Milagu (pepper)thokku/Keti milagu kozhambu

We all know that pepper spice is gud for health than the hot taste we get from chillies.Pepper is being used widely by use in our day to day cooking.This milagu kozhambu/thokku is my mother's speciality.I always ask my mom to make it at least once in 2 weeks.

This can be stored in refrigerator for at least a week.This can be mixed with rice & had with vadam as side dish .This is also a gud side dish for curd rice.

This is how my mother makes it
Pepper 1 tsp
Jeera 1 tsp
Toordhal 1tsp
Coriander seeds 3tsp
Red chillies 6-7
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Few curry leaves
Tamarind soaked in water i small lemon size
Gingely oil 1/2cup
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Take 2-3 tsp of oil in a kadai & fry all except tamarind & turmeric powder.Cool & grind along with tamarind into fine paste.In a kadai add gingely oil & splutter mustard seeds.When they pop add curry leaves & the ground paste.Add turmeric powder & salt.Allow it to cook & thicken.Always keep it covered as it spills all over.Take of stove when it thickness.

More curry leaves gives it more taste.Have it with hot rice

colorful tomato rasam

Rasam is my all time favorite item which can be had with rice.U can find a lot of rasam varieties in my blog.I always wondered why we eat our meal in a particular way.Especially the south Indian thali.First comes sambar then rasam & finally curd rice.I always believe whatever v do there is a logical reason behind it.The way we eat this thali also has a reason.

Sambar that we prepare is full of spices & dhal which is rich in proteins.It also has vegetables in it so its quite filling.We eat rasam next which is very light & helps in digestion.It neutralizes all the heavy dhal we eat from sambar.Finally we finish with curd rice which is a natural coolant.It cools down our body & reduces the acidity level in our body.

Usually the rasam we prepare will have very less content in it & simple.But i learnt this rasam which has so many ingredients in it & so grand yet so light.After all parties & outing we wanted to have only rasam for dinner last night.This colorful tomato rasam which i prepared was so gud we finished it fully.
This is how i made it

Tomatoes 2
Green chillies 2
Garlic 1
chilli powder 1tsp
coriander powder 1tsp
cumin powder 1/2tsp
Pinch of hing
Jeera 1tsp
Feenu greek seeds 4-5 pieces
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Pepper 1/2tsp
Red chillies 2
Tamarind paste 1/4cup
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Toor dhal water 1/2cup(u can even use boiled mashed toor dhal)
Uradh dhal 1tsp
Salt to taste
Sugar 1/2 tsp
Ghee 2 tsp
Few coriander & curry leaves

In a bowl add some water & heat it.To this add chopped tomatoes & finely chopped green chillies.Then add sliced garlic,chilli powder,coriander powder & cumin powder.Now add salt & sugar.Then add the dhal water & coriander leaves to it.Then add the tamarind juice.Allow it to boil then simmer it & allow it to cook for 30 mins.When the rasam reduces to 80% of the content.

Now make thadka which is very essential to bring out the flavor in rasam.

Befor making thadka crush some garlic,cumin seeds & pepper.Pepper depends upon the spice level u want.Now in a sauce pan add ghee,when hot add redchillies,mustard seeds,feenugreek seeds,then add uradh dhal then hing.Now add some curry leaves & crushed garlic pepper & cumin.Now add little bit of turmeric.Now add this thadka to ur rasam & allow it tocook for another 10 mins.
Hing is the main flavoring agent in it.
For more flavor add some onions when u add green chilli.U can even add more garlic when u add onions.

Idly sambar

Hello all.....Blogging after a real long time.Right from the time i wanted to blog every day i could hardly sit with my laptop.Was very busy enjoying.Any ways back to blogging.I learnt quite a few items these which was very interesting.Will share all the items i learnt & made in future & all the tips i got.

Idly sambar is one favorite dish served in many south Indian restaurants.Saravana bhavan idly sambar is so famous i always wanted to make sambar like that for idly.Here it is sambar that has Saravana bhavan sambar taste.Simnce i dont have small idly mold with me i made regular idlies.


This is how i made the sambar

Ingredients
Toor dhal (cooked) 1cup
Pearl onions 1 cup
Tomato 1
onion 1
Tamarind juice 1 cup (diluted)
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Channa dhal 2tsp
Coriander seeds(dhaniya) 4 tsp
Red chilli 10
Pottu kadalai 1 tsp
Oil 3tsp
curry leaves & coriander leaves few
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Jaggery 1tsp

In a kadai add oil.Add channa dhal,coriander seeds & 8 red chillies.Roast them till little brown.Keep aside.Now add oil in the same kadai & add onions.saute a while & add half of a tomato & saute till tomato is soft.Allow it to cool & grind them all together to a fine paste along with pottu kadalai.Now in a kadai add oil.Splutter mustard seeds.When it pops add pearl onions & curry leaves.Now add red chillies and then the tamarind juice.Now add remaining tomato, turmeric powder & salt.Add the ground paste.Allow this mixture to boil till the raw smell of tamarind goes.Now add the cooked & mashed toor dhal to this & allow it to boil a little more.Now add jaggery & chopped coriander leaves & serve hot with idlies.

When serving with idlies first layer with idlies then pour some sambar on top.Add chopped onions & pour 1 tsp ghee on top.Garnish with coriander leaves.

Meethi keerai

I always loved spinach & all green leafy vegetables.Any form of keerai i would eat with out hesitation.I always wanted to make meethi keeri in South Indian style.So made this keerai kai this weekend.We just loved it.This meethi keerai is very gud for people with diabetics.

Here is the recipe

Meethi keerai 1cup(finely chopped)
Onion 1
Red chilli powder 1 tsp
Dhaniya powder 1/2tsp
Coconut 1/4cup (grated)
Sugar 1 tsp
salt to taste
oil 1 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Moong dhal 2 tsps

Soak moong dhal in water for 10 mins.Squeeze out water & set aside.Wash methi leaves completely & chop them finely.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds.Now add the cut onions & saute.Then add the cut meethi leaves,moong dhal,chilli powder, dhaniya powder & salt.Mix well cover & cook.When the leaves have cooked add sugar & grated coconut.Mix well.

Avoid sugar when you prepare for people with diabetics.

Vegetable rasam

I had this rasam full of vegetables in a restaurant here.It tasted so gud that i wanted to try it at home.It came out so well.We loved it

This is how i made it

cooked toor dhal 1 cup
tamarind juice 1cup (diluted)
turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
salt to taste
pinch of hing
garlic 5 pods
red chillies 3
jeera 1 tsp
oil 3 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
vegetables 1cup(i used carrots,beans,peas & cauliflower)
Tomato 1 chopped

Grind garlic,jeera & red chillies.In a bowl mix cooked dhal,tamarind juice,turmeric powder,hing & salt.Cut vegetables into small cubes & cook separately. In a kadai add oil & pop mustard seeds.Then add the ground garlic paste & saute.Now add the tamarind mix,tomato & vegetables.Allow them to cook till the raw smell of the tamarind goes.Vegetable rasam is ready.

Avakai pickle

Avakai pickle is the hot favorite of all pickle lovers.Who will not love this pickle!!!
Especially home made ones yummy.I was so lucky to get these tangy mangoes when i went to the Indian stores here.I made this pickle last week.Now they are ready to be finished.This is how i made it
Ingredients
Raw mangoes(cut)1 cup
Red chilli powder
Mustard powder
Fenugreek seeds
salt
Gingely oil

Measurement
This is the proposition i used to make the full bottle.For every hand full of cut mangoes i added 2 full spoons of red chilli powder,1spoon full of mustard seeds powder,2 & 1/2 tsp full of salt 1/4th spoon of fenugreek seeds.

First wash mangoes & cut them into big pieces(in India they cut it with seeds).Dry these cut pieces on paper so that moisture is absorbed from all pieces.All pieces should be dry.Now using the above mentioned measurement add all the ingredients.Then add gingely oil so that entire pickle is soaked in oil.Oil should float above.Mix well.Let it marinate nicely for 4-5 days.Daily mix the ingredients atleast 2 times.Mangoes will get tender & raw smell of chilli powder will go.This is when ur pickle is ready to use.

Ur yummy avakai pickle is ready.

Mambazha pachadi

Manga pachadi is prepared on tamil new year day to depict the different phases of life.I couldn't get hold of raw mangoes but could get less sweet ripe mangoes.So i made mambazha pachudi.This is also my dad's favorite & my mom prepares this with raw mango & sweetex.He still njoys eating this.

This is how i made it
Ripe mango 1cup(only pulp cut into pieces)
Jaggery 1/2cup(it depends upon the sweetness of the mangoes)
Elachi powder a generous pinch

Peel mango skin & cut the pulp into small pieces.In a kadai add the cut mangoes pieces and add little water.Mix well,cover & cook.When the mangoes are cooked add jaggery to this cooked mangoes.Mix well & cook till jaggery melts & mixes with the mangoes.Ur simple mambazha pachadi is ready.

Iam sending this to Methai mela hosted by cooking 4 all seasons.

Pal payasam-my 100th post & an award

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Iam so happie to make my 100th post.Blogging has been so much fun that i didnt realize i reached a milestone.I thank all my blogger friends for their support.A special thanx to Vidhas of Appetizing recipes who have been full of support right from the day i started blogging.

Here goes my 100TH Post pal payasam.This is a all time favorite of my family.My dad loves this payasam.Since he has diabetics i prepare it separately for him with sweetex.I love to c the joy in his face when he has these occasional sweets as he loves sweets.He is very strict about his diet,so we all take immense care to prepare his favorite items.Pal Payasam
Ingredients
Milk 1 litre
Sugar 1 tumbler
Rice 1 hand full

Wash rice & add to milk.Pressure cook this milk for 5 whistles & then turn the flame to as low as possible.Now leave this payasam to cook for 1 hour from the time u kept the stove in low flame.After an hour take off stove allow it to cool.Now add one tumbler sugar to this.This payasam tastes great when serve cold.So cool & chill this payasam before serving.

Iam sending this to Anu sriram's RD for summer event & mithai mela hosted by cooking 4 all seasons.

Vidhas of appetizing recipes have been showering with awards right from the beginning..She has passed n i love ur blog award.Thanx a lot Vidhas for all ur love & affection.Iam so honoured.

Pathiya kozhambu/Herbal kozhambu

After all the heavy lunch & dinner we had last week both my husband & myself decided to have a light food for this weekend.So i made this pathiya kozhambu for lunch this Sunday.This does not have tamarind or tomatoes or onion.This kozhambu is suitable for people having homeopathy medicines where in they have to follow certain restrictions.This kozhambu is served for nursing mothers too.

This is how i made it
Ingredients
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Jeera 1 tsp
Garlic 4 pods
Gingely oil 2-3 tsp
Brinjal 1/2cup

Grind to a fine paste
Parboiled rice 1cup
Jeera 1tsp
turmeric powder 1/2tsp
Garlic 10 pods
Redchillies 3
Curry leaves 1cup
Pepper 1 tsp
salt to taste

Cut brinjal into small pieces & cook them separately.Grind all the items given under"to grind" to a fine paste adding some water.Then dilute it.In a kadai add gingely oil.Splutter mustard seeds & jeera.When they pop add garlic pods & saute.Now add the cooked brinjal & saute.Then add the ground paste & mix well.Allow it to cook & thicken.When it reaches almost chutney consistency take off stove & serve with rice.

This goes to comfort food for illness hosted by recipe centre for all.

Red chutney

I love to have idly with this spicy look but not so spicy chutney.This can be prepared in no time but tastes heavenly.All ingredients in this chutney are easily available most of the times at home.
This is how i made itIngredients
Onion 1 big
Tomatoes 4
Grated coconut 3 tsp
Red chilli powder 1-2 tsp
salt to taste
oil 1-2 tsp

In a kadai add oil & saute chopped onions till it becomes a bit transparent. Then add the cut tomatoes,mix & add chilli powder & salt.Add little water & allow it to cook.When all the water evaporates add the grated coconut & mix well.Take off stove.cool & grind to coarse paste.Ur yummy chutney is ready.

Milagu jeera kozhambu

This is one tasty kozhambu i have ever prepared.It was a bit spicy still loved it.All ingredients are best for digestion.Pepper jeera kozhambu is an inspiration from Priya's easy n tasty recipes.U can find the original version here

Ingredients
Tamarind juice 1 cup
Tomato 1
Pearl onions 1 cup
Garlic 5 pods
Chilli powder 1 tsp
Pepper powder 1 tsp
Jeera powder 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
Pinch of hing
Gingely oil 1/4 cup
Mustard seeds,Uradh dhal & fenugreek seeds 1 tsp
currry leaves few
salt to taste

Puree tomato & keep aside.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds & uradhdhal.When it pops add curry leaves, pearl onions & garlic pods & saute till onions become translucent.Now add the tamarind juice.To this add tomato puree,chilli powder,pepper powder,jeera powder,coriander powder,salt,turmeric powder & hing.Mix well & allow it to cook.When the gravy thickness & oil separates & floats on top take off stove.Serve hot with rice.

Full meals

Weekend i always make full meals.It will mostly be a grand lunch most of the weekends.This week end i made 2 side dishes,sambar & rasam.

Here is the menu
Vengaya sambar
Vegetable rasam
Pavakai(Bitter gourd) sweet kai
Beans Usuli
Rice apalam
Curd
Rice



In India majority of the family have this for breakfast.Elders at home mostly will have only this for their meals.

Now to the recipe
Vengaya sambar
Ingredients
Pearl onions 1 cup
tamarind juice 1big cup
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
sambar powder 2-3 tsp
pinch of hing
salt to taste
oil 2-3 tsp
jeera 1/4 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
Red chilli 1
coconut shredded 1/4cup
cooked toor dhal 1cup

In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds & jeera.When they start to pop add red chilli &onions & saute.Add the tamarind juice.Now add turmeric powder,sambar powder,salt & hing.Allow it to cook untill the raw smell of the tamarind juice goes.When done add the cooked toor dhal.Grind coconut & add to the sambar.Boil & take off stove.


vegetable rasam
Ingredients
cooked toor dhal 1 cup
tamarind juice 1cup (diluted)
turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
salt to taste
pinch of hing
garlic 5 pods
red chillies 3
jeera 1 tsp
oil 3 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
vegetables 1cup(i used carrots,beans,peas & cauliflower)
Tomato 1 chopped

Grind garlic,jeera & red chillies.In a bowl mix cooked dhal,tamarind juice,turmeric powder,hing & salt.Cut vegetables into small cubes & cook separately. In a kadai add oil & pop mustard seeds.Then add the ground garlic paste & saute.Now add the tamarind mix,tomato & vegetables.Allow them to cook till the raw smell of the tamarind goes.Vegetable rasam is ready.

Pavakai sweet kai
Pavakai 1cup(chopped)
Onion 1
red chilli powder 1 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
jaggery 2 tsp
tamarind juice 1/2cup
salt to taste
oil 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp

In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds.Now add chopped onions & saute. Add cut pavakai & mix well.Now add tamarind juice,chilli powder,turmeric powder & salt.Mix well,cover & cook.When pavakai cooks add jaggery & mix well.Sweet,sour & tangy pavakai is ready.

U can find beans paruppu usuli here.
Our meals is complete with rice applam finishing with curd rice.Our dessert was store bought ice cream.

Iam sending this to Deesha for her to try if she wishes as a part of her "South Indies" , a fun concept to try south Indian dishes and post.

Tomato dosai

Dosai is a all time favorite for many people.Iam one among those dosai lovers.My friend gave me this recipe last week.I made this & it was so yummy.

This is how i made it.
Ingredients
Rice 1cup
Toor dhal 1hand full
Ginger 1 small piece
Green chilli 2-3
Tomatoes 4
salt to taste
Oil to make dosaiSoak rice & toor dhal together for 3 hrs.Grind all ingredients except oil.In a tawa Sprinkle some oil & pour one full cup of this batter & make dosas.This dosai is a tangy with tomato in it.Kids will love this dosai.U can add grated coconut,carrots,chopped coriander to the batter & make colorful dosais.Serve hot with coconut chutney.

Indian style broccoli

Broccoli is a part of cabbage family.Lesser u cook it better it tastes & gud for health.It is mainly used in salads.It is said that eating broccoli reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.A compound found in broccoli appears to have more effect than modern antibiotics against the creation of peptic ulcer causing bacteria.Broccoli is high in Vitamin C and also soluble fiber.

It takes very less time to cook this vegetable.So i tried this Indian way of preparing broccoli.This is how i made it.

Ingredients
Broccoli florets 1 cup
onion 1
chilli powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
Pinch of hing
Jeera 1/4tsp
oil 1-2 tspIn a kadai add oil.Then add jeera.Now add chopped onions & saute.Now add the broccoli florets & saute.Add chilli powder,hing & salt & sprinkle 2-3 tsp water.Cover & cook for a min.Ur broccoli kai is ready.It tastes best when it's a little crunchy.

Quick garlic rasam

This garlic rasam is a very handy rasam & quite tasty.We loved this rasam so much i make is very regularly.Thanx to lakshmi for posting this tasty rasam.

Ingredients
Cooked dhal 1cup
tamarind juice 1/2 cup(diluted)
rasam powder 1-2 tsp
turmeric powder /4tsp
salt to taste
oil 1tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
coriander leaves for garnishing
Mix all the ingredients and boil.Do not cook it for long.season with mustard seeds.

Garlic rasam powder

Garlic has long been considered a herbal "wonder drug", with a reputation in folklore for preventing everything from the common cold and flu to the Plague! Raw garlic is used by some to treat the symptoms of acne and there is some evidence that it can assist in managing high level of cholosetrol. It can even be effective as a natural mosquito replent.

This garlic powder can be stored & comes handy when u have to prepare lunch or dinner in a hurry.This rasam powder i got from lakshmi's taste of mysore. this is the powder recipe.

Garlic pods : 6 If they are new and thin, take more qty
Red Chillies : 10 appr.
Jeera : 1/2tbsp
Oil : 2 tspPeel garlic and remove the skin. Blend garlic+chillies+jeera. Now heat oil in a thick bottomed pan, add garlic chilli jeera mix and fry till there is no moisture left.

Bittergourd puli kozhambu

A little write up about bitter gourd will tell us how less bitter is this bitter gourd to our health.

The bitter gourd has excellent medicinal virtues. It is antidotal, antipyretic tonic, appetizing, stomachic, antibilious and laxative. The bitter gourd is also used in native medicines of Asia and Africa. The bitter gourd is specifically used as a folk medicine for diabetes. Recent researches have established that it contains a hypoglycaemic or insulin-like principle, designated as 'plant-insulin', which has been found highly beneficial in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should, therefore, be included liberally in the diet of the diabetic. Bitter gourd being rich in all the essential vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, B1, B2, C and Iron, its regular use prevents many complications such as hypertension, eye complications, neuritis and defective metabolism of carbohydrates. It increases body's resistance against infection.

With all these informations i decided to include bitter gourd regularly in our diet.
This puli kozhambu is so tasty that any on who says they don't like to eat bitter gourd will end up finishing it.There was no bitterness in this kozhambu.This is a Thirunelveli speciality.

This is how i made it.
Ingrdients
Bitter gourd 1(cut into cubes)
onion 1(chopped)
Tomato 1(chopped)
Tamrind juice 1cup(diluted)
oil 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
chilli powder 2-3 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
dhaniya powder 1/2 tsp
coconut shredded 3-4 tspIn a kadai add oil & mustard seeds & allow it to pop.Then add onions & saute(pearl onions tastes very gud).Now add chopped tomatoes & bitter gourd & saute till the gourd gets a bit tender.Now add tamarind juice & all the powders.Add salt to taste.Allow the kozhambu to cook & reach a particular consistency.Now grind coconut to fine paste & add to the kozhambu.Allow to boil.Take of stove.It tastes yummy.

godhumai ravai pongal

Godhumai ravai(broken wheat) is said to be gud for people with diabetics.I usually prepare uppma with this ravai.This time jus tried preparing pongal with it.It tasted too gud.Low calorie pongal with yummy chutneys.Totally oil free.No ghee.

Iam sending this post to JFI-Wheat hosted by Roma's space.

This is the recipe..
Ingredients
Godhumai ravai 3/4 cup
Moong dhal 1/4 cup
Pepper 1/4 tsp
jeera 1/4tsp
Ginger 1 small piece
Few curry leaves
A pinch of hing
salt to taste
cashew nuts few
Mix all ingredients with 3:1 ratio of water & ravai-moong dhal together,i.e, 3 cups of water for 1 cup of ravai & moongdhal together.Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles.Ur godhumai ravai pongal is ready.Serve hot with chutneys.

Pidi kozhukatai

Pidi kozhukatai is one traditional tiffin item prepared in south India.It is made out of rice flour.Its one simple easy recipe which is healthy too.It is easy to digest & use less oil as it is steamed.

This is how i made it.
Ingredients
Rice flour 1 cup
green chilies 1-2
oil 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
jeera 1/4tsp
curry leaves few
salt to taste

In a kadai take 2 tsp oil & add mustard seeds & jeera.Now add finely chopped green chillies & curry leaves.Now add water to this.Add salt to the water itself,it becomes easy to mix salt to the flour.When u add water do it fast otherwise oil starts spilling around.For one cup rice flour use 2 cups of water.When water starts to boil add rice flour mixing it at the same time.Now when it becomes like a dough take of stove.When it is little warm make it to small balls or flat ones whichever shape u want.Steam it in idly mold for 15mins.Serve it hot with chutney.

Kara kozhambu

Yet another chettinad variety.As i have mentioned in my earlier post i always fancy chettinad food.This i tried this weekend.It came out so well we finished it the same day.

Here is the recipe.
Pearl onions 1 cup
Garlic 5-6 pods
tamarind juice 1 cup (diluted)
oil 3 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/4tsp
chilli powder 1-2tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
coriander powder 1/2tsp
salt to taste
coconut milk 1/2 cup(diluted)
curry leaves fewIn a kadai add oil & splutter mustard.Add pearl onions & saute.Now add the garlic pods & saute some more.Now add the tamarind juice.Add chilli,tumeric & coriander powders.Add salt.Allow it to cook.When it reaches the required consistency lower ur flame & add coconut milk( i used store bought ready made coconut milk).When it starts to boil take off stove.Serve hot with hot hot rice.I loved it.Try for urself iam sure u will njoy as much as i did.