Vazhaikkai Varuval

Prep Time:15 m      Cook Time:15 m

Serves :2

Ingredients

Green Plantain    - 1

Chilli Powder     - 1 tsp

Curry Leaves      - 2 sprigs

Mustard Seeds    - to splutter

Urid Dal              - 1 tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Asafoetida            - a pinch

Salt                       - to taste

Oil                        - 2 tsp

Method

• Peel the skin slightly and chop the raw banana into small cubes.Place it in a bowl of water to avoid them changing colour.Boil a pan of water and add the plantain cubes,little salt,turmeric powder and cook until plantain becomes soft.Drain and keep aside.
     
• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,add urid dal,curry leaves,asafoetida and chilli powder.Now add salt and the cooked plantain cubes and gently toss them well.Keep tossing until they become slightly golden in colour.
                              
     

Little Words

• Using coconut oil gives a distinct aroma for this vegetable.
• Nice combo for sambhar rice,rasam  and curd rice.

Capsicum Egg Masala

Prep Time: 20 m     Cook Time:20 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Capsicum            - 2

Onion                  - 1

Tomato                - 2

Curry Leaves       - a sprig

Mustard Seeds     - to splutter

Turmeric Powder - a pinch

Salt                       - to taste

Oil                        - 2 tsp

Egg                       - 2

Fresh Cream         - 2 tbl sp(optional)

Method

• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,add onion,curry leaves,little salt and saute till onion becomes soft.Add finely chopped tomatoes,turmeric powder and let it cook for ten minutes.
     
• Meanwhile boil eggs with little salt.Heat another pan and saute chopped capsicum and saute well.
     
• Place half of the capsicum in a blender and blend it. Add the capsicum puree and the remaining capsicum to the onion tomato gravy.Add salt and the boiled eggs cut into halves .Let it cook for further five to ten minutes.Drizzle fresh cream on top and serve with chappathis.
                                
                                
     

Little Words

• I haven't added chillies and the capsicum gives a mild spicy taste.
• Adding cream is optional.

Masala Pori

Prep Time:15 m      Cook Time:Nil

Serves:2

Ingredients

Pori                      - 2 cups

Onion                   - 1

Tomato                 - 1

Carrot                   - 1/4 cup(grated)

Chilli Powder       - 3/4 tsp

Coriander Leaves - 2 tbl sp

Salt                       - to taste

Gingelly Oil         - 1 tbl sp

Lemon                  - a wedge

Chaat Masala       - a pinch(optional)

Roasted Peanuts   - 1/4 cup

Method

• Mix oil with pori and set aside.Meanwhile finely chop all ingredients and roast peanuts and remove skin by rubbing with palm.Mix together all the ingredients and squeeze lemon on top and garnish with roasted peanuts and serve.
                                      
                                 
                                      
     

Little Words

• Mix the ingredients together just at the time of serving to avoid sogginess.
• Boondi,Sev...can also be added.
• A spicy snack that could be made easily.

Kothamalli Chutney

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Prep Time:10 m      Cook Time:10 m
Serves:2

Ingredients

Coriander Leaves -  1/2 cup(roughly chopped)

Curry Leaves        - 2 sprigs

Onion                   - 1/2

Coconut                - 2 tbl sp

Coriander Seeds    - 2 tsp

Cumin Seeds         - 1 tsp

Peppercorn            - 20

Urid Dal                - 1 tsp

Red Chilli              - 1

Tamarind Paste     -1/4 tsp

Oil                         - 2 tsp

Salt                        - to taste

Method

• Heat oil in a pan and add red chilli,curry leaves and onion and saute till onion becomes soft.Set this aside.
  
• Now roast coriander seeds,cumin seeds,urid dal and pepper one by one until they release their aroma.
                                 
     
• Now switch off the flame and add coconut and fry it lightly and add to the other ingredients.Add coriander leaves lastly and just give it a toss.Cool and grind into chutney adding tamarind paste and salt.Serve with idli,dosa,rice...
                                             
     

Little Words

• Tastes divine with a plate hot idlis.
• Can be prepared like thogaiyal without adding coconut.
• Add the coriander leaves fresh or just a toss for few seconds in the pan after switching off the flame else the colour may be lost.

Lemon Aval

Prep Time:10 m      Cook Time:5 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Aval                    - 1 cup

Red Chilli            - 2

Curry Leaves       - a sprig

Mustard Seeds     - to splutter

Channa Dal          - 1 tsp

Urid Dal               - 1 tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Salt                       - to taste

Lemon                  - 1

Oil                        - 2 tsp

Method

• Wash aval and soak it for 10 minutes.Drain if there is excess water.Meanwhile squeeze juice from one lemon and set aside.
     
• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,add channa dal and urid dal and slightly roast them.Add red chillies,curry leaves.Reduce the flame and add lemon juice and turmeric powder.
                            
  
• By now aval would have puffed up.Drain if there is any excess water and add it to the pan and gently mix them well and serve with coconut chutney or as per desire.
                       
     

Little Words

• If poha/aval is oversoaked then while mixing it may get mashed up.Add little water just to immerse the flattened rice while soaking.
• A quick food that can be had even as a after school tiffin or for quick breakfast on lazy weekends.Ideal quick and healthy fast food that comes handy when there is very little time to cook.
• This tastes good with coconut chutney but nice on its own too.
• Veggies like finely chopped carrot,beans can also be added and sauteed well before adding lemon juice.

Cheesy Stuffed Egg

Prep Time:5 m         Cook Time:10 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Egg                 - 2(hard boiled)

Paneer             - 2 tblsp

Cheese             -2 tbl sp(grated)

Pepper Powder - 1/4 tsp

Salt                   - to taste(optional)

Method

• Grate paneer and cheese.Meanwhile boil the eggs for ten minutes and cool under running water and peel off the shell.Cut into two halves.
      
• Scoop out the egg yolk carefully with a small spoon and crumble it.
  
• Add grated paneer,little salt and pepper powder.Mix well and stuff this back into the egg.
     
• Top this with grated cheese and microwave on high for just thirty seconds until the cheese melts.Flavourful cheesy softy eggs are ready to gobble up.
     

Little Words

• I have used mature cheddar cheese.
• The stuffing can be varied as per desire.
• Perfect for breakfast and can be had as after school snack too.