Ugadi Pachadi

Today is Ugadi - the New Year in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It's the time to make new beginnings and realize new dreams and above all enjoy Ugadi pachadi. It is a sweet and sour pachadi or chutney made of tantalizing ingredients like raw mango, tamarind, jaggery and neem flowers and is a "MUST" on this day. Its quite easy to make. Let me tell you how.

What you will need :

• 2 tsp neem flowers
• 4 tsp crushed jaggery (gur)
• one small lemon size ball of tamarind made into thick tamarind water (imli)
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp oil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped raw mango
• 2 cups water

How to make it:

• Add the raw mango pieces to the tamarind water and bring to a boil until the mango pieces are tender.
• To this, add jaggery and let it cook till it melts and blends into the mixture.
• Remove from heat and keep aside
• Take a pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds let them splutter, add neem flower and fry till light brown. Add chilli powder , salt and mix well
• Add this tadka to the tamarind - mango juice
• Serve in small quantities as an accompaniment to the main course food or can be drunk as it is :)

Pori / Puffed Rice Snack

 Tomorrow is Ugadi and I'll be home for better part of the day.. I was wondering what to make when I suddenly remembered something I made a couple of months back that I really digged.. Its simple and can be done under five minutes provided you have all the required ingredients.

What you will need:

Puffed rice - 200gms
Peanuts - 50 gms
Dry red chillies -10 nos
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Salt - To taste
Curry leaves - 10 to 15 nos
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Oil to fry

How to make it :

• Heat about 4 tbsps of oil in a huge kadai and fry the peanuts well.
• When you think they are done, drain them and keep them aside.
• In the same oil, dump the curryleaves, red chillies and fry for about slightly under a minute. Ensure you don't burn the chillies.
• Add the puffed rice to this. Also trow in the fried peanuts, sugar, salt and haldi.
• Mix well and turn off the flame once the puffed rice is all nice and crisp.

Voila ! We're done ! Store in air tight containers.

Capsicum fry

I've not been in the mood to cook of lately and my back has been acting up as well... An idea strikes :) - Rice, dal, Capsicum fry - Done !! This is one of the easiest side dishes I make and gets done under 7 minutes :)

What you will need :

• 1 large capsicum
• 1 teaspoon oil
• Some salt, garam masala, cumin seeds

How to make it :

• Heat the oil with cumin seeds
• Add large chopped pieces of capsicum
• Sautee for 2 mins and add salt and garam masala
• After another 3-4 minutes, take it off the stove.

Viola ! we are done :)

Curd Chutney

What you will need :

• 1 cup curd,
• 2 green chillies,
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves,
• 1 tablespoon amchur powder
• salt to taste

How to make it :

• Finely chop the green chillies and mint leaves.
• Take a blender and add the curd, green chillies, mint leaves, amchur powder and salt. Blend well and serve with poppadoms.

This dish goes well with any of the fried starters/Kebabs and as a sandwich spread too :)

Jeera and Lahsun Chutney

What you will need :

2 tablespoons white cumin seeds,
2 garlic flakes,
2 green chillies,
5 tablespoons lemon juice
salt to taste.


How to make it :

1. Put the coconut, green chillies, ginger, roasted split gram and salt in a blender with a little water and grind to make a fine paste. Keep aside.
2. Prepare the tempering by heating the oil and adding the mustard seeds, red chilli and curry leaves and stirring till the mustard seeds crackle.
3. Pour this tempering over the chutney and mix well.
4. Refrigerate and use as required.

Beerakaya chutney

What you will need :

• Ridge gourd skin - 3 cups
• Onion - 1, sliced
• Tomato - 1, chopped
• Urad dal - 4 tbsp
• Red chillies - 8 or to taste
• Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 2 tbsp

How to make it :

• Wash the ridge gourds (beerakaya) and peel and chop the skin and keep aside.
• Take a pan and heat with 1/2 tbsp of oil and add mustard seeds.
• When they start to crackle add cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds, red chillies, urad dal and curry leaves.
• Saute for 3-5 mins or they turn into light golden yellow colour.
• Remove from flame and keep aside.
• In the same pan add another 1/2 tbsp of oil and heat.
• Now add sliced onions and chopped tomatoes and little quantity of salt.
• Cook on low flame till the onions become transparent and tomatoes become juicy.
• Remove from heat and keep aside.
• In the same pan add another 1/2 tbsp of oil and heat.
• Add ridge gourd peeled and chopped skin and little quantity of salt.
• Cook on low flame till the skin become tender.
• Remove from heat and keep aside.
• Allow the sauteed ingredients for some time.
• Then take a mixer jar and add the sauteed ingredients and grind to a coarse paste (don't add too much of water).
• Finally adjust salt and remove from the mixer jar and transfer into the serving bowl.
• Now your easy and tasty beerakaya pachadi is ready to serve :) Serve with steam white rice with ghee or with idlis or Dosa

Coconut Chutney

I am in the mood for chutney's today :) Let me share with you as many recipes I know until I run out of patience to type :P

What you will need :

• 1 cup coconut, grated
• 2 small green chillies, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 1 tablespoon roasted split gram ( optional )
• salt to taste

For the tempering :

• 1/2 teaspoon mustard
• 1 red chilli, broken into pieces
• 2 to 3 curry leaves
• 1 teaspoon oil

How to make it :

• Put the coconut, green chillies, ginger, roasted split gram and salt in a blender with a little water and grind to make a fine paste. Keep aside.
• Prepare the tempering by heating the oil and adding the mustard seeds, red chilli and curry leaves and stirring till the mustard seeds crackle. Pour this tempering over the chutney and mix well.
• Refrigerate and use as required.

Tomato Bath/ Tomato Khichidi

I don't feel like cooking today ... only because its not fun cooking for just one person.. So, I decided to cook something fast and yummy and something that would make me want to eat :) For those who hate the normal Upma, this is a good variation and is a hit with the kids as well.

What you will need :

• Sooji ½ cup
• Chopped tomatoes 2
• Chopped onion 1 small
• Green peas ¼ cup (optional)
• Grated carrot ¼ cup (optional)
• Curry leaves 6 to 8
• Finely chopped coriander 1 tbsp
• Bay leaf 1
• Cinnamon 1 inch
• Cardamom 3
• Cloves 2
• Ginger garlic paste
• Water one and a half cups
• Oil 1 to 2 tsp
• A pinch of turmeric
• Salt to taste

How to make it :

• Dry roast the sooji till a nice aroma comes out.
• Heat oil in a kadai and add bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamoms, and cloves.
• Add chopped onion and curry leaves. Fry till onions turn translucent.
• Add chopped tomatoes. and cook till tomatoes are done.
• Add turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, green peas, and grated carrot. Fry for a minute or two.
• Add water and salt to taste, and bring to a boil.
• Add sooji slowly stirring continually to avoid formation of lumps. Cover and cook on a slow fire stirring occasionally till done.
• Serve hot garnished with chopped coriander and a dash of ghee.

It goes well with curd/ potato chips/ coconut chutney or eat it as it is :)

Poha upma

This is one of those evening when I don't feel like cooking but yet want to make something tasty and nutritious. I think of sabudana khichdi and then realize I have not soaked it and don't have the time to let it soak.. the next best option - Poha :) It is a favourite Maharashtrian dish, and eaten very frequently for breakfast and snacks.

What you will need :

• 1 1/2 cups poha
• 1/2 cup broken raw peanuts
• 1/2 cup green peas ( I prefer using Saffal Peas which is readily available in supermarkets)
• 2 green chilies sliced long ways
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• About 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
• Curry leaves - 4 - 5 nos

How to make it :

• Gently wash the poha and then drain all the water, else it will become one big clumpy mass.
• Roast the peanuts on medium heat in a little oil until they are lightly brown. Keep aside.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if the seed crackles right away then oil is ready.
• Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds after seeds crack add green chilies, curry leaves and stir for a few seconds.
• Next add the green peas and stir fry until peas are tender.
• Add turmeric, and salt and stir fry on medium heat continuously.
• Add the poha and for another 3-5 minutes.
• Remove from flame and fold in lime juice, cilantro and sugar.
• Serve hot and enjoy as it is or with tomato sauce / Coconut chutney/ Peanut chutney/ curd :)

Strawberry Jelly Slush Recipe

Who does not like Jelly ..? I still cannot stop myself from buying those jellos from the super market :) And when I have the time - Jelly and Custard ..... Yummmmm... This evening, I made something that I really like and will be an instant hit with both Kids and Grown ups :)

This is what you will need :

• 250 g Strawberries (chopped 2 cups)
• ¾ cup Sugar
• ½ tsp Salt
• ¼ tsp Strawberry Essence
• Few drops Red Color
• 1 cup Strawberry Jelly
• 2 glasses Water
• 10-12 Crushed Ice Cubes

How I made it:

• Place a large saucepan on fire and add strawberries, sugar and salt.
• Mix the ingredients to form a pulp and bring it to a boil.
• Remove from fire and cool down. Refrigerate.
• Prepare and set the jelly as per the instructions given on the packet.
• Pour the pulp, jelly chunks, red color, strawberry essence and water in a blender.
• Blend the mixture very lightly.
• Place some crushed ice in serving glasses.
• Pour the liquid into the glasses.
• Insert a straw and serve.

Sit back and Slurp away :)