Rajma and Peanuts Biriyani

Prep Time:15 m     Cook Time:15+15

Serves:3

Ingredients

Rajma                     - 1/4 cup

Peanuts                   - 1/4 cup

Basmati Rice           - 1 cup(soaked for twenty minutes)

Water                      - 1 & 1/2 cup

Onion                      - 1

Tomato                    - 2

Green Chilli             - 2

Ginger Garlic Paste  - 2 tsp

Bay Leaf                  - 2

Cinnmon                  - 1"piece

Clove                       - 3

Cardamom               - 3

Mint Leaves             - few

Aniseed                    - 1/2 tsp

Khus khus                - 1/4 tsp

Turmeric Powder     - a pinch

Red Chilli Powder    - 1/2 tsp

Garam Masala         - 1/4 tsp

Salt                        - as needed

Oil                          - 1 tblsp

Method

• Soak rajma overnight,add little salt and pressure cook along with peanuts for three whistles.Transfer this to a bowl and set aside.
                        
  
• Heat oil in pressure cooker,add aniseed,khus khus,cinnamon,cardom,clove and bay leaf followed by green chilli and onion.Add little salt and saute this for a while and then add ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes off.
     
• Now add tomatoes,mint leaves,turmeric powder,chilli powder,garam masala and saute till tomatoes are mushy.Add required salt and water.Bring it to a boil and then add soaked rice and cooked rajma and peanuts.Close the lid and wait for five to eight minutes.Switch off the flame and once the pressure is released open the lid,fluff it up with a fork and serve with raita.
                               
                      
     

Little Words

• Yummy biriyani with chunky peanuts and mashy rajma.
• Can be served with onion raita.

Rice Cake Topping

Prep Time:5m        CookTime:nil

Servings:6

Ingredients

Rice Cake            - 6

Whipping Cream - 150 mL

Strawberries        - 6

Sugar                   - 2 tsp(optional)

Method

• Whip cream until soft peaks are formed.Add sugar if desired and mix.Spread the whipped cream on top of the rice cake and top it with sliced strawberries or any other desired fruit.
                            
                             
     

Little Words

• A simple snack that could be prepared in less than ten minutes.I have used caramel rice cakes from Tesco.

Potato Kurkure

The world's favourite vegetable in a crunchy form.Potatoes sliced thinly and cut into strips,coated with spiced flour and fried in oil...potato kurkure.

Prep Time:10 m     Cook Time:15 m

Servings:3

Ingredients

Potato                    - 1(large sized)

Gram Flour            - 4 tblsp

Rice Flour              - 2 tblsp

Red Chilli Powder  - 1/2 tsp

Asafoetida             - 1/4 tsp

Salt                       - to taste

Curry Leaves         - a sprig

Oil                        - to deep fry

Method

• Wash and peel the potato.Slice them as thinly as possible with a knife.Then cut them into strips.
     
• Meanwhile mix gram flour,rice flour,asafoetida,salt and red chilli powder.Add the potato strips and toss them well so that the flour coats on the potato strips.The moisture in the potato is  well enough to coat them.If necessary sprinkle water.
                          
     
• Heat oil in a kadai and fry the potato strips until they are golden brown or when they make a rattling sound.Lastly fry curry leaves and store in an airtight container.
                                    
     

Little Words

• Cutting them as thinly as possible makes them more crunchy.
• Sprinkle little water if necessary.
• A yummy snack for teatime.

Cheese Paratha

Stringy gooey...cheese so yummy...yummy cheese parathas...

Prep Time:10 m      Cook Time:10 m

Makes:4

Ingredients

Wheat Flour - 1 cup

Salt             - to taste

Cheese         - 4 slices

Oil               - to brush

Method

• Mix wheat flour,salt and knead into a soft dough with water.Set this aside for fifteen minutes.Then divide the dough into portions.Roll into chappathi,place a cheese slice and fold the sides.
                     
                    
     
• Meanwhile heat a tawa.Place the folded paratha on the tawa and brush oil.Cook on both sides and serve.
                               
  

Little Words

• Yummy parathas hen served hot.

Mung Beans Kuruma

Mung beans are high in nutritional value and can be used in a number of dishes.This mung beans kuruma is a good accompaniment for rice,rotis,idli,dosa..

Prep Time:15 m     Cook Time:25 m

Serves:3

Ingredients

Mung Beans      - 1/4 cup

Onion                - 1

Tomato              - 2

Garlic                - 3 cloves

Mustard Seeds    - to splutter

Cumin Seeds       - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Chilli Powder      - 1/2 tsp

Castor Oil            - 1/2 tsp

Oil                       - 2 tsp

 

To Grind

Coconut       - 3 tblsp

Clove           - 3

Cinnamon     - 1"piece

Khus Khus    - 1/4 tsp

Aniseed        - 3/4 tsp

Method

• Soak mung beans for atleast two hours.Add castor oil,turmeric powder and garlic.Pressure cook this for three whistles and set aside.
     
• Grind the ingredients to grind into a paste and add this to the cooked mung beans.Add chilli powder,required water,salt and bring it to boil.
                            
     
• Heat oil in a pan,splutter mustard seeds,cumin seeds,add onion,little salt and saute for a while.Then add chopped tomatoes and saute.Now add this to mung beans,give it a mix and switch off the flame.Serve with rice,chappathi...
                   
                       
  

Little Words

• Instead of red chilli powder kuzhambu milaga podi can be used.
• A mild dish taht goes very well with rice,chappathi,dosai..

Paneer Bhurji

A quick recipe that can be used as a stuffing for rolls or as a side dish,paneer bhurji that resembles scrambled eggs in appearance.

Prep Time:10 m     Cook Time:15 m

Serves:2

Ingredients

Paneer                    - 150 g

Onion                     - 1

Tomato                   - 2

Turmeric Powder    - a pinch

Red Chilli Powder  - 1/2 tsp

Cumin Powder       - 1/2 tsp

Garam Masala        - 1/4 tsp

Kasoori Methi        - 1/2 tsp

Coriander Leaves   - to garnish

Salt                        - aas required

Oil                          - 2 tsp

Method

• Heat oil in a pan,add chopped onions,little salt and saute till onion becomes translucent.Add chopped tomatoes and all spice powders.Add little water and cook for few minutes.
                           
     
• Crush kasoori methi and add to this.Now add required salt,give it a mix and then add crumbled paneer and mix them all together.Finally garnish with coriander leaves and transfer to serving bowl.
                            
     

Little Words

• Paneer recipes are everyone's favourite and this dish can be prepared so quickly.