Veg Upma with steamed banana

Anyone from Kerala or been to a temple there will be able to relate to this dish. Upma with steamed banana is one of the dishes on the breakfast menu that is served to the devotees after offering prayers. I always looked forward to have the temple prasadam on a banana leaf.It always had a different taste which has lasted with me forever.This is however a version which my mom makes.You can use any vegetables of your choice. I have used peas, carrot and sweet corn.

Ingredients:

• 1 onion - finely chopped
• 1 tsp - ginger finely chopped
• 2 green chilli finely chopped
• 1 tsp - mustard seeds
• 1 tsp chana dal
• 1tsp urad dal
• 1 strand curry leaves
• 2 whole red chilli ( dried )
• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 1 cup semolina/ rava / sooji
• 1 cup water / coconut milk
• 1 tbsp oil
• Sat to taste

Method:

• Heat oil in a pan. When the oil heats up add mustard, when this splutters add chana dal, urad dal, ginger, curry leaves and red chilly.
• Keep on stirring this for 2- 3mins on medium flame. To this add finely chopped onion, green chilli and saute till onion softens up.
• Now at this stage add the veggies and stir well and cook for about 3 - 4 mins
• To this add the rava / semolina and stir well, till the raw smell of rava is gone.
• Now take another pan and heat 1 cup water approximately 250 ml.
• When this water boils add the semolina mixture and stir well .
• Keep on stirring till the water is absorbed by rava and till the veggies are cooked and tender - 5 minutes on small flame
• Garnish with coconut ( you can add coriander also if you want)

Steamed banana :

• I did not steam the banana in a steamer , instead i put it in microwave on high power for 2 minutes and it was done, no fuss! and tastes the same :)
• You need to slit the skin of banana before you microwave it as the banana tends to expand in a microwave. (See pic for reference)

That's it .. veg upma ready..

Enjoy!

Gatte ki subji

Gatte ki subji is an authentic Rajasthani dish, which is nothing but gram flour dumplings in think gravy.The very first time i had this was at my friends home and this is her mom’s recepie. When aunty serves this with hot ghee rotis it just melts in my mouth. But the reason that i tried it out is something else.. I was out of vegetable stock so thought and came up with this idea.. :) called up my friend and prepared it.I am trying this dish after years now and my hubby who is a hard core carnivore loved it too :)

Ingredients:

• 2cups besan
• 2 tsp Coriander powder
• 2 tsp Red chilli powder
• 1 tbsp haldi
• 1 onion - finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes - finely chopped
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1/2 tbsp Ajwain seeds
• 1/2 tbsp jeera
• 1 tbsp fenugreek leaves
• 4 tsp Oil
• 1 cup curd
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Add red chilli powder, salt to besan and mix well to form a stiff dough.Make rolls like sausages and put them into boling hot water and boil for around 5-10minutes.Once boiled cut them into bite size portions and keep aside
• For the gravy -Take a pan and add oil to this add the mustard and when it splutters add onion, jeera and ajwain
• When the onions become transluscent add the tomatoes and cook for another 2- 3 mins
• To this add red chilly powder , haldi , and coriander powder and cook well
• Now take curd and beat it well with no lumps and then add it to the gravy
• To this add the curd mixture and the besan pieces
• Cook it over medium flame for 5 minutes and garnish with coriander leaves.
• Gatte ki Sabzi is ready.

Enjoy with hot roti's !

Green moong Dal Curry

This recipe is a simple dish but there is a story behind this dish!

Before my marriage some things never used to matter at all. For example: what to cook for breakfast, lunch n dinner!! And trust me i am tired of this task of planning n planning .. Just to create a variation in food and our taste buds!

So when ever I’m tried of exercising my brains, which i don’t do often.. :) , my husband will enter the scene...This is one of his favourite dishes which is simple and also high in protein.

But i should mention this.. he is the reason why im writing this blog... becoz for a girl like me for whom the world of cooking was restricted to maggi n chai till i got married and my progress in the past few months along with my failures and some success (all of them which i will post here).. I owe all this to my hubby, for being my punching bag, for being my taster, my being my photographer, my being my true critic , for being my so many things!!

So here is the receipe..enjoy ppl.

Receipe:

Ingredients:

• Whole Green Moong dal : 1 cup(You can use sprouted Moong dal too)
• Onions : 1
• Tomato : 1
• Green chilies : 4
• Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
• Ginger and Garlic paste : 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves : 3 to 4
• Oil : 1 tbsp
• Cumin seeds : 1/2 tsp

Method:

• Pressure cook the moong dal for three whistle( you can also soak it overnight)
• Heat oil in a pan add cumin seeds when they splutter add the curry leaves and sauté on a low flame for a minute.
• Then Onion and green chilies fry them till it becomes golden brown .
• Add the ginger garlic paste and fry them till the raw smells goes.
• Add the tomato and sauté well
• Now add the cooked moong dal in to it with little turmeric powder and salt.
• Mix it well and add 1 1/2 cups of water and let it cook for a minute

Serve with chapattis n enjoy!