Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Are you a Good Cook ?

You Are a Learning Cook

You've got the makings of an excellent cook, and the desire to be one.
But right now, you're just lacking the experience. You couldn't be a top chef yet, but you could be an apprentice.

What Kind of Food Are You?

You Are Chinese Food

Exotic yet ordinary.
People think they've had enough of you, but they're back for more in an hour.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Priya's Pesarlu Plus Palak

Tried out this last weekend, and it was delicious ! I with my limited knowledge of cooking, thought that we can make only pesarattu out of pesarlu. And other than that, it can be added to salads in the form of sprouts.

Thanks to Priya for introducing me to this wonderful recipe of pesarlu and spinach !!

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Mango and Coconut Chutney

Was in a mood for some experimentation and tried this mango+ coconut chutney , instead of the traditional mango chutney.And then hurray!!!, it came out so well...S just loved it ! He used so many exquisite words of appreciation while eating it, that I just blushed away to glory and put on 2 more kgs with pride :)

Here goes the Recipe...

Ingredients:

1 cup of fresh Coconut cut into small pieces
1 raw mango - grated
3 green chilies
4 dry red chilies
2 to 3 sliced garlic cloves
1/2 tea spoon of split urad dal
1/4 tea spoon cumin seeds/jeera
1/4 tea spoon mustard seeds /rai
1 tea spoon salt or as desired
2 table spoons of oil

Cooking Process:
Step 1: Take a clean non-stick pan and add the 2 table spoons of oil to the pan and let the oil heat up
Step 2: Add the urad dal,cumin seeds and mustard seeds,once the seeds begin to splutter.Add the garlic,green chilies and red chilies .Saute for a minute
Step 3: Add the grated mango and Saute for two minutes till the raw flavour of mango is gone.
Step 4: Add the coconut pieces, salt and Saute for another two minutes.
Step 5: Once it cools down,grind all the ingredients together.

The chutney is ready !

Eating Process:You can eat it with idli,any type of dosa or even with pesarattu.!You can also mix it with hot boiled white rice and Eat.

Acknowledgments : Self :)

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Quick Cabbage Curry

After much experimentation , discovered that this is the fastest and 'easy-est' way of making edible cabbage curry.S does not like cabbage much because of its bland taste, but has developed a liking to this particular curry because of the coocnut in it.It is a best dish on a hurried
work day morning.

Ingredients:

1 cup of Sliced Cabbage
1/2 cup of grated coconut(do not use dry coconut)
3 to 4 slit green chilies
2 to 3 sliced garlic cloves(Optional)
1/2 tea spoon of split urad dal
1/2 tea spoon cumin seeds/jeera
1/2 tea spoon mustard seeds /rai
pinch of hing/asafoetidaa
few curry leaves
1/4 tea spoon turmeric
1 tea spoon salt or as desired
2 table spoons of oil

Cooking Process:
Step 1: Take a clean non-stick pan and add the 2 table spoons of oil to the pan and let the oil heat up
Step 2: Add the urad dal,cumin seeds and mustard seeds,once the seeds begin to splutter.Add the garlic,green chilies and curry leaves .Saute for a minute
Step 3: Add the sliced cabbage, hing,turmeric and salt.
Step 4: Sprinkle a handful of water into the pan and close it with a lid.
Step 5: Once the cabbage is half-cooked , add the grated coconut and saute for a few minutes.

And there, cabbage curry is ready in quick 5 steps

Eating Process:Mix the curry with hot boiled white rice and Eat!.Can also be had as a side with Roti,Chapati or Parathas.

Acknowledgments : Mom

Pesara Pappu Pachadi

I discovered about the existence of this kind of pachadi only after my wedding.This was first prepared by my MIL for KrishnaAstami.Instantly loved this pachadi for its part-spicy, part tangy taste !

Ingredients

1 cup pesara pappu/split yellow moong dal
6/8 dry red chilies (throw in a couple of more if you like it spicy!)
4/5 garlic cloves
1 tea spoon dry coriander seeds/coriander powder
1/2 tea spoon cumin seeds/jeera
1/2 tea spoon mustard seeds /rai
a pinch of hing/asafoetida
a few curry leaves
1/4 tea spoon turmeric
1 tea spoon salt/as desired
1 table spoon oil (the chutney tastes best when peanut oil is used)

Cooking Process:

Step 1: Take a clean non-stick pan.
Step 2: Ignite the Stove and Place the pan on it and let the pan get heated. Let all the water in the pan evaporate.
Step 3: Add the pesara pappu to the pan and fry it till the dal changes color to brown. Keep turning the dal around in the pan with the spatula so that all the seeds are fried evenly.Pesara Pappu has a distinct odor which it lets out during frying. Once you start getting the odor that means it is fried to the right consistency.
Step 4: Remove the fried dal into any plate.
Step 5: Replace the pan onto the stove and add 1/2 tablespoon of oil to it.
Step 6: Once the oil is heated, add coriander seeds, red chilies and garlic. Let it fry for a minute and remove the contents of the pan to the same plate in which you placed the fried dal.
Step 7: Empty the contents of the above plate into a mixie jar, add salt and grind to a fine paste.
Step 8: Replace the pan onto the stove and add 1/2 tablespoon of oil to it.
Step 9: Once the oil is heated, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, a pinch of hing and turmeric powder. Let it fry for a minute and add this to the chutney.
Step 10: You can add a tangy flavour to the chutney by adding lime juice to it.

Eating Process:
Mix the chutney with hot boiled white rice and Eat!

Acknowledgments : Mother-In -Law

Food Blog

This blog is devoted to the gourmandizer in me. Here in I am planning to post my experiences with Food.