Palak Chicken

Palak Chicken

It is quick, no fuss recipe, and for extra special, pair it up with Plain Biryani Rice. Good for unexpected guests or as a potluck dish.

Ingredients:

Step 1:

Fresh Spinach - 1 bunch (remove the leaves, soak in turmeric (1 tsp) + lots of water for 10 mins, and wash well)

Heat a deep nonstick flat pan, add kettle boiled water + 1 cap full white vinegar, and add spinach leaves, cook these until leaves are wilted on medium heat for about 3 mins. Once wilted drain off the water, keep it cooled and grind in mixie into smooth puree with out adding water.

Step 2:

Rice Bran Oil - 4 tbsp

Boneless chicken - 588 g or use 600 g (wash, and cut into bite size cubes)

Red onion - 1 no. large (chop these into medium thick ness, not too fine)

Ginger garlic paste - 1 and 1/2 flat tsp (use freshly ground)

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder - 2 tsp

Kashmiri Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Punjabi garam masala powder - 1 tsp (everest brand)

Home made masala powder - 1 tsp

Kasoori Methi - 3 tsp (these are sold in Indian groceries as dry version)

Salt to taste

Green chillies - 4 no. (keep them whole)

Butter - 1 tbsp

Coriander leaves - Handful or more (chopped finely)

Lemon juice - 1/2 no. (take the juice)

Proceed:

1) Heat the same nonstick pan (which you have wilted spinach init) on medium -low, add oil, once heated, add the ingredients, chicken, onion, gg paste, chilli powders, garam masala, home made masala, turmeric, kasoori methi and salt to taste, mix well, keep it covered and cook these until oil separates from it, say about 10 mins or so by mixing now and then(where chicken will also releases water and oil will be floating).

2) Now add spinach puree, whole green chillies, and 1 tbsp butter, mix well keep it in sim, covered, lastly cook away for 5 mins. Switch off (check whether chicken is cooked fully or not, if not, cook few more mins). Remove the lid and garnish with fresh coriander and lemon juice, mix well, cover for 5 mins and Serve. *Rest for 1 hr before serving.

I served up with Plain Biryani Rice and Mango Lassi.

Plain Biryani Rice

Translation:

Murg = Chicken

Saag = Greens

Palak = Spinach

Can be heard as Saag Murg/ Palak Chicken/ Palak Murg.

Tip:

No need, to panic by not frying onion and gg paste, these will be fried nicely. 

Note:

Home Made Masala Powder: (same as kodi masala)

Coriander seeds - 3 flat tsp, White poppy seeds - 1 flat tsp, Whole Cloves - 6 no., Cardamom - 6 no, Cinnamon stick - 1 inch - grind these into fine powder in coffee grinder.

Please refer to my spice page for translation.

Get to-gether Menu:

Palak Chicken

Dal Gosht

Mirchi Ka Salan

Naan

Biryani Rice

Mango Lassi

Sheer Khorma

How did you like this dish? feed back is always welcome............

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Beetroot Halwa

Beetroot Halwa

Easy peasy beetroot halwa if you have food processor and gulab jamun syrup in hand :-)

Ingredients:

Beetroot - 3 m (skin removed, top and tail off and cut them into wedges and grate in food proceesor)

Cardamom - 6 no. (powder)

Gulab jamun syrup - 8 gartelu (gunta garte)

Ghee - 50 g + 50 g

Proceed:

Heat a deep nonstick kadai, add ghee 50 g once started to melt add grated beet-root and fry for 10 mins.

Add cardamom powder, mix and add gulab jamun syrup, mix well, keep it covered and cook these until all the syrup is absorbed by beet-root and is cooked, it will take 30 mins, make sure you keep stirring in between.

Once syrup is absorbed add remaining ghee and fry for 2 mins and switch off.

Meanings:

Gunta gartelu = spatula used for rasam or sambhar.

Serve with vanilla ice cream or serve in small steel bowls as a party dish.

Tip:

Use gulab jamun syrup only, to give glossy finish for beetroot halwa. You will be surprised to the taste. and please don't for get to leave your feed back :-), much appreciated.

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Bagara Annam/ Bagara Rice

Bagara Annam

Ingredients:

Basmati rice - 4 rice cups
Oil - 2 tbsp + Ghee - 1 tbsp

Whole garam masala - {4 cloves, 4 cardamom (opt, always smash lightly to open), 1 inch cinnamon stick, 1 tsp shah jeera, 1 tbsp bujju puvvu, 4 bay leaves, 1 marati mogga (opt), 1 star anise (opt) and 1 mace (opt)}

Green chillies - 5no. (slit length wise)

Onion - 1 m. (sliced thinly)

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp

Mint leaves - 2 handful

Salt - 2 tsp
Water - 6 rice cups

Proceed:

1) Heat a pressure cooker on low heat, add ghee + oil, once hot add whole spices, fry for few secs.

2) Add sliced green chilli, fry.

3) Add onion and fry until light brown, then add gg paste and mint leaves fry for 5 mins.

4) Add washed drained rice to it, mix gently to coat with spices, once water dries up.

5) Add measured water + salt to it and mix gently.

6) Cover with lid, increase the heat to medium-low and keep the weight on and pressure cook for 1 whistle. and switch off.

7) Once pressure is down, remove the lid, and mix it with fork. Serve.

Serve with any Spicy Curry, like Gongura Mamsam or Bagara Baingan and Raita.

Equally goes well with Aloo Kurma or Tomao Egg Curry

For my style:

Opt the ingredients too.

Pressure Cooker:

5 litre one would be good

Translation:

Bujju Puvvu = Black Stone flower (please google)

Gongura Mamsam = Mutton with Sorrel Leaves

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Ulli Kodlu Kodi Guddu Vepudu/ Spring Onion Egg Fry

Ulli Kodlu Kodi Guddu Vepudu

This is the most simplest curry, one can make on lazy days or perfect for those first time cookers or even for those who thinks they are genius, will post nice picture until then enjoy my lazy curry + lazy photo shoot...............

Ingredients and Proceed:

Spring onion - 6 (wash well and chop finely)

Green chillies - 3 (chopped)

Heat 3 tbsp oil in a flat deep nonstick pan on low heat, once heated add poppula spoon mustard, once stop spluttering add cumin the same amount, once brown add 1 tsp gg paste, stir and immediately add green chillies, fry for few secs and 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder once fried add spring onion and fry until it becomes limp. Then add 2 large beaten eggs, spread around, cover for little while until you see white part is forming, cut them into big pieces with spatula and turn, and cook for 2 mins more. Switch off when there is no raw egg, now add salt to taste and mix well and serve.

Serve with Plain Rice, Pickle and Yoghurt.

Translation:

Poppula spoon = The spoon which we get in spice box or use 1/4 tsp.

Ulli Kodlu = Spring Onion

Kodi Guddu = Chicken Egg

Vepudu = Fry or a dry dish

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Paneer Kulcha

Paneer Kulcha

This is easy peasy when you got expiry date milk or do fresh ones if you are in a hurry for get-together or pot luck. Every one will just fall in love with it. Here, I have used 2 litre milk which was expired, can do with only 1 litre milk too. You can half cook these kulchas and wrap in foil and keep refrigerate will be good for 1 week. But, if you are thinking to keep the paneer and whey in fridge, you have to do with in 2 days other wise it just smells like beer. So entire taste will be spoiled with that smell. Better use 1 litre and proceed............

Ingredients and Proceed:

2 litres milk, boiled first in microwave container, add yoghurt few tbsp and microwave again to separate. Keep aside. When warm enough measure the whey and proceed.

Whey - 2/3 rd cup (luke warm)

Sugar - 1 tsp

Yeast - 1 tsp

Mix well and keep aside for 10 mins.

In a bowl add 2 cups of Plain flour, 1 tsp salt, mix well and add 2 tbsp melted butter, mix well until crumbly.

Add 3 tbsp Soft Paneer (fresh ones) mix well all of these and add yeast mixture, mix and knead for 5 mins until soft dough formed. Keep this in the same bowl and cover with plate, keep this on top of water heater or near warm place for 3 hours.

Pinch off big balls out of it, roll and flatten slightly, dip in plain flour and roll, and dip again and roll like round circle. Do this to all.

Heat a tawa (iron skillet) on medium heat.

Mean while, slice off Butter (1-2 tbsp) in a glass bowl, add 1-2 cloves mashed Garlic, handful of chopped Coriander, mix well, keep this in microwave and melt until butter is melted.

First cook each kulcha on both sides and keep aside. Do this to all of them (stop here if you are refrigerating, cool, wrap in foil and keep in fridge)

Final part smear butter all over on one side, keep the smeared part on tawa press it lightly first, and smear again butter on top, turn quickly and cook for few secs only.

Serve with Makhani dishes like butter chicken or Shahi Paneer dishes.

Tip:

Just buy ready made Paneer Makhani Packets, heat as per instructions and add tad bit of Maple Syrup to it, mix and serve. It tastes just like restaurant dish.

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Bangaladumpa Kodiguddu Vepudu/ Potato Egg Fry

Bangaladumpa Kodiguddu Vepudu/ Potato Egg Fry

Ingredients:

Eggs - 2 no.

Oil - 5 tbsp

Red Onion - 1 no. (chopped finely)

Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp

Potato - 2 large (skin removed, chopped into fine pieces)

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 and 1/2 tsp
Home-made Masala powder - 1 tsp (check my masala powder here, same as chicken masala)

Salt to taste

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Garlic - 3 flakes

Proceed:

First powder cumin in a pestle and lastly add garlic and pound again.

Heat oil in a deep flat nonstick pan. once heated add onions, fry these until light brown.

Add gg paste and potato pieces, mix well, cover and fry for 5 mins or until onions are fried.

On top of it put chilli powder, turmeric, masala powder and salt to taste, and cover for few more mins.

Mix well and fry until all potato pieces are cooked and no moisture left in the dish, add cumin-garlic mixture and fry for few mins.

Make a well in the centre and break the eggs side by side and cover and cook until eggs are cooked, break the egg in the middle to see any yolk is not cooked. Once fully cooked mix entirely and cook for 1 min.

Serve with Rice, Pappu Charu or Sambhar (or Mullangi Sambhar)

Tip:



If you have Garlic chilli powder, then no need to add this extra step.

Why are we not mixing egg entirely to curry? because you will get eggy smell while eating onion, that's why you have to cook the above mentioned method.

Translation:

Potato = Bangaladumpa
Chicken Egg = Kodiguddu

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Andhra Gongura Mamsam/ Mutton with Sorrel Leaves

Andhra Gongura Mamsam

Ingredients and Proceed:



For fried onion paste:

Onion - 1 & 1/2 no.large. (sliced thinly)
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Oil - 2 tbsp

Heat a deep flat nonstick pan on med-low, add oil once heated, fry onion until light golden color. Now add gg paste, reduce heat to low and fry for 5 mins, remove to mixie jar and grind into paste once cooled. Keep aside.

For pre-cooking:

Ingredients:

Diced Mutton or Lamb pieces - 1/2 kg (wash it well and keep it aside, these are boneless)

Oil - 2 tbsp + Ghee - 1 tbsp

Whole Garam Masala - {1/4 tsp Shahjeera, Cardamom - 8 no., Whole Cloves - 6 no., Cinnamon Stick - 1 inch}

Green chillies - 8 no. (slit lengthways and sliced)

Onion - 1/2 no. large (slice thinly)

Kasoori Methi - 1 tbsp (soak these for 10 mins in kettle boiled water)
Mint leaves - handful

Chilli powder - 3 tsp

Red chilli powder - 2 tsp

Turmeric - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Home made masala powder - 3 tsp

Yoghurt - 3/4 th cup


Proceed:



Heat the same pan on med-low, add ghee + oil, once heated add whole garam masala, wait for few secs to give flavor to develop. Add green chillies and fry, once fried add onion and fry until golden color.

Add drained Fenugreek leaves + mint leaves, both chilli powders, turmeric and salt to taste, fry for few secs.

Add drained out mutton pieces, mix well and cook for 10 mins until water which comes, dries up. Add grinded onion paste and home made masala powder and fry for few mins.

Remove from heat and add yoghurt mix well return this to heat and cook for few mins until oil oozes out slightly, remove this entire thing into cooker bowl, and pressure cook for 20 mins with weight on top.

Simultaneously:

Oil - 1 tsp
Gongura/ Sorrel Leaves - 250 g (wash properly, use red variety)
Water - 1/2 cup

Heat the same nonstick pan, add oil, once heated add gongura and 1/2 cup water, mix well and simmer until you switch off the cooker or until leaves are wilted, once cooled grind into paste along with water which may have.

Additinal masala and Garnish:

2 cloves, 2 cardamom, 1 inch cinnamon stick - powder these in pestle.
Coriander leaves - handful (washed and chopped)

Final stage:

Once cooled off remove the lid from the pressure cooker, add the curry to the nonstick pan, along with
gongura paste, coriander leaves and additinal masala powder - mix well and cook on low heat for 5 mins, by covering. Switch off and keep the lid on top for 5 mins and serve.

Serve with Bagara Annam and Raita on side.

Notes:

Home made masala powder: (remember this is the same masala powder which we used in kodi kura)

Coriander seeds - 3 flat tsp, White Poppy seeds - 1 flat tsp, Cloves - 6 no., Cardamom - 6 no., Cinnamon stick - 1 inch - powder these in coffee grinder.

Translation:

Gongura = Red sorrel leaves

Tip:

This tastes good even the next day, you can make a day ahead to release all the flavors or simply place the curry in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 5 mins.

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Sarva Pindi or Ginne Appa

Having friends from different regions is you can be blessed with their tradition way of cooking too . In such, this recipe was given from my friend Swapna who hails from Telangana region.  Weekend when we visited their place she said "I will show you how to make Sarva pindi Rajani, behind her husband is saying we call them Ginne appa,  Oh I said ginnelo chesidi kabatti ginne appa na"- learning new things. Instantly fallen in love with it. Thanks!! Swapna garu and Venkat Garu.

Sarva Pindi

No fermenting, easy peasy and healthy snack served at evening tea or eat it like us for breakfast. 


Serves:


2 large ginne appa + 1 small ginne appa (Increase qty if you have more people to serve)


Ingredients:

Rice Flour - 2 cups

Channa dal - handful (soak for 2 hours in water) or Putnalu pappu - handful (no need for soaking)

Peanuts - handful (roast these in microwave plate for 2 min and remove skin and separate in half (this is how I did) or coarsely grind them with few bits and pieces)

White Sesame seeds - 2 tsp (no need for roasting)

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp (no roasting needed)

Spring onion - 2 no. (washed, chopped) or Incase you don't have one use yellow onion - 1/2 large no. (chopped finely)
Green chillies - 3 no. (finely chop with kitchen scissors)
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs (chopped fine)
Garlic - 6 pods (sliced and chop length wise)

Coriander leaves - handful (chopped finely)

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp or a pinch
Cayenne pepper - 1 tsp (goddu karam na bashalo :-) )
Salt - 1 tsp

Water - as needed

Proceed:

1) In a glass bowl add all dry ingredients first, mix well, and then add remaining ingredients except water, mix well and then add water little at a time, until form a chapati dough consistency.

2) Take a flat deep non-stick pan, add 1 tbsp oil, spread all over the pan with your fingers. Smear some oil too on both of your hands.

3) Take a cricket ball size dough, put it in the middle and keep pressing flat thin like pan cake with your fingers, dipping your fingers in oil if needed. Once finished put hole in the middle with your index finger.

4) Take this pan on stove top. Cook on med-low for 15 mins or until lightly brown underneath. Turn over carefully with spatula and cook away for 10 mins more. Switch off  leave it on for 5 more mins on stove top to get crisp.

Ginne Appa

Serve immediately as it is on a plate.

Look how thin it is

Note:

I cooked on electrical stove top.

Do not put lid on top while cooking, it will get soggy. If you want to put then, the water which sits on top of the lid wipe it off with cloth and cover again. If you want to do this way then check and adjust your cooking timings.

Here I don't have spring onion, so I used yellow onion.

I want to cook urgently so opted for Putnalu pappu, which doesn't make any difference, actually it is better than channa dal.

Peanuts, should be ground coarsely, I haven't I just separated in half, so no difference either.

Venkat garu's Tip:

If you got left over, cut them in to rectangle shape or like bruschetta size, on top of it put just salad mix and serve it on a plate

Salad mix: chopped Red Onion, chopped Tomato, Green chilli, Chopped coriander, Salt to taste, lemon juice and lightly give a touch up with tobasco sauce for zing.

Verdict:

Mind blowing. Yum!!!!!

Translation:

Putnalu Pappu = Roasted Chickpeas = Dalia = Bhuna Chana
Ginne = Utensil
Sarva Pindi = Spicy Indian rice flour pancake sort of.

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Chandrakala Uthappam/ Uthappam with a twist

Chandrakala Uthappam

I don't think any one discovered this uthappam, doing my twist to it. Hence the name Chandrakala Uthappam. It has got secret ingredient that is my amma's special curry. 

We need:

Mix Idli batter in a bowl (Just take how much your family needs for doing Uthappam.), to that add 1/2 the amount of Cabbage Bangaladumpa Kura, for extra hot cut finely chopped green chillies few of them - mix well and do Uthappam. (remember no need to add extra salt as curry already has salt in it)

Heating a small nonstick deep flat pan as shown in the picture, on low heat, add 1 tbsp oil, once heated add 2-3 ladle ful of batter and do flat round shape, cover, cook for few mins, or until light brown underneath and turn again, cover and cook for few mins, remove lid cook for 1 min and serve.

Goes well with Ginger pickle or elseTomato Pickle.

Tip:

When ever you do Idli batter, cook this curry too, and keep in fridge. You will have the next day yummy Uthappam out of it. Serve as a Breakfast, Brunch or for people who eat tiffin in the evening.

The smell and tastes of this Uthappam takes you to Indian Tiffin Centres in India, I promise!!! eagerly waiting for your feed back :-)

Meaning:

Cabbage Bangaladumpa Kura = Cabbage Potato Curry
Uthappam = Indian Pan cake sort of :-)
Chandrakala? my mom's name

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Gangabayala Endu Mamidi Pappu/ Purslane leaves dal with Dried Mango Twist

Gangabayala Endu Mamidi Pappu

Dried Mango Slices or Amchur

Ingredients:

Kandi Pappu/ Toor Dal - 1 rice cup (wash it well)

Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Water - 2 and 1/2 rice cups

Gangabayala Akku/ Purslane Leaves - 1 bunch (wash well, keep only thin stalk and leaves and chop)

In a pressure cooker add toor dal, chilli powder, turmeric, water and 1 bunch chopped Purslane leaves, pressure cook with weight on top until soft.

Dried mango slices - 2 handful (wash well with cold water)

Meanwhile, for washed mango pieces, add 1 glass of kettle boiled water to it, cover and keep aside until you switched off the cooker.

Once the pressure is down, start cooking the mango pieces along with water you have soaked, in a medium skillet and cook until soft. Remove lid from the cooker add salt to taste and mash with pappu guthu or back of the laddle, add this mixture to the mango dish, rinse off the cooker bowl with little water and add it to the boiling dal, bring it to boil once and do seasoning.

Seasoning:

Oil - 1 tbsp, Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp, Cumin - 1/2 tsp, Urad dal - 1 tsp, Red chillies - 4 (split), Garlic cloves - 3 no. (mash once), Curry leaves - 1 sprig and Hing - a pinch.

Do seasoning and add it to dal, cover the dish for 5 mins and serve.

Serve with Saggubiyam vadiyalu and Gummadi vadiyalu or Papads or Indian style Omelette.

Note:

Tastes good even the next day.

I always store these dried mango pieces in my pantry, so when need it's easy peasy. You don't have to wait for the season to do this dish.

These are Dried Raw Mango Slices can be found in Indian grocery store.

Purslane leaves has Omega - 3 content, so try to include in your diet, people who haven't tried I highly recommend.

Translation:

Dried Mango Slices = Endu Mamidi kaya Badhalu

Purslane Leaves = Gangabayala/ Gangapayalu akku

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Satyanarayana Puja Lunch Menu!!

"no onion, garlic and limited masala"

Puja Prasadam:

Panchamuratem

Satyanarayana Prasadam 

Kobbari mukkalu drizzled with sugar

Lunch Menu:

Motichoor Ladoo

Jangiri

Pulihora

White Rice

Poppadums

Ghee

Kobbari Pachadi

Dappalam

Vankaya Sanaga Pappu Kura

Mudda Pappu

Beans Fry

Aratikaya Fry

Yoghurt

Fruit Custard

Badam Halwa

Ice Creams

This menu was prepared for friend's gruhapravesam on puja day. Hope it will help you.

Aloo kurma, Potato fry, Panasa pottu Kura, Kanda Bachali and Vankaya allam Kura are also few suggestions of mine - just avoid onion and proceed the same.

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Dappalam/ Mixed Vegetable with a twist

Dappalam

(a hot liquid tamarind extract with mixed vegetable pieces)

Chilakada dumpa/ Gold Kumara

Gummadi kaya/ Grey Pumpkin

Ingredients:

Grey Pumpkin - 200 g (skin removed and diced into cubes)
Drumsticks - handful (I used frozen drumstick pieces)
Chilakada dumpa/ Gold Kumara - 1 no. (use white one only, skin removed and diced into cubes)
Okra - handful (tip and tail removed, chop each okra into 2 inch pieces)

Tamarind - lemon size (keep in microwave safe bowl and add 1/2 cup water to it, and microwave for 2 mins, cool and make into pulp, keep aside)

Jaggery - 1 tsp

Green chillies - 2 no. (slit vertically)

Water - 2 and 1/2 cups

Salt to taste

Turmeric - 1 tsp

Rasam powder - 1/2 tsp

Roast and powder:

Par-boiled rice - 2 tbsp
Toor dal - 2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
Red chillies - 4 no. (slit them)

Roast each separately and keep aside, once cool enough powder these in coffee grinder. Remove it in bowl and add 1/2 cup water to it.

Twist (Aava pindi):

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp (powder this in pestle)

Seasoning:

Oil + Ghee - 1 tbsp each
Mustrad seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Red chillies - 4 no.
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Hing - 1/4 tsp

Proceed:

1) Heat a deep flat large pan, add tamarind juice and jaggery, on medium heat, cook until it thickens.

2) Add water, veges, green chillies, turmeric and salt to taste, cover with lid, and cook for 5 mins (you will see boiling).

3) Remove the lid and keep cooking on the same heat for 10 mins.

4) Add roasted powder which is been mixed in 1/2 cup water, coriander leaves and 1/2 tsp rasam powder, cook for 5 more mins and switch off.

5) Now add powdered mustard.

6) Do seasoning and add it to above, cover for 5 mins.

Serve with Rice, Poppadum and Yoghurt on side.

Things to remember:

We are using gold kumara not pinkish ones, these ones are good for curries.

Don't be tempted with pumpkin we get here. Some has thick skin even they look good and few are too mushy to cook, so choose as described.

Note:

For Satyanarayana Vratam, Lunch can be served with this Dappalam (no onion and garlic).

© 2010 by Rajani Rayudu

Ara Chintakayala Kura/ Yard Long Bean Curry

Ara Chintakayala Kura

Ingredients:

Ara Chintakayalu/ Yard long beans - 1/4 kg (ends removed and chop into 1 inch pieces)

Potatoes - 3 no. (small, skin removed and chop into bite size pieces)

Ginger and Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp

Onion - 1 no. (small, chopped)

Mustard oil - 3 tbsp

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder - 1 and 1/2 tsp

Home made masala powder - 2 and 1/2 tsp (*please read notes)

Water - until pieces are immersed (I used 3/4 glass)

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves - handful, chopped

Proceed:

1) Heat oil in a small non-stick kadai on medium-low heat, once hot add curry leaves, wait for few secs.

2) Add onion and fry until light golden.

3) Add gg paste and potatoes and fry for 5 mins, keep it covered and stir time to time.

4) Add turmeric, chilli powder, home made masala powder, stir for few secs, then add long beans, mix well and cook for 2 mins.

5) Add water until pieces are just immersed, bring to boil, keep it simmer and cook for 10 mins.

6) Remove the lid and add salt to taste and coriander leaves, mix well and cook away for 5 mins or more, with lid on top.

7) Lastly check whether potatoes are cooked or not and switch off, leave it covered for 5 mins and serve.

Serve with Rice, Mixed Vegetable Pickle and Yoghurt on side.

Translation (Picture, Long Bean):

Ara Chintakayalu (Telugu) = Yard Long Bean

Tip:

I have used chilli powder (AASHIRVAAD, Chilli Powder, Red and Hot) which already got red paprika color and enough hotness for curry.

If your chilli powder doesn't give that nice red color, then by all means use 1 tsp of kashmiri chilli powder + 1/2-3/4 tsp cayenne pepper.

Notes:

Home made masala powder:

3 flat tsp Coriander Seeds, 1 flat tsp White Poppy seeds, 6 Whole Cloves, 5 Cardamom and 1 inch Cinnamon stick - grind all these in coffee grinder.

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu

Vinayaka Chavithi Subhakankshalu!!

To all my family, friends and dear readers Vinayaka Chavithi Subhakankshalu.

Hope you all like my pooja decorations :-) any comments are welcome. Today I got up at 2:30 a.m, may be first time getting up so early and want to prepare the dishes. This year I served bujji vinayakudu Pulihora, Prasadam Burelu, Senagalu Talimpu, Semiya Payasam, Undrallu, Kozhukattai with Sesame filling and Panchamruthem.

Offerings to lord Ganesha.........

Semiya paysam, Undrallu and Pulihora (picture)

Prasadam Burelu, Senagalu Talimpu, Kozhukattai with Sesame Filling..........

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu

Mullangi Sambhar/ Daikon Sambhar

Mullangi Sambhar

Ingredients:

Toor Dal/ Kandi Pappu - 1/2 cup (small toor dal) + 1/2 cup (large toor dal)

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Salt - a pinch

Water - 2 and 1/2 cups

Cook these everything in pressure cooker until mushy.

Tamarind - 1 lemon size

Add enough water to the tamarind, microwave for 1 min , cool a bit and squeeze the juice.

Jaggery - small bit (around 1 tsp)

Onion - 1 no. (chopped in to chunks or u can use small onions, use as a whole)

Green chillies - 4 no. (slit Lengthwise)
Mullangi/ Daikon Radish/ White Radish - 2 medium (peeled and sliced and cut into half moon shape)

Whole Tomato Tin - 3 no. + juice little bit (to give that nice red tint)

Sambhar Powder - Home made (scroll down to see recipe)

Seasoning:

Oil + Ghee - 1 tbsp each

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Fenugreek seeds - 1/4th tsp

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Dry Red chillies - 2 no. (split in half)

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Hing/ Asafoetida - a pinch

Mullangi/ Daikon/ White Radish

Proceed:

1) Heat a large flat deep pan, add tamarind juice to it along with jaggery and cook for few mins until slightly thicken.

2) To that add now all the veges, 5 cups of water and salt to taste. Mix well cover and cook it on medium heat for 10 mins.

3) Add cooked toor dal, mix well uncover and cook for 10 mins.

4) Add squashed tomato and sambhar powder, mix well and cook further 10 mins.

5) Do seasoning:

Heat oil + ghee in a small skillet, do seasoning in the order given above. Once finished add it to above (point 4), cover for 1 min and switch off. Keep the lid a jar and serve.

Serve it with Rice, Aloo Fry, Yoghurt and Poppadums on side.

Note:

Home made Sambhar Powder:

Oil - 1 tbsp, Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp, Chana Dal - 1 tbsp, Fenugreek Seeds - 1/2 tsp, Black Pepper - 1 tsp, Red Chillies - 7 no. and Desiccated Coconut - 2 tbsp

Roast all these in a skillet, except coconut, once nice aroma comes, switch off, add coconut immediately, mix well, once cooled, powder smoothly in coffee grinder. Add entire powder for making Sambhar.

Translation:

Mullangi = Mooli (in Hindi)

Mullangi = Daikon

Chit-chat:

I bought Daikon for $2:50 at saturday market in Wellington. This is huge so made different dishes out of it.

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu

Athidhi Devo Bava

Athidhi Devo Bava means guest is equivalent to god.

Today in Athidhi post, I am welcoming Vijaya Vanapalli. She has cute daughter Geethika. One day I am checking my mails and there she was posting few recipes for me and you to try it out. It felt so good that with out asking she is passing on to me. Thanks Vijju.......

In her own words: "my name is vijaya vanapalli . Actually I am from visakhapatnam but presently living in U.K

Before I used to work, so I had no time to cook it regular. Now I am on maternity leave from last 6 months. My parents came for delivery and stayed for 6 mon and went back now I am alone looking my child so I have more time, getting bore - normally from my childhood I am interested in
cooking, painting, interior decoration and traveling............

About my amma she is very good cook . she is very good at making pickles, chutneys and non-veg"

EGG DUM BIRIYANI

Preparation:

1 st Stage:

10 Eggs

Boil all eggs and cut the eggs into half with the help of thread

2nd stage:

3 cups basmati rice

Whole garam Masala : {5 Cloves, 2 Cardamom, 1 inch Cinnamon stick, 1 Star anise}

Now cook the rice by adding above whole masala, salt to taste and cook until rice is cooked 3/4, and drain the water out in a strainer, and spread it on plate or pallem.

3 rd stage:

Onions - 3 no.
Oil - as required

Now in a pan fry onions until brown colour and keep it aside

4 th stage:

2 bunch mint leaves
2 lemons 
garam masala1 spoon
ginger - garlic paste 2 spoons
oil
red chilli powder
salt
turmeric

Then in the same above pan, add oil and fry mint leaves in that add ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder 1/2 spoon, turmeric, salt and 1/2 spoon masala powder and fry. Add eggs and fry and keep aside.

Final stage:

Now take Deep flat non stick pan or a pressure cooker, in that add ghee, smear it all around and bottom of the dish,

1) then put 1 layer rice,

2) layer egg+mint leaves fry

3) add a layer of fried onions

4) repeat the layers until you finish it off,

5) lastly add lemon juice on top, ghee 2 spoons, orange food color mixed in little milk, Keep it covered tightly with lid and wrap it with squeezed hot towel, keep it on tawa and cook until remaining 1/4 th rice is done.

Note:

Please leave comments if you tried her dish or for any doubts. I haven't tried it yet, but will sure make it. Thanks...............

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu

Kaarjam Vepudu/ Liver Fry

Kaarjam Vepudu/ Liver Fry

Ingredients:

Chicken Liver - 350 g (wash it well, remove any odd bits, sliced thinly)

Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tsp

Chilli Powder - 2 tsp

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Water - 1/4 cup

Cook these in daaka/ utensil on medium-low heat for 15 mins, keep it covered.

Rice-bran Oil - 6 tbsp

Curry leaves - 2 sprigs (preferably nice fresh ones)

Bay leaves - 2 no.

Green chillies - 4 (sliced lengthways)

Shallots - 2 large (sliced thinly)

Salt - to taste

Home-made Masala Powder - (scroll down to see)

Coriander leaves - handful (chopped finely)

Proceed:

1) Heat oil in a medium deep flat nonstick pan on medium heat, once heated add bay leaves, green chillies and curry leaves fry for few mins or until green chillies are nicely fried.

2) Add shallots and fry until golden brown.

3) Add cooked liver pieces along with the liquid and salt to taste, fry until all liquid gets evaporated.

4) Add masala powder and coriander leaves and fry for 5 mins and switch off.

Serve with Sambhar or Bellam Charu and Plain white Rice.

Home-made Masala powder:

Coriander seeds - 2 tsp, Poppy seeds - 1 tsp, Whole cloves - 3, Cardamom - 3, Cinnamon - 3 small pieces, Black Pepper Corns - 1 tsp - Grind these in coffee grinder and use all the masala powder for above dish.

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu

Cabbage bangaladumpa kura/ Cabbage Potato Curry

Cabbage Bangaladumpa Kura

Buy smaller young cabbage, rather buying very large cabbage. Younger cabbage needs no water and tastes good with this particular curry

Ingredients:

Cabbage - 1 small no. (shred finely, soak these in water until needed)

Potato - 2 no. (skin removed and cut into small chunks)

Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp

Onion - 1/2 no. (chopped)

Green chillies - 2 no. (slit lengthwise)

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Home-made masala powder - 1 tsp (scroll down to see)

Coriander leaves - handful (chopped finely)

Oil - 3 tbsp

Proceed:

1) Heat a kadai, add oil when it is hot add green chillies and onions and fry until light brown.

2) Add potato pieces and gg paste and fry for 5 mins on medium-low heat, keep it covered.

3) Mix well and lay on top finely shredded cabbage (squeeze the water out and add), cook these until it leaves lots of water, by covering with lid at all times.

(make sure it is not burning underneath).

4) Now, add turmeric, chilli powder and salt to taste on top of cabbage, keep it covered and cook until potato pieces are 3/4 th cooked.

5) Add masala powder and coriander leaves, mix well and cook until potato pieces are fully cooked.

Serve with Plain white Rice or Roti, Ghee, Yoghurt and Capsicum Chutney on side.

Tip:

Please do not add any water to this dish, as it leaves lots of water.

Note:

Please follow the temperature and cooking procedure carefully.

I use Anjali Cutter for this, for fine shredding. If you don't, then use only knife not food processor. Some how food processor didn't work for this.

Home-made Masala powder:

3 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp Poppy seeds, 6 Cardamom, 6 Whole Cloves, 1 inch Cinnamon stick - Grind these in coffee grinder into smooth powder.

Left over Twist:

Chandrakala Uthappam

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu

Hyderabadi Qeema Biriyani

Hyderabadi Qeema Biriyani

Thanks Samina! yet again for your lovely dish. This one is excellent and became my family favorite. Check out the other recipe I tried from her Channa pulao with Spinach. for vegetarian version.

Good for picnic or for unexpected guests or just treat your self :-)

Ingredients:

1) For Curry:

Diced Lamb - 1/2 kg (read tips)

Cut these into small pieces, but bigger than minced (in other words moti keema). Wash well, keep these in cooker bowl add 1/2 tsp salt and required water. Pressure cook for 20 mins. When the pressure is down, drain the liquid out while adding to the curry.

Onions - 2 large (slice thinly)

Oil - 1/2 cup

Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Red Chilli powder - 2 tsp

Cayenne Pepper - 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Whole Tomato - 3 large (chopped)

Water - 1/2 cup

For Garnish:

Curry leaves - 2 sprigs (cut them with scissors or finely chopped)

Coriander leaves - handful (chopped finely)

Mint leaves - handful (chopped finely)

Proceed for Curry:

1) Now heat a flat deep nonstick pan, add oil once heated fry the onions in batches until golden color (reserve the first batch for layer).

2) Add gg paste, fry for few mins.

3) Add strained keema to it, fry for 3 mins.

4) Add all powders and fry.

5) Add tomato pieces, cook until mushy.

6) Add water and cook until all the water has evaporated by keeping the lid on. Switch off and keep it covered for 5 mins.

7) To this, garnish with above ingredients.

2) For Rice:

Basmati Rice - 1/2 kg or 2 cups

Water - 4 cups

Whole Garam Masala - { 1 tsp Shahjeera, Whole Cloves - 8 no., Cardamom - 8 no., Black Pepper - 10 no., Bay leaf - 5 no., Cinnamon stick - 1 inch}

Salt - 3 tsp

Green Chillies - 4 no. (remove the stem and slit lengthways, with out tearing apart)

Proceed for Par-boiled Rice:

Bring water to boil in a deep dish, along with all other ingredients, except rice. Once it comes to boiling point add washed basmati rice to it, cover and reduce it to simmer until rice is cooked 3/4 th (we do dum, so cook only 75 %). Once finished, drain the water out in stainer completely (me does in Jalleda, once the rice drained out, I keep the stainer in an angle, this way the water comes out very easily) spread out in flat dish or pallem. Remove the chilli bit and add it to garnish curry.

3) For layering:

Colored Yoghurt - 125 g Yoghurt + Yellow Food Color - 1/2 tsp (mix this well)

Mace Nutmeg Powder - 1/2 tsp + 1/2 tsp extra

Colored Milk - 1/4 tsp yellow color + little milk (mix these both)

Lemon - 1 no. (take juice)

Proceed for final touch:

1) Grease the deep flat dish with butter all around.

2) Add half the cooked rice.

3) Add another layer of entire curry.

4) Add reserved fried onion on top.

5) Add all the colored Yoghurt.

6) Add 1/2 tsp of mace nutmeg powder.

7) Add all the lemon juice.

8) Add the remaining rice on top.

9) Add remaining 1/2 tsp mace nutmeg powder on top.

10) Top it up colored milk on top.

11) Keep the lid on tightly, and do dum on simmer heat for atleast 30 - 35 mins.

12) Once finished mix it lightly all through and serve.

Serve with Kachumber or Raita.

Tips:

Please Read my tips for dum in my Hyderabadi Chicken Biriyani recipe. Before even you start the dish.

Meat = we need smaller pieces but not too fine, so that they are firm to bite.

I buy Nutmeg Powder in packets, no need to grate. It is quite easy.

Meanings:

Mace = Javithri

Nutmeg = Jaiphal = Jajjikaya (in Telugu)

© 2009 by Rajani Rayudu