Mixed Vegetable Rice

Hmm, I dint know what to cook for dinner yesterday as I didnt have enough veggies in my fridge to make any palya or curry. So thought of making some rice item, just gave it a shot. It came out really good. Give it a try and let me know how you liked it. Enjoy.
Servings: 2
Preparation time: 30 min
Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked white Rice
• 1 Potato chopped
• 1 Tomato chopped
• 1 Carrot chopped
• 1 Banana Pepper chopped
• Some snow Peas
• 8-10 Soya chunks
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 3 tsp clarified Butter/ Ghee
• Pinch of Hing/Asafoitida
• Pinch of Turmeric powder
•  3-4 Cardamum
• 3-4 Cloves
• 1 inch Cinnamon stick
• 3/4 tsp Garam masala powder
• salt to taste

Method:

• Heat the Clarified Butter/Ghee in a pan, add the Mustard seeds, Cardamom, Cloves, Cinnamon stick, Hing and Turmeric powder.
• Now add all chopped vegetables except Soya chunks. Add some salt. Cook until they become soft.
• In the mean while microwave the Soya chunk in salt water for 2 min. Squeeze out the water and add to the cooked vegetables. Add Garam Masala powder. Mix well. You can add red Chili powder if you like spicy rice.
• Now add the cooked Rice and salt to taste. Mix very well.
• Serve with Raita of your taste.

Dum Aloo

Hello friends, This is a very delicious, easy but quite consuming recipe. I learnt this recipe over the Internet, but tried with some changes. Try it out and let me know how you liked it. Enjoy. 
Servings:2
Preparation time: aprox 40 min.
Ingridients:

• 10-12 Baby Potatoes pressure cooked ( 3 wistles)
• 1 Tomato chopped
• 1 medium Onion chopped
• 1 tsp Coriander Powder
• Pinch of Turmeric powder
• 1 tso Ginger-Garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp Cumin powder
• 1 tsp Funnel seeds coarsely ground
• 2 tbsp Yogourt
• 1/2 Garam masala powder
• 1 tsp Red Chili powder ( to taste)
• 5-6 tbsp cooking Oil
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp Kasoori Methi ( optional)

Method:

• Heat 1 tsp of Oil in a pan, add Turmeric powder, coarsley ground Funnel seeds and Ginger-Garlic paste. Saute for 30 secs.
• Now add Onion, saute for 2 min. Then add chopped Tomato, again saute for 3-4 min. Allow to cool a bit.
• Grind the cooled mixture into a thick paste and keep it aside.
• Now heat around 3 tbsp of oil in a pan, pour the ground mixture,add Red Chili powder, Kasoori methi,Coriander and Cumin powder. Cook until the mixture starts oozing out Oil. Then add Yogourt, cook for about 2 mins.
• Then  add around 1 and a half cups of water.
• In the mean while, peel off the Potato and shallow fry them. Make 2-3 small holes on the Potato so that it can absorb the spices. Then add to the above mixture. Add salt to taste and Garam masala. Add some more water if required. Cook for 5-6 mins.
• Serve hot with Chapati, Naan or Rice. 
  

Ondelaga/ Urage / Brahmi Thambli / Centella asiatica in Butter Milk

Urage is popularly known '' Brahmi'' or ''Ondelaga''. ondelaga /Urage has its own medicinal value. Urage juice is consumed to get rid of dry cough and If you want long and silky black hair use home made Brahmi Oil.   Urage thambli is one of the easiest and healthy recipes, perfect for summer. Give it a try. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Chopped Urage
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 7-8 Pepper Corn
• 2 cups Butter Milk
• 2 tbsp grated Coconut
• 1 tsp oil
• salt to taste

For tempering

• 1/2 tsp Oil
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 2-3 pieces of red Chili.

Method:

• Heat the Oil in a pan, add Cumin seeds, Pepper corn and chopped Urage, roast for about 1 min.
• Then grind the roasted ingredients and grated Coconut with some water. 
• Add Butter Milk and salt.
• Temper with Mustard seeds and red Chili.

Haagilkaayi Kaayirasa / Bitter Gourd in Sweet Sauce

This is one of my favourite Bitter Gourd dishes. I learnt this recipe from my mom. Give it a try. Enjoy.
Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped Bitter Gourd
• pinch of Turmeric powder
  
• 3 tbsp Jaggary
• 1/2 cup grated Coconut
• 1 tsp Channa dal
• 1 tsp Urad dal / Balck gram dal
• 1/2 tsp Coriander seeds
• 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds
• 4-5 Red Chilies 
  
• Salt to taste
• 2-3 tsp cooking Oil

for tempering 

• 1 tsp Oil
  
• Pinch of Hing / Asafoitida
  
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds

 Method:

• Heat the oil in a heavy pan. Add mustard seeds, once they splutter add Turmeric powder and chopped Bitter Gourd. Fry well until Bitter Gourd starts light brown. Then add Jaggery and salt, again cook for 3-4 min.
  
• In the mean while, dry roast except Jaggary , salt and Coconut.
• Then grind the roasted ingriendients and Cocunut with some water.
• Now add the ground paste to the cooked Bitter Gourd and cook for 5-10 min. Add some water if required.
• Temper with mustared seeds and Hing.
• Serve with plain rice.