الاثنين، 31 أغسطس 2015

No Croutons Required - Call for September 2015 Submissions

no croutons required challenge

Once again it's my turn to host No Croutons Required. This long running monthly event, alternately hosted by Jacqueline of Tinned Tomatoes and myself, showcases vegetarian soups and salads from fellow cooks. The weather is still warm, but there is a hint of autumn in the air, so I suspect we will have a nice mixture of soups and salads as the season is in transition.

As always, it's easy to participate.

To do so, prepare a soup or salad that is suitable for vegetarians and showcase it on your blog.

Link back to this announcement and Lisa's Kitchen as I am the host for September, and also Jacqueline's blog, as she is my co-host for this event.

Add your recipe using the linky tool at the end of this post by the 28th of this month. Only one entry per blogger please.

The roundup will be posted at the end of the month.

We are very much looking forward to your inspired creations. Soups and salads are a staple all year round and those who enjoy cooking never seem to tire of finding new recipes, myself included.



Rajma Biryani Recipe-Rajma Rice-Sunday Lunch Recipes Series 28

Rajma biryani recipe
Last week I couldn’t make biryani recipes on Sunday as I was busy in Onam Sadya preparation.This Sunday I cooked Rajma biryani in an easy way following this recipe.I guess many of you make Rajma pulao/Rajma rice.This recipe is also very similar to that but its with slight variations in masala.I have already shared mixed pulses biryani using Chana,rajma etc.But today’s Rajma biryani recipe is simple to make compared to pulses biryani.Its an ideal lunch box recipe for kids & adults as well.Do give a try.Lets see how to prepare Rajma biryani in pressure cooker.Check out my other biryani recipes in this series here.
Rajma biryani recipe

Rajma Biryani recipe


Rajma Biryani recipe Rajma biryani recipe - Sunday Lunch Recipes Series 28
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Lunch menu
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Hours
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 10H15Min


INGREDIENTS

  • Kashmir Rajma - 1/3 cup ( Its small in size than usual rajma)
  • Basmati rice - 1 cup
  • Salt - as needed
  • Water - 1.75 cups
To grind
  • Ginger - 1 inch & Garlic - 5 cloves OR G&G paste - 1/2 tbsp
  • Green chilli - 1-2 no
  • Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
  • Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Dhania powder - 1 tsp
  • Cloves - 2 nos
  • Cardamom - 1 no
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
  • Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
To saute
  • Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
  • Bayleaf - 1 no
  • Big onion - 1 no
  • Tomato - 1no
  • Mint leaves - 1 tbsp chopped
  • Curd/yogurt - 1 tbsp
  • Ghee - 1 tbsp
METHOD
  • Wash and soak the rajma for 12 hours or overnight.I used Kashmiri rajma.So my rajma looks small in size( I soaked in hot box adding hot water.So mine cooked very soft).Wash and soak the basmati rice for 30 minutes.
Rajma biryani recipe
  • Grind all the ingredients given under “ to grind” to a smooth paste.Set aside.
Rajma biryani recipe

  • Heat oil in a pressure cooker base. Saute the bayleaf,sliced onions.Saute till onion turns transparent.Add the ground masala paste.Saute till the raw smell goes off.Add the chopped tomatoes & saute till mushy.Add the chopped mint leaves,curd and mix well.
Rajma biryani recipe
Rajma biryani recipe
  • Add water,salt and soaked rice & rajma.Add ghee & pressure cook in low flame for one whistle in low flame.Open the cooker,fluff the rice with a fork.Serve with raita !
Rajma biryani recipe
    Enjoy !
Note
  • Adjust the quantity of spices as per your taste
  • You can use the regular rajma in place of kashmiri rajma..

Try this simple n healthy rajma biryani recipe.It tastes yumm !!
Rajma biryani

السبت، 29 أغسطس 2015

Palada Payasam Recipe - Palada Pradhaman Recipe - Kerala Onam Sadya Recipes


Kerala palada payasam / Palada pradhaman recipe without condensed milk
Palada payasam is a creamy, rich Kerala dessert recipe that is made specially during festivals like Onam, Vishu. It is made with milk, sugar and ada (rice chips) Some people add condensed milk by reducing the quantity of sugar.But the authentic version is made by boiling and cooking ada in milk in a thick wide pan called Uruli in Malayalam.Here I used store bought ada.I cooked the ada using pressure cooker and added in thickened, sweetened milk.It was very creamy and its become my favorite payasam now.Iam happy that I have tried Kerala's most popular Ada pradhaman and palada payasam for this year's onam sadya.Lets see how to make Kerala style palada payasam with step by step photo.


Palada payasam Recipe


Palada pradhaman Recipe Palada payasam using store bought ada
Cuisine: Kerala
Category: Sweet
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 40 Minutes
Total time: 50 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Store bought ada- 1/2 cup
  • Sugar- 1/3 - 1/2 cup
  • Milk – 1 liter
  • Cardamom - 3 nos ( crushed)
  • Cashews & raisins - few
  • Ghee - 2 tbsp
  • Salt -a pinch
METHOD
  • Soak the ada in hot water for 30 minutes & pressure cook it in medium flame for 1 whistle adding water twice the quantity of ada. Don’t worry even if ada turns slightly mushy because if you put them in milk ,it will separate.Remove the ada and set aside.
Ada Pradhaman Recipe
Palada Pradhaman Recipe
  • Boil the milk in a pan and keep stirring to avoid burnt bottom.Boil the milk till it reduces to half.Milk turns pale orange in color.Now add the cooked ada and sugar. Mix well and boil for sometime.
  • If you wish u can condensed milk at this stage by reducing sugar. Add cardamom powder and  roasted nuts.

Enjoy !
Note
  • Adjust the quantity of sugar as per your taste.
  • Use full fat milk for rich taste.

الجمعة، 28 أغسطس 2015

Sweet Potato Falafel

Sweet Potato Falafel

Anyone who regularly frequents this space will know I adore little bites, especially when they are baked as it cuts done on oil content and time too. I have baked falafels on more than one occasion and this time I wanted to try falafel with sweet potato along with the chickpeas that are the traditional base for falafels. I surely wasn't disappointed with the result.

They were really easy to make, which is good when it's hot outside and the desire to spend a prolonged period of time in the kitchen is not the first priority. The falafels were slightly crisp on the outside with a melt-in-your-mouth interior. They can be served up as an appetizer, or for a light meal with your favorite chutney or, as I did, with a creamy and tangy yogurt and tahini sauce. I wanted a grain component to the meal and also decided to serve up some brown rice on the side. These certainly would be wonderful served in a pita pocket along with some diced tomato or anything else that suits your fancy.


Sweet Potato FalafelSweet Potato Falafel
Recipe by
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Published on August 28, 2015

Crispy golden-orange baked sweet potato and chickpea falafels seasoned with spices and served with a simple creamy, tangy and lemony yogurt and tahini sauce

Print this recipePrint this recipe

Falafel:
  • 2/3 cup dried chickpeas (2 cups cooked)
  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced or crushed
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 2 green chilies, seeded and minced
  • handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons chickpea flour (besan), or more as needed
Sauce:
  • 1 1/4 cups plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • juice from 1 lemon (3 tablespoons)
  • sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions:
  • Rinse the chickpeas and soak for 8 hours or overnight in several inches of water. Drain and rinse, then transfer to a medium saucepan and cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until buttery soft. Drain and transfer to a food processor.

  • Meanwhile, scrub the sweet potato and roast in a 425° oven for 35 minutes or until fork tender. Let cool and then remove the skin.

  • Add the garlic, shallot, chilies, parsley, ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, paprika, ground cardamon, olive oil and salt to the food processor. Pulse for a minute or so until everything is combined and the chickpeas are reduced to rough crumbs. Add the sweet potato and process further until combined.

  • Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and stir in the chickpea flour. The mixture should be fairly soft. Add more chickpea flour if the mixture is too moist (if you had a larger sweet potato). Chill the mixture in the refrigetor for 30 to 60 minutes to make the falafels easier to shape.

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat an oven to 400°. Shape about 1 tablespoon of the falafel mixture into a little ball. If the mixture is too soft, add a bit more chickpea flour. Repeat until the falafel mixture is all shaped.

  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, turning them half way through the cooking time, until golden.

  • To make the sauce, whisk together the ingredients and chill until ready to serve.

Makes 12 to 15 falafels

Sweet Potato Chickpea Falafel

Other little bites to enjoy from Lisa's Kitchen:
Baked Quinoa Falafel Bites
Spicy Baked Chickpea Koftas
Potato Patties Stuffed with Spiced Green Peas (Aloo Matar Tikki)
Vegetarian Samosa Cakes with Tamarind Chutney

On the top of the reading stack: The Holiday Kosher Baker: Traditional & Contemporary Holiday Desserts by Paula Shoyer

Audio Accompaniment: sweet silence

الخميس، 27 أغسطس 2015

Kerala Ulli Sambar Recipe-Onion Sambar For Idli,Dosa & Rice

For every Onam sadya menu,I love to try varieties of Kerala style sambar.I have tried Mixed vegetable sambar and Arachuvitta sambar.This year,I prepared Ulli sambar/Onion(Shallot) sambar for the first time from this space.It was easy to make without coconut & grinding job and tasted yummy.It was a good side dish for idli,dosa & tiffin varieties like pongal,upma and it was also a good accompaniment for plain rice.We loved this sambar very much.The highlight of this recipe is that the spice powders are roasted & mixed with the sambar at the end.It gives a superb flavor to the sambar and tastes more like hotel ones.You can try this sambar for mini idli.It tastes awesome with ghee.Do try this easy sambar recipe for this Onam sadya and enjoy.Lets see the preparation of Kerala style ulli sambar .
Check out our Tamil nadu style Vengaya sambar recipe for rice.

Kerala Ulli Sambar Recipe


Kerala Ulli Sambar Recipe Kerala Ulli Sambar Recipe - How to make Shallot/Small Onion sambar for idli,dosa & rice
Cuisine: Kerala
Category: Side dish
Serves: Serves 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Toor dal - 1/2 cup
  • Tamarind - Medium lemon size
  • Coconut oil – 1 tbsp ( for sauting)
  • Small onion/Shallots - 20 nos
  • Green chillies – 1-2 nos
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Tomato - 1 no
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Coriander powder - 2 tsp
  • Sambar powder – 1 tbsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
  • Jaggery – 1/2 tsp
To temper
  • Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Hing/Asafetida - a pinch
  • Red chilli - 1 no
To garnish
  • Coriander leaves - as needed
METHOD
  • Soak tamarind in war water and take the extract using 1 cup of water.Pressure cook toor dal adding enough water,turmeric powder & a pinch of hing.Mash well and set aside.
  • Heat oil in a kadai and saute the small onions,green chillies,curry leaves till onion turns transparent. Add the tomato pieces,salt & saute till mushy.

  • Add the tamarind extract,turmeric powder and boil well. Add jaggery.After the onions are cooked well,add the mashed dal.

  • Heat oil in a kadai and when its heated , splutter mustard seeds,cumin seeds,hing,sambar powder,red chilli powder & dhania powder.Mix well in medium flame and add everything to the sambar.Boil well for a minute.Add raw curry leaves.Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves. Enjoy !

Visit my Onam Sadya recipes here

Note
  • Make sure you don’t burn the masala powders while roasting.
  • Adding them at the end is the highlight of this ulli sambar.So do follow the same.
  • Add more chilli powder & sambar powder as per your taste.
  • You can also add big onions if you don’t have small onions in hand.But small onions gives the nice flavor.
Enjoy Kerala style Ulli sambar with by mixing with plain rice & ghee.It can also be had with Idli,dosa & pongal !



الأربعاء، 26 أغسطس 2015

Ada Pradhaman Recipe - Kerala Onam Recipes

Ada pradhaman recipe
Ada Pradhaman is an yummy,traditional Kerala dessert recipe (Payasam) that is made specially during Onam and Vishu.Onam sadya would not be complete without Ada pradhaman.Last year I tried Palada pradhaman by making homemade ada(Rice chips) using rice flour.This time I found a packet of readymade ada in a nearby store.So I bought them and tried both palada pradhaman( with milk & sugar) & Ada pradhaman( with coconut milk & jaggery) recipes.My job became much easier with store bought ada.I referred this blog and few video for making Ada pradhaman.It came out very well.The flavor & taste of cooked ada with jaggery syrup and coconut milk was awesome.We had two bowls of this ada payasam after having the splendid Onam Sadya lunch.Lets see the preparation of Kerala style Ada pradhaman recipe.
Check out my Onam sadya lunch menu ideas and recipes here !!
Ada Pradhaman Recipe

Ada pradhaman Recipe


Ada pradhaman Recipe Ada Pradhaman using store bought ada
Cuisine: Kerala
Category: Sweet
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml
  • Store bought ada- 1/2 cup
  • Grated Jaggery - 1 cup
  • Coconut milk – 2 cups
  • Cardamom - 2 nos ( crushed)
  • Roasted coconut - 2 tbsp
  • Cashews & raisins - optional
  • Ghee - 2 tbsp
  • Milk – as needed (optional)
METHOD
  • Soak the ada in hot water for 30 minutes & pressure cook it in medium flame for 1 whistle adding water twice the quantity of ada. Don’t worry even if ada turns slightly mushy because if you put them in jaggery syrup,it will separate.Remove the ada and set aside.
Ada Pradhaman Recipe
Ada Pradhaman Recipe
  • Chop a coconut slice into small pieces.Chop the cashews and roast everything in ghee.Add to the payasam at the end.
  • Slice the coconut using the back of ladle or knife OR grate a medium sized coconut.Grind it adding 1 cup of water.Strain the thick coconut milk.This is first milk.Set aside.Again grind the mixture adding 1/2 cup of water and take the second milk.Grind it again adding 1/2 cup of water and take the 3rd milk.Keep aside.
Ada Pradhaman Recipe
Ada Pradhaman Recipe

  • In a wide bowl,melt the jaggery and strain the syrup to remove the impurities.Add this syrup to the cooked ada.Boil well.Add the 3rd milk and boil for 2-3 minutes and add the second milk.Boil for a minute and add the first milk.Switch off the stove after adding the first milk because over boiling may curdle the mixture.Lastly add the roasted coconut pieces,cashews and raisins and add to the payasam.
Ada Pradhaman Recipe
Ada Pradhaman Recipe

Enjoy !
Note
  • Adjust the quantity of jaggery as per your taste.
  • Adding dark colored jaggery /Paagu vellam gives a nice color to this payasam.
  • Adding cashews & dry grapes in optional.But don’t skip roasted coconut.
  • Add more coconut milk  & ghee for rich taste.

Try this tasty ada pradhaman payasam for Onam and enjoy with your family !


الثلاثاء، 25 أغسطس 2015

Herbed Marinated Mushrooms

Herbed Marinated Mushrooms

Mushrooms make their appearance on the menu at least a few times a month in my kitchen, if not more. Indeed, I have well over 100 recipes posted here on the blog featuring these succulent delights. On those rare occasions when I dine out, I always sample a few of the mushroom recipes and find myself judging the skill of the chef based on their preparation. Though not difficult to cook with, mushrooms ought to be treated with respect.

The earthy and meaty texture of shrooms is magical. They are such a versatile ingredient that takes on the flavor of the dishes they feature in while shining in their own right. With so many varieties to choose from, mushroom aficionados will never get bored. Perfect in soups and stews, salads, casseroles, toppings for breads, stuffed, baked, sautéed and, in this case, marinated, the possibilities are endless.

My most recent exploration in the kitchen was an appetizer with Italian seasoning that nearly spoiled my dinner because these little bites are so highly addictive. Not that there is anything wrong with eating just these for dinner. And I could, often. It's the mushrooms that matter here, in all of their glory. Dressed up with olive oil, herbs and vinegar, the mushrooms are vibrant with a bit of zest to accent the earthiness of the mushrooms.

Marinated Mushrooms with Italian herbs

Easy to make up, they are a perfect addition to any appetizer platter. They are best left to marinate for at least 2 hours, and best if left overnight because they taste better after the flavors have had a chance to meld with the mushrooms — that also means that they can be made ahead of time if you happen to be planning a gathering or party.

Notes: I used fresh herbs in this recipe because I wanted to enjoy the ones I planted this year. Fresh is usually best when it comes to herbs, but dried herbs can be used instead without sacrificing flavor. Simply substitute about half the quantity of the fresh herbs for dried. If cremini mushrooms cannot be found, use all button mushrooms instead. Using smaller mushrooms results in a particularly enjoyable bite-sized appetizer.

Herbed Marinated MushroomsHerbed Marinated Mushrooms
Recipe by
Published on August 25, 2015

A mix of tender succulent mushrooms marinated in a delicious oil and vinegar marinade with fresh herbs — a terrific appetizer at any time of year

Print this recipePrint this recipe

Ingredients:
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1 lb (450 g) small cremini mushrooms, washed and stems removed
  • 1 lb (450 g) small white button mushrooms, washed and stems removed
  • 2 teaspoons fresh oregano, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 4 to 5 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • pinch of turmeric
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, to taste
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoons sea salt, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions:
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat in a large wok or saucepan. When hot, add the shallots and garlic and sauté until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high and stir in the mushrooms. Fry, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms begin to "squeak" and release their juices, about 7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl.

  • Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil along with the rest of the ingredients and stir until well combined. Taste for seasoning.

  • Let the mushrooms sit for about 30 minutes until cool, mix again, then cover and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Stir the mixture occasionally to distribute the marinade.

  • Can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Makes 4 to 6 appetizer servings

Marinated Mushrooms with Herbs

More mushroom recipes to grace your tables from Lisa's Kitchen:
Teriyaki Mushrooms and Cashews
Mushrooms with Coriander and Cumin
Mushrooms Paprika (Houby Paprikas)
Linguine with Pea-Basil Pesto and Mushrooms

On the top of the reading stack: Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook

Onam Sadya Recipes/Ideas-Kerala Lunch Menu


I wish all my readers and friends a very happy Onam.”ONAM ASHAMSAKAL” !!I am happy to post my 4th Onam sadya menu for this year’s Onam festival falling on August 28-2015.I have been sharing Kerala Onam sadya lunch menu ideas for the past 3 years successfully.Every year I wait for Onam festival to make this feast and I always wish to make it better than my previous onam sadya menus.This year I prepared nearly 18 dishes,bought few from stores and served 25 dishes in Banana leaf.It took nearly 3 hours for me to make this thali.In my 5 years of cooking,this is the first time I cooked & clicked continuously for 3-4 hoursHappyTongue and that too lots of varieties.All the dishes came out very well.Sendhil & Raksha gave a big thumbs up and had a hearty meal.This year I tried Ada pradhaman, Kootu curry, Carrot kichadi, Kerala Ulli sambar and Sambaram recipes for the first time by referring few blogs. I have posted most of the recipes with stepwise pictures in my Onam sadya menu 1 & 2.So I have shared those links and the blogs from which I followed the remaining dishes.I have also discussed the method I followed to cook the sadya easily.I hope beginners would find it useful.Lets see how to make Onam sadya lunch recipes at home with some preparatory works.

Check out my Onam sadya Menu - 1 

Onam sadya Menu - 2 

Onam sadya Menu - 3
Onam sadya

 

Onam sadya recipes


Onam sadya recipes Kerala Onam Sadya Lunch Menu ideas
Cuisine: Kerala
Category: Lunch menu
Serves: Serves 3-4
Prep time: 60 Minutes
Cook time: 120 Minutes
Total time: 180 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
Recipes list - Main course
Side dishes
Pickles & Payasam
Other recipes u may wish to try
METHOD
  • Plan the menu and buy the vegetables accordingly.Soak the tamarind and pulses in over night or do it in the early morning.
  • In the morning soak the vanpayar/Cowpeas & brown chana separately in hot water for making Erissery & Kootu curry. It will take around 4 hours to soak.
  • I used 2 cookers of 3 liter capacity for making this menu.
  • Grate 2 coconuts or slice the coconut with a help of ladle as shown here OR using a knife. Grind it in a big mixie jar without adding water and keep aside.Take the required amount of coconut for each dish.Most of the dishes call for grinding coconut +green chilli+ jeera to a smooth paste.So grind it by taking a portion of coconut.Keep it and use wherever needed.Use the remaining coconut for taking coconut milk.Add in payasam.
  • Soak the Ada in water for 30 minutes if it is store bought.I bought
    Ada from stores and soaked in water before I pressure cook it.
  • Dry roast the moong dal in a pressure cooker base for making parippu curry. In the same cooker,take toor dal in a closed box and keep it inside.Cook both the dals adding water,turmeric powder,a red chilli & hing.In the mean time,you can chop the vegetables for sambar,avial,olan,Pulisssery,pachadi,kichadi & inji curry.By this time,steam would be released from the cooker.Remove the toor dal box and mash the dal well.Similarly mash the moong dal too.Add little ground coconut paste and boil well.
  • In another cooker base,add the soaked ada.Keep a bowl and put the cut chena/Yam pieces.Add little water,salt.Cover it with a plate and put some Pumpkin pieces/Mathanga along with chopped Ash gourd.Everything gets cooked well in one whistle under low flame.After removing this,cook the red rice adding 1:12 water and drain the excess water.Keep the rice aside.
  • Make sambar,rasam and other dishes.Make the payasam at the end !

Make this feast on Onam and enjoy !

Onam sadya recipes