Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Pavakkai Curry (Bitter gourd curry)

I learnt this recipe from my grandma. It is a little time consuming recipe but the curry tastes awesome. People who do not like bitter gourd will also like this curry for sure.As per the original recipe by grandma, the bitter gourd has to be cooked in tamarind water in stove top for about 30 -40 minutes.I converted this to a partially microwave recipe to reduce the cooking time



Ingredients
Pavakkai(Bitter gourd)                       6 medium sized
Tamarind paste3/4 tsp
Turmeric powder1/4 tsp
Salt1 tsp
Hinga pinch
Chilli powder1/2 tsp
Coriander powder1/2 tsp
Oil2 tablespoon
Mustard seeds1/2 tsp
Urad dhal1/2 tsp
Curry leavesa sprig


Procedure:
Step1:
Cut the bitter gourd into small pieces. Remove the middle part


Step2:
Add tamarind paste and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water and mix well


Step3:
Cook this is microwave oven with open bowl for 5 minutes


Step4:
Take this out and add turmeric powder and mix well and micro on high for another 5 minutes in open bowl


Step5:
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a fry pan and add msutard seeds.Once it starts spluttering add urad dhal and curry leaves


Step6:
Add the cooked vegetable and cook for 5 minutes


Step7:
Now add the chilli powder, coriander powder, hing, salt and jaggery and mix well. Cook for another 15 - 20 min

Note:
The bittergourd can also be cooked on stove top. Extract about 1 cup of tamarind water and add to the vegetable.Simmer this for 30 - 40 until all the moisture is absorbed. Continue from step 5
1/2 tsp of grated jaggery can also be added 

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Low fat Eggless Blueberry muffins

Recipe adapted from joyofbaking with some healthy changes. I replaced All purpose flour with wheat flour and egg with low fat yoghurt.My daughter loves blueberry a lot. Eventhough this little fruit tastes delicious as such, its flavour and sweetness is enhanced when added in baked goods.



Ingredients
Wheat flour                                 3/4 cup
All purpose flour1/4 cup
Blueberries3/4 cup
Sugar1/3 cup
Reduced fat Yoghurt3/4 cup
Baking powder3/4 tsp
Baking soda1/8 tsp
Vanilla extract3/4 tsp
Canola oil/Corn oil/vegetable oil1/8 cup


The above measurement yields 6 regular sized muffins
Procedure:
Step1:
Mix together flour,sugar,baking soda and baking powder in a large bowl


Step2:
Take 1 tablespoon of dry ingredients and toss it with the blueberries. Just coat the berries with the flour well so that it does not sink to the bottom while baking.(Don't skip this step)


Step3:
In a separate bowl whisk the curd and add oil, vanila extract and mix well


Step4:
Mix both wet and dry ingredients together.Do not overmix


Step5:
Gently fold in  the blueberries coated with flour




Step6:
Pout the batter in muffin pan and bake in preheated oven of 375F for around 20 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean
Bake in the center rack


Notes:
  • Just double the recipe for 12 muffins
  • I used store bought reduced fat yogurt.Homemade thick curd can also be used
  • If using frozen blueberries do not thaw
  • Do not over mix the batter.Otherwise the muffins will turn hard
  • While baking the muffins can crack on top.That is quite normal
  • It is better to use a muffin/cupcake liner as the blueberries will stick to the sides

Sending this to Spicy Treats:Show me your HITS
and Uma and Priya's Fast food not fat food

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Coriander Chutney

This is another simple chutney that goes well with idli/dosa




Ingredients
Grated Coconut/Coconut powder   1/4 cup
Chopped coriander1 cup
Chopped mint leaves1 tablespoon
Salt1/4 tsp
Chopped ginger1 tsp
Green chillies1 or 2
For tempering

Oil                                 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds1/4 tsp
Urad dhal1/4 tsp
Procedure
Step1:
Grind all the ingredients together.Add 1/2 cup of water and grind well


Step2:
Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds.Once it starts sputtering add urad dhal and curry leaves and pour this over the chutney


Note:
Adding mint leaves is optional.It gives additional flavour


Sending this EP Series- Coriander and cumin by Erivum Puliyum

Monday, March 12, 2012

Basundhi

Though this is a time consuming recipe, it does not require much effort.You can make this when in parallel when you are involved in other tasks.The recipe sound similar to palkova/ thirattipal but it definetly has a different flavour and taste altogether compared to palkova



Ingredients
Milk                                              4.25 cups
Sugar1/2 tsp
Cardamom powdera pinch
Saffrona pinch
Chopped almonds/pistachios2 tablespoons

Procedure:
Step1:
Boil the milk in a heavy sauce pan (preferable non stick for easier cleaning)


Step2:
Reduce the flame and simmer for around 50 minutes.(Keep it reduced to the lowermost gas mark)


Step3:
After it has reduced to half of the quantity, add sugar and stir well


Step4:
Simmer for another 20 - 25 minutes. Stir it in between (may be very 5 minutes) and do not allow to burn.Scrape the sides as well.


Step5:
At one point the milk will turn creamy and the color changes as well
Color change


Step6:
Add cardamom powder and saffron and switch off the flame


Step7:
Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios


Step8:
Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

EGGLESS YELLOW SPONGE CAKE



Recipe Source: Tamalapaku


Ingredients:
All purpose flour                   1.5 cups
Baking powder2 tsp
Baking soda1/4 tsp
Milk1 cup
Sugar1 cup
Custard Powder1/2 cup
Vanilla extract1 tsp
Butter1/2 cup


Procedure:
Step1:
Boil milk,butter and sugar in a sauce pan.Boil it until the sugar melts

Step2:
Once the mixture becomes lukewarm, add in the custard powder. Using a whisk mix well until there are no lumps

Step3:
Sift the dry ingredients together (Flour, baking powder and baking soda) in a large bowl

Step4:
Now add the liquid ingredients to this and mix well. Do not overmix though

Step5:
Pour the batter in a greased 9" round pan

Step6:
Bake in a preheated oven of 325F for 40 - 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.Bake it in the middle rack of the oven


Notes:
  • Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.If required garnish with powdered sugar
  • This cake does not require any frosting as such. If adding frosting reduce the amount of sugar in the batter to 3/4 cups
  • If adding powdered sugar on top,sprinkle with a help of a sieve to spread evenly
Frosting the cake with whipped cream (optional)
Whipping cream: 1/2 pint
Powdered sugar: 2 tablespoons
Vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp

Sugar syrup
Water: 1/4 cup
Sugar: 1/4 cup

1) Whip the cream with sugar and vanilla extract until the stiff peak forms
2) Prepare the sugar syrup by boiling water and sugar together until the sugar dissolves
3) Cut the cake into twp horizontally. Moisten with the sugar syrup
4) Frost with whipped cream
Custard Cake

Eggless Custard Cake

Eggless Custard Cake


Monday, March 5, 2012

Masala Triangle chappathi



Ingredients
Wheat flour/Atta                           2 cups    
Salt1 tsp
Sugar1 tsp
Oil2 tablespoons
Ghee/Oil:2 tsp
Ajwain seeds1 tsp
Red Chilli powder1/2 tsp
Warm water1 cup
Procedure:
Step1:
Add 2 tablespoon of oil to the flour and mix well


Step2:
Add salt, sugar, chilli powder, ajwain seeds and knead well with warm water.
Approximately requires 1 cup of water.Add more if required


Step3:
Divide into 8 equal balls.


Step4:
First make a circle. Coat with ghee/oil and fold it into half


Step5:
Again coat with this oil/ghee and fold this to half again


Step6:
Now roll it into triangle shape


Step7:
Heat the tawa and cook the chappathi on both sides with oil


Suggested Accompaniments
Vegetable Kurma

Saturday, March 3, 2012

CWS: Cooking with Corn Roundup

Finally I have posted the round up of the CWS cooking with corn event.
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful entries and thanks to Priya for giving me this opportunity


Sravani of Srav's Culinery concepts sent Corn & Tomato Salad





Shoba of Good Food sent Corn Bonda


Kalpana Sareesh of Life with Spices sent Corn Methi


Divya of DivyasCulinery Journey sent Corn Fritters


Sasikala of Sasi Samayal Kuripu sent Roasted corn salad


Vaishali of ribbon to pastas sent Cheesy corn rice


Usha of  MySpicyKitchen sent Chocolate Popcorn


Kaveri of Palakkad Chamayal sent Sweet corn tikkis and Spinach and corn sandwich 




Sangee of SpicyTreats sent SweetCorn Cilantro rice,Sweet corn tomato bhath, Sweet Corn Tikkis,






Rasya Srinath of Vegetarian Food and me sent Corn Kebabs


Gayathri Rani of Gayathri's cook spot sent Sweet Corn Tofu kebab


Julie of Erivum puliyum sent Corn Chat




Finally my entry Microwave Corn flour Halwa