Kollu kanji / Horsegram congee

Kollu or horse-gram has many nutritional benefits. It is a good sources of iron and molybdenum.
It is generally prepared in the cold season as it is supposed to have cold inhibiting nutrients.
we usually make kollu congee for dinner as it is very nutritious and easy to prepare.Ingredients:
1/4 cup Horse gram
3/4 cup Parboiled rice
Salt to taste.
Method:
Dry roast the horse-gram dal until it starts to pop.
Place the dal in the mixie and processes for 2-4 seconds.
Place the rice in a vessel and wash it just once.
Blow the processed horse-gram to remove the skin.
Add the horse-gram to the rice and add salt and add water and cook in a pressure cooker for 4 whistles.(water ratio 1;4)
Serve with moor milagai.

Vendakkai kara Pachadi / Okra Curry

Vendakkai / Okra is one of my favorite vegetables, but the only part i hate is how much time it takes to buy a tender bunch of these crunchy veggies...Ingredients:
1/2 lbs Okra
1 medium sided Onion (chopped)
1/2 cup Coconut shredded
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp red Chilly powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Tamarind paste
1 sprig Curry leaves
1/2 cup Coriander leaves (chopped)
2 tbsp oil
1 no Kari Vadagam
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dal
Salt to taste.
Method:
Wash the okra , cut the top and bottom ends.
Slit in the middle , chop and set aside.
Grind the coconut and cumin seeds to a fine paste adn set aside.
Heat 1 tbsp oil and crush the kari vadagam into it and saute.
Remove the kari vadagam from the kadai when it is fried well and gives off an aroma.
Heat the remaining oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds and urad dal.
When the mustard seeds splutter, add the curry leaves, onion, and saute.
When the Onion turn golden brown add the okra and saute for 3-4 minutes.
Now add coriander leaves,turmeric powder,chilly powder and saute for a minute.
Add salt tamarind paste and the ground coconut paste and the kari vadagam and bring the curry to a boil.
Let it simmer on medium heat for a few minutes.
Serve hot with steamed rice .

Kidney Bean Soup

Ingredients:
1 can Kidney beans
1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
1 no Medium sized Onion (chopped)
1 clove Garlic
1 tbsp Chilly powder
1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
1 tsp Coriander power
2 cups Vegetable stock
2 tbsp Olive oil
Tortilla Chips
Salt & Pepper to taste.
Method:
Drain and wash the kidney beans.(I always use low sodium beans)
Heat oil in a sauce pan and saute the onion.
When the onion is golden brown add the kidney beans and saute for a minute.
Now add the chilly powder, salt,coriander powder and cumin powder.
Add the crushed tomato and saute for a few seconds.
Now add the vegetable stock and let it simmer for 10 minutes
Transfer half the soup to a blender and processes for 20-30 seconds and mix it with the rest of the soup.
Garnish with broken tortilla chips and serve.

Vegetable - Spinach Frittata

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Baby Spinach
1/2 cup Vegetables - diced (green beans, carrot, Red pepper)
1 no Onion (diced)
4 no Eggs
1 tbsp Jalapeno Peppers (minced)
1/4 cup Parmesan (shredded)
4 tbsp Mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt & Pepper to taste.
Method:
Beat the eggs with half the Parmesan cheese and the Mozzarella cheese and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit .
Place a skillet on the range and set it to medium heat. (The skillet has to be oven/broiler Proof, nonstick)
Heat olive oil in the skillet and toss in the onion and the rest of the vegetables, spinach and saute.
When the vegetables are almost done, add salt and pepper to it.
Now add the Jalapeno Peppers and stir well.
Pour in the egg and cheese mixture and mix it with the vegetables.
Turn the heat to medium - low and leave it for 4-5 minutes, till the eggs are set.
Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on the eggs and place the skillet in the oven and broil high till the cheese is melted and is golden brown.
Serve immediately.

Poondu Kuzhambu/ Garlic curry

This is one of my favorite curry.I could have this 365 days without any complaints..
When ever I go home my mom always makes this for me.
Ingredients:
1 no whole Garlic
10 no Shallots/Small onion
1 tsp Tamarind paste
1 sprig Curry leaves
1 tsp Methi seeds
1 tbsp Puli kuzhambu powder
3 tbsp Gingely oil
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Urad dal
1 pinch Asafoetida
Salt to taste.
Method:
Peel the small onion, garlic remove the top and tail and set aside.
Heat oil in a kadai and add the mustard seeds and urad dal.
When the mustard seeds pop add methi seeds and curry leaves.
Add the onions and garlic and saute till the onion is golden brown. Take care not to burn the garlic.
Now add the tamarind paste, little bit of water, puli kuzhambu powder,salt and let it simmer on low heat till the oil starts to float on top of the curry.
Serve with steamed rice and Papad.
Now add the asafoetida and stir well and turn off the heat.

Corn Fritters

The first time I made this snack my Dh fell in love with it.Now he keeps pestering me to make it over and over .I found this recipe from the book 200 veggie feasts by Louise Pickford.
Ingredients:
11/2 cup Corn Kernels
1/2 cup All- purpose flour
1 tsp Baking powder
1 no Egg (lightly beaten)
1 tbsp Soy sauce
11/2 tbsp Lime juice
4 nos Kaffir lime leaves - finely shredded ( Optional)
1 tbsp Cilantro (chopped)
2 tbsp Red chilly flakes
Salt to taste
Oil for Frying.
Method:
Place 1 cup of corn in a food processor and processes until fairly smooth.
Heat the oil in a skillet.
Mix the remaining corn and all the remaining ingredients with the processed corn and make a thick batter.
When the oil is hot place spoon sized mounds of the batter in the skillet and fry on both sides until crispy.
Serve with chilly jam.

Chilly Jam

Ingredients:
2 nos ripe vine Tomatoes
4 nos Red hot Fresno Chilies or any hot chillies
2 cloves Garlic
1/2 cup brown Sugar
2 tbsp Soy sauce
3 tbsp Rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
Method:
Place Tomatoes, garlic, chilies in a food processor and processes until fairly smooth.
transfer the mixture to a saucepan and add soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and salt.
Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer till the consistency is jam like.
Let it cool completely before storing.

Green Pablano Rice

Some time back I bought this Pillsbury- Mexican meals book from the grocery shop.
I found the recipe for this rice from the book and made it - Needless to say it was wonderful.
Ingredients:
2 nos Pablano chilies
1/3 cup Cilantro & Parsley (chopped)
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 large Onion (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
2 cups Rice
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
Salt to taste.
Method:
wash and dry the chilies, brush the surface with oil and place it under a broiler till the skin is charred evenly on all sides.
Place the chillies in a zip lock bag and let it rest for 10 minutes to loosen the skin.
peel the skin from the chilies.
Cut the stem from the chilly and place it in a food processor along with cilantro and blend with 1 cup of water.
Strain the liquid and discard all the solid particles and set aside.
Heat oil in a pot and add the cumin seeds and let it splutter.
When the cumin seeds splutter, add the onion, garlic and saute.
When the onion is golden brown,add the rice and saute it for a minute.
Now add the salt,3 cups of water,half the parsley,chili - cilantro liquid and reduce heat to low.
Cover and cook 20-25 minutes or until rice is almost done.
Stir in the remaining parsley.
Increase the heat to medium and let it cook till all the liquid is absorbed.
Serve hot.