Bitter Gourd Tamarind Curry (பாகற்காய் புளிக்குழம்பு )

Bitter gourd, might not be a favorite vegetable for many at the same time it is the most favorite for some people like me :). In my native used to get the small bitter gourds, that used to taste awesome. Still remember the fry and kulambu which amma makes when I visit home during holidays.

Here i dont get the small ones, so tried kulambu with the regular long bitter gourds. One small tip before moving to the recipe. Before cooking, soak the cut bitter gourd in salt water, and while cooking, saute well until the veggie turns soft, then add tamarind water. If water is added before sauteing the veg well, it will become more bitter and kids wont eat then. Another important thing to be noticed while choosing this veggie is, "the veg should be pale green, not dark green". Dark green ones will be much bitter in taste.

For this Puli kuzhambu, either you can use coconut milk or ground fresh coconut of your choice. I have used coconut gratings this time.

Ingredients

1. Bitter gourd - 2 medium sized
2. Onion - 1 medium
3. Tomato - 1 big
4. Sambar powder / Vathakuzhambu powder - 1 or 2 tbsp
5 Tamarind - 1 goose berry sized (soak in 3/4 cup of warm water)
6. Salt - as per taste
7. grated coconut / coconut milk - 1/4 cup
8. chopped coriander - a few

To temper:
oil - 1 tbsp
mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
urad dal - 1/4 tsp
cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
hing - a pinch
curry leaves - a sprig

Preparation:

1. Cut bitter gourds into small rounds (remove hard seeds) and soak in salt water.
2. In a kadai / pan, heat 2 tbsp of oil and add finely chopped  onions, and saute until they turn transparent.

4. Then add finely chopped tomato and saute well.
5. Now Drain water completely from the soaked veg and add it n pan and saute well.
6. Saute until the green veg turns into soft and cooked.

7. Add the sambar / vathakulambu masala powder to it and mix well
8. Now add the tamarind extract, salt and let it cook well
9. at last add the smooth paste of ground coconut and give a quick boil and switch off the flame
10. Temper using the mentioned ingredients and add to the curry.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and Serve with hot steamed rice.

Linking this recipe to Beulah’s First Blog Anniversary Give away @ FullScoops

Thukkada (துக்கடா)

Hey folks, You must be busy with Navarathri Golu and pooja. We do not have a custom of having golu at home, so we used to visit temples or our friends house where golu is arranged. It is so exciting experience for kids. Last year I shown my daughter for the first time how golu looks, here in temple. She was so excited to know that again it is golu time :))) We used to just make some pooja on saraswathi poojai and vijayadasami days.

So I thought of moving to Deepavali recipies. Here is my first Deepavali snack Thukkada.
Yes, you are reading it right, it is thukkada. One of my childhood favorite it is. We used to get it from one of the bakery in my native. It used to taste awesome. We easily get addicted to its taste. Making this snack is also quiet simple with just a few ingredients. Also it doesn't need much of preparation ahead. Perfect for after school snack or festive snack.

Ingredients:

Maida - 1 cup
salt- as per taste
Chili powder  - 1 tsp (adjust according to your taste)
Water - about 1/4 cup
Oil - 1 tsp
Oil   to deep fry

Preparation:

1. Mix maida, salt, chili powder, by adding water little by little like chapati dough.
2. At last add a tsp of oil and kneed well.
3. Make small balls out of it and roll them into thin chapathi.
4. Cut the rolled chapathi as diamonds and fry them in hot oil until they are puffed, crispy and golden color.

Store them in a air tight container and use.

Notes:

1. Make sure to roll them into thin chapathis. Thick ones will not be crispy and puffy

Linking this recipe to Beulah’s First Blog Anniversary Give away @ FullScoops

Spinach Bread Toast

It is one of the healthiest as well as easiest breakfast to make. I used to make spinach omelettes in a similar process. This time i made bread toast which also came out well.

I used to prepare spinach masala and store it in refrigerator. So whenever needed i used to add eggs and make omelettes or bread toasts.

Preparation:

for spinach masala:

Spinach - 1 bunch
onion - 1 medium (finely chopped)
tomato - 1 small (remove the seeds and chop finely)
Green chilies - 2 (finely chopped) or red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
turmeric powder - a pinch
Pepper powder - a pinch
salt - as per taste
Oil - 2-3 tsp

for toast
Bread slices - 4 - 6
Eggs - 2
Milk- 1 tbsp
Ghee / cooking oil - 2 tsp

Preparation:

1. Clean spinach leaves and drain water completely.
2. In a pan heat oil and saute green chili and onion until it turns transparent.
3. Then add tomato and saute until they turn soft.
4. Add turmeric, coriander powder, salt, chili powder(avoid/adjust the quantity if green chilies are used) and saute until the raw smell leaves,
5. Now add the chopped spinach and cook until the masala mix together and excess water is observed.

Pepper powder can be added at last or while making omelettes.

To prepare toast:

1. Keep the bread slices ready to use.
2. In a bowl beat eggs, add required amount of spinach masala and mix well.
(for 2 eggs i prefer to add 3-4 tbsp of masala, but add as per your preference )
3. Heat  pan, and drizzle few drops of oil or ghee
4. Gently dip the bread slice in the beaten egg bowl on both sides and toast it in pan.
5. Make sure to flip both sides and cook well.

Notes:
1. Using this spinach masala, you can prepare omelettes, just by adding eggs to it.
2. It can be added with dosa batter and you can prepare yummy and healthy spinach dosa.
3. Not sure about idlies, will test and update ;)
4. This masala mix can be prepared and stored in refrigerator for few days, to make the breakfast, quick as well as healthy.

Linking this recipe to #recipeoftheweek | A Mummy Too

Brinjal Chutney

Here is the next veggie based chutney recipe, Brinjal / eggplant Chutney. It is quiet simple as well as a different chutney which you can make for your guests also. It suits well with Dosa and Idly varieties.

Ingredients:

round eggplants - 4 medium
onion - 1/4 cup roughly chopped
tomato - 1 small
Green chili - 2
Coconut - 1/4 cup tightly packed (grated / thinly sliced)
Oil - 2-3 tsp
salt- as per taste

To temper

Oil - 2-3 tsp
mustard seed - 1/4 tsp
Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Preparation:

1. Cut Brinjal, onion, tomato into cubes
2. Heat a pan with 2 tsp of oil and saute green chilies, onion, and egg plants by adding one by one.
3. When the onions turn transparent add tomatoes along with that and saute until they turn soft.
4. Just before turning off the flame add coconut and stir gently.
5. Let the saute items cooled down, then grind in mixie by adding required salt

Yummy and Delicious Chutney is ready to taste with your favorite main. I served it with Ragi idlies.

Notes:
 A piece of ginger and two or three cloves of garlic also can be added.

Linking this recipe to Beulah’s First Blog Anniversary Give away @ FullScoops