Search Spicy Treats

May 10, 2011

Ridge Gourd Pulao


        Usually I make curry with ridge gourd, for the first time I tried something new and it was really yummy. Recipe source - my Mom, yes few days back when I was talking with her she said that she made some masala rice with ridge gourd, brinjal & chayote combo. It was quite interesting to me. She was bored to cook for only 2(mom n dad) & making sambar, rasam n poriyal is too much for her to cook, so she made it to a one pot meal. I too wanted to try her recipe, but I bit changed and tried with ridge gourd,  potato n peas..this was new combo to me but was so good ..enjoyed with onion-cucumber raitha .

Vegetable Biryani I


   This time i made this veggie biryani with addition of nuts n greens paste...which turned out to a rich and more flavorful biryani.I served simply with boiled eggs n raitha.You too try this version n tell me how it turned out to you.
Still sometimes i wont get updates from the blogs i am following...tats y not able to visit your yummy recipes in time n post my thoughts...so don't mistake me will try to keep watching you... :))

Ingredient
  1. Basmati rice  2 cups
  2. Mixed vegetable   2-3 cups(carrots,beans,peas,cauliflower & broccoli) 
  3. Ginger garlic paste   2 tbsp
  4. Green chillies   3 no.s(slitted)
  5. Onion    2 medium(sliced)
  6. Tomato   2 no.s(chopped)
  7. Turmeric powder    1/2 tsp
  8. Salt    as needed
  9. Oil/ghee    2-3 tbsp
To wet grind
  1. Almonds    8-10 no.s
  2. Cashew nuts    8-10 no.s
  3. Coconut    1-2 tbsp(shredded)
  4. Fennel seeds    1 tsp
  5. Dry red chillies    4-5 no.s
  6. Coriander leaves    1 handful + few
  7. Mint leaves   1 handful
  8. Curry leaves    1 sprig.
To temper
  1. Black Jeera   1/2 tsp
  2. Clove   5 no.s
  3. Cardamom  3-4 no.s
  4. Cinnamon  2" stick
  5. Bay leaf   2 no.
  6. Star anise 1 no.
Method
  • Soak almond and cashew nuts in warm water for 10 minutes and then grind it along with other "wet Grind" ingredients to a fine paste and keep aside.
  • Wash and cut the vegetables to your desired shape n size and keep aside.(you can use any no. of veggies,paneer,mushroom n toasted bread slices also).
  • wash and soak basmati rice for 30minutes,drain and fry them separately in a pan and keep aside.
  • Heat oil in a non stick vessel,add the tempering ingredients one by one and fry lightly and add sliced onions and slitted green chillies and saute nicely.
  • Then add ginger garlic paste and turmeric powder and fry till raw smell leaves.
  • And now add the chopped tomatoes and saute till soft but not too mushy add the grounded masala paste and fry for 2-3 minutes.
  • then add the cut vegetables and mix well and fry till oil separates.
  • Add enough salt and water stir well and add some more fresh finely chopped cilantro n mint leaves and allow the gravy to boil.
  • When it starts boiling add the fried rice and cook till rice get cooked and close it with a lid tightly and allow to be in Dhum for 15 minutes and the yummy spicy vegetable biryani is now ready.
  • Serve hot with any  gravy or simply with raitha.

You can also transfer the entire content(after adding water n rice) to a microwave safe bowl and cook for 20-22 minutes or to a electric  cooker and cook till done.

May 8, 2011

Vermicelli Kheer Recipe - Happy Mothers Day



“I regard no man as poor who has a godly mother.” - Abraham Lincoln.... Happy Mothers Day to You all...

    Vermicelli Kheer my mom's favorite Indian dessert. I made this today for her though she is not staying with me now..i shared the pictures with her :)  Few words about my Mom on this special day...I can say that My Mom is one of the bestest Mom n Woman in the world. She is more talented and she struggled lot to brought up me n my sister. She faced n still facing so many problems with my dad's family n relatives. Literally she is living for us and sacrificed many things only for her children. After my marriage she was totally depressed, as I left her n now after my sister's marriage again she was left alone. She was physically n mentally more tired ;(  Her only relaxation is my skype call through which she can see me n her grandsons..so daily I will spare at least some 30 minutes for her.
Respect your parents n understand their feelings in their old age. When I was pregnant..really for the first time in my life I am able to understand the Meaning of a Mom n able to fee the pain n struggle she faced to brought us up. When I became a Mom....I was so so happy n that moment felt proud to born as a woman. Once again happy mothers day to all. My Mom n Me being a Mom is the greatest assert in my life n the precious gift given by the Almighty. 

Coming to the recipe...I referred sanjeev kapoor's vermicelli kheer recipe.

Ingredients
  1. Vermicelli    1/4 cup
  2. Milk    3 and 1/2 cups(i used 1% low fat milk)
  3. Sweetened condensed milk    1/2 of a 8 oz can
  4. Cardamom powder   1 tsp
  5. Ghee/butter     1 tbsp
  6. Raisins     10 no.s
  7. Cashewnuts     10-12 no.s
  8. Almonds    7 no.s(blanched n sliced)
  9. Cashew nut powder    1-2 tbsp(coarsely powdered cashew nuts)
Method
  • Heat a tbsp of ghee in a nonstick vessel and fry the cashew nuts and raisins separately and keep aside.
  • In the same pan.roast the vermicelli till flavor n turns light golden brown and keep aside.
  • In the same vessel add 3 and 1/2 cups of milk and allow to boil.
  • When it starts boiling add the roasted vermicelli and keep stirring to prevent get burnt at the bottom.
  • After 2-3 minutes add the sweetened condensed milk and stir well.
  • After 1 minute add the cashew nut powder and cardamom powder(or crush 3-4 whole cardamoms) and keep stirring until the desired consistency.
  • Lastly add the ghee roasted cashews n raisins and also some blanched almonds.
  • Mix well and remove from the stove.
  • Delicious vermicelli kheer is now ready.Serve warm or chilled.I like the chilled one...

I didn't add sugar...the sweet of condensed milk is enough to me..if u want you can add some sugar along with condensed milk as in the original recipe.This time the vermicelli which i bought was too thin n short than the regular .because of light problem not able to take clear pictures of the kheer ...sorry !!

May 7, 2011

Spinach Poha / Poha With Spinach / Aval Upma with Palak



Poha / Aval Upma is our favorite breakfast. Like me my kids also love Poha Upma, so I make this quick and easy to make upma often for our breakfast or for evening snack. I had very little quantity of spinach sitting in the fridge after using some for ragi keerai pakoda. I don't know what to do with the very small quantity, Suddenly a thought came why not to add it in my simple poha upma and thus this Spinach Poha Recipe and we all loved it. It turned out to a healthy and yummy breakfast. I served spinach poha along with coconut chuntey. So next time when you make poha upma try adding spinach or any available greens. Definitely kids will love to have them for a filling and healthy breakfast. Now to the recipe...

May 6, 2011

Mutter Paneer Paratha



   I use to make paneer recipes monthly once or twice.This time i didn't go for curries n gravy rather tried paneer stuffed paratha along with peas.The parathas were so flavorful,soft and yummy..yum..yum..paneer.Kutties liked it a lot n it was a filling dinner with raitha n some fruits.


Ingredients for Dough
  1. Whole wheat flour    2  cups 
  2. Salt        to taste 
  3. Water         as needed 
  4. Oil        2-3 tsp 
Take a mixing bowl,add flour and salt mix well.Using water make it to to smooth dough,then add oil and knead for a minute and cover it and keep aside for at least 15-20 minutes.

Ingredients for Mutter Paneer Filling
  1. Paneer 8 oz(grated) 
  2. Frozen peas 3/4 cup 
  3. Onion 1 medium (finely Chopped) 
  4. green chillies 4 no.s 
  5. Ginger 1" large piece 
  6. Coriander leaves 1 handful 
  7. Cumin seeds 1 tsp 
  8. Garam masala 1 tsp 
  9. Amchor powder 1/4 tsp 
  10. Turmeric powder a pinch 
  11. Lime/lemon 1/2 
  12. Salt to taste 
  13. Oil 2 tsp
Method


  • Cook peas in microwave for 3 minutes,drain and keep aside. 
  • In a blender ,put green chillies,ginger,coriander leaves and cooked peas..grind them to a little coarse paste without water and keep aside. 
  • Heat a oil in a pan,add cumin seeds when it splutter add finely chopped onions and saute nicely till turn golden brown. 
  • Then add the grounded peas-chilli mixture and saute till raw smell leaves. 
  • After that add all dry powders and enough salt mix well and fry for a minute. 
  • And add grated paneer and stir fry for another 1 minute so that masala get nicely coated with the paneer. 
  • Lastly add some chopped coriander leaves and mix well and turn off the stove. 
  • After few minutes squeeze the lime juice to the mutter paneer masala n stir well and allow to cool completely.(keep covered till u use for filling).
  • Once it cool down completely,start preparing parathas.
  • Knead the resting dough for a few seconds and take a big lemon size ball,and roll it to 3" (dia ) and keep 2-3 spoon of mutter paneer filling and seal the edges together and again gently roll it like regular chapathi (with less pressure).Do the same for the remaining dough n filling. 
  • Heat a tawa,fry the parathas on both sides till turn light golden brown...drizzle some oil on n around the parathas. 
  • After that remove from the tawa,mutter paneer paratha is now ready and serve hot with pickle n raitha.

Ragi Keerai Pakoda/Ragi Spinach Pakoda


      Yesterday i tried keerai pakoda with ragi flour...my grand ma use to make keerai bonda with wheat flour,godhumai bonda,Instead of wheat i substituted with ragi and it turned out a great snack...crispy too.Its quite satisfying and guilt free snack :) And also i tried some in oven-baking.that was also good like patties and enjoyed with ketchup.

May 5, 2011

Baked Bittergourd Masala

      Baked bittergourd masala , this time i tried with baked bitter gourds.Lessen my work n oil..I remember that my grandma use to add some smoked bittergourds(chutta pavakkai) to tamarind based gravy.so i too want to try with some baked one.This masala recipe is so easy ,simple n taste was so gud than my expectation.In this recipe i added amchur powder/dried mango powder..i like mild tangy karela.Do you hate bitter gourd?? I am sure after eating this recipe you wont...Me n my kids finished this bowl :) I gave them along with upma... I use to cook karela /bitter gourds twice in a week.Try this recipe and post your feedback