Stuffed crab (South Indian style)

Stuffed crab is one classic seafood starter and I have adapted the complete south Indian style in cooking it. I made a masala gravy with crab, later extracted the meat, mixed it along with the thick gravy and stuffed it back into the well preserved crab shell. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Crab (cleaned) - 2 large
Shallots or small onions - 15-20 nos
Tomato - 1 nos
Ginger- garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 2 tsp
Pepper powder - 1 tbsp
Salt for taste
Oil - 2 tbsp

Crab shells - 2 nos

Method:
Make a smooth paste of onion and tomato and keep aside. In a wok, heat oil and saute ginger-garlic paste, add the smooth onion and tomato paste and saute for 2-3 min. Add chilly powder and stir well. Add the cleaned crab claws and crab, along with salt and pepper. Cover and cook till its done (add little water for cooking). At this stage the crab will change its color to a nice orange and white combination. Cool and extract the crab meat. Put the meat back into the thick gravy and mix well. Heat if required. Stuff this in a clean crab shell and serve.

Note:
Can also dip the stuffed crab shells in egg and flour batter and then roll over breadcrumbs and deep fry them for a complete fried version.

Vangi bath/ Brinjal rice/Eggplant rice/ Riz Aubergiene

Vangi bath is a speciality of karnataka. This is also served at breakfast time at many darshinis or food joints in karnataka. It is usually some thick gravy (also known as gojju in Kannada) made with brinjal, then mixed along with white rice. Some people prefer to cook the gravy and rice together. It has many varieties and versions. I usually love to prepare the gojju , then mix it with the rice. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Mustard seed - 1/4 tsp
Channa dal - 1tbsp
Groundnuts - 2 tbsp
Cashew nut - 6-7 nos
Dry red chillies - 2 nos
Onion - 2 nos
Brinjal - 1 kilo
Carrots - 1 nos
Beans - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder- 1 tsp
Dry coconut or kopra - 1/4 cup
Jaggery - 1 tsp
Tamarind juice - 1 tbsp
Cooked rice - 1 kilo
Oil for cooking
Salt for taste

For the vangi bath powder:
Dry red chillies - 8-10 nos
Coriander seeds - 1/4 cup
Cloves - 6 nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bengal gram - 1/4 cup
Fenugreek seed - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - one pinch
Curry leaves of 2 sprigs
Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method:
Fry all the ingredients for the vangi bath masala in 1 tbsp ghee, cool and powder them. Cut all veggies lengthwise (brinjal can be diced into cubes). Shallow fry these veggies in oil along with turmeric powder. In a wok, heat oil, fry mustard seed, channa dal, groundnuts, cashew nuts and red chillies. Add onion and fry till golden. Add chilly powder, shallow fried veggies like carrot, beans, brinjal and vangibath powder, mix well. Add fried dry coconut or kopra, jaggery and tamarind juice, salt for taste and simmer to make a thick gravy or gojju. Mix with cooked rice and serve with boondi or raitha etc.

Note:
The vangibath powder can be prepared in large quantity and can be stored in airtight containers for later use. Can use readymade vangibath mix powder if it is available.

Dal adai ( parappu adai) and awards

I was bumped with so many awards from my friends Suja and Chaitrali. Suja shared the versatile blogger award. As per the rule I need to share it with 15 blogger friends and tell 7 things about me. Suja has lovely collection of traditional and authentic recipes all the way from God's own Country.... Kerala! Do visit her blog and enjoy some lip smacking recipes from her space. Chairali was very kind to share all the other awards with me. Name of Chaitrali's blog is I'm not a chef... Interestingly she is a chef who not only holds a degree in hotel management but also has a master degree from the hospitality industry. I love the way she blogs restaurant style recipes which are not just easy to follow but also tasty and yummy. Do visit her blog for a complete roller coaster foodie ride...

About me as per the rule of versatile blogger award...

1. Die hard non-veg food lover turned lacto-veggie
2. Eat- a -holic turned diet- a -holic
3. Friendly and would love my friends for life
4. Junk food eater turned, healthy food eater
5. Love and live cooking
6. Love travelling, exploring new places, food etc.
7. Simply super shop- a -holic!

I surely would feel its unfair to share it with only 15 friends ( as I also want to know about all my friends).... So, would like to share all these awards with all my friends.

Adai is native of T N . Though there are many variety of it like adai, kara adai, parappu adai etc. I always felt the dal or parappu adai is way too healthy. Here goes the recipe for Dal adai...

Ingredients:

Moong dal - 1 cup

Urad dal - 1 cup

Toor dal - 1 cup

Onion - 1 nos

Green chillies - 1 nos

Freshly chopped coriander leaves - 1/2 cup

Dry red chillies - 4 nos

Grated coconut - 4 tbsp

Hing or asafoetida - one pinch

Salt for taste

Oil for frying

Method:

Soak all the dals together for 2 hours. Grind it along with red chillies and grated coconut to a coarse paste. Add finely chopped green chillies, onions, fresh coriander leaves, hing, salt and mix well. Pour the batter on a hot tawa using a laddle spoon and just pat it. Add enough oil and fry. Turn over, add more oil and cook till its done. Serve hot with coconut chutney.

Note:

Adai batter does not require fermentation and can be a instant recipe for breakfast, evening snacks etc. The dal adai version is very healthy when compared to rice adai, coconut adai, kara adai etc.

Fried chicken biryani

One of my friend told me that if chicken is fried and then added to the biryani, it would taste so much better than regular biryanis. I was not sure if it would be tastier or if I could prepare biryani that way. Anyhow, I took a risk and made this fried chicken biryani.... Finally, the risk was worth it. This biryani was such a big hit at home. I was glad this preparation turned out to be a tasty feast. Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients:
Chicken - 1 kilo
Basmati rice - 4 cups
Onions (large) - 4 nos
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Tomatoes - 3 nos
Green chillies - 2 nos
Mint and coriander leaves (chopped) - 1 cup
Lime juice - 1tbsp
Red chilly powder - 4 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Chicken flavour cube - 1 small
Ghee - 3/4 cup
Salt for taste

Whole spices like:
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 6nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 2-4 nos
Star aniseed - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1 tbsp
Dried plums with pits - 2 nos

For the garnish:
Saffron strands - 1 pinch

For marinating chicken:
Hung curd - 1 tbsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Chicken flavour cube - 1 small
Corn flour - 1 tsp
Salt for taste

Oil for deep frying


Method:
Marinate chicken for 2-4 hours. Deep fry in hot oil. When its done, strain excess oil using kitchen tissue and keep this fried chicken aside.
Heat ghee in a broad bottomed vessel, add whole spices and fry till all the aroma is released. Add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Now add ginger-garlic paste and saute for a min. Add chilly powder and give it a stir. Add finely chopped tomatoes and saute for 2 min. Add curd, lime juice, finely chopped mint and coriander, green chillies (slit lengthwise) and stir well. Add garam masala powder, coriander powder, and cook till the oil separates. Finally add fried chicken, chicken flavour cube, stir and turn off the flame.
Cook basmati rice (soaked in hot water for 30min) in hot boiling water with salt for taste. Cover and cook till its almost done (about 90% done). Stir well and turn off the flame. Now add this almost cooked rice into the broad bottomed vessel in which the fried chicken with masala is there. Cover tightly using aluminium foil and baked at 200 degrees for 15 - 20 min and its done. Mix well, garnish and serve.

Note:
If the bottomed vessel that you are using is not oven friendly, then transfer contents to a oven friendly bowl or tray and then follow the same method. Do not cook the fried chicken in the masala for long as it can make the fried chicken loose its texture (moreover, oven cooking is also done later).
Looking for some other biryani recipe?

Soya chunks masala (Soya meat masala)

Soya chunks has got that chewy texture and is excellent substitute for meat. Great ingredient to play with specially for vegetarians. After successfully trying soya chunks biryani and soya meat dum biryani, made this soya chunks masala... huh! worth it ! Here goes the recipe...


Ingredients:
Soya chunks - 200-300 grams
Onion - 5 nos
Ginger paste - 1 tbsp
Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 2 tbsp
Tomato - 3 nos
Mint and coriander leaves (chopped) - 1 tbsp
Green chilly - 1 nos
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Aniseed powder - 1/2 tsp
Veg stock cube - 1 nos
Oil - 4 tbsp
Salt for taste


Method:
Wash soya chunks in hot water, strain and again wash in hot water. Repeat process till the smell is gone. Keep the soya chunks aside. Heat oil in a wok, add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute for 2 min. Add chilly powder and give a good stir. Add chopped tomatoes and saute for 3 min. Add garam masala powder and give a good stir. Now add soya chunks, veg stock cube and stir well. Add enough water to cook, salt for taste and cook till its done.Turn off the flame. Garnish with mint and coriander leaves and green chilly. Serve with roti, chappathi etc.

Note:
Can add more water to get a gravy or curry.

Healthy Pulav/Pilaf/ Pulao/Palav

Pulav is a one pot meal. Usually some ingredients like vegetables, chicken, fish, prawn, meat etc are cooked along with rice. I have used oyster mushrooms, other veggies and spices to make this healthy pulav. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 2 cups
Onions - 1 nos
Ginger - garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Carrots - 1 nos
Sweet corn -1/2 cup
Oyster mushroom - 1 cup
Capsicum - 1 nos
Beans - 1 handful
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Salt for taste
Ghee - 2 tbsp


Whole spices like:
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamon - 4 nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 1 nos
Aniseed - 1 tbsp
Star aniseed - 1 nos

Method:
Heat ghee in a casserole, add whole spices and fry till aroma is released. Add finely sliced onions, and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute for a min. Add all the veggies and stir well. Add garam masala powder, pepper powder, soaked and washed rice and give a good stir. Add about 4 cups of water, salt, cover and cook till its done. Serve hot with papad and pickles (tomato thokku).

Note:
This pulav is healthy as there are many veggies including mushrooms, the spices used here are all helpful in digestion and only 2 tbsp ghee is used (ghee kindles digestion).

Groundnut Sundal

Sundal is usually made with channa (kadala), kabuli channa, groundnut etc. Its very easy to prepare and tasty snack. I like to have this hot, hot sundal during a rainy evening. Its a completely healthy evening snack. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Groundnuts (Raw)- 2 cups
Chilly powder - 1 pinch
Lime juice - 1/4 tsp
Grated coconut - 1/2 tsp
Salt for taste

For the seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Dry red chillies - 2 nos
Oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Boil groundnuts in lots of water and salt for taste, strain water when its done. De-shell and keep the groundnuts aside. In a wok, Heat oil splutter mustard seeds and dry red chillies. Add chilly powder, boiled groundnuts, and give a good stir. Turn off the flame, add salt for taste with dash of lime. Sprinkle some grated coconut and enjoy.

Note:
Can exclude chilly powder and lime juice and can make it plain too.

Masala rice with green flageolets

This one can be prepared in a jiffy and it is quite healthy too as brown rice has been used instead of polished white rice. Brown rice is fibre rich and can make us feel full (so, that the quantity consumed will be less). Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Brown rice (cooked) - 2 cup
Onions - 1 nos
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 1 tbsp
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Aniseed powder -1/4 tsp
Green flageolets - 1 small tin
Salt for taste
Olive oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Heat oil in a wok, add finely chopped onions and fry till golden brown. Add garlic paste and saute for a minute. Add green flageolets and stir fry for 3 min. Add chilly powder, garam masala powder, aniseed powder and give it a stir. Add boiled rice, salt for taste and stir well till each rice grain is well coated with masala. Serve hot

Note:
Oil and rice used may be of individual choice. I have used boiled rice and olive oil as it is a healthy option. Leftover brown rice can be used for the same.

Chicken biryani

This is one eternal recipe for those who love biryani and for those who love chicken. Here goes the recipe...


Ingredients:

For the marinade:
Curd - 4 tbsp
Ginger- garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 1 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Garam masala - 1 tsp

Chicken - 1 kilo

Grind to smooth paste to get the masala paste:
Tomatoes - 3 nos
Mint - 1/4 cup
Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup
Green chillies - 3 nos


Other ingredients:
Basmati rice - 5 cups
Onions - 4-5 nos
Ginger - garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Chilly powder - 3 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 4 nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1/2 tsp
Dried plums with pits - 2 nos
Screw pines or Kewra/ketaki flower (optional ) - just for flavour
Chicken stock cube- 1 nos
Food colors (optional) or saffron strands - 1 pinch
Salt for taste
Ghee - 1 cup

Method:
Marinate Chicken overnight. Soak basmati rice for 30 min then cook it in hot boiling water along with salt until its almost done (not fully cooked), strain water using a colander and keep the rice aside. In a wok, Add 1/2 cup ghee, when hot add all the whole spices like cloves, cardamom, Cinnamon, bay leaves, mace, aniseed, kewra and stir till the aroma is released. Now add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for a min. Add turmeric powder, and chilly powder and stir for 1/2 min. Now add coriander powder, pepper powder, garam masala powder, dried plums with pits and chicken stock cube and cook till oil separates. Now add chicken pieces, enough salt, water and cook till it done (till water is completely evaporated ). Just see that the masala is dry and the ghee is floating on top. Now this is done. Take a baking try, grease it with ghee and spread a layer of rice, top it with a layer of masala, then again a layer of rice, then masala, then finally cover with rice and pour the remaining ghee all over it. Pour some colored water if you wish your biryani to be colorful. Cover with aluminium foil and bake at 200 degrees Celsius/400 degree Fahrenheit for 15 min and its done. Garnish with fried onions, cashews, saffron etc.

Note:
Looking for some other Biryani recipe? The masala paste may smell too strong, nothing to worry, the final taste will be good.

Gobi Manchurian

Gobi Manchurian is such a common Indo-chinese recipe. Its common fast food , street food in India as well. I followed the same method that I used to prepare Gobi-manchurian dry, with few extra steps. Here it goes...

Ingredients:
All ingredients used to prepare gobi manchurian dry
Spring onions (chopped) - 1/2 cup
Corn starch - 2 tbsp
Water - 1 cup
Salt for taste

Method:
Prepare gobi manchurian dry in a wok. Add one cup water and bring to boil. Add corn starch with constant stirring, salt if needed and turn off the flame when gravy consistency is obtained. Garnish with spring onions and Serve with fried rice.

Note:
I prefer semi-gravy consistency. If more gravy is needed, water and corn starch should be added accordingly.

Soya meat dum biryani

Dum biryanis are always fantastic. I usually make them at home, specially when I expect some guest as the dum keeps the biryani really hot and also the slow cooking gives an amazing taste and flavour. This time I tried it with soya meat which is great substitute for meat and a vegetarian delight. Its simple, tasty and healthy. Here goes the recipe..

Ingredients:
Basmathi rice - 1 kilo or 4-5 cups
Soya chunks - 200-300 grams
Onion - 5 nos
Ginger paste - 1 tbsp
Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 2 tbsp
Tomato - 3 nos
Thick curd - 1 tbsp
Lime juice - 1/2 tsp
Mint and coriander leaves (chopped) - 1 cup
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp
Aniseed powder - 1/2 tsp
Veg stock cube - 1 nos
Ghee - 1 cup
Salt for taste

Whole spices like:
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 4 nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1/4 tsp
Mace - 2 nos
Star aniseed - 2 nos

Method:
Wash soya chunks in hot water, strain and again wash in hot water. Repeat process till the smell is gone. Keep the soya chunks aside. Heat ghee in a broad bottomed casserole, splutter all the whole spices and fry till the aroma is released. Add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute for 2 min. Add chilly powder and give a good stir. Add chopped tomatoes and saute for 3 min. add cumin powder, aniseed powder, pepper powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder and give a good stir. Add thick curd, lime juice, chopped mint and coriander leaves and give a good stir. Now add soya chunks, veg stock cube and stir well. Add washed basmati rice, 8-10 cups water, salt for taste, and cook in a low flame. When its almost done. Turn off the flame. Cover the mouth of the vessel with aluminium foil and cover with the lid place it on direct charcoal heat, add more charcoal on top of the vessel and let it stand for 1 hour. Serve hot garnished with fried onions, cashew etc.

Note:
For best results soak basmati rice in water for 45min before cooking. Can add green chillies for flavour (I had excluded them for health reasons). Looking for some other biryani?

Masala brown rice with veggies

This one can be prepared in a jiffy and it is quite healthy too as brown rice has been used instead of polished white rice. Brown rice is fibre rich and can make us feel full (so, that the quantity consumed will be less). Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Brown rice (cooked) - 2 cup
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Aniseed powder -1/4 tsp
Carrot - 1 nos
Capsicum - 1 nos
Oyster mushroom - 1 hand full
Sweet corn - 1 hand full
Salt for taste
Olive oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Heat oil in a wok, add carrots sliced lengthwise, diced capsicum, oyster mushroom (roughly teared), sweet corn and stir fry for 3 min. Add chilly powder, garam masala powder, aniseed powder and give it a stir. Add boiled rice, salt for taste and stir well till each rice grain is well coated with masala. Serve hot

Note:
Oil and rice used may be of individual choice. I have used boiled rice and olive oil as it is a healthy option. Leftover brown rice can be used for the same.

Ambur egg biryani

Ambur biryani is famous and I have seen it always with chicken. Tried it with egg and it was a huge hit here at home. Coriander leaves were not available, hence I replaced it with parsley and it did an amazing job. Was not sure if the flavours of parsley and mint would clash!!! So, I just added parsley and excluded mint leaves from the recipe. Here goes the recipe....


Ingredients:
Basmati rice -5 cups (1 kilo approx)
Boiled eggs - 4 nos
Onions (large) - 4 nos
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Tomatoes - 3 nos
Green chillies - 2 nos
Parsley (chopped) - 1 cup
Curd - 1 tbsp
Lime juice - 1tbsp
Red chilly powder - 4 tbsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Ghee - 3/4 cup
Salt for taste

Whole spices like:
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 6nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 2-4 nos
Star aniseed - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1 tbsp

Method:
Heat ghee in a broad bottomed vessel, add whole spices and fry till all the aroma is released. Add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Now add ginger-garlic paste and saute for a min. Add chilly powder and give it a stir. Add finely chopped tomatoes and saute for 2 min. Add curd, lime juice, finely chopped parsley, green chillies (slit lengthwise) and stir well. Add garam masala powder. Cover and cook till gravy thickens. Add basmati rice (soaked in hot water for 30min), 8 cups of hot water, salt for taste. Cover with the lid and simmer for 7-10 min. Stir well and turn off the flame.
Heat a tsp oil, add chilly powder. Cut the boiled eggs into 2 and place them on the pan. Now place this in the biryani. Cover the mouth of the vessel with a aluminium foil, then cover with lid. Add charcoal on the top of the lid, and leave it for 1 hour. Serve with raitha, brinjal masala or side dish of your choice

Note:
When the charcoal is over, add more up to one hour. Can garnish with mint and coriander leaves. I substituted parsley leaves to coriander and mint leaves.
Looking for some other biryani recipe?

Potato baaji ( Alu gedde palya)

This is a common side dish for poori/puri . Very simple, easy and quick. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Potatoes (boiled,mashed) - 3 nos
Onions -3 nos
Garlic paste (optional) - 1/4 tsp
Green chillies - 2 nos
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt for taste
Oil - 2 tbsp
Water for cooking

For the seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Bengal gram dal - 1 tbsp

Method:
Heat oil in a wok, do the seasoning. Now add finely sliced onions,garlic paste and stir fry for 2 min. Add turmeric powder and stir for a min. Add mashed potatoes (roughly mashed), green chillies (slit lengthwise), salt for taste, water for cooking and cook till the required consistency is obtained. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.

Note:
Some prefer to mix 1tsp gram flour with little water and add to the recipe instead of plain water.

Gobi manchurian (dry)

Do I need to confess I'm a guilt free SHOPAHOLIC person??? I love to shop for hours together and it really acts like a stress buster for me. Can I say shopping has kept me from blogging for the past two days (lol)??? What ever may be the reason, cooking for me has no reason or any season. I love to cook always and never fail to prepare some mouth watering dishes like gobi manchurian at home. Gobi manchurian is a very popular Indo-Chinese recipe. Its quite common food street food in India. It can be served as a starter, tea time snack or even part of main course along with fried rice, pulav etc. Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients:
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Water for cooking

Cauliflower florets of one medium sized cauliflower
Onions - 1 nos
Ginger - garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Capsicum - 1 nos
Green chilly - 2 nos
Dark soya sauce - 1 tbsp
Tomato ketchup - 1/2 tsp
Corn starch -1 tsp
Ajinomoto for taste
Black pepper for taste
Oil - 3 tbsp

For the batter:
All purpose flour or maida - 1/2 cup
Corn flour - 1 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Soya sauce - 1 tbsp
Ajinomoto for taste
Sparkling water for making the batter

Oil for deep frying

For garnishing:
Chopped coriander leaves or spring onions

Method:
Bring water to boil in a stew pot. Add cauliflower florets, pinch of turmeric powder, cover with a lid, turn off the flame and keep it for 5 min. Strain the water using a colander and keep the cauliflower pieces aside. Make a thick batter with all ' for the batter' ingredients. Coat the cauliflower with the batter and deep fry in hot oil (in batches). Strain oil using a kitchen tissue and keep this aside.
In a wok, heat oil, fry finely chopped onions along with ginger-garlic paste for a min. Now add chilly powder and give a good stir. Add diced capsicum, batter fried cauliflower florets, green chillies slit lengthwise, tomato ketchup, dark soya sauce and give a good stir. Add corn starch and stir well so that the pieces are well coated. Add pepper and ajinomoto for taste, stir fry till its done. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves or spring onions and serve hot along with fried rice.

Note:
Gobi manchurian can be prepared dry, or semi gravy or gravy type as per individual choice. Fried rice goes really well with gobi manchurian.

Soya chunks biryani

Soya chunks are great substitute for meat. It is high in proteins and is suitable for vegans. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 5 cups
Onions - 3 nos
Tomatoes - 2 nos
Ginger - garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Chilly powder - 3 tbsp
Soya chunks - 2 cups
Yogurt - 1 tbsp
Lime juice - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 4 nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1/2 tsp
Dried plums with pits - 2 nos
veg stock cube - 1 nos
Screw pines or Kewra/ketaki flower( optional ) - just for flavour
Food colors (optional) or saffron strands - 1 pinch
Salt for taste
Ghee - 1 cup

Method:
Soak soya chunks in hot water, drain water. Again soak in hot water, and then drain.Repeat the process till the smell is gone and keep the soya chunks aside. Soak basmati rice for 30 min then cook it in hot boiling water along with salt until its almost done (not fully cooked), strain water using a colander and keep the rice aside. In a wok, Add 1/2 cup ghee, when hot add all the whole spices like cloves, cardamom, Cinnamon, bay leaves, mace, aniseed, kewra and stir till the aroma is released. Now add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for a min. Add turmeric powder, and chilly powder and stir for 1/2 min. Now add tomatoes along with coriander powder, pepper powder, garam masala powder, dried plums with pits and veg stock cube and cook till oil separates. Now add all the soya chunks, yogurt, lime juice, enough salt and cook till it done (can add little water if required). Just see that the masala is dry and the ghee is floating on top. Now this is done. Take a baking try, grease it with ghee and spread a layer of rice, top it with a layer of masala, then again a layer of rice, then masala, then finally cover with rice and pour the remaining ghee all over it. Pour some colored water if you wish your biryani to be colorful. Cover with aluminium foil and bake at 200 degrees Celsius/400 degree Fahrenheit for 15 min and its done. Garnish with fried onions, cashews, saffron etc. Serve hot with raitha

Note:
Wash soya chunks in hot water until the smell is completely gone for best results.
Looking for some other biryani?

Curd rice ( Mosranna/Thayir sadam)

Curd rice is quite a popular dish and is served just as a complete comfort food or as part of mini meals, executive thali meals, etc.
I usually prepare that every Saturdays along with papad, pickle, and some other variety rice (like tomato rice, lemon rice, tamarind rice, vangi bath, bisibele bath, veg biryani etc.). I simply love this as it is so satisfying. This is so cooling in nature and perfect for a hot summer lunch. Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients:
Cooked rice - 1 cup
Thick curd - 4 tbsp
Onion - 1 nos
Green chillies (finely chopped) - 2 nos
Carrot (grated) - 1 tbsp
Grated ginger - 1/4 tsp
Hot boiling water - 50ml
Salt for taste

For the seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tbsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprigs
Dry red chillies (optional)- 2 nos
Oil - 2 tbsp

Method:
Add hot boiling water to the cooked rice and mix well. Add the curd and continue to mix well. Now add chopped onions, green chillies, grated carrot and ginger and mix well. Add salt for taste and mix again. Finally do the seasoning. Mix well and serve with pickle

Note:
For variation, can add coriander leaves instead of grated carrots, or can even add pomegranate seeds if sweetness is preferred. Also can exclude carrot and make it simple curd rice.

Ambur chicken biryani

Ambur biryani is one spicy biryani. Quite famous in a place called Ambur in T.N. It is available in other parts of the state. This one is a dum biryani and I enjoyed cooking it. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Basmati rice -5 cups (1 kilo approx)
Chicken thigh piece - 1 kilo
Onions (large) - 4 nos
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Tomatoes - 3 nos
Green chillies - 2 nos
Mint and coriander leaves (chopped) - 1 cup
Curd - 1 tbsp
Lime juice - 1tbsp
Red chilly powder - 4 tbsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Ghee - 3/4 cup
Salt for taste

Whole spices like:
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 6nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 2-4 nos
Star aniseed - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1 tbsp

Method:
Heat ghee in a broad bottomed vessel, add whole spices and fry till all the aroma is released.
Add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Now add ginger-garlic paste and saute for a min. Add chilly powder and give it a stir. Add finely chopped tomatoes and saute for 2 min. Add curd, lime juice, finely chopped mint and coriander, green chillies (slit lengthwise) and stir well. Cut the chicken thighs into 2, and add it along with garam masala powder. Cover and cook till its half done. Add basmati rice (soaked in hot water for 30min), 8 cups of hot water, salt for taste. Cover with the lid and simmer for 7-10 min.Stir well and turn off the flame. Cover the mouth of the vessel with a aluminium foil, then cover with lid. Add charcoal on the top of the lid, and leave it for 1 hour. Serve with raitha, brinjal masala or side dish of your choice

Note:
When the charcoal is over, add more up to one hour. Can garnish with mint and coriander leaves.

Cauliflower fritters

This one is a crispy fried cauliflower (Gobi) and is easy as ever. The same recipe can be used for broccoli, I bet it would taste equally good. Great tea time snack, or side dish for fried rice, veg pulav etc. for its simple and simply quick. Every time I prepare this, I binge to eat this. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Cauliflower florets - 1 bowl
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Water for cooking
Oil for deep frying

For the batter:
All purpose flour or maida - 4tbsp
Rice flour - 4tbsp
Corn flour - 4tbsp
Ginger-garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 tbsp (or as needed)
Salt for taste
Kashmiri chilly powder for color (can use color powder also)
Sparkling water for making the batter

Method:
Mix all ' for the batter' ingredients using sparkling water and make a batter of slightly thicker than pouring consistency and keep aside. Bring water to boil, add turmeric powder, the cauliflower florets, cover with a lid and turn off the flame. Let this stand for 5 min. (this kills all the germs present in cauliflower florets). Strain the water using a colander and keep the Gobi aside. Now dip this Gobi in the batter and coat well, add more sparkling water if required. Deep fry in hot oil. Strain excess oil using kitchen tissue and serve hot.

Note:
Can add a pinch of baking soda for the batter if preferred that way.

Roasted chicken biryani

This biryani with Roasted chicken (Indian style) was such a great hit. This was far easier than what I had imagined. I just marinated chicken for about 12 hours and followed the same method as in the recipe for Roasted chicken (can reduce the cooking time depending upon the chicken). Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Roasted chicken - 1 nos

Grind to smooth paste to get the masala paste:
Tomatoes - 2 nos
Mint - 1/4 cup
Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup
Green chillies - 3 nos


Other ingredients:
Basmati rice - 5 cups
Onions - 3 nos
Ginger - garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Chilly powder - 3 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 4 nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1/2 tsp
Dried plums with pits - 2 nos
Screw pines or Kewra/ketaki flower (optional) - just for flavour
Chicken stock cube- 1 nos
Food colors (optional) or saffron strands - 1 pinch
Salt for taste
Ghee - 1 cup

Method:
Soak basmati rice for 30 min then cook it in hot boiling water along with salt until its almost done (not fully cooked), strain water using a colander and keep the rice aside. In a wok, Add 1/2 cup ghee, when hot add all the whole spices like cloves, cardamom, Cinnamon, bay leaves, mace, aniseed, kewra and stir till the aroma is released. Now add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for a min. Add turmeric powder, and chilly powder and stir for 1/2 min. Now add coriander powder, pepper powder, garam masala powder, dried plums with pits and ground masala and cook till oil separates. Now add Roasted chicken pieces, enough salt and stir well. Just see that the final masala is dry and the ghee is floating on top. Now this is done. Take a baking try, grease it with ghee and spread a layer of rice, top it with a layer of masala, then again a layer of rice, then masala, then finally cover with rice and pour the remaining ghee all over it. Pour some colored water if you wish your biryani to be colorful. Cover with aluminium foil and bake at 200 degrees Celsius/400 degree Fahrenheit for 15 min and its done. Garnish with fried onions, cashews, saffron etc. Serve hot along with raitha.

Note:
Can use leftover roasted chicken. The ground masala paste may not smell good initially, not to worry (its due to strong smelling mint and chilly mixture). As final biryani will taste and smell good. Biryani can also be microwaved.
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