Potato Kara Kulambu

Ingredients
(Refer cooking index category for ingredients translation in Hindi and Tamil)
Potato.........................................................1 No (Cut into round slices)
Garlic.........................................................10 Pods Pearl Onions........................................................2 to 3 Nos
(Or add 1 Big onion-finely chopped)
Pepper Corns...............................................5 Nos
Tomato.......................................................2 Nos(Finely Chopped)
Chilli Powder...............................................2 tsp
Turmeric Powder.........................................1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder........................................1 tsp
Cumin Powder.............................................1 tsp
Oil..............................................................2 Tbsp
Tamarind paste or Tamarind..............size of a small lemon
Asafoetida
Salt to taste
For Frying
Mustard Seeds
Fenugreek seeds
Pepper Corns
Urad Dal (Uluntham Paruppu)
Curry Leaves

Method

* Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and saute till it splutters.
* Add fenugreek seeds,pepper corns,urad dal and curry leaves and saute for few minutes.
* When the aroma comes out, add cut onion, and fry for 2 mins.
* Now add garlic,tomato and potato and fry until the mixture becomes juicy.
* Soak and squeeze tamarind ball or paste in water and pour it into the mixture.
* When the gravy comes to a boil add the masala powder items. asafoetida and let it boil.
* Finally add salt and serve hot with rice.

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Spicy Dal Puttu

Ingredients
(For Ingredients Name in English,Tamil and Hindi click http://cookforself.blogspot.com/search/label/Ingredients%20index)
Split Bengal Gram(Kadalai paruppu)..............1/2 cup
Toor Dal.........................................................1/2 cup
Black Gram(Urad Dal)....................................1/2 cup
Green Gram(Moong Dal)................................1/4 cup
Dried Red Chillies..........................................4 Nos
Green Chillies.................................................2 Nos
Asafoetida
Salt to taste

For Sauting
Mustard seeds
Dried Red Chillies
Urad Dal
Oil for frying

For Garnishing
Grated Coconut
Curry Leaves
Coriander Leaves
Lemon Juice(1 Tsp)

Method
* Soak the Dal varieties in water

* Add red chillies, green chillies, salt and asafoetida and grind well

* Pour this mixture in Idli pan and steam as you do for making Idlis

* Allow it to cool and shred it into crumbs.

* Heat oil in a kadai, and fry mustard seeds, dried red chilies,urad dal and curry leaves.

* Add the shreaded dal mixture and mix well.

* If required, add lemon juice

*Finally add grated coconut, coriander leaves and curry leaves , mix well and serve hot.

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Indian Masala Chai Powder

Normally people feel refreshed after a hot cup of chai. ,and having a hot cup of masala tea after a nap in the afternoon or after coming back home from office is definitely rejuvinating. Make a powder of Cinnamon,Cloves,Dried Ginger(Chukku) and cardamom (Elaichi) and store. Just mix it with tea powder and make instant Masala Tea.

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Spicy Crab Masala

Ingredients

Crab-------------------------------½ Kg
Onion-----------------------------1(Finely chopped)

Ginger Garlic Paste-------------1 tsp

Tomato---------------------------1(Finely Chopped)

Red Chilly Powder--------------1 tsp
Pepper Powder------------------1 tsp
Turmeric-------------------------½ tsp
Garam Masal--------------------½ tsp
Curry Leaves---------------------5 to 6
Coriander Powder--------------1 tsp
Cumin Powder------------------1 tsp
Aniseed (Sombu)----------------1 tsp

Water-----------------------------¼ cup
Oil---------------------------------3 tbsp

Salt to taste

Method

* Clean the crab and cut it into pieces.
* Heat oil in a pan.
* Add aniseeds and sauté until it splutters.
* When the aroma comes out, add curry leaves and sauté.
* Add chopped onion and fry till golden brown.
* When the onion turns golden brown, add ginger garlic paste and fry for few minutes.
* Now add tomato and allow it to cook till the mixture becomes juicy.
* Add red chilly powder, turmeric powder, pepper powder, Garam masal, coriander powder and cumin powder.
* Mix well and add water.
* Now add the crab and mix well so that it gets coated with the gravy.
* Close the lid of the pan and cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
* Now the crab would have turned reddish. Remove the lid and add salt and fry for 2 minutes.
* Remove from fire. Garnish with cut curry leaves or coriander leaves and serve hot.

Tips

-- While adding salt, take care because crab meat itself is little bit salty
-- This dish is a good curative for cold.

Coconut Rice

Ingredients
Cooked Rice-------------------------------2 Cups
Finely grated Coconut-------------------1/2 a cup
Dried Chillies-----------------------------2 to 3
Mustard Seed-----------------------------1 Tsp
Curry Leaves------------------------------5 to 6
Oil------------------------------------------3 Tbsp
Salt to taste

Method
* Heat the oil.
* Add curry leaves, mustard seeds, dried chillies until the mustard seed splurt.
* Mix in the coconut and salt and stir fry for two minutes.
* Remove from fire.
* Then add the rice and stir gently.
* Garnish with roasted cashews and serve.

Note
For Ingredient names equivalent in English, Hindi or Tamil Click the Ingredients Index under Cookforself Categories

Lemon Rice

Ingredients

Cooked Rice ---------------------------2 Cups
Lemon Juice---------------------------2 Tbsp
Green Chillies------------------------- 2 to 3 NosFinely Chopped
Asafoetida------------------------------1 pinch
Mustard seeds-------------------------1 Teaspoon
Cashews--------------------------------4 to 5 Nos
Channa Dal----------------------------1 Tsp
Turmeric Powder---------------------1/2 Tsp
Oil---------------------------------------2 Tbsp
Salt to taste
Curry Leaves

Method

* Heat oil and add mustard seeds, channa dal, cashews.
* Fry till the mustard seeds splutter. Then add curry leaves, green chillies and asafoetida.
* Remove from fire.
* Then add rice, turmeric powder, salt and lemon juice.
* Mix well gently.
*Garnish with lemon rind.

Tips
-- Serve with pickle or potato fries.
-- If cooked in Gingelly oil, this rice can be kept overnight too.

Note
For Ingredient names equivalent in English, Hindi or Tamil Click the Ingredients Index under Cookforself Categories

Ingredients Index (English,Tamil,Hindi)

English	Tamil	Hindi
All Purpose Flour	Maida	Maida
Aniseed	Sombu	Suwa or Shopa
Asafoetida	Perungaayam	Hing
Basil	Thulasi	Tulsi
Bay Leaf	Biriyani Ilai or Brinji Ilai	Tej Patta
Bengal Gram	Kadalai Paruppu	Channa Dal
Black Gram	Uluntham Paruppu	Urad Dal
Cardamom	Elakkai	Elaichi
Carified Butter	Neiy	Ghee
Cinnamon	Pattai	Dalchini
Cloves	Kirambu	Lavang
Coriander	Malli	Dhania
Cumin Seeds	Jeeragam	Jeera
Curry Leaves	Karivepilai	Kadi Patta
Fennel Seeds	Perumjeeragam	Saunf
Fenu Greek	Venthayam	Methi
Fenu Greek Leaves	Venthaya Keerai	Methi Leaves
Garlic	Poondu	Lahsun
Ginger	Inji	Adhrak
Green Chilli	Pachai Milakai	Hari Mirch
Green Gram	Pasi Paruppu	Moong
Home Made Cheese	Paneer	Paneer
Jaggery	Vellam	Gur
Mace	Jathipathri	Javithri
Mint	Pudhina	Pudina
Molasses,Brown Sugar,Palm Sugar	Karuppatti
Mustard	Kaduku	Rai
Nutmeg	Jadhikkai	Jaiphal
Pepper	Milagu	Kali Mirchi
Poppyseed	Kasa Kasa	Khus Khus
Raw Mango Powder	Mangai Podi	Aamchur
Red Chilli	Milakai Vattral	Lal Mirchi
Red Lentils	Mysore Paruppu	Masoor Dal
Saffron	Kunkuma Poo	Kesar
Salt	Uppu	Namak
Semolina	Ravai	Rawa
Sesame or Gingelly	Ell	Til
Split Gram	Tuvaram Paruppu(Sambar Paruppu)	Toor Dal
Split Bengal Gram	Kadalai Paruppu	Channa Dal
Sweet Potato	Cheeni Kilangu
Tamarind	Puli	Imli
Tentile Flour(Bengal Gram Flour)	Kadalai Mavu	Besan
Turmeric	Manjal	Haldi
Vermicilli	Semiya	Seviyan
Yam	Chenai Kilangu
Yoghurt	Thayir	Dahi

Quick Chilly Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken -------------------------------------500 gms(boneless) cut into small pieces

Ginger garlic paste-------------------------2 Tbsp

Red chilli powder -------------------------1/2 Tbsp

Soya Sauce---------------------------------2 Tbsp

Vinegar--------------------------------------1 Tbsp

Pepper powder -----------------------------1 Tsp

Sugar ----------------------------------------1/4 Tsp

Aginomotto --------------------------------1/4 Tsp

Oil -------------------------------------------3 Tbsp

Green chillies ------------------------------7 nos(cut lengthwise)

Spring onions------------------------------3 Nos(cut into pieces)

Capsicum-----------------------------------1 (cut into 1/4 inch pieces )

salt to taste


Method

* Cut chicken into small pieces

* Marinate the chicken with ginger garlic paste,red chilli powder, soyasauce, vinegar, pepper, sugar,salt and aginomotto for 30 mins

* Heat the oil in a pressure cooker

* Add marinated chicken, fry on high till the chicken is dry

* Then add half a cup of water and close the lid of the pressure cooker.

* Pressure Cook till one whistle. Remove from fire

* When the pressure drops, fry the chicken on high flame till the sauces coat the chicken well

* Finally add green chillies,spring onions and capsicum.Stir well .

* Remove from heat

* Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot

Tips
--If you wish the dish to be more spicy, avoid adding sugar.
--Adding too much of aginomotto is not good for health, so add very little quantity of it.

Easy Pudding

Ingredients

Eggs-----------------------------3 Nos

Milk-----------------------------500 ml

Bread Slice-----------------------2 Nos

Sugar----------------------------75 ml

Elaichi Powder or Vanilla Essence(1 or 2 drops)

Cashews

Cut Fuits (to garnish)

Method

* Boil milk and add sugar.

* Allow the milk to cool.

* Cut the edges of the bread and soak in milk.

* Stir well till it becomes semi-fluid.

* Beat the eggs well.

* Mix eggs ,milk mixture and elaichi powder (or vanilla essence).

* Grease the bottom of the pudding mould or a small vessel with sugar granules.

* Place cashews.

* Now pour the mixture into the vessel.

* Place the pudding mould in a pan with water .Close it with lid.

* Steam for 30 minutes.

* Remove the pudding mould and turn it upside down.

* Serve hot.

* Pudding can also be served cold after refridgerating for 1 to 2 hours

* Garnish with cut fruits

Tips

Pudding is a healthy dish. Kids like it a lot. When served hot, is good for cold and cough.

Bread Halwa

Ingredients

Bread Slices---------------------------------------------------------5nos
Boiled and Mashed Potato------------------------------------------1 cup
Boiled and Mashed Green Gram Dal(Moong Dal)-----------------1 cup
Milk------------------------------------------------------------------500 ml
Powdered Sugar-----------------------------------------------------1 cup
Ghee------------------------------------------------------------------2 tbsp
Baadam Essence
Cashew and Raisins

Method

* Mix bread,mashed potato,mashed green gram dal and powdered sugar in a vessel.
* Cook in medium flame till the mixture thickens.
* Stir Continuously.
* Add Ghee,Cashew,Raisins and few drops of essense and stir until it rolls to halwa consistency.

Kaju Katli (Cashew Sweet)

Ingredients
Cashew 200 gms
Sugar 200 gms
Water 3/4 cup
Cardamon powder(Elaichi) for flavour
Ghee for greasing

Method

• Grind Cashew to powder.
• Mix powdered cashew,sugar and water in a kadai.
• Heat in slow to medium flavour and stir well.
• When the mixture thickens add powdered cardamom and remove from fire.
• Pour the mixture into a greased tray(use ghee for greasing).
• Cut into pieces and serve.

Tips

While grinding cashew in a mixer, do not grind it continuously. Grind it in intervals..

Lemon Flavour

In case, if the recipe needs lemon flavour to be added to the dish, add lemon drops towards the end of the cooking process and remove the dish from heat shortly after mixing. Do not heat it for a long time which may change the taste.

Cooking Measurements

1 teaspoon(tsp) = 5 gm
1 tablespoon = 15 gm
1 tablespoon(tbsp) = 3 tsp
1 Cup = 16 tbsp
1 Cup = 8 ounce
1 Cup = 250 ml
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 4 cups
1 gallon = 16 cups
1 oz = 28 gm
1 pound = 454 gm
1 cup Flour = 141.5 gm
1 cup Sugar = 216.4 gm
1 cup Rice = 224.5 gm
1 cup Milk = 252.5 gm

For online calculation of cooking measurement conversions, the following links are helpful

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