Bansi Rava Kesari

Bansi Rava is also called as Godumai Rava/ Samba Godumai/ Broken Wheat/ Dalia. It is rich in fiber and very nutritious. Kesari is usually made out of Sooji. Kesari/ Kesari bath is usually made of milk and sugar. But this Bansi Rava Kesari is made of jaggery. It is a very delicious and simple recipe. This is how I made it.

Ingredients:

Bansi Rava - 1 cup                                            

Jaggery (powdered) - 1 cup
Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon
Cashewnuts - For Garnishing
Raisins - For Garnishing
Ghee - 4 Tablespoons
Water - As required



Method:

• In a Pan/ Kadai roast 1 cup of Bansi Rava in 1 table spoon of ghee.
• Then boil the Bansi Rava in about 2 cups of water or as required. Cook till it is completely cooked.
• In a different pan, add the Jaggery and add 1 cup of water and boil the Jaggery. 
• Once the Jaggery is boiled and dissolved completely, remove it from heat and strain out the Jaggery water.
• Mix the strained Jaggery water into the Bansi Rava, add 2 table spoons of Ghee and stir it well.
• Take a Tadka pan and add the Ghee into it. Once the Ghee is melted, add a few Cashewnuts and Raisins. 
• Then add this to the Rava Jaggery mixture and stir it well till the Ghee leaves out on the sides.
• Remove from the pan and serve it hot.Enjoy the Bansi Rava Kesari.

Green Rice

Today I am feeling very happy as I got some time to sit down and write a few recipes for my blog. I stumbled upon this recipe,Green Rice as I was selecting the recipe for today's post. It is an all time favorite at our home because it is an easy one-pot meal and very nutritious. Here is how I made it.

Ingredients

Mint Leaves - 1/2 cup

Cilantro leaves - 1/2 cup

Basil Leaves - 1/4 cup
Green Chilles - 2
Red Onion - 1 (medium sized)
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tsp

Shelled Edmame beans - 1 cup

Green peas - 1/4 cup

Cloves - 4

Cinnamon - 1 inch stick

Black Cardamom - 2

Bay leaves - 3

Star Anise - 2

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Olive oil - 2 tbsp

Basmati Rice - 2 cups
Salt - To Taste

Method

1. Wash and soak the Basmati Rice for 20 mins and set aside.
2. Wash and grind the mint,cilantro and basil leaves along with green chillies and salt to a coarse consistency.
3. In a non - stick pan add 2 tbsp of olive oil. Once the oil is heated add the cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon stick, black cardamom, bay leaves and star anise. A nice aroma will be released from the spices. 
4. Add the chopped onions and fry till translucent. Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook until the raw smell goes.
5. Now add the ground green paste and the shelled edmame beans and green peas and cook until the raw smell of the greens is gone.
6. Add the rice and cook covered for 15 to 20 mins until the rice is fully cooked. Fluff it up with a fork to ensure that the rice is cooked.
7. Serve hot as it is or with Raita..
8. Enjoy the green rice..Let me know how it turns out..

Notes

• You can use butter instead of olive oil.
• Green chilles can be more or less depending on the spice level you prefer.
• You can use both edmame beans and green peas or either of the two.

**I did not have good pics of the step wise pics. Will upload them soon the next time I make this rice.**

Kesari Baath

Hello all..

Happy Republic Day!!

 Welcoming fellow bloggers and all lovely readers with my first recipe post of the year. A sweet post. I made Kesari Baath, DH's favorite sweet.  It had been a while since I had prepared anything good for DH. A sudden wave of sympathy for him and Lo and Behold..Came out this yummy Kesari Baath..A very simple recipe and easy quick steps. The final product, I promise, will be a yummy, mouth melting Kesari Baath.

Ingredients:

Sooji/Semolina/Rava - 1 cup
Milk - 2 cups
Ghee/ Clarified Butter - 1and1/4th cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Cashews - 7-8
Golden Raisins - 7-8
Orange Food color - 1 drop

Method:

• In a shallow fry pan, add 2 tbsp of ghee and roast the cashews and raisins, drain out the ghee from them and set it aside.
• In the same pan and with the same ghee, add the sooji / rava and roast it till a nice aroma comes out of it and set it aside.

• Heat milk in a sauce pan and allow it to boil. Once the milk boils, gradually add the sooji and keep stirring it well ensuring no lumps form and a creamy consistency is reached.
• Also add the cup of ghee right after this step and blend all the ingredients well to make a smooth and a creamy  mixture.

• Keep stirring the mixture gently for about 5-6 minutes to avoid burning of the mixture at the bottom of the pan.
• Once the sooji is cooked, add the sugar, food color and the roasted cashews and raisins.

• Mix all the ingredients well and serve hot.
• Hot, yummy and delicious Kesari Baath is ready to melt in your mouth.

Serving Tip:

• Before serving, warm the Kesari Baath (if cold) and add a tsp or two of ghee on top and garnish with silvered almonds.

Notes:

• You can add any food color of your choice.
• You can adjust the level of sugar according to your sweetness level.
• You can also choose to NOT add food color and make it a white sheera.
• You can add small pineapple pieces or banana pieces to have a different variety of Kesari Baath (add it before adding the food color).
• The quantity of Ghee can be altered but the taste may not be as good as the one with the required quantity of ghee specified here.
• Best to serve it hot with an additional tsp of ghee.

Tempura Pakoda

Starting this new year with loads of wishes, warmth and love. A very Happy New Year to all my dear blogger friends. Hope this year brings good health, prosperity and well-being of all.

I have been out of action, AGAIN, for the past 3 weeks. This time it is not any reason related to academics. I was literally kicked out of the kitchen.Thanks to the LONG renovation work that was happening. 3 long weeks surviving on microwave food..Uffff...It was unimaginable. Finally, I managed to get rid of that nasty electric coil range and welcomed my new lovely gas range. Also, the kitchen looks really pretty by abandoning the tiled counter-tops and installed a black granite top. Love my kitchen!!

Today has been a really lazy day. Was on the couch watching TV all day (which is very unusual of me). I never watch TV for more than 2 hours straight. My palates were tickling, my stomach was grunting..I was in no mood at all to have good Indian wholesome meal. I needed some munchy-crunchy kinda stuff. IDEA...I remembered that I got some Tempura batter mix from the grocery store a couple of days back. I felt like trying something with the batter and giving it an Indian Twist. And Voila..It worked..Yummy tempura onion pakoda..Goes perfect with some pudina chutney or a spring roll dip. Let check out how I made it.

(Kindly excuse me this time...I was so engrossed in making the pakodas and eating them that my camera had no role to play until the last pieces were the only ones left out and they were really lucky to be captured).

Ingredients
Tempura Batter Mix - 1 cup
Ice cold water - Approx. 2/3rd cup (May vary)
Salt - To taste
Red pepper flakes - 1 tsp
Black pepper powder - 1 tsp
Red Onions - 1 medium sized (finely chopped)
Spring onions - 2 sprigs (finely chopped)
Mint leaves - About 10 (Finely chopped)
Cilantro - A handful (Finely chopped)
Green chillies - 2 small - optional (I used Thai) (Finely chopped)
Oil - To fry

Method

• Mix the tempura batter as per the instructions on the box.
• Mix all the chopped veggies and add all the other spices.
• Whisk the veggies and spices well in the batter.
• Heat Canola/vegetable oil in a pan. Using a spoon add the batter into the oil.
• Fry until light golden brown.
• Serve hot with Pudina Chutney and Spring roll dipping sauce.

Notes

• Using greed chillies and/or red pepper flakes is optional. You can use either of them or both. I prefer spicy pakodas. So I used both.
• You can alter the ingredients I used like the choice of veggies. You can be creative and can use the veggies of your choice. But trust me this one is truly awesome...

Mixed Dal Tadka

I have been so crazy busy from the past few days. All I am thinking and dreaming is about classes and assignments. Spending the entire day at school and getting back home hungry and starving....aaaaahhhhh... I craved for good home food prepared by Mom. But life as a wife in America is all about food cravings and missing dear ones. Left with no choice I had to prepare some yummy but simple food for myself and DH. What better dish could be comforting than making Dal and Rice. I made this yummy dinner for the both of us and trust me..It was so very relaxing!!

Ingredients:

Toor Dal - 1/4 cup
Moong Dal - 1/4 cup
Masoor Dal - 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
Medium Tomato - 1 - Chopped
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Red chillies - 3-4
Curry leaves - A few
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - A pinch
Cilantro - To garnish
Oil / Ghee - 1 tbsp
Salt - To taste

Method:

• In a vessel combine the three dals and add a pinch of turmeric powder and salt and pressure cook it for 3 whistles.

• In a wok, heat oil/ghee. add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chillies and curry leaves.

• Once they crackle and splutter, add the chopped tomato and cook on medium heat until the tomatoes are cooked well.

• Add asafoetida, red chilli powder and turmeric powder to the tomato mixture.

• Mash the cooked dal and add the dal to the tomato mixture. 

• Mix it all well.Garnish it with cilantro.

• Serve hot with Rice and Roti.. Enjoy the simple and comfort food that gets ready in no time.

Capsicum-Mushroom Rice

I have so fallen in love with mushrooms!!Oyster mushrooms are my favorite!! I have always used mushrooms to make dry curries and used it as toppings on pizzas. I just tried using it along with capsicum, peas and carrots and made a spicy rice. It tasted Awesome!! This is a very easy recipe to make and gets done in a jiffy!

Ingredients:

Mushrooms - 2 Cups (You can use any kind of mushrooms)
Capsicum - 1 medium sized - Diced
Green Peas and Carrots - 1 cup (I used frozen)
Cooked Rice - 3 cups
Butter - 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - According to taste


Method:

• In a pan, melt the butter and add the cumin seeds. Once the seeds start to sizzle, add the capsicum and saute it for a few minutes.

• Once the capsicum is cooked halfway through, add the sliced mushrooms and mix well.

• Add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt.

• Mushrooms release a lot of water and get soft as they are being cooked.

• Once the mushrooms are cooked, add the frozen peas and carrots and mix all the veggies well.

• Once all the veggies are cooked, add the Garam Masala powder and mix well and turn off the flame.

• Mix the veggie masala with the cooked rice.

• Serve hot with Raita and enjoy your quick fix meal!!

Spinach Rice

Spinach Rice is a very easy dish to make and requires no much prior preparation. A quick fix solution for those who cannot wait for long to eat good food. I usually make this after I am back from a tired day of work. I have provided a very simple and step-by-step procedure to make the Spinach Rice

Required Ingredients:

Cooked Rice - 3 cups

Baby spinach - 2 cups

Oil/Butter - 2tbsp

Cumin seeds - 1  1/2 tsp

Red chillies - 4-5

Asafoetida - a pinch

Salt to taste

Method:

• Heat a pan and add the butter (or oil). Then add the cumin seeds, red chillies and asafoetida.

• Once the cumin seeds start to crackle, add the chopped spinach to the seasoning . Add salt according to taste and mix well.

• Cook for 5-7 minutes on medium flame. The spinach will wilt and reduce in quantity.

• Spinach takes very less time to cook. Once the spinach curry is done, add the cooked rice. Mix the rice and the curry well. 

• Let the cooked rice cool for a while before adding to the spinach rice. Otherwise the rice may get lumpy and mushy.

• Hot spinach rice is ready to serve.

• Spinach rice can be enjoyed best alone. There is no side-dish required. Raita can be used as an accompaniment if needed. Enjoy your spinach rice!

Notes : 

• Usually red chillies are added while cooking greens due to the fact that people who do not want to eat chillies can easily separate red chillies from the green curry as opposed to finding Green Chillies in Greens!

Cabbage Stir-Fry

Cabbage is one such veggie that is green, leafy and very rich in fiber content. It is a very versatile vegetable. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Since it is rich in fiber content it is a very good veggie that cleanses the intestinal system of the body. I usually make stir-fry, Dal and Kootu with cabbage and it is the most liked veggie in my home. This stir-fry is very easy to make and can be eaten with Rice, Roti or can be munched upon just like that.

Ingredients:

Small cabbage - 1
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Chana Dal - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - About 1/8 th of a tsp
Green chillies - 4-5
Cilantro - A few sprigs
Salt - To taste

Method:

• Shred the cabbage into small pieces. Wash and drain and set it aside.

• In a pan, heat oil. Add mustard seeds, chana dal and urad dal.

• Once the mustard seeds splutter and the dal turns golden brown, add the green chillies.

• Now add the drained cabbage, salt and turmeric powder. Mix all the seasoning well with the cabbage.Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes on medium heat.

• Keep stirring once in between. Once the cabbage has turned translucent it is cooked. Let the cabbage be a little crunchy. It tastes better that way.

• Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

• Enjoy the stir-fry the best with Rasam rice!!

Notes:

• You can also use red chillies instead of green chillies..It will be a contrast to the green color of the cabbage.
• You can add shredded coconut about 2-3 minutes before turning off the flame. It is a variation from the normal cabbage curry.
• Using turmeric powder is optional. You may choose to skip its use.

Okra Stir-Fry

Okra also called as Lady's Finger and one of the most liked vegetable. It is one of the most versatile vegetables that I have known. My granny would always tell us that one can solve Mathematics very well if you eat a lot of Okra . I ate a lot of them for the very same reason . I guess there must definitely be a reason behind making kids eat different vegetables. Okra is very rich in fiber content. It is also considered good for people with elevated sugar levels.
Okra is used in stews and stir-fries. This stir-fry is very easy to prepare and gets ready in minutes.

Ingredients:

Okra - Cut into small pieces - 1 1/2 cups
Oil - 1 Tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 Tsp
Urad Dal - 1/2 Tsp
Chana Dal - 1 Tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 Tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tsp
Salt - According to Taste

Method:

• Wash whole okra and pat it dry. Cut them into small round pieces.

• In a pan heat oil and add the mustard seeds, urad dal, and chana dal.Let the mustard seeds crackle and allow the dal to brown a bit.

• Add the cut okra into the seasoning in the pan.

• Now add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt.

• Mix all the ingredients well and cover and cook for 7-8 minutes.

• Serve hot with plain rice,Sambar/Rasam rice or with Phulkas.Enjoy!!