Pazham Puzhangiyathu / Steamed Plantains

All you need for this is Nethra pazham / plantain. I have found them in most vegetable market - Indian or otherwise. Cut the plantain into 2 or 3 pieces. Cut the edges off too. In a Pressure cooker add 2 cups of water and place the pieces on the 2nd idli thattu.Pressure cook upto 4 whistles. You can also use other methods of steaming - using the rice cooker with steaming options etc.

Let it cool and then open the cooker. Remove and serve.

Kadala Curry and Idiyappam / Nool Puttu

well, I thought I would make puttum kadalayum (puttu and kadala) with Pazham Puzhangiyathu / steam plantains. So got the kadala ready and the plantains going ... when I thought maybe I'll make nool puttu instead... So here they are..
Here I have made few modifications. I have made a dry kadala curry. But the taste/ ingredients are the same. Similarly for the Idiyappam sometimes I add 1 to 2 tbsp of coconut milk to slightly change the taste and texture. And though generally Puttu and kadala curry are the happening team, kadala curry goes very well with nool puttu/ idiyappam.

kadala Curry
Ingredients:

Kadala/ kala Channa/ Black Chickpeas - 1 cup
Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
Pearl Onion - 1
Onion - 1/2 Sliced
Green Chili - 1
Tomato - 1/2 Chopped
Ginger - 1" Chopped and Crushed
Curry Leaves - a few
Red Chili Powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Mustard Seeds -1/2 tsp
Oil - 1 1/2 tsp
Salt to Taste

wash and soak the kadala overnight. Change the water and cook it in a pressure cooker adding salt and enough water so that the kadala is submerged with 1/2 inch of water above it. cook up to 4 whistles. Let it cool. In the mean time in a saute pan heat 2 drops of oil and add the coconut, Coriander Powder, 1/2 tsp Chili Powder, Pearl onion, 4 to 5 Curry leaves and saute until the coconut becomes a brown without burning and the powders start to release their smell. Remove from heat and let it cool for 3 to 4 minutes and then grind to a very smooth paste. Here is where I changed it to make a coarse paste.. This affects the texture of the gravy. In the same saute pan used earlier add rest of the oil and then splutter the mustard seeds, curry leaves, ginger and add the sliver of green chili, onion. Add turmeric powder and rest of the chili powder. After 5 minutes add the paste, tomato and stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the kadala and 1 1/2 cups of water. Here I changed the amount of water to make it more of a dry curry than a thick soupy gravy. Let it cook for 5 minutes. Add more salt it need be. Remove and serve hot with puttu or idiyappam.


Idiyappam / Nool Puttu
Ingredients:

Rice Flour - 2 cups
Boiling water - 1 cup max
Grated coconut - 3 tbsp
Salt to taste
Coconut milk - 2tbsp (this is optional)
Oil - 1/2 tsp

In a mixing bowl add salt to the rice flour. Slowly stir in the water. You would not need the whole 1 cup. You can do away with just more than 3/4 of a cup. At this point I also added the coconut milk - if you want to do that reduce equal amount of water. Once the lumpy mix cools enough for you the work on it with your hand, knead it into a firm dough. Do not add any more water or it will be come sticky and unwieldy. Pour the oil over it and spread it all over the dough, cover and let it sit for 15 min.
Now you you will need a Idiyappam naazhi /press - you can find them in most Indian stores. I believe you can use a pasta hand press too using the spaghetti setting. Slowly press thie dough in circular motion into the the idli thattu / plate. Sprinkle each cup with a little coconut(I did away with this as I had added the coconut milk.)
Steam in idli cooker for 30 minutes. Remove and serve hot with the kadala curry. This also goes very well with Kurma or Istu


There is also a idiyappam thattu that is available in the market. It is a stand with 3 to 4 plates with small holes. You can also use this.

Blogger Postcards Around The World #2 - Valentine

Its time !! ... lovely Meeta's Bloggers Postcards Around The World #2 event she had announced on her What's for Lunch Honey blog.



Did'nt realize how difficult it would be to find a valentine post card... and here I was thinking the only thing difficult would be to make up my mind and zoom in on that special one. Boy, was I way off ...and would those creative juices help!!!..nope - they did'nt.... and so, losing a well fought battle I was forced to pick up a card....

The words of the card was so approriate that I had to pick it.

Lime Rice

Rice being one of the most versatile grain can be prepared in so many ways that I think we can have a blog just dedicated to rice dishes. Lemon here adds to the tangy taste to this super easy rice dish. It was be enjoyed with narengya achar ( Lemon achar - made kerala style)
Ingredients:
Basmathi Rice - 2 cups cooked and cooled
Raw Peanuts - 1/4 cup
Ginger - 1 tbsp finely chopped
Mustard Seeds - 1tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Channa dal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 5 to 6
Asafoetida - a pinch
Lemon Juice - 2 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves - a few chopped

In a deep saute pan heat the oil. Once the oil is hot splutter the mustard seeds, channa dal, urad dal, curry leaves, asafoetida, ginger and finally the peanuts. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes on very low heat until the peanuts are fried well and begin to crack without burning. Add the salt and then slowly stir in the rice. Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice. Mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Tasty Manoharam - Spicy chappati Bites

This is one recipe I haven't had anywhere but at home. Amma would make it when we would come hungry in the evenings, when it was too early for dinner and to late for lunch. we would call it manoharam - not sure how the name stuck ...but it definitely tasted manoharam. Manohar means "snatcher of hearts" or "fascinating". It is now a favorite of my better half too! ... Made using bite size pieces of chappati, I sometimes make extra roti just to make manohar. You won't need any side dish with it. If you want you can also have it with plain yogurt.



Ingredients :
Chappati/ Roti - 3 to 4 torn into bite size pieces
Onion - 1/2 finely chopped
Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp or more according to preference
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Jeerakam/ Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - few drops
Salt to taste
Oil - 1tsp

Heat oil in a saute pan and add the jeerakam. Then add the onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat until the onion become translucent. Then add the chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and salt. Saute for 2 minutes until the raw taste of the powders. Add the chappati, mix it well with the onions and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. turn off the heat and add the lemon juice. Serve hot.

ButterMilk Rasam

The taste in this Moru Rasam is the fresh masala paste and the moru combination.The ghee only enhances the aroma to a delightful level.



Ingredients:

Toor Dal - 3 tbsp
Tomato - 1 chopped
Moru /Butter milk - 3/4 cup
Salt to taste
Coriander Leaves - a small handful chopped

Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Red chili - 1 add more according to preference
Toor Dal - 1 tsp
Black Pepper - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek - 1/4 tsp

Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Red Chili - 1
Curry Leaves - 4-5
Ghee - 3 tsp


Cook the Toor Dal in a pressure cooker with 1 cup of water (the water level should be just more than the dal) up to 4 whistles and set aside.
In a saute pan add 1 tsp of ghee and roast the coriander seeds, red chili, pepper, toor dal, asafoetida and fenugreek for 2-3 Min's.Now make a smooth paste of the above ingredients using very little water and set aside.
Heat the cooked Dal and add 2 cups of water and let it boil. Add the chopped tomato and salt and cook till the tomatoes are soft. Let the liquid simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
Heat the rest of the ghee in a saute pan and splutter the mustard seeds. Add the cumin seeds, Red chili and curry leaves. Pour this over the rasam and remove the rasam from the heat. Now slowly stir in the moru. garnish with the coriander leaves.


If you don't have a pressure cooker you can boil the dal until they are soft and mashable. If you want to buy a pressure cooker, you would find then in Indian stores or from amazon.com. They are definitely a time saver.

Chenna Masala

This dry dish goes very well with rice and yogurt.


Ingredients:

Chenna /Yam - 2 cup cubed
Pearl Onion - 1
Puli / Tamarind - lemon size pulp
Coriander Seeds - 1 tbsp
Jeerakam / Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Pepper - 1 1/2 tsp
Red chili - 1 to 2 based on preference
Salt to Taste
Oil - 1 tsp

Boil and drain the chenna, you can also just steam it for 10 minutes and keep aside. Make a smooth paste of the puli, onion, coriander seeds, peeper, jeerakam, turmeric powder and red chili.
Apply the paste on to the chenna so that it coats it from all sides and leave it for 10 minutes.
Heat a saute pan and add oil. Once the oil is hot add the chenna. Cover and cook for another 10 minutes. You can add 1 to 2 tsp of water if you think it is sticking to the pan, you want it a little crispy so don't worry about it browning a little , make sure though that you don't burn it. Adding the water and letting it cook on simmer will ensure that.


When working with raw yam make sure you oil you fingers. This will reduce the itching associated with the working with the yam peel.

You can also substitute the yam with boiled and drained Cauliflower.

Dosa Maavu Unniappam

Another one of those days when you wonder what to do with that extra bit of dosa batter that you find at the end of the dosa container that you know is not going to be enough for one thing or another. This one will definitely finish it off for you.
And no need to guess... it's going to be simple....

Ingredients:
Leftover Dosa Batter - what ever you have in hand
Onion - 1/2 finely chopped (increase according to batter)
Green Chili - 1 finely chopped.
Curry leaves - 4 to 5
Dried Red chili - 1
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
urad dal - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 tsp

In a small pad heat the oil and add the mustards. Once they start sputtering add the urad dal, curry leaves, chili, red chili, asafoetida. Now add the onions. Saute for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and pour the tempering in the batter and mix well with salt. You can add a 1/2 cup of water if the batter is too thick. Now heat the unniappam chatti/ paniyaram. I have a non stick one, if you use cast iron, you would b=need to brush with oil lightly. The pour the batter into each cup 3/4 of the way up. Cover and let it steam for 5 to 6 minutes. By this time it is fully cooked. In case you want it more crispy you can also flip it and let it cook on the other side. Remove and serve it sambhar or dosa podi.


You can also add coriander leaves.
If you don't have an unniappam chatti/ paniyaram, that you didn't want to carry back from India, don't sweat, you can get an aebleskiver pan right here from amazon. Aebleskiver is a danish delicacy that look very similar in shape to our very own unniappams, that traditionally had apple fillings and was served during advent.

Carrot Paratha

This is a crunch time dish that I make if I am out of ideas and more importantly out of time. One or two ingredients change depending on the seconds I have...The following recipe is makes about a max of 3 parathas. Please increase according to requirement.

Ingredients:
Carrot - 1 finely grated
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp (you can also use green chillies chopped instead)
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 2 pinch
Salt

Wheat flour - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Oil

In a shallow wide container mix the wheat flour, 1/2 tsp of oil and salt. Slowly add about 3/4 cup water, just enough to form a firm dough (very similar to the puri dough) and knead till smooth. Pour 1/2 tsp of oil over the dough and spread it. Cover, let rest at 10 minutes. In the meantime mix the carrots, powders and salt and keep it ready.
Divide the dough into ball the size of golf balls. Roll them out using a rolling pin into 4" diameter discs. You can use some flour for dusting so that the dough does not stick. Now place 1 tbsp of the mixture in the center and bring all the sides together to form a ball again. Dust some more flour and turn the ball down and start rolling the ball into parathas, according to the size you want the parathas to be. Use more flour to dust if you think it is sticking ... but use very little at time or the paratha will become very dry. Also note that the juice of the carrot will spurt. I have found that rolling it on just that one side instead of flipping, reduces the spurt, but you never know from which side the juice is going to hit you.
Heat a tawa or a non stick pan on medium to high, and place the paratha carefully in it. Turn it after 3 - 4 minutes when you see the underside slightly browning. Add a drop of oil on the flipped side and flip it back again. Then add another drop of oil on the other side. Press the paratha and turn every 3 minutes. Remove from heat when both the sides are golden and well cooked. This should only take up to 5-6 minutes.
Remove from heat and serve with plain yogurt.

You can also add 1/2 tsp of MDH Kitchen King masala if you have it in hand.

Vegetable Puffs

One of my all time favorite snack, the puffs come in so varieties. There is the veggie puff, egg puff, mince meat etc etc. And depending on what part of the country you are in, the basic ingredients and veggies change. Some use beans others beets, cauliflower and what not. Some add lemon juice or amchur (mango powder) others skip the garam masala altogether.

Ingredients:
Potato -1 large
Onion-1/2 finely chopped
Green Peas - 1/2 cup
Carrot - 1/2 cup chopped into small cubes
Ginger - 1' piece finely chopped
Garlic -1 clove finely chopped
Turmeric Powder -a pinch
Red chili Powder -1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala -1/2 tsp
Green Chilli -3 finely chopped
Coriander leaves - chopped a few sprigs
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil 2 tbsp
Puff pastry sheet (thawed)

Steam the potato in the jacket until soft, the idea being not to boil it with water where there are chances of it absorbing lot of the water. You can also use the microwave achieve the same result using the baked potato setting. Let it cool, in the mean time coarsely grind the ginger and garlic with a mortar and pestle. Heat 1 1/2 tsp of oil and splutter the seeds, add the crushed ginger garlic paste, green chili. Then add the chopped veggies (onion, green peas and carrots) and saute for 5 minutes until the onions become translucent. Add the turmeric powder, chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala and salt and stir for 2 minutes. Mash/ crumble the cooled potato and add it to the pan. Cook for 5 more minutes. Add the lemon juice, coriander leaves and mix. Turn of the heat.
Preheat the oven at 400C. Using a rolling pin spread the puff pastry. Cut the pastry into desired shape and place 2 tbsp of the mixture on one side of it and then bring the other side over the the mixture. Use a little oil to stick the edges firmly. Place the puffs in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes, until you see the golden color.
Remove from the oven and serve.


You can get the puff pastry from the frozen section at your local supermarket or stores like Dominick's and Jewel. You can also get it online from amazon.com

You can also substitute this whole stuffing with dry/ gravy (you will need to make the gravy dry) leftovers you want to finish.

Potato Curry

I thought of making a new dish for JFI event. But then decided I like this recipe so much, I wanted you to give it a try too. This is my contribution to Jihva For Ingredients: Potato.

Puri with potato masala is well know and loved.. and though I like it, I must say that I am very partial to this potato curry that amma makes. Normally made on Sundays I would sit cross legged on the sofa in front of the TV watching those weekly runs of Ramayana and then later the Mahabharatha ... normally forgetting the count of piping hot puffed puris I would eat. But as tasty as it is, this is a very simple dish to make.


Ingredients:
Potatoes - 2 large cubed.
Onions - 2large sliced
Ginger - 1 inch piece chopped
Green Chilli - 1 to 2 adjust to taste
Tomato - 1 large cubed
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
water - 1/2 cup
Coriander leaves - chopped small bunch

Tempering
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 5 to 6

In this recipe I'm using a pressure cooker. If you don't have a cooker you can use a deep pan the procedure will be the same although cooking time will vary. Just cover and cook until the potatoes are soft.

Heat oil in the cooker and splutter mustard, urad dal and curry leaves. Add ginger , sliced green chillies, potato, onion and saute for 5 mins. Add the chilli powder, turmeric, tomato, salt and stir for 2 mins. Add water and pressure cook on medium flame until the first whistle and on simmer for 2 more whistles.
Once the pressure is released remove and garnish with coriander leaves.

Ps note : This is a little watery dish - you can thicken it a little by mashing some of the potatoes.

Dosa Podi

This is a simple version of dosa podi. Goes great with dosas and idlis.


Ingredients
Urad Dal - 1 cup (rinse and pat dry)
Channa Dal - 1 cup (rinse and pat dry)
white Sesame seeds -3 tbsp
Tamarind - 1 small marble sized, you can also add more if you think it is not tangy enough.
Dried Red Chilli - 9 to 10
Jaggary - 1 tbsp grated.
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Dry roast the urad dal, channa dal and sesame seeds for 10 minutes, until you start getting the aroma. take care not to burn / blacken. Remove from heat and set aside. Heat oil in the same pan and add the red chilli and saute for 2-3 minutes and then add it to a blender along with the roasted dals. Add the tamarind ball, jaggary and salt and make a coarse powder. You can also do this little at a time if you think it is not grinding properly.
You can store this in a air tight container for a month.

The more tamarind is added the darker you will find the color of the podi

Ven Pongal

Today is Pongal, and it gives me another reason to make the savory Ven Pongal. I must say I am more partial to it than the sweet Sharkkarai Pongal.


Ingredients:
Rice - 1 cup
Moong Dal - 3/4 cup
Ginger - 2 1/2 tsp Finely chopped
Asafoetida - 1 small piece or 1/4 tsp
Peppercorn - 1 tbsp ( Can add more as per taste)
Cashew nuts - 1 1/2 tbsp - broken
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Tempering
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 7 to 8 leaves

Wash and cook the rice and dal in 4 cups of water with the asafoetida . Add the salt - enough so that the water tastes salty. It should be well done and sticky but not too loose ... so start with 4 glasses and if it is dry then add some more water. You would just need this much if you are using the pressure cooker - 3 whistles on medium. Let it cool. The prominent smell at this time would be the asafoetida.

In a shallow pan heat the ghee, once it is hot add the pepper, cumin seeds, curry leaves, ginger and saute for 2 -3 minutes then add the cashewnuts. The prominent smell at this time would be the fresh ginger. Remove and pour the tempering over the rice and mix well.
Serve hot with coconut chutney and sambhar.

Upmavu

Today has been a very busy day and coming home almost at dinner time, meant no time for anything elaborate but something quick and effortless. This upmavu, that took less than 1/2 hour to make, is one of my less favorite dishes. I remember sneaking out without eating breakfast to school, whenever amma made upmavu, lest I was forced to eat it ..:). Today too, it was was the case and I decided to make just enough for hubby dear ( you can see the quantity in the picture) and me eating cereals. But once it was done, I tasted it for salt and realized it did come out very delicious, contrary to my fast held beliefs. So, it just so happened that we decided that I had to have my fair share- 1/2 of it with bananas and pappadams- those being the quickest to put on the table next to achars. :). The measurements are based on what I did today. Please increase according to your requirement.

Ingredients:
Rava/ Semolina - 1 cup
Onion - 1/4 medium sized. Finely chopped
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Ginger - 1 inch finely chopped
Curry Leaves - 5 to 7
Green Chilli - 3-4 small. Finely Chopped
Dried Red Chilli - 1
Oil - 1 1/2 tsp
Water -1 1/2 cup
Salt to taste.

Dry roast the rava on medium to high heat for 5 to 6 minutes, until you see it is changing to golden. Be careful to not totally brown or burn it if you have the heat on high by making sure you keep pushing it around with a ladle. Remove it from heat and keep aside. Heat the oil and once it is hot enough add the mustard so that it starts spluttering immediately. Add the urad dal, ginger, onion, green chilli and curry leaves. Saute on medium heat for 3-4 minutes until the onions are golden to dark brown. Add salt and rava and mix well. Meanwhile heat the water in a seperate bowl. I just put it in the microwave for 1 minute. Slowly pour the water - 1/2 a cup at a time continously stirring the upmavu, you might not need to pour the whole water, depending on the consistency and texture you prefer. stir for 1-2 minutes more, making sure all the grains are cooked and there is no dry patch. Remove and serve.

You can also add mixed vegetables like carrots, peas, beans etc - .. and add turmeric to give it more color. When adding more veggies, make sure you saute them for 3-4 minutes then add an additional 1 1/2 of water and cook for 6-8 minutes until they soft.

Istu - Traditional Coconut Milk Stew

Istu - Coconut Milk Stew, is my contribution to Jihva For Ingredients: Coconut. This simple kerala dish is one of my favorites.

Ingredients:
Potato - 4 medium size
Onions - 4 medium sized - white or yellow
Green Chilli - 2, 3 to 4 if small variety
Ginger - 1" piece
Curry leaves - 6 to 7
Coconut Milk - from 1 1/2 coconut or 3/4 of the canned coconut milk .
Salt to taste
Coconut Oil - 1tsp

Cut Onions into thin long slices and potatoes into big cubes. Wash and put into pressure cooker, if you don't have a pressure cooker a deep pan with a lid will also do. Add the crushed ginger, chilli, 1/2 the curry leaves and salt. Add the second milk (this is for when you manually strain the coconut milk from a coconut - first milk is the thick milk that is first removed, the second milk is then then remain thin milk that is remove by adding water and removing the remain juice) and pressure cook for 15 minutes ( 3 whistles on low flame), if you are using the pan then cook for 30 minutes until the potatoes are 3/4 cooked. Open the cooker / remove lid and cook till water is almost dry. Add the remaining coconut milk , curry leaves and coconut oil. Serve hot with vellappam.

If you are using the canned coconut milk pour half in the beginning and the rest in the end. You can thin the milk by adding 2 cups water the first time.

If using a cooker wait for 5 to 10 minutes before you open the cooker - make sure that there is no steam left.

This recipe is the basic simple stew most families in kerala make, you would find that there are variations found from place to place, like more veggies and spices are added, but these basic ingredients remain the same.

Manathakali Vatral Kuzhambu

This is one of the recipes that my husband's mother taught me. This recipe uses sun dried manathakali which I brought back from a visit to India. Manathakali I believe is the Tamil name for Solanum Nigrum aka Black Nightshade, sunberry, wonderberry, wonder cherry. The green berries are supposed to be poisonous and should not be consumed. You can check it out on wikipedia.

Ingredients:
Manathakali - 1 1/2 Tbsp
Tamarind - Lemon size.
Salt to taste
Sesame Oil/nalle enna/gingelly oil - 1 1/2 tsp

Dry Powders
Red chili Powder - 1 tsp
Coriander Powder - 2 Tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp



Tempering
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Begal Gram/ Channa dal / kadala parippu - 1 tsp
Methi Seeds - 1 tsp
Dried Red Chilli - 1 to 2
Curry Leaves - 5 to 6


Take the puli, salt and soak in 1 1/2 cup of water and keep aside. In a saute pan heat the oil. Once the oil is hot add the manathakali and after a minute add the mustard seeds. then the kadala parippu, methi seeds , dried red chilli and curry leaves. The order is decided on how was they would fry. Stir for a minute and then add the dry powders - red chili, turmeric and coriander powder. keep stirring for a 2 -3 minutes until the manatakali are nicely coated in the powders and the powders lose their raw taste. Make sure that the heat is on simmer. Then add 1 cup of puli vellam and let it boil for 5 minutes. Add some more juice if you think that the gravy is too thick. If you think that the gravy is too thin then in 1/2 cup of water add 1/2 tsp of corn flour or rice powder and add it to the kuzhumbu. Remove from heat and serve with hot rice and ghee.

If you want to enhance the taste you can also add freshly grated coarse coconut paste.

Tomatoes & Onion Chutney

This is a excellent condiment to go with idlis or Dosas. Not just the taste but the ease and speed with which this chutney can be made, makes it so much more appealing.

Ingedients :
Onion - 1 large or 2 medium sized. Chopped - no need to worry about shape or size.
Tomato - 2 medium size. Chopped

Tempering
Mustard Seeds (kadugu) - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves (Karuveppila) - 8-10 . Be Generous.
Salt to Taste
Oil - 1 1/2 tsp

In a saute pan heat oil. Add the mustard and wait til they splutter. The add the curry leaves. Add the chopped onions and tomatoes. Stir once till the oil coats everything. Cook on medium heat for 10 -12 minutes until the onions are soft and the tomatoes are almost mashed up on touch. Make sure that they dont get burnt. Turn off the heat and let it cool.
Once cooled put the miture in a blender and blend until smooth, 4 -5 pulses should do the job. You will not need to add water as the water released from the tomatoes should be enough.
Move to a bowl and add salt as needed.


You can increase/ decrease the amount of Onion or tomatoes to vary the taste.

Food Hunt

Breakfasts and Tiffins

Dosa Maavu Unniappam

Kadala Curry and Idiyappam / Nool Puttu

Mixed Bean Adai

Pazham Puzhangiyathu /Steamed Plantains

Poha

Rava-Flaxseed Dosa

Semiya Upma

Simple Aloo Baigan Subzi

Upmavu

Uthappam

Chutneys and Dips

Mint Cucumber Raita

Tomatoes & Onion Chutney

Dry Masalas and Powders

Dosa Podi

Event Entries

Blogger Postcards Around The World #2 - Valentine

Blogger Postcards Around The World #2 - Valentine Card Recieved

Chickpea Salad with Cumin Dressing and Yogurt Sauce

Ginger Naan

Istu - Traditional Coconut Milk Stew

Poha

Potato Curry

Thakkali Kuzhambu

Gravies/ Currys/ Kuzhambu

Bringal Curry / Eggplant gravy

Istu - Traditional Coconut Milk Stew

Kadai Paneer

Kadala Curry and Idiyappam / Nool Puttu

Manathakali Vatral Kuzhambu

Muringya Ela/ Drumstick Leaves Kuzhambu

Potato Curry

Rajma

Spinach Dal

Thakkali Kuzhambu

Pasta/ Noodles

Pesto Cavatappi

Poriyal / Mezhukperutti

Aloo Methi Sabzi

Beans and Mung Dal Toran

Beetroot Poriyal

Chenna Masala

Kovakkai Poriyal / Mezhukperutti

Simple Aloo Baigan Subzi

Rasams and Sambhar

ButterMilk Rasam

Paruppu Sambhar

Quick and Easy Sambhar

Rice and Breads

Carrot Paratha

Ginger Naan

Lime Rice

Methi Paratha

Puri

Quick Vegetable Biryani

Tasty Manoharam - Spicy chappati Bites

Ven Pongal

Salads/ Kosambir

Chickpea Salad with Cumin Dressing and Yogurt Sauce

Snacks and Tea time Goodies

Dosa Maavu Unniappam

Parippu vada

Tasty Manoharam - Spicy chappati Bites

Vegetable Puffs