Raja Masala is a chatpata snack that is always requested by V during an impromptu get together since it doesn't require any prep.
I have all the list of ingredients but the quantity depends on one's taste....just like any other chaat.
Ingredients
dry roasted peanuts
onion
green chillies
Chat masala
amchur powder
red chili powder
coriander leaves
Salt
lemon
Method
FInely chop onions,green chillies, coriander leaves and mix with the rest of the ingredients.Chatpata raja masala is ready to be savoured.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Chutney's for chaat
INGREDIENTS:
Green Chutney:
Mint Leaves 1 Cups packed
Cilantro Leaves 2 Cups Packed
Garlic 2 Cloves
Green Chiles 6
Lemon Juice 1 tbsp
salt to taste
Tamarind Chutney:
Tamarind 1 cup
Dates 1 cup
Jaggery 1/2 cup
Ginger 1 inch Piece
jeera 1/2 tsp
dhaniya powder 1/2 tsp
amchur powder 1 tsp
black pepper 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Boil the ingredients together and thicken to a pulpy consistency.
Red Chutney:
Whole Red Chiles 15, soaked in warm water for 30 mins
Garlic 8-10 cloves
coconut 1/4 cup
Salt to taste
grind together with as little water as possible.
Method of preparation:
Green Chutney:
Mint Leaves 1 Cups packed
Cilantro Leaves 2 Cups Packed
Garlic 2 Cloves
Green Chiles 6
Lemon Juice 1 tbsp
salt to taste
Tamarind Chutney:
Tamarind 1 cup
Dates 1 cup
Jaggery 1/2 cup
Ginger 1 inch Piece
jeera 1/2 tsp
dhaniya powder 1/2 tsp
amchur powder 1 tsp
black pepper 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Boil the ingredients together and thicken to a pulpy consistency.
Red Chutney:
Whole Red Chiles 15, soaked in warm water for 30 mins
Garlic 8-10 cloves
coconut 1/4 cup
Salt to taste
grind together with as little water as possible.
Method of preparation:
Friday, May 15, 2009
Keerla sukke
Sukke is a dry coconut based dish that is served as a side with daliythoy and rice.
This dish can be prepared with various vegetables using the same masala. Other well known dishes using this masala is alambe( mushroom), cauliflower + batata and ( okra)benda sukke.
Ingredients:
keerlu/bambo shoots - 2 cups, finely chopped
Onion- 2 large, finely chopped
coconut - 1/2 cup
Red Chillies - 6-8
Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - as per taste
Oil - for frying
Method:
In a pan, roast red chillies, urad dal and coriander seeds with 1/2 tsp oil. Add coconut and allow to roast a little. cool and gring along with turmeric powder and salt.
Heat a kadai,add oil and season with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add onions and saute till they are translucent and add bambo shoot pieces. Add the ground masala and salt. Bring to boil and simmer on a low flame till water completely evaporates. Serve.
This dish can be prepared with various vegetables using the same masala. Other well known dishes using this masala is alambe( mushroom), cauliflower + batata and ( okra)benda sukke.
Ingredients:
keerlu/bambo shoots - 2 cups, finely chopped
Onion- 2 large, finely chopped
coconut - 1/2 cup
Red Chillies - 6-8
Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - as per taste
Oil - for frying
Method:
In a pan, roast red chillies, urad dal and coriander seeds with 1/2 tsp oil. Add coconut and allow to roast a little. cool and gring along with turmeric powder and salt.
Heat a kadai,add oil and season with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add onions and saute till they are translucent and add bambo shoot pieces. Add the ground masala and salt. Bring to boil and simmer on a low flame till water completely evaporates. Serve.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Jeera and putani chutney
Ingredients:
1 cup of coconut
1/4 cup of putani/ roasted chanda dal
4-6 green chillies
1/2 tsp jeera
5 curry leaves
Salt
For seasoning:
mustard seeds
urad dal
red chillies
hing
1tsp of oil
Method
Grind together all the ingredients adding just enough water to blend and make a smooth paste.
For tempering heat a tsp of oil, add mustard seeds let them splutter add Urad dal, red chillies, curry leaves and hing.Fry for a few seconds on low heat and pour the tempering on top of the chutney, mix and serve.
1 cup of coconut
1/4 cup of putani/ roasted chanda dal
4-6 green chillies
1/2 tsp jeera
5 curry leaves
Salt
For seasoning:
mustard seeds
urad dal
red chillies
hing
1tsp of oil
Method
Grind together all the ingredients adding just enough water to blend and make a smooth paste.
For tempering heat a tsp of oil, add mustard seeds let them splutter add Urad dal, red chillies, curry leaves and hing.Fry for a few seconds on low heat and pour the tempering on top of the chutney, mix and serve.
Alle chutney
Ingredients:
coconut 2 cups
ginger 2"
tamarind paste 1/4 tsp
green chillies 6
Salt
For seasoning:
Oil 1 tbsp
mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
curry leaves 1 sprig
red chilies 2
Method:
Grind coconut, ginger, tamarind, salt and chillies to a smooth paste with required amount of water.
Heat oil and season with mustard, curry leaves, broken red chilies. Fry for a minute and pour this seasoning over chutney.
Serve the chutney with dosa or idli.
coconut 2 cups
ginger 2"
tamarind paste 1/4 tsp
green chillies 6
Salt
For seasoning:
Oil 1 tbsp
mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
curry leaves 1 sprig
red chilies 2
Method:
Grind coconut, ginger, tamarind, salt and chillies to a smooth paste with required amount of water.
Heat oil and season with mustard, curry leaves, broken red chilies. Fry for a minute and pour this seasoning over chutney.
Serve the chutney with dosa or idli.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Vegetable cutlets
2 potatoes, boiled , peeled and mashed
3 cups vegetables,finely chopped
1 tsp red chili powder
2 tsp dhania jeera powder
½ tsp saunf powder
½ tsp amchoor
½ tsp garam masala powder
2 green chillies , finely chopped
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp chopped cashew nuts
1 egg white, beaten
1 cup breadcrumbs
Salt to taste
1 tbsp ghee
Oil for shallow frying the cutlets
Method
Heat the Ghee and add the ginger-garlic paste and green chillies. Now add the cashew nuts and all the spices. Now add all the vegetables and stir till vegetables are almost done. Mix in the mashed potatoes and salt to taste. Heat through and take off the stove top. Add cilantro.
Mix in 1 egg white.This will help bind together the vegetables. Form the vegetable mix into cutlet shape. Dip each round in the well beaten egg and roll in the breadcrumbs. Shallow fry on both sides till golden brown.
3 cups vegetables,finely chopped
1 tsp red chili powder
2 tsp dhania jeera powder
½ tsp saunf powder
½ tsp amchoor
½ tsp garam masala powder
2 green chillies , finely chopped
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp chopped cashew nuts
1 egg white, beaten
1 cup breadcrumbs
Salt to taste
1 tbsp ghee
Oil for shallow frying the cutlets
Method
Heat the Ghee and add the ginger-garlic paste and green chillies. Now add the cashew nuts and all the spices. Now add all the vegetables and stir till vegetables are almost done. Mix in the mashed potatoes and salt to taste. Heat through and take off the stove top. Add cilantro.
Mix in 1 egg white.This will help bind together the vegetables. Form the vegetable mix into cutlet shape. Dip each round in the well beaten egg and roll in the breadcrumbs. Shallow fry on both sides till golden brown.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Milagai podi
A borrowed recipe from a Tamilian friend. Milagai podi means chilli chutney powder or famously called as Gun powder due to the heat.
Ingredients
coconut 2 tbsp
1 cup Urad dal
3/4 cup bengal gram dal
1 tbsp til
curry leaves about 5
5 red chillies
1/4 tsp hing
salt to taste
Method:
Roast all the ingrdients seperately without any oil. Cool and then powder it fine with salt.
Ingredients
coconut 2 tbsp
1 cup Urad dal
3/4 cup bengal gram dal
1 tbsp til
curry leaves about 5
5 red chillies
1/4 tsp hing
salt to taste
Method:
Roast all the ingrdients seperately without any oil. Cool and then powder it fine with salt.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Golibaje
Ingredients:
2 cups Maida
Thick Sour Curds 1/2 Cup
Ginger,Finely Chopped
Coconut Pieces
green chillies 6, finely chopped
1 Tbsp Sugar
Baking soda 1/4 tsp
curry leaves, cut up
jeera 1/2 tsp
Oil for frying
Salt to taste
Method:
In a bowl mix maida, chilies,ginger,coconut pieces,jeera, sugar,soda and salt. add the curds to make a batter as thick as idli batter consistency.
Heat oil for frying. Drop spoon fulls into hot oil and the bhajis should float immediately if the the batter is done right. Fry till the outside of bhajis are crisp and golden. This bhaji is served typically with ginger chutney.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Pathrodo
Another fav amchi dish!
Ingredients:
20 colocassia leaves
1 cup whole moong
1 cup of shredded coconut
1/2 cup rice
10-15 dry red chillies(roasted in little oil)
One lemon-sized tamarind
1/2 tsp hing
Salt to taste
METHOD:
Soak the whole moong and rice for 4-6 hrs. Grind with roasted red chillies, tamarind, coconut, hing, and salt to paste. Now add the whole moong and rice to this paste and grind to make a coarse paste.
Devein the colocasia leaves. Pick the biggest leaf to use as a wrap, place stem side up, apply the paste to the leaf.
Next layer smaller leaves on the first one, applying the paste until it is( about 8 leaves) thick. Fold the two elongated sides to give a neat edge & now roll and form a log. Make all the rolls in a similar manner.
Place all the rolls into the pressure cooker and steam for about 20-25 mins, depending on the thickness of the roll. Remove from pressure cooker and let cool for about 5 mins. Make 1" slices. Serve with coconut oil.
It can be eaten as is, tawa fried using rawa for coating it, can be made into an upkari or deep fried. Possibilities galore!
Friday, March 6, 2009
vanilla buttercream
This is a classic version of butter cream done in most bakeries. This works best to make roses as well as all the decorations.
If using to make rose, I recommend taking a few scoops of icing in a bowl and adding a couple table spoons of confectioners sugar to stiffen it. This is sure to hold the shape well and is very well liked for the taste by the grown ups as well as the kiddies.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup white vegetable shortening
1/2 cup milk (I used 2 percent)
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 pounds confectioner's sugar, sifted
Place the butter, shortening, milk, salt, and vanilla, in a mixing bowl and beat until all the wet ingredients are well incorporated.
Add one pound of sugar and beat at low speed until combined, then gradually add in the other pound of sugar. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to avoid sugar clumps in the final product. Beat on high speed, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the frosting is very light and fluffy.
chocolate buttercream:
To make this into chocolate frosting, add 1cup of dutch processed cocoa powder. and a splash of milk to acheive right consistency.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Bafat powder
This recipe is from my friends Mom who makes this to flavour pork and chicken.
Ingredients
Bedagi Chillies 2 kilo.
any other variety of red chili 1 kilo.
Coriander seeds 250 gms
Cumin seeds - 100 gm
Mustard 50 gm
Pepper 50 gm
Turmeric Powder 50 gm
Cinnamon and clove 50 gm
Method
Dry all the above ingredients in an warm oven or sun dry for a couple days. The purpose to to remove any moisture if any.Powder and store in a tight container.
Mix and match varieties of red chillies if preferred for the color. Here Bedagi is used mainly to color and other variety for hotness, since Bafat powder available in India are bright red in color.
Ingredients
Bedagi Chillies 2 kilo.
any other variety of red chili 1 kilo.
Coriander seeds 250 gms
Cumin seeds - 100 gm
Mustard 50 gm
Pepper 50 gm
Turmeric Powder 50 gm
Cinnamon and clove 50 gm
Method
Dry all the above ingredients in an warm oven or sun dry for a couple days. The purpose to to remove any moisture if any.Powder and store in a tight container.
Mix and match varieties of red chillies if preferred for the color. Here Bedagi is used mainly to color and other variety for hotness, since Bafat powder available in India are bright red in color.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Dal vada
Ingredients
Chana dal, 2 cups
green chillies, 8-12
coconut, 1/2 cup of fine pieces
ginger, finely grated
cilantro leaves 10 stems, finely chopped
onions 1 small
Soak chana dal for 2-3 hrs.
Grind coarsely with green chillies and ginger. Add finely chopped onions,cilantro and coconut pieces. Deep fry in medium hot oil and fry till the vada's are completely cooked and crisp.
Tiramisu
Ingredients
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp Dark rum
8 oz heavy cream
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup of espresso
1 cup skim milk
2 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 packages of Italian style lady fingers
6 oz bittersweet chocolate
6 oz milk chocolate
Allow the mascarpone to come to room temperature. Beat the rum and 1/4 cup of sugar into the mascarpone until it is smooth. Set it aside.
Beat the cream, 1/3 cup of sugar, and 2 tsp vanilla into a bowl and mix with a whisk on high until soft peaks have formed. Set it aside.
Combined the hot espresso and the 2 tablespoons of sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the skim milk and stir. Set aside.
Grate the two types of chocolate using a food processor or a grater. Keep them separate.
Fold the mascarpone and whipped cream into each other (gently).
Dip a ladyfinger into the coffee mixture, and remove it and place it into a 9″ x 9″ pan. Repeat this until the bottom of the pan is lined with soaked ladyfingers.
Layer on half of the mascarpone/whipped cream combo, smooth it out with an offset spatula. Sprinkle the bittersweet chocolate.
Add another layer of the soaked ladyfingers, the rest of the mascarpone/ whipped cream combo, and finally the grated milk chocolate. Wrap well with saran wrap and refrigerate several hours or even better, overnight.
Serves 9 - 12 depending on the size of the serving.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Kaarathe talasani
Talasani's usually are vegetable dishes that are seasoned with garlic and red chillies and saute'd till cooked without adding any liquid in it.
Other vegetables prepared similar way are
* Karathe (bitter gourd)
* vaingan ani masinga sang (brinjal and drumsticks)
* vali ani bikkand (malabar spinach and jackfruit seeds).
Ingredients:
bitter gourd , 3 medium sized
onions, 3 medium, sliced thin
mustard seeds 1 tsp
red chillie powder 1/2 tsp
jaggery 2 tbsp,
green chillies 3-5 slit
tamarind pulp 2 tbsp
salt
oil 2 tbsp
Method:
Make thin slices of kaarathe/bittergourd. Add salt leave aside for 30 minutes. Squeeze out the liquid as much as possible to remove the bitterness.
Heat a kadai add oil season with mustard seeds,sliced onions, green chillies, saute for a few minutes. Add sliced bitter gourd and stir fry for a few minutes till the gourd gets a little crispy. Add red chilli powder,tamarind pulp, salt, jaggery and mix well. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.Serve hot with rice and daalithoy.
Other vegetables prepared similar way are
* Karathe (bitter gourd)
* vaingan ani masinga sang (brinjal and drumsticks)
* vali ani bikkand (malabar spinach and jackfruit seeds).
Ingredients:
bitter gourd , 3 medium sized
onions, 3 medium, sliced thin
mustard seeds 1 tsp
red chillie powder 1/2 tsp
jaggery 2 tbsp,
green chillies 3-5 slit
tamarind pulp 2 tbsp
salt
oil 2 tbsp
Method:
Make thin slices of kaarathe/bittergourd. Add salt leave aside for 30 minutes. Squeeze out the liquid as much as possible to remove the bitterness.
Heat a kadai add oil season with mustard seeds,sliced onions, green chillies, saute for a few minutes. Add sliced bitter gourd and stir fry for a few minutes till the gourd gets a little crispy. Add red chilli powder,tamarind pulp, salt, jaggery and mix well. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.Serve hot with rice and daalithoy.
Masala Dosa bhaji + and chutney
DOSA
Rice- 2 cups
Urad Dal- 1/2 cup
chana dal 1/2 cup
Fenugreek seeds- 1tsp
poha 1 cup
Salt
Method
Soak all the ingredients separately overnight
Allow the batter to ferment in a warm place for 8 to 10 hours. Add the salt to the batter after it has fermented.
Potatoes 4 large, Boiled and peeled
Onion 2 Large, thinly sliced
Green Chilies 8-10, finely chopped
Curry leaves- 6 to 8
Ginger 1 inch piece, finely chopped
Coriander 15 stems, finely chopped
Mustard seeds 1/2 Tsp
Urad Dal 1/2 Tsp
Channa Dal 1 1/2 Tsp
Turmeric 1/2 Tsp
Oil 3 Tbsp
Salt
Method
Heat oil in a kadai, add the mustard seed, after they splutter, add the urad dal,channa dal and allow to turn slightly brown. Add the green chilies, ginger, curry leaves, onions, and saute till onions become transparent, then add turmeric powder, mashed potatoes and salt well and. Turn off the heat. Garnish with the fresh coriander leaves.
GARLIC CHUTNEY
Red chillies 15-20
onion 1small
garlic 10 cloves
tamarind
coconut 1 cup
coriander seeds 1/2 tsp
Grind dry without adding any liquid. Smear it on the inside of the dosa while the dosa is still roasting in the pan.
coriander chutney
1 bunch coriander leaves
8 green chillies
coconut 1/2 cup
salt
Grind the ingredients into a fine paste with as little water required for grinding.
BHAJI
Friday, January 2, 2009
Anjeer Ice cream
Ingredients
15 dried figs
3 cups heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp honey
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 can(14 oz) evaporated milk
3 tbsp condensed milk
1 tbsp vanilla essence
chopped nuts for garnish
Method
Chop dried figs, soak them in warm water to plump up(figs here were soaked overnight in the refrigerator).Pulverize to a coarse pulp.
Beat chilled whipping cream to soft peaks. Add evaporated milk and confectioner's sugar and fold the milk into the cream gently making sure to not deflate the whipped cream. Add honey, vanilla essence, chopped nuts and the fig pieces( drained,without the water).
Churn in the ice cream maker as per instructions or follow the steps below to achieve crystal free ice cream.
Set in a bowl and freeze it for a little more than an hour.Remove from freezer stir until it becomes smooth and creamy breaking the ice crystals, if formed. Now set it to freeze again 6-8 hours, or until the ice cream is set.
Remove few mins before ready to serve, scoop out the ice cream into individual bowls and serve with sliced figs or set it in molds like I did.
15 dried figs
3 cups heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp honey
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 can(14 oz) evaporated milk
3 tbsp condensed milk
1 tbsp vanilla essence
chopped nuts for garnish
Method
Chop dried figs, soak them in warm water to plump up(figs here were soaked overnight in the refrigerator).Pulverize to a coarse pulp.
Beat chilled whipping cream to soft peaks. Add evaporated milk and confectioner's sugar and fold the milk into the cream gently making sure to not deflate the whipped cream. Add honey, vanilla essence, chopped nuts and the fig pieces( drained,without the water).
Churn in the ice cream maker as per instructions or follow the steps below to achieve crystal free ice cream.
Set in a bowl and freeze it for a little more than an hour.Remove from freezer stir until it becomes smooth and creamy breaking the ice crystals, if formed. Now set it to freeze again 6-8 hours, or until the ice cream is set.
Remove few mins before ready to serve, scoop out the ice cream into individual bowls and serve with sliced figs or set it in molds like I did.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Masala dosa

Ingredients
1 cup urad dal
3 cups rice ( I use Ponni raw rice
1 tsp methi seeds
1 cup poha
1/2 cup maida
2 tbsp sugar, yes, u read it right!
Soak rice and urad dal separately. Soak methi with poha. Grind about 6 hrs later. Grind Urad dal, methi and poha for about 30 mins making sure all the daal have now become into a fluffy smooth batter.
Remove the batter and then grind the rice to a paste. Rice should be ground fine. To make sure if your rice batter is the right consistency, the feel of the batter is something close to the finest rava you find in the grocery store.Add salt and let the batter ferment.
Just before u make the dosa, mix sugar and maida with a little water and add it to the batter.This helps make crispier dosa.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Flan
Ingredients
1 can evaporated milk
1 can condensed milk
10 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract for the caramel
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
Procedure
Mix the sugar & water in a saucepan boil until the sugar caramelize.
Pour the caramelized sugar into aluminum moulds.
Spread the caramel on the bottom of the mould.
Mix the evaporated milk, condensed milk, egg yolks and vanilla by hand . Pour the mixture on top of the caramel on the aluminum moulds,halfway up.
To bake the Leche Flan, place the mould on a larger baking pan half filled with very hot water.
Pre-heat oven to 370 degrees before baking. Bake for 45 mins.
Let it cool then refrigerate.
Serving
To loosen the Leche Flan, run a thin knife around the edges of the mould. Place a platter on top of the mould and quickly turn upside down to position the golden brown caramel on top.
1 can evaporated milk
1 can condensed milk
10 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract for the caramel
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
Procedure
Mix the sugar & water in a saucepan boil until the sugar caramelize.
Pour the caramelized sugar into aluminum moulds.
Spread the caramel on the bottom of the mould.
Mix the evaporated milk, condensed milk, egg yolks and vanilla by hand . Pour the mixture on top of the caramel on the aluminum moulds,halfway up.
To bake the Leche Flan, place the mould on a larger baking pan half filled with very hot water.
Pre-heat oven to 370 degrees before baking. Bake for 45 mins.
Let it cool then refrigerate.
Serving
To loosen the Leche Flan, run a thin knife around the edges of the mould. Place a platter on top of the mould and quickly turn upside down to position the golden brown caramel on top.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Kurle ghashi
This dish like many others varies at every konkani kitchen. Some add roasted ingredients along with basic coconut masala (masolu: coconut, roasted red chillies, tamarind & salt), some just use masolu with the addition of roasted onions. Many many experiments later, I stuck with this keeper dish. A perfect blend of heat from chillies & spices that goes great with the sweetness of crab meat, also let me not forget to mention the mesmerizing aroma of this ghashi is appetizimg in itself that invites crab lovers to the table.




Method
Heat 1 tsn of oil and fry coriander and methi seeds. Grind them with red chillies, coconut and tamarind to a smooth paste.
G's note: Traditionally, this dish has no turmeric in it, I tweaked a teaspoon of it just to brighten my dish. I'm not a rule follower anyway! :P

Ingredients:
Alaskan king Crabs about 3 lbs
1 medium sized Onion, thinly diced
1/2 cup Coconut
2 tsp coriander seeds
15 seeds methi
Red chillies 7-9
Tamarind paste 1/4tsp
Oil 2 tsp
Salt
Method
Heat 1 tsn of oil and fry coriander and methi seeds. Grind them with red chillies, coconut and tamarind to a smooth paste.
Heat remaining oil and fry onions till they are slightly brown. Add ground masala, salt and cook for a couple of mins. Now add the crabs, stir, cover & cook for around 20 Min's.
Great dish with white rice .tips:
Since I usually buy cooked crabs and it is refrigerated, I add about 2 cups of water in a biggest pan I have, place the crabs in a colander and steam the crabs for 20 mins without letting the water touch the crabs , so it is heated well throughout. Then steamed crabs are then added to the masala and brought to a rolling boil.
G's note: Traditionally, this dish has no turmeric in it, I tweaked a teaspoon of it just to brighten my dish. I'm not a rule follower anyway! :P
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Kalakand
Ingredients:
1 Tub ricotta cheese (14ounces)
1/2 Tin condensed milk
1/4 Cardamom powder
For Garnishing:
2 Tblsp almond chopped finely
2 Tblsp pistachios chopped finely
Method:
Heat the ricotta cheese in a heavy pan till it gets dry and all the water evapourates.
Add half a tin condensed milk and again stir it on medium heat till it gets dried up.
To this add powdered cardamom and stir till it becomes very thick.
Grease a dish with butter and pour the mixture.
Garnish it with chopped pistachios & almonds.
Cut it into small squares.
1 Tub ricotta cheese (14ounces)
1/2 Tin condensed milk
1/4 Cardamom powder
For Garnishing:
2 Tblsp almond chopped finely
2 Tblsp pistachios chopped finely
Method:
Heat the ricotta cheese in a heavy pan till it gets dry and all the water evapourates.
Add half a tin condensed milk and again stir it on medium heat till it gets dried up.
To this add powdered cardamom and stir till it becomes very thick.
Grease a dish with butter and pour the mixture.
Garnish it with chopped pistachios & almonds.
Cut it into small squares.
Labels:
Desserts
Jeera Meeri khadi
Ingredients:
3/4 cup coconut,
1 tsp cumin
10 peppercorns
2 dry red chillies
7-8 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 tsp tamarind paste
salt to taste
2 tsp oil
Method:
Heat half a teaspoon of oil in a pan. Fry the cumin, peppercorns and chillies until well toasted and aromatic. Let cool, then grind with coconut, tamarind and 2 cloves of garlic into a fine paste
Transfer to a sauce pan, add a cup of water and simmer over moderate heat.
Season to taste.
crush 4-5 cloves of garlic.
Temper with the remaining oil and garlic cloves and place on heat . Pour the tempering over khadi and serve hot.
3/4 cup coconut,
1 tsp cumin
10 peppercorns
2 dry red chillies
7-8 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 tsp tamarind paste
salt to taste
2 tsp oil
Method:
Heat half a teaspoon of oil in a pan. Fry the cumin, peppercorns and chillies until well toasted and aromatic. Let cool, then grind with coconut, tamarind and 2 cloves of garlic into a fine paste
Transfer to a sauce pan, add a cup of water and simmer over moderate heat.
Season to taste.
crush 4-5 cloves of garlic.
Temper with the remaining oil and garlic cloves and place on heat . Pour the tempering over khadi and serve hot.
My Sunday lunch
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Malai kulfi



Ingredients:
8 oz mango pulp
Coconut Milk -1 can
everest masala( dry fruits mix)- 3 tbsp
cool whip- 1 tub
condensed milk -6 oz
dry nuts-pistachio,almond,cashew nuts
saffron strands- about 2 pinches.
Method:
Mix all except cool whip to a well blended mixture.Fold in the cool whip,
prepare the bowl by sprinkling a little dry nut powders and saffron strands as a garnish, then pour malai into kulfi molds or into individual ramekins.
while serving, invert the kulfi into a plate to have the bottom of the ramekin as the top to beautify your creation.
Variation:
Mango pulp can be substituted with chikoo.
Coconut milk can be substituted with evaporated milk.
There are no rules when u make this recipe as this is a no fail recipe.
In the past when I made these, I have divided the malai into 3 and added mango to one part, pistachio to another and just saffron to the third to make it tri coloured and poured it into layers into a loaf pan.Just to achievethe look of the ice cream slabs we used to eat at "Ideals" in India.
Coconut Milk -1 can
everest masala( dry fruits mix)- 3 tbsp
cool whip- 1 tub

condensed milk -6 oz
dry nuts-pistachio,almond,cashew nuts
saffron strands- about 2 pinches.
Method:
Mix all except cool whip to a well blended mixture.Fold in the cool whip,
prepare the bowl by sprinkling a little dry nut powders and saffron strands as a garnish, then pour malai into kulfi molds or into individual ramekins.
while serving, invert the kulfi into a plate to have the bottom of the ramekin as the top to beautify your creation.
Variation:
Mango pulp can be substituted with chikoo.
Coconut milk can be substituted with evaporated milk.
There are no rules when u make this recipe as this is a no fail recipe.
In the past when I made these, I have divided the malai into 3 and added mango to one part, pistachio to another and just saffron to the third to make it tri coloured and poured it into layers into a loaf pan.Just to achievethe look of the ice cream slabs we used to eat at "Ideals" in India.
Pictured above.......mango,raspberry and pistachio kulfi.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Onion Bhaji
Ingredients:2 medium onions, finely sliced
1 cup besan
chopped cilantro
6 minced green chillies
1 tsp cumin seeds,crushed
1 tsp coriander seeds,crushed
1tsp fennel seeds(saunf),crushed
salt to taste
Oil for deep frying
Method:
Mix salt into the onions.Add the rest of the ingredients into the onions and sprinkle a little water to make a thick batter.
Heat the oil and add teaspoons of batter into the oil, fry till bhajjis are golden. Drain on paper towels. serve with ketchup and coriander chutney.
Tomato Rasam

Kamath Maayi made this especially for me this morning and I loved this Rasam with a twist.Here's the recipe.
Tomato-4
Jeera -2 tbsp
pepper -2 tbsp
garlic -10cloves
turmeric-1/4 tsp
red chillies-4
curry leaves
cilantro
salt
oil
Boil tomatoes in 3 cups of water and mash it.
Add salt.
Crush jeera and pepper in coffee grinder and set it aside.
Peel and crush garlic.
Heat oil for tempering.Add mustard seeds, redchillies,garlic,jeera pepper pwd,turmeric and curry leaves.Saute for a couple min's and add this to the rasam. Finally,add cilantro.
Tomato-4
Jeera -2 tbsp
pepper -2 tbsp
garlic -10cloves
turmeric-1/4 tsp
red chillies-4
curry leaves
cilantro
salt
oil
Boil tomatoes in 3 cups of water and mash it.
Add salt.
Crush jeera and pepper in coffee grinder and set it aside.
Peel and crush garlic.
Heat oil for tempering.Add mustard seeds, redchillies,garlic,jeera pepper pwd,turmeric and curry leaves.Saute for a couple min's and add this to the rasam. Finally,add cilantro.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Banh Khoai Mi
A dear friend of mine Nuong, shared her dessert with me one afternoon and I absolutely loved this. It wasn't as sweet to be called a dessert but this is as sweet as they eat in Vietnam. These slices of goodness was flavorful and were a perfect medley of coconut and Yucca............which are my favourite by the way. .....sort of reminded me my childhood since I remember eating something similar during the little time I spent my summer's at our farm house by the Coast.
MY memory of eating this is vague but I do remember eating this steamed and not baked................maybe it's a dream !
Either way, my friend got me a big dish of this rich goody cake and I wanted to post this before I forget. Now let me go enjoy my Banh Khoai Mi.
2 packages of frozen khoai mi (grated cassava)--found in the frozen section at most Asian markets
1 package of frozen shredded young coconut (found next to the frozen cassava)
1 can of condensed milk
2 Tablespoon of white flour
Preheat oven to 400. Combine all the above ingredients, and pour onto 2 square baking pans. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Don't overbake as the Banh Khoai Mi may become too dry. To serve, cut into square bars.
Labels:
Desserts
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Surnoli
This is one recipe that I have done more than a 100 times in a hope to get it right. My V and M loved it so much that I was on a mission to master this and I feel confident in saying that I did.
Whenever we have our cousins and amchi families get-together this is one of the recipe that I frequently make since I am very sure of the outcome. I don't have to worry if the proportions are right or if the batter will ferment on time, I dont have to put a lot of thought into breakfast eats when it comes to idli, dosa's and surnoli's. My cousins can vouch for that.
Rice – 4 cups
coconut 1 cup
poha 1 cup
methi 2 tsp
Turmeric powder 2 tsp
Yogurt 3 tbsp
1 slice of white bread....yes u read it right !
Jaggery
Salt to taste
Method
Soak the rice and the methi seeds for 3 to 4 hours.
In a separate bowl, wash and soak the beaten rice , 15 minutes before u start grinding with warm water. Drain in a colander.Soak bread in warm water too.
Now grind together the beaten rice, bread slice and coconut to a fine paste with no water . Add rice and methi. The batter should be of thick consistency.
To this batter add yogurt, jaggery, turmeric, and salt to taste.
Leave the batter overnight in the summer and atleast 24 hrs in the winter. Make thick dosas The dosas will turn out very fluffy. Serve hot with ghee or butter.
Tips
I usually have buttermilk powder ( found in baking isle at most grocery stores) on hand for this purpose to use on the days I don't have yogurt. Use 2 tbsp while u add turmeric.
Labels:
breakfast eats,
Dosa,
Family fav's
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Mushti polo
2 cups rice
1/2 cup Urad dal
1 cup poha
1/2tsp methi seeds
1/2 cup coconut
1 fistful cooked rice
Oil
Salt
Method:
Soak rice and daals in water for around 3hrs. Grind it with coconut. Add soaked poha and cooked rice and grind to a very smooth paste. Mix salt and keep it overnight for fermentation.
I sometimes use one musti(fistful) leftover rice since that's what makes it musti polo. I remember Mauma using ukudo tandla sheath for the musti and you cant mimic the taste with surai tandulache sheath.
This dosa is supposed to be thick , not spread around too much and also not needed to turn over.
Serve hot with any chutney.
My favourite chutney is either kotombari chutney or hing chutney.
Hing-ah-chutney
This is a great accompaniment to any dosa and I especially love this with musti polo.
ingridients
1 cup shredded coconut
6 dry red chillies
1/4 tsp tamarind paste
1/2 tsp hing powder
1/4 tsp urad dal
for seasoning
mustard
2 red chillies
curry leaves
a pinch of hing
Heat a tsp of oil and roast red chillies and urad dal in it. Take it off of heat and add hing powder. Grind coconut,urad dal, tamarind, hing and red chillies into a smooth paste. Transfer to a bowl.
Make a seasoning of mustard , red chillies, hing and curry leaves and garnish the chutney.
ingridients
1 cup shredded coconut
6 dry red chillies
1/4 tsp tamarind paste
1/2 tsp hing powder
1/4 tsp urad dal
for seasoning
mustard
2 red chillies
curry leaves
a pinch of hing
Heat a tsp of oil and roast red chillies and urad dal in it. Take it off of heat and add hing powder. Grind coconut,urad dal, tamarind, hing and red chillies into a smooth paste. Transfer to a bowl.
Make a seasoning of mustard , red chillies, hing and curry leaves and garnish the chutney.
Pann polo
I always loved this dosa and couldnt decide if it was the flavour or if it is the smell that comes to my memory first.
My Mauma was so good at this and I remember seeing her sprinkling the batter on the iron griddle instead of pouring it and wondered how she got it to exactly land every droplet in the griddle. When I followed her technique at first.......Oh boy............there was more cleanup than panpolo on my plate........lol.
cup white rice
2 tbsp coconut,
salt
Soak rice in enough water for 3-4 hrs . Wash and rinse rice, grind together with coconut and water to a very smooth paste. Add salt and water to make a thin batter.
Splash a serving spoon full of batter on a hot griddle. Cover and cook on one side till the top surface is cooked. You may leave it a minute or two so that edges get crispy.
Serve it with chutney.
My M I L makes godda soi with this and in my Mom's house the preffered side is Batate Song or alambe song .
My kid's love this as is. Well, as for me............I'm in my happy place just with the polo.
My Mauma was so good at this and I remember seeing her sprinkling the batter on the iron griddle instead of pouring it and wondered how she got it to exactly land every droplet in the griddle. When I followed her technique at first.......Oh boy............there was more cleanup than panpolo on my plate........lol.
cup white rice
2 tbsp coconut,
salt
Soak rice in enough water for 3-4 hrs . Wash and rinse rice, grind together with coconut and water to a very smooth paste. Add salt and water to make a thin batter.
Splash a serving spoon full of batter on a hot griddle. Cover and cook on one side till the top surface is cooked. You may leave it a minute or two so that edges get crispy.
Serve it with chutney.
My M I L makes godda soi with this and in my Mom's house the preffered side is Batate Song or alambe song .
My kid's love this as is. Well, as for me............I'm in my happy place just with the polo.
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