Potato Fry / Urilai Kilangu Varuval

                         

We all love potatoes, don't we? I often prepare potato fry but was wondering why we haven't posted this simple recipe in our blog. Potato fry is an unbeatable combination when had with rasam or curd rice. It goes well with other rice dishes like sambar, coconut, lemon rice or bisi bele bath.

There are 'N' number of potato recipes but this is a simple and basic potato recipe for a lazy day in your kitchen ;)

Ingredients

• Potato - 3-4 
• Sambar powder - 2tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4tsp 
• Mustard seeds - 1tsp
• Urad dhal - 1/2tsp
• Asafoetida - a pinch 
• Curry leaves - few 
• Salt - as needed 
• Oil - as needed

Method

• Peel the skin off potatoes and cut into small strips. 
• Now transfer the cut potatoes into a bowl of water. This is to avoid the decolouration of potatoes. 
• In a pan heat oil, temper with mustard seeds, urad dhal, curry leaves and asafoetida. 
• Add potatoes and mix well. 
• Then add turmeric powder, sambar powder and salt. Mix well. 
• Roast the potatoes in medium flame for about 10-15 minutes. Saute in between to avoid burning.
• Potato fry is ready to be served with rice of your choice. 

Tips

• You can replace sambar powder with red chilli powder.
• If you are immersing in water, drain the excess water and pat dry them with kitchen towel before using. 

                                       

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Curd Rice/Thayir Sadam

Curd rice is a popular South Indian dish and very easy food to make. It tastes great with pickle or potato fry or simple kootu. If curd rice is made with fruits and nuts it's called as Bagala Bath. My husband is a big fan of seasoned curd rice, he'll be very happy even if I temper with mustard and curry leaves alone. Me too!!

Curd has a semi solid and creamy consistency. Curd helps you beat the heat in tropical countries. It's a diary product with the following health benefits like instant relief from diarrhea and dysentery, enhances digestion, zero carbs, sugar and trans fat.
                            

Ingredients

• Sona masoori - 1/2 cup
• Curd/ Yogurt - 1/2 cup
• Milk - 1/2 cup
• Mango (finely chopped) - 2tbsp
• Carrot (finely chopped) - 1tbsp
• Cilantro (finely chopped) - 1tbsp 
• Green Chilli (finely chopped) - 1
• Ginger (finely chopped) - 1tsp
• Salt - as needed

To temper 

• Oil - 2tsp
• Mustard - 1tsp
• Urad dhal - 1tsp
• Asafoetida - pinch
• Curry leaves - few 

Method

• Wash the rice and pressure cook with 1 & 1/2 cups of water for 4-5 whistles in medium flame. Once done immediately mash the rice well and add hot boiling milk, mix well. Add more water if needed. Allow the rice mixture to cool down.

                             

• Now add curd along with salt, all the chopped ingredients one by one.
• Then temper with the items given under 'to temper' table and mix well.

                             

 

Tips

• You can add cashew nuts, dry grapes, cucumber, pomegranate, grapes, apple etc. It's your call. 
• If your preparing for occasions then add butter for creamy and rich flavor.
• While tempering you can also add red chillies, that also gives a nice flavor  to the recipe. 
• Before adding curd, ensure the rice is cooled down, because it tends to cause curdling when rice is hot. This will cause the killing of bacteria in the curd, which will not be comfortable to the tummy!
• Always add hot milk to the rice. 
• If you are packing for lunch then add more milk and less curd, which will prevent the rice turning too sour/tangy. 
• If packing for kids, avoid green chilli. 

                               

 

Vegetable Cheese Sandwich

                               

Looking to surprise your family/spouse with a special breakfast this weekend? Check out this easy & healthy breakfast. Give your loved ones a break from cereals, pancakes and waffles. Have it with a glass of chocolate milk or fruit juice or cut fruits to make this a perfect breakfast combo. 

                                    
                                                  Don't care how late you wake up
                                             eat your breakfast......

    

Breakfast makes you energetic, it improves your focus & concentration, weight control, metabolism boost, helps in lowering the bad cholesterol and balance your hungry for rest of the day. We can keep going, so please don't skip your breakfast.

   
                     "EVERYTHING IS POSITIVE IN LIFE WHEN YOU ARE HEALTHY"

                                         

                   
                              

Ingredients

• Bread - 4-6 slices
• Butter - as needed 
• Sandwich spread - as needed (you get this in Indian grocery)
• Cheese slice - 3 (optional)
• Tomatoes (sliced) - 1
• Capsicum (juvenile cut) - 1
• Cucumber (juvenile cut) - 1
• Pepper powder - as needed 
• Salt - as needed 

Method

• Take two bread slice ( I used white bread ) . Generously spread butter on one side of each bread slice.  
• Next grease the sandwich spread on one side followed by cheese on the same side of the bread slice. 
• Now top it with all the cut veggies one by one, then sprinkle some salt & pepper powder on the veggies.
• Close the veggies filled bread with the other bread slice.
• Repeat the same steps for other slices of bread also.
• Meanwhile heat the panini maker. Once ready, place the bread slices over the grill. Then close the maker and wait till it turns green in color. 
• Once the bread is grilled completely, take it carefully and cut into triangle or square as you desire.
• Now hot and tasty sandwich is ready to be served with ketchup and chips.

                         

Tips 

• You can also use whole wheat bread to make this sandwich.
• Any vegetable of your choice can be used.
• You can also replace cheese with mayonnaise or ranch. 
• Black pepper powder can be replaced with white pepper.  

Check our other sandwich recipe also Avocado Sandwich

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Vegetable Hakka Noodles

Nowadays vegetable hakka noodles have become usual Indo-Chinese dish at my place. This is one of our all time favorite recipe. Whenever I feel bored to cook, this is the recipe I prefer to make because it's easy, less time consuming and healthy too ;). Its smoky flavor, crispiness and color of veggies that blend with noodles is what I love the most in this dish. Wok also plays a significant role in making hakka noodles. Your kids will love to take this in their lunchbox often. I make this recipe along with any type of Manchurian like vegetable, cauliflower, paneer and tofu. You can use any plain noodles for this recipe. Now here you go with the recipe....
                         

Tofu Fried Rice

Tofu Haters be like - Yikes! Tofu 

Me - I know, right? I never liked tofu until I tasted Veggie-Tofu Fry.
        Also FYI,tofu is rich in protein & calcium & has a low calorie count. 

Tofu Hater - Yeah OK! But it's so bland & boring!!

Me - That's the best part, right? It's like a blank canvas and it happily        absorbs whatever flavors you throw at it which makes it palatable.

Tofu Hater - so, how do you make this Tofu Fried rice? 

Me - it's very easy & can be done in a jiffy if you have leftover rice handy.                                  Here's how I do it :)

Quinoa Pulao

Quinoa is more a vegetable than a grain. It is tasty, a go-to diet for weight watchers and it is rich in fiber. Quinoa grain has balanced amount of amino acid, vitamins, minerals, fibers and proteins. It will satisfy your hunger and not make you feel deprived. The fiber found in quinoa will reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.It is a replacement for rice. For the first time,I had no idea how to cook it. But thanks to my sister, she gave me this healthy and delicious recipe. It can be cooked in many ways, one such is pulav. Stay tuned for many different dishes using Quinoa. This post is dedicated to my sister :) Here you go with the recipe.