Chatpati Idli (Spicy rice and lentil cake)

Morning breakfast and afternoon snacks tend to put one in a dicey situation.  It's so difficult to please everyone and then of course, we are always concerned about being able to provide a healthy meal to youngsters who are so finicky about food.

At times, we have some leftovers at home so here’s a quick recipe for you if you have some leftover idlis (and no sambhar) or sandwich bread at home.

So here’s a healthy snack for

Ingredients:

1 Tb. Sp.              Sunflower Oil

1 Tsp.                    Mustard seeds 

2-3                         Dried whole red chillies (optional)

5-6                         Curry leaves

½ medium sized Onion (cut lengthwise)

1 medium sized               Tomato (finely chopped)

Salt (according to taste)

1 Tsp.                    Sambhar powder

Water

4-5                         Idlis (or white sandwich bread)

1 Tb. Sp.              Ground poppy seeds and almonds mix

Procedure:

1.                   Heat oil in a pan.

2.                   Add mustard seeds.

3.                   When the seeds start sputtering add whole red chillies. 

4.                   Add curry leaves, after 2-3 minutes add onions.

5.                   Stir fry till they are well cooked.

6.                   Add tomatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes while stirring from time to time.

Add salt and sambhar powder and mix well.

Add ground poppy seeds and almonds mix.

Add idlis and mix well.

If required, add  ¼ cup of water and mix well.

And if you wish to make it healthier, just add a few veggies such as peas and carrots (finely chopped).  Have a nice and healthy meal!

AaTey ka pooDaa (Pancakes made of wheat-flour)

When I was younger, everytime it rained we had two types of poodas as a sort of snack and we called the combo monsoon special.  It’s a quick and healthy meal when you don’t have a lot of time or no veggies at home.

Ingredients:

1 cup             Wheat flour

1 Tsp              Ajwain (bishop’s weed)

Salt

Red chilli powder

1 small          Onion/ shallot (finely cut)

1 or 2            Green chillies (finely cut)

Water

Sunflower oil or any other cooking oil

Procedure:

Mix wheat flour, ajwain, salt and red chilli powder. 

Add onion, green chillies and water to it and mix well.

Heat a pan, oil it and pour the mix in it.

When the liquid starts drying turn it over.

Pour oil on all sides.  Let it cook.

Once it is done.  Serve it with tomato chutney or sauce.

So here’s to monsoons and rain God!

Tomato Chutney

Here’s a quick dish that I love having as an accompaniment with several types of food-dishes and it is the perfect replacement for ketchup minus preservatives.

Ingredients:

1 Tb. Sp.              Oil

1 Tsp.                    Cumin (jeera)

1 small piece      Cinnamon (dalchini)

4-5 big                  Tomatoes (Cut in cubes)

1 Tb. Sp.              Raisins (kishmish)

Salt (according to taste)

Red chilli powder (according to taste)

1 Tb. Sp.              Sugar

Preparation:

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin and cinnamon to it.

Once the cumin starts spluttering, add salt and red chillies.

Add Tomatoes, some water and cover.

Once the tomatoes are well cooked remove the lid.  Add Raisins and let it simmer for about five minutes.

Add Sugar.  Mix well and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.

Serve as an accompaniment with rice or khichadi or chapattis or pakodas or puris or in any other way that you like.  I love it even with sandwiches instead of regular ketchup bought from the market.

Some of my favourite meals

Just wanted to share the photographs of some of my favourite meals:

Poha

Mixed vegetables, rice and dum aaloo

Rajma, chawal (rice) and Raita

Rice with mixed vegetables

Rice with Bharta

 Rice with cabbage-potatoes

Khichadi

Wadi-chawal

Daal waalaa paraantha with potatoes and tomato chutney

 

Sambar, Rasam and Upama

Red cabbage and pureed potatoes

Of course, I'll share these recipes on my blog but couldn't help giving you a sneak preview of things to come on this blog...

Masala Puri (Spicy fried flat Indian bread)

Winters and festive season – a perfect time for yummy food.  So today I'm going to share an easy way to enjoy festive season with you – it's called masala puri/ poori  .

Ingredients:

1 Tsp               Black cumin or Kalonji  

1 Tsp               Bishop's weed or Ajwain 

2 cups              Full-wheat flour

4-5 drops         Oil

Salt (according to taste)

Red chillies (according to taste)

Turmeric (a pinch)

Water

250 ml Oil

Procedure:

1.               Put 2 cups flour in a bowl.

2.               Add kalonji, ajwain, salt, red chillies, turmeric and oil. 

3.               Knead the dough.

4.               Make a small ball with the dough.  Ensure that there's no crack in the ball. 

5.               Put oil on the flat board and flatten the ball on it.  Use rolling-pin and make a 2 – 2.5 inch circle.

6.               Pour 250 ml oil in a wok or frying pan.  Heat it.

7.               Put a minute piece of dough in the oil to check that it is hot enough.  If it is then it will rise and become brown.

8.               Once oil is hot enough, put the raw, flat 2.5 inch circle of dough in the oil.

9.               Take a sieve like steel spatula and start giving light taps on the puri.

10.            The puri will puff up.

11.            Take it out and drain the excess oil.

12.            Serve it with potatoes or chaney or raita or any other vegetable.

Of course, puri is considered heavy but then so are several things that we eat.  Anyways, how many of us have puris everyday.

Enjoy a hearty and healthy meal this festive season.