Broccoli and Cauliflower Sabzi

Prep Time:10 m      Cook Time:15 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Broccoli Florets      - 1/2 cup

Cauliflower Florets - 1/2 cup

Onion                      - 1(sliced)

Green Chilli            - 3

Cumin Seeds           - 1/4 tsp

Tomato                   - 1

Turmeric Powder    - 1/4 tsp

Mustard Seeds        - to splutter

Curry Leaves          - a sprig

Gram Dal Powder   - 1 tblsp heaped (powdered pottu kadalai)

Salt                        - as needed

Method

• Place the florets in a pan of salted boiling water for five to eight minutes.Drain the water and set aside.
  
• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,cumin seeds,add curry leaves,onion,little salt and saute.
                      
  
• Add tomatoes and turmeric powder.Saute this for a while till tomatoes are mushy,then add required water and salt.
                            
  
• Now mix gram dal powder(powdered pottu kadalai) in water without any lumps and add it to the pan.Let this cook for five minutes and then add the florets chopped into bite sizes into the gravy.Cook for further three minutes and serve with chappathi.
                          
                         
  

Little Words

• Any one of the veggies can also be used.
• A quick and easy recipe and it goes well with dosa,poori,chappathi...

Paneer Chutney

Prep Time:5 m       Cook Time:3 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Paneer                 - 150 g

Coconut               - 2 to 3 pieces

Ginger                 - a small piece(about a cm)

Green Chilli         - 1

Coriander Leaves - 1/4 cup

Salt                     - as required

To Temper

Ghee                - 1 tsp

Mustard Seeds  - 1/4 tsp 

Cumin Seeds    - 1/4 tsp

Method

• Place all the ingredients in a mixer grinder and blend them all with required water.Heat ghee in a pan for tempering and add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds.Pour this over the chutney and stir before serving.
                        
     

Little Words

• Fry the paneer cubes in ghee and then grind if desired.
• Goes well with idli,dosa..
• A super quick creamy chutney that needs less preparation.

Vada Curry

Vadacurry as the name implies is a curry made with vadai,a dumpling usually made with split yellow peas.This side dish for dosa makes the breakfast special.This can also be had with idli,chappathi...There are several variations for this recipe as per individual taste and needs.Vada curry can be made with leftover vadais as well.The coconut milk added in this dish gives it a unique creamy texture and taste.Dosa with vadacurry is a food to relish.

Prep Time:25 m     Cook Time:30 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

For the Vadai

Yellow Split Peas - 3/4 cup

(Pattani paruppu) 

Onion                   -1(reserve the other half)

Ginger                  - 1"piece

Cinnamon            - 1"piece

Aniseed               - 1/2 tsp

Khus khus            - 1/4 tsp

Curry Leaves        - few

Dried Red Chilli    - 2

Asafoetida            - 1/4 tsp

Coriander Leaves  - 1/4 cup

Salt                       - as required

Oil                        - to deep fr

For the curry

To Grind

Ginger             - 1"piece

Garlic              - 3 cloves

Cinnamon        - 1"piece

Aniseed            - 1/2 tsp

Khus khus         - 1/4 tsp

Fried Gram Dal - 1 tblsp 

For curry

Onion                  - 1

Curry leaves        - few

Green Chilli        - 4

Mustard Seeds     - to splutter

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Coconut Milk       - 3/4 cup

(first) 

Coconut Milk       - 3/4 cup

(second)

Salt                      - as required

Oil                        - 2 tsp

Method

• Grind the soaked channa dal with other ingredients upto dried red chilli to grind.Add salt,chopped coriander leaves,remaining onion,asafoetida and mix well.Heat oil in a kadai and then drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the oil and fry till golden brown and set aside.
                          
     
• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,add curry leaves,onion and green chilli.Saute for a while.Add the ground paste,turmeric powder and little water.
                                
     
• Now add the second coconut milk and bring it to a boil.Then add the first coconut milk and salt.Now add the vadais into this and switch off the flame.Leave it for five to ten minutes so that the vadais are soaked in the curry and then serve with spongy or crispy dosas.
                                      
                                 
  

Little Words

• The dal can be ground coarsely also.When it is ground softly the vadais are spongy and they easily absorb the curry.
• Channa dal can also be used to make the vadai.