Tomato Rava Upma


Ingredients:

4 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter) / butter

1 cup(s) semolina (or quick cream of wheat)

1 teaspoon(s) each of mustard and cumin seeds

1 sprig(s) curry leaves
1 teaspoon(s) ginger chopped
2 green chilli(es) slit / chopped
2 onion(s) sliced finely
1 large tomato(es) chopped
4 tablespoons coriander leaves

2 tablespoon(s) grated coconut if available

2 cup(s) hot water

salt to taste
fried cashewnuts to garnish

Method:

Heat half of the ghee (clarified butter) in a pan. Fry semolina, stirring continuously, to a golden color on medium / low level for about 2 minute(s). Keep aside. Heat the remaining ghee (clarified butter) in a pan. Toss in the mustard seeds followed by the cumin seeds and fry till the seeds splutter fully. Add the curry leaves, ginger, green chillies and onions. Stir fry on medium level for about 3 minutes or till the onions are transparent and soft. Add the chopped tomatoes and fry on medium level for about 3 minutes or till they are soft and cooked. Add half of the coriander leaves (reserving the rest for garnishing) and fry briefly till they wilt. Mix in the semolina and salt. Add the hot water to this and mix well. Add more hot water if the mixture is dry. Cover and cook on low heat for about 3 minutes or till the mixture is almost dry. Garnish with fried cashewnuts, grated coconut and finely chopped coriander leaves

Bread Upma


Ingredients:

6 big bread slices cut fine

1 cup(s) yoghurt beaten well

1 big tomato(es) finely chopped

1 teaspoon(s) each of mustard and cumin seeds
½ teaspoon(s) each of turmeric powder
and chilli powder
4 green chillies finely chopped
6 curry leaves

2 tablespoon(s) oil

salt to taste
finely chopped coriander leaves to garnish

Method:

Soak the bread pieces in yoghurt for about 10 minutes. Keep aside. Heat the oil in a pan and toss in the mustard seeds followed by the cumin seeds. Fry till the seeds splutter fully. Add the curry leaves, chopped green chillies and tomato(es). Stir fry on medium level for about 3 minutes or till the tomatoes are cooked and soft. Add the bread, salt, turmeric and chilli powders. Mix well. Cover and keep for some time before serving.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Rava Idli

Ingredients:

2 tablespoon(s) coconut
oil
1 teaspoon(s)
mustard seeds
1 teaspoon(s)
split husked Bengal gram (chana dal)
1 teaspoon(s) split husked black gram (udad dal)
4 green chillies chopped

1 tablespoon(s) cashewnut bits

1 sprig curry leaves

1 cup(s) semolina (or quick cream of wheat)
4 cups sour yoghurt
1 cup(s) coriander leaves chopped
2 cup(s) grated coconut if available
1 teaspoon(s) soda bicarbonate
salt to taste

Method:


Heat the coconut oil in a pan. Toss in the mustard seeds followed by the grams and fry till the seeds splutter fully. Add the green chillies, cashewnut bits and curry leaves. Stir-fry on medium level for about 3 minutes or till the grams are red in color. Add the semolina and stir-fry on medium / low level for about 3 minute(s) or till golden in color and aromatic. Let cool. Once cooled, mix in the salt as per taste and the soda bicarbonate. Divide the semolina mixture into two portions to steam then in two batches. Take a portion of semolina mixture and mix in half the quantity of yoghurt, coconut and coriander leaves. Keep aside for 15 minutes to ferment. Meanwhile, heat water in a steaming vessel. Pour the batter onto greased idli moulds and place it in the steaming vessel. Cover and steam on high level for about 10 minutes or till the idlis are fluffy and well cooked. Repeat the procedure to make the next batch of idlis.

Moong Dal Usli

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut oil or any oil

1 teaspoon(s) mustard seeds

1 dry red chilli(es) broken into bits

1 teaspoon(s) ginger finely chopped or grated
2 green chilli(es) slit
½ teaspoon(s) asafoetida powder
1 sprig(s) curry leaves
2 cup(s) split husked green gram (dhuli moong dal) washed well.

2 cup(s) hot water or as required
½ teaspoon(s) sugar salt to taste
½ tablespoon(s) grated coconut


Method:


Heat the coconut oil in a pan. Toss in the mustard seeds and the dry red chilli bits. Fry till the mustard seeds splutter fully. Add the ginger, green chilli(es) and stir fry on medium / low level for about 2 minute(s). Drop in the asafoetida powder and the curry leaves. Fry briefly. Stir in the green gram and mix well. Add the hot water such that it is about and inch above the level of the green gram. Stir in the sugar and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes or till the water has been absorbed and the grams are cooked but the grains are separate. If they are not cooked, then add some more hot water and cook. Stir in the grated coconut and remove from the flame. keep covered for 5 minutes for the flavors to blend well.

Kaanda Poha


Ingredients:

4 cups beaten rice flakes - thick variety (jaada poha)
2 tablespoons oil 1 teaspoon(s) mustard seeds 1 teaspoon(s) cumin seeds 2 green chilli(es) slit or chopped fine 1 sprig curry leaves 2 big onions sliced fine ½ teaspoon(s) turmeric powder 4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander salt to taste chopped fresh coriander to garnish

Method:


Wash the beaten rice in water thoroughly. Drain and Keep aside. Heat the oil in a pan. Toss in the mustard and cumin seeds. Fry till they crackle. Add the green chillies and curry leaves. Add the onions and turmeric powder. Stir-fry on medium / low level for about 4 minutes or till the onions are pinkish. Add the chopped fresh coriander and stir-fry briefly till they wilt. Mix in the beaten rice and salt to taste. Mix in a few tablespoons of water into the beaten rice. Cover and cook on low level for about 4 minutes or till the water has been absorbed by the beaten rice softening it and the flavors are well blended. Do not overcook the beaten rice as it tends to harden. keep covered for a few minutes before serving.

Sevaian Upma



Ingredients:

2 tablespoon(s) ghee (clarified butter) / butter 2 cup(s) broken vermicelli 1 teaspoon(s) mustard seeds 1 teaspoon(s) husked split black gram 2 green chilli(es) slit 1 sprig curry leaves 2 cup(s) warm water 4 tablespoons grated coconut if available salt to taste

Method:


Heat half of the ghee (clarified butter) in a pan. Fry the vermicelli, stirring continuously to a golden color on medium / low level for about 2 minute(s). Keep aside. Heat the remaining ghee (clarified butter) in a pan. Toss in the mustard seeds followed by the black gram. Stir fry on medium level for about 2 minute(s) or till the mustard seeds splutter fully and the gram is red in color. Toss in the green chillies, curry leaves and fry briefly. Add the warm water along with salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the vermicelli. Cover and cook whilst stirring often on low-medium level for about 3 minutes or till all the water has evaporated and the vermicelli is well cooked. Remove from heat and stir in the grated coconut.

Onion Soup


Ingredients:

2 onion(s) chopped

4 cups water

2 teaspoon(s) cornflour dissolved in a little cold water

2 tablespoon(s) grated cheese
2 tablespoon(s) butter
salt to taste


Method:

Heat the butter in a pan. Add the chopped onion(s) and saute on low heat for 8 minutes or till they are well browned. Add the water, grated cheese and salt. Bring to boil on medium heat. Add the cornflour and simmer on low heat for 4 minutes. Top with a dash of grated cheese just before serving. Serve hot with: fried bread pieces.

Spinach Soup


Ingredients:

4 cups spinach leaves
2 cup(s) water
1 onion(s) chopped
1 cup(s) milk
2 tablespoon(s)
plain flour (maida)
1 tablespoon(s)
fresh cream
2 tablespoon(s)
butter
salt and pepper to season.

Method:

Wash the spinach leaves and discard the thick stems. Boil along with the water for 8 minutes or till the spinach is well cooked. Cool and puree in a blender. Keep aside. Heat the butter in a pan. Add the chopped onions and saute on medium heat for 3 minute(s) or till the onions are transparent. Now, add the plain flour and fry briefly on low heat. Add now the spinach puree, milk, salt and pepper. Simmer on low heat for 3 minute(s). Add the fresh cream just before serving.

Cream of Vegetable Soup


Ingredients:

200 grams (about 8 oz.) mixed vegetables (beans, carrots, potatoes) finely chopped.
1 medium onion(s) chopped
2 tablespoon(s) butter
1 tablespoon(s) plain flour (maida)
4 teacups milk
1 teacup(s) water
salt and pepper to taste

Method:
  1. Boil the vegetables in water on medium heat for about 6 minutes or till tender and cooked.
  2. In a pan, heat butter on medium level for a few seconds. Add the chopped onions and fry for about 3 minutes or till onions are transparent.
  3. Add the flour and milk. Stir well. Now add the vegetables and water. Mix well and keep on medium heat for about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot with: croutons.

Tomato Soup


Ingredients:

4 cups tomato juice
2 teaspoon(s) cornflour dissolved in a little cold water
1 teaspoon(s) roasted
cumin seed powder
1 teaspoon(s) ginger - garlic paste
1 tablespoon(s) milk
salt and pepper to season.

Method:
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a vessel except for milk and bring to a boil on medium flame.
  2. Let it simmer on low heat for about 4 minutes.
  3. Add the milk and let it simmer again on low heat for about 3 minute(s).
Serve hot with: croutons or bread sticks.