Thengai Thovaiyal

Thengai Thovaiyal    

It is the gr8 combination for Ulutham Paruppu Satham. I think it goes well with Tamarind Rice, Lemon Rice & curd Rice too. Thanks to Vaanathi & her mom for sharing this recipe.   

Ingredients               

Cocunut ---------------------> 2 Cups

Urad dhal -------------------> 1/4 Cup

Red Chillies -----------------> 5

Salt -------------------------> A2Y taste

                       

Method:                     

·         Dry Roast Red Chillies, Urad Dhal and Coconut.                       

        ·        Grind everything with salt       

Tomato Kosthu

 It is an easy, but tasty combination for Idli or Dosai. I like it very much when my mom makes it with lots & lots of small onions.              

                       

Ingredients               

Small Onions---------------------> 2 cups Chopped

Tomato----------------------------> 4 Chopped

Carrot-----------------------------> 1 chopped fine (Optional)

Potato-----------------------------> 1 chopped fine (Optional)

Green Chillies--------------------> 2 Chopped fine

Salt--------------------------------> A2Y taste

Turmeric Powder----------------> ½ tsp

Sambhar Powder----------------> 1 tsp

Cilantro----------------------------> ½ cup chopped

                       

Procedure                  

·         Do the seasoning with Mustard Seeds in a Sauce Pan. My mom puts 1 tsp of Channa dal also in the seasoning. But I skip it.                

·         Add the onions, Tomatoes, Chillies, turmeric and fry until the onions are translucent.                      

·         Put in rest of the vegetables and saute for couple of minutes                       

·         Add 2 cups of water, Sambhar Powder and Salt                      

·         Once it starts boiling, close with the lid                      

·         Simmer it until the vegetables are cooked                 

·         Garnish with Cilantro                   

Cauliflower Poriyal

It is totally a unique recipe which my DM makes. She is really a great cook and cooks everything very authentically. Without curry leaves she will not make sambhar  J. Same time she prepares curries in a healthy way without losing the vegetable's nutritional value.  

Ingredients:

Cauliflower---------------------> 5 cups of florets

Green peas---------------------> 1 cup Soaked and cooked

                               

For Grinding:                     

Toor Dhal *---------------------> ½ cup soaked for an hour or so.

Moong dhal *-------------------> ¼ cup Soaked for an hour or so

Small Onions-------------------> 5

Jeera----------------------------> 2 tsp

Garlic----------------------------> 2  cloves

Cocunut-------------------------> 1 cup

Red Chillies---------------------> 5

Hing-----------------------------> ½ tsp

Salt------------------------------> ½  tsp

Coarsely Grind all of the above things except * marked items without water. 

* - Towards the end add Toor dhal & Moongdhal and grind it for once; the masala should be very coarse; otherwise the curry becomes soggy.

Procedure:

·         Cook the cauliflower florets with salt either in microwave/pressure cooker without whistle for 10 mins/Idli cooker/Boiling water. I usually microwave it for 7-10 mins without water. But you have to close it with the lid while cooking in microwave.

·         Make sure it is not overcooked, it must be crunchy or half cooked

·         While the Cauliflower florets are getting cooked, steam cook the Masala mixture in Idli cooker for 5-8 mins (I'll microwave this mixute also)

·         When it is cool separate the masala and add it to the cooked Florets. Add the cooked peas also. Mix it well with hands so that each and every floret is coated the masala mixture.

·         My Mom directly mixes both in the cooking pan, but I mix them before placing it in the stove.

·         Heat oil in a saute pan in medium heat, and add mustard seeds, allow it to splutter,

·         Now add the Floret-Masala mixture in the same pan and leave it for 5 minutes; keep mixing occasionally

·         Serve with Pulikuzhambhu/Rasam/Sambhar

Ideas:

ü  Instead of Cauliflower, beans and Cabbage also goes well with the same masala mixture.