Flavours of Our Home: April 2011

21 April 2011

Preparation time : 40 mins

Ingredints:

For Masala:

Boil a cup of water in a sauce pan, Add big slice of onion and cook until 7-10 mins. Among 3 onions, 1 is used to prepare paste, another is finely chopped added to Rice bath, the last one is sliced and deep fried in Oil to light brown and added at the end.
In a mixer jar add, boiled onion pieces, Green Chilies, Sompu/Fennel Seeds, Cinnamon, Clove and prepare smooth paste.

How to Proceed

In a pressure cooker add 4 sp Oil, 3 sp Ghee, add 1 sp Mustard seeds allow them to splutter well.
Add finely chopped Onions and fry until golden brown.
Add soaked Green peas, lengthwise chopped Carrot, Beans and fry well.
Add cleanly washed Rice and fry for 2 mins.
Add above prepared Onion base gravy, Tomato Puree, Red Chili Powder, Garam Masala, pinch of Turmeric and Salt as per Taste.
Add Water (1 measure of Rice: 2 measure of Water), cover the lid and cook until 2 whistles.
When the pressure is eased, add Cashews which are fried in ghee, and deep fried Onions mix well and serve along with any Raita of your choice.

Preparation Time - 15-20 mins

Ingredients:

Method:

In a mixer jar add Grated Coconut, 1sp Mustard, and Red Chilies, Do not add water, Just prepare a rough paste.
Remove the Skin of Raw Plantain with the help of peeler and chop into desired shape but make sure that its thin in thickness to cook easily in oil .
Heat Oil in a pan, add Jeera, Hing, Curry leaves and Turmeric Powder, fry well.
Add chopped Raw Plantain, cover the lid and cook for about 10 mins with constant stir.
Add salt to taste and the Coconut masala mix well, cook for 2 more mins and serve. It makes a great side dish.

Preparation Time - 40 mins

Ingredients:

For Kofta

For Gravy

Method:

Pressure Cook Potatoes till three whistles, allow to cool to room temperature, de-skin and smash well and transfer to a mixing bowl. for this smashed aloo add 1/2 sp Ginger Paste, 1/2 sp Green chili paste, pinch of Turmeric powder and salt, mix well keep it aside.
For Stuffing, in another mixing bowl add 3sp grated Paneer, 3sp khova, finely chopped cashews 2sp, Raisin 2sp and a 1/8th sp Ellakki/Cardamom powder, mix well and roll out small balls.
Cover this paneer balls with aloo mix prepared in step 1 and deep fry till light brown. collect them on kitchen towel. Koftas are ready.
Now To prepare Gravy, Heat 2 sp Ghee/Butter in a thick bottom pan.
Add mild onion paste of 1/2 cup and fry well. it will take around 10 mins to fry.
Add fine paste of Cashews. and continue to fry. (Soak around 15-20 cashews in water/Milk for 30 mins and prepare a smooth paste).
Add grated Paneer and Khova, mix well
Add water if required to make it to Gravy consistency.
Add 1/8th sp Ellakki/Cardamom powder, 1sp Garam Masala, pinch of Turmeric Powder and Salt to taste and bring it to boil on a low flame with continuous stirr.
Add Fresh cream and turnoff the flame.
Arrange Koftas on a serving bowl, pour the Gravy prepared on Koftas, Garnish with grated cheese and serve along with Roti, Naan or Kulcha.

Preparation Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

For Masala:

Heat a sp of oil in a pan, add Jeera, a twig of curry leaves and Onion slices, fry for 5-10 mins. turn off the flame. Allow to cool.
In a mixer jar, add fried onion, grated coconut, sambar powder and required quantity of water and prepare smooth paste.

Method:

Soak one cup of channa overnight.
In a pressure cooker, add soaked channa, finely chopped Potato,Brinjal, Tomato and required quantity of water (approx 2 cups) cook until 3 whistles. Allow pressure to ease.
Heat 3 sp oil in a thick bottom vessel, add mustard seeds and allow to splutter.
Add the pressure cooked vegetables, Masala/Gravy, Tamarind pulp and salt to taste.Add water to adjust to gravy consistency and allow to boil on low flame.
Garnish with finely chopped cilantro and serve, Goes well with Rice or Chapati.