Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Carrot Kosumalli / Carrot Kosambhari

Kosumalli is a light carrot salad, usually served in weddings. Crunchy carrots with a lemon juice, green chillies and spiced with asafetida and mustard seeds is sure a welcome taste amongst other feasts served in the weddings.

I used some moong dal to give extra crunch. It can be served as a side or main meal.


Get Ready ( serves 2 as a side)

  • 1& 1/2 - 2 cups grated carrots
  • 2 green chillies chopped fine
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp moon dal soaked in water for 20 mins and drained ( optional)
  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • pinch of asafetida
  • salt to taste
  • cilantro ( optional)
Go:

  • In a bowl add the carrots, salt, lemon juice, soaked moongdal and mix well.
  • In a kadai, add oil, do the tadka with mustard seeds, asfetida and green chilli.
  • pour it on top of the grated carrot, toss them all.
  • garnish with cilantro.

Serve cold or at room temperature.



Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Sathu Ma Kanji Podi / Nutritious Porridge Powder- Healthy Breakfast on the go!

If you grew up in south India, you may be pretty familiar with this sathu ma kanji. It is a blend of various grains, dals and dried fruit flavored with some cardamom. It is cooked in water and milk and sweetened to be taken as a breakfast drink. It has the goodness of lot of grains and very nutritious.

I was getting tired of eating he same old cereal, oat meal etc in the morning.It takes a just a few minutes. pour it in your insulated coffee mug and you are good to start the day. Healthy breakfast to kick start your day is ready.

I used what ever was in my home to make this porridge powder. Most of these ingredients are available in whole foods or other super markets. Whole wheat grains  ( godhumai)are used, i did not have any and replaced it with atta :)

other things to add include, quinoa, flax seeds or powder, cashews, peanuts, walnuts etc!


Get ready

  • 3 tbsp quick oats
  • 3 tbsp sabudana/ tapioca pearls
  • 3 tbsp pearl barley
  • 3 tbsp millet/ ragi
  • 3 tbsp whole wheat flour/ atta
  • 3 tbsp parboiled rice (can replace it with brown rice)
  • 3 tbsp sliced almonds
  • 3 tbsp pottukadalai/ dalia dal
  • 4-5 cardamom pods

Dry roast all ingredients separetly till golden, cool and powder them together till fine.
 store in an air tight container.

Add some honey/ sugar to the cooked porridge and a dollop of ghee and it's a perfect meal for your skinny toddler.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Sesame Peanut Rice / Ellorai




Sesame seeds and peanuts go together pretty well. I use this combo in subzi's and tastes so yummy. Ellorai/ ellu sadham is a standard offering/ neivedhyam in south indian temples. very simple combination of spices and tastes divine.
I jazzed it up by throwing some peanuts and this is perfect lunch box item. good hot or cold.

 
Get Ready: ( serves 2-3)
  • 1 cup basmati rice cooked with 2 cups of water, and cooled
  • 1/2 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/2 cup peanuts
  • 2 tbsp channa dal
  • 2 tbsp urad dal
  • 2-3 red chilli
  • 1/4 tsp asafetida
  • 2 tbsp dry roasted unsalted peanuts
  • 2 tbsp dry coconut
  • 2 tbsp oil ( gingely oil will taste very good)
  •  a few curry leaves ( optional)
  •  salt to taste.
Go:
  •  In a dry pan, toast the sesame seeds till they are golden, on low to medoim heat. set aside
  • Add a little oil, and roast the channa dal, urad dal, red chilli till golden brown. turn the heat off
  •  Coarsely powder the red chilli, asafetida,sesame seeds intially and then add the channa dal, urad dal, peanuts and coconut  to a coarse powder.
  • Add  oil to the rice, the ground powder and mix well so the grains are separate.
  •  serve with pappadums, chips or raita.