Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Sambar

This is a very delicious Sambar I learnt from my neighbor.

Ingredients

Shallots----------------------------------------------------------100 grams
Mixed Veggies---------------------------------------------------100 to 150 Grams
Green and Red chilly---------------------------------------------- each one
Curry leaves------------------------------------------------------2 sprigs
Turmeric Powder-------------------------------------------------1/2 Tsp
Red chilly Powder------------------------------------------------ 1 Tsp
Sambar Powder-------------------------------------------------- 2 Tsp
Hing--------------------------------------------------------------1/4 Tsp
Fenugreek Seeds------------------------------------------------- 1 Tsp
Mustard Seeds---------------------------------------------------1 Tsp
Coriander leaves Chopped---------------------------------------1 or 2 Tbsp
Oil--------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Tbsp
Tamarind---------------------------------------------------------small lemon size
Toor Dhal--------------------------------------------------------1/2  cup
Salt as required

I added white pumpkin too...




Soak the tamarind in a cup of water and squeeze the pulp and keep aside.Cook the Toor dhal with a little turmeric powder and keep.cut all the veggies the way you want.Pour the oil in a heavy bottomed pan or in a kadai and heat it.Add the mustard seeds and let it splutter.Add the Fenugreek seeds and when it is roasted add the curry leaves and both the chilly.Then add the shallots.Then add hing,Turmeric powder and saute well When it turns transparent add the vegetables and stir well. Now add red chilly powder and Sambar powder and mix well.Add the salt and  a cup of water.Close and cook till it is 3/4th done.Now add the Tamarind water and cook well.When all the vegetables are cooked well add the cooked Toor dhal and bring it to a boil.Add the chopped coriander and remove it from the flame..YUMMY Sambar is ready!



Healthy Kanji Powder

Hi everybody.. It has been a very long time since I posted something. The reason is I myself didn't cook anything different after returning from the US. My knee pain is bothering me a lot and I am taking Ayurvedic treatment...but the recovery is too slow. I went to Hosur last month to my brothers place and there he took me to an Acupuncture doctor. He recommended a doctor in  Chennai and now I am much much better. Anyway coming to the subject... There in Hosur the Doctor suggested me to take Sirudhaniyam (millet's)Kanji as it packed with nutrients and is Diabetic friendly too. So I followed his advice and bought all the necessary items. This is very tasty and healthy too. Even people who has diabetes also can take this.. You can Google for it and confirm it if you are not satisfied. One more thing, here in Chennai Mylapore. There is shop which sell all nattu marundhu for more than a century. I bought a powder prepared with all traditional items. This I took it meticulously early in the  morning in empty stomach and after a month we tested for sugar(fasting, postprandial and also HBA1C and believe me my numbers were very very low (85,114 and the HBA1C  is 5.3) which is very very normal..now I continue this thrice a week and  feel very good. This is just for an info and I am not promoting it.

Ok.. Now coming to the Kanji part...

Sambha wheat----------------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Barley------------------------------------------------------------- 100 gms
Red rice-----------------------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Horse gram(kollu)-----------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Soya---------------------------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Whole green gram ( pacha payaru)----------------------------1/4 kg
Pearl millet ( kambu)--------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Foxtail millet ( thinai)-------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Little millet(saamai)---------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Cucumber seeds(vellari vithai)--------------------------------1/4 kg
Kod millet (varagu)----------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Barnyard millet (kudaravaali)----------------------------------1/4 kg
Roasted bengal gram (pottu kadalai)--------------------------1/4 kg (which we use to make chutney)
Poppy seed ( khasa khasa)--------------------------------------100 gms
Almonds ( badam)-----------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Cardamom (elaichi)




Don"t be frightened about the long list.. With a little extra effort you get a very nutritious drink...
Wash each grain separately and drain. Once it is drained fully put this in a dry hot Kadai (do it one by one) and fry till you get a nice roasted aroma..you need not wash the Roasted gram, Almonds and Cucumber seeds.( you can use melon seeds instead of this). After all the ingredients are roasted, mix it well and grind it to a fine powder,either at home or those in India can take it to local flour mill and see to it you grind it in the machine used to grind wheat.

You can make a smaller quantity using the same ratio.

Now the Kanji maavu(powder) is ready..



Take one tablespoon of this and mix in 3/4th cup of water and mix well.then keep it in low flame and keep stirring it and bring it to a boil and add 1/4 cup of milk. Add sugar and mix well and  very healthy and tasty drink is ready.We can drink this with adding buttermilk too.If so DO NOT ADD CARDAMOM while preparing..If you want it both the ways prepare this without Cardamom and while taking this with milk add 2 pinches of Cardamom while boiling it.













Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Cauliflower Kurma

Hi all.....It has been a very very long time since I posted something in my blog.Not that I didn't cook anything,but didn't have the time to take a picture, post it and write about it.I was out of the country for a year and was really very busy with my grand children.After returning back this Jan(2014) I was suffering from Knee pain and my movements was very much restricted.Due to that my spirits were very low.I have been taking Ayurveda treatment and now I feel a little better.

Coming to the Kurma part...I learnt this from a my friend who lives in Coimbatore.Very easy one and very very tasty too.

Here we GO........



Ingredients

TO GRIND

Tomato--------------------------------------------------------- 2
Onion----------------------------------------------------------- 1
Green chilly----------------------------------------------------- 2
Ginger one inch piece
Saunf----------------------------------------------------------- 1 Tsp
Chilly powder-------------------------------------------------- 1 Tsp
Dhaniya powder----------------------------------------------- 1 Tsp
Khus Khus(optional)------------------------------------------ 1 Tsp
Cloves-------------------------------------------------------- 4 or 5(1/2 Tsp)
Cinnamon-----------------------------------------------------1 inch(1/2 Tsp)
Grated coconut----------------------------------------------- 1/2 cup

The cinnamon and cloves can be added in powder form too.

Grind all the above ingredients adding very little water and keep aside.

Remaining items for the Kurma

Cauliflower medium size
Finely chopped Onion 1
Oil 1Tbsp
Turmeric powder  1/2 Tsp
Curry leaves  2 sprigs
Salt as required

Put oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add the chopped onions and curry leaves when it is hot.Add turmeric powder and saute till the onion becomes glossy.Now add the washed flowerettes and add salt.Mix well and then add the ground masala.Add 1/2 cup water close the pan and cook in low fire till the cauliflower is cooked well.The masala is ready.It can be had with Chappathi,Poori,Paratha,Dosa ,Idly,Appam or even Ghee Rice.