September 23, 2016

Potato Biryani Using Seeraga Samba Rice


Either its veg or non veg, the love for biryani will never change in me ;) My today's post is also a flavourful and aromatic biryani prepared using freshly ground spices, seeraga samba rice and potatoes. Seeraga samba rice is an easily digestible small grain rice with a lovely fragrance which is also very popular in Tamilnadu style Biryani recipes. The most important thing while preparing biryani is patience in each and every step which will enhance the taste for sure. Before adding the rice, the masala should blend well with the veggies or meat or chicken which gives a delicious result.


Ingredients :

For Masala :

1 inch Cinnamon stick
2 Elachi
2 Cloves
1 Tsp Cumin seeds
1 Tsp Pepper corns

For Biryani :

2 Tbsp Oil
1 Tbsp Ghee
2 Bay leaves
2 Elachi
4 Big Potatoes, cut into big cubes
2 Big Onions, Sliced
1 Big Tomato, Chopped ( or use 2 medium sized )
2 Green chillies, slitted
1 Tbsp Ginger - garlic paste
Handful of Mint leaves
3 Tbsp Curd
1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
1 Tsp Chilli powder ( Adjust according to taste bud )
1 Tsp Coriander powder
Salt to taste
1 Tsp Lemon juice
1 1/2 Cups Seeraga Samba Rice
3 Cups Water

Method :

Dry roast the given ingredients in "For Masala" and grind into fine powder.
Keep aside.

Heat oil along with ghee in a thick bottomed pan or cooker and add bay leaves followed by elachi and mint leaves.

Add the sliced onions and saute till it turns translucent.

Add green chillies along with ginger garlic paste to the onion mixture and saute till the raw smell goes off.

Add the chopped tomatoes and cook till it gets soft and mushy.

Now add the ground masala powder along with turmeric powder, chilli powder and coriander powder.

Saute for a minute and add curd followed by chopped potatoes.

Mix well and cook till the oil separates from the masala.

Add the measured water along with the required amount of salt and let it boil.

Meanwhile, wash the rice thrice and drain the water completely.

Add rice to the boiling water and simmer the flame.

Cover the pan or cooker using aluminium foil and place an iron pan on top of it.

Cook it for 20 - 25 minutes or till the rice gets cooked.

Once done, add lemon juice and gently mix well without breaking the rice.

Garnish with mint leaves and serve hot.


Serving Options :

Serve hot with any varieties of Raita. 

Note :

In this recipe, since I have not soaked the rice, I have used 1 : 2 ( Rice : Water ) ratio and if you are soaking the rice, then reduce the quantity of water to 1 : 1 3/4.

Seeraga Samba rice can be substituted with basmati or regular rice.
Adjust the quantity of red chilli powder according to taste bud. 

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September 16, 2016

Juice Cleanse - Guest Post by David from "thejuicechief.com"

Trying to shed some weight ? Then, my today's guest post article will help you for sure !

Excited to share a wonderful and informative article by David who run the site over at thejuicechief.com. Thank you David for being my guest on my space. Personally, I am very much impressed over the varieties of healthy juice recipes in his site and its my privilege to share one of his article on my space which in turn helps my readers to get benefited to lead a healthy lifestyle.


The 9 best ALKALINE fruits and vegetables to use for a juice cleanse

Meta Description: Consuming alkaline fruits and veggies have been known to improve a person’s quality of life. Find out the best alkaline ingredients for juicing right here.

Going on a juice cleanse is seen as an effective way to lose weight. It has become quite popular among weight watchers, but HOW effective it is will vary from one person to another.

Of course, there are many things that can affect its efficacy. For one, the juice cleansing concept is the same but the fruits and vegetables you use will vary. Another thing we must remember is that because our bodies are different, they also tend to react differently to the one million and one diets we subject it to.

The key to juice cleansing, aside from getting a superb juicer, is picking the right ingredients for your juices. Rather than just choosing the first fruit or vegetable you come across, you’d definitely benefit from picking alkaline ones. 

9 best alkaline fruits and vegetables to use for juice cleansing

Alka-what? Alkaline. It’s a word that keeps getting mentioned in the world of dieting and weight loss, and for good reason.

Just think of your body as a balancing act. It has to maintain a normal blood pH level, which is around 7.35 and 7.45. This balance is more alkaline than water, and if you upset this balance because of the food you eat, it can be a hindrance to weight loss.

Choosing alkaline fruits and vegetables will help normalize this, ensuring that you’re right on track with your weight loss goals:

  • Cabbage
Cruciferous vegetables are superstars in the juicing world. There’s a reason why your mother forced you to eat green leafy vegetables when you were younger, and chances are it’s because they’re packed with nutrients.

Cabbage is a great source of vitamins C, K, and B6. It also contains manganese, potassium, and alkaline minerals, aside from being an excellent source of fiber. Cabbage is also known to be anti-inflammatory, effective in cleaning your GI tract as well as the rest of your digestive system and body.

  • Spinach
Popeye isn’t the only one who will benefit from eating that much spinach. In fact, you can take your cue from Popeye and understand that spinach is largely beneficial.

For one, Swedish researchers have found that spinach can help suppress your food cravings by as much as 95%. That alone makes it a great ingredient for any juice cleanse, because curbing your appetite is critical to making you last throughout the fast.

Spinach is also packed with carotenoids and vitamins, which keeps unwanted health in check. 

  • Avocado
The benefits of avocados are almost limitless. This article highlights that half a cup of avocado has 8 grams of dietary fiber. Aside from that, it’s rich in glutathione, which is critical in the detoxification process.

Avocado is also a good source of phytonutrients, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B6. But more importantly, avocado is one of the best sources of good fat, which you’ll need during a cleanse as you’re depriving your body of its normal food intake. This will give you healthier skin as well as speed up your metabolism.

  • Cucumber
Cucumber is a famous juice cleansing ingredient, and that’s partly because of its legendary water content. About 95% of cucumber is made of water packed with antioxidants, so consuming cucumber will not only give you nourishment, it will also keep you hydrated.

What else can be found in cucumber? All the good stuff you can’t pronounce. Secoisolariciresinol. Pinoresinol. Lariciresinol. These lignans help in reducing the risk of certain cancers as well as cardiovascular disease, contributing to cucumber’s super-food status.

With cucumber, you also get an automatic base for any alkaline juice.

  • Celery
If you think munching on celery sticks is great, just imagine packing all that goodness into a juice concentrate. Celery is an alkaline staple because it’s rich in vitamins that increase your immunity, reduce inflammation, and boost your overall health.

Another thing celery has going for it is that it’s a natural diuretic, helping your body rid itself of excess fluids. If the goal of a juice cleanse is to detoxify, you can only imagine how important celery is.

  • Broccoli
Another one of the cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is famous because it’s packed with fiber, which helps in keeping you full. Aside from this, broccoli has potassium, manganese, iron, protein, and vitamins C, A, and K.

The more broccoli you consume, the more you get of sulforaphane, a great compound that is known to fight cancer. Broccoli’s cancer-preventing powers is something everyone can benefit from, whether or not weight loss is the goal.

  • Lemons
If life gives you lemons, make an alkaline solution.

Lemons are the ultimate alkaline superstar, and this is why many people swear by the benefits of drinking water with some lemon squeezed in. This is the best way to start the day, because not only is it refreshing, it boosts your immune system and metabolism as well.

Adding lemon to your juice cleanse recipes will also ensure that you get all of its wonderful nutrients. Aside from that, it gives your juices a little punch or kick, adding the right flavor.

  • Ginger
Ginger is great for the digestive system, but it also has a lot of therapeutic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Because of the compounds that are naturally found in ginger (gingerols and shogaols), the movement of the food through your intestines is increased. This is how ginger helps detoxify.

Aside from that, you’ll also be surprised to know that ginger is a great way to add flavor to your juices. 

  • Garlic
Another way to add a different kick to your juices is to use garlic. Garlic is actually a great way to boost your immune system because it has a lot of anti-inflammatory and nutritional benefits. 


Alkaline foods remind us that it’s not just about how hard you diet, it’s also about how smart you diet. You are not alone in this weight loss journey, and you should actually think of these fruits and vegetables as your friends, cheering you every step of the way.


References:









Sweet Wheat Dosa Using Brown Sugar


This simple and tasty dosa brings back a beautiful memories of my childhood days, where all my cousins used to wait for Friday pooja to get over to indulge this yummy prasadam. Easy to prepare yet tastes so delicious. Though my aunt used to add only chopped coconut pieces, I have included almonds and raisins to make it more tasty and rich. Other dry fruits can also be added to enhance the richness of the sweet.


Ingredients :

3/4 Cup Wheat Flour 
1 Cup Water 
1/2 Cup Brown sugar ( Adjust the quantity according to sweet tooth )
A pinch of salt 
A pinch of Cardamom powder 
6 - 7 Almonds, grated 
6 - 7 Raisins, finely chopped 
2 Tbsp Coconut, grated
Ghee for preparing dosa

Method :

Add sugar and water in a bowl and bring it to boil till the sugar melts. ( String consistency does not required ).

Once done, remove from the flame and add the wheat flour.

Mix well without any lumps and add the grated coconut followed by almonds, raisins, cardamom powder and salt.

The consistency of the batter should be like regular dosa batter. ( not too thick nor thin )

Heat a non stick dosa pan, pour one ladle of the sweet wheat batter.

Smear little ghee and cook both the sides in a medium flame.

Once done, remove from the pan and repeat the process for remaining batter.

Serve hot.


Note :

According to the above measurement, approx 4 - 5 medium sized dosas/pancake can be prepared.

The quantity varies according to the size of dosa.

Adjust the quantity of sugar according to sweet tooth.

Brown sugar can also be replaced with jaggery or regular sugar.


September 1, 2016

Herbed Rice and Fish


My recent visit to a famous Restaurant Chilly's in Hyderabad made me to try this flavourful and delicious rice. With the remembrance of taste, tried to replicate the dish which became a huge hit among family members. I have used olive oil for cooking both rice and fish which can also be replaced with flavoured butter. In addition, it makes the dish more tasty and rich. The addition of basmati rice in this recipe enhances the flavour of rice. This recipe is easy to prepare, gives a wonderful aroma while cooking and tastes delicious.


Ingredients :

For Herbed Rice :

1 Cup Basmati rice 
2 Cups Water 
1 Tbsp Olive oil 
1 Tbsp Garlic pods, Finely chopped 
1/2 Tsp Dried Basil leaves 
1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano 
1/2 Tsp Dried Dill leaves
1/2 Tsp Lemon grass powder 
1/4 Tsp Pepper powder 
Salt to taste 
2 - 3 Tbsp Parsley leaves, chopped 

For Herbed Fish :

2 Basa Fillets 
1 1/2 Tsp Garlic powder 
2 Tsp Dried Basil leaves
2 Tsp Dried Oregano 
1 Tsp Pepper powder 
1 Tsp Dried Dill leaves
3 Tbsp Parsley leaves, finely chopped 
Salt to taste 
3 Tbsp Olive oil 

Method :

For Herbed Fish :

Mix all the herbs in a small bowl and add salt followed by olive oil.

Mix well and rub all over the fish fillets.

Marinate it for 30 minutes.

Heat a grill pan, smear oil and grill the marinated fish till it gets cooked.

Brush little olive oil or butter on top of fish while cooking.

Carefully remove the cooked fish from the grill pan and keep aside.

For Herbed Rice :

Wash and soak the basmati rice for 20 minutes.

Heat olive oil in a deep pan and add the chopped garlic pods.

Saute for half a minute and add all the herbs ( basil, oregano, dill and lemon grass powder ) except pepper powder and parsley leaves.

Add the measured amount of water and the required amount of salt.

Once the water starts boiling, drain the water from the rice and add it to the boiling water.

Simmer the flame, cover the pan with a lid or aluminium foil and cook it for 15 - 20 minutes.

Once the rice gets cooked, add pepper powder and parsley to the rice.

Mix gently without breaking the rice and keep it aside for 10 minutes.

Serve hot.



Serving Options :

Serve herbed rice along with herbed fish, mashed potato and steamed veggies.