Veggie Upma

Veggie Upma or Uppittu is a common South Indian breakfast dish, cooked as a thick porridge from dry roasted semolina. Various seasonings or vegetables are often added during the cooking, depending on individual preferences. Cooking upma is an art in itself, to make soft upma there are few tried and tested method.

One such method which I prefer to get the softest Upma is as follows

Ingredients

Semolina (Rava) (1 cup)

Cooking oil (3-4 tbsp)

Ginger root (1/2 tsp, grated)

Green chilies (2 Slit)

Chopped onions (2 med, chopped)

Chopped carrots: 2

Chopped beans: 6-7

Chopped Tomatoes: 2

Ghee: 2sps

Salt to taste

Lemon juice (2 tsp, optional)

Coriander leaves: 1/2cup

Ground nuts fried: 1/4 cup

Method of preparation

Dry-roast Semolina (rava) until it just begins to turn brown, remove then keep aside.

In a large saucepan/wok, heat the cooking oil.

Add ginger, green chillies roast it a bit then add chopped onions and fry until onions caramelize.

Add the finely chopped veggies and fry it for 5-6 min

Add tomatoes to this add salt and fry it the tomatoes are soft

Now add 3+ 1/2 cups of hot boiling water mix it with veggies and let it come to a boil

Add the roasted semolina mix it well close lid and cook till water is fully absorbed

Once the semolina is cooked add coriander & ghee mix well switch off the flame.

Garnish with fried ground nuts and lemon juice. Serve with hot.

Soft upma is ready for breakfast.

Mutton Gravy

Spicy Mutton gravy which will tantalizes your taste buds

While Preparing this Mutton curry you will enjoy the Aromas of roasted spices & its very Inviting

Ingredients:

For the marinade:

Mutton:1/ 2 kg cleaned 

Turmeric powder - a generous pinch

Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Curd- 1/2 cup

Potatoes: 2 cubed

To roast 

Big Onions - 2 sliced

Green chilies- 5-6

Tomatoes - 2 juliene

Ginger garlic paste- 2sp

Coriender leaves and stem- 1/2 cup

Coconut grated: 1/2 cup

To temper:

Oil -1-2 tbsp

Bay leaf - a small piece

Spice powder(Garam masala powder)

Cinnamon - 1/4 inch piece

Cloves - 4

Cardamom - 1-2

Star anise,-2

Method: 

Heat a pan add onion and green chilies fry it then ginger garlic paste and  tomatoes and saute it till tomatoes are little soft. add the coriender leaves and stems switch off the flame. add grated coconut and mix well.

Cool down and grind the above fried items to a fine paste with little water. 

In a pressure cooker heat oil, add bayleaf, saute for a minute.

Then add the marinated Mutton and saute it for 5mins atleast. Then add the grounded masala paste and mix well. Saute until raw smell comepltely leaves and the Mutton blends well with the masala add the spice powder of cloves, cardamom, cinnamon & star anise mix well or else you can use Garam masala powder of your choice

Add 1/2 cup water , required salt very little(add red chilli powder if required at this stage) and pressure cook for 4 whistles on medium flame. Once pressure releases, check the mutton pieces if cooked or not

Add the potatoes & liver pieces and cook for 2 more whistles. once cooled down add coriander leaves

Mutton gravy is ready to serve

 

Mixed Vegetables Burger

Evening snacks special, Mixed veg Burger for tasty & nutritious snacks

Making kids eat vegetables is a hard so try this healthy burger

For this healthy vegetable cutlet all you need are following Ingredients & follow this simple procedure below

Ingredients Needed

Boiled Potato(2) : 1cup

Mixed vegies: 2cups

(I have used Carrot,French beans,boiled Peas)

Bread crumbs: 1cup

1 tbsp Ginger garlic paste

1 medium sized onion: finely chopped

1 tbsp Redchili powder

1/2 tbsp coriender powder

1tbsp All spice( Garam masala) powder

1/2 cup bread crumbs to coat

Salt to taste

4-5 sps Oil to fry

Burger Buns- 2-3

Lettuce leaves few

Mayonnaise- 3spa

Tomato sauce 

Procedure to follow:

Firstly boil the potatoes, beans & peas(I have pressure cooked it)

Once cooled down mash it nicely without any lumps

Then make the bread crumbs by using the sides of bread loaf

Make a fine powder in dry blender(you can even use white part of bread)

In a pan take 2 sps Oil add add Chopped Onion & fry  

Then add add ginger and garlic paste  & saute it

Add all the spices, red chili powder, Coriander powder, garam masala

Sprinkle little water so that it doesnt burn

Add mixed(carrots & betroots) vegetables & fry nicely so that it gets cooked add salt to taste & mix

Remove from heat & Add boiled & mashed potato & mix

Keep this mixture aside, once cooled down completely add bread crumbs & mix

Check the consistency, if the mix is too soft add more bread crumbs

Take a portion of this mix in your hands,make big balls and shape like tikkis....

Then Roll in bread crumbs so that it gets well coated

In a pan Add Oil & once heated shallow fry 2-3 min till both sides are golden

For Burger slightly roast the half cut bun with butter

First layer add mayonnaise then place lettuce on top.

Keep the Mixed vegetables Tikki add tomato sauce then place burger bun's top

Super Healthy Mixed Vegetable Burger is ready to serve

Creamy Veggies Pasta

 

Creamy Saucy pasta, with veggies. Macaroni or Pene kids love this with creamy sauce 

Pasta is easy to cook snack special when kids keep demanding it
So give it a go, my kid loves this pasta with veggies. I have used Penne Pasta

You can make this Creamy Saucy pasta even with macaroni or spaghetti which ever you like

Ingredients:

Cooked pasta: 2 cups
All purpose Flour: 3Tbsp
Seasoning: Italian seasoning
Milk: 1+1/4thcup
Pasta sauce: 2tbsp or(can use tomato sauce)
Butter: 2tbsp

Follow this easy procedure:

In a large dish add 1 liter water add salt & add pene & cook the pasta for 10min
Then drain keeping little water separately

Keep this cooked pasta in a bowl of water until use

In a pan Saute Carrots Capsicum  beans broccoli any veggies of your choice, add maggie magic masala for taste add little salt saute and remove aside

In a deep dish add butter then once medium hot add the flour & mix cook till it forms a paste
Then add Italian mixed seasoning

Now fry this for a minute once it starts changing color add the milk & stir

Keep steering till its thickened a bit then add sauted veggies and the cooked pasta with little pasta water and mix well cook 2min

Now add the tomato sauce & mix if its too thick add little more of the reserved water 

Creamy Saucy pasta is ready to serve, Kids enjoy this a lot as its creamy & tasty, You can sprinkle any cheese of your choice on the Pasta & serve

Millet Masala Dosa

 

Crispy Millet Masala dosa for breakfast, replace rice with millets for Healthy breakfast, same crispy and tasty dosas can be made with Millets try this easy recipe

Millets are traditionally important grains,Millets are gaining popularity these days because of their health benefits like high fiber content, gluten free and rich nutritional content. So replace your Rice with Millets & make all the dishes healthy & low calorie, click here for some of my Millet dishes:

South Indian special breakfast is incomplete without dosas, These crispy Dosas are made using Foxtail Millet, You can use any millet of your choice

Ingredients for Millet dosa

Urad Daal: 1 cup

Chana daal: 1/2 cup

Foxtail millet: 1+1/2 cups

Dosa Rice: 1 cup

Flattened rice(poha): 1/2 cup
Oil little to spread on dosa

Soak Urad Dal & Chana daal in a container. Then soak millet & Rice in another container for  4 hrs 

Wash & Grind Urad dal & chana daal with little water to fine paste & remove

Soak Poha just before grinding for 15-20min

Then Wash & Grind soaked millet & rice along with soaked poha & water to fine paste

Here is  daal paste & Millet Paste below

Then mix this millet & poha paste with Urad dal Paste
Add little water & make it dosa paste consistency

Keep in warm place to Ferment Overnite (6hrs)

Procedure For Millet dosa is as follows

After fermentation when making Dosa add Salt to batter & mix
Heat up the dosa pan, take a laddle full batter and spread to form thin dosa
Spread the oil to the sides & apply little ghee on top of dosa cover lid and cook on medium flame
After 2min when its slightly brown turn and cook other side for 2 min

I have sprinkled chutney powder on top and served with Red garlic chutney 

Crispy healhy Millet Masala dosa is ready to serve

Mutton Biryani

Flavourfull Mutton Biryani, with Mutton Masala  This time cooked together Rice & Mutton gives this dish extra flavor & makes it more tasty, so try this Mutton Biryani & Relish the biryani taste

Ingredients Required:

Mutton: 700 grms
Jeera Rice: 2 cups(400grms)
To marinate:

Curd: 1 cup
turmeric little

To temper:

Oil: 3-4 sps
Cloves: 4-5
Cinnamon: 1 inch
Bay leaf: 2
Onion: 4 sliced
Ginger Garlic paste : 2sps
Green chilies: 2-3
Coriender leaves: handful
Tomatoes: 2 chopped
Pudina: 1/2 bunch
Mutton masala: 1sp

Coriander powder: 1sp

Red chilli powder: 1sp

Method to prepare:

Wash the Mutton thoroughly & rinse, then Marinate with curd & turmeric & keep aside

Soak Jeera rice in water for 15 min

Chop all the rest Ingredients & keep it ready

Procedure to follow:

Heat a pressure cooker, Preferably Handi style with Nonstick coating
Add Oil & once heated add whole Garam masalas Cloves, Cinnamon, Bay leaf
Then Add Green chilies & Onions & fry then add gingergarlic paste & fry further
Now at this stage add chopped Pudina & fry
Then add Tomatoes & fry it till mushy
Add the marinated Mutton & give it a mix cook Now add coriander leaves fry nicely, add red chili powder, coriender powder &
Add the Mutton masala(or Garam masala) & mix add salt to taste and close the cooker & cook for 4-5 vissels

Once cooled open and check the water there must be at least 1cup gravy
Wash the Soaked Jeera Rice(or Normal sona masuri) & drain water add this to the cooker
Add 2 cups water(500 ml)(1:1.5 ratio) & mix bring this to a boil. As it already has 1cup water
Turn the Heat to medium or low (if its not non stick keep on sim)

Once it starts bubling close the lid & pressure cook for 2 visels
Let the Pressure Cooker Cool down completely, Then once all the pressure is released Open the lid
Wait for 2-3 min let the steam settle down, then with a fork just  fluff the biryani

Dont Over Mix it just separate with the help of fork, Then Serve Portions using a spatula
Mutton Biryani is ready serve with cucumber & curd raita

Punjabi Mutton gravy

Punjabi Mutton gravy  aromatic gravy with chunky mutton pieces

While Preparing this Mutton curry you will enjoy the Aromas of roasted spices & its very Inviting, Here is the Recipe

Ingredients:

For the marinade:

Mutton:1/ 2 kg cleaned 

Turmeric powder - a generous pinch
Red Chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - as required

To roast 

Dry Red Chillies
Coriander seeds - 1/2 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Black pepper corns - 1/2 
Big Onion - 1 chopped roughly
Tomato - 1 chopped roughly
Ginger garlic paste- 2sp

To temper:

Oil -1 tbsp
Bay leaf - a small piece
Small Onion - 5 to 7 halved

Spice powder
Cinnamon - 1/4 inch piece
Cloves - 4
Cardamom - 1-2
Star anise,-2

Method:

•   Heat a pan and add red chillies, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper corns, fennel seeds and dry roast till slightly golden brown. Then add onion, tomato and saute till onions turn golden brown and tomatoes raw smell leaves. 

• Cool down and grind it to a fine paste after sprinkling little water. In a pressure cooker heat oil, add bayleaf, saute for a minute.

• Then add onion, fry & add ginger & garlic paste and saute for 2mins. Then add the marinated Mutton and saute it for 10mins atleast. Then add the grinded masala paste and mix well. Saute until raw smell comepltely leaves and the Mutton blends well with the masala add the spice powder of cloves, cardamom, cinnamon & star anise mix well

• Add 1/2 cup water , required salt very little(add red chilli powder if required at this stage) and pressure cook for 2 whistles in medium flame. Once pressure releases, transfer it to a kadai(in medium flame) and allow it to boil until oil seperates(this may take sometime). Garnish with coriander leaves and switch off as per your required consistency. It gets thick with time so switch off accordingly.

Punjabi Mutton gravy with all the aromatic spices is ready to serve with Roti or chapati 

Capsicum Prawns

Capsicum Prawns spicy side dish, Super easy prawns recipe which is very addictive 

Try this Capsicum Prawns for starters or Side dish with Roti

Ingredients 

Prawns: 1cup

Capsicum: 1

Onion: 1

Tomatoes: 2

GingerGarlic paste: 1sp

Red chili powder: 2sp 

Turmeric little 

Garam masala :1sp

Lemon :1/2

Coriander leaves: 1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Easy Process to follow

Clean the Prawns after deshelling and De- vien it

In a pan add Oil then add chopped Onions and fry

Add the Ginger Garlic paste saute it

Then add Capsicum chunks & fry it well

Lastly add Tomatoes & fry nicely till its mushy

Add Red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder & salt mix well

Add the prawns & mix well cook with lid for 6-7 min. Sprinkle lemon juice & coriander 

Switch off the flame mix well

Capsicum Prawns is ready serve with Roti or Rice

Malabar Spinach Fritters

Crispy Malabar Spinach Fritters, best tea time Indian snacks.

Try these tasty fritters for crispy snacks, Malabar Spinach leaves are dipped in Batter & deep fried these fritters are usually served on a rainy day with Tea/Coffee

Ingredients:

Malabar Spinach leaves: 7-10

For batter

Besan(chicpea flour): 1 cup

Chili powder/ paprika: 2 tsp

Ajwain(caraway seeds): 1tbsp

Cooking soda:1/4th tsp

Salt to taste

Water to make thick batter

Oil for deep frying

Simple & Easy recipe for crispy fritters 

Wash the Malabar Spinach & pat it dry with kitchen towel leave it for 5 min

Make a thick batter by mixing all ingredients with water to make a thick paste, leave for 5min

Keep the Oil for deep frying on heat once heated

Add little soda/eno to the batter & mix

Dip each leaf in batter  & coat exterior well

For deep frying:

Reduce heat to medium & add leaf dipped in batter one by one. Fry till brown, remove on absorbent

Enjoy Crispy fritters, on a rainy evening with tea/coffee.

Parippu Payasam

Parippu Payasa for Onam, Easy to make healthy Sweet dish using Rice Rava( Broken Rice/Akki Tari). Along with Jaggery coconut milk & Chana Daal

Also known as Madgane in Konkani. This is wholesome sweet dish. You can add groundnuts & cashewnuts for this to make it more rich.  Try this recipe today

Ingredients
Coarsely powdered Rice: 1cup( bowl)
Chana Daal(gram daal) : 1 cup
Jaggery: 1+1/2 cup
Groundnuts: 1/2cup
Cashew: few
Cardamom powder: 1sp

To grind
Coconut: 1/2
Jeera: 1/2 sp
Turmeric little

In a Blender dry blend the Raw uncooked Rice to a coarse powder( it must resemble Rava)
Wash it and keep aside
Boil the chana Daal till cooked & keep aside
Make a paste of coconut jeera along with little turmeric

In a Pan add 4-5 cups(bowl) water to boil
Once it boils add the Rice rava & cook stiring in btwn till it softens
Then add cooked Chana Daal

Mix well and add coconut paste& cook for 2min
Add Jaggery and cardamom powder mix till it all melts

Lastly add fried destined groundnuts & cashew along with ghee.
Once it comes to boil. Switch it off

Relish this healthy Parippu Payasa for Onam

Modak for Ganesh Chathurthi

Modak Fried sweet Dumplings offered to Lord Ganesh ji, his favorite sweet

I have prepared this for the upcoming Ganesh Chathurthi festival, this fried Modak is crispy on the outside & sweet coconut filling is refreshing 

Try making this today

For the Stuffing

Coconut grated: 2cups

Jaggery to taste: 1+1/4 cup

Elaichi powder ½ sp

Mix together freshly grated coconut & jaggery keep this pan on heat & fry till its all mixed & Jaggery melts

For the outer cover

Maida: 1cup

Oil: 2-3sps

Water as needed for tight dough 

First sieve Maida add hot oil 2sps then little by little add water & make a dough slightly tight, let it rest for 5min

Let the stuffing cool down completely 

Then make small size balls of dough & make small poori it must be very thin, then make 4-5 poori & add one spoon stuffing to each close making folding like pleats

Pinch the top to seal properly

In medium hot oil fry these 4-5 in one batch till golden dont Roast it more, keep turning till all the sides are cooked

Remove on absorbent paper, then start making rest of the poori of next batch & repeat filling & frying

(Dont make all the poori at once as they dry up)

Cool down the Modak completely then store in air tight container 

Schezwan Veg Fried Rice

Vegetable Fried Rice is a nice way to Include lots of Vegies in the platter. Specially for children who always make fuss to eat veggies...

This Schezwan Veg Fried Rice is made with Chings Schezwan powder you can even add scrambled egg to make this Egg Frief Rice

Wonder how to make regular fried rice spicy & Garlic flavoured, you will be amazed with this trick i use, check the recipe for more details....

When we get Brored of Pulav & Other rice Items this Tasty & Quick veg Fried Rice is a savvior.....Just chop some veggies, fry it add Rice & other Sauces & Your Veg fried Rice is Ready....I find it Easy for Packing Tiffins

Ingredients

Cooked Rice :4 cups

Capsicum : 2

Carrot: 2

Cabbage: 1cup

Spring Onion: 4

Sweetcorn: 1cup

Garlic minced little

Oil: 4sps

Cilantro & Spring onion for garnish

Chings Schezwan powder: 1 sachet

Method

·       Chop capsicum & carrots, cabbage to small cubes

·       Separate the corn kernels  

·       Take a Wok heat it then add Oil

·       Add garlic & fry 

·       Add Spring onion other vegetables fry for 2 min

·       Add Chings Schezwan powder 

·       Mix well & add Cooked Rice

·       Now keep mixing (if you want eggs you can add scrambled eggs to this)Lastly  Sprinkle Cilantro & Spring Onion Greens

Schezwan Vegetable Fried Rice is Ready to be served

NOTE: If you want to make your own Schezwan Sauce here is the recipe: Mushroom Schezwan Rice

Coconut Rice with Vegetable kurma

Comfort food, Coconut rice is flavorful rice mildly spiced, tasty one pot meal so easy to cook

Rice dishes cooks fast in pressure cooker, this one pot meal is a quick rice dish can be made in a jiffy, Being a south Indian I love coconut rice and many other Quick rice dishes on my Blog

I have made this coconut rice along with Vegetable kurma, this is also a great combo as the rice is mildly spiced it goes along well with Gravy, try this quick fix easy recipe which can be made for Kids Lunch box

Ingredients for the Coconut rice:

Rice: 2 cups

Cinnamon: 1inch

Bay leaves: 2

Green chili: 2

Onion: 1

Coconut grated: ½ cup

Tomato: 2 small

Ghee 3-4 sps

Turmeric little

Salt as per taste

Method to follow:

In a blender add coconut along with green chilies add little water & make a course paste

In a pressure cooker add Ghee once heated add cinnamon & bay leaves

Then add onion julians and fry nicely, then add tomato & fry till mushy

Add washed peas & cubed potatoes mix

Add washed & drained rice & fry for 2 min, add the course coconut paste mix it nicely

Add 4 cups water & close the lid, put the Pressure whistle & cook for 2 whistles

Once the cooker releases pressure, open & fluff it with a fork

Flavourfull Coconut Rice is ready for lunch enjoy it with Veggie Kurma gravy 

Vegetable Kurma side dish for Chapati/Roti or ac-compliment for rice

This is a dish which has gravy along with mixed vegetables mildly spiced try this colorful side dish

Kurma perfect side dish with Roti for Breakfast or as a meal with Rice

Ingredients:

Potato: 1

Cauliflower florets: 1cup

Carrot cubed: 2

Fresh green peas: 1cup

Tomato: 1

Oil: 3sps

Mustard seeds:1 tsp

Curry leaves few

Aachi garam masala: 1sp

For the masala

Onion: 1 roughly chopped

Coconut grated: 1/2 cup

Red chilies: 4-5

Coriender leaves: 1/2 cup

Khuskhus: 2sps

Cook the vegetables in a pressure cooker and keep aside

Make a paste of onion ,coconut & Red chilies, khuskhus & coriender leaves with little water & keep aside

Then In a pan add Oil when heated add mustard seeds & curry leaves

Then add Onion & sauté Add Tomato & cook till soft (Add little salt so that tomatoes will soften)

Add all cooked Veggies & give it a mix,

Then add this prepared paste (blended) & mix well

Add garam masala & cook with lid for 2 min

Adjust salt & add more water if you want to make it Gravy consistency

Vegetable Kurma is ready enjoy with meals.