Monday, July 28, 2014

Ragi Oats Ladoo

For this week theme on BM I'm presenting "All about Millets". Enjoy the dishes & don't miss the update. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42.


Ragi Oats Ladoo is a healthy & nutritious sweet dish. I made this little balls of goodness as a after work out snack & enjoyed it very well. Ragi flour & oats make a delicious combo of ladoo's. This dish can be made just with ragi flour, but the taste & texture are not my favorite. For the feel & bite in ladoo I added coarsely grind oats. Enjoy this healthy dish. 

Prep Time-15mins | Cook Time-7mins | Yields-9Ladoo's
Ingredients 
1/2Cup ragi flour
1/2Cup oats
1/2Cup + 1Tbs brown sugar / white sugar / Jaggery {adjust as needed}
2Tbs milk 
4Tbs ghee
2Tbs of nuts {any of your choice}
1Tsp cardamon powder
1/4Cup melted ghee {optional}
Directions 
- Coarse grind oats. It should be more or less like wheat rava. 
- Heat pan along with ragi flour & grinded oats. 
- Fry them for 5mins on low heat, while stirring in between. Switch off heat. 
- Meanwhile heat pan with ghee & add the nuts to it. Fry them for few seconds & remove them from heat. 
- Add ghee & nuts to ladoo flour along with sugar, cardamon powder. 
- Mix them well & last add milk to the mix. 
- Mix well & now you can start forming ladoo's. Roll them smooth & round. 
- Last dip them in ghee & lay on plate. {Skipped this part}
*** Store ladoo's in a airtight container.
Note
- Replace brown sugar with white sugar or jaggery. - - If using white sugar the quantity remains the same. 
- In case of jaggery you have increase it to 1Cup whole equal to the flour mix. 
- Dipping ladoo in ghee can me omitted, if you are watching your diet. 
- Storing ladoo's in airtight container will keep them fresh & ladoo's won't get hard. 
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Saturday, July 26, 2014

Ragi Malt {Version 2} | Ragi Porridge

For this week theme on BM I'm presenting "All about Millets". Enjoy the dishes & don't miss the update. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42.


Ragi Malt can be made in two different ways with milk & buttermilk. I'm sharing the milk version here, which is also very healthy & enjoyed for breakfast. In this version of malt ragi flour is cooked with milk & is flavored with sugar. You can customize this dish according to your taste by adding or removing the ingredients in the list. 

Prep Time-5mins | Cook Time-20mins | Serves-2people 
Ingredients 
2Tbs ragi flour 
4Cups milk
1Tbs brown sugar/jaggery{Adjust as needed}
Pinch of cardamon powder 
Few cashew nuts, walmuts & roses to garnish {Optional}
Directions 
- Mix ragi flour with milk & mix well without forming lumps. 
- Heat the mixture on low heat & bring it to boil. 
- Cook till the mixture gets thick. Once it is thick add sugar & switch off heat. Adjust sugar as needed. 
- Add cardamon powder, nuts & petals & mix them well. 
Note
- You can add vanilla essence to the recipe while cooking to flavor it up. 
- For sugar & jaggery, I added brown sugar in this dish, it's your choice. 
- You can use white sugar instead of brown sugar. 
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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Ragi Malt | Ambali

For this week theme on BM I'm presenting "All about Millets". Enjoy the dishes & don't miss the update. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42.
Ambali
Ragi Malt or Ambali is a nutritious summer drink. It is preferred to have for breakfast, but you can also enjoy it in the summer afternoon's, in place of your tea or coffee. This is a very filling drink & also releases energy slowly in to your body, while keeping you active & keeping the craving under control. 
Ragi Malt is made of a millet called " Ragulu" or "Finger Millet". This millet is rich in fibre, calcium, iron & also known for it's nutritious values. There are various dishes you can make with ragi flour, few are Ragi Idli, Ragi dosa, Ragi malt {Sweet}, Ragi ladoo's, Ragi mudda & many more. 

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- Ragi Rava Ladoo
Ambali
Prep Time-5mins | Cook Time-20mins | Serves-2people 
Ingredients 
1Tbs ragi flour 
1Cup water 
1/4Cup yogurt
3/4Cup water {as needed} 
Pinch salt {adjust as needed}
1Tsp lemon juice {optional}
1Tbs finely chopped onions {optional}
Few curry leaves for garnish {optional}
Ragi Java
Directions
- In a vessel, take ragi flour & mix it with 1Cup water.  Whisk it well & make sure there are no lumps left out. 
- Cook it on low heat for 15mins, while stirring it in between. Once it becomes thick & dark in color as shown below, switch off heat & allow it to cool. Ragi java is ready.
- Mix yogurt, water, salt & lemon juice in a glass. 
- To that add 1/2Cup of ragi java or ragi paste to the yogurt mix & whisk it well. 
- Finally add onions & curry leaves. 
*** Serve it cold.
Note
- Ragi paste should be cooled off completely before adding the yogurt mix. 
- You can remove all the ingredients that are optional from the list for a original ragi malt.
- Always cook on low heat for a perfect ragi malt. 
- I always add less of ragi java or ragi paste to the yogurt mix & that's how I like it. Change it according to your taste.
- You can make ragi java ahead of time & refrigerate it for later use. 
Ambali
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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Bharwan Bhindi | Stuffed Okra Curry | How to Make Bharwan Bhindi

Bharwan Bhindi
Bharwan Bhindi or Stuffed Okra Curry is mildly spiced with a combination of spice powders & garnished with cilantro for added flavor.  The spice powder can be customized as per your taste buds. You can replace okra's with brinjal's, simla mirchi, karela/bitter gourd or any other veggie you like.

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Bharwan Bhindi
Prep Time-15mins | Cook Time-30mins | Serves-2people 
Ingredients
14 Bhindi / Okra
1Tbs + 2Tsp oil
Cilantro / Coriander leaves for garnish
Stuffing Powder
1/2Cup besan
1Tbs ginger garlic paste
1Tsp chili powder
1Tsp cumin-coriander powder
2Tsp sesame seeds
1/4Tsp turmeric
Salt to taste
1&1/2Tbs oil
Directions
- Wash & towel dry the bhindi's. Keep them aside.
- Heat pan & add besan to it. Fry for 2 to 3 Mins while stirring occasionally.
- You can feel the nice & aromatic smell while you are frying. Switch off heat & allow it to cool.
- In a bowl add besan, ginger garlic, chili powder, sesame seeds, cumin-coriander powder, salt & 2Tbs oil.
- Mix them well & you can feel the stuffing powder getting together.
- Now cut off the edges on 2sides. Slit okra as shown above & stuff them with the powder.
- Heat pan with 1Tbs oil. To that add the stuffed okra & arrange them with out sticking together. Cook on low heat.
- Close with lid & cook for 5mins. Then reverse the okra & cook with a closed lid for another 5mins.
- By now the okra are cooked & perfectly done.
- Add the left out stuffing powder to pan along with sliced coriander leaves.
- Add 2Tsp oil & on medium heat for 2 mins, while stirring once in a while. Switch off heat & curry is ready to et.
***Serve hot with rice, roti & chapati.
Note
- You can customize the stuffing powder as you like.
- Wipe off okra's with a dry towel before slitting & stuffing.
- Use tender okra's, which are small to medium in size.
- Add a additional spoon of oil for frying if needed.
- You can add 1Tsp amchur powder to the filling to add a little tanginess to the dish. 
Bharwan Bhindi
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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Pineapple Gojju

For this week theme on BM I'm presenting " South Indian Meal Dishes-Karnataka Cuisine". Enjoy the dishes & don't miss the update. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42.

Pineapple Gojju is a well known traditional dish of Karnataka cuisine. Gojju means gravy & pineapple is cooked in this gojju to make this flavorful dish. This dish is sweet, spicy & tangy, making this dish a perfect one. If you are a fan of pineapple, then you don't want to miss this dish. You can customize this dish by replacing pineapple with your choice of vegetable. Using ghee in cooking in this dish does makes this dish much flavorful.
Prep Time-10mins | Cook Time-30mins | Serves-3people
Ingredients
1Cup pineapple
2Tsp tamarind pulp / 1Tsp size tamarind  {Adjust as needed}
*2Cup water
1Tsp jaggery powder  {Adjust as needed}
1Tsp ghee
Salt to taste
To Grind
2Tsp channa dal
2Tsp urad dal
1/4Tsp methi seeds
2Tsp sesame seeds
1Tsp jeera
5Red chili's {Adjust as needed}
1/2Cup grated dry coconut
1/4Tsp turmeric
1Tsp ghee
Tempering 
1Tbs ghee
1/2Tsp mustard 
1/2Tsp jeera 
3Red chili's cut equally 
1/4Tsp hing {Asafetida}
Few curry leaves 
Directions 
- Heat pan with ghee & add ingredients to grind {leaving coconut flakes & turmeric}. 
- Fry them evenly till they are turned to light brown in color. Switch off heat & allow them to cool. 
- In another pan add 1tsp ghee & to that add pineapple pieces.
- Fry them for few seconds. To that add water, tamarind pulp, salt & jaggery. Bring them to boil. 
- Meanwhile grind the roasted ingredients along with coconut & turmeric.
- To make it a smooth paste add little water to the grind ingredients. 
- Add the paste to pineapple & cook them for 10mins on low heat, till it is perfectly thick. Adjust salt, jaggrey & tamarind if needed.
- Heat pan with ghee for tempering. Add mustard , jeera & red chili's to pan. Once the mustard starts jumping add curry leaves & hing to pan.
- Add seasoning to gojju & cook on low heat for 2mins. Switch off heat & gojju is ready to serve. 
Note
- You can use oil instead of ghee.
- If using tamarind, then soak it with *water mentioned above. Leave it for 30mins & squeeze the tamarind juice for cooking. 
- Use "Byadagi" red chili if available or use those are available at that time. 
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Friday, July 11, 2014

Chutney Podi | Chutney Powder

For this week theme on BM I'm presenting " South Indian Meal Dishes-Karnataka Cuisine". Enjoy the dishes & don't miss the update. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42.

Chutney Podi/ Chutney Powder is a karnataka style spice powder, which perfectly goes with breakfast dishes & rice. This powder is packed with flavors from dal's, tamarind, red chili's, coconut & also sweetness from jaggery. 
followed a online recipe while making it, but changed the measurements & few ingredients as needed. One of those ingredient is red chili's. The recipe was asking for both Guntur & Byadagi chili's. I replaced them with mexican red chili's, which I have in hand.
This is my first time making this powder & it was heavenly good. The coarse grinding left this powder with crunchiness in every bite. 
Give this powder a try...
Adapted from-Big Apple Curry
Prep Time-5mins | Cook Time-15mins | Serves-4people
Ingredients 
1/4Cup urad dal 
1/4Cup chana dal 
2Tbs toor dal 
1/4Cup grated dry coconut
13Red chili's
1/4Cup curry leaves 
1Tbs grated jaggery
1Tsp size ball of tamarind
1/2Tsp + 1/2Tsp oil
Salt to taste
Directions
- Heat pan with 1/2tsp oil. To that add urad dal & fry it till
- Keep stirring the dal. Fry till it changes to light brown color. Remove on to a plate. 
- Repeat the same with chana dal & toor dal too. 
- Now to same pan add grated coconut & fry it for few seconds or till they are little crisp. Remove it on to a plate. 
- Add 1/2tsp oil to pan. To that add red chili's, tamarind & curry leaves. 
- Fry them till curry leaves are crisp & red chili's are puffed up. Switch off heat & remove them on to a plate. 
- Allow all the fried ingredients to cool down before grinding. 
- Now grind all the fried ingredients along with jaggery & salt. 
- Grind it to coarse powder. Adjust salt if needed.
***Serve this powder with a dollop of ghee. Goes well with rice, idli, dosa & also you can serve as you wish***
Note
- You can replace jaggery with sugar or if you want to you can totally remove them from recipe.
- I used non-stick pan to fry dal's & used very little of oil.
- Store powder in a air tight container & refrigerate it. 
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Thursday, July 10, 2014

Mysore Rasam | How to Make Mysore Rasam

For this week theme on BM I'm presenting " South Indian Meal Dishes-Karnataka Cuisine". Enjoy the dishes & don't miss the update. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42.

Mysore Rasam is a appetizing Karnataka dish. There are many recipes to make a rasam, but this version of it is flavorful & has a kick to it. Rasam powder or paste is very much different from the usual one we make. Coconut flakes in rasam powder will add a delicious flavor to rasam. I got this recipe from mom & she was praising how good this rasam has tasted. So it tempted me to give it a try & at the end we {me & hubby} loved it.

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Rasam | Charu | Saaru | How to Make Rasam
Pappu Charu | Toor Dal Rasam
Ulava Charu | Horse Gram Rasam | Hurali Saaru | Kollu Rasam


Prep Time-5mins | Cook Time-30mins | Serves-5people
Ingredients 
1/4Cup toor dal
1/2Cup water
2Small tomatoes chopped 
3&1/2Cups water
1Tbs tamarind pulp / 1Tbs size tamarind ball{Adjust as needed}
1/4Tsp turmeric
2Tsp jaggery {Adjust as needed}
Few curry leaves 
Salt to taste 
To Grind
1Tbs coriander seeds {Dhaniya}
1Tsp jeera {cumin}
4Red chili's 
1Tbs + 1Tsp channa dal
1/4Tsp methi seeds 
1/2Tsp black pepper
2Tbs grated coconut
1Tsp ghee
Few curry leaves 
Seasoning 
1tbs ghee/oil
1/2Tsp jeera {cumin}
1/2Tsp mustard
2Red chili's equally cut
1/4Tsp hing {Asafetida}
Directions 
- Pressure cook toordal with 1/2cup water for 2 whistles. Switch off heat & allow the cooker to cool. 
- Mean while in a large vessel mix tamarind pulp along with 3&1/2 cups of water. {If using a tamarind then clean it with lots of water first & then soak tamarind in 1Cup of water. Squeeze some the tamarind juice as needed.}
- Add chopped tomatoes, curry leaves, turmeric & enough salt to water. 
- Bring it to boil & cook it till the tomatoes are cooked soft.
Grind 
- Take ghee in a pan & to that add all the grind ingredients other then coconut.
- Fry them till channa dal changes it color to a darker yellow. Switch off heat & add coconut to pan.
- Grind them along with little water to a smooth paste. 
Making Rasam
- Add cooked dal, spice paste & jaggery to cooked tomatoes.
- Bring it to boil & adjust salt, tamarind if needed. Cook for 5mins on medium heat & switch off heat.
- Heat a pan with ghee, to that add red chili's, jeera & mustard. Once the mustard starts jumping add hing to pan & switch off heat. 
- Mix the seasoning with rasam.
***Serve it along with rice & dollop of ghee. Also serve some papadam's as a side.
Note 
- If you feel the rasam paste is too much,adjust it as needed for you. I added the whole paste to rasam & it was awesome.
- You can add garlic in the seasoning, instead of hing. 
- You can replace replace ghee with oil, but ghee add's lots of flavor to rasam.
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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Rasmalai {Version 2}

For this week theme on BM I'm presenting "Festival Special-Krishna Janmashtami". Enjoy the dishes & don't miss the update. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42.
Rasmalai is a much known dish to all. Today I'm sharing a almost instant version of this recipe, which is much easier to make for larger group of people. 
At first I decided on getting Haldiram's rasgulla and making the same as below. The only difference is they are round in shape and rest all the same. To my surprise I found a Haldiram's rasmalai at the store I visit & picked it without a second thought. Enjoy this easy to make dish !!!
Cook Time-40mins | Serves-4to6people
Ingredients
1Can of haldiram's rasmalai {12count}
Milk{Full fat}
1/4Cup sugar
1Tsp cardamon powder
Few saffron strands
Few almonds chopped
Few pistachios chopped 
Directions
- Bring milk to boil & then add sugar & saffron. 
- Reduce milk on low heat till it gets thick. 
- Mean while remove patties from sugar syrup & press a little to squeeze the sugar juice out. 
- Add cardamon powder & patties to milk. 
- Cook on low heat for 5mins & switch off heat. Add almonds & pistachios to rasmalai.
- Refrigerate it for few hours or till the rasmalai is chilled. 
- Serve chilled.
Note
- You can replace Haldiram's rasmalai with Haldiram's rasgulla.
- Haldiram's rasmalai patties are dipped in a sugar syrup & they are too sweet.
- I avoided milkmaid to control the sugar level in the sweet.
- Flavor up the milk with your favorite ones for a much more deliciousness. 
- Add a 2Tsp of corn powder to reduce time in thickening milk. {I won't try this because, at the end milk might taste & smell like corn powder}
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