Amla (Gooseberry) Chutney

           Amla has amazing benefits. It has the highest content of vitamin C and can be had in various forms. Here is my version of a chutney which goes very well with dosa, pongal, upma, paratha, etc. It can also be mixed with rice and had along with papad or chips.

          So it is advisable to include Amla, which is healthy and nutritious, in our daily diet. To preserve it, increase the quantity of oil and then store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a week. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it

• 6-7 amla (gooseberry), boiled
• 3 tbsp. oil
• 2 dry red chilies
• 10-12 peppercorns
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp. coriander seeds
• 1/2 tsp. fenugreek seeds
• 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1" ginger, chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
• handful of coriander leaves along with the roots
• 1-2 green chilies (opt)
• 2 tbsp. roasted peanuts
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• salt to taste
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 tsp. urad dal
• curry leaves, chopped amla & fresh chilies to garnish (opt)

         Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, pepper, red chilies, fenugreek for a few seconds on low flame till you get a nice aroma.

         Add the sesame seeds and sauté for a few seconds more and add the coconut. Fry till lightly browned. Keep aside to cool and grind into a powder.

         Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the onion, ginger and garlic till light brown in colour. Switch off the flame. Add the coriander leaves, roasted peanuts and green chilies. Add a little water and grind into a paste. Keep aside.

          Grind the boiled amla too, adding a little water into a paste. In a bowl, mix together the onion paste, amla paste and the dry spice mix along with salt to taste.

          Heat the remaining oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds. After it stops spluttering, add the asafoetida, turmeric powder, urad dal and curry leaves, followed by the amla paste.

          Sauté on low flame for 2-3 minutes till the moisture dries up. Serve, garnished with curry leaves, chopped amla and chilies.
           

                          Heat 1 tbsp. oil & sauté coriander seeds, cumin seeds, pepper, red 
                          chili & fenugreek seeds for a few seconds till you get a nice aroma.

                                  Add sesame seeds, followed by the .....

                                 coconut. Sauté till light brown. Cool and ......

                                 grind into a powder. Keep aside.

                                  Heat oil & sauté onion, ginger & garlic till light brown.

                          Switch off the flame. Add coriander leaves, green chilies & peanuts.
                              

                                 Grind into a paste & keep aside.

                              Boil the amla (gooseberries) or pressure cook for 1-2 whistles.....

                                 And grind into a paste.

                               Mix together amla & onion paste along with powdered spice.

                                 Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds.

                          Add curry leaves, asafoetida & urad dal. Sauté for a few seconds.

                            Add prepared paste & sauté on low flame till moisture dries up.

                               Serve, garnished with curry leaves, chilies & chopped amla.

            

Moong Dal With Green Peas (Split Green Gram & Green Peas Curry - Bong Style)

         This is my version of Moong Dal cooked in Bengali style. In this recipe I combined it with some green peas to impart a different flavour and taste. I made it semi dry to be had with chapattis. You can adjust the water accordingly if having with steamed rice.

          The dal (lentil) is first dry roasted and then boiled. I gave a tempering of Panch Phoron (five spices) and whole garam masala and finished it off with coriander leaves and ghee. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1/2 cup moong dal (split green gram), dry roasted
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. panch phoron (equal quantities of fennel, cumin, fenugreek, mustard & nigella seeds)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 2 green cardamoms
• 4 cloves
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1" ginger, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 2-3 green chilies, slit
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. ghee
• coriander leaves to garnish (opt)
• sliced onion to garnish (opt)

          Pressure cook the moong dal in 1 cup water for 4-5 whistles. Add salt and turmeric powder and keep aside. 

         Heat oil in a pan and temper with the bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves and panch phoron.

          Sauté till it stops spluttering. Add the onion and ginger and fry on low flame till light brown. Add the green peas and green chilies. Sauté for a minute.

         Add the boiled dal and simmer on low flame for 2-3 minutes. Add water if necessary. Add the coriander leaves and ghee and give it a mix. Serve, garnished with coriander leaves and sliced onion.

                                 Dry roast moong dal till light brown.

                                  Pressure cook & add salt & turmeric powder. Keep aside.

                           Heat oil & temper with bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves                                                         panch phoron.
                        

                                 Add onion & ginger. Sauté till light brown.

                                 Add green peas & slit green chilies and sauté.

                 Add boiled dal & simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add coriander leaves & ghee
                 and give it a mix.

                                Serve, garnished with coriander leaves & sliced onion.

Green Chutney Paratha (Flat Bread)

         A great way to use up the leftover chutney is to prepare these simple parathas and have them with any side dish or pickle. The chutney can be made in the usual way one makes at home. The one that I have posted is my version. Hence in this way you can convert your same old boring roti or paratha into something interesting and appetizing. Enjoy having them for breakfast or pack them for a lunch box meal.

• 4 cups atta (whole wheat flour)
• 1/2 cup leftover green chutney
• 1 tsp. oil to knead
• oil to shallow fry

         Knead a tight dough with atta, chutney, oil and required quantity of water if needed. Keep aside for 30 minutes.

          Divide into equal portions and roll out each into a circle. Do the same with the rest of the dough.

         Heat a tawa / griddle and shallow fry two at a time by drizzling some oil over and around the edges. 

         Fry till light brown in colour on both the sides. Serve them hot with any side dish or pickle.

Green Chutney --

• 1 cup coriander leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 cup mint leaves, roughly chopped
• salt to taste
• 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1" ginger, chopped
• 2-3 green chilies
• 1 tbsp. yoghurt
• 1 tsp. lime juice.

         Grind together the following ingredients into a paste. Use as desired.

Chicken Hariyali Tikka (Skewered Green Chicken)

          These are delectable small bites of homemade Hariyali Chicken Tikka, restaurant style, which are absolutely simple to make. Boneless chicken cubes are used here which are grilled to perfection. To give a smoky flavour, I fire grilled on the stove top. 

          They can be served as appetizers or can be rolled in chapattis / parathas along with some sliced onion and chutney for a wholesome snack. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 400 gms. boneless chicken
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. lime zest
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 cup coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 cup mint leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup spring onion (green part), chopped
• 2-3 green chilies
• 1 tbsp. feta cheese
• few wooden skewers, soaked in water for an hour
• onion, tomatoes, fresh chilies, lime & cucumber to garnish (opt)

          Marinate the chicken with salt, ginger-garlic paste, pepper powder, oil, cumin powder and lime zest for an hour.

          Make a paste of the coriander leaves, mint leaves, spring onion, green chilies, salt and cheese with very little water.

          Marinade the chicken with this green paste for 7-8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

          Grease the wooden skewers and the grill rack and thread the chicken cubes.

          Grill in the microwave in the convection mode for 30-35 minutes by flipping it halfway and basting with the leftover marinade. Let it remain in the microwave for 10 minutes.

          To give a Smokey flavour, place the skewers on a steel wire mesh and fire grill on a direct flame on the stove top till it is slightly charred. 

          Serve them hot with any chutney and salad of your choice.

                  Marinate chicken with salt, ginger-garlic paste, pepper powder, oil, cumin

                  powder and lime zest for an hour. 

                       Marinade chicken with green paste for 7-8 hours or overnight in the 
                       refrigerator.

                       Grease wooden skewers and grill rack. Then thread chicken cubes in it. 

                        Grill for 30-35 minutes by flipping it halfway & basting with leftover

                        marinade. Let it remain in the microwave for 10 minutes. 

               To give a Smokey flavour, place the skewers on a steel wire mesh & fire grill
               on a direct flame on the stove top till it is slightly charred. 

                                 Serve them hot with any chutney & salad of your choice.

Mango Lassi / Yoghurt Smoothie

          A great way to beat the summer heat is to prepare this delicious Mango Lassi and enjoy it. I have used rose water and cardamom powder to flavour the drink. Be sure to prepare in large quantities and keep them refrigerated. Sugar can be adjusted according to the sweetness of the mango. Serve them chilled in individual glasses, garnished with mixed nuts, saffron and mint leaves. 

• 2 medium mango, chopped
• 1 cup yoghurt
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 2 tbsp. sugar or to taste
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• few mixed nuts to garnish
• few strands of saffron to garnish
• mint leaves to garnish

          Blend together mango, yoghurt, milk, sugar, cardamom powder and rose water to a smooth puree. 

          Pour into individual glasses and refrigerate for a minimum of an hour. Serve chilled, garnished with mixed nuts, saffron and mint leaves.

                       Blend mango, yoghurt, milk, sugar, cardamom powder & rose water.

Raw Mango Rice - South Indian Style

          This is a traditional South Indian style rice preparation. It is also known as Mangai Sadam, Mamidikaya Pulihora or Mavinakayi Chitranna. A great way to use up any leftover rice is to prepare this simple and yummy green mango rice. 

          This dish is relished for breakfast and a quick brunch / lunch. Very easy to prepare, it is also a perfect lunch box meal or a picnic meal that can be served with any chips, papad or fryums. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

           Raw Mango Rice is quite similar to lemon rice, curd rice, coconut rice, tomato rice, curry leaves rice and so on, where the ingredients are more or less the same. 

          You can also add peanuts or cashew nuts in this recipe for some crunchy effect. Besides, papad, you can also relish with some pickles as accompaniment. 

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 medium raw mango, grated
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 dry red chili, broken
• 1 tsp. urad dal (split green gram)
• 1 tbsp. chana dal (bengal Gram)
• 2 green chilies, slit
• 1-2 sprigs curry leaves
• salt to taste
• pinch of turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

         Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds and dry red chili. After it stops spluttering, add the urad dal, chana dal, asafoetida, green chilies and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

         Add salt, grated mango and turmeric powder. Stir fry till the oil separates. Add the cooked rice and stir fry for 2 minutes.

          When done, switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with papad, chips or fryums for a nice comforting breakfast / meal.

                 Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds & dry red chili. Then add urad dal, 
                 chana dal, asafoetida, green chilies & curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

                                Add salt, mango & turmeric powder. Stir fry till oil separates. 

                                Add cooked rice & stir fry for 2 minutes.

                         When done, switch off the flame & garnish with coriander leaves. 

                   Serve with papad, chips or fryums for a nice comforting breakfast / meal.