Fusilli With Tomato And Basil Sauce/Marinara Sauce

Marinara sauce is a very simple and basic sauce eaten with pasta,which can be prepared in no time yet very delicious.I am using here chopped pomodoro Italian tomato can,which is very convenient and gives the authentic taste. I recommend you to use canned tomatoes because with fresh tomatoes you won't get that exact taste.

Ingredients:
Pomodoro tomato can-1
Onion-1
Garlic-2-3
Extra virgin olive oil-2tbsp
Dried basil-1/2tsp
Fresh Basil leaves,chopped -handful(reserve few for garnishing)
Chilli flakes-1/2tsp(optional)
Salt to taste
Sugar-1tsp
Black pepper powder-1/2tsp
Bell pepper/Capsicum(diced)-1
Fusilli pasta(cooked)-2cups

Method:
1.Heat a olive oil in a pan,add chopped garlic saute for a minute then add onion fry until translucent.
2.Add a can of chopped tomatoes,salt,sugar,dried basil,chilliflakes and pepper powder,cover the lid
and simmer on a low heat for 10-12 minutes.
3.Fry the bell pepper with little oil until nearly soft and keep it aside.
4.Take a pasta in a wide bowl,add sauce and bell pepper mix well.
5.Garnish with torn basil leaves and dash of olive oil.
6.Serve hot with Garlic bread.

Note:
1.If you want to use fresh tomatoes,first blanch them,remove the skin and blend it into a smooth
paste.
2.You can use any veggies coloured bell peppers,broccoli,mushroom,courgettes,peas etc
3.It can be Prepared in advance and can be freezed for upto 1 month.
4.This sauce can also used on Pizza as pizza sauce.

Tomato Dosa/Dose

Ingredients:
Rice-2cups
Tomatoes-2-3(roughly chopped
Fresh coconut-1Tbsp
Green chillies-2
Cumin/jeera-1tsp
Oil for preparing dosa as required
Salt to taste 

Method:
1.Wash and soak rice for -4hours,Grind rice along with coconut,tomatoes,green chillies and jeera into fine paste adding little water.
2.Add water to make it thin as buttermilk consistency.
3.Add salt to taste.mix well, no need to ferment.Prepare dosa's like neer dosa.
4.Heat tawa,take a ladle full of batter and spinkle evenly,sprinkle little oil over dosa.
5.No need to cook both sides of dosa.Fold twice and serve with coconut chutney or any vegetable side dish.

Instant Tomato Pickle

Ingredient:

Tomatoes/Cherry tomatoes-1/4 kg(I have used cherry tomatoes here)
Mustard-1tsp
Curry leaves-1 sprig
Hing/asafoetida-1/2tsp
Oil-3tbsp
Chilli powder-1Tbsp
Methi powder-2tsp
Salt-2tsp
Sugar-1/2tsp

For powder
Methi-1/4 cup

Method:
1.Dry roast the methi seeds on a low medium flame until light brown and aroma comes.
leave it to cool,In a mixie grind coarsly into powder.Store it in a air tight jar for future use.
2.Wash and cut cherry tomatoes into halves,cut on a plate so that the juice is not wasted.
3.Heat oil in a pan,add mustard and wait until they crackle then add curry leaves and hing,fry for second then after add tomatoes fry for a minute and add salt sugar,chillipowder and methi powder.cook for 2-3 minutes,switch off the flame.Leave it to cool.Store in a air tight jar.
4.Serve as accompainment with sambhar and rice or yoghurt rice.

Note:
1.You can use any variety of tomatoes,if big varieties cut then into bite size pieces.
2.I have mentioned 1/4 cup of methi because you can't use less than this quantitiy
in a mixer jar to grind.and will be difficulty to grind.
3.Use only 2 tsp of methi powder for this recipe as mentioned above if you are preparing in large quantity increase the amount.store rest of the powder in air tight container.
4.This can be last upto week in a refrigirator.make sure you use a clean dry spoon every time 
you serve.

Tomato Omelette

Ingredients:
Besan-1 cup
Rice flour-1/4cup
Jeera/Cumin seeds-1/2tsp
Onion-1 small,finely chopped
Tomatoes-2,finely chopped
Green chilli-1,finely chopped
Ginger-1tsp(grated)
Fresh coriander-1tbsp,finely chopped
Salt to taste
Soda bicarb-pinch
Oil for frying

Method:
1.In a bowl mix all the ingredients except oil, with water to dosa batter consistency.
2.Heat a pan or tawa,pour spoonfull of batter on tawa and spread evenly and sprinkle oil on the sides,cook evenly on both sides until golden brown.

3.Serve hot with any chutney or sauce.
Note:1.For kids you can skip chillies.
2.Tomatoes can be grinded and mixed into mixture but you will have to add less water according if needed.

3.Ideal for kids lunch box.

Asparagus, Sundried Tomato & Olive Loaf

This bread recipe is from Mary Cadogan,She is one of the best cooks in U.K..I made little changes to her recipe,This savoury bread is very moist and perfect to have for breakfast with any butter or spread.Because of asparagus this will be little moist,you can slice them and toast it for more flavour and crunchyness.It will be better to eat fresh. 

Ingredients:

50ml olive oil , plus extra for greasing
10 asparagus spears , each cut into 3 pieces
100g self-raising flour
1 tsp thyme leaves(i used dried) or mixed herb will do
2 large eggs , lightly beaten
50ml milk
Handful pitted black olives
2tbsp sundried tomatoes , roughly chopped
50g cheddar cheese, grated

Method:


1.Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Oil and line the base of a loaf tin with baking paper. Cook the asparagus in boiling, salted water for 2 mins, drain, then cool quickly under cold running water. Pat dry.
2.Mix the flour and thyme with seasoning in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre, then add the eggs, milk and oil, stirring all the time to draw the flour into the centre. Beat for 1 min to make a smooth batter.

3.Reserve 5 asparagus tips and a few olives. Add the remaining asparagus, tomatoes, olives and two-thirds of the cheese to the batter. Pour into the tin, then put the reserved asparagus and olives on top. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 35-40 mins until the cake feels firm to the touch and is golden and crusty on top. Cool in the tin for 5 mins, then turn out and cool on a wire rack.

Preparing and cooking asparagus
Rinse spears. Hold one at each end, then bend - it will break where the tough woody stem meets the edible tip. the best way to cook the spears is in boiling water in a wide, deep sauté pan. Green asparagus will take 3-5 minutes, depending on its thickness. Test by piercing a spear with the point of a knife - when cooked it will just slide in easily. White asparagus takes much longer to cook as it has a woodier texture. It needs 12-15 minutes - test as above.

Fresh Tomato And Basil Soup

Ingredients:
250gms of chopped fresh tomatoes
1/2 tin of plum tomatoes
small onion , peeled,chopped
1 small carrot , chopped
1 celery stick,chopped
3tbsp- olive oil
1 vegetable stock cube
Water as required
1 large bunch of basil
salt and pepper , to taste
Fresh cream and few basil sprigs to garnish


Method:
1.Chop all the veggies and keep it aside
2.Heat oil in a pan. Allow to heat and add the onions, carrots and the celery. Stir well. Cook gently until soft.
3.Put the diced fresh tomatoes to the pan, and allow to cook for a few minutes. Add the plum tomatoes, veggie stock cube and add water to cover and stir again. Bring to a boil, cover, and turn down the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 to 20minutes.
4.Place the basil on the chopping board and strip the leaves from the stalk. Since the basil is going to be roughly blended, tear the leaves in half with your fingers.
5.Open the pan lid and add half of the basil leaves. Stir and then replace the pan lid and cook for a further 10 minutes.
6.Once cooked, allow the contents to cool down for a few minutes before adding the remaining half of the fresh basil. Stir, season with salt and pepper, and stir again.

7.In a blender, blend the soup on high power for a couple of minutes until it takes on a smooth, velvety texture. If desired,make it thin by adding water or stock.Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh cream and fresh basil sprigs.
8.Serve hot or chilled with any crusty bread.

BLACKEYED BEANS AND TOMATO BROTH

Hi everybody, its been months since september I havn't posted anything..I  was so busy and been to India,so I am posting now so what better than delicious hearty soup to start :)..ENJOY and keep visiting...

Ingredients:1cup-blackeye beans
1tbsp-olive oil
2onions,chopped
4garlic pods,chopped
2-3fresh chillies
1tsp-cumin powder
1tsp-turmeric powder
250g canned tomatoes/2-3fresh tomatoes
21/2cups-vegtable stock
Fresh coriander,finely chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Pitta bread to serve

Method:
1. Cook the blackeye beans in a pressure cooker for 2-3 whistles until the beans are tender,drain and set aside.
2.Heat  the oil in a pan add the onions,garlic and chilliand cook for 5minutes or until onions is soft.Stir in cumin,turmeric,tomatoes,stock,half of the coriander and the beans,simmer for 20-30minutes.Stir in the remaining coriander and the lemon juice.
3.Serve with warm pitta bread.

Tortilla Wheels With Tomato Salsa

This is a yummy recipe i got it from Very Vegetarian Cook Book,a real treat for vegetarians.I prepared this dish several times before,i thought of sharing my favourite recipe for this Easter with you guys!.In original recipe it is served with pineapple salsa,but i personaly liked to serve this with tomato salsa than pineapple salsa,it taste better with tortilla wheels.This is a fine finger food. Enjoy the long weekend!!! "Happy Easter" to all of u!!!

                                 Stack them one on another

                                unwrap and cut into slices
Ingredients:
cream cheese-150g
greenchilli,chopped -1
fresh coriander leaves,chopped -2tbsp
tomatoes-4,deseeded and finely chopped
spring onions-4,finely chopped
red or yellow pepper-1,deseeded and finely chopped
cheddar cheese,grated-125g
salt and black pepper to taste
flour tortilla's-8


Method:
1.Beat the cream cheese until smooth and  add all other ingredients for filling
mixell and season to taste with salt and blackpepper.
2.Divide the mixture among tortilla's,spread it evenly.place each tortilla on top
of another.
3.Making four stacks of two,then rollthem up tightly,cover in cling film and chill
for atleast 2 hours.
4.Preheat the oven to 200'C/400'F/Gas6,unwrap the tortilla's and trim away the ends
and then cut each roll into eight slices.
5.Place on baking sheets and bake for 15-20minutes until golden brown.
6.Serve with tomato salsa.


Tomato Salsa


Ingredients:
Hard ripen tomatoes (Chopped) - 4
Red onions - 1 medium
Coriander - 2 tbsp
Garlic - 2 cloves
Pickled jalapenos - 1tsp
Lemon juice - 1tbsp
Salt and Black pepper to taste
Olive oil - 1 tbsp
Method:
Blend all the ingredients except oil, in a blender to a fine puree.
Heat a olive oil in a pan,add the puree cook until it nearly thickens,
remove from the heat, leave to cool.
Serve chilled with  tortilla wheels.

Tomato Bath

Tomato bath is a very common dish in karnataka which is prepared with tomatoes and rice.Unlike bisi bele bath ,chitranna and pulivogare it is one of the favourite picnic dish. This is colourful yet very tasty dish and you can make it little more nutritious by adding peas or any beans like boiled vaalbeans(avarekaalu),chickpeas,black eye beans etc ..Along with mosaru bhajji a Kannada version of raita... is a real treat.This recipe i got from my mother,i used to prepare this dish very often in my house.

Ingredients:

Tomatoes-4-5,big,finely chopped
Onions-2,sliced
Greenchillies-2,slited
Garlic cloves-4-5,crushed
Ginger-2 inch,crushed
Curryleaves-2 sprigs
Sarinapudi/sambharpowder-1 1/2tsp
Cumin powder-1/2tsp
Black pepper-1/2tsp
Garam masala-1tsp
Grated coconut-1/2cup
Green peas-1cup(optional)(i used frozen peas)
Sugar-1/2tsp
Salt to taste
Ghee/Oil-1tbsp
Mustard-1tsp
Cumin seeds-1/2tsp
Channadal-1tbsp
Rice-2cups
Water-4cups
Coriander for garnishing

Method:

Wash and soak the rice for 30minutes.

Heat oil/ghee in a pan add mustard seeds, cumin seeds when they start
to splutter add dals fry until they become golden brown.

Now add crushed ginger and garlic fry for a second add onions,curryleaves
and green chillies saute until onions become soft and pale coloured,add tomatoes
and sugar cook lid closed until the mixture leaves oil.

Add all the dry masala's, peas and coconut and salt to taste.Saute for 2-3seconds
pour sufficient ammount of water,allow to boil.

When the water begins to boil add the drained rice and cook until all the water
evaporates,close the lid tightly and leave on low flame for 10-15 minutes.

Garnish with coriander and serve hot with mosaru bhajji.

TIPS:Adding little sugar to tomato dishes will brings out the flavour of tomatoes.

Mosaru bhajji

Ingredients:

Yogurt/curds-1cup

Small onion-1,chopped

Small tomato-1,deseeded,chopped

Green chilli-1,finely chopped

Coriander

Salt to taste

Method:

Mix everything in a bowl and serve with rice dishes.

Tomato Gojju

Tomato gojju is cooked in every household of Karnataka.It can be prepared
in jiffy.It goes well with dosa,idli,akki roti,rice or chappati....

Tomatoes-1/2kg

Onion-2

Sarinapudi-1tbsp

Curryleaves-1sprig

Oil-1tbsp

Mustard-1tsp

Garlic cloves-2,crushed

Coconut ,grated -1tbsp

Salt to taste

Coriander for garnishing


Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds when they began to pop add onions,crushed garlicand curryleaves,Saute until onions softens.
Add chopped tomatoes,sarinapudi,coconut and salt,close the lid and cook for 5 minutes.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.Serve with chappati,roti or rice.



NOTE:You can add water if you want thinner gravy.

Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwich

Ingredients:

Plum tomatoes-2

Fresh mozzarella ball-1

Brown bread slices-6

Olive oil-2tbsp

Mixed dried herbs-1/2tsp

Garlic clove-1,finely chopped

Black pepper-1/2tsp

Red chilli flakes-1/2tsp

Salt to taste

Method:

Lightly toast the bread slice in a toaster.

In a small bowl mix olive oil,herbs,garlic,chilliflakes,salt and pepper.

Thinly slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese into roundels.

Arrange tomato and mozzarella slices on bread slices,drizzle herb oil on top.

Close with other slice.Arrange the sandwiches on the baking tray.

Bake in a oven at 180'C for 8-10 minutes or until cheese melts.Serve hot.

Tomato and cheese bruschetta

Ingredient:

3-Tomatoes(ripen but firm),finely chopped

1 Clove of garlic,finely chopped

1/4Cup-Grated cheddar cheese

1Tsp- Dried basil

1Tsp-Black pepper

1Tbsp-Olive oil

Salt to taste

8-French bread slices or any crusty bread


Method:

Preheat the oven to 180'c.

Mix chopped tomatoes,garlic,grated cheese, basil, black pepper and salt to taste.

Spoon the mixture on the bread slices,drizzle olive oil on the top.

Place the bread slices on a baking tray, bake for 5 minutes and serve hot.

Raw Tomato Chutney

Ingredients:
Chopped tomatoes - 5-6
Chopped onion - big 1
Dry grated coconut - 3-4 tsp
Green chillies – 8-10
Garlic cloves – 8-10
Cumin seeds – 1tsp
Ground nuts (fried and skin removed) – 1tsp
Puffed channa – 1tsp
Coriander leaves
Curry leaves
Salt to taste
Jaggery as per taste

For Tadka:
Oil – 1tsp
Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
Curry leaves

Method:
1. Fry tomatoes, onions, green chillies, garlic, cumin, dry coconut, puffed channa and curry
leaves with little oil, till it becomes golden brown.
2. Grind all the fried ingredients with salt, coriander, fried ground nut and jiggery to fine
paste.
3. Heat oil in a frying pan and add mustard seeds, when it splatters add curry leaves.
4. Add the tadka to above mixture.

Serve with chapatti or Jolada rotti.

Chunky Tomato Salsa

Ingredients:
Hard ripen tomatoes (Chopped) - 4
Red onions - 1 medium
Coriander - 2 tbsp
Garlic - 2 cloves
Olive oil - 1 tsp
Pickled jalapenos - 1tsp
Lemon juice - 1tbsp
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Mix all the ingredients and serve chilled with corn or tortilla chips.