Mint Rice recipe (mild and spicy treat)

Mint rice or pudina pulao was never my favorite in college days.I was only aware of vegetarian biryani and fried rice back then.It is after marriage that I started experimenting variety of vegetarian recipes and I am loving all my cooking recipes (I believe they are coming out good as my husband who is the test object is fit and active after eating my food: D).I have always prepared this Pudina rice with two ingredients which is mild and I love mild food.It feels healthy to eat.But my family likes food be bit spicy to taste and look too.And I thought I will prepare Mint Pulao to satisfy their taste buds so tried this spicy yet mild flavored recipe.

Mint Rice,Pudina Pulao

Ingredients: 

Bunch of Fresh Mint or Pudina leaves
Fresh coriander leaves
Tomato - 4
Onion - 2 medium sized
Carrot
Potato
Ginger
Garlic
Coconut
Cashew nuts
Ghee
Cloves
Bay leaf
Cinnomon stick
Green chilli

This is similar to pudina vegetarian biryani I do with little variation.

Method :

1. Soak rice for 30 - 60 minutes (I used sonamasuri premium quality white rice).

2. Wash green leaves ,mint and coriander ,ginger,garlic pods, half medium sized onion ,coconut pieces,green chillis and keep them aside.Grind these in a jar at once.Pour a cup of water to make paste.

To Grind

3. Take a 3 litre pressure cooker (or depending on quantity) ,pour some butter or ghee ,add cumin seeds,bay leaf,cinnamon stick,cloves ,fry for 3 seconds on medium heat and add onion,then tomato.

Ingredients

4. When the tomato raw smell Is gone,add salt,vegetables  (potato and carrot  ,can also add cauliflower,bell pepper).Add the grinded paste in this.Add little chilli powder for color and flavour.

5. Now time to add the soaked rice in cooker,mix well,adjust salt.No need to our extra water as the leaves paste already has required water for vegetables to cook.Take care just to add required water for rice as the grains should be separate.Add 1 tablespoon ghee.

6. Close the cooker lid and wait for 3 whistles.Ince the flame is turned off,let the steam go for 20 mins atleast.

7. Open the kid and serve hot with papam,onion raitha.

I didn't want the grains to be separate so added some extra water and the texture-coconut combo came out really well.

For anyone who wants vegetarian biryani variation or normal mint Pulao variation,give your taste buds this Mint Rice or Pudina Pulao.

Sabudan Khichdi

Very Light ,simple,dish.Its nutritious ,Sabudan Khichdi.Have it for your snacks at afternoon,Morning breakfast,along with any Milkshake or for Dinner.

Ingredients

Sabudana(Not too small size)
Peanuts
garlic paste
Green chillies
Cumin(Jeera)
Mustard Seeds
Oil
Salt
Dry Coconut powder (Optional)
Hing
Turmeric

Method:

1. Wash Sabudan with water and Soak Sabudan for minimum 3 hours (6 hours will be good) in JUST enough water,not more than the amount required to just dip.
2. After soaking for 6 hours ,sabudan is dry and the balls are seperate.
3. Use any vegetables of your taste,like Potatoes,Carrot,Beans,Peas.I Used Carrot and peas.Cut Green chilli half lengthwise.
4. Boil Carrot ,peas with pinch of salt.
5. Heat oil in a pan, add Hing,Cumin,Green chilli,Garlic paste,roasted and crushed peanuts.
6. Add boiled carrot and peas,fry for a minute.Add turmeric and soaked sabudana,in a medium flame combine the ingredients.

Sabudan slowly turns transparent,this is when you can switch off the flame and serve  :)

NOTE : While Sabudan soaking ,if we pour more water,then during cooking sabudan,it sticks.Addition of Peas adds nice look and taste.You can also use Potatoes in place of carrot.

Simple Mango grated pickle

Mango Mukkala Pachadi

As mentioned in my earlier post of Menthi Baddalu Pickle Recipe,here is my recipe with Mango once again , Quick mango pickle,Mukkala Pachadi :D;).

Mango Thurumu Pachadi,that is Mango grated nicely and pickle is made by few while I am using thin cut pieces of Mango :)

All you will need is .

Raw Mango,
Mustard Seeds,
Red Chilli Powder,
Oil,
Salt,
Asafoetida (Hing).

Now this is simple.

Method :

1. Peel the skin of mango and before doing anything,taste the mango to ensure its NOT sweet.
2. Cut the mango into thin nice pieces (OR grate if you want thurumu pachadi).
3. We have to mix powder with these pieces.For the powder,Take Mustard seeds,in a jar and grind them.
4. Add Aavapodi(Mustard powder) and red chilli powder,salt  to the mango pieces we made ready.
5. Heat some oil in a pan and add Asafoetida ,some mustard seeds .Let it cool a bit(not fully) and add to our pickle.

That's it.Simple and easy Mango Mukkala Pachadi or Thurumu Pachadi is ready,Looks wow :)

Mango methi pickle (menthi baddalu)

Menthi Baddalu

Month of January and Mangoes?
Yes,Big Mangoes from the Fresh Vegetable market in chennai and I was tempted to do Menthi baddalu and Mukkala Pachadi,so it will also serve as a combination pickle with steam dosa and uthappam this weekend :D

These days,I became a fan of Carrot Mukkala Pachadi learnt from my mother-in-law and have been just eating the same for a long time.It is very tasty,Will post the recipe soon :).
So ,its been a while I haven't had any pickle(pachadi) of Mango and made this.

For Mukkala Pachadi ,I have simple method shown here :)


Mango methi pickle or Menthi Baddalu :All you need is...

Raw Mango
Menthulu (Methi seeds)
Aavalu ( Mustard Seeds)
Endu Mirchi (Red chillies)
Salt
Oil
Asafoetida (Hing)


Method:

1. Peel the skin of mango and before doing anything,taste the mango to ensure its NOT sweet.
2. Cut the mango in equal sized pieces. and keep aside.
3. We have to mix powder with these pieces.For the powder,fry Methi seeds,mustard seeds,Red chillies as required in small tablespoon of oil.Put them in a jar an grind to powder.
4. Finally,Add this powder to the pieces,add some salt.
5. Heat some oil in a pan and add Asafoetida and some mustard seeds .Let it cool a bit(not fully) and add to our pickle.

NOTE:

1. Pickle looks dry for some time post preparation,as the methi-mustard-chilli powder should get into the mango very well.So Dont worry looking at the texture .Smell is mildly strong ;) and tastes yummy.
2. Color of Mango methi pickle is not Red,Its dark(Say brownish red).

Potato Onion Curry

Knowing Potato is not a healthy food :( I will still say,It is my FAVORITE.

Whenever I am in no mood, I prepare potato fry and have it .I am that kind of a potato freak.

Here is a simple yummy potato onion fry, different from our regular plain fry.

We need,

Potato Onion Curry

Potatos,
Onion,
Chilli powder,
Salt,
Turmeric,
Coriander (Optional)

1. Cut the potatoes(not too small) and onions,keep aside.
2. Pour some oil in a frying pan, add cumin,mustard seeds,pinch of turmeric and add in the potato cubes.If you are the one who loves fried items,then fry the potato in this step directly.Else, you need healthier recipe, then add half boiled potatoes .
3. After adding the Potato cubes,Cover the pan with lid,let the veggie soften a bit and now add salt and onion .Let them fry when you will have to add red chilli powder.Mix and fry for some time.
4. Garnish with coriander for a nice flavor.

Unlike fry with more of oil, this is bit boiled with addition of good flavor of onion and coriander :).

I loved Potato Onion Curry :)