on popular demand: rasam and gunpowder

Ref Delectable Dinners on popular demand here's the recipe for RASAM and GUNPOWDER !

This is for you Prathima Rao -MY FIRST FRIEND FROM THE BLOGGING WORLD !!!!!!

Thanks a ton for giving me such a warm welcome to the food blogging world !!!I 'm loving it !!

RASAM

Ingredients:

3 Tomatoes(Finely chopped)

1 Onion(Finely chopped)

1/2 tsp Chilli powder

1 tsp Dhaniya powder

1 tsp Zeera powder

1/2 tsp Ginger paste

1 tsp Garlic paste

1 tbsp Tamarind paste

 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

 1 tsp Green chillies

For tempering:

1/4 tsp Chana daal

1/4 tsp Urad Daal

1/4 tsp Methi seeds

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

2 tsp Curry leaves

1 pinch Hing

Method

In a pot add water and all the above ingredients.Bring it to boil.Cook it for about half an hour till the tomatoes are cooked properly.Make a tempering with mustard seeds,chana daal,urad daal,methi seeds,hing and curry leaves.Pour it over rasam and serve.

Your rasam is ready.

GUNPOWDER

Ingredients

4 tbsps Chana daal
3 tbsps  Urad daal(white)
3 tbsps sesame seeds
4 dry red chillies
Salt to taste
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp oil

Method:
Heat oil in a pan and add the Daals and dry red chillies and roast on a very low flame till they start to turn light brown in color.
Add the sesame seeds and keep roasting till the seeds turn golden. Turn off fire.
Grind the mixture to a coarse powder.Take it in a bowl and add salt to taste. Add sugar and stir well to mix. Add oil in the mix before serving.You can store this gunpowder for weeks in an airtight container.

 Enjoy the tangy rasam with rice and gunpowder chutney !!!

DELECTABLE DINNERS~HAPPY KARVACHAUTH !

ALOO TAMATER,KHEER,PURIS AND GULGULE

Welcome to the series of Delectable Dinners!!

Its been a special and eventful week...I kept my first Karvachauth fast on 15th Oct !!

The festival of Karvachauth is celebrated by  married women who observe fast, praying for the long life, well being and prosperity of their husband. They break their fast in the evening, after moonrise.

So this is what we had after the Karvachauth Fast-Kheer,Aloo tamater,Puris and Gulgule !!

Wishing you all a HAPPY KARVACHAUTH !!!!!!

go greek with spanakopita !

Spanakopita is a greek savoury pie with a filling of spinach,feta cheese and onions.I used puff pastry in making this pie.Working with puff pastry is so much fun...its simple..its easy...its exciting when you see the  pastry puffing in the oven.. it reminds you of what you call patties in India..!!

Here's how you can make these yummy pies:

Ingredients :

1 cup Spinach(blanched and mashed)

1/2 cup Feta cheese(crumbled)

1 Small Onion(chopped)

1 tbsp Cheddar cheese

Puff pastry block or sheets 

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp Black pepper

1/2 tsp Garlic

1/2 tsp Oregano

Method :

In a bowl mix spinach,feta cheese,onions,salt,pepper,garlic and oregano.Roll puff pastry block into small round shapes just like puris.Top it with the mixture leaving some space on the edges.Sprinkle some grated cheddar cheese.Bake it for 15-20 minutes till the pastry becomes golden.

Serve hot!!

SPANAKOPITA SERVED WITH CORN SALAD !

DELECTABLE DINNERS~HARA BHARA PLATTER

VEG KEBABS SERVED WITH PALAK PARANTHA AND MINT -YOGHURT DIP

WELCOME TO THE SERIES OF DELECTABLE DINNERS !!

HARA BHARA PLATTER  brings healthy and tasty food on a plate with an interesting touch.

Make your own roll:Pick up a parantha,spread some dip...place lettuce and kebabs...roll it and ENJOY!!!

So if your mouth has already started watering ... you want this recipe or have any other query ,drop in a message in the comment box.

I'LL BE GLAD TO SHARE IT WITH YOU !!

happy dussehra !!

Wishing you a HAPPY DUSSEHRA !!!!!
Celebrating the spirit of this festival, here I present the divine taste of Besan laddus.



Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Besan
2 tbsp Sooji(semolina)
1/2 cup ghee
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp elaichi powder
almond pieces for garnish

Method

In a pan add sooji,besan and ghee.Roast it on medium flame till the mixture becomes golden brown and you can smell the sweet smell of besan.Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool to a warm temperature.Add sugar and elaichi powder to the warm mixture.Now make laddus and garnish with chopped almonds.
Its a perfect dish for festivals and offerings to God.

Wishing you  joy,prosperity and success today and always!!
HAPPY DUSSEHRA !!!

on popular demand : sabudana khichdi !

Sabudana khichdi is my all time favourite.On demand by my dear friend Nikita  I bring this recipe for you all.When both of us were in Delhi we had the greatest of all times..be it shopping,chatting for hours,eating and cooking together! SO THIS IS FOR YOU MY DEAR FRIEND !!
Sabudana comes in varieties and its very important for the sabudana to be of good quality for a perfect khichdi..

Here comes the recipe for you:

Ingredients

1 cup Sabudana(don't soak it...wash it and keep it in a sieve for about 10 hours)

1/4 cup  roasted peanuts

1 small potato(chopped)

1/2 tsp zeera

1-2 chopped green chillies 

1/2 chilli flakes

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp zeera powder

1 tsp chopped coriander leaves

Rock Salt(Sendha namak) to taste

Method:

Take some oil in a pan and fry chopped potatoes.Now keep them aside.Add zeera and green chillies in a pan with some oil.Add sabudana and cook for 4-5 minutes.Add poataoes,peanuts,salt,zeera powder and chiili flakes.Mix it and add lemon juice and coriander leaves before serving.Enjoy this yummy recipe!!

Happy Cooking !!!

fast or feast ???

SABUDANA KHICHDI,SINGHARE KE AATE KA HALWA,VRAT PAKODI AND DAHI

on popular demand :fried rice !

On popular demand I present this recipe of Fried Rice!!This rice tastes delicious and is ready in a few minutes.

This is how you can make Chinese vegetable fried rice

Ingredients

3 cups cooked rice 

1/4 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped onions

1/4 cup chopped spring onions

1/3 cup chopped bell peppers

1 tsp soya sauce

1/2 tsp white pepper

1 tsp chopped garlic

Salt to taste

Method:

Take oil in a pan add onions and garlic.Fry for 2-3 mins.add carrots and cook for a while.Add spring onions,bell peppers.After about a minute add rice,salt,pepper and soya sauce.Give it a toss!

Fried rice is ready!!!!

Top tips :

Use previously cooked rice.

Don't overcook the veggies.

Till we meet next enjoy cooking !!!!!!!!

kiwi and peach smoothie

Its 28 degrees here in London...Can you believe it??

To beat this heat you need something chilly and refreshing...what better than a fruit smoothie...!

Here's how you can make this cool smoothie:

1/2 cup yoghurt

1/4 cup cup milk

2 kiwis

1 peach

1tsp sugar

Ice cubes

Mix all the ingredients in a blender and enjoy this refreshing drink !!!!!!

Have a cool weekend ;) !