Dhabe ki daal

Ingredients:

1/4 cup chana dal
1/4 cup red kidney beans/rajma
1/2 cup green moong dal
2 chopped tomatoes
2 chopped onion
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
2 slit green chillies
1 small clove chopped garlic
1 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp dry kasuri methi leaves
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
1 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Method:

Soak the dals in water for about 6 hours. Drain the water and pressure cook until soft. Heat oil in a pan, add the chopped onion and green chillies. Saute until golden brown. Add the cumin powder, chilli powder, garlic, chopped tomatoes, salt and saute until the oil leaves the sides of the pan. Switch off the heat. Add this mixture to the cooked dal and cook on a low flame for 5 minutes. Heat butter in a separate pan, add the kasuri methi leaves and chopped coriander and saute for few seconds. Add this to the dal mixture and mix well. Serve with chapathis.

Serves 4

Cucumber gojju

Ingredients

1 cucumber deseeded and chopped fine
2-3 red chillies
1 tsp white sesame seeds/til
1 tsp chana dal
1 tsp urad dal
1/2 cup grated fresh coconut
Jaggery as needed
tamarind paste
salt to taste
1 tsp mustard seeds
curry leaves
1 tsp oil

Method:

Dry roast chana dal, urad dal, white til and red chillies separately. Grind into a paste (with little water)along with coconut, jaggery, tamarind and salt. Add the chopped cucumber to this ground paste and mix well. Heat oil, when hot add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add this to the cucumber mixture and stir until combined. Serve with rice or chapathi.

Serves 3

Baby Corn Coins

Ingredients:

1 cup sliced baby corns
1/2 cup all purpose flour/maida
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp soya sauce
1 tsp chilli sauce
water as needed
salt to taste
oil to deep fry


Method:

Mix flour, cornflour, ginger garlic paste, soya sauce, chilli sauce and salt. Add water to make a thick paste. Boil the sliced baby corns in salted boiling water for 5 minutes and drain. Dip the baby corns in the flour paste and deep fry in hot oil until golden brown. Serve with ketchup.

Serves 2

NOTE: If using canned baby corn, there is no need to boil. Just slice and deep fry them.

Banana Dosa

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
1 cup fine rava/semolina/chiroti rava
3/4 cup wheat flour
1 1/2 cup fresh yogurt
1/2 cup jaggery
1/4 cup grated fresh coconut
pinch of soda
pinch of salt

Method:


Blend bananas, jaggery and yogurt until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. The batter should be a fairly thick consistency. Heat tava, pour the batter and roast until golden brown on both sides. Serve hot with ghee.

Serves 4

NOTE: You can adjust the amount of jaggery according to your taste. If the batter is too thick, add more yogurt instead of water.

Pasta with mint pesto

"Pesto Sauce" is traditionally prepared using basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic and parmesan cheese. I made a slight variation and used mint leaves and walnuts instead. If you dont have basil leaves on hand, mint leaves is a good substitute.

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked pasta(I used rotini/corkscrew pasta)
1 chopped onion
1 chopped capsicum
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup baby corn, boiled and cut lengthwise

Mint Pesto:

1/2 cup mint/pudina leaves
1 tbsp roasted walnuts
1 small clove garlic
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese
3-4 red chillies
1/4 cup olive oil
salt

Blend all the above coarsely into a paste. Boil the pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep aside. Heat oil, add onion and saute until golden brown. Add capsicum, mushrooms and baby corn and saute for a couple of minutes. Add the pesto sauce,cooked pasta and salt. Mix well. Cook for about 2 minutes and turn off the heat. Add a dash of cream(optional) for a rich taste. Garnish with grated mozzarella.

Serves 4

Capsicum Masala

Ingredients:

1 chopped onion
1 chopped capsicum
1 tbsp roasted white til/sesame seeds
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp rasam powder
salt to taste

Make a paste of sesame seeds, milk and coconut . Heat oil, add onion and saute until golden brown. Add capsicum and saute some more. Add the ground paste, rasam powder, salt and sugar. Boil until it becomes a thick gravy. Serve with chapathis.

Serves 4

Shavige Uppittu (Vermicelli Upma)

Shavige is quick and easy to prepare and makes a tasty breakfast entree.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup vermicelli
4 cups water
chopped green chillies
chopped curry leaves
chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp chana dal and urad dal
1/4 cup roasted peanuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
pinch of hing
pinch of turmeric
salt to taste
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp lemon juice(optional)

Method:

Boil 4 cups of water, add the vermicelli,salt and a tsp of oil and cook until tender. Drain and keep aside. Heat oil, add the mustard seeds. When it sputters, add chana dal, urad dal, hing, green chillies,curry leaves and roasted peanuts. Add salt,coconut and vermicelli and mix well. Turn off the heat and add lemon juice. Garnish with chopped coriander.

Serves 3