Dry Mutton Kebabs.

Dry Mutton Kebabs.This dish is must have in every Muslim families during the festival of Bakrid Eid. On this festival every house will have a excess amount of meat and to save the meat, they add some masalas and dry the meat for 2 to 3 weeks. Then store in a dry containers and use everyday.. It goes very well with Dal and Rice as a side dish.

Ingredient's.

1 kg Mutton

2tbsp red chilly powder

1tbsp black pepper powder

1tbsp garlic paste

salt to taste

Oil for deep frying.

Cooking Method.

Wash and dry the mutton throughly

Cut the mutton into long strips (1 inch thick)

In a large mixing bowl, add the red chilly powder, black pepper powder, salt and garlic paste and mix it nicely. Then dry in sun for atleast 2 to 3 weeks.

After its completely dried store them into a dry container.

In a deep frying pan, add enough oil, when oil is hot, deep fry the kebab and serve hot

Mix Vegetables Curry. (Pressure-cooker Version)

Mix Vegetables Curry this is such a incredibly delicious recipe, which can go with everything like Rice, Paratha, Naan or Roti. It doesn't take long time to cook, put all the ingredients in a mixture grinder to make a smooth paste and then add it to the chopped veggie's and pressure cook for 2 whistle. That's it. Do try and let me know.

Ingredient's For Paste.

1 large onion, 2 large tomato

Handful of coriander leaves

1 cup chopped coconut

1tbsp ginger garlic paste.

Ingredient's For Curry.

2 cups of chopped veggie's (cauliflower, Potato, Capsicum, Beans, Field beans, Peas)

Handful methi leaves

1tsp red chilly powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder, 1tsp garam masala

3tbsp Oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

In a mixer jar, add all the Paste ingredients and grind it to a smooth paste. Keep it aside

In a pressure cooker add oil, when oil hot, add red chilly powder, then add the ground paste and fry for a minute.

Now add the turmeric, coriander powder, garam masala, Methi Leafs and chopped veggie's and give it a quick mix, add salt and 1/2cup of water. Then close the pressure cooker lid and cook for 2 whistle. Allow the pressure to go before opening the cooker.

serve hot with Rice, Roti, Naan or Paratha.

Fried Idli.

Fried Idli, this is one of the easiest breakfast if you have left over idli sitting in the fridge and you have no idea what to do with them. All you need is chilli garlic idli powder and some ghee and your yummy breakfast is ready in no time. Serve with some coconut and mint chutney..

Ingredient's.

5 nos idli

2tbsp chilli garlic idli powder (market bought)

1tbsp ghee

10 curry leaves

1/2tsp mustard seeds

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Cut the idlis into small cubes and set it aside.

In a deep frying, add ghee, when its hot, add mustard and curry leaves, When they splutter, add the chilli garlic idli powder and give a quick mix.

Now add the idli cubes, adjust the seasoning and saute for few minutes. Then transfer them into a serving dish.

Serve hot with Coconut and Mint Chutney.

Cabbage And Onion Grill Sandwich With Coconut Oil.

Cabbage And Onion Grill Sandwich With Coconut Oil. This is yet another simple and yummy recipe which I learnt from our house boat chef from our recent trip to Kerala. I must say he use to make delicious food with simple ingredients and the star of the dish was coconut oil. He use to add coconut oil in everything and he made this sandwich also with the same oil and that simple sandwich took a very big place in my heart and I became a big fan of Kerala and there cuisine..

Ingredient's.

4 slices of sandwich bread

1 cup of finely chopped cabbage

1 large finely chopped onion

2 tbsp coconut oil

1/4 tsp red chilli powder

Salt to taste

Butter as needed (to apply on bread)

Method.

In a wok add coconut oil, when its hot, add cabbage and onion, fry to golden brown. Sprinkle the red chilli powder and salt, fry for another minute or 2. Take it out in bowl and allow it to cool a bit.

Then apply the butter on all the sides of the bread.

Now place the filling on one side of the bread and place another bread on top and grill for 4 to 5 minutes or till golden brown.

Serve hot with Tea, Coffee or any Juice..

Akki Roti (Karnataka Style)

Akki Roti (Karnataka Style) is very popular Karnataka Breakfast, can be served with any type of chutney or with chicken curry. It makes a very healthy and filling breakfast. I have  made it in little different way to get a perfect round shape. This roti can be even cooked with raw rice flour but you need a bit of more hard work to roll the roti. This method will give you perfect round shape roti and it solves the purpose of eating akki roti..

Ingredient's.

1 cup rice flour

1 cup water

1tbsp oil

1/2 tsp cumin 

1 large onion, 2 green chillies (finely chopped)

Hand full of chopped coriander leaves

2 tbsp grated coconut

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Bring water to a rolling boil in a sauce pan. Add salt, oil and cumin, give a mix, then add rice flour, onion, green chilles, coriander, coconut and mix well until no lumps remain. 

Turn the heat off. Cover the pan and set it aside for 5 minutes. Now knead the dough while its still hot, make it like a chapati dough.

Heat a tava on medium heat. Once heated, turn the heat to low.

Divide the dough into 2 inch balls and keep them covered under a damp cloth.

Spread some rice flour on the rolling board. Place a ball in the center and sprinkle more flour on top. Keep rolling the ball with the rolling pin into a round with even thickness.

Transfer onto the heated tava with the top surface up and cook the roti both the side. Apply little oil if needed on to both the side.

Follow the same method for the rest of them.

Serve hot with any Chutney or Chicken curry.

Brinjal Rice/ Vangi Bhath.

Brinjal Rice/ Vangi Bhath is a delicious one pot meal. It is a combination of eggplant and rice combined with indian spices!! and serve with coconut chutney. I still can't forget those days, when one of colleague use to bring vangi bhath for me in lunch when ever she cooks, atleast once in a month I use to get a call saying that don't bring lunch today, because I have cooked VB. She was an expert when it came to cooking this dish and I have tried eating in many South Indian restaurants but still I'm not able to get that taste. Anyway even I try my hands on to this dish when ever I get a chance. This dish can be made with even left over rice and serve with coconut chutney and papad, It's a wonderful combination.. I make vangi bhath masala at home, this time I have used a store bought masala, since the home made was over and I was craving to have this dish. What to do desperate times desperate measures!!

Ingredient's.

2 brinjal cut into cubes 

2 cups cooked rice

1/2cup peanuts

1 medium onion chopped

2tbsp vangi bhath masala

2 to 3tbsp tamrind extract

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

1/4tsp channa dal, 1/4tsp urad dal

1/4tsp mustard seeds

2 dry red chilli

Pinch of hing

10 to 15 curry leaves

Salt and Oil to taste.

Cooking Method.

Take a broad pan and heat oil. add channa dal, urad dal and peanuts, when they starts to turn brown, add dry red chilli, mustard seeds, curry leaves and hing, when they starts to splutter, add chopped onion and fry to golden brown. Then add red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, vabgi bhath masala, tamarind extract and brinjals and cook till the brinjals are well cooked, that might take about 5 to 6 minutes, Now add the cooked rice and mix well. Vangi Baath is ready to serve.

Serve with Coconut Chutney and Papad.

Mix Vegetable Korma/ Coconut Base Vegetable Stew.

Mixed vegetable korma is a coconut based vegetable stew that is served as a side dish along with roti not only that, it goes well with one pot meals such as pulaos, biryanis and dosas as well. You can find this korma in almost all the vegetarian restaurants in India. There are several version of making veg or non-veg korma, but I find this is easy to cook as this requires no grinding of any masala. I have used coconut milk into this curry, you can even use freshly grated coconut to enhance the flavour. Do try this korma and enjoy with Paratha, Roti or Dosa.

Ingredients:

2 cups of chopped mix veggie's (carrot, cauliflower, potato, green peas, beans)

1 onion, 3 green chillies, thinly sliced

2tbsp tomato paste

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

1tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2tsp mustard seeds

1cup coconut milk

1 green cardomom

1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

1 spring of curry leaves

2tbsp oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Boil the veggies with bit of salt and set it aside. Heat a deep frying pan with oil. Add star anise, cinnamon, cardamom and sauté till the aroma arises. Now add mustard seeds, curry leaves and let it splutter.

Add onions, green chillies and sauté till the onions turns translucent. Now add tomato paste, ginger garlic paste, turmeric, coriander powder, garam masala, salt and mix well and fry for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Now add the coconut milk and enough water to the consistency you prefer the korma to be and mix well and cook over low flame. Let it come to a boil.

Add the par boiled vegetables, give it a quick stir, check the consistency of the korma now and add more water if necessary. Close the pan with a lid and cook over medium low flame for 7-10 mins.

Serve hot with Rice, chapathi, poori or parotta.

Ven Pongal. Pressure Cooker Version

Ven Pongal is a very easy and comfort food and it is one of the most famous breakfast in South India. Even it is cooked at temples to offer to god and even during several puja/festival specially in Pongal festival it will be cooked in each and every house along with few more different varieties of rice dishes. If your not in mood to cook something spicy or heavy food then this is the best option to cook, because it is very lite on stomach and does not take time at all. But tastes simply awesome along with some coconut chutney..

Ingredient's to boiled rice.

1 cup rice

1/4cup split moong dal

4 cups water

Ping of hing

Salt to taste.

Ingredient's for tempering.

1tsp cumin

1/2tsp black pepper

2 green chillies (finely chopped)

10 curry leaves

2tbsp ghee.

Cooking Method.

Dry roast moong dal until slightly browned, set aside with raw rice. Pressure cook rice, moong dal, hing and salt with 4 cups of water for 3-4 whistles until mushy.

Meanwhile you can get ready with the tempering ingredients. In a frying pan add ghee when it is hot, add the rest of ingredients and fry for 2 to 3 minutes on a low flame.

Once the pressure releases, open and add the tempered items. Mix well, add more ghee if needed.

Serve hot with chutney of your choice and sambar.

Spicy Madras Egg Curry.(Pressure Cooker Version)

Spicy Madras Egg Curry. Here in Britain, Madras curries are so common that you'll find in each and every Indian restaurant. According to the local people it is very hot and spicy, but for me it was very bland and after trying in few restaurant I was so much in mood to cook my own version of spicy madras curries. I have tried in chicken, mutton and egg too, but this is the curry most loved by my husband. I have tried making the madras curry masala at home and it taste better then the store bought one and will be posting the recipe for masala also in next post. This gravy taste better if it is little thin but you can make gravy according to your choice thin or thick. Do try this spicy curry at home and enjoy with your family.

Ingredient's.

4 hard boiled eggs

2 medium size onion, 2 green chilly, 2 medium size tomato (finely chopped)

1tsp madras curry masala

1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder

1tsp red chilly powder, 1tsp garam masala

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1/2tsp cumin seeds

2 bay leaves

2 dry red chillies

1tsp kasoori meethi

3tbsp oil + 1tbsp for frying eggs

Salt as per taste.

Cooking Method.

In a non-stick pan, add 1tbsp oil and fry the eggs to golden brown and keep it aside.

In a pressure cooker add oil, cumin, bay leaves, dry red chillies, when they splutter, add onion and chilly fry till it become’s golden brown, add all the masala powder and ½ cup water, fry till it starts leaving oil, add tomato and cook till all the masala has come together, that will take about 5 to 6 minutes.

Then add fried eggs, kasoori meethi, salt and mix. Add another 2cups of water, cover the lid and cook for 2 whistle (1 in high flame and 2 in low flame). Allow the pressure to go completely before you open the cooker.

Garnish with coriander leafs

Serve with Ghee Rice, Plain Rice or Jeera Rice and Roti.

Adai/Lentil Dosa

Adai is a very famous South Indian dish which is made out of mix lentils and rice. You can add your choice of green leaves or veggies to make it more healthier and It is usually prepared for breakfast, but I even prefer to eat any time of the day. It is very simple to prepare and does not need much planning as for dosa and the good thing about this adai is, it does not need fermentation and you can prepare in no time. All you have to do just soak the rice and mix lentils for about 2 to 3hours. Then grind it to paste and make adai. Adai is usually little thicker then the dosa. It goes well with avial, coconut chutney or as it is.

Ingredient's.

1cup rice

1/2cup mix lentils(toor dal, urad dal, channa dal)

5 to 6 dry red chillis

10 curry leaves

1/2tsp finely chopped ginger

1/4tsp asafoetida/hing

Salt to taste

Oil for making adai.

Cooking Method.

Soak rice and dal together for 2- 3 hours.

Grind it to smooth paste along with red chilli, curry leaves, ginger, hing and salt. The batter should not be thick nor watery.

Heat a griddle or a non stick tawa and pour a ladle full of batter and spread it in circular motion. Drizzle a tsp of oil around the adai. Let it get cooked. Once cooked remove from tawa.

Serve it hot with coconut chutney, avial or as it is.

Tilapia Fish Curry/Kerala Style.

Tilapia Fish Curry. Fish is an integral part of Kerala Cuisine. There are hundreds of variations for Kerala Fish curry. The main part of this curry is coconut and tamarind sauce this curry can be cooked with any fish and it will taste great. To cook this curry the main reason was I got the Indian tilapia fish, there is a new shop has opened near my house who sells even all the Indian fishes, like rohu, mackerel, tilapia etc. and I'm so so happy now I even get to taste Indian fish without even being in India.. This spicy and tangy curry goes so well with plain rice and this was our last Saturday's lunch and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Do cook this curry and make your family happy..

Ingredient's.

2 tilapia fish (cut into 2 pieces)

8 to 10 curry leaves

2 green chilli

4 garlic garlic cloves

1/4tsp mustard seeds

1/2 cup coconut milk

2 tbsp tamarind paste

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

3tbsp oil

Salt to taste.

Ingredient's to make a paste.

2 medium tomato

1 medium onion

2tbsp chopped coriander leaves

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1/4tsp cumin seeds.

Cooking Method.

Wash the fish thoroughly and set it aside.

Grind the onion, tomato, coriander leaves, ginger garlic and cumin to a smooth paste.

In a deep frying pan/kadai, add oil, when oil is hot, add curry leaves, mustard, green chilli and garlic cloves. when they start turning brown. Add the ground paste, red chilli powder, turmeric and coriander powder, fry till the oil starts separating.

Then add coconut milk, tamarind paste, salt and 2cups of water and allow it boil for a minute or 2. Then add the fish and simmer the curry for 5 to 6 minutes.

Serve hot with Plain Rice.