Sunday, 18 April 2010

Cool Entries for Thanda Mela Event!!





                                                          Chocolate banana Milkshake

                                                                          Date shake

                                                                        Melon shake

                                                                    Strawberry Milkshake

                                                                      Pineapple Chaat

                                                                     Figs with Yoghurt

                                                                Pomegrante Shrikand




This Entries are off to Thanda Mela Event  hosted by Srivalli of Cooking 4 all Seasons

Thursday, 15 April 2010

KALE MOTI BIRYANI

This finger licking,flavourful biryani recipe I found from a old magazine long back ago, I am a big magazine Buff:), and I collect the recipes from them.The process is little lengthy but its worth a try...I prepare this biryani often in my house and it has become one of my family favourites.Kale moti  means Black pearl,they look like a black pearls in the dish  truly....In the original recipe potatoes are used along with channa,here I have not used it.If you are fan of potatoes,you can used them...The assemble process makes it very flavourful and aromatic...This can  be done without oven also,assemble in a thick bottom vessel and seal the lid with atta dough(if you have a tight fitting lid,don't worry about sealing)keep on a low flame for 10-15 minutes.Serve this with any raitha or it is amazing on its own...Make sure that channa is nicely cooked...Using ghee makes it very tasty,I have prepared it with oil also but you know you can't beat the ghee....:).Once in a while this is a real treat...

                                       Biryani with a sprinkling of  black channa

Ingredients:
Basmati rice-2cups,washed and soaked for30 minutes.
Salt to taste
Cloves-4 
Cardomom-4
Lemon juice-1tbsp
For kale moti:
Kalachanna/Kadlekaalu,soaked overnight-1cup
Salt to taste
A pinch of soda bicarb
Ghee-2tbsp
Gingergarlic paste-2tsp
Onion,chopped-1big
Chilli powder-1tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2tsp
Whisked yogurt-3/4cup
Tomotoes,chopped-2
Green chillies,chopped-2
For garnishing :
Coriander leaves,chopped- 2tbsp
Mint leaves,chopped-2tbsp
Green chillies,slit lenghtwise-2-3
Onions,sliced and fried until crisp-2tbsp
Tomato,Sliced-1
Ginger juliennes-1tsp
whisked yoghurt-1/4cup
Garam masala powder-1tsp
A few strands of safforon  soaked in a little milk


Method:
To prepare the kale moti:
Wash the channa,add enough water,salt and soda bicarb and cook in a pressure
cooker until 3-4 whistles.Drain out the water and keep it aside.
Heat ghee in a kadai, add ginger-garlic paste, onions , chilli powder
and turmeric powder,lower the heat and saute for 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from heat,add curd,tomatoes and green chillies.
Return the pan to the heat.Cook till the ghee floats on top. Then add the boiled chana,
adjust the seasoning and stir well.Saute till done and almost dry


To prepare the rice:
Bring 8cups of water to a boil with salt,whole garam masala and lemon juice. Cook till three-fourths done.Drain out the water.


To assemble the biryani:
Transfer the cooked channa to an ovenproof container.
Spread the chopped corinaderleaves,mintleaves,gingerjuliennes,
green chillies,tomatoes fried onions and pour the yogurt over the channa.
Spread the rice evenly over the garnished channa and sprinkle soaked saffron over.
Cover with a lid and secure with a atta dough to seal the container so that it is airtight
and cook in a pre-heated oven for 10 to 12 minutes at 180'C.
Remove when the steam starts seeping from the side.


To serve:
Break the seal,take out the rice from the container.Put the channa
in a serving dish and spread the rice over.
Serve hot with raitha.



Monday, 12 April 2010

Bele Dosa/Dal Dosa/Mixed Lentils Dosa







Ingredients:
Rice -1cup
Toordal/togaribele-1/2cup
Channadal/kadlebele-1/2cup
Moongdal/hesarubele-1/2cup
Uraddal/uddinabele-1/2cup
Green chillies/dry red chillies-3-4 or to taste
Ginger,chopped-2tsp
Jeera/cumin seeds-1tsp
Salt to taste
Soda bicarbonate-1/2tsp
Sugar-1tsp(optional)


Method:
wash and soak rice and dals together for 6-7 hours.
Grind rice and dals with chillies,jeera and ginger to fine paste.
Add salt to taste,soda and sugar mix well and prepare dosa as usual
no need to ferment.You can prepare dosa's immediatly.
For preparing,heat a tava,take a ladleful of batter on tava,spread evenly 
as thin as possible.
Sprinkle little oil on dosa,cook evenly on both sides.
Fold and serve with chutney or any palya.


Note:Sugar gives nice golden colour to dosa.

Wednesday, 7 April 2010

Pav Bhaji with More Awards!!




Ingredients:
Potatoes,(boiled,peeled and mashed)-1big
Boiled peas,carrots,cauliflower each- 1 cup
Onion-1,finely chopped
Tomatoes-4-5 big ripen ones
Capsicum-1,finely chopped
Gingergarlic paste-2tsp
Butter/oil-1tbsp
Red chilli powder to taste(optional)
Tomato puree-1tbsp(for color and flavour)
Pavbhajimasala-2tsp


To serve:
Chopped onions as required
Lemon wedges
Chopped fresh coriander
Pav bread  or any bread as required(i have used white baps)


Method:
Heat a butter/oil in a pan,add chopped onions fry until they are translucent.
Now add capsicum and ginger garlic paste saute until capsicum becomes little soft.
Add boiled vegetables, boiled potatoes, tomato puree,pav bhaji masala,chilli powder
and salt,close the lid and  cook on a low flame for 5minutes.
Add little water if necessary, with a masher mash the gravy gently,so that all the
veggies gets mashed up to form a smooth gravy.
At this stage you can add little dollop of butter which is totally optional.simmer for 2-3minutes.
Serve with chopped onions,coriander on top of bhaji,along toasted pav bread and lemon wedges.
Note:you can use butter for toasting pav breads as chaatwaala's does,but it doesn't make any diiference to taste without it.
For healthier option serve with wholemeal bread/brown bread,omit butter.