Masala Channa Dhal/Masala Dhal

This dhal is my hubby's favorite and learned from him after marriage which is very simple and flavorful.He likes to have it with white rice but I like to have it with roti and phulka.
Most of our week days recipe is simple and include dhal in any form such as sambhar,kottu or seasoned dhal.I make this one if there is no veggies and serve it with some pappad and chips.
The dhal tastes delicious if shallots are used and I prefer to make it with shallots,if not you can use the regular onion.Here is the recipe.........  

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Channa dhal/kadalaparuppu	1/3cup
Shallots/chinna vengayam	10-12nos.
Garlic/poondu	4 cloves
Chilly powder/milagai podi	3/4tsp
Turmeric powder/manjal podi	1/4tsp
Coconut(grated)	3tbs
Coriander leaves(chopped)	2tbs
Curry leaves(chopped)	2 sprigs
Salt	to taste
Oil	1tbs

For the tempering

Ingredient	Quantity
Cloves/lavangam	3nos.
Cinnamon/Pattai	1 inch piece
Fennel seeds	1/4tsp
Bay leaf(optional)	1no.

Method

 Pressure cook the channa dhal with enough water for 2-3 whistles,till the dhal becomes soft and mash it slightly.Finely chop the shallots and garlic,keep it aside.

Heat the pan with oil,add the fennel seeds,once it starts sizzles add the cloves and cinnamon.Add in the curry leaves then goes in chopped shallots and garlic,cook it in a medium flame till the onion becomes soft and transparent.Once the onion turns transparent add in the chilly powder and turmeric powder,salt,mix it well.

Add a cup of water let it boil for one boil.Now add the cooked dhal and cook it for 5-6 minutes in a medium flame.

Finally add the grated coconut and mix it well,allow to boil for a minute.Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Dhal is ready.

Serve it hot with rice or roti.

Enjoy.........................................................

• The dhal becomes thick on cooling so adjust the consistency accordingly.
• Do not mash the dhal completely otherwise it changes the taste and consistency.
• If you are using the bay leaf,take it out after cooking.

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Poondu/Garlic Murukku

This is a very flavorful murukku which is my kiddo's favorite and whenever I ask him for any snack his reply will be murukku(mukkuru thats how he pronounces).As murukku is a favorite for kids thought it would be a good choice for kids back to hostel food.
This one is made with roasted gram dhal(pottukadalai) powder or  gram flour(kadalamaavu/besan) along with rice flour.Garlic and red chilly paste is the highlight of this murukku which gives a very nice flavor.My mom uses curry leaves along with the garlic and red chilly but I didn't have fresh curry leaves I avoided.Here is the recipe..............................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Rice flour/arisimaavu	3cups
Kadalamaavu/besan	1cup
Butter/vennai	2tbs
Hot oil	1tbs
Garlic/poondu	4-5cloves
Redchilly/varamilagai	5nos.
Salt	2tsp
Oil	for frying

Method 

• Grind the garlic and red chilly to a fine paste and keep it aside.Heat a pan with oil and keep it in a medium flame.
• Sieve the flours and take it in a bowl,add salt to it.To this add the ground paste,hot oil,butter and mix it to a dough with water.
• Fill the murukku press with the prepared dough with the single eyed star disc.Squeeze it into a circular motion and make the spirals as shown on a plate or paper or a rolling board.
• Drop the spirals in the hot oil and cook it in a medium flame till the sizzling sound ceases or till golden.Drain it on a paper towel.
• Store it in an airtight container after it cools completely.

 Enjoy...................................................................

• This murukku doesn't need cumin seeds or sesame seeds,as the flavor of the garlic is enough.
• Grind the garlic and red chilly to a very fine paste otherwise pass it through a strainer if it is not grind properly.
• Instead of making spirals it can be directly squeeze into the oil.

Check out my fellow bloggers running in Blogging Marathon #25.

Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Neikadalai/Fried Channa Dhal(Spilt Chickpeas)

This is one of my childhood favorite and used to buy this one from the local shop for my evening snack.
For the day 2 of Blogging Marathon#25 I made neikadalai,this is a very simple recipe and needs only few ingredients.Now off to the recipe.....................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Channa dhal/split chickpeas/kadala paruppu/	11/2cups
Red chilly powder/milagi podi	1/4tsp
Turmeric powder	1/4tsp
Salt	1/2tsp
Oil	for frying
Curry leaves/karivepillai	1 sprig(optional)

Method

• Soak the dhal in the water for 4-5 hours,drain the water completely and spread it on a towel for 10 minutes.
• Mix the red chilly powder,turmeric powder and salt,keep it aside.
• When it is damp enough fry it in the oil in a medium flame till it becomes crispy.
• Remove it from the oil and drain it on a paper towel.
• Sprinkle the red chilly powder and mix it well.
• Neikadalai is ready.

Enjoy..........................................

• The dhal needs to be soaked completely otherwise it won't fry properly in the oil.
• Instead of red chilly powder black pepper powder can aslo be used.
• If you are using curry leaves fry it in the oil in the end and add it.
• The amount chilly powder can be increased or decreased according to personal preference.

Check out my fellow bloggers participating in Blogging Marathon #25.
Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Aloo Bhujia/Potato Sev

Back to hostel food for kids is the theme I chose for the final week of Blogging Marathon #25.As theme is kids based I wanted to share some kid's friendly snacks which has a longer shelf life.
Aloo bhujia is a crunchy snack which is almost like the omapodi(thin sev) in which cooked and mashed potato is added to the besan flour and deep fried.I also added some fried peanuts and cashews for extra rich taste and mint juice for added flavor.Here goes the recipe for crunchy aloo bhujia..................................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Potato	2nos.(medium size)
Besan/split chickpea flour/kadalamaavu	2cups
Red chilly powder	11/4tsp
Turmeric powder/manjal podi	1/2tsp
Garam masala powder	1/8tsp
Mint leaves(optional)	10-15 leaves
Peanuts/verkadalai	2tbs
Cashews	2tbs
Salt	to taste
Oil	for frying

Method 

• Pressure cook the potato for 2 whistles,mash or grate the potato and set it aside. 
• Crush the mint leaves with a tsp of water in a mortar and squeeze the juice and keep it aside. Heat the oil in a pan and keep it in a medium flame. 
• In a wide mouth bowl take the besan,to this add the mashed potato,mint juice,salt,chilly powder,turmeric powder and a tbs of hot oil.
• Knead it well without adding any water,the moisture in the potato will be enough to make a soft dough. 
• Fill the murukku press with the dough with the sev blade and squeeze it in the hot oil in a circular motion. 
• Cook it in a medium flame till both sides get crisp.Continue for the rest of the dough. 
• Then fry the peanuts and cashews separately in the hot oil and keep it aside,to this sprinkle a pinch of salt,chilly powder and garam masaal powder,mix it well. 
• Now crumble all the sev to one inch piece and add the nuts,mix it well. 
• Store it in an air tight container. 

Enjoy...................................... 

• The bhujia tastes very well on the next day as all the flavors get incorporated well. 
• Do not add water while mixing the flour otherwise it will become watery. 
• Grease your palms with little oil if the dough is sticky if needed grease the murukku press also.
• If the potato is mashed properly grind it in the blender to a fine paste.

Check out my fellow bloggers running in Blogging Marathon #25.
Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Matar Mushroom Masala

As mushrooms are good source of protein I include in our diet atleast once in a week and never forget to get a pack of mushrooms while doing grocery.
Most of dinner would be either roti and some curry or idly and chutney,my son loves to have some gravies for roti rather than dhal so I prefer to make curry.
Last week got a pack of mushrooms and fresh green peas and made this delicious curry which goes very well with roti and paratha.Lets get into the recipe........................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Button Mushroom	1lb(450 gms)
Fresh Green peas/pattani/matar	3/4cup
Onion	1no.(medium size)
Tomato	2nos.(medium size)
Ginger/inji	1 inch piece
Garlic/poondu	4 cloves
Green Chilly(chopped)	2nos.(optional)
Red chilly powder/milagai podi	11/4tsp
Coriander powder/dhania podi	1tsp
Garam masaal powder	1/4tsp
Turmeric powder/Manjal podi	1/4tsp
Thick Coconut milk	1/4cup
Coriander leaves(chopped)	2tbs
Cumin seeds/jeeragam	1/2tsp
Salt	11/4tsp
Oil	11/2tbs

Method 

• Wash and clean the mushrooms,pat dry dry them.Trim or remove the stalk and quartered the mushrooms.
• Cook the green peas in the microwave or boiling water with a pinch of salt.Saute the mushrooms in a tsp of oil in a pan and keep it aside.
• Now add a tsp oil in the same pan and saute the onion,ginger and garlic then goes in tomato with a pinch of salt.Grind the mixture to a fine paste once it becomes cool.
• Now in the same pan heat the remaining oil and crackle the cumin seeds,add the green chillies and ground paste.Stir and cook it till the oil separates.Then add the chilly powder,coriander powder,turmeric powder and salt,stir it well till everything blends.
• Add little water and cook it now add the green peas and cook it for a boil.Then add the sauteed mushrooms.
• Cook it for 2- 3 minutes,then add the coconut milk and allow to boil for a minute or two.Finally add the coriander leaves and garam masala powder.Mix it well and put off the flame.
• Matar mushroom is ready.

Serve it with roti or paratha.

Enjoy.......................................................

• Instead of green peas,soaked and cooked dried peas can be used,but flavor will be very nice wth the green peas.
• I used the coconut milk powder for the coconut milk you can use the thick fresh coconut milk.
• Add garam masala powder in the end to get a nice flavor.
• The ginger and garlic can be replaced with 2tsp of ginger&garlic paste.

Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Besan Toast/Eggless Savory French Toast

Besan Toast is one such dish has so many avatars in my kitchen for a healthy breakfast,weekend brunch,lunch on a lazy afternoon or a good snack for a rainy evening.
To make it more healthier I add veggies such as grated carrot,chopped spinach or cabbage depending on the availability.Off to the recipe.............................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Bread	4 slices
Gram flour/besan/kadala maavu	1/4cup
Onion(finely chopped)	1/4cup
Tomato(finely chopped)	1tbs
Spinach(finely chopped)	2tbs(optional)
Green Chilly(chopped)	1nos
Coriander leaves(chopped)	1tbs
Red chilly powder/milagai podi	1/2tsp
Chaat masala powder	1/4tsp
Cumin/jeeragam powder	1/4tsp
Salt	1/4tsp+a pinch
Oil	1tbs

Method 

1. Mix everything together except oil and bread in a bowl with 1/4cup of water. 
2. Heat a griddle  or pan and toast the bread both sides till it is crispy.Keep it on a plate.
3. Now spread the mixture on one side,add oil on the griddle and place the bread with the mixture side in the bottom.Cook it in a medium flame by pressing the bread with the spatula so that it cooks evenly.
4. Flip it to the other side and cook it for a minute.
5. Serve it immediately with tomato ketchup.

Enjoy.......................................

• I usually spread the mixture for one side only as my family prefers little crispy.If you want you can use it for both the sides.
• Toasting the bread is optional as we want crispy I toast it.
• If I am making it for kids I replace the green chilly with the red chilly powder and instead of oil butter/ghee can be used.

Check out my fellow bloggers recipe in Blogging Marathon#25.



Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Banana Nutella Sandwich

Nutella the name itself makes drool,these days nutella has become our family favorite especially my kiddo loves it a lot.Today's recipe for the Blogging Marathon#25 is Banana Nutella sandwich,though I have sweet tooth I don't like to have anything sweet for breakfast but this one is exceptional.There is no specific recipe for this sandwich,it can be made with 2 or 3 slices of bread with generous nutella.Now on to my version of sandwich recipe which is for single serving........................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Wheat/White bread	3 slices
Butter	2tsp
Granulated sugar/brown sugar	2tsp
Banana(sliced)	1no.(medium size)
Nutella	1tbs or as needed
Maple syrup	as needed

Method

1. Heat a griddle in a medium flame,once it becomes hot drop a tsp of butter and place the bread slices. Flip it to the other side when it becomes golden,apply the remaining butter to the bread slices and cook it till golden. 
2. Now sprinkle some sugar to both sides of the toasted slices and cook it till the sugar melts and caramalize. 
3. Place the toast on a place,spread the nutella on a toast and cover it with another toast and keep the sliced banana.Close it with another toast. 
4. Slice in diagonally and serve it immediately. 
5. Top it with maple syrup and sliced banana. 

Enjoy...................................................................

• If you are using two slices of bread,after spreading the nutella top it with sliced banana.

Check out my fellow bloggers running in Blogging Marathon#25.
Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com