Wednesday, April 23, 2008

View from my kitchen window - 1


I do not spend too much time in the kitchen, but I like to think that the time I spend there is productive...

I had not given a thought to how pleasant a kitchen window would be. I live on the second floor, so I get a good view while providing me enough privacy.....

I took this picture at about 3.30 in the afternoon,while nothing much is happening...

Most of the children are back from school and at home, the elders are taking their siesta, babies are taking their naps and moms like me are just taking a breather....

Come back for more pictures from my kichen window

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Inji curry (Pickled ginger) - my shortcut!



Vishu has come and gone, but I cannot get over the nostalgia that day invoked...especially since I did not have much time to prepare one of my favourite things ...Inji curry.

There are many people who call this Puli Inji. Puli is tamarind and Inji is ginger. This is one dish that gets mentioned even in the `Aithihyamala' as being equivalent to 108 dishes.

Anyway, I had bought some ginger with the intention of making a Vishu Sadya, but I am finally getting round to it today. So I guess this can be mentioned as my Tuesday Toot too!!!!



Inji/ ginger - 250 gms (finely chopped)
Green chillies - 6-7 (chopped)
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 3-4 stems
Red chilli powder - 1 and 1/2 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Hing/Asafoetida powder - a dash
Tamarind pulp - extracted from 3 lemon-sized balls
Jaggery - according to preference
Salt - to taste


Soak the finely chopped ginger in water and drain well...In a deep-bottom pan add 1 tbsp oil, when hot, add the mustard seeds. when they splutter, add the curry leaves and the ginger . Keep stirring to fry the ginger evenly till golden brown.... now add the chopped green chillies..make a paste of the red chilli powder and the turmeric powder and fry till the oil comes on top..now add the tamarind pulp and boil..add the salt, jaggery and asafoetida and take off the stove. When cool, store in an air-tight jar and keep in the fridge to last a few weeks....not that mine will last even 1 week...

I cut the pieces a bit bigger b'coz I love to bite the ginger.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Vishu Sadya


April 14th was Vishu...my favourite festival...

I love everything about it..the kani, Kaineettam from the elders, the sadya of course, and all the fire crackers...



I made a sadya, but ...with my baby daughter's help, I could manage only a few items...

Everything turned out really well, but in my excitement( I was running a bit late), I did not remember to take any snaps of the food items..

I made sambar, aviyal , cabbage thoran, sambharam, gothambu payasam and of course pappads and the ever-present pickles.

Raita (salad)


This ia a perfect accompaniment for any biryani.

Onions - 2 large
Tomatoes 2 large
Coriander leaves- 1 bunch
Green chillies- 2

Curd - 1/2 cup
Pinch of chilli powder
Pinch of chat masala powder
Pinch of sugar
Salt to taste

Cut all the into very small pieces. Beat curd and add the powders, sugar and salt. Blend well. Refrigerate till it is time to use.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Mutton Biryani - Chettinad style


Mutton - 1/2 KG
Onions - 3 large (sliced thin)
Green Chillies - 3 (slit in half)
Tomatoes - 2 large (sliced)
Garlic cloves - 5 (crushed)

whole spices
cloves - 5nos
pepper corns - 1 tsp
Cinnamon sticks - 2 inch
cardamom - 5 nos
1 bay leaves

Marinate the mutton for 1 hour ...
1/2 cup curd,
2 tsp ginger-garlic paste,
1 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
salt to taste

Soak 1 and 1/2 cups rice for 1/2 an hour and drain.(may add a half cup more)

Brown the sliced onions, keep aside half for later.
In a pressure cooker, heat 1 tsp oil and add the whole spices..once they release the flavour, add the brown onions, add just the mutton pieces and slightly cook them, add the tomatoes, green chillies and the crushed garlic, add the marinade and pressure cook the mutton..I waited for 3 whistles.

Lightly fry 2 tsp coriander powder and keep aside

Once all the steam settles, empty the mutton into a vessel. Layer the remaining browned onions and half the rice add the mutton pieces ,the coriander powder and add the rest of the rice. Now take the gravy and measure it with the same cup/measure as the rice. Liberally add mint leaves throughout the layers. Add boiled water to make the liquid nearly double the quantity of rice. (I put in 2 and 3/4 of liquid)
I have found that a little less than double is always better, especially in a cooker.

Instead of boiled water, add warm milk with a pinch of saffron for added flavour
Two whistles, and wait 20 minutes before removing the lid.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Cauliflower potato dry - Strictly vegetarian


This is due to a Gooey Kablooie request....!!!!!

cauliflower - 1 medium
Potato - 1 big (cut into bite sized pieces)
Jeera - 1 tsp
Tomato - 1 (sliced)
Green chillies - 2 to 3
Chilly powder - 3/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Cut the cauliflower into small buch of florets. Immerse in water with 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder and 1 tsp vinegar for atleast 10 minutes. Take out the pieces from the water towel and keep on a kitchen tand throw the water away..never strain and leave in the same vessel, could become a non-veg dish after all...

Now in a deep wok, add 1 tbsp oil. When hot, add the jeera. then add the cauliflowerand split green chillies and shallow fry. when lightly brown, add potatoes, chilliy powder, coriander powder and stir well. Add the tomato pieces and 1/2 glass of water , keep on medium flame and let cook with the lid on. When the potato pieces are cooked through,add a pinch of garam masala and some freshly ground black pepper. Let it become dry.

Enjoy hot.

Good combination with rice,dal and pappads

Very sorry that i do not have a picture of the dish to post..I make it often and so don't remember to take any snaps.

Friday, April 4, 2008

The foodie blogroll

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been included in the Foodie Blogroll...I thought I would act blase about it, but I have to tell this.

And the leftover queen herself has left a comment for my Chicken made easy....and healthy.



Take a peek