Lemon Rice

Ingredients

Rice                     - 1/2 cup

Lemon                 - 1big sized
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Peanuts                - 2 tblsp

Curry Leaves       - a sprig
Coriander Leaves - to garnish

Garlic                  - 3 cloves

Red Chilli            - 4

Mustard Seeds     - to splutter

Cumin Seeds       - to splutter

Oil                       - 1 tblsp

Salt                      - to taste

Method

• Cook rice and spread it in a plate and mix little gingelly oil so that the grains will be separate when you mix rice.Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds,cumin seeds,peanuts,curry leaves,garlic,red chillies and saute well.
     
• Squeeze the juice of lemon and add little water to it.Add this to the pan and add turmeric powder and required amount of salt.Boil it for two minutes and add boiled rice and gently mix well.Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with coconut chutney.
                            
     

Little Words

• If desired sprinkle some roasted and powdered fenugreek seeds at the last step.This will give a nice aroma to the tangy lemon rice.
• A quick rice variety ideal for travel packing.
• This can be had plain,with chutney,pickle,curd,papad...

Tofu Masala

Ingredients

Tofu                      - 200 g

Onion                    - 1

Tomato                 - 2

Chilli Powder        - 1 tsp

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Cumin Powder      - 1 tsp

Garam Masala       - 1/4 tsp

Salt                        - to taste

Oil                         - 2 tsp

Method

• Heat a teaspoon of oil and fry roughly chopped onions and tomatoes till the onions turn golden brown and tomatoes become mushy.Let it cool and blend into a paste.
     
• Place the onion tomato paste in a pan and add all the spice powders and give it a mix.Add little water if needed.
     
• Meanwhile in a frying pan add a teaspoon of oil and fry the tofu cut into small pieces till they are slightly brown in colour.Add it to the gravy and serve with dosa,roti..
     

Little Words

• Tofu is a very good alternate for paneer and protein rich too.
• While frying tofu be gentle else it will crumble.

Spinach Dosai

Ingredients

Dosa Batter  - 1 cup

Spinach        - 1 bunch

Ginger          - 1" piece

Garlic           - 2 clove

Green Chilli - 1

Method

• Saute spinach,garlic,ginger till the spinach wilts and puree with green chilli.
     
• Mix spinach puree and dosa batter.
     
• Heat a tawa and pour a ladle of batter and spread into dosas,cook on both sides and serve with any side dish.
                          
     

Little Words

• While spreading have to do carefully as the batter is a little silky and smooth.

Chilli Garlic Paneer

Ingredients

Paneer                 - 150 g

Red Chilli           - 4

Garlic                  - 4

Red Chilli Sauce - 1 tsp

Tomato Ketchup - 1 tsp

Salt                      - to taste

Oil /Ghee             - 1 tsp

Kasoori Methi     - a pinch

Method

• Soak red chillies in hot water for ten minutes and grind it into a paste along with garlic.
     
• Heat oil in a kadai and add the chilli garlic paste and saute till the raw smell of garlic goes off.Add the sauces and little salt.Now toss in the paneer cut into small pieces,mix well,garnish with kasoori methi and serve.
                      
     
         

Little Words

• Let the paneer pieces absorb the sauces.Toss well so that the sauce penetrates into the paneer pieces.
• A very good combo for any rice variety and pulaos.

BitterGourd Bajji

Ingredients

Bitter gourd              - 1

Gram Flour               - 1/2 cup

Rice Flour                 - 1/4 cup

Ajwain                      - 1/4 tsp

Bicarbonate of Soda - a pinch

Chilli Powder            - 3/4 tsp

Salt                            - to taste

Oil                             - to deep fry

Method

• Cut the bittergourd and remove the pith and seeds.Cut them into roundles.Mix all other ingredients except oil into a thick batter.Dip the bittergourd slices in the batter and fry till golden colour on both sides.Serve hot.
                                     
                              
     

Little Words

• Excellent bajji without the slightest bitterness of bittergourd.
• An amazing way to make kids to eat this bitter vegetable.

Kovakkai/Tindora Sabzi

Ingredients

Kovakkai             - 200 g

Onion                   - 1

Tomato                - 1

Chilli powder       - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Mustard Seeds     - to splutter 

Curry Leaves       - few

Salt                      - to taste

Oil                       - 2 tsp

Method

• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,add curry leaves ,add onion,little salt and saute for a while.Add the tomatoes and kovakkai pieces,chilli powder ,turmeric powder and little water and cover with a lid and cook until the vegetables are soft.
                      
                                      
     

Little Words

• Serve with plain rice.
• The tomatoes give a tangy taste to the juicy kovakkai.
• Kovakkai can be chopped into roundles as well.I have cut them into eight pieces to ensure faster cooking.

Aubergine Fry

Ingredients

Aubergine             - 1

Tomato Ketchup   - 1 tbl sp

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Chilli Powder        - 3/4 tsp
Cumin Powder      -1/2 tsp
Salt                        - to taste
Oil                         - 1 tbl sp

Method

• Mix all the ingredients from tomato ketchup to salt.
     
• Cut the aubergine into slices of about 1/4 inch thickness.Coat them with the masala and fry in a pan drizzling oil and turning on both sides.
                              
     
  

Little Words

• A good combo for any rice variety.