Cauliflower pakoda

I think Cauliflower is one of the most favorites in every household. Some years back (at least for people in my home town)getting some English vegetable like cauliflower was rare. Also those kind of veggies were more expensive because of transportation. I have never come across a Tamil word for Cauliflower (there will be a Tamil equivalent for most of the words in English), so I guess it is definitely a vegetable of modern days:) Thanks to the globalization in everything we get what we desire. While growing up, Cauliflower being an apple to our eyes, mom would make only chosen dishes with it. She would make very crispy fries with cauliflowers or put a tiny flower in vegetable briyani...that's it, we all would love whatever she made:). But nowadays I make many dishes with it and it became my regular in this part of globe we live and I love it:) Here is a pakoda / bajji with cauliflower and we had it did with sambar and rice :) 

Cauliflower pakora / bajji.

Ingredients:
Cauliflower - 1 (300 gm)
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Besan flour (kadalai mavu) - 3/4 cup

rice flour - 2 tbsp
corn starch - 1 tsp  (optional)
salt - to taste
red chilly powder - 1 tsp
hing (asafoetida)- 1/8 tsp
red food color - a pinch (optional but I didn't use)
garam masala - 1 tsp (optional)
oil - to deep fry (200 ml)

Method: 
Wash the cauliflower and break it into medium size florets.
Bring few cups of water to boil with 1 tsp salt and turmeric powder.
Put the cauliflower pieces in boiling water and boil for only one minute.
Switch off, drain water completely. Keep aside.

In a separate bowl mix besan flour, rice flour, corn starch, salt, hing, red chilly powder  with 1/4 cup water to a thick batter. The batter should be thick and should not be runny (otherwise the bajjis will absorb more oil). If there is more water , then add some more rice flour.  Heat oil in a wok. As it gets smoky hot, reduce flame and keep in medium flame. Dip the semi-cooked cauliflower pieces in the batter and put in hot oil.
Flip and fry both sides. Drain oil and take out.

Cauliflower pakoda / bajji is ready!

Serving suggestions: 
Serve hot as snack along with hot coffee or tea during rainy / winter season.
Tomato ketchup / sauce is a nice side dish for this fry.
I usually make them for some weekend lunch along with sambar rice or curd rice.

Kambu puttu

Kambu - pearl millet, bajra ; puttu - steam cooked food.

 Kambu is a native cereal of India. It can be grown in any soil with minimal care and believed to be one of the few existing ancient crops. No wonder it was one of the major crops before green revolution, but changes in culture has brought newer grains.
Preparing porridge (kool / koozh) using kambu is a common breakfast in South Indian villages. I prepare many dishes with kambu like kambu dosai, kolukkattai, urundai etc. Kambu has a very nice flavor when roasted. Recently I prepared puttu with kambu and it tasted many folds yummier.  Here is  a virtual treat to your eyes...Enjoy!

Kambu puttu

Ingredients:  (for 2 people)
whole pearl millet  (bajra/Kambu) - 3/4 cup
shredded coconut - 3 tbsp
salt - pinch

Method:
Sort the millet and remove any stones or sticks (nowadays they are stone-free).
Dry roast the kambu till it turns mild red and starts smelling nice At this stage it will start popping.
Now switch off and pour enough water. Wash the millet very well (thrice).
Keep it soaked for 10 to 30  minutes.

In the meantime prepare the puttu kuzhal or steaming vessel. Bring the water in bottom vessel to a boil. Click to see my rice kuzha puttu recipe for detailed instructions with photo.

Grind the kambu with pinch of salt, shredded coconut in a mixie to a 'medium coarse to fine' powder. Don't add water while powdering the kambu. Just pulse in intervals and it will be easily done.
Put it in puttu kuzhal and steam cook for 10 minutes after steam comes through the top holes.
We can make puttu in idly plates also. If need to prepare in a big batch,  tie the prepared kambu flour in a thin cloth and steam cook over an idly stand. We can feel the nice flavor filling the whole kitchen when it is completely cooked.

Puttu gets easily cooked than making a kambu choru (cooking like rice).

kambu puttu is ready!

Serving suggestions:
serve with powdered jaggery or white sugar or brown sugar and more shredded coconut.
It can also be served with green gram sundal.
Kadalai curry also makes a good accompaniment.