Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Moong Dal (split green gram) Dosa

Moong Dal ( Split green gram) - 1
Boiled rice - 1\4 cup
Salt - to taste
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Green chillies - 2
Coriander leaves - as required
Oil - for making dosa

Method:
1. Soak moong dal and boiled rice separately for 2 hrs.
2. Grind moong dal with green chillies and cumin seeds in the mxie to dosa consistency.
3. Grind rice and add it to the moong dal mixture.
4. Mix rice and moong dal to make a batter. Cut the coriander leaves and add it. Add salt. Mix the batter well.
5. Prepare the dosa.

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Lemon Rasam

An Indian Soup, this can be taken as soup or mixed with rice and eaten as food with spicy cooked vegetables for side dish.

Lemon Rasam :

Tur Dal or Red gram - Cooked (1 cup)
Lemons(medium sized) - 2
Green chillies- 3 or more according to taste
Mustard - 1tsp
Oil - 1tsp
Tomatoes - 2 (medium size)
Turmeric powder - half tsp
Corinader leaves for garnishing.
Salt to taste.

Method:

1. Cut the tomatoes into slices.
2. Add 1 cup water to half cup tur dal, add the tomato slices and turmeric and cook till dhal becomes soft.
3. Heat oil, splutter the mustards, add green chillies.
4. Mix it with the cooked dal.
5. Add a little more boiled water to bring it to "rasam"consistency.
6. Add salt to taste
7. Stir well.
8. Heat the mixture till froth forms on top.
7. Squeeze the lemons after allowing the mixture to cool for sometime.
8. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Mint pulao

This rice dish is yummy to eat .
Required :
Mint leaves - 2 cups
Cooked Basmati rice - 2 cups
Green Chillies - 2 or 3 according to taste
Salt - 1 tsp ( according to taste)
Onion - 1 cup (sliced)
Cinnamon sticks - 2 or 3
Cooking Oil - 2 to 3 tsps
Method:
1. Grind Mint leaves and chillies to a paste with salt.
2. Heat oil and fry the cinnamon sitcks. Add and roast onion to light brown.
3. Then add the mint mixture and stir for a few seconds.
4. Add the rice to it and cook on low heat for a few minutes.
Then serve garnished with roasted cashew nuts and small raisins.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Avakkai (Mango) Pickle

Mangoes are available in plenty in India in April, May and June. Yummmy dishes can be made from these mangoes , both vegetables and fruits. Andhra Pradesh is famous for its Avakkai Mango pickle which can be stored and used for a year.
Recipe for Avakkai Mango Pickle :

Mango pieces ( Cut one medium size mango into 8 pieces) = 5 cups
Salt Powder : 3/4 cup
Chilli Powder : 3/4 cup
Mustard Powder : 3/4 cup
Gingely Oil : 3/4 cup Kg
Asafoetida : Add till you get the smell

Method:

Cut Mangoes into small pieces (but not very small) , 8 pieces from one mango.
Take a big vessel and a cup.
For 5 cups of Mango pieces: add 3/4 cup salt : 3/4 cup chilli powder :3/4 cup mustard powder : 3/4 cup gingely oil and add the asafoetida till you get the smell of it.
Mix all these together and shake well.
Then transfer this to a strerilised bottle and close the lid tightly . ake out the bottle everyday and shake it so that all ingredients get mixed well.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Type of foods!

Indian cuisines are generally said to be spicy and depends on the weather and restrictions placed by the religions and castes as well. The impact of foreigners have also influenced the cuisine.

Tamilnadu is famous for its Masala dosai and Sambar , the idlis and pongal. Kerala can boast of its kuzha puttu while Kannadigas are known for their bisi bele huli anna. Rajasthan has varieties if dhal dishes while Gujarat is famous for its kachoris and doklas.Andhra food can be really chili-hot. It is believed that a hot and spicy curry may be one of the best ways to combat the flu virus!

From, ancient times Indian food has been on principle, divided into the Satwik and Rajsik kinds. The satwik included vegetables and fruits but, not onions, garlic, root vegetables and mushrooms while Rajsik food allowed eating just about anything under the sun, with the exception of beef.Many Indian dishes require an entire day’s preparation of cutting vegetables, pounding spices on a stone or just sitting patiently by the fire for hours on end.

On the other hand, there are simple dishes which are ideal for everyday eating.In Bombay, the food is a happy combination of north and south. Both rice and wheat are included in their diets. A lot of fish is available along the long coastline and the Bombay Prawn and Pomfret preparations are delicious. Further down south along the coast, in Goa, a Portuguese influence is evident in dishes like the sweet and sour Vindaloo, duck baffad, sorpotel and egg molie.The variation in Indian food from region to region can be quite staggering.List out your mouth watering foods too !