Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Winter recipes

Here in the part of globe where we live, the winters are long and cold. Having a hot cup of chocolate milk before bed is our favorite during this season. Weekends need a hot masala chaai at flask and some spicy fried Indian snacks or homemade cookies to munch on. Any food needs a little more spice level :) Also cooking during winter is a joy for me, as it is the best indoor entertainment :) Keeping a balance between cooking good foods as well as little calorie conscience will work for any season, but winter needs something extra. So I plan on making some foods that suits this weather.

Have a look at my suggestions and enjoy the virtual winter treat !

Chicken tomato soup (chennai recipe)


Crab kulambu (Tuticorin recipe)
Perfect kuzhambu for winter
Goat leg soup (clear):


Idiyappam with paya:
Add caption


Tandoori chicken:



Milagu kuzhambu:

Sukku Kuzhambu:

Scrambled egg chapati:
Add caption


Masala tea:

Bhel poori (snack):

Kara sev (fries):


Baked masala peanut:


Enjoy !

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Mutton varuval (in pressure cooker)

Here is our family recipe for mutton curry or varuval. It is easier than my version of preparing this curry in a thick wok (kadai).
I call this my family recipe (or Tirunelveli version), as my amma and mother inlaw both do the same way.  My MIL's mutton gravy is one of the best. We will definitely need a pressure cooker to prepare this gravy.
After buying my small pressure cooker, I too started following this method.
Here is a very easy way to make a delicious mutton varuval using pressure cooker.

Try and enjoy this Tirunelveli mutton curry  

Ingredients:
Goat meat (with bone)- 1 lb
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
ginger - 2 inch
garlic - 1 whole
curry masala powder - 2 tsp
red chilly powder - 2 tsp
coriander powder - 6 tsp
tomato -2
brinji leaves -2
Red onion- 2
curry leaves- 1 sprig
cilantro - 1 handful
mint leaves - 1 handful
sesame oil - 2 tbsp
fennel - 1 tsp
salt - to taste

Method:
Rinse the meat and cut it into small pieces.
Pressure cook it with turmeric and handful of water. Cook for 8 whistles in medium heat (after 1 whistle reduce to medium).
Open the pressure cooker after it becomes cool. It should be cooked perfectly by now.
In a kadai , heat 2 tbsp sesame oil. Add 1 tsp fennel seeds and after it turns red add brinji leaves,curry leaves, chopped onion. Let the onion get cooked and becomes mild pink.
Then put cilantro and mint leaves one by one .
Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a while.
Then add finely chopped tomato and saute till it gets cooked.
Add chilli powder,coriander powder, garam masala powder and saute again.
Add this to the cooked mutton in pressure cooker.
Put enough salt and pressure cook till 1 whistle. Reduce to low heat and cook for 5 minutes.
Open the cooker. If there is some excess water, then cook it without lid in open fire and take out the mutton gravy. It should be a thick curry.
Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Mutton varuval is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve as side dish with plain rice , coconut milk rice, ghee rice.
Tastes very good with idli, dosai or parotta.

Tomato rice in Briyani Flavor

Tomato rice in home style was the first tomato rice we all used to take to school (in my childhood). Then afterwards it was jazzed up by our...