Monday, March 4, 2013

Broccoli usili (dal fry)

Usili is a side dish made with dal, which can be compared to a dry form of dal fry.  It is one of the traditional foods that can be seen in many households of Tamilnadu. Any fibrous vegetable like carrot, beans, cabbage can be turned into usili. It is a great recipe to enrich the simple vegetables with proteins.
Many years ago when I first saw this broccoli in a supermarket in Missouri, I thought it as a green cauliflower:)  and cooked it just like that. But then only I found the smell and taste more dominant and it is certainly a different veggie, which is in need of more care:) Then I would add it in stir fries, pastas or soups only. Then tried making usili with that and it tasted very yummy. In this recipe I have added carrot also, but tastes good alone also.
Carrot broccoli usili (dal fry). This recipe makes me love broccoli more:)
Broccoli usili

Ingredients:
Broccoli - 1 lb
carrot - 1 (optional)
oil - 1 tbsp
mustard - 1 tsp
curry leaf - 1 sprig

To grind:
Thoor dhal (red gram) - 1 cup
dry red chilly - 3
cumin - 1 tsp
sea salt - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
hing - 1/8 tsp

Method:
Soak dal for 1 hour and grind without water along with the other items to a fine paste.
Scoop the dal into idly plates and steam cook for 10 minutes.
Let it get cool completely.
Put it in the mixie again and pulse gently for a few times, so that the cooked dal looks loose.
In the mean time wash the broccoli and peel the carrot. cut them into small pieces.
Heat oil in a wok and let mustard splutter.
Then add the curry leaves, chopped broccoli, carrot and stir fry it.
Cook covered along with little salt for 5 minutes.
Then add the prepared dal mixture and stir fry it in high flame for few minutes.
Switch off.
Broccoli usili is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Serve with kara kulambu + rice or rasam + rice.
Tastes good with chapati also.
I like it as snack too:)

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Shrimp pepper fry

I think I should translate it as Era milagu varuval :
Era - shrimp / prawn; milagu - black pepper; varuval fry
I made this shrimp pepper fry recently, as I wanted to make a very spicy version. I am not sure if this recipe belongs to any regional cuisine or a traditional one. I coined it as per my taste with coconut oil and black pepper. Mostly I pick up the shrimp in the freezer aisle, as it is more comfortable for me than selecting from fresh lot. In this recipe I have used frozen unpeeled raw shrimp. I put them in water and leave at room temperature for an hour to defrost.Then I ground this pepper based masala and stir-fried till oil shows up. Freshly made masala made this curry very delicious. Try and enjoy this spicy pepper fry :)
Shrimp pepper fry

Chapati, prawn pepper fry and spinach dal....yummy platter:)

Ingredients:
Shrimp - 20 numbers
salt - to taste
lemon - 1/8 fruit
red onion - 1
tomato puree - 1/2 cup
garam masala powder - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
green chilly - 3
curry leaves - 1 sprig

To fry and grind:
coriander seed - 1 tbsp
black pepper - 1 tbsp
cumin - 1/2 tsp
fennel seeds - 1tsp
shallot -3
garlic - 6
coconut oil - 2 tbsp + 1/2 tsp

Method:
Heat 1/2 tsp coconut oil in a wok. Fry the shallot, garlic till golden color. Take out.
Fry the other items mentioned for 30 seconds. Let cool and grind to a fine paste with 2 tbsp water.
Clean the shrimp, add some salt, turmeric powder, lemon juice. while it is marinating, heat 2 tbsp coconut oil in a wok.
Add curry leaves, finely chopped onion, 1/2 tsp sugar, green chillies and fry till it turns golden.
Add tomato puree and wait till raw smell goes.
Put the cleaned shrimp, prepared masala, garam masala, salt and cook covered for 10 minutes.
If needed open the lid, add some more coconut oil and fry till it is almost a dry curry.
Shrimp pepper curry is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Serve as side dish with chapati or rice.
Tastes great with curd rice:)

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...