Kitchen-Kollections

I wanted to post recipes specially the ingredients in English so that its easily understood by all but in many places i have used some telugu terms. Although
I am planning to post a glossary..it will take some time..till tht time check this link..

A Telugu-English dictionary

http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/brown/

Hi all… I started writing this post when suddenly my son started pushing me as well as the lappy… so i showed his milk bottle to him..and now he is rolling it and playing with it..he should be drinking from it!! Hmm..well  here is another curry variety of cauliflower. Cauliflower is low in fat and high in dietary fiber. It releases a peculiar pungent flavor when cooked or steamed. So to avoid that flavor..you can add chopped coriander leaves..

Yellow moong dal(hindi) or pesarapappu(telugu) or yellow lentils are rich in protein and carbs. All you have to do is to  soak them for 15 min and add when the curry is just about to be done. It gives a crunchy taste to the curry.

I will start with the recipe now..this is another of my MIL favorite.

Ingredients

1 cauliflower (florets separated, washed, and kept in salt water for sometime)
1 cup chopped onion
1 chopped green chilli
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 cup soaked yellow split moong dal
a pinch of turmeric
salt to taste
1 tbs oil
chopped coriander for garnishing

For tempering
1 tsp fennel seeds or jeera
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp minapapappu or gram dal

Method

• Take a deep pan and add oil. Once its properly heated fry fennel seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric and gram dal. Once they turn light brown, add chopped onion and green chilli.
• Once onions are cooked, add ginger garlic paste and mix well.
• Now add cauliflower florets and mix well so that oil is coated well.
• Add salt and cover it with a lid so that its cooked faster.
• Remember to mix it carefully so that the florest dont break.
• Once the florets are cooked, add the split moong dal and mix it well.
• Cover it with lid and let it cook for exactly 5 minutes and then switch it off.
• Garnish it with chopped coriander and serve hot with either chapatis or rice!

Today i want to share this recipe as i find it really satisfying and full of nutrients. Fenugreek leaves are rich in minerals and fiber. I do not know the exact reason but they are supposed to be very helpful for new moms.

So here is the recipe-

Ingredients

1 cup rice (soaked for 15 min)
1 cup chopped fenugreek leaves
1 cup diced onion
1 slit green chilli
1/2 cup yellow lentils (soaked for 15 min)
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
a pinch of turmeric
salt to taste
Coriandar for garnishing

For tempering
1 tbs oil
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 sprig of curry leaves

Method

• Take a deep pan and add oil. Add the fennel seeds,onions, green chilli and curry leaves. Fry for 10 min til onions change into light brown color. Add ginger garlic paste,turmeric and fry for 1 min.

• Add chopped carrot,fenugreekleaves and peas and cook for 10 min. You can add chopped mint leaves too..it will add extra flavour to the rice.

• Now add the soaked rice and yellow lentil and mix it well. For 1 cup of rice, add 2 1/2 cups of water. Again mix it well. Cover it with a lid and let it cook on high for at least 10 min till the water is almost gone..when it is half cooked. Now put it on simmer and let it cook for 10 more min.Keep mixing in between so that it is properly cooked.

Once it is ready, garnish it with coriandar.Serve hot with either raita or lemon pickle!!

I generally make this when i am in a hurry..because it just takes 30 min to cook this once your ingredients are ready. I think i should tag it under 30 min meals

unfortunately..i do not have a photo of this rice..because by the time this dish is done….i get soo hungry that i just eat it. haha i will take a pic next time!!

I am back from my hiatus…i have a beautiful baby boy to keep me busy but still i will take out time and post new and exciting recipes. In last 4 months, i experimented with some recipes..i will post them soon. I have an idea for an exciting contest..will post the contents once i am finalize it. Keep checking this space!!

I am posting after a long time because of one obvious reason…i am due in august So most of the time goes by in relaxing..so did not get much time to post few new thing which I tried recently. One of the recipe is of Yellow lentils or moong dal attu or pancake (you may call it). Here is the recipe -

Ingredients

1 cup soaked yellow lentils ( 1 hr is enough for soaking)

2 dried red chillies

Salt to taste

Method

• Grind lentils with the chillies into a smooth paste. Add salt and mix well.
• Heat a griddle and spread the batter evenly in circular movements so that it becomes a perfect round.
• Sprinkle some vegetable oil on the corners and with a spatula, invert it so that both sides cook well.
• Serve hot with either sambhar or some chutney.

My own version of chana masala powder…

Ingredients

cumin seeds – 100gms
black cardamom – 10 gms
small cardamom – 5 gms
Star anise – 1 gms
black peppercorns – 25 gms
dried red chillies – 5 gms
dried ginger/soonthi powder – large pinch
grated nutmeg – 1/4 no
cloves – 5 gms
cinnamon – 5gms
amchur powder – 5gms (optional)
Method

• Roast each ingredient seperately till dark brown.
• Roast all  except nutmeg, ginger and amchur powder.
• Pound to a fine powder.
• Transfer it into a box with tight lid and it will retain its freshness.