August 31, 2014

Gavachi Kheer


I feel little down to write this post because my favorite SNC Challenge has come to an end. SNC challenge started in october 2012 with a delicious challenge "Bhel puri" by Shruti . Divya Pramil, from youtoocancokindianfood is our  brain child of SNC challenge and she carried this healthy challenge all these years as her baby. I know how she loved this SNC and we all were like a family members. I am very lucky to be in part of this group from the beginning of  SNC Journey and got lots of lovely friends. So this group is very close to my heart and wish our SNC comes back soon. Thank you so much for creating such a healthy challenge between South and North team. This helped us to learn lots of unknown delicious North Indian recipes. And also Thank you for giving me an opportunity to host my favorite recipe "Kondakadalai Pidi Karunai Kara Kuzhambu". 
And coming to August month challenge, South team members were challenged by Gavachi Kheer by Manjula from DesiFiesta. This is a Maharashtra famous healthy kheer prepared with whole wheat and rice. Perfect recipe for festive seasons and it is also kids friendly. This kheer can be served hot and as well as cold. Very delicious and tasty kheer !

Ingredients :

  • 1/4 Cup Whole wheat
  • 2 Tbsp Rice
  • 1/4 Cup Jaggery 
  • 3 Cups Milk
  • A pinch of Elachi / Cardamom
  • 5-6 Cashew nuts
  • 5-6 Raisins
  • 3 Tbsp Ghee

Method :
  • Clean and wash whole wheat 3 to 4 times and soak it for 9 hours or over night.
  • Soak the rice in water for 15 minutes.
  • Drain the soaked wheat and grind it coarsely. keep aside.
  • Heat 1 Tbsp ghee in a heavy bottomed pan and add cashews and Raisins.
  • Roast and remove from the pan. Keep aside.
  • Add remaining ghee to the pan and add the coarsely ground wheat.
  • Cook it for few minutes in a low flame or until it leaves out an aroma.
  • Now add the soaked rice and milk and mix well.
  • Cook the kheer stirring occasionally till the wheat and rice is cooke well.
  • Switch off the flame and add the grated Jaggery.
  • Mix well and add the fried cashews and Raisins.
  • Serve hot.

Serving Options :

Serve hot by adding milk or Refrigerate and serve cold.



Linking it with SNC  challenge


August 30, 2014

Papad Pockets / 5 Ingredient Snack


Our August month "5 Ingredients Challenge" was interesting and quite challenging to prepare fried items with only 5 ingredients. I prepared a simple and innovative fritter using papad and paneer with exact 5 ingredients including oil. Lots of improvisation can also be done by adding basil, veggies along with paneer. 
Paneer Papad is a fritter or fried snack which is filled with spicy paneer. This is a perfect snack or can also  be served as appetizer. 

Are you are interested to participate in our "5 Ingredients Challenge" ? Then, mail to vimalalakshmi2010@gmail.com. 


Ingredients :

  • 1 Cup Paneer, grated
  • 1 Tsp Chilli flakes
  • Salt to taste
  • 9-10 Papads / Appalam, plain and round
  • Oil for frying

Method :

  • Take a grated paneer in a bowl or plate.


  • Add chilli flakes and salt.


  • Mix well and keep aside.


  • Take one papad / Appalam and immerse in a bowl of water for few seconds.


  • Remove from the water and place it in a separate plate.


  • Take 2-3 Tbsp panner and place it in the middle of the papad.


  • Fold as given in the picture and seal it with maida paste.




  • Repeat the procedure for remaining papad and keep all the filled papad pockets to dry for 30-1 hr or it might take long time.


  • Once it gets dried, heat oil in a pan and deep fry them in batches.


  • Serve hot.



Serving Options :

Serve hot with Tomato sauce.

Note :

  • Care should be taken while immersing papad in water because it might tear.
  • The corner of papad will be hard so dip the corners first and then immerse the full papad.
  • Drying papad is very important so dry it completely or it takes lots of oil while frying.
  • Fry it in a medium flame else the outer layer will become crispy soon and the inner part will be half cooked.
  • Serve immediately after frying.
  • Since I am linking this recipe with 5 Ingredient challenge, I have used only 5 ingredients including oil. The same recipe can also be improvised by adding extra fillings and spices according to taste buds and creativity.

Linking this recipe with  Lakshmi's "5 Ingredients Fix Challenge"


August 28, 2014

Royyalu Gongura / Prawns with Sorrel Leaves / Gongura Prawns


Royyalu Gongura is a very famous Telugu recipe which is prepared with prawns and Gongura. Gongura is called sorrel leaves in English which has a tangy flavor by itself. It is called as pulichakeerai in tamil and this green leaf goes well with all non veg dishes. Prawns has a mild sweet taste and when it gets cooked with this tangy leaves along with spices, it gives a lip smacking delicious recipe. This is one of my favorite recipe which I had Bookmarked some 7 years back in a diary from cookery show. I don't even remember the show but its from some telugu channel :) Reading our old recipe books and trying the bookmarked recipes gives a great feeling and it also brings back all our nostalgic memories.
Cooking prawns is also an art in which time plays an important role. More cooking time leads to rubbery texture and the less time gives raw flavor. It is always better to add prawns at the last stage of cooking and cook it for 4-5 minutes to get its perfect juicy taste and flavor. 


Ingredients :
  • 3 Tbsp Oil
  • 1 Tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1/2 Tsp Cumin seeds / Jeera
  • 1 Tsp Urad dal
  • 1 Tbsp Channa dal
  • 2 Dry Red chillies
  • A pinch of Hing 
  • 6-7 Garlic pods
  • 1 inch ginger, cut into strips
  • 500 gms Prawn
  • 200 gms Onion, sliced
  • 4 Green chillies, sliced lengthwise or slitted
  • 1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala powder
  • 1 Tsp Cumin powder
  • 1 Tsp Coriander powder
  • 1 Bunch Gongura leaves / Sorrel leaves (approx.  2-3 Cups chopped leaves)
  • Handful of fresh Curry leaves
  • Salt to taste
Method :
  • Clean prawns, de-vein and keep aside. ( I used along with tail but it can also be discarded)
  • Heat oil in a pan and add Mustard seeds.
  • Once it starts spluttering, add Jeera followed by urad dal, channa dal, dry red chillies and a pinch of Hing.
  • Add garlic pods and ginger strips.. Saute for a minute in a medium flame.
  • Add the sliced onions and green chillies. Saute till the color of onions changes.
  • Now add Turmeric powder followed by Cumin powder, Coriander powder, Garam Masala and Salt.
  • Mix well and add the chopped Gongura leaves.
  • Cook for couple of minutes and add the cleaned prawns.
  • Add little water ( 2-3 Tbsp ) and mix well. Adjust salt at this stage.
  • Cook for 4-5 minutes and switch of the flame.
  • Garnish with Curry leaves and serve hot.

Serving Options :

Serve with hot rice.











August 25, 2014

Crab Kurma / Crab Korma


We love crabs but the availability part is very difficult in the place where we stay. We have to travel 10 kms to get fresh seafood so alternative Sunday mornings will be our seafood hunting travel. It is tiring to get little early in the Sundays but the Aroma while cooking and the flavor while eating will take off all the pain of getting up early. Do you agree friends ? :)

Though the flesh part is less compared to other seafood, every bite tastes very delicious and tasty. Crab Kurma is a flavorful curry in which crab is cooked along with spices and finally simmered with coconut paste to give rich flavor. This goes perfect with hot rice and sometimes, I prefer this with Dosa and Idli. 



Ingredients :

  • 1/2 Kg Crab
  • 250 gms Onions, Finely chopped
  • 150 gms Tomatoes, Finely chopped
  • 1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 - 1 1/2 Tsp Chilli powder
  • 1 Tsp Coriander Powder
  • 1 Tsp Salt or according to taste
  • 1 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1/2 Cup Coconut and Saunf paste


Method :

  • Clean , wash and cut the crabs into half and keep aside.


  • Take finely chopped onions and tomatoes in a pan. 


  • Add crabs followed by Turmeric powder, Chilli powder, Coriander powder and Salt.




  • Pour the measured water and cook for 15-20 minutes in a medium flame or till the color of the crab changes to pink/pinkish red.




  • Now add the coconut paste and mix well. ( Add water if the gravy is very thick )


  • Cook for 2-3 minutes and garnish with curry leaves.
  • Switch off the flame and serve hot.



Serving Options :

Serve with hot rice, Idli or Dosa.

August 20, 2014

Corn Pizza


Pizza is an oven baked flat bread which is topped with Tomato sauce, veggies or meat
and cheese. It is a fascinating food which is liked by all ages and when it is home made, the pleasure is immeasurable and completely healthy. Just a couple of hours preparation will gives an delicious pizza with yummy topping of our choice. And I have used only limited toppings in this pizza as it goes to our favorite challenge "Shhh Cooking Secretly Challenge". Everyone must be familiar about this famous challenge happening among bloggers and priya suresh from "priya's Versatile Recipes" is our brain child of this group.

I was paired with Nirmala Gurunadhan from "nimmuguru.blogspot.in " and the two secret Ingredients which I got was corn and Tomatoes. So keeping this two ingredients in my mind, prepared this delicious veg pizza. Thanks to priya suresh, our brain child of "shhh cooking secretly" and Nirmala Gurunadhan :)

Click HERE to check a yummy and delicious sweet which was prepared by Nirmala Gurunadhan for this challenge !


Ingredients :

  • 1 1/2 Cups All purpose flour / Maida
  • 3/4 Tsp Instant Yeast
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 Cup Tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Pizza seasoning
  • 1/2 - 1 Cup Corn kernels
  • 15 Cocktail Gherkins
  • 1 Cup Grated cheese ( Mozzarella )
  • 2 Onions, sliced

Method :

  • Add All purpose flour, yeast, salt and olive oil in a bowl.
  • Add water little by little and mix well to form a dough.
  • Grease a bowl with olive oil and place the dough.
  • Cover it with a damp cloth or cling foil and keep aside till it gets doubled.
  • Once it gets doubled, knead and divide the dough into 3 equal balls.
  • Meanwhile, take tomato sauce in a bowl and add pizza seasoning. Mix well.
  • Take one dough and roll into small circle using rolling pin.
  • Spread the tomato sauce and arrange sliced onions followed by gherkins and corn kernels.
  • Sprinkle the grated cheese and bake it in a pre -nheated oven for 15-20 minutes at 200 degree C.
  • Remove and Repeat the procedure for the remaining dough.
  • Serve hot with Tomato Sauce.





Linking this recipe with Gayathri's "WTML"




August 14, 2014

Potato & Peas Fry / Urulai kizhangu Patani Varuval


Most of you aware that I am posting my brother's favorite recipes for a week for Raksha Bandan and celebration time comes to an end today. 

Check out my previous special posts...

Vendakai Poriyal / Okra Stir fry

Bitter gourd Roast 

Badam Flavored Fruit Salad

Radish Sambhar

Pavakai Chips / Bitter gourd Chips

Garlic Chutney

Vadai Curd Kuzhambu

Wheat Bread Jamun 
Potato and Peas fry is a spicy curry which is served with rice varieties like lemon rice, tamarind rice and it also goes well with sambhar, rasam and curd. Dried peas can also be used in this recipe but it has to be soaked over night and pressure cooked for 4-5 whistles before adding to the curry. 

Ingredients :
  • 2 Big Potatoes
  • 1/4 Cup Peas
  • 2  Onions
  • 1 tomato
  • 11/2 tbsp Kuzhambu Milagai Thool ( Chilli powder + Coriander powder )
  • 1/4 Turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 2-3 Tbsp Oil
  • Coriander leaves for garnishing
Method :
  • Cut potatoes and pressure cook it for 3 whistles or cook it for 7-10 minutes in a microwave.
  • Peel the skin and keep aside.
  • Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add the chopped onions.
  • Fry it for 3-4 minutes in a medium flame and add the chopped tomato.
  • Cook till it turns soft and mushy.
  • Add Turmeric powder followed by kuzhambu milagai thool and salt.
  • Mix well and add peas.
  • Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup water and close the lid.
  • Cook for 7-10 minutes or till the peas gets cooked.
  • Now add the boiled potatoes and mix slowly.
  • Simmer the flame and cook it for 5 minutes by adding 1 tbsp oil.
  • Garnish with coriander leaves and remove from the flame.
  • Serve.

Serving Options :

Serve with Rice and goes well with sambhar, rasam, curd or with any variety rice.

Linking this recipe with Gayathri's "WTML"