Lololikka Pickle/ Lubica Achar

 Lololikka achar is a tasty pickle made with lololikka and spice powders. Lololikka is a small plum also known as loovika, lubica and Indian coffee plum.Lololikka pickle can be served as a side dish with steamed rice, dosa, idli and appam.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Lololikka Pickle / Lubica Achar.

Ingredients:-

Lololikka.              -15
Turmeric powder.  -1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder. -2 tbsp
Fenugreek powder.-1/2 tsp
Asafoetida.            -1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds.      -1tsp
Green chilly.         -1
Garlic.                   -6
Curry leaves.        -1sprig
Vinegar.                -1tbsp
Salt.                      -to taste
Oil.                       -2 tbsp

Instructions:-

1). Wash lololikka under running water and clean it and wipe with a clean cloth.

Boil 1/4 cup of water in a vessel with little salt. Add cleaned lololikka into the boiling water and boil for 2 minutes on low flame. Switch off the flame and remove the boiled lololikka from boiled water and keep aside. Discard the boiled water.

2). Peel and chop garlic cloves into thin lengthy pieces. Chop one green chilly into thin round pieces.Keep the chopped garlic and chopped green chilly pieces along with curry leaves on a plate.

 

3). Roast 1/4 tsp fenugreek (methi seeds) in a pan. Crush the roasted fenugreek and make fenugreek powder and keep aside.

Method:-

1). Heat 2tbsp oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.Add thinly chopped green chilly pieces, thinly chopped garlic cloves and curry leaves into the pan and fry in oil.

2). Add turmeric powder, kashmiri red chilly powder, roasted fennel powder and asafoetida into the pan and mix well on low flame. Add 2tbsp water and 1tsp salt into the pan and mix well.Add cleaned lololikka into the pan and mix with the spices for 2 minutes and switch off the flame.

3). Remove the pan from flame and allow the lololikka pickle to cool.Once cooled add 2tbsp vinegar into the pickle and mix well.

4). Transfer the lololikka pickle to a glass bowl to cool to room temperature.

You can store the lololikka pickle in a clean and dry airtight glass bottle.After 2 days a very tasty and mouth watering Lololikka Pickle / Lubica Achar is ready to use.

Ovro Upkari / Broad Beans Stir Fry

 Ovra upkari is a very tasty broad beans stir fry made with cooked broad beans and spices and goes well as a side dish with steamed rice. Broad beans is called ovro in Konkani.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Ovra Upkari / Broad Beans Stir Fry.

Ingredients:-

Broad beans/ Ovro.      -1 cup
Turmeric powder.         -1/2 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder.-1tsp
Asafoetida.                    -1/4 tsp
Curry leaves.                 -few
Salt.                               - to taste
Water.                            -1cup

Coconut oil.                  -1/4tsp + 2tsp

Instructions:-

Wash broad beans / ovro in water for 8 hours or overnight. Pressure cook the soaked broad beans adding 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp oil and 1cup of water for 3 to 4 whistles or till soft. Keep aside the cooked broad beans.

Method:-

1). Heat 2tsp coconut oil in a wide bottom pan and splutter mustard seeds and saute well.

2). Lower the flame and add kashmiri red chilli powder, asafoetida and curry leaves into the pan and saute well.

3). Add cooked broad beans and required salt into the pan and mix well. Cover and cook the broad beans till water evaporates and saute well in between. Switch off the flame.

A very tasty Ovra Upkari/ Broad Beans Stir Fry is ready to serve hot.

Horse Gram Rasam / Kollu Rasam

 Kollu rasam  / Horse gram rasam is a very tasty gravy dish made with cooked horse gram goes well with steamed rice.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Horse gram Rasam / Kollu Rasam.

Ingredients:-

Horse gram.     -1/2 cup
Tomato.           -1 large
Tamarind.        -a gooseberry size
Grated jaggery.-1/2 tsp
Garlic.              -4
Cumin seeds.   -1tsp
Black pepper.   -1/2 tsp
Salt.                 - to taste
Water.              - as required
Coriander leaves.-few

For Seasoning:-

Coconut oil.    -1tbsp
Mustard seeds.-1tsp
Cumin seeds.   -1/4tsp
Methi seeds.     -1/4 tsp
Garlic crushed  -5
Dry red chilly.  -2 broken into halves
Curry leaves.    -1 sprig

Instructions:-

1). Wash and soak 1/2 cup horse gram in sufficient water for 8 hours. Pressure cook the soaked horse gram adding 1cup of water for 3 to 4 whistles. Keep aside the cooked horse gram and cooked horse gram liquid seperately.

2). Soak tamarind in 1/2 cup of water and extract tamarind juice and keep aside.

3). Wash and chop tomatoes into small pieces. Finely chop coriander leaves. Keep aside.

4). Heat 1tsp coconut oil in a pan and roast garlic, black pepper and cumin seeds on low flame till garlic turns golden colour. Once cooled grind the above roasted ingredients along with cooked horse gram to a little coarse paste. Keep aside the coarsely ground horse gram paste mixture.

Method:-

1). Heat 1tbsp coconut oil in a wide bottom pan and splutter mustard seeds, cumin seeds and methi seeds. Add broken dry red chilly pieces and curry leaves into the pan and saute well.

2). Add coarsely ground horse gram paste mixture and 1 cup of water into the pan.Mix well and boil on low flame  for 2 minutes till raw smell goes out.

3). Add chopped tomatoes into the pan and saute well and boil on low flame.

4). Add 1/2 cup of extracted tamarind juice, 1/2 tsp grated jaggery and 1tsp salt into the pan and mix well. Boil for 5 minutes on low flame.

5). Add seperately kept cooked horse gram liquid into the pan and boil for 2 minutes on low flame and switch off the flame.

6). Lastly add few finely chopped coriander leaves into the kollu rasam.

Very tasty Kollu Rasam is ready to serve hot with rice.

Horse Gram Sundal / Kulithu/ Kollu Sundal

Horse gram sundal / Kollu sundal is a very tasty stir fry and a healthy side dish made with cooked horse gram. Horse gram is known as Kulithu in Konkani and Kollu in Tamil.We can prepare Horse Gram Sundal /Kollu Sundal during Navaratri festival.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Horse gram Sundal / Kollu Sundal / Kulithu Stir Fry.

Ingredients:-

Horse gram.       -1 cup
Dry red chilly.    -1
Curry leaves.     -few
Urad dal.           -1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds.  -1tsp
Grated coconut.-2 tbsp

Asafoetida.         -1/4 tsp
Salt.                    -to taste

Coconut oil.       -1tbsp

For grinding Spice powder:-

Urad dal.               -1tsp
Chana dal.             -1tsp
Coriander seeds.    -1 & 1/2 tsp
Dry red chillies.     -2
Black pepper corn.-1/2 tsp

Instructions:-

1). Wash horse gram and soak in water overnight. Drain soaked water and pressure cook the soaked horse gram adding 1 cup of water for 4 to 5 whistles or till soft but not mushy. Strain water completely from cooked horse gram and keep aside.

2). Heat a pan and dry roast urad dal, chana dal, dry red chillies, pepper corn and coriander seeds on low flame till dal turns into golden colour and nice aroma comes out. Switch off the flame and keep aside the roasted ingredients to cool. Once cooled grind the roasted ingredients in a small mixer grinder or crush them in a mortar and pestle to a coarse powder. Keep aside the coarsely ground spice powder.

Method:-

1). Heat 1tbsp coconut oil in a wide bottom pan and splutter mustard seeds.Add dry red chilly pieces, curry leaves and asafoetida into the pan and saute well.

2). Add cooked horse gram and little salt into the pan and saute well.

3). Add coarsely ground spice powder into the pan and mix with the cooked horse gram.

4). Add grated coconut into the pan and mix with the cooked horse gram. Stir well and cook for few minutes and switch off the flame.

Horse Gram Sundal / Kollu Sundal is ready to serve.

Lima Beans Stir Fry / Double Beans Stir Fry

Lima beans stir fry/ Double beans stir fry/ Butter beans stir fry is a delicious side dish made with lima beans.Lima beans is also known as double beans and butter beans.Lima bean stir fry goes well with steamed rice. Lima beans stir fry is prepared during Navarathri festivals.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Lima Beans Stir Fry/Double Bean Stir Fry.

Ingredients:-

Lima Beans.                  -1 cup
Kashmiri chilli powder.-1tsp
Turmeric powder.         -1/4 tsp
Asafoetida.                   -1/4 tsp
Curry leaves.                -1sprig
Mustard seeds.             -1tsp
Salt.                               -to taste
Coconut oil.                  -1 tsp +1tbsp

Instructions:-

Wash and soak lima beans/double beans in water for 8 hours or overnight. Drain soaked water and pressure cook the soaked beans adding 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1tsp oil and 1 cup of water for 2 whistles or till soft but not mushy.

Method:-

1). Heat 1tbsp coconut oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.

2). Lower the flame and add kashmiri red chilli powder, asafoetida and curry leaves into the pan and mix well.

3). Add cooked lima beans/double beans and required salt into the pan and mix well. Cover and cook the lima beans till water evaporates and switch off the flame.

4). Lima beans stir fry is ready. Transfer the lima beans stir fry to a plate and serve hot.

Tofu Manchurian

Tofu manchurian is a delicious snack made with tofu pieces and can be served with chapathi, fried rice and noodles.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Tofu Manchurian.

Ingredients:-

Tofu.                     -1 packet
Onion.                   -1
Capsicum.             -1
Garlic.                   -4
Green chilly.          -1
Cornflour.-             -2 tbsp+1tbsp
Pepper powder.      -1tsp
Soya sauce.            -1tsp
Green chilly sauce.-1tbsp
Tomato ketchup.    -2 tbsp
Water.                     -2 cup +3 tbsp
Vinegar.                  -1tbsp
Salt.                         -to taste
Oil.                  -2 tbsp +1tbsp

Instruction:-

1). Place the tofu over a towel / tissue paper to absorb water. Cut the tofu into cubes and dust 2 tbsp cornflour. In a pan add 2 tbsp oil and toss dusted tofu pieces and fry until golden on both sides.

2). In a bowl add 1tbsp cornflour and 3tbsp water.Mix well without lumps and make a cornflour slurry.

3). Peel and chop garlics into thin lengthy pieces. Chop green chillies into thin round pieces. Finely chop onion. Chop capsicum into medium thick cubes. Keep aside.

Method:-

1). Heat 1tbsp oil in a pan and add thinly chopped garlic and thinly chopped green chilly and saute well.

2). Add finely chopped onion into the pan and saute well until onion turns translucent.

3). Add chopped capsicum cubes into the pan and saute well.

4). Add green chilly sauce, soya sauce, tomato ketchup and required salt into the pan and saute well.

5). Add cornflour slurry into the pan and mix well.

6). Add fried tofu into the pan and mix well.Add 1tbsp vinegar and mix well.Once the gravy thickens switch off the flame and transfer the tofu manchurian to a serving bowl.

A very tasty Tofu Manchurian is ready.

Paneer Masala / Paneer Gravy

Paneer masala is a very tasty dhaba style paneer gravy made with paneer cubes, onion, tomato and spices.Paneer masala goes well as a side dish with chapathi, naan, roti and phulka.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Paneer Masala / Paneer Gravy.

Ingredients:-

Paneer.                   - 400 gm
Onion.                    -3
Tomato.                  -5
Ginger garlic paste.-1&1/2 tsp
Cinnamon.              -1inch stick
Cloves.                    -3
Green Cardamom.   -2
Black Cardamom.   -1
Bay leaf.                  -1
Cumin seeds.           -1/2 tsp
Pepper corn.            -1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder.    -1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder.   -3tsp
Coriander powder.   -1tsp
Cumin powder.        -1tsp
Garam masala.         -1tsp
Gram flour.              -2tsp
Kasuri methi.           -1tsp
Salt.                          -1tsp +1/2tsp
Sugar.                       -1/2tsp
Water.                       -2 cup
Ghee.                        -1tbsp
Oil.                            -2 tbsp

Instructions:-

Finely chop onion and tomatoes. Cut paneer into large cubes.

Method:-

1). Heat 1tbsp ghee and 2tbsp oil in a wide bottom pan. Add bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, black cardamom, pepper corn and cumin seeds into the pan and saute well.

2). Add finely chopped onion into the pan and saute well till onion becomes golden brown.Add ginger garlic paste and saute well for 2 minutes or until raw smell goes.

3). Add finely chopped tomatoes into the pan and saute well on medium flame till the the tomato becomes mushy.Add 1tsp salt into the pan and mix well.

4). Add turmeric powder, kashmiri red chilly powder, coriander powder and cumin powder into the pan.Mix well and cook on medium flame till the oil seperates.

5). Add 2tsp gram flour/ besan into the pan and mix well. Add 2cup of water and mix the gram flour. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes on medium flame.

6). Add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp sugar and chopped paneer cubes into the pan and mix well.Add garam masala powder and gently mix with the paneer cubes till oil seperates. Simmer for 5 minutes. Lastly add crushed kasuri methi and mix the paneer masala and switch off the flame.

Very tasty Dhaba Style Paneer Masala is ready to serve hot.

Salna Without Vegetables / Plain Salna

                               

 Salna is a very tasty plain curry made without adding vegetables and can be served with parotta, puri, idiyappam or appam.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Salna Without Vegetables / Plain Salna.

Ingredients:-

Onion.                           -2
Tomato.                         -2
Green chillies.               -4
Ginger garlic paste.       -2 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder.-1&1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder.         -1/2tsp
Coriander powder.        -1tbsp
Garam masala.              -1tsp
Curry leaves.                 -1sprig
Coriander leaves.           -few
Mint leaves.                   -few
Cinnamon.                     -2 small
Cloves.                           -2
Bay leaf.                         -2
Besan /gram flour.         -1&1/2 tbsp
Water.                             -as required
Salt.                                -to taste
Oil.                                 -3tbsp

For grinding Coconut Cashew Paste:-

Grated coconut.        -1cup
Fennel seeds.            -1tbsp
Kuskus/poppy seeds.-1tbsp
Cashew nuts.            -1/4 cup

Instructions:-

1). Grind grated coconut along with fennel seeds, kuskus (poppy seeds) and cashew nuts to a smooth paste.Keep aside the ground coconut cashew paste.

2). In a bowl add 1 and 1/2 tbsp gram flour (besan) and 1/2 cup of water and mix well without lumps.Keep aside the gram flour mixture.

3). Peel and chop onion into thin lengthy slices. Finely chop tomato.Slit green chillies. Finely chop few mint leaves and few coriander leaves. Keep aside.

Method:-

1). Heat 3tbsp oil in a wide bottom pan and add bay leaf, cinnamon and cloves into the pan and saute well.

2). Add thinly sliced onion and a pinch of salt into the pan and saute well till onion becomes translucent and golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste and saute well till raw smell goes.

3). Add slit green chillies and curry leaves into the pan and saute well in oil. Add finely chopped few coriander leaves and few mint leaves into the pan mix well.

4). Add finely chopped tomato into the pan and saute well till soft and mushy. Add kashmiri red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder into the pan and mix well. Add required salt and 1/2 cup of water into the pan and mix well. Boil and cook the spicy masala mixture till raw smell goes.

5). Add ground coconut cashew paste and 1 cup of water into the pan and mix with spicy onion tomato masala mixture and boil well.

6). Add gram flour mixture into the pan and mix well without lumps. Add 1 and 1/2 cup of water and boil for 10 minutes on medium flame. Add finely chopped few coriander leaves into the pan and mix all the ingredients. Cover and cook for 15minutes on low flame and switch off the flame.

A very tasty Plain Salna / Salana Without Vegetables is ready to serve with parotta, chapathi, puri, Idiyappam or appam.

Raw Papaya Pickle

Papaya pickle is a homemade spicy and delicious pickle with raw papaya, green chillies, ginger, garlic and spices.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Raw Papaya Pickle.

Ingredients:-

Raw papaya.           -1 small

Green chilly.           -5
Garlic.                    -10
Ginger.                   -2 tbsp
Curry leaves.          -2 sprig
Dry red chilly.        -3
Mustard seeds.       -1tsp
Fenugreek.             -1/4 tsp
Vinegar.                 -1cup
Red chilly powder.-3tbsp
Turmeric powder.  -1tsp
Mustard powder.   -1tsp
Fenugreek powder.-1/4 tsp
Asafoetida.            -1/2 tsp
Salt.                       -to taste

Sesame oil.           -4tbsp

Instructions:-

1). Peel the outer skin of raw papaya. Wash the raw papaya and cut it into two halveslengthwise and remove the seeds. Chop the raw papaya into small thin and lengthy pieces.

2). Chop green chillies into small round pieces. Peel and chop garlic into thin lengthy pieces. Peel and chop ginger into small pieces. Keep aside the chopped green chillies, garlic and ginger on a plate along with chopped raw papaya pieces.

Method:-

1). Heat 4 tbsp sesame oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds.Add dry red chilly and curry leaves into the pan and saute well. Add chopped green chilly, chopped garlic and chopped ginger into the pan and saute well till raw smell goes.Add chopped papaya pieces into the pan and saute well until soft and translucent (do not cover).

2). Add turmeric powder, red chilly powder, asafoetida, mustard powder, fenugreek powder and salt into the pan and mix well. Add vinegar into the pan and saute well for 2 minutes.Check seasoning and switch off flame.

3). Transfer the papaya pickle to a serving bowl to cool.

Raw Papaya Pickle is ready.Once cooled store the papaya pickle in airtight glass bottle and keep in the refrigerator and stays good for a week or more days.

Green Moong Dosa / Green gram Dosa

Green moong dosa / Green gram dosa is a healthy and instant dosa made with green gram and raw rice stuffed with fried onion.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Green Moong Dosa/ Green gram Dosa.

Ingredients:-

Whole green gram -1cup
Raw rice.                -3/4 cup
Green chillies.        -4
Ginger.                   -a small piece 

Lemon juice.          -2 tbsp
Salt.                        -to taste
Onion.                    -2

Instructions:-

1). Peel, wash and finely chop onion. Fry the finely chopped onion in oil till soft and slight golden brown. Keep aside the fried onion.

2). Wash and soak whole green gram and raw rice in water seperately for 4 hours.

3). Grind soaked green gram, soaked raw rice, green chillies and ginger together to a fine paste adding little water.Transfer the ground batter to a bowl.Add required salt and little water into the batter. Mix well and make it to a dosa batter consistency. Add 2 tbsp lemon juice into the batter and mix well.The batter is ready to make dosa.

Method:-

1). Heat a non stick dosa tawa on high flame and apply little oil on hot tawa. Sprinkle little water to cool the tawa and wipe it with a cloth.

2). Mix the batter with a ladle.Lower the flame to medium heat. Take a ladle of batter and pour it on tawa. Spread it on tawa and make a thin round dosa. Apply little oil on all sides and over the dosa. Cover and roast dosa on high flame for 2 minutes.

3). Flip dosa with a flat spatula to cook the other side. Add 2tbsp of fried onion on roasted dosa and fold the dosa to one side.

4). Remove the onion filled crispy dosa from tawa and transfer to a plate.Make dosa with the remaining batter.

Crispy Green Moong Dosa / Green gram Dosa is ready to serve. You can serve  green moong dosa with coconut chutney or pickle.

Avocado Smoothie.

Avocado smoothie is a very tasty, healthy, delicious and easy to make refreshing drink made with ripe avocado fruit.

 

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Avocado Smoothie.

Ingredients:-

Ripe Avocado.-1
Honey.            -1tbsp
Sugar.             -3 tbsp
Milk.              -2 cup
Ice cubes.       -as required.

Instructions:-

 

Cut ripe avocado into halves and remove the seed.Scoop out the avocado pulp with a scooper or with a spoon and discard the peel.

Method:-

1). In a blender add the avocado pulp, 1tbsp honey, 3tbsp sugar and blend to a smooth paste.

2). Add 1cup of boiled and cooled milk into the blender and blend again and make a smooth avocado paste.

3). Transfer the avocado smoothie to a bowl. Add required ice cubes and mix well.

4). Pour the avocado smoothie into the serving glass and serve cool.

Very tasty and delicious Avocado Smoothie is ready to enjoy.

Banana Chocolate Fudge .

Banana chocolate fudge is an eggless banana chocolate brownies topped with nutella chocolate spread.Banana chocolate fudgy is a very easy to make snack using ripe banana, maida /all purpose flour, cocoa powder and sugar.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Banana Chocolate Fudge / Eggless Banana Chocolate brownies

Ingredients:-

Ripe Banana.   -2
Sugar.               -3/4 cup
Maida.              -3/4 cup
Cocoa powder. -1/4 cup
Salt.                  -to taste
Melted butter.   -1/3 cup
Vanilla.             -1tsp
Nutella.             -1/4 cup

Instructions:-

Peel 2 ripe bananas and chop into small round pieces.

Method:-

1). In a wide bowl add chopped ripe banana pieces. Add 3/4 cup sugar into the bowl and mash the banana pieces along with sugar using a hand masher until combined.

2). Sieve together 3/4 cup maida /all purpose flour, 1/4 cup cocoa powder and little salt using a siever. Add the sieved maida cocoa salt mixture into the bowl and mix with the mashed banana sugar mixture.

3). Add melted butter and vanilla essence into the bowl. Fold the mixture with a spatula until all the ingredients are fully combined.

4). Grease a square size baking pan with little butter. Place a parchment paper inside the square pan and grease little butter on it.

5). Pour the brownie batter into the greased pan and spread the batter evenly. Gently tap the baking pan to remove the air bubbles.

6). Add nutella chocolate spread little by little on the top of the brownie batter in the baking pan using a spoon and spread it.

7). Preheat oven at 180 degree C for 10 minutes.Place the baking pan in preheated oven and bake the brownie for 30 minutes at 180 degree C. Then allow the baked brownie to cool completely.Once cooled invert the baked brownie on a plate.

8). Cut the baked banana chocolate fudge / banana chocolate brownie into desired sizes.

 

Eggless Banana Chocolate Fudge is ready. You can store it in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator and it stays good for a week.