Mughlai Pulao

I've been wanting to try this recipe for quite some time...years I must say. Its been in my recipe book for ages. I took it down from my neighbour's recipe book way back in 2006 and I tried it out just today!! It turned out really good. I recommend you to try it too. I'm sending this to the 'Bookmarked Recipes Every Tuesday' event hosted by Aipi of US Masala and Priya Mitharwal of Mharo Rajasthan.



Ingredients

Rice (either Basmati or Sona Masoori) : 2 cups
Peanuts : 1 cup
Oil : 2 tbsp
Chilli powder : 1/2 tsp
Garam masala : 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder : 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp
Onion : 2, sliced lengthwise
Lemon : 1
Mint leaves : 1 heaped handful
Coriander leaves : 1 handful
Green chillies : 2
Tomato : 1
Salt to taste

Method

1. Soak rice and peanuts together in 4.5 cups of water for 1 hour.
2. Make a paste of mint and coriander leaves and set aside.
3. Take 1 tbsp oil in a pressure cooker and add the soaked mixture and salt and cook for 1 whistle.
4. Take the remaining 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Add onions and saute for a few minutes.
5. Add slit green chillies and tomatoes and saute till cooked.
6. Add mint-coriander paste and dry spices and saute well. If the mixture gets dry sprinkle some water.
7. Once done, add this to the cooked rice. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
8. Serve hot with raita and papad.

Serves : 4

Kos Porichakozhambu (Cabbage Curry)

Ingredients

Cabbage : 2 cups, finely chopped
Coconut : 1/3 cup, grated
Moong dal : 1/3 cup, cooked and mashed
Rice flour : 1 tbsp
Red chillies : 7-8 nos.
Pepper powder : 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds : 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves : a few
Coconut oil : 1 tbsp

Method

1. In a heavy bottom pan take finely chopped cabbage. Add turmeric powder and 1.5 cups water and bring to a boil.
2. Meanwhile grind coconut, rice flour, red chillies and pepper powder to a fine paste using little water.
3. Once cabbage is well cooked, add the moong dal and allow it to boil for 5 min.
4. Add coconut paste and let it boil again.
5. In a separate pan, heat coconut oil and splutter mustard seeds and curry leaves and add to the cabbage curry.
6. Serve hot with chapathis, rice, or dosa.

Mushroom Biriyani

Ingredients

Rice : 2 cups
Mushroom : 1 packet
Onion : 1 big, finely chopped
Tomato : 2
Oil : 4 tbsp
Butter : 1 tbsp
Whole garam masala : a few (cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, cardamom)
Cilantro & mint leaves to garnish
Salt to taste

To grind to a fine paste
Grind the following to a paste using 1/2 cup water.

Green chillies : 2
Pepper powder : 1 tsp
Ginger : 1" piece
Garlic : 5 flakes
Cumin seeds (Jeera) : 1 tsp
Fennel seeds (Saunf) : 1 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder : 1 tsp
Grated Coconut : 2 tbsp
Poppy seeds (khus khus) : 1 tsp
Cashewnuts : 4-5 nos.

Method

1. Wash rice and soak in 3.5 cups of water for 20 minutes.
2. Wash mushroom and cut into chunky slices.
3. Heat oil (on medium heat) in a pressure cooker and add whole garam masala.
4. Add chopped onions and saute till golden brown.
5. Add chopped tomatoes and saute till they become mushy and form a paste.
6. Add the ground paste and saute well till oil oozes out of the mixture.
7. Throw in the mushrooms and cook till done.
8. Add the soaked rice and salt to taste. Stir well.
9. Add 1 tbsp butter and pressure cook for 1 whistle.
10. Once pressure releases, add chopped cilantro and mint leaves. Mix gently.
11. Serve hot with onion raita.

Chayote (Chow Chow) kootu

Ingredients

Chayote : 2
Moong dal : 1/2 cup
Grated coconut : 3 tbsp
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Red chillies : 4
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

For the seasoning
Mustard seeds : 1/4 tsp
Urad dal : 1/2 tsp
Chana dal : 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida (Hing) : 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves : a few
Coconut oil : 1 tbsp

Method

1. Cut chayote into small cubes.
2. Put the moong dal in a vessel and the chayote pieces on to of it. Add 1 cup water, cover the vessel with a plate and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
3. Meanwhile grind grated coconut, red chillies and cumin seeds to a fine paste using water as needed.
4. Once pressure releases, combine the ground paste and the boiled mixture. Add salt and turmeric powder and allow it to boil well and any extra water to evaporate.
5. In a separate pan heat coconut oil and splutter mustard seeds. Add urad dal and chana dal and saute till golden brown.
6. Turn off heat and add asafoetida and curry leaves.
7. Add this seasoning to the kootu and mix well.
8. Serve as an accompaniment for sambar/rasam rice or with chapathis.

Serves:2-3

Yummy & Easy Olan

I'm sending this recipe to Satya's 'Thank you Mom' event.


I love the way my mom makes Olan and this is a shortcut method. It has always been a great favorite with my friends too. This one's for you, Amma!


Ingredients

Yellow pumpkin : 1/4 kg
White pumpkin : 1/4 kg
Black-eyed peas (dry karamani) : 1/4 cup
Green chillies : 5-6, slit lengthwise
Milk : 1.5 cups
Coconut oil : 2 tsp
Curry leaves : 10 nos.
Salt to taste

Method

1. Wash, peel, and cut yellow and white pumpkins into 2 inch squares.
2. Pressure cook the pumpkin squares along with black-eyed peas, green chillies, curry leaves and 1 cup water for 3 whistles.
3. Once pressure releases, add milk and curry leaves and let it boil on medium flame till it thickens and the squash get all mashed up.
4. Add salt and coconut oil and give it a good mix. Allow it to come to a boil and turn off heat.
5. Serve with rotis or as an accompaniment for rice.

Serves : 4 (for people like Hari & me who love Olan, this makes only 2 servings!)

Pumpkin

Cranberry Chutney

Ingredients

Cranberry - 2 cups
Onions - 1 medium, finely chopped
Garlic - 4 flakes
Red chillies (dry) - 15 (you'll need this to even the sourness of the berries)
Channa dal - 2 tbsp
Urad dal - 2 tbsp
Sugar - 2 tsp
Curry leaves - 4 nos.
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida (Hing) - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 4 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method

1. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add channa dal, urad dal, garlic and red chillies and saute till golden brown.
2. Add cranberries and saute till mushy.
3. Allow to cool and grind to a paste with salt.
4. Heat the remaining oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.
   
5. Add curry leaves and hing and saute for a minute.
6. Add the chopped onions and saute till golden brown.
7. Add the sauteed onions and sugar to the paste and mix well.
8. Serve with dosas.
   

Cranberry-Banana Whole Wheat Cake

Ingredients

Whole Wheat flour : 1 1/2 cups
Oats (quick-cooking variety) : 1 cup
Ripe banana : 2
Fresh cranberries : 1 cup
Sugar : 3/4 cup
Baking powder : 1 tsp
Baking soda : 1 tsp
Salt : a pinch
Eggs : 3
Vanilla extract : 1 tsp

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C/350F. Grease baking tray and keep aside.
2. Grind cranberries, eggs, bananas, sugar and vanilla together in a blender.
3. In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together – whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. Combine the cranberry mixture and flour mixture and mix well. Don't worry if the mixture is a little thick.
   
5. Pour into greased baking tray and bake for 20 minutes.
6. Cool and cut into pieces of desired shape and size.
   

Idli/Dosa Batter

Ingredients

Boiled Rice (Idli rice) : 4 cups
Urad dal : 1 cup
Methi seeds : 1 tsp
Ice cubes : 4-5
Salt to taste

Method

1. Soak urad dal and methi seeds together and refrigerate.
2. Soak rice separately and keep aside for 3-4 hours.
3. Grind urad dal, methi seeds and ice cubes to a very smooth paste along with 3/4 cup water. If using a grinder, allow to grind well for atleast 25-30 minutes for best results. Once done, transfer to a vessel.
   
4. Now grind the rice well using 2 cups of water.
5. Once done, transfer to the same vessel. Add salt and mix well.
6. Keep overnight in a warm place and allow to ferment.
7. Once the batter rises, mix well and store in refrigerator.
   

Corn Paniyaram

Ingredients

Fresh sweet corn : 1 cup
Boiled Rice (Idli Rice) : 2 cups
Red chillies : 8 - 10 nos.
Onion : 1, chopped fine
Curry leaves : a few, chopped fine
Cashew : a few, broken into tiny bits
Ginger : 1" piece, chopped fine
Salt to taste
Oil as required

Method

1. Soak corn, rice and red chillies together in water for about 3 hours and grind to a thick batter.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
3. Add a few corn pellets and mix well.
4. In a 'paniyaram' griddle, heat some oil (if its a non stick griddle then 2-3 drops shd be enough) and pour the batter into the holes. Allow to cook on low heat till golden brown. Then flip it over and let the other side also cook well. If necessary you can add a few more drops of oil.
   
5. Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.