Choco la somas

Ingredients:

For somas shell
Maida – 1 cup, sooji – 2tsp, salt, ghee – 1tsp

For filling
Ghee – 2 tsp, dessicated coconut – 1 tbsp, fresh thick milk – 2 tbsp, milk powder – 3 tsp, sugar – 3 tbsp, melted semi sweetened chocolate – 25 gms
Oil – for deep frying

Method:

> Soak sooji in warm water for few minutes and drain the water
> Add maida, sooji, salt, ghee, water and make a tight dough
> On a pan add ghee, dessicated coconut and roast it for few seconds and keep it aside
> On another wide mouthed pan add milk, milk powder, sugar and cook for few minutes (till it becomes ¼ th of the original amount)
> Add the semi sweetened chocolate, grated coconut and cook till it separates from the pan
> Let it cool
> Roll the dough into thin layers and cut it into round circles
> Place the fudge on one semi-circle, cover and seal it with maida paste
> Deep fry in hot oil

Choco la somas ready :)

Veg Macaroni

Ingredients:
Oil, chopped onion -1 (small), chopped cabbage – 50gms, finely chopped carrot – 1 (small), chopped beans – 2, chopped capsicum, salt, pepper powder, macaroni pasta – 1 cup, soya sauce – 1 tsp, tomato sauce – 1 tsp, sugar – ½ tsp, lemon juice – ½ tsp

Method:
> Boil macaroni pasta with salt.
> Wash it in cold water and keep it aside
> On a pan heat oil, add the chopped onion and a pinch of salt and sauté for few seconds
> Add the chopped cabbage, finely chopped carrot, chopped beans, chopped capsicum, a pinch of salt and sauté for few more minutes until the vegetables are cooked
> Add the boiled macaroni, soya sauce, tomato sauce, pepper powder, sugar and cook for few minutes
> Add lemon juice and mix well
> Serve hot

Veg macaroni ready :)

Kara kozhukattai

Ingredients:

Raw rice flour – 1 cup, salt, oil, mustard seeds – ¾ tsp, urad dhal – 1tsp, channa dhal – 2tsp, cumin seeds – ¾ tsp, chopped red chillie – 1, chopped curry leaves, finely chopped onion – 1

Method:

> On a pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds, urad dhal, channa dhal, cumin seeds, chopped red chillie, chopped curry leaves, chopped onion and sauté for few minutes
> Add this to the raw rice flour
> Boil water with salt and pour it in the flour and mix well so that no lumps are formed
> Cool the dough and knead it into a soft dough
> Make kozhukattais
> Place the kozhukattais on a damp cloth and steam it in an idly cooker

Kara kozhukattai ready :)

Pudi kozhukattai (sweet)

Ingredients:

Raw rice flour – 1 cup, roasted moong dhal – 1 tbsp, roasted sesame seeds – ¾ tbsp, pinch of salt, cardamom powder, freshly grated coconut – 1 tbsp, jaggery – 100 gms (mashed)

Method:

> Mix all the ingredients (raw rice flour, roasted moong dhal, roasted sesame seeds, salt, cardamom powder and freshly grated coconut) on a bowl
> On a pan add the mashed jaggery and 150ml water and boil it for few seconds
> Filter the syrup to remove debris (if any)
> Boil the syrup until it is very hot
> Pour the hot syrup gradually in the flour mixture and make a soft dough without any lumps
> Cool it and make kozhukattais
> Place the kozhukattais on a damp cloth and steam it in an idly cooker

Pudi kozhukattai ready :)

Modhakam

Ingredients:

Raw rice flour – 1 cup, salt, sesame oil – 1tsp
For filling:
Jaggery – 150 gms, small coconut – 1 (freshly grated), cardamom powder

Method:

> Boil water with salt and sesame oil
> On a bowl add the raw rice flour and the boiling water gradually and keep stirring constantly so that no lumps are formed
> Knead it into a soft dough and cover it with a wet cloth and keep it aside
For filling:
> Mash the jaggery and add very little water and boil for few minutes
> Filter the syrup to remove debris (if any)
> Heat the syrup until it becomes thick
> Add the grated coconut and cardamom powder and heat for few more minutes
> Cool it and roll it into balls

Stuff the balls into the dough and steam it in an idly cooker.

Modhakam ready :)

Cheese cigar rolls

Ingredients:

For wrapper:
All purpose flour – 1 cup, salt, oil
For stuffing:
Oil, onion – 1 (finely chopped), tomato – 1 (finely chopped), ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp, green chillie – 1 (chopped), cottage cheese-50 gms (finely chopped), salt, mozzarella cheese – 50 gms (grated), coriander leaves

Method:

For stuffing:
> Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, chopped green chillie, cottage cheese and sauté for few minutes
> Turn off the stove and add the grated mozzarella cheese and coriander leaves
For wrapper:
> Add water to the flour and make soft pliable dough
> Roll the dough into thin rectangular sheets

Place the mixture for stuffing on one end of the rectangular sheet, roll it and seal it with flour paste. Deep fry the rolls in hot oil.

Cheese cigar rolls ready :)

Uppu seedai

Ingredients:
½ cup rice flour, 1 tbsp urad dhal flour (roast the urad dhal, grind it and sieve it), salt, pinch of asafoetida, 2 tsp white sesame seeds, ½ tbsp grated coconut, 1 tbsp butter

Method:
> Mix all the ingredients together
> Add water gradually and make a tight dough (do not add too much water)
> Roll it into small balls and deep fry in oil
> Keep stirring the oil constantly so that the balls are cooked evenly
> Remove from oil when done

Uppu seedai ready :)

Nem recipe

Ingredients:
Glass noodles (bean thread noodles), chicken cubes, thinly sliced onions, cabbage, grated carrot, salt, pepper powder, rice paper wrappers, oil

Method:
> Boil the chicken cubes for few minutes
> On a pan add 3 tsp oil and fry the thinly sliced onions, cabbage, grated carrot and chicken cubes with salt and pepper for few minutes
> Dip the rice paper in warm water till soft and lay it on a flat surface
> Place a line of the fried ingredients on one end of the paper, fold its edges and roll it tight
> Deep fry the rolls in oil
> Serve it with ketchup

Nem ready :)

Coconut milk rasam

Ingredients:
Oil, mustard seeds – ½ tsp, cumin seeds – ½ tsp, red chilli – 1, curry leaves, hing – ¼ tsp, tamarind extract – 4 tbsp, tomato – 1, pepper powder ¼ tsp, salt, turmeric powder – ¼ tsp, green chilli – 1, thick coconut milk 4 tbsp, chopped coriander leaves

Method:
> Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chilli, curry leaves, hing, tamarind extract, chopped tomato, pepper powder, salt, turmeric powder and green chilli and cook for 4 or 5 minutes in slow flame
> Turn off the flame and add the coconut milk and chopped coriander

Coconut milk rasam ready :)

Eggless Black Forest Cake (Microwave)

Ingredients:
Butter – 75gms, cocoa powder – 1 ½ tbsp or melted unsweetened chocolate 75gms, powdered sugar – 1tbsp, condensed milk – 300ml, all purpose flour 125gms, baking powder – ½ tsp aerated cola drink – 100ml, grated chocolate – 1tbsp, cherries

Method:
> Blend butter, melted chocolate, powdered sugar and condensed milk using an electric beater
> To this add the all purpose flour and aerated cola drink alternately
> Make a smooth thick batter and pour it in a greased bowl and microwave at high for 5 to 6 minutes
> Let it stand for another 5 minutes
> Cool it and flip it in a plate and slit the cake horizontally into two pieces
> Sandwich the layers with condensed milk
> Spread some condensed milk on top of the cake and on its side
> Decorate it with grated chocolate and cherries

Eggless Black Forest cake ready :)

Cauliflower Manchurian

Ingredients:
Cornflour – 1 tbsp, red chilli powder – ½ tsp, pepper powder – ¼ tsp, salt, ginger-garlic paste – 2 tsp, cauliflower, oil, cumin seeds – ½ tsp, chopped onion, red chilli paste, green chilli paste, pepper powder, soya sauce – 3 tsp, sugar – 1 tsp, lime juice – 1 ½ tsp, chopped coriander leaves

Method:
> Mix cornflour, red chilli powder, pepper powder, salt, ginger-garlic paste with water and make a thin batter
> Dip the cauliflower in the batter and deep fry in oil and keep it aside
> Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, ginger-garlic paste, chopped onion, red chilli paste, green chilli paste, pepper powder, soya sauce, sugar, lime juice and (little) salt
> Sauté for few seconds and add the fried cauliflower and sauté for few more seconds
> Garnish it with chopped coriander leaves

Cauliflower Manchurian ready :)

Basic Crepe

Ingredients:
Egg – 1, salt, all purpose flour – 2 tbsp, sugar – 1tsp, toned milk – 2 ½ tbsp, vanilla essence – ½ tsp, oil, nutella (for fillings)

Method:
> Beat egg in an egg beater
> To this add salt, all purpose flour, sugar, toned milk, vanilla essence, oil and whisk until smooth (the consistency of the batter should be such that it should spread evenly when poured on the pan, add milk accordingly)
> Pour the batter in the pan, swirl the pan if required
> Serve the crepe with nutella when done

Crep ready :)

Apple carving - Flower

Apple carving - Swan

Chocolate Pudding (Microwave)

Ingredients:
Toned milk – 2 cups, unsweetened chocolate/coco powder , sugar – 6tsp, egg – 1, vanilla essence – ½ tsp, condensed milk

Method:
> Mix toned milk, unsweetened chocolate, sugar and microwave it at 100% (high) for 7 minutes. Stir in between
> Beat the egg in an electric beater
> Cool the milk, add the beaten egg and vanilla essence and microwave at 50% for 5 minutes
> Pour it into pudding bowls, cover its mouth with silver foil paper and refrigerate for minimum 6 hrs
> Garnish it with condensed milk

Chocolate pudding ready :)

Couscous Upma

Ingredients:
Ghee, ½ tsp cumin seeds, ½ tsp mustard seeds, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves, green chilli – 1, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, chopped capsicum, grated carrot, grated potato, boiled green peas/channa dhal, salt, couscous – 1 cup, chopped coriander leaves, lime juice

Method:
> Heat ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves and sauté for few minutes.
> To this add the chopped onions, green chilli, chopped tomatoes, chopped capsicum, grated carrot, grated potato, boiled peas and sauté for few more minutes
> Add 2 cups of water and cook closed
> When the water bubbles add the couscous and cook closed in slow flame till the water evaporates
> When done top it with coriander leaves and drizzle some lime juice.

Couscous upma ready :)

Onion Rings

Ingredients:
2 onions (large), all purpose flour – 1 tbsp, corn starch - 1 ½ tbsp, baking powder – ½ tsp, chilli powder – ½ tsp, salt, sugar – ½ tsp, egg white, milk, bread crumbs, oil

Method:
> Mix all purpose flour, corn starch, baking powder, chilli powder, salt, sugar, egg white and milk using an electric beater
> Slice onions horizontally and separate the rings
> Dip the rings in the batter and roll it in bread crumbs
> Refrigerate it for more than 2 hrs and deep fry in oil
> Serve it with ketchup or mayonnaise

Onion rings ready :)

Potato - Button mushroom cutlet

Ingredients:
Oil, cumin seeds - ¾ tsp, ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp, turmeric powder – ¼ tsp, chopped coriander leaves, chilli powder – 1 tsp, coriander powder – ½ tsp, salt, button mushroom – 100gm, green peas, carrot – 1, potato – 200gms, lime juice – 1 tsp, all purpose flour – 1 ½ tbsp, bread crumbs – 1 ½ tbsp

Method:
> Boil grated carrot, green peas and potatoes and keep it aside.
> Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, chopped coriander leaves, chilli powder, coriander powder, salt and fry for few seconds in slow flame
> To this add the boiled peas, carrot, chopped mushroom and cook for few minutes
> On a separate bowl, mash the potatoes, add the cooked mushroom, lime juice and mix well
> Add water to the all purpose flour and make a thin batter
> Make cutlets of desired shape, dip them in the batter and roll them in bread crumbs
> Refrigerate it for more than 2 hrs and deep fry in oil
> Serve with thinly sliced onions and tomato ketchup

Cutlet ready :)

Button mushroom fry

Ingredients:
Oil, cinnamon – 1 inch, cardamom - 1, clove – 1, bay leaf – 1, cumin seeds, onion – 2, salt, turmeric powder - ¼ tsp, ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp, curry leaves, green chilli – 1, tomato – 150 gms, button mushroom 250gms, pepper powder, coriander leaves, chilli powder – 1 ½ tsp, coriander powder - ½ tsp, cumin powder – ½ tsp, lime juice – 1 tsp

Method:
> Heat 4tsp oil in a pan and add cinnamon, cardamom, clove and bay leaf
> Remove the masala from the oil
> To the oil add cumin seeds, chopped onions, salt and fry for few seconds
> To this add turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, curry leaves, green chilli, chopped tomatoes, chopped mushrooms, 2 tbsp water and cook closed for few minutes
> On another pan heat 2 tsp oil and add chopped coriander leaves, pepper powder, cumin powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, cooked mushrooms and fry till the water evaporates
> Add lime juice and garnish it with coriander leaves.

Mushroom fry ready :)

Prawn/Shrimp bajji

Ingredients:
Shrimp – 200gms, salt, chilli powder – ½ tsp, bajji mix - 4 tbsp, soda bicarbonate (a pinch), oil

Method:
> Clean the shrimps and cut them into two pieces so that they don’t curl while deep frying.
> To the shrimps add a pinch of salt, chilli powder and mix well. Let it rest for 15 minutes
> Make thick batter with bajji mix and water
> Add a pinch of soda bicarbonate to the batter
> Dip the shrimps in the batter and deep fry in oil

Shrimp bajji ready :)

Kulfi

Ingredients:
Milk – 500ml, milk powder – 1tbsp, cardamom pods – 2, sugar, food color (optional)

Method:
> Boil milk in slow flame on a wide mouth pan
> Keep collecting the milk layers that forms while boiling milk until the quantity becomes ¾th of the original quantity
> Blend the collected layers, sugar, cardamom and diluted milk powder in a blender (use cold milk for diluting the milk powder)
> Add the blended mixture to the boiling milk and boil for some more time
> Add food color (optional)
> Cool it and pour it into kulfi moulds
> Refrigerate for more than 6 hours

Kulfi ready :)

Nungu / Ice apple shake

Ingredients:
Nungu (palm fruit) – 5, fresh thick coconut milk – 1 cup, milk – 1 cup, sugar, ice cubes

Method:
> Blend 3 nungus and all the other ingredients in a juice blender
> Pour it in shake glasses and garnish it with pieces of nungu

Nungu shake ready :)

Cucumber raita

Ingredients:
Yogurt – 1 cup, salt, chopped cucumber – 1 cup, finely chopped coriander leaves – 1 tsp, Roasted cumin seed powder – 2 pinch, pepper powder – 2 pinch, red chilli powder – ¼ tsp

Method:
> Add salt to the yogurt and blend it using an egg beater
> To this add the chopped cucumber, finely chopped coriander leaves, roasted cumin seed powder, pepper powder and red chilli powder
> Garnish it with coriander leaves

Cucumber raita ready :)

Vermicelli Payasam

Ingredients:
Vermicelli - 1/2 cup, milk - 500ml, sugar, salt, cardamom powder, roasted nuts and raisins, sweetened condensed milk (optional)

Method:
> Roast the vermicelli in ghee and keep it aside
> Boil the milk, add the roasted vermicelli and cook for 7-8 minutes
> To this add sugar, cardamom powder and a pinch of salt
> Garnish it with condensed milk and nuts

Vermicelli Payasam ready :)

Coconut ladoo

Ingredients:
Grated coconut (2 cup), sweetened condensed milk (1/2 cup), desiccated coconut (1 tbsp)

Method:
> Fry the grated coconut on a dry non stick pan for few minutes
> To this add the condensed milk and fry the mixture till the mixture separates from the pan
> Let the mixture cool and make ladoos
> Roll the ladoos on desiccated coconut

Coconut ladoo ready :)

Shrimp/Prawn gravy

Ingredients:
Oil, cinnamon (1 inch), cardamom-1, bay leaf-1, clove-1, onion-1 (large), salt, turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, red chilli-1, cumin seeds, grated coconut, tomato-1, mustard seeds, shrimp 250gms, chilli powder, coriander powder, pepper powder, sugar and coriander leaves

Method:
> Soak red chilli and ¾ tsp cumin seeds in warm water for few minutes
> Drain the water and blend it with grated coconut, chopped tomato and mustard seeds
> Add 2 shrimps to the blended mixture and blend it once again
> Add 5tsp of oil in a deep fry pan, to this add cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, clove, finely sliced onion, pinch of salt and cook till the onions turn golden brown
> Add ¼ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste, the blended mixture and cook in slow flame for some time
> Add 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, ½ tsp pepper powder and cook for some more time in slow flame till the oil oozes out
> Add 2 tbsp water, ¾ tsp sugar, shrimp and cook
> Top it with coriander leaves when the shrimps are cooked.

Shrimp gravy ready :)

Channa Kabab

An easy restaurant recipe which can be prepared at home

Ingredients:
Channa dhal 100gm, cumin seeds, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves (lavangam), garlic cloves – 2, half inch ginger, one large size onion, bread slices – 3, few drops of lemon juice, salt and oil

Method:
> Soak channa dhal in water for more than 8 hours
> Drain the water and add cumin seeds, black pepper, cinnamon, lavangam, garlic cloves, ginger and chopped onion.
> Steam this in a pressure cooker until the dhal is very soft
> Cool it and blend it with salt (care should be taken in adding water while blending, do not add too much water)
> Remove the edges of the bread slices and add it to the blended mixture
> Mix it with few drops of lemon juice
> Make kababs and shallow fry in a tawa
> Serve it with ketchup

Kabab ready :)

Paal Kozhukattai

Only for those who have patience ;)

Yesterday was Ram Navami, so I prepared Paal Kozhukattai. It appears to be a simple recipe but it consumed lot of time to prepare.

Ingredients:
Raw rice, salt, milk – 500mg, milk powder (optional), sugar, cardamom powder, coconut milk

Method:
> Soak raw rice in water for about 2 hours.
> Drain the water and spread the rice in a clean towel and dry it under the fan.
> When it is little moist blend it in a blender
> Sieve the flour and boil the flour in an idly cooker (spread the flour on a clean cloth and place it in idly tray and boil it as you boil idly)
> Dry the boiled flour under the fan, sieve the flour and keep it aside.
> Boil water and add salt to it when it is very hot.
> Now add this hot water gradually to the flour and mix it with a spoon and make it a soft dough
> Cool the dough and roll it into thin, small, cylindrical kozhukattai
> Place the kozhukattai in a clean cloth and boil them in an idly cooker as you boil idly.
> Boil milk, add diluted milk powder in 1tbsp of milk
> Add kozhukattai and boil for some more time
> To this add sugar, cardamom powder and half a glass of thick coconut milk

Paal kozhukattai ready :)

Mango Ice Cream

Ingredients:
Large size ripe mango – 1, Milk 500 ml, condensed milk or milk powder, sugar, cardamom powder (optional)

Method:
> Boil the milk in slow flame till it becomes 3/4th of its original amount.
> Wash the mango and blend its pulp with one glass of this boiling milk
> To the boiling milk add condensed milk or milk powder and boil for few more minutes
> Add sugar and boil for few seconds until the sugar dissolves
> Switch off the stove and add the blended mixture when the milk is hot
> To this add half a pinch of cardamom powder (optional)
> Cool it and pour it in ice cream cups (preferable glass cups) and cover it with silver foil paper.
> Seal its mouth with rubber band and freeze it for more than 6 hours.
Note: Dissolve the milk powder in milk before adding it to the boiling milk

Rich and tasty mango ice cream ready :)

Bread Bonda

According to me any dish prepared with bread will taste awesome. This is an easy and quick recipe.

Ingredients:
Bread – 5 or 6 slices (large size), sooji, salt, chopped onions, chopped green chili/chili paste, chopped ginger/ginger paste, chopped curry leaves

Method:
> Remove the edges of bread slices and blend it.
> To this add 4 tsp sooji, chopped onions, chopped ginger, chopped green chili, chopped curry leaves and salt.
> Sprinkle very little water and make it a soft dough
> Roll it into balls and deep fry in oil
> Remove when golden brown and serve it with ketchup.

Bonda ready :)

Coffee Shake

An interesting and easy recipe for coffee lovers.

Ingredients:
Instant coffee powder, milk, ice cubes, vanilla ice cream, sugar, chocolate

Method:
> Pour 1tbsp hot milk in instant coffee powder
> To this add ice cubes (5), 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream, 2 or 3 tsp sugar and blend it in a juice blender
> Pour it in a milk shake glass and top it with vanilla ice cream and grated chocolates or coffee powder

Shake ready :)

Urad Dhal Vadai

It was karthigai, so I thought of making Urad dhal vadai (an easy recipe). Again this is a common South Indian recipe which is prepared for almost all festivals.

Ingredients:
Urad dhal – 1 cup, ginger half inch (optional), green chili – 2, salt, onion, curry leaves, rice powder or cornflour, soda-bicarbonate

Method:
> Soak urad dhal in water for about 1 hour
> In a grinder, grind ginger and green chili for few seconds
> To this add the urad dhal after draining the water
> Add salt while grinding (do not add too much water while grinding, add 4 or 5 tsp if required)
> To the grinded flour add chopped onions, chopped curry leaves, 3tsp rice powder or 2 tsp cornflour and diluted soda bicarbonate in few drops of water.
> Mix well and deep fry in oil till golden brown.

Vadai ready :)

You can soak the vadai in sambar or curd and have sambar vadai or curd vadai

Ven Pongal

Another from my dad’s favorite list. As for me I like the thirumala thirupathi’s ven pongal.

Ven pongal is a common south Indian recipe used for breakfast in south Indian homes.

Ingredients:
Rice – 1 cup, moong dhal – 1 cup, Ghee, water – 6 cups, salt, cahshew nuts, black peppercorns – 2tsp, finely chopped ginger/ginger paste 1tsp, cumin seeds -1tsp and curry leaves

Method:
>> Wash rice and moong dhal, drain the water and keep it aside
>> In a pan (nonstick pan) add 4tsp ghee and fry the rice and moong dhal for 2 to 3 min
>> To this add salt and water and let it cook
>> In another pan fry cashew nuts in ghee. Remove the cashew nuts and keep aside.
>> In the same pan fry pepper corns, ginger paste, cumin seeds and curry leaves.
>> Add these and the fried cashews to the cooked rice and dhal and mix well. Serve with coconut chutney/sambar/sugar.
Pongal ready :)

Note: Use ghee generously to prepare pongal ;)

Carrot Halwa

This is my first blog so I’m starting with a sweet.

One fine evening my father bought some fresh carrots from the market, I was wondering what to cook with that, then I thought of making my father’s favorite recipe “Carrot Halwa”.

It ‘s a simple recipe, easy to cook and delicious.

Ingredients:
Butter/ghee – 1/4kg carrot – 500mg milk - condensed milk (optional) – milk powder (optional) - sugar – cardamom powder – almonds & cashew nuts

Method :
>> Wash the carrots, peel the skin and grate it finely.
>> In a pan (nonstick pan) add 4 tsp of ghee or butter
>> To this add the finely grated carrot and roast it for 2 to 3 minutes
>> To this add milk and let the carrot cook
>> When the carrots are cooked you may add condensed milk or diluted milk powder (this is optional)
>> Now add 3 tbsp (=9tsp) of sugar to this.
>> Cook for long time till the halwa separates from the nonstick pan (till the ghee oozes)
>> In another pan fry almonds and cashew nuts in ghee.
>> Add cardamom powder and the fried nuts to the halwa.
Halwa ready :)