Coconut Kothamalli Chutney

Thenga Kothamalli Chutney

Ingredients

• Grated Coconut.....................1cup
• Red Chilies.............................5
• Urad Dhal...............................3tsp
• Asafoetida...............................1/4 tsp
• Tamarind Paste........................1/2tsp
• Chopped Coriander Leaves.....1cup
• Salt to Taste



Method

• Fry the red chili and Urad dhal.
• When the dhal becomes red remove from the flame.
• Grind all together into a paste .
• It is very tasty. Serve with hot rice/idli/ dosa or chapathi.

Vazha Poovu Thovaran (Banana Flower Curry)

Vazha Poovu Thovaran

Vazha Poovu

In South India ,we make vadai, thovaran, puli curry with this vazha poovu.The banana flower which may also called banana blossom, grows in banana plant in bunches..Peel the outer purple colour skin from the banana flower.Remove the bunch of flower under the skin. You have to remove the small white stem inside each flower.It is not edible.Chop the flowers into pieces and  add two tbsp buttermilk and water. So that it won't discolor.

Ingredients

• Vazhapoovu..................1
• Mustard Seeds............1tsp
• Urad Dhal...................2tsp
• Red Chili......................2
• Turmeric Powder..........a pinch
• Grated Coconut............1/4 cup
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Remove the outer part and take flowers from it
• You have to take white thread like thing from inside the each poovu.
• Chop them into small pieces and add and buttermilk.
• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds , red chili and urad dhal. 
• When the mustard seeds crackle add the chopped flower, turmeric powder and salt. 
• Add little water and cover it
• When it is cooked add coconut.

Agathi Keerai Curry (Poduthuval)

Agathi keerai is very good for health. On dwadasi day after Ekadasi the devotees who keep fast on Ekadasi day ,make agathi keerai curry next day and eat.This leafy vegetable helps in balancing the digestion.



Agathi Keerai

Ingredients

• Agathi Keerai......................a bunch
• Moong Dhal.......................1/4 cup
• Grated Coconut..................1/4 cup
• Mustard Seeds...................1tsp
• Urad Dhal..........................2tsp
• Red Chili...........................1
• Turmeric Powder...............a pinch
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Wash and chop the agathi keerai.
• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds urad dhal and broken red chili.
• When it splutters add the keerai , moong dhal,turmeric powder and salt.
• Cook till the keerai and moong dhal are cooked well.
• If needed add little water. Then add the coconut.
• This is a very tasty curry.
• Serve with sambar rice/rasam rice.

Achinga Vathakkal (Long Beans Curry)

Long beans is good for health with good amount of dietary fiber. My daughter likes this achinga payaru

Achinga Vathakkal

Ingredients

• Achinga..........................one bunch
• Mustard Seeds................1tsp
• Urad Dhal......................2 tsp
• Red Chili.........................2
• Turmeric Powder.............1/4tsp
• Salt to Taste 

Method

• Wash and cut 1" long pieces. 
• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds urad dhal and broken red chili.
• When the mustard splutters add the long beans pieces, turmeric and salt. 
• Add half a cup of water,mix well and cover it.
• When the beans are cooked add 1/2 tsp chili powder and1/2 tsp. asafoetida.See the water is dried up and the beans are cooked. 
• Serve this with sambar rice.

Another Method

• Cut the long beans into small pieces. Cook the same way above.
• Grind the grated coconut and 2 green chilies very coarsely, add to the cooked beans. 
• This thovaran is very tasty.
• For Onam Sadya this is one of the items.

Vengaya Urukai (Onion Pickle)

Ingredients

• Onion.(Big)......................10
• Lemon.............................8
• Red Chili Powder.............1/2cup
• Methi Seeds....................3 tbsp
• Chick Peas......................3 tbsp
• Asafoetida.......................1/2 tsp
• Til oil.............................. 1/2 cup
• Mustard Powder..............1/2 cup
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Extract the lemon juice from the lemons
• Peel the onion skin,cut  into same size pieces.
• Wipe them  with a paper towel and add the lemon juice and salt.
• Keep in sunlight for a day..
• Heat the oil  in a pan  and when the oil is heated put off the flame.Keep it to cool.
• Add asafoetida, chili powder,mustard powder,methi seeds, chick peas, salt and onion.
• Mix well and keep it covered.Mix them every day.
• The lemon juice acts as preservative. So it won't spoil.

Vegetarian Sushi

Vegetarian Sushi

I heard about sushi a Japanese dish and wanted to give a try for first time. Yesterday, we went out and came late. So I decided to make sushi. My daughter helped me to do that. I made it very easy with rice, cooked spinach, carrot and cooked beans. It came out very well. My husband also liked it. Our friend doctor told if you include sea weed in your diet. no need to take tablet for thyroid. Those have thyroid problems eat sushi once in a week.There are many delicious vegetable combinations that can be used in sushi(cucumber,avocado,mushrooms, roasted eggplant, asparagus, zucchini and bell pepper),Sushi is served with soy sauce.Vegetarian sushi is my favorite since I am strict vegetarian.

Ingredients

Vegetarian Sushi

 

• Nori Sheet........................................1per roll
• Cooked Rice...................................1cup
• Roasted Black sesame seeds..... .....1tsp
• Cooked Spinach..............................2tbsp
• Carrot Pieces..................................6
• Soy Sauce.(Dipping)........................2tbsp
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Cut the carrot in lengthwise and keep.
• Cook the rice in pressure cooker with little salt. 
• Roast 1tsp black sesame seeds.
• Heat a pan with 1tsp olive oil add 1 cup of baby spinach with little salt. 
• When it is cooked keep a side. 
• Take a nori sheet wet the hands and spread the rice all over the nori leaving 1" at the end to seal it.
• Keep the spinach carrots in a line and roll the nori sheet with hands by pressing little. 
• At the end press it tightly so that the end is sealed.
• Cut with a sharp knife into half and again half.
• So you get 6 pieces. Arrange decoratively in a serving plate and soy sauce in a bowl. 
• Dip sushi in soy sauce and eat. It is very tasty, 
• Very very easy to prepare this dish..

Mushroom Dhal

 I tried dhal with mushroom and tomato. It is very tasty and healthy too. You can also try this dhal.Specially for children this is good one with less spice

.

Mushroom Dhal

Ingredients

• Cooked Dhal..........................2cups
• Chopped Mushroom...............1 cup 
• Chopped Tomato....................1/2 cup
• Chopped Green Chili...............2tsp
• Chopped Ginger......................1tsp
• Turmeric Powder......................1/4 tsp
• Asafoetida................................1/2 tsp
• Coriander Leaves.....................few
• Mustard Seeds........................1tsp
• Cumin Seeds.........................1tsp
• Chili Powder..........................1tsp
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds and cumin seeds.
• When mustard splutters add the tomato ,mushroom,turmeric, salt chili powder,green chili, ginger and asafoetida..
• Fry for three to four minutes and then add water.
• When it boil add the cooked dhal and mix it well.
• Everything is mixed well add the chopped coriander leaves.
• Serve this dhal with rice or chapathi.
• It should be little watery. I always use cumin seeds, ginger, green chili, asafoetida, curry leaves, coriander leaves and healthy vegetables every day in my cooking.

Karivepilai Podi(Curry Leaves Powder)

Kariveppila (Curry leaves)

We make .Kariveppila podi very often in our house.It is very good for health. Serve this podi with hot rice

 

Kariveppilai Podi

• Kariveppilai.................................1 cup
• Pepper Corns.............................2tsp
• Urad Dhal.....................................2tsp
• Cumin Seeds..............................2tsp 
• Red Chilies..................................2
• Salt to Taste

  Method

• Roast all ingredients without oil.
• When the dhal becomes red add the curry leaves and fry few more minutes. 
• Let it cool down.Grind with salt.eat with rice and it is very good for health
• Eat well, Live well

Sambar Powder, Rasam Powder,

South Indian always keep home made sambar powder, rasam powder, So it is easy to prepare sambar and rasam.Sambar Powder

 

 Sambar Powder
(Curry Powder)

Ingredients

• Red Chilies.......................200gms
• Coriander Leaves..............50gms
• Chana Dhal.......................100 gms
• Methi Seeds......................2tbsp
• Asafoetida(Perungayam)....1 small piece
• Curry Leaves.....................few
  Method

• First heat a pan with little oil add the asafoetida and fry it and keep
• Then all the other ingredients together fry them with curry leaves.if there is sunlight keep all the ingredients in  sunlight for 3 days 
• Grind all together into a fine powder.

Rasam Powder

Ingredients

• Red Chilies..................20
• Tur Dhal.....................1/4 cup
• Pepper Corns.............1/4 cup
• Cumin Seeds..............1/4 cup
• Asafoetida..................1tsp
• Dry Curry Leaves........few

Method

• Dry roast every thing together into a coarse powder.
• Add 1tsp rasam powder while making. 
• Add tamarind to get good taste.

Garam Masala

• Coriander Seeds............. 1 cup
• Red Chili..........................4
• Aniseed(Sombu)..............1/2 cup
• Methi Seeds,...................1tsp
• Pepper............................1tsp 
• Clove..............................7
• Cinnamon Stick...............2" 
• Cardamom......................7
• Turmeric Powder.............2tsp

Method

Keep all the above ingredients in the sun then grind the into fine powder.

Vangi Bath Masala

Ingredients

• Urad Dhal.......................1 cup
• Coriander Seeds.............1/2 cu
• Chana Dhal.....................1cup
• Copra(Dried Coconut)....1/2 cup
• Pepper............................1/4 cup
• Asafoetida......................1tsp
• Red Chili........................5
• Methi Seeds...................1tsp

Method

 

Dry roast all together and powder into a fine powder.

Aval Upma

Aval Upma

Aval Upma

( Poha Upma) is easy one to prepare.

Ingredients

• Aval......................................1cup
• Green Chilies.........................4
• Turmeric Powder..................1/4 tsp
• Chopped Ginger...................1tsp
• Roasted Peanuts...................1tbsp
• Mustard seeds......................1tsp
• Urad dhal.............................2tsp
• Lemon Juice.........................1/2tsp
• Curry Leaves.........................few
• Coconut...............................1/4 cup
• Salt to-taste

Method

• Soak the aval with little water and salt for half an hour.
• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds, urad dhal,curry leaves, green chili and ginger.
• When the mustard crackles add the aval, turmeric powder,lemon juice, and coconut
• Mix well.