Saturday 16 June 2012

Garlic Rasam/Poondu Rasam

Today i made Garlic rasam at home. My Mom regularly used to make Garlic Rasam at home. Even though i never used to eat Rasam that much, if it is garlic rasam i used to have. Garlic rasam tastes yummy with rice and papad. Let see how to make it....

Health Benefits of Garlic:-
Garlic stimulates the immune system of body & helps in fighting against various diseases. Garlic acts as an antiseptic & helps in curing the wounds very quickly. One of the health benefits of garlic is that it helps in fighting against various infection & acts against inflammation and infection, including colds, coughs by adding a freshly cut raw clove to food three times a day. Fresh or cooked garlic twice daily helps in lowers down the blood pressure & cardiovascular problems. It increases the levels of high density lipoproteins & reduces harmful cholesterol in the blood & keeps arteries and heart healthy. It thins the blood, reduces clotting and helps in controlling blood pressure and poor circulation. Garlic works as a cleanser of the digestive system, helps in curing flatulence, kills internal parasites and is an excellent internal antiseptic.(Source:-Wiki) 

Ingredients:-
Garlic flakes - 5
Tamarind - Small Lemon sized
Salt to taste
Cooked Tuar Dal - 3 tsp
Turmeric - a pinch
Rasam Powder - 2 tsp
Coriander and Curry leaves- few
Seasoning:-
Oil:-1 tsp
Mustard Seeds-1tsp
Asafoetida- a pinch

Method:-

1.Soak Tamarind in water for 1/2 an hour and extract Juice.
2.Add Turmeric powder, salt, crushed garlic and bring it to boil.
3.Once it starts boiling add Rasam powder to it.
4.Add  Diluted Tuar Dal. 
5.Add curry and coriander leaves to it.
5.Heat oil in a pan,Add seasoning and once mustard seeds starts spluttering add it to rasam.
6.Tasty Garlic Rasam is Ready





Potato Curry/Vurulaikiyangu Karamadhu/Aloo Curry

Today i made Potato sabji. Potato which ever way you do tastes good. Comfort food...my Fav....sincechildhood. Its simple and easy to make. you can have it with Rice or rotis.Lets see how to make it.

Ingredients:-
Potato - 3
Salt to taste
Chilli powder- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- a little
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Coriander Leaves - 2 tsp

For Seasoning:-
Mustard Seeds:- 1 tsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
urad Dal - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch

Method:-
1.Boil potatoes with salt in water .
2.Once cooked, drain the water.
3.In a pan heat oil.
4.Add seasoning and once they are fried add the boiled potato.
5.Add Turmeric powder,Chilli powder,Coriander powder.
6.Keep the stove in sim and let the potatoes turn crisp
7.Garnish with coriander leaves.
8.Tasty potato curry is ready to eat.



Friday 15 June 2012

Vegetarian Thali 4


Weekend....time to cook in relaxed way.....hmmmm...today my thali consists of Rice,Garlic Rasam,Drum stick Sambhar,Potato curry,Bitter Gourd Chips,Palak dhal and Curd. Posted the Recipes individually in my blog.... All the dishes are simple and easy to make....I enjoyed cooking,presenting and eating too.....Hope you enjoy trying and cooking these recipes....

Pavakka chips/Bittergourd chips/Karela chips


Bitter Gourd also known as Pavakkai in Tamil,Kakara kaya in Telugu,Karela in Hindi. Because of its bitter taste usually its not preferred much. But it got lot of health benefits. my mom used to have such touch time with us, trying to make us eat this vegetable.we used to hate it. But time changes and we all too and our preferences too.. Cant know when exactly but slowly started eating this vegetable and started liking it too.... ha ha too difficult to believe Na. But when you make this kerela chips and eat ...your view will change too... First thing this chips is not that bitter,It consumes less oil when fried and its tastes yummy...Lets see how to make it....
Ingredients:-
Pavakka/Bitter gourd:-2
Salt:- to taste
Turmeric powder - 1/3 tsp
Chilli Powder-2tsp
Corn starch powder-4 tsp
Oil :- to fry
Method:-
1.Cut Bitter Gourd into round pieces

2.Add salt to it and keep it aside for half an hour.

3.Add turmeric powder,corn starch,chilli powder.

4.Mix it well.

5.Heat Oil in a pan. When the oil becomes hot add the bitter gourd pieces one by one and cook in medium flame.

6. Once it turns golden brown remove it from oil.

7. Fry all the Bitter gourd pieces in similar way.

8. Store in air tight container.
9. Tasty Bitter Gourd Chips are ready to eat.
 

Pasalai Keerai/Spinach Dal/Palak dal/Palaku pappu

 Health Benefits of Spinach 

Spinach is known as ‘Palak’ in Hindi,Pasalai keerai in tamil,Palaku in Telugu. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, manganese, foliate, magnesium, Iron, Calcium and Potassium. It is a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc and vitamin E. The health benefits of spinach are numerous and its ability to help prevent or control diseases and health conditions. Spinach, like most green vegetables, contains Lutein which is protective against eye diseases. Spinach is said to be good for those with heart disease, arthritis, Anemia, Tumors, Constipation, Insomnia, Obesity, Neuritis, High blood pressure, Bronchitis, Colon cancer, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Osteoporosis, Dyspepsia and diseases of kidneys, bladder and liver. If served raw, Spinach is a good source of vitamin C. Cooked spinach is a good source of iron. Iron is a mineral that it particularly important for Women and Children who have increased needs for iron. However, Spinach should be washed very well to remove sand or trace of pesticides.(Source:-Wiki) 

My Mom always used to force us to eat greens. she used to make tasty palak dal and palak sabji.Today i made Palak Dal. Its very simple and easy to make. Palak has a divine taste when you do seasoning with Ghee... Lets see how to make it....

Ingredients:- 
Palak:- 1 bunch
Salt: to Taste
Sugar- Pinch
Tuar Dal - 1 cup
Seasoning:- 
Oil/Ghee - 1 tsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
Red chillies - 4
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch 
Method:-
1.Boil Tuar dal in cooker  and keep it aside.
2.Wash palak leaves nicely remove all the sand and mud.
3. Cut into pieces.
4. Heat Oil/Ghee in a pan, add seasoning and once it becomes golden add cut palak leaves.
5. Add a pinch of sugar, salt.
6. Add cooked tuar dal.
7. Let it thicken a little bit.
8. Tasty and nutritious palak dal is ready.