Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Thengai Podi / Coconut Powder

Ingredients:

Chenna dhal/chick peas : 1/4 cup
Urad dhal  : 1/4 cup
Tamarind : small lime size
Red chillies : 5
Garlic cloves: 4
Dried coconut (Kopparai) : 1 cup
Asafoetida : 1tsp
Oil & Salt: as required

Method:

Heat Oil in pan & then add channa dhal & fry for 2-3 min.
Once it's fried add Urad dhal & fry.
Then add tamarind & fry
Once tamarind is fried, then add Red chillies ,Crushed Garlic cloves, Salt & asafoetida.
At the end add Kopparai into it & fry.
Grind the above fried ingredients using a blender.

PS: Don't grind it finely..It should be coarsly grinded powder.

It suits well with Rice, Idly & dosai.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Simple Rasam

,Hi Friends,

This is almost like an instant Rasam & I have learnt this from my Grany.
This is famous rasam in Tirunelveli region.

Ingredients:

Thaniya/Coriander seeds : 2-3 tsp
Cumin seeds : 1-11/2 tsp
Black Pepper: 2 tsp
Garlic cloves :2 (cut this into small pieces)
Tamarind : small lemon size
turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
Currry leaves
salt - to taste

For seasoning:

Oil : 2 tsp
Mustard seeds : 2 tsp
Urad dhal : 2 tsp
Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
Asafoetida : 1/4 tsp
Currry leaves & Corainder leaves 

Method:

Grind corainder seeds, cumin seeds, pepper, garlic & few curry leaves using a blender.
Do not grind it as a fine powder...
Extract the pulp from the tamarind & add the grinded mixture into the tamarind juice.
Also add turmeric powder & salt to this.
In a sauce pan, heat oil & then add the seasoning ingredients.
Once the mustard seeds are spluttered, then add the above mixture.
Boil it for 5 min.
At the end add the finely chopped coriander leaves &  turn off the stove.

Rasam is ready to serve either as a starter or with the rice.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Ada Prathaman

Hi Friends,
 Today I'm posting the recipe for Adai Prathaman. This is a very famous prathaman in Kerala.Keralites prepare this prathamn during festivals like Vishu,Onam...

Ingredients:

Ada :1 pack (readily available in all grocey stores)
Jaggery : 500gms
Water : 1 cup
Coconut milk (very thin - 2nd milk) : 1-11/2cup
Coconut milk (Thick -1st milk) : 1cup
Ghee: 2-3 Tsp
Cashew nuts & Raisins : 5-8 nos

Steps:

1. First soak the ada in plain water for 5 min.
2. Add this ada to the boiled water & cook until the ada becomes soft.
3.Then drain the water & wash the cooked ada in cold water , so that the ada will not stick to each other.
4.Add 1cup of water to the Jaggery & boil. Remove the mud from the Jaggery using a filter/strainer.
5. Heat the pan & put one tsp of ghee and then add the cooked ada as well as the jaggery water.
6. Cook for 10-15 min in low fire. Ada should get mixed with the jaggery.
7. At this stage add the 2nd coconut milk to the mixture & continue stirring for another 5 min..
8. Then add the first coconut milk & then turn off the stove within a min.
9.Heat another pan & put 2 tsp of ghee in it. Once the ghee is melted add raisins & cashew nuts to that & fry the same. Add this fried raisins and cashews into the prathaman.

Ada Prathaman