Brown rice Pongal

 

I have been using brown rice to try different recipes. I made this pongal a month back and we all loved the aroma and it was very tasty.

Ingredients

Brown rice – 1 cup

Moong dhal – 1/2 cup

Whole pepper – 1/4 tsp

Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

Ginger – grated ( 1 tsp )

Salt – as required

pepper powder – 1/2 tsp

Cashewnuts – 8 to 10

Ghee – 2- 3 tbsp

Water -  3 1/2  cups

Curry leaves - few

Preparation

Wash brown rice and moong dhal. Soak them for for about 10 mins and pressure cook with water , required salt, pepper powder , cumin seeds and grated ginger for 3 –4 whistles.

In a small pan , Add 1 tbsp  ghee and fry the cashewnuts .  Add pepper corns, curry leaves and saute in ghee for few mins and mix it to the pongal.

We had this with brinjal kothsu for the breakfast..

Avocado Milkshake

 

This is a refreshing and creamy shake that would be so delicious and good for your health anytime for the day.

Below is the details of the recipe. I am sending this to Manjula’s July Contest

                      

Ingredients

Avacado – 1  ( Pitted , peeled and diced )

Almond milk – 1.5 cups ( This is a lactose and Soy free drink ) or you can use the regular milk

Sugar –  1 –2 tbsp ( optional )

Cinnamon – a pinch

Icecubes – optional

Whey powder – 1 scoop ( You can add this if you want to make this as protein shake )

Method

Place the Avacado , almond cooconut milk , sugar , ice and whey powder in the blender.

Blend it until smooth.

Add the cinnamon on the top and serve it chill.

Note : Any fruits like Banana’s , Strawberries would be a perfect choice as well. I felt Almond milk is good for health and also was so delicious than the regular milk.

                             

Radish Curry

I usually make Sāmbhar using radish. The other day I wanted to make something different and ended up making radish curry.

Ingredients
1) Radish -  2 cups ( white one )
2) Grated coconut –1/2 cup
3) Red chillies –  2
3) Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
4) urad dhal – 1 tsp
5) salt – as per taste
6) Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
7) Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
8) Curry leaves – few
9) Asafoetida – a pinch
10) Oil
Method
1) Wash the radish and peel the outer skin. Grate the Radish.
2) Heat some oil in the pan , add the mustard seeds , once it splutters , Add the urad dhal , cumin seeds. once it starts sizzling , Add the red chillies then  the curry leaves and pinch of Asafoetida powder . Add the grated radish followed by turmeric powder and salt. Cover it and allow it cook until the radish is well cooked.
3) Add the grated coconut , stir it well and switch off the flame.
Radish curry is now ready and can be served with rice and dhal.

Mango Morkuzhambu

 

This is the first time I tasted mango mor kuzhambu. My DH wanted me to make this recipe as this is one usually made at his place.

Ingredients

Ripe Mango –  2 ( medium size )

Yoghurt – 1 .5 cups or thick butter milk

Turmeric –1/2  tsp

Salt – as per taste

Grated coconut – 1 cup

Green chillies – 2

mustard seeds – 1 tsp

curry leaves – few

Asafoetida – a pinch

fenugreek – 1 tsp

rice – 1 tsp ( soak in water )

Oil ( for seasoning and little for roasting the fenugreek )

Method

1) Wash the mangoes and chop into pieces without outer skin and seed

2) In a pan , Put the mango pieces with water , turmeric powder and little salt and cook it until tender and smash it well.

3) In the meantime , add little oil in another pan and roast the fenugreek. Take the grated coconut , green chillies chopped , fenugreek , rice in a blender and make a paste.

4) Add the paste to the mango mixture and allow it to boil for few minutes. Add salt.

5) Add the yoghurt or thick buttermilk and stir it well and remove from flame in few mins.

6) Do the seasoning with mustard along with curry leaves and asafoetida powder and add to the mor kuzambhu

You can have with white rice and paruppu usili. or you can also have with rice sevai..

Godhumai Dosai ( Wheat flour Dosai )

 

This is one of the easiest dosa to make and does not require fermentation like Idly/Dosa batter.  I usually make it when we want to make a quick dinner . This can be had with Milagai podi even if there is no time to make any chutney..

Ingredients

1) Wheat Flour – 1 cup

2) Water – 2 to 2.5 cups

3) Cumin seeds –  1 1/2 tsp

4) Green chillies – 1 or 2  nicely chopped ( depends on how spicy you want )

5) Salt – as per taste

6) Oil

Method

Mix the wheat flour with water and salt to make the batter. Make sure there are no lumps. The batter should be thinner than the regular dosa batter. Add the cumin seeds and chopped chillies to the batter ( you can also temper the jeera and green chillies in the oil and add to the batter )

Heat the non stick tawa. Add little oil and rub the tawa pan with cut onion ( or I sometimes use the temple shaped wooden block) . Pour the batter from outside so that it form a pattern ( we cannot spread like the usual batter ) . Add oil on the sides and turn the dosa when you see the corners turning golden brown. Cook for few mins on the other side till it is crispier..

You can have it milagai podi or or some chutney. 

-- My MIL makes chilli –tamarind chutney which is usually so spicy –  I have not made it yet  - will post the recipe when I make the same.

-- My mom adds little rice flour to the batter, but dosas comes out well even if we are not adding it.

Keerai Masiyal

 

I make keerai masiyal always on a weekend to give it to my daughter.. she loves this along with paruppu rice , Rasam or curd rice. 

Ingredients

Spinach –   6 to 7 cups

Salt – as per taste

Turmeric powder – 1 tsp

Grated coconut –  1/2 cup

Cumin –  2tsp

oil – 1tsp

mustard – 1tsp

urad dhal – 1tsp

dry red chilli – 1 or 2

Preparation

Wash and chop the spinach leaves. Cook the spinach leaves with turmeric , salt and little water. Use keerai mathu to mash it well. Grind coconut and cumin to a fine paste and add it to keerai. Allow it to cook for some more mins. Heat oil in another pan , add mustard seeds. Once it splutters , Add urad dhal and red chillis. Add the seasoning to keerai and serve hot.

-- You can also make this without coconut / cumin paste instead you can add cumin seeds while seasoning.

--  If you need to add more spice , add 1 red chilly and grind it along with coconut / cumin