Vegetable rice and Mutter Paneer

This is actually vegetable fried rice without spring onions.It is as tasty as that.

Ingredients


Basmathi Rice--------------------------------------------2 Cups
Beans finely chopped-------------------------------------1 Cup
Carrot finely chopped-------------------------------------1 Cup
Capsicum finely chopped---------------------------------1/2 cup
Onion finely chopped-------------------------------------1 Cup
Soy Sauce------------------------------------------------1 tsp
Chilly Sauce----------------------------------------------1 Tsp or if you want it hot you can add up to 2 Tsp
Oil-------------------------------------------------------2 Tbsp

Cook the rice with 4 cups water with half teaspoon of salt and keep.

Keep the flame in high and add oil in a Kadai.Once it is very hot add the onions and fry till it turns transparent.Then add the vegetables and add the required amount of salt and fry them till they are cooked.As the vegetables are finely chopped it will cook very soon.So keep an eye on it or else it will get burnt.Then add the soy sauce and chilly sauce and fry for 2 minutes. Lower the flame and the add the rice little by little and mix well.The Rice is now ready to serve.

For the Side dish

Ingredients

Paneer-------------------------------------------------------------200 gms cubed
Mutter-------------------------------------------------------------100 Gms
Tomato puree------------------------------------------------------100 gms
Grated onion-------------------------------------------------------1 Cup
Tomatoes-----------------------------------------------------------2 grind it in a mixie
Turmeric Powder---------------------------------------------------1 Tsp
Chilly Powder-------------------------------------------------------1 Tsp
Salt------------------------------------------------------------------1 Tsp
Garam Masala-------------------------------------------------------1 Tsp
Magic Masala(Cloves. Cinnamon,Cardamom)powder each a liberal pinch
Coriander leaves for garnishing
Oil-------------------------------------------------------------------1 Tbsp

Add oil in a non stick pan or Kadai and once it is hot add the grated onions  and stir.Add the Turmeric powder and mix well.Now add salt and chilly powder and cook for 3 minutes.Cook the Peas(Mutter) with a pinch of salt and keep.Fry the paneer in a Tawa with very little oil.Turn the pieces so that both the sides are evenly fried. Add the ground tomatoes to the onion and cook for 5 minutes.Then add the peas and Mix well.Cover and cook in low flame for 5 more minutes.Add the Paneer and cover and cook for two more minutes.Then add the tomato puree and add all the Masala and  mix well.Turn off the flame and garnish it with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Spicy Poori with Channa Masala

I call this spicy Poori as the dough for this is not the same blan one.Instead I added spice to make it even more tastier with the side dish.

For the Dough

Wheat flour-------------------------------2 cups
Salt---------------------------------------3/4 tsp
Sambar powder---------------------------1 tsp
Hing---------------------------------------1/4 tsp

Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and make a soft dough using water.

For the Channa Masala

If for some reason you did plan ahead and soak the channa,don't worry.You just add the channa,salt and turmeric powder in the pressure cooker and add water more than need and allow it to cook on a low flame for 20 minutes or 5 sounds.Do not open the pressure cooker till the steam is fully released on its own.This is very important.Always cook the channa with salt and turmeric powder and drain and keep aside.

Channa------------------------------------------1 cup
Onion -------------------------------------------2 large Chopped finely in a grater
Ginger-------------------------------------------1 inch piece( grate this also along with onions)
Tomatoes----------------------------------------4 medium sized.(I had to leave town in a hurry so I kept the tomatoes(whole) in the freezer.When I made the channa masala I wanted use this for the puree.So I kept it out of the freezer for sometime and then made it into puree in a mixie...You know what....the puree was so good and looked like a smoothie)
Chilly Powder-------------------------------------1 tsp
Turmeric Powder----------------------------------1/2 tsp
Dhaniya Powder-----------------------------------1 tsp
Garam Masala-------------------------------------1 tsp
Salt ------------------------------------------------1 tsp or as required
Oil--------------------------------------------------2 tbsp
Coriander leaves for garnishing.

In a Kadai or non stick pan add oil and when it is hot add the chopped onion and ginger,turmeric powder,chilly powder and salt and cook till it turns transparent.Then add the tomato puree and mix well.Then add the Dhaniya powder and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.Now add the cooked and drained Channa and mix well.Add  Garam Masala and cook till the oil starts separating.Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with hot pooris.

Veg Paratha

I wanted to post something healthy as a first dish for this New Year.I made vegetable stuffed Paratha today and here it is.As I told you earlier for any stuffed Paratha I make the dough a little spicy.If you want it plain you can make plain Chappati dough too.

FOR THE DOUGH

Wheat flour----------------2 Cups
Sambar powder-------------2 Tsp( you can add chilly powder and dhaniya powder too instead of this)
Salt--------------------------1 Tsp
Hing-------------------------1/4 Tsp
Make a soft dough adding water.

FOR THE STUFFING

Cabbage, Cauliflower,Carrot,Green chillies,Paneer and coriander leaves.
I added 2 carrots a little cabbage and cauliflower 3 green chillies and a small bunch of coriander leaves.
I chopped all the ingredients in a chopper( you can use mixie too)
Add 1 Tsp of salt and 1 Tsp of Garam masala.Mix well and keep.

For this amount of dough I made 12 equal portions.You can make it even smaller ones if you want.Roll all the balls into small rounds,about 5 inches diameter,and spread the stuffing equally.Don't stuff and keep the parathas as it will become soggy.Spread the stuffing on the rolled chappathi and place the other one on top of it and seal the edges with your fingers.Dust it with flour and roll the chappathi into a reasonably thin paratha. Don't make it very thin as it will tear and will be difficult to pick it and put it in the tawa. Roll it one by one.

Grease the tawa with some oil and place the paratha.Turn it and again add oil and cook it evenly on a medium flame.Now the yummy Stuffed Paratha is ready to serve.As this has a lot of veggies we can serve it with Curd and pickle.

Happy New Year !

                              WISH YOU ALL A TASTY AND HEALTHY   

                                                NEW YEAR

Rava Laddu

I don't think any south Indian will say no to this sweet:)My mother in law is the best in the world to make this item.
This is really very easy once you have all the ingredients ready.You must be wondering,for every item I say it is easy to make and......YES! Once you start love cooking every thing is easy.And the pleasure you get when it is appreciated is something great.

INGREDIENTS:


Roasted rava--------------------------------250 Grams(Powder it finely)
Sugar----------------------------------------250 Grams(Powder it finely)
Ghee-----------------------------------------125 Grams
Cashew---------------------------------------25 Grams
Cardamom powder---------------------------1/2 a teaspoon

Mix the Rava and sugar powder well.Fry the cashew in 2 tbsp of ghee and add to it.Heat the ghee and add it to the mixture.

Mix well with a spatula and when it has cooled down a little make it into firm balls.

For this quantity you can make 30 to  35 Laddus.

Bisi Bela Bath

This is a dish form Karnataka and is very easy to make.

For the masala

Toor dhal---------------------------------------1 1/2 tsp
Channa Dhal----------------------------------- 1 1/2 tsp
Urid Dhal---------------------------------------1 1/2 tsp
Coriander seeds--------------------------------2 tsp
Red chilly---------------------------------------10
Cloves------------------------------------------5
Cinnamon stick---------------------------------2"
Black Pepper-----------------------------------1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds(Methi)------------------------1 tsp
Grated Coconut--------------------------------3 tbsp
Tamarind---------------------------------------Small lemon size(make it into pieces)
Oil---------------------------------------------2 tsp
Ghee-------------------------------------------1 tsp

Heat oil and ghee together in a tawa and fry all the ingredients except coconut.Add the grated coconut when you switch off the flame.Once it has cooled grind it to a smooth paste and keep.

For the Rice


Rice---------------------------------------1 Cup
Toor Dhal---------------------------------1/2 Cup
Water-------------------------------------5 Cup
 Mix rice and dhal together and pressure cook it.

Vegetables
Dice all the vegetables evenly
Carrot----------------------1/2 Cup
Beans-----------------------1/2 Cup
Potato-----------------------1/2 Cup
Peas-------------------------1/2 Cup
Shallots(small onions)----------at least 15 numbers
Curry leaves-----------------2 sprigs
Coriander leaves chopped---------little or according to taste
Sambar powder--------------------2 tsp

Heat 1 table spoon of oil in a Thick bottomed pan.Add a little mustard seeds and hing.Add the shallots and fry for a minute.Then add all the vegetables,curry leaves and add enough salt(1 1/2 tsp) and Saute for 2 minutes.Add the sambar powder and mix well.Add 2 cups water.Cover and cook in low flame till the vegetables are cooked well.
Add the ground masala and mix well.bring it to a boil and switch off the flame.Add the cooked rice and mix well.Put 2 tbsp of ghee and garnish with coriander leaves.

This can be served with any Raitha,Pappad or potato curry.

Stuffed Paratha

This is a very tasty and filling meal.

INGREDIENTS:


Wheat flour--------------------------------2 cups
Sambar powder----------------------------2 tsp
Salt-----------------------------------------1 tsp
Hing----------------------------------------1/4 tsp
Oil------------------------------------------2 tsp
Mix all evenly and make it into smooth dough.I added coriander leaves too.

FOR THE STUFFING:


Aaloo---------------------------------------4 medium sized or 400 gms
Paneer--------------------------------------50 gms
Chilly powder-------------------------------2 tsp
Garam masala-------------------------------1 tsp
Salt------------------------------------------1 1/2 tsp or as required.
Taste the mixture before adding more salt.

Boil and mash the potatoes without any lumps.Add all the other ingredients an mix well and make into 6 balls.
 For this amount of flour and the stuffing you can make 6 big parathas.(10 inches diameter)

Divide the dough into 12 parts and the stuffing into 6 equal balls.Roll the dough  into small rounds and keep.Take one ball of the stuffing and spread it evenly on the rolled chappathi.

Now put the other one on top of the other and press the edges well.Dust with some flour and roll it into a reasonably thin Paratha.Heat a tawa and smear some oil and put the Paratha and smear some more oil on top of and cook both the sides evenly.Now the yummy stuffed Paratha is ready to serve.You can serve this with pickle and curd or any raitha of your choice.

Normally for this type of Paratha we make a plain dough just with salt.But in this method it is more tastier as the plain Paratha might reduce the taste of the stuffing.