Multigrain Upma

Yesterday I went home and immediately I started cooking Brown Rice for DD.  I was expecting her to come late so that rice wil be done by then… soooo bad isn’t it? She came but she didn’t want to come home L, she wanted to stay in Arya Anika’s place. So we all stayed in Anika’s place and had food. Only then I came to know Arya Anika’s Grandma is leaving the next day to Seattle and from there she will go back to India. We were planning to invite her for dinner before she leaves, but then she is already leaving. I have no option left out other than inviting the same night.

It is a weekday, totally out of all the vegetables & curd, hardly 3 hours of time for cleaning & cooking. I called DH to get vegetables. It was challenging for me to get things done in such a short period of time. Ok I left Akshaya in Anika’s place and came back home.  Ohhhhh nooooo toys here and there, paper cuttings everywhere, clothes, jackets, what not… I started organizing, parallely thinking of what to do for dinner. For sure no rice for diabetic person. Ok now this is the rough plan

By 7:15 PM finish organizing

By 9 finish cooking the following Menu

MultiGrain(Rolled Oats, Rye, Wheat, Barley) Upma

Walnut Chutney

Aviyal

Rasam

Tofu Poriyal

Brown Rice

Adai when everybody arrives. Glad that I had Adai Batter in the freezer.

Mean time DH came. He helped cutting the onions and Chow Chow(Chayote).

                       

Usually I make just Oats Upma, but this time I tried with Rolled Multigrain Cereal for dinner. DH & our friends enjoyed it soo much. Over and above they appreciated nicely for making healthy dishes. Voowww I felt good about myself. சரி  சரி  போதும் என்னோட சமையல் புராணம்.. ப்ளீஸ் முறைக்காதிங்க ... நிறுத்திட்டேன் .. I'll share the recipe right now.

Ingredients               

Multigrain Cereal ------------> 3 cups

Onions ---------------------> 1 cup

Tomato --------------------> 1 chopped into cubes

Green Chillies --------------> 2 chopped fine

Carrot -----------------------> 1 cup, chopped fine

Cauliflower ------------------> 1 cup small florets

Potato -----------------------> 1/2 cup chopped fine

Cabbage -------------------> 1 cup thinly cut

Turmeric ---------------------> 1 tsp

Chilli Powder -----------------> 1/2 tsp

Salt ---------------------------> A2Y Taste

                       

Seasoning                  

Mustard Seeds --------------->   1 tsp

Curry leaves ----------------->    1 spring

                       

Procedure                   

v  Mix the grain with less water, but make sure it is enough for soaking. At the same time don't add any extra water and drain it later. After 15 minutes the grain will be soft to touch.                   

v  In a sauté pan, do the seasoning followed by Onions, Green Chillies, Tomatoes, Turmeric, Chilli Powder                  

v  After couple of minutes, add Carrot, Potato, Cauliflower                     

v  When it is half cooked add cabbage                

v  Now add the multigrain + Salt and mix well                

v  Close it with the lid and leave it for few minutes.             

  v  Garnish with Cilantro               

v  Serve it with any chutney. I made Walnut chutney     
                       

Ideas:                    

v    Cook the cereal in the microwave if it is not soft enough for you even after soaking.  Close with the lid while cooking; add very little water if needed.          

Walnut - Celery Chutney

Though Celery is a boring vegetable for your taste bud, it is healthy for your body because of its vitamins & minerals.                      

Walnut & Celery combination helps in lowering Cholesterol & blood pressure.                   

I use Celery in my Minestrone soup & Whole Lentil Dhal. After using it in the soup, I had still more than 1/2 a bunch of Celery and I was supposed to make Walnut Chutney for a Party.                              

Well.. Y don't I try using it in my Chutney. Let’s see how it works out                      

Ingredients: 

Walnuts------------------->2 cups

Celery--------------------->1/2 bunch chopped into chunks

Onion --------------------->1 Sliced

Tomato-------------------->2 Sliced

Green Chilli--------------->10 (A2Y spice bud)

Ginger--------------------->4 inch

Garlic---------------------->3 (Optional)

Cilantro------------------->1 bunch

Salt------------------------->As desired

Olive Oil------------------->5 tsp

              

Method:                 

·         Make powder out of Walnuts in Pulse mode (of Mixie) and keep it aside                             

·         Heat oil in a pan, add chunks of Celery and fry until it is cooked.                

·         If you don't like the raw smell of Onions & Tomatoes, add those also along with Celery.                

·         When it is cool, grind it with rest of the ingredients                         

·         Now add the powdered Walnut, sometimes because of the oil it might turn as hard butter instead of powder.                 

·         If the chutney is for Idly or Dosai, water can be added.; otherwise grind everything to make 'Thovaiyal'

               Gothumai Dosai with Walnut - Celery Chutney:

Walnut Chutney

Many of us wonder what do with Walnuts other than using it in Trail mix or Cereals. It doesn’t taste that great if eaten alone, but I like it though.
This is my all time favorite and it goes well with rice as 'Thovaiyal' or as Chutney for Idli, Dosai. It is so simple and easy. I got this receipe from my dear Aunty & Uncle living in California. 

Ingredients

Walnuts------------------->2 cups

Onion --------------------->1/2 Sliced

Tomato-------------------->2

Green Chilli--------------->6

Ginger--------------------->2 inch

Garlic---------------------->2 (Optional)

Cilantro------------------->Half bunch

Salt------------------------->As desired

Olive Oil------------------->4 tsp

Method:                               

·         Make powder out of Walnuts in Pulse mode (of Mixie) and keep it aside                             

·         Grind rest of the ingredients to make a paste                    

·         Now add the powdered Walnut , sometimes because of the oil it might turn as hard butter instead of powder.                

·         If the chutney is for Idly or Dosai, water can be added; otherwise grind everything to make 'Thovaiyal'                  

You don't believe, it will be very delicious, much similar to coconut chutney.            

                               

Another variation could be fry the Onions, Tomatoes, Green chillies if you don't like the raw smell