Wednesday 25 January 2012

Chinese Stir Fried Vegetable Soup

Stir fried vegetable soup  is healthy as you retain all the goodness of the vegetables by cooking them for a short time. That is, you do not overcook them and lose the nutrients such as the vitamins. The vegetables taste great too.

Serves :4

Chinese Stir Fried Vegetable Soup
                                                    Chinese Stir Fried Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
Grated carrots - 1/2 cup
Grated cabbage - 1cup
Oil - 1tsp
Soya Sauce - 1tsp
Chilli sauce - 2tsp
Salt - 1/2tsp or to taste
Pepper - 1/2tsp
Vegetable stock /water - 4cups
Cornflour - 3tbsp dissolved in 1/2 cup of water
Lemon juice - 2tbsp

Method:
1.Heat 1 tsp oil.Add carrot and cabbage.Stir for a minute.

2.Add soya sauce,chilli sauce,salt and pepper.Add 4 cups of vegetable stock or water.Give 2-3 boils.

3.Dissolve corn flour in 12 cup of water,stir well.

4.Add the corn flour paste to the soup .Stir till it boils.

5.Remove when thick.Add some more cornflour dissolved in water ,if the soup appears thin.

6.Remove from fire and add lemon juice and serve hot.

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Aloo Mutter - Potatoes With Green Peas

A quick and delicious way to make the all time favourite Aloo mutter. The potato and peas are cooked together with a few spices to impart a subtle and distinctive flavour.This is a very delicious Punjabi dish, a thick gravy made with potatoes and green peas served with roti or paratha.

Ingredients:
Olive Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Garlic - 2 cloves (chopped)
Ginger - 1 inch piece (chopped)
Onion - 1 medium (chopped)
Tomato - 1 (chopped)
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
Potatoes - 2 medium (bite size cubes)
Frozen Green Peas - 1 cup
Water - 1 cup
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Fresh Cilantro / coriander - 1 bunch (chopped)
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Chop the garlic, ginger, tomatoes and onions. Peel and cube the potatoes.
2. Heat a pot on medium heat, once hot, add Olive Oil, add the cumin seeds. 
3. Once they start sizzling, add the turmeric powder.  Cook for about 5 seconds.
4. Now add the ginger and garlic,saute for few seconds.
5. Add the onions and salt.  Saute for about 8-10 minutes. 
6. Add the tomato, red chili powder, coriander powder.   
7. Lower the heat ,cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
8. Add the potatoes and salt.  
9. Now Add 1 cup of frozen green peas.Add 1 cup of water.
10. Cover with a lid and allow this to simmer until the potatoes are tender.  Keep checking in between.
11. Add garam masala and turn off the stove. Adjust salt.Add chopped coriander
12.Serve hot with roti or naan.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Tomato Soup

So simple to make, this delicious, creamy tomato soup recipe creates a fresh, warming soup The all time favourite tomato soup is now made simple and quick to prepare with this easy tomato soup recipe. The thick, tangy and healthy tomato soup.
 
Ingredients:
  • Tomatoes - 3
  • Beetroot - a small piece
  • Garlic - 4 cloves
  • Ginger - 1/2 inch size
  • Bayleaf - a small piece
  • Cinnamon stick - 1/4 inch in size
  • Cloves - 1
  • Salt - as required
  • Water - 2 .5cups
  • Pepper powder - 1 tsp
  • Corn Flour - 1 tsp
  • Cream - 1/4 cup
  • Butter - 1/2 tbsp
  • Salt to taste
Method:
  1. Add little butter in a deep pan,  add tomatoes,beetroot, ginger, garlic, bayleaf, cinnamom, cloves, cook till tomatoes are tender.
  2. Grind the mixture in a blender until smooth.
  3. Strain using a medium sized hole strainer and keep aside. Cut bread slices into small squares and toast/deep fry them until crispy and make it ready and keep aside.
  4. In a pan melt butter in low flame then add cornflour and saute until the flour turns slightly brown. Now add the grinded tomato pulp and mix thoroughly.
  5. Add water if necessary(if the soup is very thick) and keep stirring in low flame. Check salt at this stage adjust accordingly. Allow it for a single boil and then switch off.
  6. Serve hot with pepper powder and garnish with cream/milk.

Sunday 8 January 2012

Pumpkin Stew - Gummadikaya Pulusu

No matter where you go, you are sure to find a board saying 'Andhra meals' or 'Andhra cuisine' welcomes you. Most of the people think that Andhra food is way too spicy. They also have an impression that Andhra food is plain dal,some curry and podi/chutney. Andhra food is highly versatile. You will be awed at the variety of the dishes and the tastes.One of them is Gummadikaya Pulusu or Pumpkin Stew tangy and sweet vegetable stew is such a dish, which is savoured by everyone. 
Pumpkin Stew - Gummadikaya Pulusu
Pumpkin Stew - Gummadikaya Pulusu

Gummadikaya,  pumpkin, is a squash usually orange in colour when ripe. There are also in greenish gray, white, bright yellow and sometime red in colour. Indian pumpkins are often greenish gray in colour. The pumpkin varies greatly in form, being sometimes nearly circular. The bright orange colour of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that pumpkin is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A in the body. In the
conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many important functions in overall health.

Ingredients:
Pumpkin / Butternut squash/Gummadikaya - diced around 2 cups
Onion - 1 sliced length wise
Green Chillies - 2-3 slit
Garlic - 4 pods Tamarind Pulp - 5tbsp
Jaggery -2 tbsp approx
Salt to taste
Red chilli powder - 1/2tsp
Water- 3 cups

For seasoning:
Red chilli -1broken in to two
Channa dal- 1tsp
Urad Dal - 1tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2tsp
Hing - A pinch
Turmeric - 1/4tsp
Oil - 2tbsp

Method:
1.Peel, clean, remove the seeds from gummadikaya/pumpkin and dice.

2.Heat the oil in a deep pan on medium heat and add channa dal, urad dal, red chilli and fry , add cumin and mustard seeds once the dals starts turning into golden brown and allow them to crackle, add hing and saute for 1-2 minutes.

3.Now add green chillies, garlic, ginger, turmeric and saute for couple of minutes.

4.Now add sliced onions and fry till translucent. Add the diced pumpkin salt, jaggery, tamarind and cook for 3-5 minutes.

5.Pour  2 cups of water  and reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 10-12 minutes the covered. Keep stirring in middle. At this point the veggies will be 3/4th cooked.

6.At this stage adjust the seasoning if needed and water if the stew is thick. Cook for another 5-8 minutes or till done and turn of the heat.

7.Serve with rice and dollop of ghee.


Friday 6 January 2012

Fenugreek Flavoured Butter Milk - Menthi Majjiga

An unusual soothing drink for warm afternoons.

Ingredients:
Thick Yogurt - 3cups
Pepper Powder - 1/2tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 2tsps
Salt - to taste.

For Tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1/4tsp
Carom seeds /Ajwain - 1tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/4tsp
Asafoetida /hing - a pinch
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Green chillies - 3 slit
Curry leaves - 2 stems
Coriander leaves - 2tsps finely chopped

Method:
1.Blend the yogurt with 1 1/2 cups of water to make a thick butter milk.Add salt and the freshly ground pepper and cumin powders and set aside.
2.In a wok.heat the oil.Pop the mustard and add the carom seeds and fenugreek seeds.Lower the flame and with the browning of the fenugreek, add the cumin and asafoetida.
3.switch off the flame and add the remaining tempering ingredients.
4.Pour this tempering in to butter milk.
5.Serve chilled as any time drink.
6.Serve it with plain white rice..it tastes delicious.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Moong Dal Rasam - Pesarakattu

Moong Dal Rasam - Pesarakattu
Moong Dal Rasam - Pesarakattu

Ingredients:
Moong dal / pesarapappu : 1 small glass
Green chillies : 2
Ginger : 1 inch piece
Garlic cloves : 4
Curry leaves : 10
Cumin seeds:1/4tsp
Mustard seeds:1/4tsp
Urad da : 1/4tsp
Hing:pinch
Oil : 1tbsp
Lemon : 1/2 a big lemon
Turmeric : 1/4 tspn
Coriander leaves : 5 strings
Water : 250ml / 1 tumbler
Salt - to taste
 
Method:
1.Wash moongdal and pour water and soak it for 10mins and boil it in cooker for 4 whistles.

2.Peel the skin of ginger and garlic. grind ginger or if u can eat pieces then chop ginger into small pieces. chop garlic cloves into small pieces.slit green chillies lengthwise into two.

3.Heat a pan add oil, urad dal, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, chopped ginger, chopped garlic, greenchillies, curry leaves.

4.Now add 1/2 tumbler water and then add boiled moongdal. now add remaining 1/2 tumbler water.

5.Add 1tsp salt,  turmeric, coriander leaves. boil it for 10-15 mins.

6.Switch off the  stove and after 5mins add 1/2 piece of squeezed lemon juice. ( dont add lemon juice while it is on stove it gives bitter taste).

7.Tasty pesarakattu is ready to serve with rice.

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Oats Vegetable Soup

Oats  vegetable soup is one of the most easiest way of getting oats into your daily diet. It is simple to make with very few ingredients and can be served as a healthy meal with a slice of bread or as a satisfying appetiser. This soup is suited for people of all ages and for ailing patients.An easy recipe for healthy Oats Vegetable Soup, involves cooking chopped Vegetables with Oats and taste-enhancing Pepper .

Oats Vegetable Soup
Oats Vegetable Soup


Ingredients:
Oats - 4tbsp
Garlic - 1 clove (minced)
Carrots - 3tbsp finely chopped
Corn - 2tbsp
Green peas - 2tbsp
Beans-2tbsp
Salt - to taste
Pepper powder - a pinch
Water- 1 cup
Milk - 1/2 cup(optional)
Oil - 2 tsp
Cilantro - for garnish

Method:
1.Grind the oats to a fine powder.

2. Heat oil in a pan and saute the vegetables and garlic till they begin to sweat.

3. Now add the oats powder and fry along with it for 2 minutes.

4. Add salt and water and let it come to a boil.

5. Now add the milk and pepper powder to it and bring to a boil.

6. Garnish the rich and creamy oats soup with cilantro or green onions. Serve piping hot with a slice of bread.

Note: You can increase /decrease the quantity of oats according to the  thickeness you want for the soup.

Sunday 1 January 2012

Bombay Curry Soup

Bombay Curry Soup is rich in protein which would be great to have especially on a cool day. This soup is  very soothing and delicious. Making and having this soup in a rainy day or in winter makes it very appetising and is a good way to relax and enjoy the weather.

Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time:3o minutes
Soaking time - 3-4 hrs
Serves - 4

Ingredients:
Masoor Dal / Split  red gram lentils - 1/4 Cup
Sliced Onions-1/2 cup
Tomatoes - 3/4 cup chopped
Crushed Garlic cloves - 2
Chilli Powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste.

To Serve:
lemon Slices - 1
Cooked Rice - 1/4 cup
Method:
1.Clean,wash and soak the masoor dal for 3 to 4hours.Keep aside.
2.Heat the oil in a pressure cooker and saute the onions till they turn translucent.
3.Add the garlic and chilli owder and saute again for few seconds
4.Add 2 1/2 cups of water,tomatoes and massor dal and cook in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles.
5.Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid.Strain the soup using a sieve.
6.Transfer the soup into  a deep pan,add the salt,mix well and simmer for 15 minutes.
7.Serve hot with cooked rice and slices of lemon.