Monday, May 23, 2016

Idli-Sambhar Pizza

      Yes, you heard it right-- Fusion dining is in.! Fusion cuisine is always a delight for me! Personally I enjoy making fusion foods the most. It creates magic and is fairly easy to do..This recipe is South Indian-Italian fusion healthy pizza recipe to enjoy the union of both south-Indian and Italian spices..'Idli-Sambhar Pizza"!! Humm, sounds already yummy, right?  I am pretty sure you are going to love this spice-enriched version of this Pizza.  This is the hit version of pizza in my family. A successful fusion is the one that can discover unheard of combinations and that can please most palates!!--And here it is so, without further elaboration, here is the recipe.....:)

My #foodiemonday #blog hop entry for #pizzamania challenge.. Hip Hip horry for today's Pizzamania!!






Ingredients::
15 Idlis
For sauce;
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 teaspoon garlic & green chili paste
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 cup pizza sauce or tomato puree(I prefer Pizza sauce)
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon red hot chili sauce or Sriracha sauce or thai sauce ( I used sriracha sauce)
1 teaspoon red chili powder
2 tablespoon Sambhar masala
1/2 to 1 teaspoon sugar
Salt to taste
for Garnish;
1 cup of mix chopped onions, chopped bell-pepper, chopped cilantro, chopped pickle jalapeño
1/2 teaspoon dry red crushed pepper 
1/4 teaspoon Italian mix herb seasoning(optional)
1/2 to 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese 
Method::
For sauce;
* Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat.
* Add chopped onions and garlic & green chili paste.
* Cook for a minute.
* Add chopped green onion and cook for another a minute.
* Add pizza sauce or tomato puree, mix and cook.
* Add ketchup and sriracha sauce, mix well.
* Add sambhar masala, red chili powder, salt and sugar.
* Mix and turn of the stove.
* Blend the sauce with hand blender. (this is optional step)


Assemble the Pizza;* Pre-heat the oven on 180*c.
* Take one Idli.

* Spread little sauce on it and spread some grated cheese on it.


* Arrange some mix of chopped onions, bell-peppers, cilantro and jalapeño.


* Sprinkle some dry red crushed pepper along with Italian seasoning.* Garnish all Idlis like this.


* Greased the baking try and arrange all Idlis on it.* Bake all Idli-Sambhar Pizza on 180*c for about 5 minutes.
* Serve them hot..

* Enjoy the fusion version of Idli-Sambhar Pizza!!!!


Monday, May 16, 2016

Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

    I just love a cold strawberry lemonade on a hot summer day, but what I love even more is a homemade, slushy, frozen strawberry lemonade. I can control how much sugar is added, which is great! You can taste the lemonade and add more sugar to your taste to before blending it with the frozen strawberries. This drink is a fun beverage to serve at summer parties because they look so fancy when you top them with a fresh lemon slice and strawberry. You have to drink them fast on a hot day, or they will melt!! So, rock your day with Frozen Strawberry Lemonade 🍹


    My entry for # foodiemonday #bloghop , #summercooler.....
 
Ingredients::
  • 2 cups frozen (or fresh) strawberries (about 24 strawberries)
  • 1/2 cup crushed ice (or smallest cubes possible)
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
  • 2-3 tablespoons of sugar (or to taste)(use brown sugar, if available)
  • 1cup water
  • Method::
  • Allow frozen strawberries to thaw slightly.
    Combine lemon juice, strawberries, sugar, crushed ice and water in blender jar. If blades get stuck, add more water.


    * Blend on high with lid tightly secured until smooth and thick.
    * Pour into glasses and serve immediately. 
    * Garnish with a slice of strawberry or lemon if desired.
  • enjoy!!

Monday, May 9, 2016

Masoor Pulao

             Happy Mother's Day!!!!
      Whether you are a mom to be,  or a mom cuddling with toddlers, or tackling teenagers (just like me ;) or just enjoying the pampering of your motherhood from your grown up kids, may your today gets filled up with more love, joy and laughter.!! My words will never do the justice no matter how hard I try to thank my mom but today I definitely want to take an extra step to please her and all the moms out there by sharing her one of many signature recipe of Masoor Pulao...


     My #foodiemonday #bloghop entry for #mother'sdayspecial  challenge this week..

Ingredients:
1 cup Rice
1/3 cup whole Masoor
1 tablespoon Ghee
1/2 tablespoon Oil
1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 Bay-leave
1/2 cup finely sliced Onions
1 Green chili (slit)
1/3 cup finely sliced mix of Carrots and Bell-peppers
1 Potato into wedges cut
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic-green chili paste.
1 teaspoon Cinnamon & Cloves powder
1 tablespoon mix of Raisins & Cashews
Some chopped Cilantro
Salt to taste.
Method:
* First fry potato wedges till gets crispy.
* Sprinkle some salt, red chilli powder and chat masala on them and keep it on side.

* Wash and soak rice and masoor for at least about 30minutes.
* Heat mix of ghee and oil in the pressure cooker.
* Add cumin seeds and bay-leave.
* Sauté till cumin seeds gets brown color.
* Add finely sliced onions & green chili slit and sauté till onion gets light brown.

* Add ginger-garlic-green chili paste and cook for a minute.* Add sliced carrots and bell-peppers and cook.

* Add cinnamon-cloves powder and raisin-cashews.* Mix all well.
* Add soaked rice and masoor.
* Add water as required.(almost 1 and 1/4 cup)
* Add salt to taste.
* Mix well.

* Cove the lid of pressure cooker and let it cook for about 2-3 whistle.
* Once it's cooking done, open the cooker lid and mix the fried potato wedges in to Pulao.
* Garnish with chopped cilantro.


* Enjoy.!
 Nothing is better than Mom's food.. I hope you guys will enjoy my mom's recipe on this mother's day..! 
    Not always eye to eye, but always heart to heart... Happy Mother's Day!!
 

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Mustard Green-Chilli Pickle

       I know, how foodies love the way their Mom used to cook, that's our biggest source of inspiration for recipes or everyday food. Yes, this is my Mom's recipe which is still popular in my family. Even my 12 years old daughter love to eat this Mustard Green-Chilli Pickle with her food. Sharing today my mom's recipe to make this coming up Mother's day very special to you all. Unlike most heavy oil-based pickles, this quick pickle is lite with hot and delicious tang of mustard and lemon.. This chilli pickle needs very few and basic pantry ingredients. And look at the gorgeous turmeric hue!!! Can't wait anymore:)

Ingredients:
250 gram washed and dry Green chillies
4 tablespoon Mustard kuriya (mustard splits)
Pinch of Asafoetida (Hing)
5-6 tablespoon Oil
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon Jaggery (gor)
1/2 tablespoon Lemon juice
1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
Method:
* Cut the green chillies in small pieces.
* Take cut green chillies in a bowl add pinch of salt and mix well. 
* Keep those chillies in a bowl for at least half an hour.
* Drain the chilli-salt water and keep green chillies in a bowl. (This way green chillies will reduce their spicyness) This is totally optional step.


* Take another bowl. Combine mustard splits(kuriya), asafetida, oil, salt, jaggery, lemon juice and turmeric powder in a bowl.


* Toss all the ingredients and beat them  in round motion with hand for about 4-5 minutes.


* Add green chilies and toss them.
* Mix well.
* Adjust salt and lemon juice according to your taste.


* Transfer them in to a sterilized bottle or in a glass jar.


* Store in a fridge for long..
* Enjoy!!!
         Adding some spice to your dinner today!!! I hope you will enjoy it!!
 -Contributing my this Mustard Green-Chilli Pickle recipe to my one of the favorite food-blogger Alka Jene, an author and recipe developer of culinaryxpress . Check the interesting and unique pickle recipes collection on her Pickle journey. Enjoy the Pickle season with us..
                  Hai Mirchi, Ooh Ooh Mirchi, Uff Uff Mirchi, Fuff Fuff Mirchi...:)

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Khandeshi Dal

     "Khandeshi Dal"--- definitely a new name for almost everyone, specially  who is not familiar from typical Maharastrian cuisine. Yes, Khandeshi Cuisine is one of the Maharasrian Regional Cuisine. Khandesh is in Maharashtra. Khandeshi cuisine is quite spicy, simple and flavorful. I'm going to share, one of the simple but delicious recipe of Dal today from a unique Khandeshi Cuisine. A good replacement to regular Dal.. The aroma of the Pakka-Masala being roasted is truly amazing and that's the essence of this recipe..  Try it once and I am sure you would love to add this Dal more often in your daily meal..

    Of course, it's #foodiemonday #bloghop. And my super creative and talented co-bloggers for #bloghop decided to accept the #daldelight challenge. Please visit all all of my #foodiemonday co-blogger for more varieties and variations of Dal..

Ingredients::
1 cup Mix dal(masoor dal, tuvar dal, urad dal, chana dal)
2 tablespoon whole green Moong
1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder
2 tablespoon Oil
1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
1-2 Dry red chillies
1 Bayleaf
3 teaspoon Lemon juice
3 tablespoon chopped Cilantro(dhania)
Salt to taste
For Pakka Masala;
1 teaspoon Oil
1/4 cup Dry grated Coconut
1/2 cup Sliced Onions
1 1/2 tablespoon Dhana-jeeru (coriander-cumin powder)
3-4 Dry Kashmiri Red chillies
3-4 Cloves
2 cardamoms
1 small stick of Cinnamon
2-3 Black peppercorns
3-4 cloves of Garlic

Method::
For Pakka Masala;
* Heat the oil in a pan.
* Add grated coconut and sliced onions, sauté for 3-4 minutes.
* Add dry red chillies, dhana-jeeru, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and black peppercorn.
* Sauté for another 2-3 minutes on low-medium flame.
* Add garlic and sauté on medium flam for few seconds.
 
Turn off the stove.
* Let it cool down completely.
* Once cooled, blend in a mixer or in a blender to a smooth powder/paste and keep aside.

For Dal;
* Clean, wash and soak the mix dals and moong in a water for atleast 30-40 minutes.

* Pressure cook dal and moong with 2 cups of water, salt and turmeric powder.
* Boil Dal & Moong well.
* Add 1/2 of the prepared Pakka masala powder/paste in to dal, mix well and keep aside.

For Tempering;
* Heat the 2tbls oil in a pan.
* Add mustard seeds, when the seeds crackle, add the dry red chillies and bayleaf.
* Sauté on medium flame.
* Add the prepared Dal mixture, mix well and cook.
* Cook for 3-4  minutes, and stir continues.
* Add some more Pakka masala if you want more flavors and spice.
* Add lemon juice and chopped cilantro.
* Adjust the salt.

* Cook on low flame for couple of minutes more and turn off the stove.
* Garnish with some chopped cilantro and serve it immediately..

* Enjoy!!
    Eat Healthy, Work Hard, Build Faith, Worry Less!!!