Instant Cucumber Idly

In the hustle and bustle of life and routines, it's the planned stuff like making pre-preparations for meals that get skipped. That's when super easy "instant" recipes are so handy. 

Idly is one of those traditional South Indian dishes that typically needs soaking, grinding and fermentation, all of which needs a few days before actually making the Idlies! So when I tried this amazing instant recipe that results in soft, fluffy Idlies I'm tempted to use it in place of the traditional recipe all the time!

Here it is, my version of the Instant Cucumber Idly:

Ingredients for about 16 Idlies: 1 cup Idly rice rava, 1/2 cup grated Cucumber (with skin), 1/4 cup descicated coconut, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 tsp grated ginger, chillies if desired, salt to taste, water.

Make: 

1. Mix 1 cup Idly rice rava, 1/2 cup grated Cucumber, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 tsp grated ginger, chilli if desired, salt, water. Make a smooth batter.

2. Scoop into greased Idly plates and steam for 15 mins. Rest for 5 mins and serve with chutney. Enjoy!

Vegetable Upma/Uppittu

Simple and soulful, just what a hot breakfast needs to be! Upma or Uppittu is literally not just a dish, it's an emotion. One that's endearing to many South Indian food lovers everywhere. While there are different versions and variations of this famous dish I'm definitely a fan of the simple traditional Uppittu.

Here's my version of Vegetable Upma/Uppittu:

Ingredients: 1 cup fine semolina, 1tbsp ghee, one onion chopped finely, few green chillies chopped finely, handful of Curry leaves, 1 tomato chopped, 1/4 cup green peas, 1/4 cup carrot chopped. Salt, lemon juice, chopped coriander.  Spices for tempering- 1 tbsp peanuts/cashews, mustard seeds, channa daal, urid daal, cumin seeds, asetofida/hing, finely chopped ginger, bit of oil. 

Make:

1. In a heavy bottom pan, roast the semolina and ghee over a low flame until golden brown. Keep the roasted semolina aside. 

2. In the same pan, put in a bit of oil and tempering ingredients. Roast nicely until there is an aroma.

3. Add in chopped onions, chillies and curry leaves, roast well. Then add in chopped tomato, carrot, peas. Mix well and add in warm water (double the amount of semolina). Add salt and lemon juice to cover to bring to a boil.

4. Once it's boiling, quickly add the roasted semolina, continuously mixing ensuring no lumps are formed. A little water can be added to adjust the consistency based on preference. Cover and simmer for a few minutes. 

Serve hot on its own or with condiments. Enjoy!

Wheat Besan Jaggery Laddoo

Sweet treats and healthy is a rare combo! These melt in mouth Laddoos are simply delicious with the goodness of wholewheat and besan as well as jaggery instead of sugar. Perfect for a festive treat or for just any day!

So here it is, my version of WHEAT BESAN JAGGERY LADDOO: 

Ingredients: 1 cup wholewheat flour, 1/4 cup besan flour, 1/2 cup pure ghee, 1/2 to 3/4 cup powdered jaggery/brown sugar depending on sweetness desired, 1 tsp elachi powder, 1 tbsp crushed Pistachio nuts.

Make: 

1. In a non stick flat bottom pan, melt the ghee then add wholewheat flour and besan flour. Roast evenly on medium flame, by continuously stirring until there is a roasted aroma. Should take around 15 to 20 mins. The mixture will look lumpy and golden brown in colour. Remove from hear and let cool to room temperature. 

2. To the mixture, add powdered jaggery and elachi and mix well. The mixture should hold shape in your hand enough to roll into Laddoos. If not, add just a teaspoon of warm milk to help shape.

3. Take small amounts of the mixture and roll into Laddoos. Let them cool completely and harden slightly before serving. Can be stored for a week or so.

Enjoy the healthy sweet treats anytime!

Curry Leaves Chutney Powder

The year's off to a super busy and wonderful start, hence it took two months to get back to blogging! Why not start on a healthy note as always😊 

Curry leaves are a core part of South Indian cooking and filled with antioxidants and nutritional benefits. When the warm weather gives you loads of Curry leaves, one is the best ways to use it is by making this delicious chutney powder. The perfect accompaniment to rotis, toast, rice, whatever!

Here it is, my version of KARIBEVU CHUTNEY PUDI - Curry Leaves Chutney Powder: 

Ingredients: About 50 sprigs of Curry leaves with leaves washed, dried and separated, dry red chillies as per taste, 1/2 cup dried coconut or descicated coconut, 1/2 channa daal, 1/3 cup urid daal, 2 tbsp dry coriander seeds, 1 tbsp asetofida, 1 tbsp amchur or tamraind powder, salt to taste.

Make:

1. In a wide pan, use a little oil and dry roast the Curry leaves until they are fully crisp and there is an aroma of roasted leaves. Keep aside and let cool.

2. In the same pan, dry roast coconut until golden brown. Keep aside and let cool. Next dry roast the red chillies until crisp, keep aside and let cool.

3. Next in the pan, dry roast channa daal until golden brown and crisp. Next repeat the same with urid daal. Keep aside and let cool.

4. In the pan, add a little oil and roast together the coriander seeds, amchur powder and asetofida just for a few minutes. Now add back all of the roasted ingredients above and mix with salt to taste. Let the whole mixture cool completely.

5. Once fully cooled (important to ensure a fine powder), grind it all in the mixer. Ensure the chutney powder is fully cool before transferring to an airtight container. It will be great for use for a few months.