FRIED MODAK / PORICHA KOZHAKATTAI / RAVA KOZHUKATTAI / MODAGAM

Rava kozhukattai ( Rava modak ) is normally prepared ganapathi homam. This fried modakam is offered to fire while performing homam. Unlike the normal modak or kozhukattai this can kept outside and will stay good for 1 week. I prepared this during sankatahara chathurthi and offered to lord ganesha. Normally this is prepared using wheat flour, but i tried it with rava as wheat flour makes the outer layer very soft and chewey. Here we go for the fried modak recipe which is crispy and tasty.

CAULIFLOWER KOFTA CURRY | No Onion No Garlic recipe

Here is a tasty side dish for roti / pulav which has no onion no garlic. In this recipe, I have used cauliflower but broccoli can also be used instead. I have not stuffed anything inside the kofta's, if you wish, a small panner cube or cheese can be inserted in the middle of each kofta's. I have made this as a no onion no garlic recipe, please see the notes section if you wish to add onion and garlic.

INSTANT MORE KUZHAMBU / INSTANT KADHI

Here is an easy gravy recipe for rice which can be made in 5 minutes. This comes very handy when you don't have much time to prepare a side dish for rice. There is no grinding process involved so this can be made in a jiffy. This is also called Vedikka vitta morekuzhambu in tamil which means tempered yogurt based gravy. Here we go for the recipe of quick more kuzhambu....

BREAD BHURJI

Here is a easy to make bread recipe, which can be made in 10 minutes. This is not only easy with less ingredients but also very healthy. Normally we make bread upma, bread toast, but this is slightly different where curd is used.

Here we go for the Bread Bhurji recipe.

BABY CORN & CAPSICUM MASALA | SIDE DISH FOR ROTI

Looking for a tasty yet easy to make gravy for roti / chappathi then try this baby corn masala. I got this recipe from a supplementary book - tamil magazine ( Aval Vikatan ). I have not experimented much with baby corn, but while looking for a tasty gravy for roti, I found this interesting recipe, immediately i tried and came out awesome. Here we go for the baby corn & capsicum gravy recipe...

CRISPY ADAI / MORU MORU ADAI / ADAI DOSAI

Adai is nothing but lentil dosa, it is south indian tiffen variety. Very nutritious and protein rich as it contains lentils and rice. Though this can be made in different types of lentils, this is my mom's version. In this method you will get very crispy adai / moru moru adai. Here we go for the easy to make crispy lentil dosa recipe....

Ingredients :

Idly Rice - 1 Cup
Thuvar Dal - 1/4 Cup ( Less 2 Table Spoon )
Channa Dal -  1/4 Cup
Moong Dal - 2 Table Spoon
Dry Red chilies - 8 ( Check for spice level )
Ginger - Small Piece
Asafoetida - 2 Sprig
Small Onion - 10 Nos ( Finely Chopped )
Salt - As Needed
Oil - As Needed

Method :

Soak rice and dal together for 1 hour, drain the water, Now grind it to a coarse batter of pouring consistency along with ginger, red chilies, salt. The batter should be slightly thicker than dosa. Batter cab be used immedietly , no need to ferment.
Now add finely chopped onion, curry leaves, asafetida to it and mix well.

Heat tawa/griddle spread the batter in circular round motion, make a hole in the centre and drizzle oil in the middle and sides, allow it cook until it becomes golden brown in the bottom, flip over and cook the other side too. Cripsy adai is ready to be served hot with butter, or jaggery.

Variations :

You can add drumstick leaves to it the batter instead of onions
Finely chopped cabbage, capsicum, coriander can also be added.

Notes :

If you want to make it in softer side add 1 Table spoon of urad dal to it and grind, you will get soft adai.

SENAI KIZHANGU MASIYAL / SURAN GRAVY / YAM GRAVY

Senaikizhangu ( Karunai kizhangu ) masiyal is a traditional south indian recipe which goes well with rice. Elephant foot yam is called senaikizhangu in tamil and Suran in hindi. Masiyal is a tamil word which means mashed. This tuber vegetable is known for its valuable vitamin, antioxidant, and mineral contents and effectively repair and maintain the body. This recipe needs less ingredients and can be made with out any fuss. Here we go for the recipe....

Ingredients :

Elephant Foot yam - 250 grams

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Teaspoon

Finely chopped Ginger - 2 Table Spoon

Green Chilies - 2 Nos.

Coconut gratings - 3 Table Spoon

Salt - As per taste

Lemon juice - 1 Lemon.

To temper :

Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon

Gingely oil / Any cooking oil - 3 Teaspoons

Curry Leaves - Few

Method :

Wash, peel, and chop the kizhangu ( yam / Suran ) in to medium size pieces and pressure cook with little turmeric for 2 Whistles or until it becomes soft, and mash well with hands and keep aside. 

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, then add finely chopped ginger and green chilies, and curry leaves to it fry for a second add coconut gratings and mashed yam to it mix well, add little water and salt to it and allow it to boil for some 2 minutes. Switch off and add the lemon juice. 

Tasty, Spicy and flavorful gravy is done in no time :-) Enjoy it with hot rice and pappad. We normally have it with Vathakuzhambu sadam ( Tangy gravy rice )

ZUCCHINI RICE | RICE VARIETIES

Here is a easy and very tasty rice variety Zucchini rice. An ideal lunch box recipe. This requires less of ingredients, yet tastes so good. Lets straight away go for the recipe....

TOMATO JUICE | JUICE RECIPES

Here is a wonderful thirst quencher for this hot summer - TOMATO JUICE. I wanted to try a little spicy version this time to make a difference. It tasted really good. Here we go for the simple juice variety.

Ingredients :

Juicy Ripe Tomatoes - 4 No.s
Chat masala - 1/2 Teaspoon
Lemon juice - 1 Table Spoon
Pepper Powder - 1 Teaspoon
Salt - 1 Teaspoon
Sugar - 1 Table Spoon


Method :

Cut the tomatoes in to quarters and remove the seeds. In a blender add 2 glasses of chilled water, and other ingredients and blend together well. Strain with a not too fine strainer. Stir and serve. Thakkali juice is ready :-)

Notes :

Lemon juice, sugar can be adjusted according to one's taste buds.
You can serve with out straining too. Its your preference. If you like to have a thick juice, you need not strain it.

GAJAR HALWA / CARROT HALWA

Here is a easy to make punjabi dessert Gajar ka Halwa recipe. Though there are many ways to prepare gajar halwa, I found this method to be easy and less time consuming. The same method can be used to prepare beetroot halwa too, just replace the carrot with beetroot. Here we go for the recipe...

MOONG DAL RICE

Here is a easy to make yet a very healthy rice variety for you all to try. This can be made in no time, just an achar as an accompaniment will do. Though the main ingredients are similar to Pongal / Kichidi, this tastes really different. I learnt this recipe from my MIL. Here you go for the recipe.....

CARROT CHUTNEY

Looking for a healthy and simple side dish for Dosa / Idly ? Bored of the usual tomato chutney or Onion Chutney ? If yes then try this carrot chutney which is easy to make and very healthy too. 

Here you go for the recipe...

PUMPKIN PURI / KADDU POORI

I love poori / Puri than roti / Chappati. I normally make poori with wheat flour and never tried any variotions. This time I wanted to try different poori and came up with this. The taste and softness of the puri was really good. Here we go for the easy to make kaddu ( Pumkin ) Puri.

GUACAMOLE | AVOCADO RECIPES

Here is a easy and healthy dip. I learnt this recipe from the cookery show by mallika badrinath. What I really liked about this dip is that is very easy and quick to make, more over very healthy too. A great accompaniment for tortillas or any other chips. I have tried it as a spread on my bread toast too, tastes so good. Here you go for the guacamole recipe.....

Ingredients :

Ripe Avocado - 1 
Onion - 1/2 No.
Tomato - 1/2 No. 
Capsicum - 1 Table Spoon
Green chilies - 2 No 
Lemon - 1No 
Coriander Leaves - 2 Table Spoon
Salt - As needed.

Method :

Chop onions, tomatoes, capsicum green chilies and coriander leaves very finely.

Cut the avocado in to two halves and remove the big seed from the centre, and scoop out the flesh using a spoon, and mash well with the help of a fork.

In a mixing bowl add the avocado mixture, lemon juice, and all the chopped ingredients. Add salt lastly and mix well. 
Tasty Guacamole is ready to be served with tortillas or your favorite chips.

For making Bread spread :

Toast bread and apply the guacamole evenly and enjoy :-)

TOMATO DOSA / THAKKALI DOSAI

Here is a simple yet flavorful, tasty & easy to make tomato dosa recipe. The best part is it doesn't need any fermentation. This can be made immediately after grinding the batter. I am sure everyone will love its tangy taste. Here you go for the easy dosa recipe.

PAPAYA VERRINE

Here is a simple yet a very delicious dessert to satisfy our sweet tooth. Verrine is a confection, orginally from france, made by layering ingredients in a small glass, it can be either sweet or savory, making a dessert or snack. If you have planned for a party or gathering, and have less time to prepare dessert, this dish comes in handy. Here you go for the recipe.....

NEI APPAM / VELLA APPAM / UNNI APPAM / SWEET APPAM

Appam is a traditional southindian sweet recipe. This can be made in several ways and methods using different flour combination. Here is one such recipe which is very tasty at the same time easy to prepare also. It is also called unni appam in kerala.  Here we go for the crispy and tasty Ghee Appam ( Nei Appam - Nei stands for Ghee in tamil ) recipe.

SAMOSA RECIPE

When you think of street food in India, the first thing comes to your mind is Samosa. Samosas ( Its a deep fried  pastry with savory filling) are the most popular Indian appetizer. This crispy tea time snack is the all time favorite of mine, be it a plain onion filling or potato filling.
Here you go for the Indian Crispy Samosa recipe which can be made easily at home.....

CHAPATTI NOODLES / ROTI NOODLES

I had some left over roti's / chapathi's, and wanted to try a different recipe out of it. This Chapati noodles idea came up on my mind, and tried it immediately. It came out very tasty :-P so thought of sharing the recipe with you all. Do try this easy n healthy recipe I'm sure your kids will definitely love this. 

KALKANDU PONGAL / SWEET PONGAL RECIPE

Here is a easy and tasty sweet pongal ( Kichdi ) recipe for you all to try for this Pongal / Makarasankrathi / Lohri festival. A good alternative for sakkarai pongal ( made with rice and jaggery ) 

Ingredients :

Raw rice - 1 Cup
Rock candy / Sugar Candy/ Kalkandu  -  1 Cup
Milk - 1/2 Cup
Ghee - 5 Table Spoon
Cardamom ( Elachi ) Powder - 1 Teaspoon
Cashews - 10 No.s
Raisins - 10 No.s
Fresh Cream ( Optional ) - 2 Table Spoon
Saffron strands - Few.

Method :

Grind the rock candy to a smooth powder.  Fry Cashews and raisins with little ghee . Wash rice well and pressure cook with 4 cups for 3 to 4 whistles. When the pressure is completely released, open the cooker lid and mash well. Now add milk, saffron and mix well. Again keep it in medium low flame and add the powdered rock candy to it. 
Keep stirring it with half of the ghee, when it thickens add fresh cream, elachi, remaining ghee, fried cashews, raisins mix well. Serve the yummy pongal hot or cold. Tastes heavenly. Try it out now :-)))

Notes :

You can replace rock candy with sugar too. Just increase the quantity to 1&1/4 cup.
Fresh cream is optional you can very well skip it.
You can add chopped almonds too.