Pista Cashewnut Poli / Nuts Puran Poli with step by step pictures

Ingredients

Maida           : 3 cups
Cashewnuts  : 1 cup
Pista              : 1/4 cup
Dry coconut powder  : 1 cup 
Sugar                          : 1 1/2 cups
Cardamom                  : 2 pods
Ghee                            : 4 tbsps
Salt                              : a pinch
Turmeric powder        : a pinch

Method

                                                            Take maida in a bowl

Add ghee

                                                                     add salt

                                                             Turmeric powder

                       
                                           Add little water and  start kneading the dough.

 

                                    The dough should be soft not too tight.. Keep it aside for 1 hour.

                                                         Take cashewnut

                                                        and pista in a Microwave  bowl

                                        Microwave the nuts for one minute and let it cool

                                                                  Grind the nuts 

                                                                 with cardamom

                                                            and dry coconut powder

                                                                 into a fine powder

                                                                     Add sugar

                                                     blend again to a fine powder

                                                                   and keep aside

                                              Divide the dough into 8 equal portions,

                                                                 Dust it with  flour

                            roll it to thin circle,add 1 tbsp nuts mixture in it and cover and seal the edges.

                                                                      like this

                                                                   and roll out

                                            Heat a tawa and Cook on both sides and smear a tsp of ghee

                                                        Serve hot and Enjoy

Tomato Thokku / Thakkali Thokku / தக்காளி தொக்கு

Ingredients

Tomatoes       : 1 kg
Sesame oil      : 1/4 cup
Mustard seeds  : 1 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek Seeds  : 1 tsp
Asafoetida            : 1/2 tsp 

Red chilli powder : 2 tbsps
Curry leaves
Turmeric powder  ; 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method

Wash &  Puree the tomatoes and keep aside.

Heat oil in a  heavy bottomed pan, add the mustard seeds. 

When they pop, add the fenugreek seeds .

Now add the tomato puree,Cuury leaves and mix well.

Add the red chilly powder,turmeric powder,salt,asafoetida and mix well and let it boil.

Cook on medium flame and stir occasionally until the tomato thokku becomes thicker. 

Remove from flame and let it cool .

Store it in an air tight container.

Semiya Biryani Recipe / Vermicelli Biryani

Ingredients

Semiya               : 1 cup
Chopped onion   : 14 + 1 tbsp
Chopped Tomato   : 2 tbsps  
Carrot                     : 1
Beans                      : 5 nos 
Potato                      : 1
Green peas              : 1/4 cup 
Green chilly            : 1
Red chilly powder   : 1 tsp
Garam masala powder   : 1 tsp
Turmeric powder           : 1/4 tsp
Homemade Ginger - Garlic Paste     : 1 tsp ( Recipe here)
Cinnamon                      : 1 stick
Cardamom                     : 2
Cloves                            : 3
Coriander leaves + Mint leaves  : 1/4 cup
Ghee                               : 1 tbsp
Oil                                   : 1 1/2 tbsp
Salt

Method

Cook the vermicelli in water adding little and salt. Drain and run
under cold water and keep aside.

Chop the carrot,peeled potato,green peas,  beans and microwave it for 2 minutes with little salt.

Heat oil and ghee in a pan, add cinnamon,cardamom,cloves and green chilly and fry.

Add the chopped onion and fry for few minutes in medium flame. 

Add Ginger - Garlic Paste  , and fry.

Add chopped tomato,Red chilly powder,turmeric powder,coriander and mint leaves and salt and fry well on low flame.

Add the vegetables, mix and fry for few minutes.

Finally add the cooked semiya,Garam masal powder to this and mix well till semiya well coated with all masala mixture.

Garnish with mint and coriander leaves .

Serve hot and Enjoy...:) 

Chana Masala in Coriander Paste / Sauce / Chole Dhania Masala with step by step pictures

Ingredients

Channa              :  1 cup ( Soaked overnight & cooked with little salt)
Chopped onion  : 1/2 cup
Green chillies     : 3 + 1 
Cinnamon stick   : 1
Cardamom           ; 2
Cloves                  : 3 
Fennel                  : 1/4 tsp
Salt
Oil 

To grind

Coriander leaves  : 1 bunch
Coconut               :  2 tbsps
Cashewnuts          : 6 - 8
Green chillies       : 3 
Ginger                   ; 1/2 inch piece
Garlic                    : 4 
Fennel                   ; 1/2 tsp 
Lemon juice          : 1 tsp

Method

                     Grind the items under ‘To grind’ table to a smooth paste using little water.

                                                        Heat pan with 1 1/2 tbsps oil

                    Add fennel seeds,cinnamon stick,cardamom,cloves,green chilly and fry

                                              


                                                Add Onion and fry  till transparent

                                                       
                                                               add the ground paste

                                                              And mix well.

                                                            Add required  water ,

                                                               Cooked chana

                                                                  required salt

                                      mix everything well and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on medium flame.

                                                Remove from flame and serve hot with poori..

Caramel Payasam

"My first post of 2015 .. Wishing You All a Very Happy New year. Let us Welcome and Celebrate the New Year with this Caramel Payasam.."  

Ingredients

Milk                               : 1 ltr
Sugar                              : 3/4 cup to 1 cup
Washed & strained Rice  : 2 tbsps

Method 

Heat a pressure cooker , add about 2 tbsps of sugar .
Let the sugar melt and caramelize. ( do not stir) 
Once the sugar melts,reduce the flame, add 1/2 cup milk,strained rice ,close the cooker with lid and let it cook on medium flame for 1 whistle.
Let it cool.
Open ,add the remaining sugar,milk and mix.
Cook again on low flame for 10 minutes.
Serve Hot and Enjoy..
Happy 2015...

                                            Note 

I prefer the flavor of milk to shine in this payasam.

Happy New Year 2015

A Very Happy New Year to all the readers of Vidhu's Kitchen

Eggless Microwave Chocolate Cake in Just 5 Minutes

Ingredients

Maida             : 3/4 cup
Milk                : 1/2 cup
Sugar               : 1/2 cup
Oil                    : 2 tbsps 
Cocoa Powder  : 1 1/2 tbsp
Lemon juice      : 1 tsp
Baking powder    : 1/2 tsp
Baking soda         : 1/4 tsp
Vanilla essence    : 1/4 tsp

Method

Grease microwave safe bowl with little oil and keep aside.
Mix milk and sugar until sugar is fully dissolved. 

Sieve maida,Baking powder,Baking soda,cocoa powder together 3 times.

Add lemon juice ,oil,vanilla essence to the milk mixture and mix well.

Now add the sieved flour little by little to the milk mixture and blend gently. 

Pour the batter in microwave safe dish and microwave it for 5 mts.

Once done cool it on a wire rack. ( Insert a toothpick if it comes out clean cake is ready.) 

Butter Cream Icing

Butter       : 1/4 cup

Icing Sugar  : 1/2 cup

Vanilla Essence   : few drops

Food colours

Method

Beat the butter until pale and creamy. 

Gradually add the icing sugar and beat until well combined.

Add vanilla essence  and  beat until light and fluffy.

Add required food colour ,Spread icing over the cake.

Enjoy...:)

Classic Combo - 24

Pakarkai(Bitter Guard) Pitlai with Peanuts + Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry / Kathamba Curry + Grated Carrot

Pakarkai(Bitter Guard) Pitlai with Peanuts Recipe 

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2014/12/pakarkaibitter-guard-pitlai-with-peanuts.html

Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry / Kathamba Curry Recipe

http://www.vidhuskitchen.in/2014/11/mixed-vegetable-stir-fry-kathamba-curry.html  

Grated Carrot Salad Method

Wash and Grate the carrot in a food processor ,mix salt and few drops of lemon and mix everything well.

Little Millet Pidi Kozhukattai / சாமை அரிசி உப்புமா கொழுக்கட்டை

Ingredients

Samai / Little millet    : 1 cup
Water : 2 cups
Grated coconut : 1/4 cup
Red chilly : 2
Green chilly : 2
Curry leaves
Mustard seeds
Asafoetida
Oil
Salt 

Method

Wash the millet,drain and keep aside for 10 minutes.

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds ,then broken red chillies,green chillies,curry leaves,asafoetida one by one.
Add water,salt and let it boil.
When water just comes to a boil,put the millet and coconut ,mix well ,lower the flame and let it cook.
Once the rice cooked ,switch off the flame.
Spread the mixture on a plate and let it cool.
Take about 2 tbsps of the rice mixture,roll it into a cylindrical shape and steam it for 10 minutes.

Magali Kizhangu Pickle - My Amma's Recipe

Ingredients

Magali kizhangu           : 1/2 kg
Thick Curd                    : 1 lt 
Mango Ginger ( Maa inji)   : 150 gm 
Red Chillies                         : 10 nos 
lemon                                   : 5 nos
Green chillies                       : 5
Mustard seeds                      : 50 gms
Fenugreek seeds                  : 1 tsp 
Turmeric powder                 : 2 tbsps
Salt

Method
Wash & Soak the magali kizhangu for 2 hours.
Chop the lemon and keep aside.
Peel the skin and remove the middle root / fibre .
Finely chop the root.
Add the lemon pieces,salt,Chopped Mango ginger, green chillies to it  and mix well.
Let it soak for 2 days.
After 2 days , Grind red chillies, mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds to a fine paste.
Beat the curd well,add the paste and mix.
Add the magali kizhangu mixture to the curd and mix everything well.
Now the pickle is ready to serve.
Store it in an air tight container. 

Read more About Mahali Kizhangu Here.