Channa Puri

Prep Time:20 m+soaking time   Cook Time:20 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Channa/chickpeas - 1/2 cup

Wheat Flour          - 1&1/4 cup

Salt                        - to taste

Oil                         - to deep fry

Ghee                     - 2 tsp

Method

• Soak channa dal for a minimum of six hours and grind to a paste.
                                       
     
• Take the channa paste in a mixing bowl and add salt to this and mix well.Now add the flour little by little and knead into a smooth dough.Add ghee to this,knead and set aside.
     
• Make small balls and roll into puris.Meanwhile heat oil in a kadai.Once the oil is hot drop the puris gently in hot oil and fry both sides.Serve with any favourite side dish.
                              
                        
                            
     

Little Words

• Soft soft puris with a different taste.
• The softness is retained for a long time.
• Add more flour if required.Grease with a drop of ghee while rolling the puris if it is sticky.
• Drain the excess water and then grind the channa.

Broccoli Potato Soup

 

Prep Time:5 m       Cook Time:15 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Broccoli           - 1/2 flower

Potato              - 1(medium size)

Onion               - 1/2

Butter               - 1 tsp

Salt                   - to taste

Pepper Powder -to taste

Fresh Cream     - 1 tblsp(optional)

Method

• Melt butter in a pan and add roughly chopped onions followed by potato cubes and broccoli florets.
                          
  
• Saute this for a while adding salt,sprinkle little water and cover with a lid.Cook for further five to eight minutes until the potatoes are tender.Switch off the flame and let this cool slightly.Then blend everything in a blender and return to heat and add pepper powder.Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle fresh cream and sprinkle pepper powder and enjoy while it is warm.
                                    
  

Little Words

• An easy to prepare healthy soup with few ingredients.

Egg Biriyani

Prep Time:15 m     Cook Time:15 + 15

Serves:3

Ingredients

Basmati Rice       - 1 cup(soaked for twenty minutes)

Egg                      - 3(boiled & shell removed)

Onion                   - 1

Green Chilli         - 2

Bay Leaf              - 2

Cinnamon            - 1"piece

Clove                   - 2

Cardamom           - 2

Ginger                  - 1"piece

Garlic                   - 4 cloves

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Chilli Powder       - 1/2 tsp

Garam Masala      - 1/2 tsp

Coriander Leaves - to garnish

Oil                        - 1 tblsp

Salt                       - as required

Method

• Boil the eggs with little salt and cut them into halves and set aside.
• Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add bay leaf,cardamom,cinnamon and clove followed by green chilli and onions.
     
• Saute the onions and add ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes off.
     
• Add all spice powders and required amount of water(1&1/2 cups).
     
• Now add soaked rice,salt and boiled eggs.Cover with a lid and simmer for five to eight minutes.Let it be on the stove for five more minutes and then set aside.Open the lid once the pressure release,fluff the rice gently with a fork and serve with raita or any favourite side dish.
                    
     
              

Little Words

• A simple and quick biriyani that needs little preparations.
• Eggs can be roasted separately with some spices and then added to the biriyani as well.

Peas Masala

Prep Time:5 m       Cook Time:20 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Peas                      - 1 cup

Tomato                 - 3

Onion                    - 2

Coriander Powder  - 2 tsp

Cumin Powder       - 1 tsp

Chilli Powder        - 3/4 tsp

Turmeric Powder   - 1/4 tsp

Garam Masala       - 1/4 tsp

Mustard Seeds       - to splutter

Curry Leaves         - a sprig

Oil                       - 1 tblsp

Salt                      - as required

Method

• Roughly chop onions and tomatoes.Grind them separately into a fine paste.
     
• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,add curry leaves and the onion paste.Saute for a while till the onion turns slightly brown and then add the tomato puree followed by all the spice powders and salt.
                            
  
• Cover this with a lid and cook for ten to fifteen minutes.Then add the peas and cook until the peas is done.Serve with chappathi,pulao...
     

Little Words

• Fresh or frozen peas can be used.
• While serving add some finely chopped onions and a dash of lemon juice.

Thengai Sadam/Coconut Rice

Prep Time:10 m     Cook Time:15 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Cooked Rice     - 1 cup

Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup

Dry Red Chilli  - 4

Curry Leaves    - a sprig

Mustard Seeds  - to splutter

Channa Dal      - 1 tblsp

Salt                   - as required

Oil                    - 1 tblsp

Method

• Heat oil ina pan,splutter mustard seeds followed by channa dal,curry leaves and red chillies.
     
• Now add grated coconut and required amount of salt and mix them well.Now add cooked rice and toss mix them all together and serve with crisps or papads.
                           
                           
  

Little Words

• Add some cashewnuts fried in ghee for a more rich taste.
• Spread the hot rice on a plate and add some oil to it so that the grains are separate.
• This simple delicious dish is yet another favourite of mine.