Kashmiri Dum Aloo | Chapathi Side Dish

        Kashmiri dum aloo- a creamy side dish for chapathi,paratha.phulkas.I tasted it once in our friends house ,it was so creamy and so delicious.It was one among many delicious curry, so haven't got the flavors perfectly that time.

Raw JackFruit Curry | Palakai Piratal | Guest Post

   Raw Jackfruit Curry:
        We Chettinad people love raw jack fruit( palakai) as much like kerela people . Keralites are fond of raw jack fruit and they call it as chakka ,they do variety of recipes like pradaman,curry(with fresh ground masala),Ularthiyathu(stir fry),Kuzhachathu(steamed one) etc.

Masala Dosa|Dosa Recipe

    Masala Dosa-A very famous dosa among Indians and in places where Indians live.Masala dosa is a south Indian speciality.Its a dosa with crispy outer layer and soft sweet and spicy potato filling inside..It is really easy to make masala dosa at home if you have idly-dosa batter.Dosa batter is readily available at Indian stores .If you can't make it at home, get some before you start making this dosa.Make potato masala, stuff them inside dosa  and enjoy.
    Key thing to note here is masala has to be little sweet compared to poori bhaji,so be careful not to add too much spice.I added carrot and red onion to make it sweet ,if you are short of carrots you can ad fresh or frozen peas to make the masala.Otherwise add some sugar to make the masala sweet .Dosa layer has to be crisp,to do so leave it tava/pan for some more time after the dosa is done.If its too much crisp it will spoil the masala dosa texture.Here is how to make masala dosa ?

Aloo Paratha

 Aloo paratha is everybody's favorite ,isn't it ?Mine too.
        There are two instances ,how i started liking this Aloo paratha?
       First one is: When i stayed in hostel, my pals from Punjab make aloo paratha.Even though they are younger to me ,they make these parathas and i eat them hehe..
      Second one is :While we stay at Bangalore we usually go to a Singh dhabha near by every week.They serve perfect aloo paratha and serve it with plain yogurt .When i hear itself  my mind is now where here.
    Even though my hostel friends add onions to their paratha's ,I haven't added in this version .You can very well do so if you love onion flavor in paratha.In that case chop the onions fine and add it .

Some similar parathas

1. Plain Paratha
2. Methi Paratha 
3. GreenChanna Paratha

Preparation time:25min(including pressure cooking potatoes)
Cooking time :20 min
Yields:6 large parathas

PotatoPoriyalWithoutPressureCooker/DrySideDishForRoti

        Potatoes are everybody favourite .Potatoes are consumed more than any other veggies around the world .From poriyal to mashed potatoes there are many variations you can do with potatoes.Potatoes available in specific regions vary in taste ,color and are good to make only specific food varieties.
Some varieties of potatoes i know

• Baby potatoes(small size potatoes .Good for frying ,Masalas)
• Russet potatoes( have little pigments shown.Good for baking,mashing,French fries)
• Idaho potatoes(large brown skin potatoes.Good for baking,mashing,French fries and chips)
• Pink potatoes(pink potatoes)

        Same potatoes cooked in different indian style.
       One is Potato masala .In there ,potatoes are pressure cooked ,peeled and added to masalas. Second is  Poori bhaji  here potatoes are pressure cooked and added to onion ,tomatoes and green chilies .In this recipe potatoes are cubed ,tempered and added to masalas .Three diff styles with same potatoes  .
        Even people without pressure cooker can do this poriyal without much fuss.Cooking the potatoes in slow fire gives the potatoes a slight crispness and masala flavours wonderfully blended to the potatoes  makes this dish so awful.

Preparation time:5 min
Cooking time:20-25 min
Serves:2

Potato masala/Poori Bhaji/Easy breakfast

This Potato masala is a common combination for poori or has been stuffed inside dosa in indian restaurants.Its been favourite to many people.Very easy to make subji for a weekend brunch or breakfast .Total time to make poori and bhaji is just an hour.
When we were kids we have been longing to eat poori bhaji on sundays .Whenever we visit hotels this the first dish to order at home,that means our favourite too. My husband is a great great fan of this poori and masala.Make sure you put enough salt to make the masala yummier .

How to make poori(rajma gravy).
How to make Vegetable kuruma(with coconut)
How to make Vegetable kuruma(without coconut)
How to make Kalachana gravy(konda kadalai gravy)

Preparation time:15 min(boiling the potatoes)
Cookig time:15 min
Serves:2-3

Sweetpotato patty/Sakaravalli Cutlet without breadcrumbs and less oil

Patty the name itself tells that its well patted (in tamil we call it as "thatti ").Patties are a great way to start the day as it is easy to put together and can be eaten as it is as a snack or for breakfast .If you have a toddler at home giving them sweetpotato is very much needed as it has lots of fiber and nutritions like vitamin A in abundance which helps in eye health.
Combining sweetpotato with potato will reduce the sweetness  and adding  spice powder(chili powder) can satisfy your palates if you are a spice lover, yet couldn't take idly/dosa with sambhar/chutneys at morning time.You can prepare this and store it in refrigerator for 4-5  days. when the next time you are hungry take one and heat it and there you go .So ready shall we start ?
Little suggestion .If you are serving for your kids you may want to avoid chilipowder and green chili .Just add little pepper so it gets easily digested .This has less calaories than breadcrumbs filled paties so indulge in goodness .

Preparation time:20 min including boiling
Cooking time:10 min
Serves:3

Aloo Bonda (Urad Dal)

Usually aloo bonda is made with besan (gram dal flour), in this recipe besan is replaced by urad dal flour.

During weekends and holidays my little one and my hubby demand an evening snack. I always have a lot of questions on what to make, whether its healthy  and what is available in the pantry. This past weekend these questions and I came up with this Aloo Bonda recipe.

Aloo Bonda is popular snack in South India made with potatoes as filling inside besan flour. Its deep fried which makes it yummy. I had some Urad dal batter left over from the previous day and I used this instead of besan and made allo bonda.

Check other urad dal recipes Urad dal fritters,Urad dal vada

Preparation time:2 hour (soaking urad dal)+10 min

Cooking time:30 min

Serves:3

Grilled Potato Patty / Potato Cutlet

This week I brought a whole loaf of wheat bread. My husband was super busy with a deadline and he wanted to leave early to work and I wanted to make a quick and easy breakfast. Potato patty came to my mind almost instantly, its quick and easy and is very filling too. Its grilled and not deep fried so its healthy too. This patty uses black pepper and hot sauce instead of chili powder which gives a different taste to your patty.
Check my other simple breakfast recipes Kuli paniyaram,Kothu parotta,Lentils dosa

Preparation time:10 min
Cooking time:10 min
Serves:2-3

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes.
• 1/2 tsp black pepper.
• Thinly sliced onions.
• A dash of hot sauce.
• Salt as required.
• Bread slices for sandwich and for bread crumbs

Method:

• Cook the potatoes thoroughly in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles.
• Mash them well 
• Add pepper, salt, hot sauce,thinly sliced onions and mix them well.
• Add tumeric, onions and pepper.

• Separate them in to 6 balls.
• Pat them flat to get a patty.
• Roast the bread well in griddle and grind them in mixer until you get bread crumbs.
• Cover the patties with bread crumbs.

• Heat the griddle/pan  well and place the patties and cook them until they are crisp.
• Turn them/flip them upside down and cook them crisp .
• Toast the bread and place the patties in between.

• Enjoy your breakfast.
• If you like cheese slice you can add them as well.

Note:

• Similarly you can make cutlet adding other vegetables like beetroot,carrot,peas,soya granules etc.
• If you dont have hot sauce add little chili powder .
• While fliping the patties they may feel like they are going to crack ,once it cools it will be firm.

Linking it to Gayathris event and sahasra page

Arthy event

Lunch box recipes /Coconut rice and Potato fry

Coconut Rice

Coconut is a wonderful vegetable that I love. It has lots of calcium and nutrition ,which is good for teeth and bones. It has good cholesterol too. Coconut is very versatile it can be used a flavor enhancer, a condiment like in chutneys or you make it the feature of your dish. Coconut when boiled for too long is not very healthy.
I used to buy frozen coconut .But I love the taste of fresh coconut. In a local store I found fresh coconuts, I brought one and grated it and stored it. Coconut Rice is a dish that we used to have during our school days. My husband loves this rice .Once in a while when I buy a fresh coconut I make this for him. My little one loves coconut in any from.

Check for other rice recipes like Tomato Pulav,Mint Pulav,Pongal

Preparation Time:10 min
Cooking Time:15 min.
Serves :2

Ingredients:

• 1/4 of small coconut(grated).
• 1 cup raw Rice.
• 3 green chilies.
• salt as required 
• oil for tempering.(coconut oil is optional)

To Temper:

• 1/2 tbsp Mustard seeds.
• 1/4 tbsp split Channa dal.
• A Pinch of hing.
• Little curry leaves powder/Few Curry leaves.

Method:

• Wash the rice and  pressure cook it with little oil and required water ( Add the exact amount of water)
• Cook for one whistle and reduce the flame and cook it for  another 4 min .
• Now switch off the stove and allow it to cool till the pressure releases.
• To a hot saute pan add 2 tbsp of oil/coconut oil and add mustard seeds to it.
• After the mustard seeds splutter add channa dal (let it change color ).

• Add green chilies ,hing and saute for a min.
• Add the grated coconut and saute it for a min or two.
• Now switch off the heat and add the cooled rice .

• Add required salt and mix them thoroughly.
• Coconut rice is ready.

Note:

• Rice should be at room temperature before you add it to coconut .
• You can add coconut oil for tempering which gives extra flavor.
• Dont cook the coconut too much when you add it saute pan.

Potato Fry

Preparation time:5 min.

Cooking time:20-25 min.

Serves:2-3 

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes(pressure cooked for 3 whistles)
• 1 small Onion.
• 1/2 country tomato.
• A pinch of turmeric.
• 1 garlic pod.
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp Cumin powder.

To Temper:

• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp urad dal.
• few curry leaves/ curry leaves powder.

Method:

• Pressure cook the potatoes for 2 -3 whistles until they are soft (not mushy)
• Cut them in to 1 inch pieces.
• Cut the onions and tomatoes in to small pieces as well.
• Add oil to the heated tava and add the items "to temper".
• Add onions,garlic and saute them until onions are translucent.
• Add tomatoes and cook them thorough.

• Add chili powder,cumin powder and turmeric and saute till the raw smell of the masala subsides.
• Add little water and add required salt.
• After the water  boiles and reduce in quantity add the cooked cut potatoes.

• Cover them with a lid and cook for another 5 -8 min until the potatoes absorb all the masalas.
• Potatoes should be coated and it should not have any water.

• Potato fry is ready..
• Enjoy your lunch.

Note:

• If the potatoes are not cooked allow them to cook before you add it to masala.
• Potato fry should be dry . So cook the fry until it absorbs all the water.

Linking it to Gayathris event and sahasra page

Onion Tomato Gravy | Chettinad Special Vengaya Kosu

      Onion Tomato Gravy/Vengaya Kosu is an authentic Chettinad dish. Its a perfect side dish for Idly and Dosa. This is my husband's favorite side dish. I make it once a week at least. Idly/dosa and Vengaya Kosu is all that he needs.
       It's  a  Kuruma without any vegetables.Basically a thick gravy made with Onions, potatoes,tomatoes and Coconut. There is something unique about the flavor of this dish. When you eat a steaming hot idly with this onion tomato gravy you will never ever forget the taste of it.You will find this curry being served in Chettinad marriages and functions.