Simple Vegetable Pulao | Veg Pulao Recipe

This pulao doesn't need much time; it can be done in a jiffy. I made palak paneer with the extra bunch of spinach I had at home and served it with this simple Veg pulao. It was delicious and TH liked this combo of quick lunch. This can even be packed in lunch box for kids and this turns to be a healthy version of pulao, since it has almost all veggies. You can turn the same recipe into a non-veg dish by adding chicken chunks. Keep this as a base and make ur own variation of pulao. Share ur views and ideas of what all can be added in this pulao.  

Preparation time 5-8 minutes
Cooking time: 10-15 minutes

Palak Paneer Recipe

Palak Paneer is basically a North-Indian Side dish which is majorly accompanied with chapathi or roti. Spinach leaves which are pureed and cooked with Indian Cottage cheese give an extraordinary flavor when cooked with the Indian spices. Trust me; I haven’t tried with Palak Paneer in any of the restaurants before I make it myself. I was lighter, since I dint use cream in my dish. Even cashew paste can also be added instead of cream. We had it for our dinner on a busy day with a Simple Vegetable Pulao (Recipe Coming soon). 

Preparation time: 5-8 mins 

Cooking time: 15-20 mins

Egg Masala Podimas | Egg Bhurji

This podimas is a slight variation of Egg podimas recipe which I had posted before. In that I just added onions and green chillies which suits rice with spicy gravy. Whereas this podimas is for rice along with sambar or rasam which are less spiced. This podimas even taste better when done in Iron skillet rather the non-stick wok.

You can directly break the eggs on to the masalas or you can whisk the eggs separately in a bowl and then add to the masalas. In either way it tastes the same, I believe. The best combo for this podimas is Sambar. This will be a sure shot winner if u don’t have any veggies at home, but still wanted to have a perfect meal.

Preparation time: 3-5minutes

Cooking time: 7-10 minutes

Aval Upma | Poha Upma | Flattened Rice Upma with Vegetables

Whenever I run out of time for making breakfast or even for dinner, the first thing comes to my mind is aval upma. Instead going for Maggie, we make this for dinner some times. Since it is rice flakes it gives u tummy full feeling when had a little and they are rich in nutrition. Adding roasted peanuts gives a crunchy effect to the soft poha. You can even try adding roasted cashews.

Aval will swell after adding any type of liquids, either water or milk. But too much of soaking in water may give a soggy texture. So just give a quick soaking time in water before starting up with the recipe. Check outanother recipe for aval here. 

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 10-15 minutes

Fried Prawn Biryani | Shrimp Biryani | Prawn 65 Biryani

Making prawn biryani is very easy when compared to the mutton biryani and chicken biryani. Since prawns are lighter than the others it never gives a tummy-full feel. I already made prawn biryani and this time wanted to try with something new with prawns. So I tried frying the prawns separately and adding it to the biryani as like chicken 65 biryani.

You can shallow fry the prawns slowly till perfection or else u can even deep fry the prawns. I don’t want to use too much of oil, hence I shallow fried it in a tawa. If you don’t want the fried prawns, I do have another recipe for prawn biryani. Check here for the recipe.

Preparation time: 30mins

Cooking time: 20-30 mins

Karamani Kuzhambu | Thatta Payir Kara Kuzhambu | Spicy Black-eyed Peas Gravy

Preparation time: 5 hours (for soaking karamani)

Cooking time: 20-30 mins 

Fish Tawa Fry | Simple Fish Fry

After coming to California I tried many varieties of fish as like we get in India. In a way am happy for the switching from Minnesota. I tried King Fish (vanjaram), Pomfret (vavval) and also Golden thread (sankara) fish fries. As I already told u, am a great great fan of fish… and sankara (golden thread) is one of my favorite. I love to have fish with the bones. Actually the bones enhance the tastes. TH really gets irritated to eat the fish along with the bones.

This recipe was tried long before when I was in Minnesota. I tried it with Catfish. Amma always makes this masala for Sankara meen and it melts in mouth… whenever we buy fish, my work is to clean and doing the marinating. TH does the frying part for me patiently. I must say he is an expert in doing that. I really like the way he fries the fish for me. Even this fry was done by him and I simply ate it once they are piping hot.

Try this recipe with any variety of fish and let me know ur reviews. Don’t forget to check out other recipes of Fish. Click here for the recipe. 

Preparation time: 30-45 mins

Cooking time: 15-20 mins 

Kanchipuram Idli | Kancheevaram Idli Recipe | Traditional South Indian Breakfast

Sometimes I run out of recipes to make for dinner. The usual idli and dosa gets boredom and TH needs something special most of the times. Instead of doing the regular idli I tried with the Kanchipuram Idli which amma usually makes for the dinner. This in particular is my appa’s favorite when served with simple coconut chutney.

Kanchipuram idli are much softer than the usual ones since we are adding more of urad dal. Make sure u grind the batter correct. Urad dal must need to be fluffy so that the idli turns beautifully soft. The major ingredient which makes the idli much tastier is the tempering. Peppercorns and cumin are the highlight. Since TH doesn't like whole pepper corns I crushed it a little with my mortar and pestle. Never forget to add the dry ginger powder. If u doesn't have it, never mind, add few pieces of ginger either grated or crushed to the batter. Appa likes the coconut slices which give a crunchy feel in between the idlis. Since TH doesn't like it, I dint add. It’s optional for using coconut slices.

Be more generous in greasing the plates with ghee. It gives an extraordinary flavor to the final product, idli. I served it with carrot coconut (recipe coming soon)

Preparation time: 10 hours (for soaking and fermentation)

Cooking time: 10mins

Semiya Kesari | Vermicelli Kesari | Simple Indian Sweet Recipe

Do u want to make an Indian sweet in just 15 mins? Then the first choice I would give you is Semiya Kesari. Doing a kesari is such an easy job I would say and I prefer doing semiya kesari than rava kesari. You need not have to bug with the clumps of rava while adding. Semiya cooks like noodle when u add with the right amount of water. I made this sweet on a Friday to make some poojai at home. It makes the day more special. TH loved it and he just loved the color of the sweet and it looks appetizing. Finally, even I bought the food color which I was not at all using in my past days. This color makes the sweet a good appeal and makes my job easy in photographing it. 

Preparation time: 1-2 mins

Cooking time: 10-15mins

Mutton Kuzhambu | Spicy Mutton Gravy

I rarely make mutton or lamb in my kitchen. Since it has too much of cholesterols and fat I prefer not to take it more. This gravy is one among the rare recipe I make with mutton. In Calif I can see variety of mutton and lamb cuts. This time I bought mutton with the bones on it. I love the bones of the mutton and the trick is to get the bones cooked really very soft.

You can call this as a kuzhambu or gravy which is delicious when served with dosa or idli. Even with idyappam and appam this is the best combo ever. I made this curry for our Sunday lunch and had with Black pepper lamb curry. It made our spiciest Sunday ever… try out the recipe and let me know the comments and reviews. Now to the recipe!!!

Preparation time: 15mins

Cooking time: 30-40 mins

First Ever Award - Liebster Award

What will do wen u see a message telling that you have been nominated for an award on the first day of New Year? Excited??!! Yes I just received the message from Kat of “My tasty Adventures” that I have been nominated for “Leibster Award”. First I would like to thank Kat of “My tasty Adventures” for nominating me for this award and you made my day … thank you so much.

I was confused on seeing the note; wat is this award all about? Then I found, it is an award given to new bloggers and to appreciate them by discovering the new blogs (the tagline says that)… this award is given to new bloggers who has less than 300 followers...This is a good idea for appreciating the good work and a start-up point for the new bloggers to get to know others bloggers and to expand their followers.

What do u need to do when u receive the award?

1. Pass the award to others by nominating about 5-10 new bloggers who has less than 300 followers.
2. Add the award logo in ur blog post.
3. Thank the blogger who nominated you for the award.
4. Answer the question asked by the blogger.
5. Frame 10 questions for ur nominees.  
6. Notify ur nominees by sending them a comment.

Here are the few questions from Kat of “My tasty Adventures” for me…

1. Do you make New Year’s resolutions and if yes do you stick with them?

Yes I do make New Year resolution and the resolution continues for the next year too. This makes my answer for the next question... J  

2. What was your inspiration in creating the blog?

My husband!!! He is the only person to appreciate me in doing this job perfectly.

3. Chocolate or vanilla?

Not both!!! Weird? Yes am not at all a fan of sweets…

4. Do you make grocery shopping list?

Yes!!! I always used to write down full list in the beginning of every month.

5. Choose one word that would best describe you?

Perfectionist... I heard many of my friends and family telling this to me.

6. Food that you would NEVER be able to give up?

Biryani!!! Ahha what else I can say J

7. What do you like to do in your free time?

Trying out new recipe, taking photographs and to blog them up.

8. Your favorite celebrity chef?

Gordon Ramsay, the best chef in the world I can ever say… am going mad on him.

9. Food that you always have in your pantry?

I always fill my pantry with few packets of Maggie which helps me many of the time

10. One thing you cannot live without?

Obviously it’s FOOD!!!

Now it’s my turn to frame some questions for the nominees. Here it goes…

• What was ur first Blog post? Why did u choose that?
• Spicy foods or Sweets?
• Which is ur favorite cuisine?
• If ur supposed to cook in just 15mins what will u prefer doing?
• How will u clean up the kitchen? Simultaneously, while cooking or after finishing all the works?
• What is ur favorite cooking show u never missed to watch?
• One thing u will never do in ur kitchen?
• Pick one of this itmes that you always need in ur pantry?

Ø  Food processor

Ø  Mixer

Ø  Knife set

Ø  Skillet

Ø  Microwave

•             What is ur best dish you ever made?
•             The first thing you grab as soon as u enters a grocery shop?

And the nominees are

http://nandooskitchen.blogspot.com/

http://yashodhaskitchen.blogspot.com/

http://ashu-cooks.blogspot.in/

http://abowlofcurry.blogspot.in/

http://www.mycookingjourney.com/

http://sweets-n-spices.blogspot.in/

I would like to thank Kat of “My tasty Adventures” again for nominating this award and Congratulations for the nominees and keep the good work.