Quick Bhel

Ingredients:

2 cups instant bhel mix from Indian store (I used Bombay Bhel)
1/2 onion chopped
1/4 cups coriander leaves chopped
1 tomato chopped
1 tsp green mango chopped (optional)
1/4 cup mint chutney
1/2 tsp chaat masala (optional)

Method:
Combine the onion, tomato and coriander leaves



Add in the instant bhel and mint chutney



Add the chaat masala and green mango
Enjoy

Peas Pulav

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Basmati rice
2 tsp Ghee
salt to taste
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 green chillies split lengthwise
1/2 cup green peas
1 sprig mint
1/4 cup coriander leaves

Method:

Heat ghee.
Add the cumin seeds and green chillies.
Add the basmati rice and saute for a few mins.
Add peas and salt .


Transfer the above to your electric cooker.
Add 3 cups water and turn your cooker on.

Chop the mint and coriander leaves finely.




Add to rice once done and serve hot.
You will love the aroma as well as the taste of the pulav.

Delicious Arhar Daal

Ingredients:

1 cup Pigeon pea(tuar daal) pressure cooked for 3 whistles
salt to taste
2 green chillies
1 inch piece of ginger
1 pod garlic
1 tsp juice of lemon
1/2 tsp turmeric

Seasoning:
2 tsp oil
1 sp cumin seeds

coriander leaves chopped for garnish

Method:
Pressure cook the daal
In a pan, add oil and cumin seeds

To that, crush the ginger ,garlic and green chillies and add.
Add turmeric powder
Add the pressure cooked daal and salt.
Give it a boil.
Add the lemon juice, garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or rotis.Very delicious daal in a few steps.

Molagu Kozhambu (Spicy Sambar)

Since I was making Poricha Kootu which is my abso fav thing in the world esp if made by my mom, I decided to make Molagu Kozhambu for D as he is not very into Kootus. Anyways it has come out so well today that I can't wait for my hubby to come and try it out. :)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Small red onions peeled by hand and sliced fine
1 tsp Tamarind paste
Oil for frying

Seasoning:

1 Tbsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Hing (Asafoetida)
few Curry leaves

Ground paste:
Heat little oil in a small pan
Add 4 red chillies
1 tsp Tuar daal
1 tsp Urad daal
Add to mixer along with a a sprig of curry leaves
Grind to a coarse powder form.

Method:
Heat oil in a pan
Add the seasonings.Then the onions.
Fry till golden.
Add ground paste and fry for a couple of mins.
Add the tamarind paste and 2 cups water and salt to taste.
Boil till oil floats on top.
Serve on hot rice.

Poricha Kootu (Mixed Veg Coconut Curry)

This is one recipe I love love love !! My mom makes one version of it (adds different veggies but any veggies will usually do) and we loved eating it with hot rotis.I have tried making it to get the exact taste as my mom but have never come as close as I have this time.So am posting this recipe as an ode to her ! Thanks Amma.


I had plenty of leftover veggies in the fridge. You know the veggies that you use for a recipe and have some remaining which you keep for another day.You can use any veggie combination. I used

1 cup of white pumpkin chopped
1 green banana chopped
1 carrot chopped
1 zucchini chopped
1 long gourd chopped
Pressure cook the above for 3 whistles with 1/4 cup tuar daal(Pigeon pea).

Seasoning:
2 tsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds

Ground paste:
Fry in oil and grind with 1/4 cup coconut
6 red chillies
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp urad daal (black gram daal)
I added 1/4 tsp black pepper pods but it is optional.
1 cup water .add little at a time while grinding.

Method:
In a deep pan add the pressure cooked veggies
Add the ground mixture, salt and boil.
Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds.
Season the veggies when mustard seeds crackle.
Mix well.
Garnish with curry leaves and enjoy with Rotis or rice.

Mint Coriander Chutney

2 sprigs mint
1 bunch coriander leaves
2 green chillies
salt to taste
1 tsp raw peanuts
1 tbsp roasted chana daal (split chickpea)

In a mixer, add all of the above and grind with little water.
Chutney is ready.

Green Mango Daal

This is a Daal I got to try out at a friends place while visiting her for a weekend. I had to try it out as I loved the flavor of Mango in the daal. Thanks Jo ! This is the best daal I have ever had in my entire life ! I made this for lunch today and we had it with Alu paratha and also with rice. We couldn't stop eating !

Ingredients:

1 cup Toor daal (Pigeon Pea)
1 big Green mango
1 tsp Salt

Tempering:

2 tsp Oil
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp Asafoetida powder
1 tsp Turmeric powder
4/5 Curry leaves
1 Red chilli

Method :

Chop the mango with skin on into cubes.Discard the seed.
Add to 1 cup toor daal and cook in water till done.I cooked it in the pressure cooker for 3 whistles.1 cup daal with 3 cups water for the pressure cooker.
Heat a pan and add oil.
Add the tempering and wait till mustard splutters.
Add the daal with mango .
Add 1 cup water, salt and cook on medium till it boils.
Enjoy with rotis and rice.

Berry Walnut Muffin

I used frozen berries for this recipe.Bought the bag having raspberry,blueberry and marionberry mix.I have tried Anu's recipe to the T except I added a bowl of the berries and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.Check out her recipe here Raspberry and Blueberry Muffins
Bake at 400 deg F for 20 mins








Tried the cooking spray with flour.













The recipe surely works.The muffins are a hit and we can't stop eating them.