Sambar Powder/Sambar Podi

Sambar powder is a must in all South Indian kitchen and I cannot even thinking of sambar without homemade powder.
Each house has their own signature recipe for the sambhar powder and quantity,today I will be sharing the recipe to make it in a scratch and the original recipe also.
Grinding the sambhar powder in India is not a difficult one as we grind it in the commercial grinding mill.But people who are in abroad has to get it from India or make it with the blender in small quantities.
Usually I get the powder from India in a bulk and store in the freezer as we go to India every 2 years once.Unfortunately last year I couldn't go and I was out of sambhar powder.
So I tried to make sambhar  powder with my blender,but my blender didn't cooperate and ended up in a diaster.
Then I got an idea of making it with the store bought chilly powder and coriander powder as we get it Indian stores easily and grind the other spices used to make sambar powder.For my surprise it came out like the sambhar powder what I get it from my mom.Here is the recipe.............................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Chilly powder	1cup+1tbs
Coriander powder	11/3cups
Channadhal/kadalaparuppu	11/2tbs
Black pepper/milagu	2tsp
Cumin seeds/jeeragam	2tsp
Fenugreek seeds	3/4tsp
Asafoetida	1/4tsp
Turmeric powder	1tsp
Dry Ginger powder	1/2tsp

Method 

Put the channa dhal,black pepper,cumin seeds,fenugreek seeds in a microwave safe plate and keep it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or till it becomes crisp.

When it is warm enough dry grind it in a blender till it becomes powdery.

To this add all the powders such as chilly powder,coriander powder,turmeric powder,dry ginger powder and asafoetida.Blend it in the blender till everything gets incorporated well.

Store it in an airtight container.


Here is the list of ingredients to make in bulk.

 Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Red Chilly/varamilagai	1kg
Coriander seeds/dhania	11/2kg
Channadhal/kadalaparuppu	200gms
Black pepper/milagu	100gms
Cumin seeds/jeeragam	100gms
Fenugreek seeds/vendhayam	50gms
Asafoetida/katti perungayam	25gms
Turmeric/virali mangal	50gms
Dry Ginger/sukku	50gms

Method 

           Sun dry all the ingredients except asafoetida for a day and dry roast the asafoetida in a pan and add it.Grind it in the grinding mill.
Store it in an air tight container.

• Make the katti perungayam into small pieces and dry roast it and add it other wise mix the asafoetida powder after grinding the whole spices.
• Curry leaves can also added for extra flavor.
• If the you are using the extra hot chilly or chilly powder you can increase the amount of coriander seeds to 2 kgs.

Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Oats Milkshake

This recipe I was suppose to post it in the Blogging marathon under the theme breakfast on the run,as I was ran out of brown sugar and dates I couldn't do it.This is a very healthy milkshake with oats and perfect for breakfast,I adapted the recipe from Saffola oats recipe booklet.I slightly tweaked the recipe to our taste buds and used a small banana to make it more healthy and filling.The recipe given is for single serving for a tall glass and here is my version.................

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Oats(quick oats)	2tbs
Almonds/Badam	6-7nos.
Dates	4-5nos.
Brown sugar or honey	2tsp(optional)
Small Banana	1no.
Milk(chilled)	11/2cup

Method 

• Soak the almonds in hot water for 10 minutes,meanwhile cook the oats in microwave for a minute with water and keep it aside.
• Blend almond,dates,brown sugar together to a fine paste with little milk.
• Then add the cooked oats and banana,blend it well.
• Finally add the milk and whip till everything gets blend well.
• Pour it in a tall glass and serve it.

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

• The addition of honey or brown sugar is purely optional,as we have sweet tooth I used.
• Instead of cooking the oats it can be dry roasted and added but I like the cooked oats.
• Using the quick oats makes the cooking easier in the microwave.
• Fruits such as apple and strawberries can also used instead of banana.

Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

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.

Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

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