Thursday, October 2, 2008

sesame chutney

Tamil translation for sesame chutney is 'Ellu thovaiyal' or 'Yellu thovayal'.
I use black sesame seeds to make this chutney.It should not be watery like coconut chutney.After grinding , you should be able to make a ball out of it. That is the perfect consistency.

Ingredients:
Sesame - 2 tbsp
shredded coconut - 1 tbsp
Dry Red chillies - 4
garlic - 1 pearl
cumin - 1/4 tsp
salt - 1/2 tsp
Tamarind - 1 inch
curry leaves - 1 brig
olive oil - 1 tsp

Method:

Dry roast the sesame seeds , till they start splutter. Take care not to char them.
Add 1 tsp olive oil in the pan and roast the dry red chillies.
Using a small jar in mixie / blender , grind all the items together after they become cool .
Add a little water only. You will get a lemon size ball of sesame chutney.

Serving suggestions:

It can be served as a side dish with any 'variety rice' like lemon rice , coconut rice or tamarind rice.
This chutney stays good for 2 days (without refrigerator) , if you roast all the given items and make chutney.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Lemon Rice

Ingredients:
Rice - 1 1/4 cup (200 g)
Lemon - 1 /2 small (3 tbsp fresh juice)
Mustard - 1 tsp
Bengal gram (channa dhal)- 2 tbsp
Dry red chilli - 2
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
curry leaves - 1 sprig
Sesame oil - 2 tbsp
salt - to taste

photo updated from Jan 2016 
Mixing the lemon rice in wok


lemon rice with paruppu thogayal in lunch box

Method:

Rinse and cook the rice. Cook the rice in a grainy finish (not mushy). Let it cool a bit, by spreading it on a plate.
Heat oil in a pan . Add mustard and as soon as it starts crackle, add channa dal. Let the channa dal get mild red.
Add curry leaves and cut dry chillies.
Switch off stove.
In a  separate bowl, squeeze a lemon and discard seeds .
Add the juice to the fried items in the pan.
Add salt and turmeric powder.
Cool the rice a little and mix it with the items in the pan.
Lemon rice is ready.

Serving suggestions:

Serves 2 people as lunch or travel food.
Serve with Sesame chutney , coconut chutney or Black gram chutney.
This lemon rice will not get spoiled , if prepared without touching by hands or adding water at the end. It stays good for 2 days even outside the refrigerator.
Many people in India prefer to pack this for a road side trip or long train journey.
Best side dishes for lemon rice are potato fry or boiled egg stuffed with masala or masal vadai and also a piece of lemon pickle or a tbsp of thick coconut thogaiyal.

Chow chow Paruppu koottu and peel thogayal

Chow chow / Bangalore Kathirikai / Chayote  A dal curry paruppu koottu with chow chow and a spicy chutney using it's peel (chow chow tho...