In the South Indian version of Kurma, it is very common to use fresh coconut. It gives a nice nutty flavour to the gravy. A few versions, mostly the Kerala style has Coconut Milk in it.

How To:

Soak dried peas in water for 6 hours or overnight. Pressure cook with some salt. set side to let it cool.

Meanwhile, in a pan, heat half a teaspoon of oil. Add red chilies, coriander seeds, poppy seeds, cloves & cinnamon. roast on low flame for a couple of minutes & set aside. In the same pan, heat some more oil, Add roughly chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger garlic paste & saute till the onions & tomatoes turn soft. Allow it to cool

Grind together the cooked onions & tomatoes, roasted spices along with grated coconut & cashew nuts into a smooth paste. Add a bit of water if necessary.

In a heavy bottomed pan, Add a teaspoon of cooking oil, splutter mustard seeds. Add the ground paste & turmeric & saute for a couple of minutes. Add cooked peas, 1.5 cups of water & Garam Masala. Add the salt & mix well. Let it simmer for 5-6 minutes on medium flame. If you feel the gravy is too thick, add some more water to adjust the consistency

Turn off the heat & garnish with chopped Coriander leaves.

YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 cup Chana Dal - Split Bengal Gram
• 2 Tablespoon Rice Flour
• 1/4th Cup Grated Fresh Coconut
• A handful of Coriander Leaves
• A handful of Mint
• A handful of Dill Leaves
• 2 Sprigs of Curry Leaves
• 10 Green Chilies
• 5 Dry Red Chilies (Byadagi)
• A small piece of Ginger
• Salt as per Taste
• 2 chopped onions - optional
• Oil for Deep Frying - I used Sunflower Oil

NOTE:

There are tons of recipes & variations for Chalkis, Murukkus & the kind. I always thought that making Murukkus at home was a not so easy time consuming affair & is not my cup of tea,  until I ate theem at a friends house.

This easy Benne Murukku recipe is from my friend Ashwini's Mom (The one who shared the Veggie Pasta Salad Recipe) .. When I casually visited her place she offered me a big jar of these crunchy Murukkus & I was surprised when she told me that she & her mom made them under 30 minutes

As always, I took down the recipe immediately & since then, I have made these atleast a dozen times & each time it has turned out very well. So this one is almost a fail proof recipe if you ask me  

 

  You Will Need:

How To:

NOTE: 

 Adding more Butter makes the Murukkus brittle. So, do not be tempted to add more butter :)

You can also add Onion paste into the dough to make Onion flavoured Murukkus. They taste really good. 

As you are frying in batches, always keep the dough covered to prevent them from getting dry.

Always taste the Murukkus after frying the first batch & alter the taste if needed. As mentioned earlier, if the Murukkus break easily, there has been an over use of butter. You can add a bit of Rice flour & Gram flour to the dough 

It was quite a while since I made a good Biryani at home. There used to be a time when I made One pot meals quite frequently & a quick Pulao would be on our Lunch menu every other weekend. In fact, I used to make several versions of Biryani right from the layered version to a quick Pressure Cooker version, experimenting with different spice list each time

If you like all things Coconut, you are going to love this Coconut Milk Biryani as well. This is a very mildly spiced Biryani as compared to the ones that are heavy on spices. It goes well with a spicy Hyderabadi Salan, A Raita will also do but I highly recommend the Salan 

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You Will Need:

To Grind:

• 1 large Onion - Roughly Chopped
• 1 large Tomato - Roughly Chopped
• 10 Cashew Nuts
• 2 'inch piece of Ginger
• 5 cloves of Garlic
• 4 Green Chilies
• A small stick of Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
• 3 Green Cardamom
• 4-5 Cloves

Clean Basmati Rice under running water until the water runs clear. Soak in water & set aside for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Chop the vegetables 

In a mixer, add all the ingredients mentioned in the 'To Grind' list & grind into a smooth paste without adding any water.

In a Pressure cooker, Heat Ghee & Oil. Once hot enough, add sliced onions & saute for a couple of minutes. Add the carrots, Beans, Potatoes & mix well. cook for another couple of minutes. Next, add the ground paste & some salt. Give it a good mix & Let it cook on low flame for 3 - 4 minutes.

Add the coconut milk, Garam Masala & bring it to a gentle boil. Drain the soaked Basmati Rice & Add it into the Pressure cooker. Mix well. Add about a little more than half a cup of water. Check for salt & give it a final mix. Close the lid & cook for 1 whistle. I use a Hawkins Pressure Cooker so mine gets done in 1 whistle. It may wary for other brands.

Allow the pressure to release & allow it to cool for a while. Add chopped coriander & Mint along with toasted cashew nuts. Gently fluff with a fork to mix well

Serve with a Raita or Salan along with some sliced Onions

I didn't have any Green Peas on hand. So, I didn't add them. But they make a nice addition. So does Cauliflower

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On the Personal front, Guess who just turned THREE? Yes. Kedar is now a Three year old School going toddler. Wait, Wasn't it just yesterday that I wrote a post announcing that we now have a new member in the family? However cliched it sounds Time does fly 


 I don't write about Kedar very often in this space but I have to say that It's been an incredible journey so far. Kedar is a complete Daddy's boy & he doesn't mince his words when he says that ( which he does all the time ) He loves his Dada more :)

We had a little Birthday party for him over the weekend & he got to cut his Peppa Pig Cake. Peppa Pig is his current favourite show. He loves it so much that his cousin sister even made him a Peppa Pig Rakhi .. I am not kidding. His current obsession is Construction Vehicles & he wants to be a JCB driver when he grows up  .. Phew !!!

It's not everyday that you will find Asparagus in the supermarket here unless you go to a Gourmet food store or order it online. So, the other day I found really fresh & tender Asparagus at a local store here & I immediately grabbed a bunch. They were really nice & fresh so instead of using it in a soup, I made a lovely salad out of it.

After feasting on a lot of goodies in the last few days, I really wanted to make a hearty salad for lunch. So, this warm salad was perfect.

I made a simple dressing using Dijon Mustard as the base. And with a dash of Honey, It was just perfect. I almost always ending up using a bit of Honey in all my salad dressings as I feel it balances the tartness from the Vinegar,

You Will Need:

For the Dressing:

• 2 tsp Dijon Mustard 
• 1 tsp Honey
• 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 tsp Dried Basil

Trim about half an inch from the bottom of the asparagus & cut them into 3" long pieces. Cut Bell Peppers, Onion & carrot into thin & long strips. Chop the basil & walnuts & set aside.

In a Grill Pan, spray some cooking oil. Place all the diced vegetables  except Basil without overloading the pan. If necessary, do it in two batches, Sprinkle some salt over the vegetables & roast the vegetables over medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes, I didn't have a grill pan so I used a regular heavy bottomed Iron Skillet.

The vegetables should be slightly cooked & should retain their crunch, Once done, transfer the roasted vegetables into a bowl.

Meanwhile prepare the dressing, In a small wide bowl, add all the ingredients mentioned in the list & whisk well. Pour the dressing over the salad. Add chopped basil & walnuts. Give it a good mix. Serve warm & enjoy your meal

This salad can be eaten cold too, but I love it when warm. Make a meal out of it or serve as a side dish. Either way, Its yummy 

In a restaurant, If you give me a choice, I would mostly pick Rice dishes over Naans & Kulchas. My idea of a nice meal would be a lovely fragrant Biryani with raita or a subtly flavoured Peas Pulao or Jeera Rice with some Dal Tadka or a gravy. I love eating nice & soft Phulkas, mopping them up with a good side dish but most restaurants do not serve Phulkas so you would mostly find me ordering a Rice Dish.

How To:

Wash & clean Basmati Rice under running water several times. Soak Rice in water for about 15 minutes. Drain & set aside.

In a pressure cooker, heat 1 tbsp Desi Ghee. When Hot, Add Cloves, Cinnamon & Bay Leaves. Fry on very low heat for a about 30 seconds. Add the rice & Fry well for about 2 minutes till it aromatic, Add Salt. I cup water & 1/2 a cup of milk. Mix well.

Allow it to pressure cook for 1 whistle. I use a Hawkins Pressure Cooker, so mine gets done in just one whistle. Turn off the flame & set aside for the pressure to drop.

Meanwhile, in a small pan, heat a tsp ghee & fry cashewnuts until crisp & golden. Set aside. In the same pan add another tbsp of ghee & once hot, fry the onions gently until they turn crisp & brown. This should take about 10 minutes or so. Drain & set aside

Wait until the rice cools down a bit to avoid breakage. Fluff the rice with a fork. Add the onions & cashew nuts & mix gently, Transfer to a serving dish & Serve with a nice side dish

NOTE:

You can also replace half the quantity of Basmati rice with Jeera Rice ( A fragrant short grained rice variety) , It has a nice flavour, I often do that. 

The other day I was telling my grandmother, how Millets have become the latest  health fad these days. And, she was not surprised because Millets were widely consumed in the older days especially in South India. Wheat was not so widely consumed in Southern part of India back then. They were mainly Rice eaters & Finger Millet (Ragi) , Foxtail Millet (Navane) & even Little Millet ( Saame ) were consumed quite frequently. And they had never heard of Gluten Free Diet :)

As times changed, people got used to processed food, Polished Rice got popular & slowly Millets were forgotten. Foxtail Millet & Little Millets became more popular as 'Bird Food'. Though Finger Millet (Ragi/Nachni) is very widely used in Karnataka, the other Millets somehow were less used.

Now Millets are back in limelight because they are Gluten Free & they have a low Glycemic Index. You will now find all varieties of Millets on the Supermarket Shelf & it is hailed as a Super food .. Back to Basics I must say

I made a very easy peasy Pulao using Little Millet. I had a bit of Mung Sprouts & very conveniently used the store bought Pulao Masala & this dish was ready in about 20 minutes or so. Millets cook very fast so its falls under your 'under 20 minutes' dishes caterory

How To:

Wash Millet & pressure cook using 1:1 ratio. Once the pressure is released, allow it to cool & set aside.

In a heavy bottomed Kadhai, Heat oil/Ghee. Splutter cumin seeds. Add the green chilli & ginger garlic paste & saute on low flame just for about 10 seconds, Add the chopped onions & a pinch of salt & turmeric, Saute until it turns pink. Add in the tomatoes and mix well

Add the Pulao Masala & cook on medium flame until the tomatoes are soft. Add diced bell peppers & Mung Sprouts & mix well. cook for about 3-4 minutes until they are cooked & firm,

Add the Millet & some salt & give it a good mix. Turn off the flame. Garnish with chopped Mint

Serve with a Raita of your choice & you are good to go 

Broccoli is a nutrition powerhouse & I am always on the lookout for new ways to use Broccoli. Broccoli absorbs flavours really well, making it easy to use them in Indian dishes. I make an excellent Sweet Potato & Aloo Paratha & it has been a family favourite.

Since the family is a huge fan of Aloo Gobhi, I recently tried replacing Cauliflower with Broccoli & the result was excellent. I made it a tad healthier by using par boiled potatoes which reduces the cooking time & the amount of oil used

This Stir fry makes a brilliant side dish with warm Phulkas or you can even it it as a salad. I do not like to overload my dishes with spices these days, so I've added just a tiny bit of chiili powder for that heat. 

Another recent discovery is the Everest Subzi Masala that I picked up from the supermarket. It has a very mild flavour unlike the Garam Masala & I've been using it in my stir fries these days & I quite like it, 

• 2 medium sized Potatoes
• A medium sized head of Broccoli
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 4-5 cloves of chopped garlic
• A big pinch of turmeric
• 1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 1/2 tsp Everest Subzi Masala
• Salt as per taste
• 2 tsp cooking oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds

Wash & scrub the potatoes & chop them into cubes. Dunk the cubes into a pot of water to stop them from turning brown. Chop the Broccoli into florets & set aside

To make them slightly healthier, I parboil the potatoes before adding them to the pan. So, you can either cook the potatoes on a stove top or like I did, you can microwave them in a bowl of salted water for about 5-6 mins.

Meanwhile, in a heavy bottomed pan, heat 2 tsp oil & splutter cumin seeds, Add the grated ginger & garlic & saute for about 10 seconds. quickly add the broccoli florets along with some salt & turmeric & mix well. Now, add the chilli powder & the Subzi masala & give it another stir. Cover the pan with a lid & let it cook on low flame for about 5 minutes. Stir in between to avoid the bottom of the pan from getting burnt. Broccoli gets cooked really fast, So, do keep an eye. Do not over cook the broccoli & make it mushy,

Now, add the parboiled potatoes & check for salt. Mix well & cook on low flame for another 3-4 minutes till the potatoes are completely cooked & the flavours are incorporated well

Turn off the stove & transfer to a serving bowl. Serve warm iwith Phulkas or as a side with steamed Rice & Dal 

I didn't know that planning the lunch box menu is such a difficult task until Kedar started school. He does not like to eat on his own unless I give him a bowl of Hakka Noodles or Pasta or homemade Bhel Puri which he will happily eat on his own & ask for a second helping too 

There are very few things that he likes to carry in his lunch box & thankfully Idli is one of them. This is a super easy recipe & a great lunch box option especially for little kiddos. This isn't much of a recipe really. This can be adapted in many ways & it also makes for a healthy party starter with a chutney on the side

You can also use different spice powder to season the Idlis. Maybe a Peanut Chutney Powder, Andhra Gun Powder or even Sambhar powder. Sometimes I also add fried onions. You can also make this using leftover Idlis & serve it as an evening snack.

We always make Rasam with a good amount of Tomatoes & Lentils. And, that's how we've always liked it. So, I've added a bit of roasted lentils to the spice mixture to slightly thicken the texture & give it some taste

• 1 Big Tomato
• 8-10 cloves of Garlic
• A pinch of Turmeric Powder
• A sprig of Curry Leaves
• Chopped Fresh Coriander
• A small piece of Jaggery 
• A Lemon sized Ball of Tamarind
• 1 tsp cooking Oil
• Salt to taste

To Roast & Grind:

• 2 tsp Coriander Seeds
• 2 tsp Tuvar Dal
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 4-5 Dry Red Chilies

• 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• A pinch of Asafoetida/Hing
• 1 tsp Ghee