Saturday, November 12, 2011

MAMIDI RAITA ( MANGO YOGURT DISH)


MAMIDI RAITA ( MANGO YOGURT DISH) - Article contributed by Dr M. Vineet Kumar, Hyd

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/4 tsp Black Mustard seeds 
  • Salt as needed
  • 1 Red Chilly flakes 
  • 1 cup Curd 
  • 1/2 tsp Sugar 
  • 2 slightly Riped Mangoes 
  • 1 tbsp Chopped Onion  
  • 1 tsp Oil 
  • 1 Green Chilli, finely cut 
  • 1 tbsp Grated fresh Coconut 
  • 1 tsp Mustard Powder 



PREPARATION:
  • Peel and sliced the mango in small cubes.
  • Add the mustard powder, green chillies, fresh coconut, sugar and salt to the yogurt.
  • Whisk together and add to the mango cubes.
  • Stir.
  • Heat oil in the pan.
  • When hot add the mustard seeds.
  • When seeds begin to pop, add the red chilli and onion.
  • Let the onion turn brown.
  • Take off the fire and add to the curd mixture.
  • Mix well and serve at room temperature or cold.
  • Add coriander leaves.
  • Let all flavors mix together
TRY MAMIDI RAITA today ...and leave your comments !!!! 


  

Friday, November 11, 2011

ALU BONDA

ALU BONDA - article contributed by ANNADATHA PRABHAKAR. VIZAG


INGREDIENTS:
  • FOUR TO FIVE MEDIUM SIZED POTATOS, 
  • TOMATOES
  • GREEN CHILLIES
  • OIL
PREPARATION:
  • Boil the potatoes and PEEL THEM , 
  • ADD TOMATOES - NICELY CUT IN SMALL BITS
  • ADD GREEN CHILLIES CUT INTO FINE THIN PIECES, 
  • ADD SMALL CHOPPED ONIONS, 
  • ADD CORIANDER LEAVES FINELY CUT, 
  • ADD RED CHILLY POWDER
  • SALT REQUIRED QUANTITY
  • MIX ALL INTO FINE DOUGH , 
  • MAKE IT INTO SMALL ROUNDS, 
  • IN A VESSEL, ADD BESAN POWDER WITH SALT, CHILLY POWDER AND WATER TO MAKE INTO SEMISOLID PASTE. 
  •  NOW DIP ALU DOUGH ROUNDS IN BESAN MIX .  
  • KEEP GROUNDNUT OIL IN A KADAI HEAT WELL .
  • JUST WHEN FUMES COME, PUT ALUDOUGH BASEN ROUNDS INTO OIL AND FRY THEM TILL GOLDEN RED. 
  • REMOVE THEM AND SPREAD IN A NEWSPAPER TO ABSORB
  • EXCESS OIL.  
EAT WHILE HOT. .  YOU CAN ALSO TRY EATING BONDAS WITH RICE AND MIX WITH VANTANOONE.  IT WILL BE SIMPLY SUPERB,  PL TRY AND LET ME KNOW.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Garelu or Vada

GARELU or VADA
For any festival occasion gare or vada is offered to god in South India - Dasara, Diwali /Deepawali, Sankranthi, Ganesh Pooja, Ugadi (New Year)  .... also this is a very popular South indian Breakfast, often it is served with Sambar, Chutneys like Peanut Corriander, Ginger and or Coconut chutney. 


I made Garelu for my boys birthday as he likes GARE so much ...

INGREDIENTS: 
  • Urad Dal ( Mina Pappu) - 2 cups
  • Oil for frying 
  • curry leaves / corriander leaves
  • Ginger
  • Green chillies
  • Salt as per taste
  • Onions ( optional) - for festivals i do not use onions


PREPARATION:

  • Wash the urad dal and then Soak dal in water over night
  • Remove the water and then Grind the dal in the morning, try to add as much little water as possible
  • After grinding you will need to find it to be soft as paste and add little soaked dal for texture
  • Add Ginger, Salt to the grinded dal - this is as per taste
  • Chop green chillies and curry leaves to the dal mix
  • Heat oil in a pan
  • Take small amounts of dal and make nice rounds and a hole in the middle
  • Fry till they turn golden brown in color 



Serve hot Vada / Gare with Sambar , Peanut Corriander Chutney, Ginger Chutney and or Coconut chutney - have a fun filled breakfast or add to it to your meal and enjoy it heartily with your friends and family


Try this great yummy recipe that melts in the mouth and let me know how it came - Leave your comments!!!!

Traditional Mediterranean Falafel Recipe

FALAFEL


Falafel is one of the traditional Mediterranean delight, I learnt this vegetarian recipe from my colleague, this is high in protein and very easy to prepare.

INGREDIENTS:
  • Falafel mix - 1 cup ( mix is ground chickpeas, fava beans and spices) - you can get this from any mediterranean store
  • Water - 1/2 cup
  • Olive oil - 1 spoon
  • Salad - Lettuse, Cucumber, Tomato, Onion and Carrot
  • Sause - Tomato / Yogurt / Sesame as per taste
PREPARATION:
  • Add  water to Falafel mix, mix well and add 1 spoon of olive oil
  • Now leave the mix to stand for about 15 minutes
  • You can either fry the balls in oil till they turn golden brown or bake them ( i prefer baking)
  • If you want to Bake, Preheat the oven for about 20 minutes to 350 F
  • On the baking sheet place the small 2 inch round balls, lightly spray olive oil
  • You can either make them as balls or make them flat rounds( like pooris) 
  • Bake for about 25-30 minutes - you will see they turn into crispy balls

Add Falafel Balls in Vegetarian Sandwich or Veggie Burgers or as stuffed Pita Bread


      Try this nutritious recipe at home and let me know how it tastes - Do not forget to leave your comments!!!

      Cheese Burrito


      CHEESE BURRITO 


       My little girl likes this Mexican Cheese burrito so much - kids love the cheese burrito as a snack, any time. Very easy and healthy snack for kids.
      INGREDIENTS:

      Burritos - 4
      grated Cheese 

      PREPARATION: 
      • On top of the burrito spread the grated cheese
      • Place the plate in the micro wave and warm for about 45 sec - the grated cheese will melt
      • Now roll the burrito and Serve hot 



       Kids love Cheese Burrito any time of the day - this is high in calcium and very healthy for kids.

      Yogurt Fruit Recipe



      Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it gives you energy for the whole day.
      Nutritious, again fruits are excellent source of fiber - try this quick and healthy breakfast

      INGREDIENTS:

      • yogurt - 2 table spoons
      • fruits - grapes, strawberry, watermelon and pine apple
      • Oat meal - 4 spoons
      • Honey
      • Almonds and other nuts (optional)


      PREPARATION:



      • Cut the fruits into 0.5 cm cubes
      • Add oats to the cut fruits
      • Top it up with yogurt
      • Add almonds or nuts as you prefer
      • Add honey for taste 


      Wake up your taste buds with a healthy and delicious fruit salad for breakfast 

      Spicy Rice Pongal

      RICE PONGAL 
      This is spicy pongal recipe, there is also sweet rice pongal often made for Sankranthi / Pongal festivals - both the dishes are festival delicacies. 

      The taste is really good and those who like the taste of rice would know why this is so special in south india .... nutritious, divine and comforting food



      INGREDIENTS:

      • Rice 1.5 cup
      • Black pepper
      • Ghee - 2 spoons
      • Moong Dal 0.25 cup
      • Red Mirchie
      • Green chillies( optional ) 
      • Cashew nuts ( optional ) - i like to grind cashew nuts and mix the powder in this recipe
      • Oil and other Seasoning stuff
      • Curry leaves/corriander leaves


      PREPARATION:

      • Mix Rice and Moong dal, wash it well 
      • Add water and boil them well in pressure cooker 
      • Remove the cooked rice, moong dal and mix it well when hot
      • Add salt, chopped green chillies, seasoning stuff 
      • Add cashew nut powder 


      Server the rice pongal with spicy powder or corriander chutney / Tomato chutney or any other chutney. Some like raita/yogurt chutney with this - again tastes very well. Add urad dal papad to the rice pongal. For kids add one more spoon of ghee on top when you serve - very healthy and nutritious ...

      Try this rice pongal recipe at home, and let me know how it came out - again do not forget to leave your comments. 





      KAJA sweet recipe / Madatha Kaja

      KAJA sweet - this sweet is very popular in ANDHRA, it is a "Special" delicacy - it is also popularly known as "Madatha Kaja" or Layered sweet - tastes yummy, very easy recipe, When you have festivals moments, special occasions with friends and family - DO NOT forget to add this sweet dish. A good "Kaja" just melts in the mouth and taste is all in the layers of the sweet, i bet the taste will stay for few days ....

      It was my little boy 2nd birthday and i made Kaja sweet on that day- he likes sweets so much and  BTW our family name is "KAJA" too  ... it is a place near  Guntur, AP, India and is also the popular sweet name. My Father-in-law used to gift friends n family with "KAJA" sweet boxes for all Festive occasions(especially the grand kids used to like them so much ... ) .... we are continuing the same and it became our family traditional sweet dish .. sharing the "KAJA" sweet recipe ....

      INGREDIENTS:
      • Maida - All purpose flour - 1 cup
      • Baking Soda - 0.5 spoon
      • Ghee - 2 spoons
      • Rice Flour - 2 spoons
      • Sugar - 1 cup
      • Water - 1.25 cup
      • Oil for frying
      • Elaiche powder ( cinnamon powder if you like)



      PREPARaTION: Time : 20 minutes
      • Mix the all purpose flour with 1 spoon of Ghee and 1 cup of water. 
      • Keep it aside for about 10 minutes or so
      • Prepare the Sugar Syrup by adding water and sugar - you need to get a "single" string for the sugar syrup
      • Make small balls out of the dough and roll them thin like how we do pressing chapathis
      • Take 2 Chapathis at a time, place one on top of the other and add little ghee in between and roll them like a mat ..
      • Take a knife and cut the roll into fine pieces about 1 cm size
      • Press the cut rolls in the center so they come out nice, long elongated
      • Add oil in a pan, heat and add these rolls slowly into the oil
      • Occasionally stir in between and so take them out when you see the color of the rolls turning golden brown and then you can take them out
      • Add the fryed KAJA rolls directly in the sugar syrup
      • Remove from Sugar syrup and serve the sweet 
      • Some even add a clove and press the kaja well so that it won't split at the ends - even for presentation it looks very nice
      • Chitti Kajas are the ones that are small in size, same recipe - cut the kaja rolls as 0.5 cm or less ... 

        This Awesome layered Kaja sweet and make sure the sweetness is in all layers of the sweet ... i bet will lasts till the last bite of it - Try this mouth watering delicacy at home and let me know how it came out - do not forget to post your comments.


        Baked Punugulu

        This is Andhra special snack - Punugulu 

        It was raining (not heavy) but one can feel the chill and reminds me that winter is going to start soon. Came back from work, driving home i was thinking what to make for evening snack. I remembered i had left over idly/dosa batter.and soon i made hot hot punugulu within 10 minutes and yum yum with hot chai. This is very easy recipe, tastes good.


        INGREDIENTS:
        Dosa batter
        Salt as per taste
        Fresh Ginger
        Green Chillies 1
        Onion - 1 small
        Green Corriander leaves or curry leaves
        2 spoons Rice powder
        Oil if you want to fry otherwise 1 spoon add to the batter

        For PEANUT corriander chutney:
        Peanuts
        Salt
        Red mirchi
        Corriander
        Seasoning stuff


        PREPARATION:

        • Chop the onions, chillies 
        • Add salt, ginger, curry leaves to the batter
        • Heat Oil and make small balls of the batter, leave in heated oil
        • Fry till they are golden brown
        • Prepare Peanut corriander chutney 
        Baked pungulu -
        • If you do not want to fry in oil make small balls preheat micro oven for about 10 minutes 
        • In a aluminum foiled tray put the batter balls for about 10 minutes
        Serve hot punugulu with peanut corriander chutney with chai. Try this recipe and do not forget to let me know hot it tastes and your comments.




        Peanut corriander chutney