الخميس، 31 مارس 2011

No Croutons Required - the Winner for March


The theme for March was to come up with a dish containing either mung beans or adzuki beans. The entries we received were all tempting and it was tough to make a choice, but the most popular recipe this month was this mouthwatering and creative Sprouts Paratha from Harini of Sugar 'n' Spice. Congratulations to Harini! I am excited to try this recipe.


Jacqueline will be hosting the April edition of No Croutons Required. The challenge for April is to come up with a soup or salad from past themes. Choose one that was featured on the month of your birthday.

الثلاثاء، 29 مارس 2011

Mesopotamian Barley, Chickpea, Lentil, Tahini Soup

Here is yet another recipe from Silk Road Cooking. I simply cannot resist the array of offerings contained in this book. A perfectly balanced meal in a bowl, as we have legumes and also a grain; in this case, pearl barley, lentils, chickpeas and veggies. For dessert, I served some rather savory jam filled buns. Certainly a good way to warm up on a cold day and it yields a good amount, so you can share with your friends. I received rave reviews and my sweetie will have lunch to take to work so he can avoid crappy coffee shop offerings.
The nutty flavor goes oh so well with the earthiness of the grain and legumes.

This is my submission to this month's My Legume Love Affair, a popular event started by lovely Susan and hosted this month by Dee of Ammalu's Kitchen.

Mesopotamian Barley, Chickpea, Lentil, Tahini Soup

2 tablespoons of butter, ghee, or oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 leeks, finely chopped (both green and white parts)
a generous handful of fresh green chilies, sliced
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 cup of chickpeas, soaked overnight in enough water to cover and drained
12 cups of vegetable stock or water
1 cup of pearl barley, rinsed
1/2 cup of lentils (I used puy lentils), well rinsed and free of debris
3 teaspoons of sea salt
freshly ground cracked black pepper
2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of turmeric
dash of asafetida
dash of cayenne
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
2 cups of kale, chopped
1/2 cup of fresh dill, finely chopped
1/2 cup of fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup of tahini
juice from one fresh lemon or two limes


In a large soup pot, heat the butter, oil or ghee over medium heat. When hot, add the onions, leeks, chilies and garlic. Stir and fry for 10 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Add the chickpeas to the pot, along with the vegetable stock, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and cover and simmer for 40 minutes.

Now add the barley, lentils, salt and pepper and bring to boil. Again, reduce the heat to medium low and cover and simmer for another 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the tomatoes, fresh herbs, kale, turmeric, cayenne, asafetida, cumin and coriander. Simmer over low heat for another 30 - 40 minutes. Add more stock if necessary.

Stir in the tahini and lemon or lime juice and partially blend the soup with a hand blender or in batches in a blender or food processor. Add more salt and pepper and garnish with parsley, dill and strips of hot chilies.

Serves 6 - 8
More Middle Eastern recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Marinated Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus with Olives
Middle Eastern Chickpea and Olive Salad
Shakshouka

On the top of the reading stack: The National Post

Audio Accompaniment: Palace Brothers

الاثنين، 28 مارس 2011

MIXED VEGETABLE VADA

I googled so many recipes , referred some cookbooks and finally came up with this version. Some have suggested to make this vada with gram flour &  rice flour and some recipes are with urad dal.I felt recipe with urad dal would be better. If u want to make Mixed Veg bonda, then gram flour /besan would be the best option..
VADA COLLAGE

INGREDIENTS
For the batter :
  • White round urad dal – 1/2 cup 
  • Salt -  as needed
  • Water – 2 - 3 tbsp ( upto 1/4 cup)
  • Asafetida / hing – 1/4 tsp
  • Ginger – 1 inch piece
  • Green chilli – 1 no
To mix :
  • Carrot – 2 nos
  • Grated Cabbage – 1/4 cup
  • Potato – 1 no ( Optional)
  • Green chilli – 1 no
  • Small onion – 10 nos
  • Curry leaves -  A few
  • Coriander leaves – A few
METHOD
  • Wash and soak urad dal for 1 hour.
  • Grind all the ingredients given under ‘ the batter’ in a mixie.
  • Chop the carrots , small onions , green chillies very finely.
  • Grate the cabbage. Mix all the veggies to the batter .Check for salt.
  • Heat the oil in a kadai and deep fry vadas in batches.
  • Serve hot !!
vegetable vada1

NOTE
  • We dont have to worry about the shape of vadas, U’ll get a nice perfect shape.The batter mixed with vegetables would be very thick.
  • Suppose if the batter is watery , add little rice flour to get the proper shape. But this step wont be needed.
vegetable vada collage

الأحد، 27 مارس 2011

Carrot Sambar

The food is flying out of my kitchen lately, which means I have been able to treat friends and family to some of my dishes. It is also a good idea to cook at home in a sanitary kitchen with fresh ingredients rather than running the perils of eating out or ordering in. Much cheaper too and you can control your own spicing.


One of my latest creations is this warming carrot sambar that also has a cooling effect, if that makes sense. Sambars are popular in South India and most typically served with rice. A wide variety of vegetables can be used, and often toor dal and tamarind is a common addition, along with a delightful array of spices. Usually thick and fiery, sambars are often the first course for a South Indian full course meal. Do consider making your own sambar powder, as this is an essential ingredient and as I have noted before, fresh spice blends made in your own kitchen are far superior to store bought blends, and so easy to make if you have a coffee grinder to whiz it all up.

Carrot Sambhar

1/2 cup of toor dal or lentils, well rinsed
4 cups of water
1 teaspoon of turmeric

2 tablespoons of butter or ghee or oil
2 whole dried chili peppers, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida,
a generous handful of dried curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
1 teaspoon of black mustard seeds
2 teaspoons of urad dal, well rinsed

1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1 cup of carrots, washed and sliced
2 teaspoons of sambar powder
1/2 teaspoon tamarind paste
1/2 cup of tomato paste
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1/4 cup of fresh coriander or parsley, chopped


In a medium - large pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the toor dal or lentils along with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Reduce the heat to medium - low and simmer, uncovered, for roughly 30 minutes, or until the dal is creamy. Add more water if necessary. Set aside.

Heat the butter or ghee or oil in a large pot over medium heat. When hot, add the hot peppers, asafoetida, curry leaves, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and urad dal. Stir and fry until the mustard seeds begin to splutter and pop.

Now add the onion and tomatoes and another 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and stir and fry for 5 minutes. Toss in the carrots, sambar powder, tamarind paste, tomato paste and sea salt. Cook, covered, over medium - low heat for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the toor dal, along with the remaining cooking liquid, and 2 cups of water and the parsley or coriander. Add more water as desired.

More sambars you may enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Black-Eyed Pea Sambar
Butternut Squash Sambar


On the top of the reading stack: How to tell fortunes with cards

Audio Accompaniment: Mr. Arvo Part

الخميس، 24 مارس 2011

KAZHANI KUZHAMBU | RAW MANGO KUZHAMBU - MANGO RECIPES


This is my MIL’s special recipe.We bought some sour raw mangoes and i told my MIL to make something special with it. she told me about this kuzhambu and we tried on the same day. It was excellent .Its very simple to do. If u get sour mangoes, do try this .I am sure u’ll love it.It got a similar taste of puliodharai /puliyogare.Thanks a lot to my MIL for teaching me this yummilicious gravy / kuzhambu.I loved it.. Red heart.

INGREDIENTS


  • Sour Raw mango – 2 nos (medium sized, Slit cut into 3.Hope the above picture gives u a  clear idea )
  • Tamarind – One seed / Small Berry size
  • Turmeric powder –1/4 tsp
  • Curry leaves – A few
  • Salt – As needed.
  • Arisi Kazhani – 2 cups ( Drain the water after washing the rice and take it in a bowl ..The water would be white in color.Its called Kazhani in tamil )
To roast and Powder
  • Oil – 1 tsp
  • Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Channa dal – 1tbsp
  • Urad dal – 1 .5 tsp
  • Toor dal – 1 tbsp
  • Red chillies – 6 – 7 nos
  • Hing /Asafetida – 1/4 tsp
To temper :
  • Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves  - a few
METHOD
  • In a wide mouthed kadai or bowl take the arisi kazhani and add the turmeric powder ,salt & one seed of tamarind.( We call this as ethir puli)
  • Wash the raw mangoes and slit cut into 3 pieces. Please refer the above picture .
  • Add these mangoes into the kazhani and cover cook till the mangoes cook nicely. Take care it should not be overcooked and becomes mushy.
  • Add 1/4 tsp of hing & curry leaves while boiling.
  • Now in a kadai , add a tsp of oil and roast the items in the same order.
  • Grind it to a coarse powder . ( run the mixie once or twice)
  • Once the mangoes are cooked , add the  coarse powder and allow it to boil for 5 mins. u’ll get a nice flavor.
  • The gravy should be watery as in picture.(like rasam)
  • Finally temper the kuzhambu & give some 30 mins standing time before serving ..
Enjoy with plain rice & papad.U can add a tsp of sesame oil in plain rice for additional taste.

Kazhani kulambu         

NOTE
  • Please grind the powder in a coarse form to get the kuzhambu in  watery consistency.If u grind it fine , u’ll get a  thick gravy. Please make it the way u want the gravy to be.
  • Hing should be twice here. One time in raw and another time while roasting.
  • Dont forget to add a pinch of tamarind. No need to soak & extract.. it will dissolve in the gravy.If u have the ready made paste , just add a drop of it.

Sun Chlorella Giveaway

I am pleased to offer my readers another giveaway. I was recently treated to some revitalizing natural products from Sun Chlorella, located in the US. Included in the package, Sun Chlorella A tablets, Sun Chlorella Granules, a moisturizing cream that I truly think is one of the best I have ever used because it keeps your face happy all day long without any greasiness, a few samples of Wild Sun Eleuthero Tea and Wild Sun Eleuthero.


Rich in chlorophyll, chlorella is a purifying agent that is sure to give a boost to your nutrient levels and general well-being. This freshwater green algae is a superfood indeed, as it contains 60 % protein, 18 amino acids, along with vitamins and minerals such as potassium, all of the B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and iron, and also beta carotene and lutein. The benefit of the granules is that those of us who have trouble swallowing supplements can simply add the mixture to a glass of water or smoothie and enjoy. I found the granules did not really add any extra taste to the water, but are packed full of goodness.

Eleuthero is an adaptogenic herb that provides an extra boost at the same time as a relaxing alternative to coffee or sugar. Now that I do not indulge in coffee, I was delighted to receive this product that helps to relieve stress and provide some additional energy.

I also can't but help to rave about the Sun Chlorella Cream that contains natural ingredients such as grapefruit seed extract, clove extract and chlorophyll. Purifying and refreshing for your skin, you can expect a process of skin renewal.

The random giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the US. The offering is some Chlorella Tablets and Granules. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. I will run the contest until April 7th. If you don't have a blog, please do include your email address in the comment section so I can contact you should you be the lucky winner.

For additional information, do visit the newsroom where you will also find some tempting recipes.

الثلاثاء، 22 مارس 2011

No Croutons Required - Aduki Beans and Mung Beans

The challenge for March was to come up with a recipe featuring either mung beans or aduki beans. As usual, we have received some lovely and healthy entries. Please do cast your vote in the comment section or via email. Also note that my entry is not eligible for voting.

Our first entry this month is from Harini of Sugar 'n' Spice. She submits this most delightful recipe for Stuffed Sprouts Paratha. Sprouted mung beans are here combined with wheat flour, Parantha masala, mango powder, turmeric, green chillies and cilantro. This mouthwatering bread would be a ideal accompaniment to any Indian meal. (USA)

Our next submission is from Michelle of Food, Football and a Baby. More sprouts and how could we resist Grandma's Spiced Sprouted Mung Beans?. Longevity is so charming and precious and what better way to celebrate than to make this wholesome dish? Spicy with a hint of sweetness, sprouted mung beans come together with curry leaves, coconut, onion and fresh lime juice along with a masala consisting of red chilies, onion, garlic, coriander seeds, peppercorns, cumin seeds, turmeric and tamarind. Sounds delicious! (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

Janet of Taste Space is up next with this tempting and hearty Adzuki Bean Soup. Vegetable broth, adzuki beans, shiitake mushrooms, onion, garlic, soy sauce, agave nectar, kombu and toasted almonds are featured here. Easy to make and a fine accompaniment to any grain dish. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Mango Cheeks of Allotment 2 Kitchen enters a balanced and nourishing Aduki Bean and Mung Bean Brown Rice Salad. Adzuki beans, mung beans, brown basmati rice, celery and spring onions are dressed with olive oil, white wine vinegar, garlic and mustard powder. This dish should surely be a staple on the menu. (West of Scotland, UK)

From Adam and Theresa of Yogi Kitchen we are treated to this Four Bean Indian Salad that is inspired by one of their favorite cooks who has a cookbook we are told is a must have. Green beans, fresh dill, toor dhal, mung beans (both sprouted and whole) and red bell pepper are tempered with black mustard seeds, red chilies, asafetida and coconut. This fine dish will be served in my kitchen soon. (Tarifa, Andalucia in Spain)

Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe serves up an Adzuki Bean Soup that she was inspired to make after I announced the challenge for March. Adzuki beans are whizzed up with onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, tomatoes, tomato paste, leeks, celery, carrot, paprika, veggie stock, parsley and yogurt. Sounds like a delightful soup that would be sure to please legume fans. (Melbourne, Australia)

Rachel of Rachel's Bite enters this nutrient packed Miso Udon Stir-Fry with Greens and Beans that she says tastes even better than it looks, though the picture has my mouth watering. Broccoli, brown rice udon noodles, garlic, swiss chard, green onions, adzuki beans, miso, toasted sesame seeds and Sriracha hot sauce all come together for a most delightful meal. Good for you and your tummy will be happy. (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

My submission this month is an Adzuki Bean Casserole. These delightful little red beans are baked with carrots, green beans, onion, pumpkin puree, sweet potato, kale, corn, peas, dried mushrooms, tomatoes (fresh and sun-dried), oats, cayenne, paprika, thyme, fresh dill, miso, tamari, extra old cheddar cheese and some Parmesan. My friends were certainly pleased with the results and the addition of olives, red chili flakes, saffron and sour cream the next day was a tasty twist. (London, Ontario, Canada)

Our next entry is from Valerie of City Life Eats. This gluten-free Roasted Onion Quinoa Azuki Salad is sure to please hungry tummies. East to prepare, Valerie made this up for several people. Roasted onion, quinoa, lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, aduki beans, carrots, parsley and scallions make a fine salad indeed. (Washington, DC, USA)

Sweatha of Tasty Curry Leaf cooks up a Cold Roasted Mung Broth - Uppa Hesaru that she says is perfect for summer months, though it can be served with warm gravy and rice on chilly nights. Roasted and mashed mung beans come together with roasted red chilies and garlic and the dish is tempered with mustard seeds, dried red chili, curry leaves and asafoetida. Add some fresh lemon juice if desired. This interesting preparation has my tummy growling. (Bangalore, India)

Caffettiera of La Caffettiera Rosa enters the fray with this heavenly Sprouted Mung Bean Curry. I can certainly appreciate a fellow spice lovers addiction to spices! This dish is made up of sprouted mung beans, brown mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, peppercorns, coriander seeds, dried red chilies, turmeric, asafoetida, onion, coconut and garnished with fresh cilantro and lime juice. I would be happy to have this dish on the menu regularly. (Germany)

Heather of Gluten-Free Cat, who won the challenge last month, is back again with a gluten-free Adzuki Bean and Swiss Chard Skillet (or soup / stew). The goodness of adzuki beans come together with swiss chard, mushrooms, fresh basil, coconut, ground mustard, turmeric, cumin, garlic and veggie broth. Served over Jasmine rice, you are in for a real treat. (Nashville, Tennessee, USA)

Last, but not least, from Torwen we have an appetizing Japanese Azuki Soup-Karee. A good choice for vegetarians and vegans, this soup is made with onions, ginger, chili flakes, curry powder, a laurel leaf, hokkaido squash, vegetable broth, adzuki beans, and soy milk. Served with brown rice, this soup is surely most satisfying. (Heidelberg, Germany)

Jacqueline will be hosting the April edition of No Croutons Required. Check back at the beginning of the month for the theme.