Kadappa

Prep Time:20 m      Cook Time: 20 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Moong Dal        - 1/4 cup

Potato                - 1

Carrot                 - 1

Beans                  - 10

Onion                  - 1

Tomato                - 1

Garlic                   - 4

Turmeric Powder - a pinch

Salt                       - to taste

Oil                        - 1 tsp

To Temper

Green Chilli   - 3

Curry Leaves - 2 sprig

Cinnamon      - 1

Clove             - 2

To Grind

Coconut     - 2 tbl sp

Aniseed      - 3/4 tsp

Khus Khus - 1/4 tsp

Method

• Soak moong dal for fifteen minutes.Meanwhile chop all the vegetables.Add a pinch of turmeric powder and pressure cook moong dal along with the vegetables for two whistles.
     
• Meanwhile grind the coconut masala.Once pressure is released open the lid,gently mash with the back of a ladle and add the coconut paste and let it boil for five minutes.
                         
                                  
  
• Heat oil in a pan and temper the items and add it to the gravy.Serve with hot idlis.
     

Little Words

• A nice combo for idli and dosa.
• Green chillies can be added to the vegetables and reduce the number to two if adding to the vegetables.
• Adjust the water level according to desired consistency.

Paneer Butter Masala

Prep Time:15 m     Cook Time:25 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Paneer                   - 200 g

Onion                    - 2

Tomato                  - 3

Ginger                   - 1 small piece

Garlic                    - 4

Cashew                 - 8

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Cumin Powder      - 1/2 tsp

Chilli Powder        - 3/4 tsp

Garam Masala       - 1/4 tsp

Salt                        - to taste

Butter                    - 3 tsp

Kasoori Methi       - 1/2 tsp

Method

• Melt butter in a pan,add onion,chopped ginger and garlic and saute till onion turns pink and then add roughly chopped tomatoes and saute this till tomatoes are mushy.
                                 
     
• Let it cool and grind into a paste.Meanwhile soak cashews in warm water.Melt a teaspoon of butter and add the onion tomato paste followed by the spice powders.
     
• Add salt and cover this with lid.Meanwhile saute panner cut into cubes in ghee or butter.Grind the cashews into a paste.
                      
     
• Now add the cashew paste and paneer cubes.Crush kasoori methi between your palms and add it to the gravy.Serve with chappathi or roti.
                        
     

Little Words

• This rich and creamy gravy is a favourite for everyone.
• Paneer can be soaked in warm water also to make it soft.
• The quantity of onion and tomato should be same and if onion exceeds it would give a pungent taste.
• A teaspoon of sugar can be added to enhance the taste.

Chocolate Sandesh

Prep Time:10 m + 20 m  Cook Time:15 m

Yields:6

Ingredients

Milk                - 5 cups

Lemon Juice   - 2 tblsp

Sugar               - 2 tblsp

Cocoa Powder - 1 tblsp

Cashew            - to garnish

Method

• Bring milk to boil and add the lemon juice.The milk will start to curdle.When the milk has curdled completely place a cheese cloth or muslin cloth over a colander /strainer and keep a vessel under it to collect the whey.Wash this under cold tap water to remove sourness from lemon.Hang this on the tap for about twenty minutes so that any excess liquid drains in the sink.
                      
     
• Knead this well.Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder to this and knead again to make a soft dough.Make small balls,flatten gently and in the middle make an impression with your thumb and place the cashew or any other nuts of choice.
                                    
     

Little Words

• Ready made paneer can also be used but it would require vigorous kneading.
• Washing in cold tap water several times removes the sourness from lemon or curd.
• If using curd to curdle milk 1/4 th of cup would be enough.
• Fresh paneer would be moist and kneading into dough would be eaasy.
• Adding powdered sugar helps in easy mixing.

Aloo Matar

Prep Time:10 m      Cook Time:20 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Potato                   - 1

Peas                      - 1/2 cup

Ginger                  - 1" piece(grated)

Tomato                 - 2

Jeera                     - 1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Chilli Powder        - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric Powder  - a pinch

Garam Masala      - 1/4 tsp

Oil                        - 2 tsp

Salt                       - to taste

Method

• Heat oil,splutter jeera,add ginger and saute.Add chopped potatoes and saute for a while.
     
• Add the peas,finely chopped tomatoes and saute for a while.
     
• Add all the spice powders,salt and required amount of water and cover with a lid and cook till the potatoes and peas are done.Serve with chappathi.
                            
     

Little Words

• A quick side dish that doesnot need prior preparations.
• A nice combo with chappathi,rice..

Watermelon Lemonade

Prep Time:10 m        Cook Time:Nil

Makes:2 glasses

Ingredients

Watermelon - 2 cups

Lemon          -1

Honey          - to taste

Method

• Deseed watermelon and cut them into small chunks.Place in a blender along with lemon juice and honey and blend and pour into serving glasses.
                    
  

Little Words

• Watermelon as such is refreshing and the addition of lemon juice enhances the taste.

Methi and Moong Dal Fry

Prep Time:10 m     Cook Time:20 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Moong Dal          - 1/4 cup

Methi Leaves       - a fistful

(vendhaya keerai)

Onion                   - 1

Garlic                   - 3

Green Chilli         - 2

Curry Leaves        - 2 sprig

Asafoetida            - a pinch

Turmeric Powder - a pinch

Jeera                     - to splutter

Salt                       - to taste

Oil                        - 2 tsp

Method

• Soak moong dal for fifteen minutes and pressure cook for one whistle adding salt and turmeric powder.
     
• Meanwhile heat oil in a pan,splutter jeera,add asafoetida,curry leaves,green chilli,onion and garlic and saute till onion becomes soft.Now add chopped methi leaves and saute for a while and then add cooked moong dal and salt.Serve with rice or roti.
                                  
     

Little Words

• A simple dal with green leaves.
• Tastes good with rice and roti.