Channa Ki Kadhi.. (Potato & Black Chickpeas Cooked In Tangy Tamarind Curry)

Channa Ki Kadhi... Chickpeas are a source of zinc, foliate and protein. Chickpeas are low in fat and most of this is polyunsaturated. Nutrient profile of desi channa (the smaller variety) is different, especially the fibre content which is much higher than the light coloured variety. One hundred grams of mature boiled chickpeas contains 164 calories, 2.6 grams of fat (of which only 0.27 grams is saturated), 7.6 grams of dietary fibre and 8.9 grams of protein. Chickpeas also provide dietary phosphorus (168 mg/100 g), which is higher than the amount found in a 100-gram serving of whole milk. Source from Wikipedia...

Ingredient's.

250gm black channa

2 medium potato, 2 brinjal (cut into big chunks)

1/2cup coconut paste

1/4tsp cumin seeds

1 medium onion, 2 tomato, hand ful of coriander leaves

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander

1tbsp ginger garlic

2tbsp tamarind paste

Oil and Salt to taste.

For Tempering.

10 to 15 curry leaves

1/4tsp mustard seeds

1tsp Oil.

Cooking Method.

Soak the chickpeas (channa) over night. and boil them using pressure cooker for 10 to 15 minutes on low flame..

Grind the onion, coriander leafs and cumin to a smooth paste, then grind the tomato's to a smooth paste separately. In a pressure cooker add oil, when it is hot, add the onion and coriander paste, fry for 2 minutes, then add all the masala powder, ginger garlic paste, tamarind paste and coconut paste, fry for another 2 to 3 minutes, then add the tomato paste and fry till the oil separates, add the boiled channa, potato and salt, mix it well. Close the lid and cook for 2 whistle. In a mean time prepare the tempering by adding all the tempering ingredients .

Then open the lid and add the brijal, tempering and 2 to 3 cup of water and mix it well and add salt if needed and cook for another 1 whistle in medium flame.

Serve hot with Rice, Roti or even with Ragi Balls.

Potato & Cauliflower Curry.. (Aaloo Gobi Ki Sabji)

Potato & Cauliflower Curry!!! This is my own recipe and it is very much liked in my family and friends, every time I cook this curry I get lots of compliments.. It can be cooked with or without onion and garlic, this recipe does not have anything except (red chilly powder, turmeric and coriander powder)... It can be served with almost every dish and the most important thing is it will get cooked in less them 15minutes.. Simple yet very very delicious curry...

Ingredient's.

1 medium size cauliflower (cut into big chunks)

2 medium potato (cut into big chunks)

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder

1tbsp any pickle masala (optional)

1/4tsp cumin seeds

3tbsp oil

Salt to taste

Handful of chopped coriander leaves for garnishing.

Cooking Method.

In a non-stick deep frying pan, add oil and cumin seeds, when they splutter, add all the masala powder and fry for 2sec. Then add the pickle masala, cauliflower, potato and salt, give a nice mix, cover the lid and cook on a medium to low flame, till the potato and cauliflower is tender, that will take about 10 to 12 minute.

Then open the lid and fry for another 1 to 2 minutes on a high flame..

Garnish with coriander leaves

Serve hot with Rice, Roti or Poori..

Tomato And Potato Curry. (Aaloo Tamatar Ki Sabji)

Tomato & Potato curry.. This is a authentic North Indian curry which is made in almost every occasions. You don't need any fancy ingredients or any kind of planning to cook this curry, you just need is potato, tomato and few other ingredients and you will be ready with a delicious curry to go with Poori, Rice or Roti...

I had learn this recipe from my co-sister because my H loves it and now I'm also a big fan of this curry. I always like to add few curry leaves in this while cooking because it gives a very nice aroma and little bit of different taste too.. You can even add green peas and don't change the ingredients because it will spoil the taste... So if you don't have a idea what to cook for lunch or dinner, go ahead and cook this Aaloo Tamatar Ki Sabji...

Ingredient's.

2 large boiled potato (peeled and cut into big chunks)

2 large tomato, 1 onion, 2 green chilli (finely chopped)

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder

Few curry leaves (optional)

1tsp ginger garlic paste

1/4tsp cumin, 1/4tsp mustard seeds

2cups water

2tbsp Oil

Salt to taste

Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing.

Cooking Method.

In a deep frying pan, add oil, when the oil is hot, add cumin, mustards seeds and curry leaves, when they splutter, add chopped onion and green chilli, fry to golden brown

Then add red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder and ginger garlic paste, fry for 1 to 2 minutes, add chopped tomato and fry till the oil starts separating from the masala.

Now add potato and salt, give a nice mix and add water.

Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes on a medium to low flame.

Garnish with coriander leaves and Serve hot with Rice, Roti or even Poori..

Chutney Wala Aaloo.. (Potato With Garlic And Coriander Chutney)

Chutney Wala Aaloo... This is very famous dish in UP and Bihar states in India, almost in every house this would be the morning break fast with pooris... Already I have 2 or 3 posts of different version of this dish, but I cook this often, because of the garlic taste in it.. In my opinion this dish should be eaten when you have nothing to do, just sit in one place and eat. I'm telling you, you will eat more then 4 to 5 pooris with this sabji. Usually my H wants me to cook this on weekends so that he can enjoy slowly and he don't have to rush to office after eating... This can be served as a side dish or even as a starter or snacks..

Ingredient's.

3 medium boiled potato (peeled and cut into big chunks)

4 cloves of garlic

Hand full of coriander leaves

2 green chillies

1/4tsp mustard seeds

1/4tsp cumin seeds

Pinch of turmeric

2tbsp Oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

In a blender, add garlic, coriander leaves and green chillies and grind it to a smooth paste, by adding little water.

In a deep frying pan, add oil, mustard and cumin, when they splutter, add grounded paste and turmeric and fry for 2 to 3minutes. Then add turmeric and salt, fry for another few sec.

Now add the boiled potatoes and mix them gently and cook till the potato are mixed well with everything, that will take about 3 to 4 minutes.. Sprinkle some more chopped coriander leaves on top.

Serve hot with Pooris, Roti's or as a Starters.

Masala Dosa..

Masala Dosa.. From past few weeks I was craving for Masala Dosa and Medu Vada very badly. I was not at all getting sleep in the night because I use to get dreams of Masala Dosa. Was feeling very lazy to go out and eat. For me it is bit difficult to eat all this stuff out side, because they use lot of oil and it becomes taste less when you tell them to cook oil-less, for that reason only I was stopping myself to eat out. Though my hubby kept telling me lets go and eat out..

Yesterday morning I though it was a high time now I should cook dosa at home only. The first thing I did in the morning was I soaked rice and dal to make the batter for dosa and vada. Then finished all the other activities like making red chutney, coconut chutney and potato paliya.. Then finally I cooked the dosa and vada for the dinner and ate peacefully.. It was tasting awesome and I was feeling like top of the world and so satisfying.. I din't even bother to take the pictures but some how I told myself to wait and clicked few picture just to post it.. Thought the pictures are not up to the mark but it is fine, will change the pictures later...

Ingredient's For Red Chutney (to apply on dosa)

6 dry red chillis

10 curry leaves

Small pieces of ginger

3 garlic cloves

1/4tsp cumin seeds

1tsp lemon juice

Salt to taste.

Ingredient's For Potato Paliya.

4 medium potatoes (Boiled and peeled)

1 onion, 2 green chilies, (finely chopped)

Hand full of chopped coriander leaves

10 curry leaves

1tsp mustard seeds

1/2tsp turmeric powder

2tbsp Oil

Salt to taste.

Ingredient's For Dosa Batter.

3/4 cup raw rice

1/4 cup urad dal (split black lentils)

2 tbsp cooked rice

2 tbsp poha (beaten rice)

1/4tsp fenugreek seeds

Oil for frying

salt to taste.

Cooking Method For Red Chutney.

Dry roast all the red chutney ingredients (except the lemon juice and salt) then grind them into fine paste by adding lemon juice, salt and water. and set it aside.

Cooking Method For Potato Paliya.

Mash the boiled potatoes and keep it aside

Heat Oil in a broad pan, and add Mustard Seeds and when they start to splutter, add Turmeric Powder, Green Chilies, Curry Leaves and Onion. Fry until the Onions turn translucent

Add mashed Potatoes, Salt, Coriander and mix it together gently. Switch off the flame and allow it cool.

Cooking Method For Masala Dosa.

Wash the urad dal, raw rice and methi seeds. Soak in a little water along with the poha and cooked rice for at least 3 to 4 hours.

Grind to a smooth paste with a little water. Cover and keep aside for at least 4 hours. Add salt and mix well.

Heat a non-stick tava and grease lightly with oil. when hot, sprinkle a little water, pour a ladle of batter, spread it around, into a thin crepe , then apply the red chutney and keep the potato paliya into one corner of dosa and cook.

Pour a little oil along the edges while cooking. When crispy, fold and serve hot with Sambar and Chutney.

Repeat the same process for the remaining batter.

Egg & Potato Masala Moong Dal.. (Pressure Cooker Version)

Egg & Potato Masala Moong Dal.. From past few weeks I'm feeling like to cook only that food which I use to eat before my marriage.. After my marriage my eating habit and food has changed completely. I use to be hardcore non-vegetarian I change my self to be just non-vegetarian.. I changed my cooking and eating habit just because of my hubby, because he don't prefer to eat non-veg that much and I don't wanted to eat alone. So instead of eating every day I made it to twice a month or sometime once in a week... Me being south Indian I love north Indian food from the beginning , I think for that only god gave me a my Husband :) I have just started cooking some selective food slowly and he is also eating. I'm sure if I cook south Indian food at least once in a week it is good for him to try out new dishes.. It is not like he don't eat completely, he eats some foods which favourite of all (Dosa, Idli, Sambar, Rasam etc) now enough of my story. Let me come to the recipe..

This masala moong dal with potato and egg is my family curry, we use to eat this most of the time for breakfast with hot roti's but I prefer with rice. So I use to save my dal for the lunch and then eat with rice.. Do try this unique combination to serve a different dish to your family member..

Ingredient's.

4 hard boiled eggs

2 medium potato (cut into big chunks)

1 cup split moong dal

1 medium onion, 2 green chilli, 1 large tomato (finely chopped)

1/2tsp turmeric, 1/2tsp coriander powder

1tsp ginger garlic paste

Hand full of chopped coriander leaves

Salt to taste.

For Tempering.

1/4tsp mustard seeds

10 curry leaves

3tbsp oil.

Cooking Method.

In a pressure cooker, add oil when it hot, add mustard seeds and curry leaves, when they splutter, add chopped onion and green chilli and fry them to golden brown.

Then add turmeric, coriander powder, ginger garlic paste and tomato, fry till oil start separating.

Now add moong dal. potato, coriander leaves and salt, give them good mix and add 2 cups of water, boiled eggs, again mix them and close the lid and cook for 2 whistle and allow them pressure to go completely before opening the pressure cooker..

Serve hot with Roti or Rice..

Potato & Ajwain Stuffed Paratha.. (Potato & Carom Seeds Stuffed Indian Flat-Bread)

Potato & Ajwain Stuffed Paratha.. Parathas are whole-wheat Indian flatbread. This can be made plain or stuffed with many different fillings.. Potato is one of the commonly used ingredients and cooked very often in every Indian house.. Even I cook stuffed parartha 4 to 5 times in a month by using different filling. Stuffed paratha in it self is the full meal, just have to serve with curd and pickle..

Ingredient's

2 cup whole wheat flour

2 potato boiled and smash

1tsp ajwain (carom seeds)

1/4tsp red chilli powder, 1/4tsp turmeric, 1/4tsp coriander powder

1 green chilli (finely chopped)

5 to 6 curry leaves (finely chopped)

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Prepare the dough using wheat flour and set it aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add all the above ingredients and mix them nicely and make a small lemon size balls and set it aside. Make 1 small size of roti and fill the stuffing and close it gently.

Roll it over on to a flat surface to make a round shape paratha, by using little dry flour. 

Put paratha on to a pre heated tava and cook both the side using oil. Potato and Ajwain stuffed paratha is read to eat.

Serve hot with curd and pickle..

Pav Bhaji (Mumbai Street Food)

Pav Bhaji.. Yet another Mumbai's famous street food. As I have mentioned in my last post that what ever the street food we want to eat here. I have to cook at home only.. So I have been trying out many recipes on every weekends so that we don't forget the Indian famous street food. When I had been to Mumbai for the first time may be in 1998, there one of my friend had taken me to have Pav Bhaji. Belive me I din't like it at all and she felt bad. To keep her heart I had just eaten few bites.. The main reason was I use to think alot that whether he has washed his hands or not and he is looking clean or not.. That's where I use to stop myself to eat anything on streets. Then again I had gone to Mumbai form my office work and everybody forced me to have Pav Bhaji and I really don't belive myself I ate the full plate, it was so tasty. After that when ever I go to Mumbai I always eat Pav Bhaji everyday. Nowadays I don't think that much, but still I see people around and my H keeps telling me just eat don't look around..

Nowadays everything has become so easy to cook at home, so only we don't prefer to go out and eat specially street food. I keep trying many street food recipes which my H will miss because of me.. Never mind it is always good at home rather then eating out... Though this dish takes a little time and effort but it is worth waiting and I don't have pav buns in my picture but we had it with pav only. Because the pav was vanished while I was taking pictures.. Do try this dish and enjoy :)

Ingredient's

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

1 cups chopped cauliflower, 1/2 cup chopped green beans

1/2 cup peas, 1/2 cup chopped carrots, 1/2cup chopped cabbage

2 green chilies chopped

2tbsp ginger garlic paste

3 medium tomatoes, 1 large onion (finely chopped)

1/2tsp red chili, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1/2tsp coriander powder

1tbsp pav bhaji masala

1 tablespoon fennel seed powder (saunf)

1tsp dry mango powder

1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves

2tbsp butter, 2tbsp oil

Salt to taste

6 pav buns.

For Garnish:

1 medium chopped onion

few chopped coriander leaves

Few pieces of thinly sliced lemon

2tsp butter.

Cooking Method:

Boil all the vegetables with 1½ cup of water in a pressure cooker for 2 to 3 whistle. Don’t add too much water, just enough to cook.

After the vegetables are soft and tender, drain the excess water and mash them coarsely with a fork or potato masher.

Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. then add tomatoes, green chilies, coriander, and ginger garlic paste and sauté for 2-3 minutes until they are soft.

Next add the red chili powder, fennel powder, turmeric, coriander powder and pav bhaji masala, mix them well and cook till the raw smell goes. Now add mashed vegetables. By using you wooden spoon, simultaneously mash and stir all the vegetables for 5 minutes. Add salt and stir-fry for another minute. Add about ¼ cup of water or as needed, and let it cook for a minute.

Turn off the heat. and add dry mango powder, mix it well

Toast the pav bun on tava using butter over medium heat until buns are golden brown from both sides.

Serve hot toasted buns with bhaji, garnish with chopped onion, coriander leaves, butter and sliced lemon.

Vada Pav.. (Mumbai Street Food)

Vada Pav.. I have eaten this many times in Goli Vada Pav in bangalore, in starting I use to feel good and use to have 2 to 3 times in a week, then the masala what they use started giving me problem and I totally stopped eating Vada Pav. I always wanted to try at home, but use to feel why to do some much of work when you can get it from opposite of the road and stop myself from cooking.. But here there is no option what ever we want to eat I have to cook at home only and I really feel this is a very good opportunity for me to try out many recipes which I have been waiting to try from ages..

This was my second attempt to cook Vada Pav at home and it turn out to be the tastiest Vada Pav we have ever had and my H loved it and he ate 2 Vada Pav along with 2 green chilli. where he use to always by 1 and eat only half.. When ever he eats happily and more I feel my this much of effort is worth.. Enjoy the simple and tasty recipe of Vada Pav and make your family members happy..

Ingredient's For Vada.

3 medium boiled potatoes (peeled and mashed)

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 green chillies, 1 medium onion (finelychopped)

1/4 tsp tumeric powder

1/4 tsp mustard seeds

6-7 curry leaves

2tbsp oil

Salt to taste.

Ingredient's For Batter of Vada

1 1/2cups gram flour (besan)

Oil for deep frying

1 pinch of red chilli powder, 1 pinch of turmeric

1/4tsp ginger garlic paste

1 pinch of cooking soda (optional)

Salt to taste

6 Pav buns (square buns).

Ingredient's For Spicy Red Dry Chutney.

1tbsp red chilli powder

1/4 tsp cumin

8 curry leaves

1tbsp grated coconut

1/4 cup peanuts, 3tbsp sesame seeds

5 garlic cloves, 1 green chilli (finely chopped)

1 pinch of asafoetida

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Step-1. First dry roast all the ingredients of spicy red dry chutney. and grind them into powder (do not add any water) and set it aside.

Step-2. Then in a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients of batter for vada and mix them nicely and make a thick batter like we make for bajji.. set it aside.

Step-3. Now in a deep frying pan, add 2tbsp oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves, when they start spluttering, add onion and green chilli and fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add ginger garlic paste, turmeric, potato and salt, fry for another 3 to 4 minutes. Take out the mixture in a separate plate and allow the mixture to cool. when the potato mixtures is cooled, make 6 to 7 large lemon size balls and keep it aside.

In the same frying pan add oil for deep frying the vada's. When the oil is hot, dip one potato ball at a time into the gram flour batter to coat well and then deep fry till golden. Drain on paper towels.

Take one Pav bun, slit in half (not completely - leave one edge joined) and put a spoonful spicy red chutney on it. Place a potato ball on the bun and fold over, pressing down gently.

Serve while the Vada is still hot with fried green chilli..

Mutton And Potato Curry (Oil-Less)

Mutton and Potato Curry (Oil-Less). To cook this mutton curry I have not used a single drop of oil. It is cooked in it's own fat. When ever we think of non-veg dishes we always think spicy and rich. But I'm assuring you after cooking this curry you'll forget the other curries.. The most important ingredients in this is the meat, if you have not got right meat then the curry will not be tasty. You just need to asked the butcher to give the meat which has fat and bones...

This is a very good curry to cook for the people who don't like to eat oily and spicy.. I cook this mutton curry when I'm on diet and still want to eat mutton and this curry gets cooked in no time. But this time I have added more green chillies because I wanted to eat something spicy but not oily.. You can adjust the ingredients according to your taste..

Ingredient's

1/2kg mutton

2 large potato, cut into big chunks (optional)

1cup chopped coriander

8 green chillies

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1tsp black peppercorn

15 curry leafs

1 medium tomato

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method

Soak and wash the mutton for 15 minutes.

Grind all the above ingredients (except potato) to a smooth paste and set it aside.

In a pressure cooker add the mutton and cook till the water is evaporated and keep stirring in between to avoid sticking at the bottom of the cooker.

Now add the grounded masala, potato and salt, give a nice mix and add 1cup water and cook till the meat is tender. That will take about 3 to 4 whistle. Depending upon the meat.. Then allow the pressure to go before opening the pressure cooker.

Serve hot with Rice or Roti.