Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Announcing Serve It Series Finale - Original Recipes from Home

This is the last theme in the Serve It Event series. After 15 themes over 18 months, Serve It event series hosted by I and Denny comes to an end with this one. The theme is "Original Recipes From Home" and runs for two months, November and December. Every family has its own tradition and practices which has been followed for generations. Be it Diwali, Pongal, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any festival each of us would fondly remember the practices and customs followed in the celebration. And not to forget every tradition revolves around food. This theme is all about those family recipes which are close to your heart and dear to your tummy.
Check out the rules below and let your entries flow..
Here are the guidelines for the event:
1. You may send in any entry that is your family recipe.
2. The most important rule is that dish should NOT be served in any hotels, restaurants, shops or bakeries.
3. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are allowed.
4. Please link back to this announcement page and also to Denny's page here.
5. New entries are appreciated, however if you are sending archived entries, please re-post as latest (with a date in November/December 2012) and update with both the links to the announcement page and logo.
6. Usage of links and logo is mandatory.
7. Last date for submission of your entries is December 31, 2012.
8. To submit your entries, just link your entries using the linky tool below.
9. Non-bloggers also can send their entries with a picture to the below email-id.
10. If you have a problem in linking email us your problem to serveit[dot]series[at]gmail[dot]com. We will try to resolve it.
Note: If the entries are inappropriate to the theme, we would have to remove the entries from the linky sans notification. If there are other issues like link or logo missing we would definitely notify through email.
Linky for entries:

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Puli Kaichal / Home made Puliyogare / Tamarind Rice | Indian Rice Recipes

Puli Kaichal meaning "boiled tamarind" is one of the ready to eat rice mixes. Puliogare/Puliodharai is known for its long shelf life and is a perfect food for packing during travel. This is DH's favorite and since MIL is here she has been making it quite often. Actually she has been making a lot of her son's favorites.. talk about 'pampering' :). This time I managed some time to click few pictures.
Ingredients:
Tamarind (seedless) - 1/4 kg
Gingelly oil - 120 ml
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Tempering:
Mustard seeds - 2 tbsp
Urad dhal - 1 tbsp
Chana dhal - 1/2 cup
Curry leaves - a few
Red chillies - 4 broken
Roast and grind:
(1)
Coriander seeds - 1 cup
Chana dhal - 2 tbsp
Red chillies - 10
Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 twig

(2)
Fenugreek - 1 tbsp
Sesame seeds - 1 1/2 tbsp

Method:
Soak the tamarind in warm water for about 1 hour and take a thick extract. This enables extraction of more juice. Roast the ingredients in the list one by one. Roast red chillies and asafoetida with a little oil. Let it cool and grind group (1) ingredients and group (2) ingredients separately to a fine powder. Heat oil in a kadai and add the tempering ingredients. When the chana dhal is roasted (about 3-4 mins) add the tamarind extract with 2 cups of water, turmeric powder and salt. Allow it to come to a rolling boil. Now add the ground powders and mix well without lumps. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow it to simmer until the mixture thickens and oil starts oozing out. This may take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Allow it to cool and store in a dry airtight container. Mix with cooked rice as required. This mixed rice keeps well for couple of days in room temperature. The Puliyogare itself keeps good for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. Just make sure you use only dry spoon when mixing.
Sending this tangy concoction to Serve It - Boiled event happening at my space and Denny's.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Pavakkai Ellu Masala / Bittergourd in Tomato Sesame Sauce | Indian Curry Recipes

Bittergourd - The love or hate vegetable. People either love it through and through or hate it to the core. I belong to the first group. Love it in any form baked, boiled or fried. But I bet that after tasting this dish even the people who hate it would come to my group. This is a simple stir-fry with a few ingredients and makes eating bittergourd a heavenly experience and I am not exaggerating.
Ingredients:
Bittergourd - 3 medium sized - finely chopped
Onion - 1/2 of a big one - finely chopped
Tomato - 1 - finely chopped
Oil - 2 tbsp
Jaggery - 1/2 tsp
White Sesame seeds - 1 tsp - roasted until light brown and powdered
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp - per taste
Salt - to taste
Method:
Heat oil and saute the onions until soft. Add the bitter gourd pieces and fry until it is almost cooked. Add the tomato and pinch of salt and fry until the tomatoes turn mushy.. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder and continue to cook until the mixture is almost dry. Top with jaggery and mix. Finally add sesame powder and mix well.. Have in low heat for 5 mins and then remove from the heat. Serve hot as a side dish for rice or roti.
Sending this favorite dish to Bon Vivant #9 Simply sides and to EP series - Sesame event by Julie.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Vendakkai More Kulambu / Okra in Yogurt Sauce | Indian Curry Recipes

I love mor kulambu. Period. If you are a yogurt lover like me you sure would love it. This mildly spiced tangy gravy tastes super delicious. If you have a blender and some sour yogurt (or not so sour one) you are all set to try this. Any vine vegetable like okra, bottle gourd etc can be added to this. You could also make urad dhal bonda and add to this kulambu. Try this out and enjoy a comforting meal.
Ingredients:
Okra - cut into 1/2 inch pieces - 1 cup (I used frozen cut okra)
Besan / Chick pea flour - 2 tbsp
Curd/Thick Greek yogurt - 1 1/2 cups (can use lesser if sour)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt - taste
Make a paste:
Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup
Green chilli - 4
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Pepper corns - 1/4 tsp (optional)
Tempering:
Oil - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Urad dhal - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Red chilli - 1 - broken
Method:
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a kadai and saute the cut okra until almost cooked. Grind the ingredients under make a paste adding little water. Add the ground paste to the kadai and fry until the raw smell disappears. Mix the besan with 2 cups of water without any lumps and add to the kadai along with turmeric powder and salt. When the mixture starts to boil add the whisked yogurt and let it heat for about 5 mins in the heat. In a small pan heat oil and add the ingredients to temper and pour over the kulambu. Serve hot with rice and a spicy curry.

Sending this awesome kulambu to Serve It - Boiled event happening at my space and Denny's. Also to Sumee's Bon Vivant#9 - Simply Sides; Radhika's Let's Cook - Protein Rich foods; Jagruti's Know your Flours - Besan.


Saturday, October 6, 2012

Badami Mushroom Matar Masala / Mushroom and Peas in Almond Curry | Indian Curry Recipes

I love mushroom. Mushroom is a low calorie herb which is very versatile. I have made and blogged about four different mushroom recipes viz. Bellpepper Mushroom Masala, Minty Mushroom Curry, Chettinad Mushroom Curry, Kadai Mushroom. I never get exhausted in trying mushrooms in different ways and always in the lookout for more. This time I tried Denny's Mushroom Badami curry and it was very delicious.


Ingredients:
Mushrooms - 1-8oz pk - cleaned and sliced thin
Frozen peas - a handful
Cinnamon stick - 1 inch
Coriander powder - 1/2 tbsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Curd/Greek Yogurt - 4 tbsp - whisked smooth with a little water
Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Freshly ground black pepper - 1/2 tsp
Make a paste:
Onion - cubed - 1/2 of a big one
Green chilli - 2 or 3
Kasakasa / Poppy seeds - 1/2 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tbsp
Almonds - 12-15
Method:
Grind the almonds until almost fine powder. To that add the remaining ingredients to make a smooth paste.
Heat oil in a kadai and add the cinnamon stick. Add the ground paste and fry for about 3-4 mins, until it changes little darker. Add the coriander powder, garam masala powder and salt. Reduce the heat to medium  and mix in the whisked yogurt while stirring continuously. This way the yogurt would not curdle in the heat of the spices. Now add the sliced mushrooms and one cup of water. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the cover and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Add the green peas and coriander leaves and simmer for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper and serve with rotis or pulao.
Sending this creamy masala to Serve It - Boiled event happening here and at Denny's. Also sending to Sumee's Bon Vivant#9-Simply Sides and Radhika's Let's Cook-Protein rich food.