Thursday, August 21, 2008

Sesame~Til~Ellu Ladoo


Sesame seeds ladoo is one of my favourites...(i love to eat them any time...) Black Beauty
Ingredients for making Ellu~Sesame~Til Ladoo:
  • Sesame Seeds - 4 cups (check for impurities)
  • Cashew Nuts broken into small pieces (few to garnish)
  • Brown Sugar or Jaggery - 1 1/2 cups
  • water - 1/2 cup
  • Cardamom - 4

Method for making Sesame Seeds Ladoo :

Step 1: Heat a Deep Pan and Dry roast the Sesame Seeds in medium heat . ( i have used black sesame , can use the lighter coloured sesame also)Once its nicely roasted, remove from heat and keep it aside to cool.

Step 2: In another vessel add the jaggery(powdered) or brown sugar and water and heat in medium heat. Let it boil till the syrup consistency becomes thread like (for making ladoos).

Step 3: Powder Cardamom Seeds and add it to the Jaggery syrup and mix nicely and remove from heat.

Step 4: Add the Roasted Sesame Seeds, Cashew nuts to the jaggery syrup and mix well.

Step 5: Keep the mixture aside, let it cool down .

Step 7: Then make small round shaped ladoos out of the mixture.

Sesame Seeds (Til,Ellu) Ladoo is ready to serve...





Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Kathirika Kadalai Kootu~Eggplant Garbanzo Kootu


Ingredients for making Kathirikai Kondakadalai Kootu ( Brinjal/Eggplant and Garbanzo/Chickpeas Kootu):
  • 1 cup - Garbanzo beans (canned or pre-soaked in water for 3 hrs)
  • 1 cup brinjal, 3 to 4 (cut in to small pieces)
  • Sambar powder - 1 Teaspoon
  • Tamarind Paste - 1 Teaspoon or a small lemon sized tamarind
  • Turmeric Powder - a small pinch
  • Red Chili powder - a small pinch (according to spiciness)
  • Red Gram Dal - 1/2 cup (cooked)
  • Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
  • Split Black Gram Dal - 1 Teaspoon
  • Red Chili - 1
  • Salt - according to taste
  • Cooking Oil - 1 teaspoon

Method for making Kathirikai Kondaikadalai Kootu:

Step 1: Cook the Garbanzo Beans and Red Gram Dal for 15 minutes or until cooked. Let it cool - keep it aside.( i normally pressure cook both of them together for 2 whistles - approx., 15 minutes)

Step 2: Wash and cut the Brinjals/Eggplants in to small pieces and keep it immersed in water if u are not planning to cook them immediately (preventing it from turning out black in color)

Step 3: Pre-heat a deep pan with 1 teaspoon of cooking oil ,add mustard seeds, red chili, black gram Dal, curry leaves, cut eggplant/brinjals and stir it for 2 minutes.

Step 4: Add Turmeric Powder, Chili Powder, Sambar Powder and stir nicely till nice aroma comes out...

Step 5: Add the tamarind paste with 2 cups of water and salt ,stir in nicely.

Step 6: Let it boil till raw smell of tamarind goes and the eggplant cooks...out .

Step 7: Add the cooked Garbanzo Beans, Red Gram Dal and mix nicely adjust by adding water ...according to the desired quantity.

Step 8: Let everything boil nicely... approx.. 5 minutes in reduced heat.

Can garnish this with kootu vadam and Cilantro (kothamali leaves)

Remove and let it cool..ready to serve...

This is a great side dish for Steamed White rice....or can eat this just as is...(healthy)

I served this dish with steamed white rice with little clarrified butter, Pappad, Simple Oni0n Pachadi...

Olan ~ Long Beans and Pumpkin in a simple Gravy

Fresh Harvested Long Beans and Green Chili's with Store brought Yellow Pumpkin......
Close look of the veggies......
Veggies cut in to fine strips ( 1 inch pieces) ready to get cooked....
End result of veggies....cooked in a simple gravy....easy to cook....will be awesome side dish for Steamed Rice




Ingredients for making Olan:


  • Long Beans : approx. 10
  • Green Chili's: 3 (adjust according to taste)
  • Yellow Pumpkin - Half (cut into 1 inch pieces)
  • Water - 2 cups
  • Salt - according to taste
  • Coconut oil / canola oil - 1 tablespoon
  • Curry leaves - few (optional)
  • Coconut milk - 1/2 cup (optional)

Method for making Olan:


Step 1: Wash and cut long beans , Pumpkin and green chili's

Step 2: Transfer the vegetables to a cooking pot and add 2 cups of water and salt let it boil...(until cooked). (check the pumpkin- it will become soft when cooked)


Step 3: Check for salt , add coconut oil or canola oil to it and the curry leaves, stir nicely.


Step 4: If adding coconut milk (Sim the Olan and smash the vegetables softly and pour in the coconut milk and stir nicely). Let it cook for another 5 minutes in minimum heat.


Step 5: If not using coconut milk just skip it and smash the vegetables softly and proceed... the steps...


Olan is ready to serve...with steaming White rice.....

I like to eat Olan with rice , rasam and pappadam (pappad).

This is a Keralite dish (South Indian Cuisine)

Monday, August 4, 2008

Lemon ,Lemon ,Lemon


Instant and easy method of making lemon pickle... will be yummy with curd rice....(yogurt rice)

Ingredients for making Instant Lemon Pickle:

  • Lemon - 4
  • Red Chili Powder - 2 Teaspoon
  • Asafoetida - a pinch
  • Mustard - 1 Teaspoon
  • Salt- 2 Teaspoon
  • Cooking oil - 2 Tablespoon
  • Fenugreek Seeds - 1 Teaspoon

Method for making Instant Lemon Pickle:

Step 1: Wash and wipe dry the lemons nicely. Cut it in to small pieces (tit bits).

Step 2: Heat a skillet with oil, Add the mustard seeds, when they stop popping , add the cut lemons, stir nicely.

Step 3: Add chill powder, salt, fenugreek seeds, Asafoetida and mix nicely.

Step 4: Keep stirring for 5 minutes and then remove from heat. Let it cool and then remove them to a airtight container.

This pickle stays fresh for at least a month if refrigerated .

Will be awesome with curd rice.

Ripe Banana Fritters

This is how i make use of overripe bananas that sits in my kitchen counter top......longing for someone to stretch a hand to help themselves with banana...


Ingredients for making Banana Fritters:
  • Ripe / Overripe Banana - 2 (medium sized)
  • All Purpose Flour(Maida) - 1/2 cup
  • Rice Flour - 1/2 cup
  • Bengal Gram Flour - 1/2 cup
  • Baking Powder - a small pinch
  • Sugar - 1 Tea spoon
  • Salt - 1/2 Tea spoon
  • Cooking Oil - little for deep frying
  • Food Color(orange) - a small pinch
  • water - Little to make a thick batter

Method for making Banana Fritters:

Step 1: Peel and cut the bananas in to long strips and keep it aside.

Step 2:Heat a deep skillet with cooking oil for deep frying.

Step 3: Mean time in a mixing bowl add the dry ingredients and mix well and make a thick batter adding water little by little.

Step 4: When the oil is ready for deep frying... gently add the cut banana strips in the batter and drop in to the oil and deep fry.

Step 5: When its nice golden brown in color remove from heat. Let it cool for few minutes, then serve.

(note: the deep fried banana fritters will be very hot inside eat it carefully .)

This is a nice evening snack... Kids will love this...