Friday, April 15, 2011

Vatteppam/Vattayappam for ICC

This is my first entry for Indian Cooking Challenge.
For this month challenge Srivalli has chosen Vattayappam, an authentic rice cake from Kerala
The recipe looked really challenging for me as I have not used yeast much (except for croissants) and the procedure seemed bit lengthy.However after I started making this, I realized that it is not much different than our traditional idlis. And the way Shn has explained it was so detailed, that I got it right the first time itself.
Recipe Source:  Shn's Mishmash





Ingredients
Raw rice: 1 cup
Coconut:3/4 cup
Water: to soak
Active yeast:1/2 tsp
Water: 1/2 cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup
Cardomom: 4 or 5
Cashew nuts/raisins - as desired
Ghee: 1 tsp


Procedure:
Step1:
Soak raw rice for 6 - 8 hrs in water


Step2:
Grind the rice in a mixer/blender. When it is almost ground take 2 tablespoon of the batter and keep it aside


Step3:
Now add the grated coconut to the batter and blend together well. Let the batter cool over the counter


Step4:
Meanwhile mix yeast with 1/2 cup of warm water and 2 tsp of sugar.Let it sit undisturbed for 15 minutes. The mixture will start frothing


Step5:
Take 2 tablespoon of batter taken from step2 and mix with 1/2 cup of water


Step6:
In a sauce pan cook the batter in medium heat until it reaches the consistency of porridge


Step7:
Once the porridge is cooled, add this to the previously ground batter. Also add the yeast and blend everything well using the blender


Step8:
Pour the batter in a steel or glass container and let it ferment for 6-8 hrs (Make sure that the container you use is large enough as the batter will double)


Step9:
Once the batter has risen add 1/2 cup of sugar and mix well and let it to rise again for 1.5 to 2 hrs


Step10:
This time the batter would has risen well and when you taste it, it will be little sour.Now add crushed cardomoms and cashews fried in ghee.


Step11:
Pour the batter in cake tin/round plate and steam cook it for about 20 minutes.Can also use idli moulds for mini vatteppam


Step12:
When the batter is half cooked, add cashews and raisins on top (optional)

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Eggless Carrot Coconut Muffins

This is one of the soft and moist muffins that I baked so far.Carrot, apple and coconuts was a wonderful combination and tastes delicious. This is a variation of the carrot cake I tried before with the addition of apple and coconut and with the added benefit of wheat





Ingredients
Wheat flour (Atta): 1.5 cups
Carrot grated: 1/2 cup
Apple grated - 1 medium sized
Sugar: 3/4 cup
Coconut: 1/2 cup
Baking soda: 1 tsp
Baking powder: 1.5 tsp
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Cardomom powder: 1 tsp
Curd: 1.25 cup
Oil: 1/2 cup


Procedure:


Step1:
Mix all the dry ingredients (wheat flour,baking powder, baking soda,sugar and salt)


Step2:
Mix all the wet ingredients (Oil & Curd )


Step3:
To the dry ingredients add grated carrot and apple and mix


Step4:
Then add the wet ingredients and mix only until the ingredients are combined.Do not overmix.Otherwise the muffins will turn hard




Step5:
Finally fold in the walnuts and grated coconut


Step6:
Pour into muffin pans


Step7:
Sprinkle some grated coconut on top (optional)


Step8:
Bake in a preheated oven of 350F for 25 - 30 minutes





Sunday, April 10, 2011

Eggless Wheat Brownie

Almost all the kids love brownies and my kids are no exception.I just came up with this version using wheat flour so that it makes up a healthy dessert.

Ingredients
Wheat flour: 1.25 cups
Condensed Milk: 1 can (14 oz)
Chocolate Chips: 1/2 cup
Milk: 1/4 cup
Chopped Walnuts: 2 tablespoons
Baking soda: 1.5 tsp
Baking powder: 1 tsp
Vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp
Butter: 1/2 cup (1 stick)
Cocoa powder: 2 tablespoons

Procedure:
Step1:
Melt the chocolate chips in milk in  medium flame in a heavy pan

Step2:
Slightly melt the butter and mix it with chocolate and stir well

Step3:
Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa powder together

Step4:
Add the wet ingredients and vanilla extract and mix well

Step5:
Add walnuts and fold them gently

Step6:
Pour the batter in a greased 9" square pan and bake for around 35 to 40  min at 350 F

Step7:
Cool for 10 min in a wire rack