Tomato Rice

This is a simple but very tasty recipe from my friend Shakthi. Earlier,I prepare tomato rice in a different way, But after tasting it in her house I liked it a lot and now I prepare tomato rice only by this method. I love the simplicity and the mild flavors in this dish.

Ingredients

Rice(sonamasoori/basmathi) - 2 cups

onion-1 big chopped into thin slices

tomatoes -2 (medium or big)chopped finely

green chillies- 2 slitted

ginger- 1 small piece finely chopped

garlic-cloves finely chopped

or

ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp

turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

chilli powder- 3/4 - 1 tsp or acc to taste

coriander leaves- a few chopped finely

mint leaves- a few chopped finely

salt to taste

For seasoning

oil- 2 tbsp

cinnamon- 1 small piece(optional)

cloves- 2( optional)

mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp

split urad dal- 1/4 tsp

curry leaves- a few

saunf- 1/4 tsp

jeera- 1/4 tsp

method

Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add mustard seeds, split urad dal, jeera, saunf ,(cinnamon,cloves) and curry leaves.

Add the chopped onion ,ginger, garlic and green chillies and fry till the onions turn transparent. (If you are adding ginger garlic paste add it now and fry for a couple of minutes.)

Now add the chopped tomatoes ,salt and turmeric powder.

Fry till the tomatoes become mushy. Add chilli powder and the chopped coriander and mint leaves.

Fry for a minute and then add the washed rice. mix well and add 3 1/2 cups of water. Check salt and pressure cook for 10 minutes.

Serve hot with papad /chips/raita.

Paneer Butter Masala

Ingredients

Paneer- 1 pack

Onions- 2 medium

Tomatoes-3 big

Ginger garlic paste- 1 1/2 tsp

Cashews- 10 whole

Milk- 1/2 cup

Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

Chilli powder- 1 tsp

Coriander powder- 2 tsp

Jeera powder- 1/2 tsp

Garam masala - 1/2 tsp

Everest kitchen king masala- 1/2 tsp

Kasoori methi - 1/4 tsp

Oil+ butter -3 tbsp (1:2)

Cinnamon- 1 small piece

Cloves- 2

Cardomom-1

Coriander leaves- a few chopped finely

Salt to taste

Method

Peel the onions and boil them in hot water for sometime until it becomes soft. When cooled ,grind it to a smooth paste. Blanch the tomatoes and puree them.

Heat oil and ghee in a pan and add cinnamon,cloves and cardomom. Add the ground onion paste and fry for some time. Then add the ginger, garlic paste and fry for some time.

Then add the tomato puree. fry till the oil seperates and then add turmeric, chilli, dhania and jeera powders.Grind the cashews into a fine paste and add to the masala.

Add the milk , cover with a lid and cook in a slow flame till the masalas are well cooked .

Chop the paneer into cubes or strips . Add this along with garam masala powder, kasoori methi,salt and kitchen king masala . cook for 5 - 10 minutes or till the oil comes on top.

Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with parathas/roti/naan.

Note:

You can grind the onions and tomatoes straightaway without cooking in water and blanching them too. But I do this because the onions would be cooked well and there will not be any raw smell. The gravy would be done quickly and the taste would be better too.

If u want more rich gravy u can add half and half or fresh cream instead of milk .

If u need more gravy for parties, u can grind 1-2 tsps of coconut along with cashews.

U can adjust the masalapowders and butter as per your taste.

U can fry the paneer in oil or use fried paneer and add them to the gravy too.

I thank easy crafts and Illatharasi for passing these awards to me( a couple of months before). Thanks guys!!

Back with Carrot Halwa

Ingredients

Carrots- 6 cups grated finely

sugar- 2 1/2 to 3 cups - acc to taste

milk- 3 cups

khoya- 1/2 cup or acc to taste ,crumbled

ghee- 3 tbsp

cashews- a few chopped finely

cardomom powder- 1 tsp

Method

Heat ghee in a thick bottomed pan and add the finely grated carrots and carrots. Saute for a couple of minutes and add milk. Partly cover with a lid and let the carrots get cooked in the milk.

Add the sugar and after it dissolves completely add the khoya and cardomom powder. Remove from heat when it becomes thick.

note:

Grate the carrots very finely so that the carrots would cook very quickly . If the grated carrots are not very fine then you may need to add some more milk.

You can adjust khoya, sugar and milk as per your taste.