Tiffin Sambar ( without coconut )

Ingredients

Cooked toor dal   : 1 cup
Chopped vegetables : 1/2 cup ( any 2 variety of vegetable is enough. i used potato and carrot)
Chopped onion    : 1 cup
Chopped tomatoes : 1/2 cup
Tamarind pulp        : 1/2 tsp
Coriander seeds     : 2 tbsps
Channa dal            : 2 tbsps
Red chillies            : 8 nos
Sambar powder     : 2 tbsps
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
Salt
Oil

Method

Fry coriander seeds, red chillies, channa dal, chopped onion and tomato for 10 mins and grind to a smooth paste.
Cook the vegetables separately and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds, curry leaves .
When it splutters ,add cooked vegetables and tamarind water,sambar powder and let it boil till raw smell goes off.
Add the ground paste, cooked dal and mix well.
Add salt and enough water and let it boil on low flame for 5 mins.
Finally add coriander leaves and turn off the flame.
Serve hot with idly,dosa ,poori,pongal or even with rice.

Featured in "The Hindu"

Hai friends ,

 I am very happy to tell you all that one of my recipe "PAL POLI" is featured in "THE HINDU METRO PLUS" today... It is published under "MY GRANDMA'S RECIPES".  

Here is the link  

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/10/08/stories/2010100850541100.htm  

And

I would like to thank Nithubala of Nithu's kitchen for mailing me regarding this... Thanks a lot Nithu dear...

Schezwan Fried Rice

Ingredients

Cooked Basmati rice        : 1 cup
Chopped vegetables         : 1/2 cup ( i used carrot,capsicum,cabbage, beans )
Chopped onion               : 1/2 cup
Red chillies                     : 10 nos
Chopped garlic               : 2 tbsps
Soya sauce                     : 1 tbsp
Salt
Oil

Method

Boil red chillies and 1 1/2 tbsps of garlic for 5 mins and let it cool.
Grind to a smooth paste and keep aside.
Heat the oil ,add the remaining garlic and saute till golden brown colour.
Add chopped onion and vegetables and saute for 3 mins. The vegetables should be crisp.
Now add red chilly + garlic paste and cook for another 2 mins.
Add the cooked rice,soya sauce, salt and mix well.
Toss for few seconds till all the ingredients are mixed well.
Serve with any raita .

Soya Chunks Manchurian

Ingredients

Soya chunks   : 1 cup
Chopped onion : 1/2 cup
Chopped capsicum : 1/4 cup
Chopped garlic       : 2 tbsps
Maida                     : 1 tbsp
Corn flour              : 2 tbsps
Tomato sauce         : 2 tbsps
Soya sauce             : 2 tbsps
Chilly sauce            : 2 tbsps
Ginger - garlic paste  : 1 tsp
Spring onions chopped : 2 tbsps
Oil
Salt

Method

Boil soya chunks in water for 10 mins.
Remove soya chunks from water ,squeeze and keep aside.
Take 1 tbsp corn flour,maida, ginger -garlic paste, salt..make a batter by adding water to this.
Dip soya chunks in this batter and deep fry in oil till golden brown.
Heat 3 tbsps of oil in another pan, add chopped garlic and chopped onion and fry for few mins.
Add chopped capsicum and stir.
Add tomato sauce, chilly sauce and soya sauce..mix well.
Add fried soya nuggets to this and mix well .
Mix remaining 1 tbsp corn flour in 1/4 cup of water and add it to the pan and cook till the gravy thickens.
Finally add chopped spring onion and serve.