Chow chow and mutton curry

   I had just left the market with an pack of chow chow.  This green vegetable, resembled potato like in texture.  I wanted to try it differently other than usual poriyal or kootu, which is why I called my aunt.  She told me that chow chow, radhish, carrot and potato are few vegetables that can pair excellently with mutton curry.  Even those who don't like veggies and prefer mutton alone, will find this curry delecious since the chow chow absorbs the flavour of mutton and portrays as same.  You can add green chillies to the masala paste instead of chilly powder, but, since we had an toddler, I sticked with latter option.

Yes, and I made the curry along with mutton and its liver.  Mutton liver or thilli is an excellant source of iron, and moreover they dominated the entire flavour and we all nourished the same.  This curry goes great with rice/idly or dosa.  I hope you try the same and let us know.  

Bhaja Moong dal - Potluck party, cyber style December 28th 2013

   For this month of potluck party, I was paired with Sutapa.  I was too happy because I am an dal or gravy-aholic lady.  In this blogging world, we can see many bakes, many goodies  or many virtual treats, but when it comes to your home-cooking, making gravies or dal for dinner becomes an wondering part of life because breakfast and lunch preparation gets over my morning itself.  And for me, I simply quiz what to cook up, with my refrigerator and provisions shelf wide open  :D  :D   This potluck party, very clearly compensated my thought :P  

Bhaja moong dal, an bengali dal is an rich and exotic dal.  'Bhaja' means 'fry' and so moong dal was fried with ghee before pressure cooking and tempered with spices and coconut.  When I prepared, I can notice a pleasent aroma and taste, unlike other dal preparations.  So, thanks to Sutapa for introducing such an nice dal to us, I enjoyed them thoroughly with roti. 

Hiruva masala shaak / Green masala curry - POTLUCK PARTY, CYBER STYLE Dec 10

   It's party-time!!! :D  yes, back to potluck party, cyber style hosted by Jagruti mam where several bloggers meet with their party dishes online and share treat virtually  :D.  They, also pair up and prepare the other partner's dish and cherish them as well.  Isn't it interesting??   But, travelling frequently for past two months, I was not able to make up.  This time, I do proudly present the authentic curry preparation, made by my Mother-in-law - Hiruva masala shaak or Green masala curry.

 

As the name suggests, green masala curry is  very hot (Caution to spice-tolerant guys!), they differ from Nilgiri/green coloured curry because it is not the  (green) colour that matters here.  Hiruva masala shaak has many green chillies (8-10), sauted and pureed, this masala is added to regular curry-base, unlike other curries where  pureeing mint/coriander leaves is done to attain characteristic green colour.   

Mysore rasam

    At first, I would thank you guys for linking delicious recipes to my giveaway.  Planning to announce winners next week-end.  Secondly, I just bumped into CCC in Srivalli's blog.  Cooking from cookbook challenge was soo interesting for me to approach.  Thanks to Srivalli for adding me here.  The first post I am going to make is Mysore rasam, from Nita Mehta's 'Quick & Easy Pressure cooking'

 

Rasam is an soupy, watery dish, usually had at the end of South-Indian meal.  Rasam also aids in digestion.  What differs mysore rasam from normal ones, is the delicate balance of sweet-tangy-spice notes.  The unique addition of jaggery teams up with divine aroma of the ghee, isn't it great??  Let us view the recipe

Coco-carrot milkshake

      A sudden travel due to my father-in-law's upcoming bypass surgery rattled my world.  He was a regular walker and on top of that, an authentic vegetarian too!  Only God knows why such healthy body has to face an terrible operation!  Though  people casually say to each other, 'Come on, bypass surgery has nowadays become an common option, many do so', the pain you feel when your dear ones had to face is very infinite.  But, all thanks to Almighty, surgery went fine and he has shifted to ICU.  Will get back to my place soon after he discharges from hospital.  These times, I really feel to stick to chennai, most importantly to my family.  But, neverthless, shama had to work at hydi and varsha must school somewhere there.  She is really enjoying herself at her grandma's residance.  Playing with (cousin)brother, picking and dropping him to school, sleeping with uncle & aunty she really has an nice time here.

   And yes, coming back to our blog, you all know am an member of Potluck party, cyber style.  For july month's challenge, I was paired with Jagruti mam.  I had to redo the yummy milkshake she made.  But very sorry that I was not able to make up to the time.  So here it is coco-carrot milkshake from my part.

Coconut macaroon - Thengai biscuit

    I still can't forget the melting  childhood moments when one can bite into coconut biscuits (obtained from local grocery store)  The crispy pale brownish top with delecious coconut filling is, of course an delight for all those having an sweet tooth.  After all such good memories, someday before I chanced to look upon the recipe from morphy richards cookbook.  I could make out them only  through their pic, since the recipe was differently termed 'Coconut macaroons'

    The following day I made them on small batches and relished.  Though these cookies/macaroons didn't expand as much as the size of  shop-brought one ,  tastewise they comepensated the traditional form.  Also, I browned the top by spending little much temperature than usual.  In our blogging world, they can also be seen by choco-glaze over top, but I preferred them without the glaze.  I stored them in air-tight container and consumed over two weeks.

Avial

      Hi guys, hope you all had an amazing weekend!!  Here I have my parent-in-laws (finally got releived from babysitting for sometime) for an vacation visit.  Had an awesome time with them :) So, as I had told you in my previous posts, am an active member of Jagruti mam's Cyber partystyle cooking (You can view more details here) For this month's challenge I had prepared handvo, and as we have party over here, I prepared Sini's Avial.  Sini had prepared excellant avial and gave handy tips to acheive great taste too!!  I really appreciate her doing this, and that gave me very ease to prepare the same.
 

   


    I  prepared avial along with hot rice and vathakulambu.  Avial was excellant with such an combo.  Avial, itself can be had with hot rice.  It was very tasty and the aroma filled my entire home :)  And yes, Sini's preparation technique and methodology was simple to acheive great product.  Finally, my husband luved it and appreciated me for making lunch much healthier.  After all this,  I did felt bad, 'why didn't I prepare this before?? What took me so longggg? '   So,  guys, this avial is gonna top my regular food timetable  :)

So, let us move to avial making

Malvani fish curry

This is my third post for malvani cuisine.  The beforesaid cuisine, which is known for its hot fiery seafood, encloses coconut due to its abundant presence.  Following here below is hot fish curry..

Ingredients required

To be roasted and ground into powder

• 2 tsp whole cumin/Jeera
• 3-4 whole dry red chillies
• 1 tsp whole dhanya
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp rock salt

Goan Egg curry

  This hot fiery egg curry can be made in a jiffy... and promises great taste too!!

Ingredients required

To made into masala paste

• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 5-6 red chillies
• 1 tsp whole dhanya
• 1 tsp whole peppercorn
• 7-8 garlic pods
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
• 2 tsp thick tamarind paste

Malvani khumb curry

      Malvani cuisine is followed by Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa.  Name comes from Malvan, town in Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra.  Since this town being coastal, this cuisine dominates non-vegetarian food and especially sea food.  Using coconut liberally throughout their cuisine, malvani cuisine is known for its fiery curries.  Here I replaced khumb/mushroom with normally cooked chicken, mutton, prawn etc.  As mentioned earlier, my hubby is mushroom-freak and we have it atleast once a week, so went on for an new try.. and mushroom malvani curry did passs... :)

Ingredients required

For the marination masala

• 3-4 whole red chilly
• 1 tsp whole dhanya
• 1 Bay leaf
• 5-6 clove
• 2 green cardamon
• 1 black cardamon
• 1 tsp shahjeera
• 1/2 tsp dagad phool/stoneflower
• 1/2 tsp crushed nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp whole peppercorn

Neer dosa

Neer dosa is from Karnataka cuisine.  Its preparation is quite simple, apart like using urad dal, this dosa is prepared from  rice alone (which is grinded into liquid batter).  Unlike normal dosa batter which is left to ferment for hours together, this is an instant form, u can simply grind and make an instant form of dosa!! isn't this great??  Grated coconut/ coconut milk is added optionally.  Do give a  honest try guys.....

Method is sooo simple.  Just grind half cup of raw rice(soaked for one hour) with 2 tsp grated coconut.  Make the batter too runny or too wateryy (as  'neer' means liquid form)  Later add pinch of salt and drizzle the batter on pre-heated tawa,, twisting the tawa to form circular shape.  Cook on both sides, shape into four and serve with coconut chutney...

Hmm... yummy breakfast!!