3 tbsp
• Sugar - as per taste
• Saffron - few strands

Method- In a vessel ,boil milk .Simmer and add the Badam mix ,sugar and mix well.Add the saffron strands.Mix and serve the Badam Milk warm.

B) Chilled Badam Milk


Ingredients

• Cold Milk - 2 cups
• MTR Kesar Badam Mix - 2 to 3 tbsp
• Sugar - as per taste
• Saffron - few strands

Method-In a blender,add milk,Badam pwd,sugar and blend it well.Pour it in tall glasses garnish with saffron and serve chilled.

Almond Dates Milk Shake

Almond Dates Milk Shake is delicious tasty and healthy summer drink for kids. A mix of dryfruits with milk a perfect combination for kids.

Ingredients

• Dates - 1 cup
• Almonds - 1/2 cup
• Cold Milk - 2.5 cups
• Icecubes-few
• Sugar - as per taste

Method- 

Chop the dates.
Next add the dates and almonds with little milk to a blender and grind to a smooth paste.
Next add in the ice cubes, sugar  remaining milk and blend well.

Transfer to tall glasses and serve chilled.

Dates Milk Shake

Date Milk Shake a healthy nutritious and perfect summer drink for kids.Enjoy!

Ingredients

1. Dates - 1 cup 
2. Milk - 2.5 cups milk (cold)
3. Ice cream - 4 scoops 

Method-Chop the dates in small pieces, next in a blender add the dates, milk and ice-cream and blend it well.Transfer to tall glasses .Top it with more ice-cream and serve chilled.

Kadalekalu Soppu Huli

Kabul Kadalekalu Soppu Huli is a healthy nutritious accompaniment for rice.You can enjoy with chapati too. A coconut spice blend with healthy greens and chick peas a must try in your kitchen. Simple yet tasty-southern delight.

Ingredients

• Amaranth leaves / Dantina soppu – 1 cup

  

  Kadalekalu Soppu Huli 

• ( cleaned and chopped)
• Kabul kadle-1/2 cup (cooked)
• Toor dal-1/2 cup (cooked)
• Sambar Pwd-2 tbsp 
• Coconut-1/2 cup
• Tamarind paste-1 tsp
• Salt-for taste
• Seasonings
• Oil-1-2 tsp
• Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
• Hing-pinch
• Cury leaves-few
• Turmeric pwd-pinch
• Red chillies-1-2 (opt)

Method-  Pressure cook Toor dal and Kabul kadle well. Cook greens in water for 10-15 mins.
Grind coconut and sambar powder and keep it aside. Next in a vessel, mix the dal, kadlekalu and soppu , add tamarind paste, salt and the ground paste , and mix well. Let it boil well for 10 mins, simmer , prepare the seasoning. Add it to the sambar, mix. 

Serve Kadalekalu Soppu Huli hot with rice or chapati with spoon of ghee.

"If you can dream it, you can do it."Walt Disney

Fruit salad

Fruit salad is a healthy and favorite of kids and elders alike. Make your own mix today. Enjoy nutritious and delicious salad with ice-creams and dry-fruits.

Fruit salad

Ingredients :

• Fruits - A bowl of mixed fruit 
• ( Apple, Banana, Mangoes, Orange)
• Vanilla Ice cream - 1 scoop
• Honey - 1 tsp
• Dryfruits-few
• Lemon juice-1/2 tsp

Method-  Mix the fresh chopped fruits (sans skin) and honey in a bowl, top it up with ice cream and dry fruits. Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top. Serve chilled.

You can put fruits of your choice.