Naans

I wanted to try naans for a long time and when I came across Archana's ( spicyana) 'Pan grilled Naans', I was very much attracted by it. It looked so perfect.. I followed exactly her method, but I did not pan grill it. I just baked them and they turned out good. This is my entry to this month's MBP hosted by Coffee. check out for the recipe here. Thanks Archana for this wonderful recipe.

Vatral Kuzhambu

Vatral kuzhambu is a famous dish in Tamilnadu. The word 'Vatral' means sun dried vegetable. Some veggies like brinjal, sundakkai,manathakkali and clusterbeans can be sundried.U can make this kuzhambu with any one of these vatrals .Vatral kuzhambu with rice , papad and keerai is a wonderful combination. I have tried vatral kuzhambu in different methods, many of them turned out watery, without much gravy.... this one was very good and so I thought I would share it with u all.

Ingredients

Sundakkai vatral or any type of vatral-1/4 cup
Tamarind - golf ball sized
Sambar powder/Vatral kuzhambu powder- 1- 1½ tsp(I used sakthi sambar powder)
Onion- 1 small cut tinto strips
Shallots /pearl onions- 6
Garlic- 6-8 cloves
Oil - 4 to 5 tsp
Coconut grated-little, approx 2 tsp
Curry leaves- 1 sprig
Methi powder-1/4 tsp
Salt to taste

Method

Peal and cut the pearl onions to chunks. Soak the tamarind in water and get the juice. Keep aside.
Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan and add the pearl onions and fry till it turns transparent. Remove from fire. When cooled grind this with sambar powder and coconut into a fine paste.
Heat the remaining oil in the same pan and when it is hot add the vatrals and fry till it turns brown. Then add the onions , curryleaves and garlic. Fry for sometime and then add the tamarind juice. When it boils add the ground paste. Add ½ cup of water,methi powder and salt , simmer the flame and partly close it with a lid. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes till the oil separates on top.
Serve hot with rice and papad.

Paal Kozhukattai

This is another of my Mother in law's recipe which is a big hit in our family. She made this for 'Sangadahara Chaturthi' which comes once in a month. She used to fast on this day and make kozhukattai and sundal and offer to lord Ganesha. She is here with us now and this time I helped her too in making it. I thought this would be a good choice for 'Winter food swing Event- Family and friends in the kitchen' hosted by Trupti of 'The spice who loved me'.

Icon credits- Trupti

Ingredients

Rice flour- 1 cup
Coconut milk - 1 cup if using from the can or milk taken from 1 medium coconut
Sugar- 1/2 cup
Salt- a pinch
Ghee- 1tsp
Milk- 1/2 cup
Oil- 4 tsp
Cardomom powder- 1/4 tsp

Method

Mix ½ cup of milk , 1 ½ cups of water to the rice flour, ghee and a pinch of salt together. Heat the batter in a pan (preferably non stick) and keep stirring without any lumps, till it forms a dough consistency.When it is cooled add 4 tsp oil to that and knead it into a soft dough.Make small balls (like u do for seedai) out of this.

Take milk from the coconut ....Check out here how to do it.First time when u extract milk from the coconut u will get thick milk.Keep this as your 1st extract. Again add water and extract milk.This time u will get a thinner milk. Repeat it again the third time too where u will get a very thin extract. Do not mix the coconut milks together. keep aside.

If u are using tinned coconut milk add 1/2 cup of water to 1/2 cup of the coconut milk cream to get the first thick extract. Take 1/4 cup of coconut cream and add 1/2 cup of water to make the 2nd extract and repeat this step again for the 3 rd extract with the remaining 1/4 cup of coconut milk cream.

In a non stick pan add the 3rd extract and the rice balls. When it boils and when the balls float on top add the 2nd extract . Add the 1st extract and the sugar after 3 minutes. Let it thicken and then add the cardomom powder. Kozhukattais are ready to serve.

Masala Oat Pancakes

When I went to India last time, I got this book named'Oats Breakfast Cookbook' by Nita mehta. The book had very good healthy recipes of oats. I tried this masala oat pancakes and it turned out great. Iam giving u the recipes as it is in the book.

Ingredients

Oats- 1 cup ground to a powder in a mixer

Onion- 1 chopped finely

Tomato - 1 chopped finely

green chilli- 1 deseeded and chopped finely

Kasoori methi- 1 tsp

coriander leaves- 1 tbsp chopped

red chiili powder- 1/2 tsp

turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

garam masala- 1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

water- 1 1/2 cups approx

Method

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and beat well adding enough water to make a batter of pouring consistency.

Heat a tawa or a non stick pan and add 1/2 tsp of oil in the center. spread the batter to make a thin pancake.add oil to the sides of the pancake. when the top is cooked turn over and cook.

Serve hot with tomato or mint chutney

Protest against Plagiarism

Inji manga , has called out to all the food bloggers to protest against Plagiarism on March 5th. I would like to join hands with them against this shameful act of plagiarism. Stealing the contents and pictures from the blogs without their approval is illegal and should be protested.

STOP PLAGIARISM!!!

Those who are not aware of the reason for this protest, check out for the details here

Icon credits: Sandeepa