A - Z Idli Series ~ N for Navadhanya Idli

 

I had planned another traditional idli recipe from Karnataka for today but could not source an ingredient needed for it and had to discard the idea. I then went ahead and as an experiment, prepared these idlis using navadhanya. To be honest, the idea would never have occurred to me if not for this series and these protein rich idlis turned out soft and fluffy. Navadhanya refers to the nine grains used in Hindu religious rituals - Bengal gram, black gram, black sesame seeds, chickpeas, green gram, horse gram, rice, wheat, and white colored beans (I used black eyed peas for it). 

These idlis are simple to make though advanced planning is needed as the ingredients need to be soaked, ground and fermented before steaming the batter in the idli moulds. Though the process sounds tedious, the steps are quite simple and doesn't need much of one's energy. The idlis can be made in advance and can be refrigerated or even frozen to have a healthy breakfast ready in the morning rush hours with a simple step of reheating them in a microwave.

Navadhanya idli turned out fluffy with a subtle flavor to them, because of the wheat used in the recipe. These navdhanya idlis served with chutney and / or sambhar  make a filling breakfast or dinner option as they are super healthy, nutritious and vegan. Ours were served with peanut chutney and erra karam, Andhra style onion chutney.

I used navadhanya as I mentioned above but some ingredients may be substituted or omitted from the recipe as per preference. Brown rice can also be replaced with idli rice. Wheat can be completely omitted from the recipe as well if it's flavor in the idli is not to your taste. Whole black gram can be replaced with skinned variety as it needs only a couple of hours of soaking and also doesn't need thorough rinsing to get rid off the skins. Omitting one or two beans that are not on hand works too.

Some of the beans used here like chickpeas, black gram and horse gram need to be soaked overnight or for at least 8 hours. It is hard to sort out and soak the ingredients individually according to their soaking periods and therefore I soaked rice, wheat, Bengal gram, green gram, black eyed peas, chickpeas and horse gram in water in one container and black gram in another bowl. The black gram needs some thorough rinsing to get rid off the skins as much as possible and so they were soaked separately.

I soaked the ingredients overnight and ground the batter in the morning. The batter fermented quickly, in about 7 hours which never happens with my regular idli batter. It maybe partly because of the quantity of the beans used in the recipe and partly because of the weather the day I made these idlis, at 80 deg F / 27 deg C. I would recommend to grind the batter in the morning to keep an eye on the fermentation process. I am not sure but guessing that too much fermentation may cause the batter to start smelling foul because of the beans used here.

Ingredients: (Yield - 28 idlis)

1 cup idli rice 

1/2 cup brown rice

1/4 cup wheat kernels

1/2 cup + a handful of black gram *

6 tbsp. each - Bengal gram, green gram, black eyed peas, chickpeas, and horse gram **
Toasted black sesame seeds as needed
Salt to taste (I used about 2.5 tsp. salt.)

Water to grind the ingredients

Notes:

* I used whole black gram but it can be substituted with skinned black gram which takes only about 2 hours of soaking. 

** Some of the ingredients used here like black gram, chickpeas, horse gram need overnight or about 8 hours of soaking.

Directions:

1. Add idli rice, brown rice, wheat, Bengal gram, green gram, black eyed peas, chickpeas and horse gram to a container. Rinse them with water twice and drain. Add enough water and soak them overnight or for at least 8 - 10 hours.  

* Add black gram to another bowl and rinse. Drain and add water to the bowl and soak it also overnight or for at least 8 hours. (Or skinned black gram can be substituted which needs soaking for only a couple of hours.)

* After the soaking, drain the water from the rice - lentil container and rinse again twice with water and keep aside. However the black gram needs some thorough rinsing to get rid off the skins as much as possible. I used whole black gram since it is used in navdhanya but skinned black gram can be substituted to skip the rinsing part.

2. Add all the soaked and drained ingredients to a grinder. Grind them adding salt and enough water into a smooth and thick batter. If using a mixer then grind them in 2 batches. (The salt can be added just before making idlis if living in a warm climate. I add it while grinding since I live in a cold climate and the batter takes longer to ferment.)

* Transfer the batter to a container large enough to allow the batter to raise during fermentation. Cover the container and allow it to ferment for about 7 - 8 hours. (It took me about 7 hours to ferment the batter when the temperature was about 80 deg F / 27 deg C and it may take longer in  cold climate. Leaving the batter out after fermentation may turn smelly.)

3. The fermented batter looks like above in the picture 3. Refrigerate the batter if not using immediately and use within a couple of days. Leave the refrigerated batter on the counter for a couple of hours before using.

* Heat about 2 cups of water in a idli cooker base or a idli cooker or a steamer on medium heat. 

4. Grease the idli moulds with ghee / oil and sprinkle black sesame seeds over them.

5. Gently stir the batter a couple of times with a ladle. Pour the batter into the idli moulds carefully without spilling.

6. Place the idli stand in the prepared cooker / steamer and close the lid. Don't use the valve for the lid if using a pressure cooker.

* Steam the idlis on low heat setting for about 20 - 25 minutes or until done. (The idlis should not stick when touched with moist fingers.) Check the water level in the steamer base and add extra if needed.

7. Wait for about 10 minutes and then remove the idlis from idli stand. Remove the idlis by running a spoon around the edges.

Serving the idlis: 

* Drizzle melted ghee over the idlis and serve them with a chutney, and sambhar if preferred. Mine were served with peanut chutney and erra karam / Andhra style onion chutney.

What to do with leftover idlis:

1. Refrigerate the left over idlis and use in a day or two. 

2. Or they can be cooled down immediately after preparation and frozen to use later. Nuke them in a microwave, covered and enjoy hot, piping idlis when needed.

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Sesame Seed - Peanut Laddu

(This was originally published on 12/25/2012.)

From an Indian perspective, the word 'sweets' stand for all culinary things that are obviously sweet and are from the subcontinent. In a traditional sense, none of the baked goods or the western desserts usually fall under the category and they are never a part of a religious feast. 

Laddus, kheer, halwa and burfis make up a significant portion of the myriad varieties of Indian sweets. They entice me the most and so I thought of posting a nutritious and super quick laddu today. These laddus are made with just four ingredients - peanuts, white sesame seeds, dried coconut and jaggery. This is again a 5 minutes recipe if you have toasted and skinned peanuts handy. One minute to toast sesame seeds, under two minutes to blend the mixture and about two minutes to shape the laddus. These are vegan, gluten-free, no bake and a quick fix treat that satiates the sweet tooth.

Peanuts obviously are a good source of protein while sesame seeds are a source of good fats and have a rich iron content. Jaggery is the sweetener used here which is more nutritious than sugar. Adjust the quantity as needed since the sweetness of jaggery varies each time one buys a batch. There is no need of any binding agent to make these laddus. Toasted peanuts and sesame seeds are used here which when ground release oil which help to bind the laddus. Made with healthy ingredients, these protein rich laddus provide a quick boost of energy besides being yummy and easy ones to prepare.

Ingredients: (Make 10 laddus)
1/2 cup roasted, skinned peanuts
1/4 cup white sesame seeds
1/4 cup grated dried coconut /copra
3/4 to 1 cup jaggery powder (depending upon the sweetness of jaggery)

Method:
* Toast sesame seeds on medium flame, continuously stirring until they start to slightly brown and start to sputter. It takes about a minute to toast them. Turn off the stove and transfer them onto a plate. Let them cool.

* Add all ingredients to a food processor / blender and coarsely grind them.

* Transfer the mixture onto a plate. Fist a portion of the mixture and shape it into a ball. Repeat the step of making balls with the remaining mixture. (It took me about 2 minutes for this quantity.)

* Store the laddus in an airtight container. The container can be left over the counter and needs to be refrigerated only if need to be stored longer. 

This post is an entry for Blogging Marathon under the theme 'Protein rich dishes'. Check the link to find out what other marathoners are cooking.

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Spicy Sesame Tomato Chutney

I came across this chutney sometime ago when I was looking for something to pair up with the momos I had made. The original recipe had mentioned it to be an inspiration from a local Himalayan restaurant which made me to give it a try in the first place. It is a simple and easy to make kinda chutney, redolent with Asian flavors. All you do is toast the ingredients and blend. Onions and tomatoes lend a natural sweetness and tartness while sesame seeds add nuttiness to the chutney. One can easily adjust the spice levels by reducing / increasing the quantity of pepper flakes. Or even dried red chilies can be used instead as I had done.

Recipe Source: Here
Ingredients:
1 tbsp. oil
4 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 inch ginger piece, finely chopped
1 tbsp. red pepper flakes or to taste
3 tbsp. sesame seeds
1 cup chopped red onion
14.5 oz canned diced tomato (About 2 cups)
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup water

Directions:
* Heat oil in a pan and add garlic and ginger. Saute on low flame, until fragrant, for about a minute or so. Next add the sesame seeds and red pepper flakes and toast for a minute.
* Add onion next and fry until they soften. Add tomatoes and cook until soft and juicy, about 5 minutes.
* Add the above toasted ingredients, soy sauce, lemon juice and water to a blender and grind to a smooth paste. Taste and add salt if needed. Use immediately or keep refrigerated.

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Flax Seeds - Sesame Seeds Laddu

My mother had given me a few laddu recipes to try a while ago. The tempting protein laddus I posted a few months earlier was one of them. These healthy flax seed laddus are one more from the bunch that are simple and easy to prepare. The original recipe was called flax seed laddu as it used equal quantities of flax and sesame seeds. I have increased sesame seeds quantity when I made these laddus. Also the recipe had about 1/4 tsp. of ground cinnamon which I omitted favoring cardamom. 

Sesame seeds play an important role in some of the regions during Sankranthi festival. These laddus make a great choice if one needs to make a dish using sesame seeds. Or if one has some leftover 'ellu-bella' mix, transform it to some nutritious laddus which everyone can enjoy. These quick fix laddus can also make an opt choice for a 'mithai' platter or when one needs to make more sweets for festivals like Diwali and such.  

Ingredients:
1/4 cup flax seeds
3/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup dates (More than 24 pitted dates)
1 /4  tsp. ground cardamom

Directions:
* Toast sesame seeds on medium flame until they start to lightly brown, continuously stirring all the while. Don't let them burn.

 * Toast flax seeds until they start to crackle and fly around. It takes about a minute or less to toast them.

* Let the toasted seeds cool down.

* Finely grind the toasted flax seeds in a blender and transfer it a bowl. (I saved a few seeds without grinding and added to laddus which I don't recommend.) Next finely grind the sesame seeds as well and add it to the bowl. 
* Lightly pulse the dates in a food processor or a blender until they appear coarsely ground. Next add the ground sesame and flax seeds, cardamom and cinnamon if using and run the food processor on pulse mode until the mixture comes together.  

* Transfer the contents to a bowl and shape into laddus. 

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Capsicum Gravy Curry

The final dish of the week under the theme 'easy side dishes' is this yummy curry where capsicum is cooked in a spicy, flavorful gravy made with peanuts and sesame seeds. This gravy happens to be my personal favorite and can be used as a base for other vegetables as well. The base is perfect without being nauseatingly cloying and the powder can be prepared in advance. The peanut and sesame seeds combo add body to the gravy and tastes rich without the addition of any cashews / nuts or cream which happen to be a constant presence in such gravies. 

Ingredients:
2 to 3 tsp. oil
1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 big onion, finely chopped / 1/2 cup minced onion
1 big or 2 small tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/2 inch ginger piece
1 green chili, finely minced
A pinch of turmeric powder
1 big sized capsicum (I had slightly more than 1 cup chopped capsicum.)
Salt to taste
Chili powder to taste
A pinch of sugar //stevia (optional)
3/4 cup water or as needed
Ingredients for the paste:
1/2 tsp. coriander seeds
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tsp. white sesame seeds
1/4 cup toasted and skinned peanuts

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When the mustard seeds start to splutter, add onions and saute on low heat until they start to brown.
2. Mean while, toast coriander seeds, cumin seeds and sesame seeds together and saute until the coriander seeds start to change a shade of color. Transfer them to a plate and let them cool. If not using pre-toasted peanuts, place them in a microwave safe bowl and toast for 5 to 6 minutes, giving short breaks in between to avoid burning. Or toast on stove-top in a pan on low flame. Let them cool and rub between your palms and remove the skins. Grind all the ingredients together to a fine powder.
3. Grind tomatoes, ginger and green chilli in a blender. If not able to run the blender, use a little quantity of water to grind.
4. Add the above tomato paste and turmeric to the onion pan and cook until it slightly thickens.
5. Next add capsicum pieces and salt. Cook until capsicum is almost done. 
6. Add the peanut mixture powder from step 2, chili powder, sugar if using and water. 
7. Continue to cook on low flame stirring intermittently. Taste and adjust any seasonings if needed. Also adjust the water quantity if needed to form a gravy with consistency on a slightly thicker side. Cook until the gravy thickens, about 6 - 8 minutes.
8. Serve it hot with rotis / phulkas. 

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Bhindi Ka Salan

Salan is a thick gravied, tangy curry from the Hyderabadi cuisine that is slowly cooked in a peanut, sesame and coconut base. Aromatic, flavor loaded salan traditionally was prepared as an accompaniment to rice / rotis though it has become synonymous with biryanis over the time. If you are interested, go through this interesting excerpt on the origins of the mirchi ka salan in the royal kitchens. Today's recipe of course is not the popular mirchi ka salan version which uses the green chillies but an okra / bhindi based one. 

I prepared this bhendi ka khatta salan to go with my 'Hyderabadi Dum Biryani' during the April Mega marathon. This is a dish to have in one's repertoire, if one is an okra fan. Choose small sized, tender okra while preparing this salan. The okra is fried before adding to the gravy so that the final salan doesn't end up being slimy though one can add okra without frying and cook. I used my air fryer instead of deep frying. I used very little oil to cook this dish and so my final salan doesn't look greasy with oil on the top, which seems to be the signature look of a salan. The dish doesn't demand any fancy ingredients though linked to imperial kitchens and even a novice cook can nail it with satisfactory results. It is a simple and easy enough dish and needs little supervision though it is cooked a little extra time than most of the dishes. 

To toast and grind:
2 tbsp. peanuts
1 tbsp. sesame seeds
2 tbsp. coconut
4 byadagi chillies / less spicy variety dried red chillies
1/2 inch piece of ginger
1 or 2 garlic cloves (I didn't use any.)
Other ingredients:
12 okra / bhindi
Oil to fry bhindi (if frying)
1 tbsp. oil
1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1/8 tsp. fenugreek seeds
Few curry leaves
1/2 cup minced onion
1/8 tsp. turmeric powder
2 - 3 tbsp. tamarind juice
Salt to taste
Jaggery to taste (I used 2 Stevia packets)
1 tsp chili powder that is not very hot (I used 1.5 tsp )
Water as needed (I used 2 1/2 cups of water in total for grinding the paste and to cook the salan.)

Directions:
* Dry roast peanuts, sesame seeds, coconut and chillies on low flame, until slightly browned. Keep aside and let them cool.
* Grind the toasted ingredients along with ginger and garlic if using, to a smooth paste. Add water as needed to grind. (Ginger - garlic paste can be skipped here and added while sauteing onions instead.)
* Wash the okra, remove the ends and wipe them dry.
* Heat oil if deep frying okra. Fry okra on medium heat until slightly browned. (I used an air-fryer instead.)
* Heat oil in a pan and add mustard, cumin and fenugreek seeds. When mustard starts to sputter, add curry leaves and onion. Saute until golden brown.
* Next add the ground paste, turmeric, chili powder and salt to the pan. Add enough water to make it into a thin consistency mixture (about 1.5 or 2 cups of water). Stir well and cook the mixture covered for about 20 minutes on low flame, stirring intermittently. The mixture would have thickened by the time and the oil would have separated. Add tamarind and sweetener next, taste and adjust the seasonings if needed and cook for about 5 minutes. (I usually add tamarind and sweetener along with the paste at the beginning.) Add the fried okra and cook for a couple of minutes more. Turn off the stove and let it sit for few minutes before serving.
* Garnish with cilantro and serve with biryani / pulao / rice or rotis.




This post is an entry for Blogging Marathon #101 under 'Gravy Curries' theme.

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Nuvvula Podi / Spicy Sesame Powder

Here is a simple flavored podi / spicy powder from my kitchen, as part of the 'Condiments - Spicy Powders' themed blogging marathon this week. This is a very simple and easy recipe made with the basic ingredients. It can be used to eat along with rice and ghee or to flavor any south Indian style curry. This is how my mother prepares this powder though I skip the garlic from the recipe.  

Ingredients:
1 cup white sesame seeds
8 dried red chillies (or adjust the quantity as needed.)
Salt to taste
1 or 2 garlic cloves

Directions:
* Toast sesame seeds and red chillies on low flame, stirring continuously until the sesame seeds start to turn light brownish in color. Turn off the stove and let them cool completely.
* Grind the toasted sesame seeds, chillies, salt and garlic cloves together finely and store it in a container with tight fitting lid.



This post is an entry for Blogging Marathon #101 under 'Condiments' theme.

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Koulouri - Greek Bread Rings

I came across this fabulous source of Greek recipes when I went looking for the same and ended up bookmarking many to try later. These koulouri are one of those precious finds which happen to be the delicious Greek bread rings studded with sesame seeds. Though the sesame seeds' version is the traditional one, there seem to be also versions of stuffed ones with cheese or nutella. They are supposedly a staple treat sold by bakeries and street vendors in Greece, especially in the mornings and would go great with a cup of coffee. They are crunchy outside and softer inside, fresh from the oven. But they turn harder after sitting for a while though I liked them either way. They were simple to make and were so irresistible that I ended up eating them all by myself.

Ingredients: (Yield about 20 koulouri)

1 cup flour

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. warm water

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. yeast (I used active dry yeast)

2 tsp. olive oil

1/4 cup white sesame seeds 

Method:

* Add sugar, active dry yeast and warm water to a mixing bowl. Stir and leave the mixture aside until it turns frothy. Then add flour, salt and oil to the yeast mixture and mix to combine. 

(If using instant yeast, there is no need for yeast proofing. Add all the ingredients except the sesame seeds to the mixing bowl and work the dough.)

* Knead the dough for about 10 minutes and place it in a greased bowl.  Cover and let the dough rest until it doubles in size.

* Preheat the oven to 425 deg F / 220 deg C.

* Flour the working surface if needed and roll out the dough ball into a rectangle of about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness.

* Then cut the rectangle lengthwise in about 1/2 to 3/4 inch strips. Cut those strips into 3/4 inch pieces.
 
* Roll each piece into a string. Brush it with water and connect both ends to form a ring. Roll the wet ring in sesame seeds. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Repeat the steps with the remaining dough pieces.

* Bake them until golden brown, about 10 - 12 minutes.
 
This goes to Blogging marathon #76, under the theme 'Greek Recipes'. Check out the page to read what other marathoners are cooking.

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A - Z Rice Dishes ~ Y for Yellina Chitranna

A simple and quick rice option for the letter 'Y' today. I kept thinking in terms of a vegetarian version of yakhni pulao or something that starts with yellow until I remembered this rice. The humble lemon rice is called chitranna in Kannada while 'yellu' is sesame seeds. This rice is therefore a jazzed up version of the traditional lemon rice to be precise. Sesame seeds and fresh coconut add great flavor and taste to this already yummy rice and it makes a great festive meal option or even a lunchbox item if you have left over rice.

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked rice (Sona masuri / Basmati)
1.5 tbsp. white sesame seeds / 3 tbsp. sesame powder
1 tbsp. oil
2 tbsp. peanuts
2 dried red chillies, broken into bits or 2 green chillies, sliced lengthwise
1 tsp. split chickpeas / chana dal
1 tsp. black gram / urad dal
1 tsp. mustard seeds
Few curry leaves
2 -3 pinches of asafoetida powder
1/16 tsp. turmeric powder
A fistful of grated fresh coconut
3 tbsp. lemon juice
Salt to taste
 
Method:
* Dry toast the sesame seeds until they start to splutter. Let cool and grind finely. 
* Heat oil in a pan / kadai. Add peanuts, chana dal, urad dal and mustard seeds. When mustard seeds start to sizzle and pop and the dals start to turn reddish, add chillies and saute for few seconds. Next add curry leaves, turmeric, asafoetida, ground sesame seeds and coconut. Saute for a couple of minutes on low flame and turn off the stove. 
* Add rice, salt and lemon / lime juice and mix well so that there are not any lumps in the rice. Taste the rice and adjust the salt or the lemon juice if needed. 
* Let the rice sit for at least 15 - 30 minutes for the flavors to incorporate. 
* It can be served on it's own or serve with some papad / chips.

Note:
* Salt and lemon flavors tone down a bit after the resting period and so add those ingredients accordingly or taste the rice again after 30 minutes and adjust the quantities. 
* In case if the rice turns out too salty / too sour just add some more rice and mix well to combine.

Recipes so far in A - Z Rice Dishes,  
A for Achaari Chole Pulao
B for Bhuna Khichuri
C for Chintapandu Pulihora
D for Dindigul Thalapakatti Veg Biryani
E for Ellorai / Ellotharai  
F for Fodnicha Bhaat 
G for Gongura Pulihora 
H for Hare Moong ki Chaaswaali Khichdi 
I for Iyengar Style Kadambam 
J for Jodhpuri Vegetable Pulao 
K for Kaju - Karivepaku Annam 
L for Lilva Khichdi
M for Mamidikaaya - Kobbari Pulihora 
N for Narali Bhaat
O for Oliya 
P for Peas Pulao 
Q for Qabooli Biryani 
R for Ram Pulao / Rajasthani Gatte Ka Pulao
S for Spinach layered Biryani
T for Tawa Pulao
U for Urad dal Khichdi
V for Varhadi Pulao 
W for Waghareli Khichdi
X for Xmas Rice Pudding

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 68.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Rice Dishes ~ E for Ellorai / Ellotharai (Sweet Version)

I accidentally came across this traditional sweet recipe from Tamil nadu a few months back while looking for some other recipe and it ended up being my 'E' dish for this event. I have tried and liked the spicy ellu sadam (sesame seeds' rice) before. And so decided to give this sweet version also a try as I tend to be a little bit more partial towards sweet dishes. I love sesame seed laddus very much but this dish turned out just 'okay' for me. I guess that this sweet version is more like an acquired taste. I may be wrong and people who are partial to this dish may not agree with me but the dish  tasted more like crumbled laddus mixed with rice. I prefer the spicy version over the sweet one but thought of documenting it on my blog since this happens to be a traditional dish.

Ingredients: (2 to 3 servings)
1 cup cooked rice (I used sona masuri rice.)
1 tbsp. ghee
2 tbsp. cashews
3 tbsp black sesame seeds
6 to 8 tbsp. jaggery powder *
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
* The amount of jaggery used depends upon it's sweetness and the level of sweetness preferred in the final dish.

Method:
* Toast sesame seeds on low flame for 30 - 40 seconds and let cool.
* Grind sesame seeds, jaggery and cardamom to a fine powder.
* Heat ghee in a pan and toast cashews until golden brown. Turn off the stove. Add the cooked rice and mix well so that there are no rice lumps. Each grain should appear separate.
* Add the sesame powder to the above rice and mix well. 
Do not add the sesame powder to the pan before adding the rice since the jaggery would start melting if done so and the rice would be a wet mess.

Recipes so far in A - Z Rice Dishes,
A for Achaari Chole Pulao
B for Bhuna Khichuri
C for Chintapandu Pulihora
D for Dindigul Thalapakatti Veg Biryani

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 68.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Til Ke Laddu / Sesame Seeds Laddu / Nuvvundalu

 

Here is one more simple and easy recipe for the Sankranti festival, which is just around the corner. The combination of sesame seeds and jaggery, redolent with cardamom flavor yield a yummy treat.

Ingredients:
1 cup white sesame seeds
Scant 1 cup jaggery 
1 tbsp. ghee
2 to 3 tbsp. water 
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder

Method:
* Dry toast sesame seeds in a wide pan until they start to splutter, about 2 -3 minutes, stirring continuously. Transfer the sesame seeds onto a plate and keep it aside. 
* Keep a small plate with cold water ready by the stove to test the consistency of the jaggery syrup. Add jaggery, ghee and water to a big, sturdy, thick-bottomed vessel or a non-stick pan and keep stirring on low flame. Soon the jaggery starts to melt and concentrate.  Boil this syrup till it reaches a rollable hard ball consistency. To test, add few drops of jaggery syrup to the cold water and roll the syrup with your fingers to form a ball. It should keep its shape without melting in spite of tilting the plate.
*  Add the sesame seeds and cardamom quickly and stir well. Turn off the stove. Set aside the mixture for few minutes and shape into small balls. Store the laddus in an airtight container.

This goes to Blogging marathon #60 under the theme 'Festival of the Month'. Check the link to see what other marathoners are cooking.

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Thapala Chekkalu / Sarva Pindi

Andhra's thapala chekklau are equivalent to Karnataka's version rice flour rottis and also go by the name sarva pindi in Telangana region. Thapala refers to 'thappela', the round bottomed vessels, mostly the brass ones once associated to traditional Indian kitchens. A thappela and not a griddle was the original choice to make these rice flour based flat breads and hence the name. We grew up eating rottis for breakfast on a regular basis and so I am quite familiar with the dish but what caught my attention when I saw this recipe on a cook show was the interesting add-ons to the basic version besides adding a healthy dose of chickpea flour. This version did not use onions or coconut but still was very delicious with peanuts adding a nice texture and flavor.

Ingredients:
1 cup rice flour
1/2 cup chickpea flour / besan
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp. green chilli paste / 2 chopped green chillies or chili powder as needed
Salt to taste
2 tbsp. finely minced curry leaves
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tbsp. sesame seeds
1/4 cup toasted and skinned peanuts, slightly crushed
1/4 cup soaked chana dal / split chickpeas *
2 tbsp. hot oil
Luke warm water as needed. (I added about 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp. water.)
Oil to make thapala chekkalu (I used canola oil.)
* Soak chana dal in enough water for 1 -2 hours or until they soften.

Method:
* Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl except water and the oil mentioned at the end, using your fingers. Add luke warm water as needed to form a firm dough.
* Divide the dough into four portions and roll each one into a ball. Work with one dough portion at a time and keep the rest covered.
* Pour a tsp. of oil in the center of a griddle / skillet and place the dough ball at the center of the griddle. Pat it using fingers till a thin, flat circle is formed. (It doesn't need to be super thin like tortillas.)  Thapala chekkalu can me made as big as the griddle size or smaller ones. Poke some holes randomly using index finger if you wish or just leave it out.
 
* Pour a tsp oil around the edges of the dough circle and over it. Cover with a lid and turn on the stove. Let it cook on a low - medium flame and flip it using a wide spatula when golden brown spots develop on the bottom side and the upper side doesn't look raw. It may take around 5 to 6 minutes. 
* Add half a tsp of oil around the edges again if needed. Cover it again and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes or until the other side turns light brown too. Turn off the stove and remove the cooked chekka
* Repeat the above steps with the remaining dough portions, making sure that the griddle is cool each time before it is used. Wash the griddle with cold water after each use to quicken the cooling process or use 2 griddles to cook simultaneously.

This goes to Blogging marathon #58 under the theme 'Bookmarked Dishes'. Check the link to see what other marathoners are cooking.

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Oats - Sesame Parathas

 
Actually it was supposed to be the day of zucchini pancakes here if not for the minor detail that I missed while picturing them. Flat breads / pancakes had to be pictured along with a side dish according to the BM theme and I had completely forgotten about it when I pictured those pancakes. I realized that today morning while drafting the post and I wanted to bang my head somewhere as I did not have anything else to post. And adding to my woe, the weather has been so bad today with not a ray of sunshine in the radar. I was feeling like going and curling up under the covers than cooking and clicking. I started to dig in my drafts folder to see if I had something suitable and ended up with posts with mediocre pictures. They were in drafts in the the first place for the same reason. 
 
Somehow late afternoon I decided to make these oat based parathas and was able to get some decent pictures in spite of the gloomy weather. I saw these healthy parathas on a cook show and the recipe has been in my drafts for a while. I did not have time to rest the dough and so I added about 1/4 cup fat-free yogurt while preparing the dough so that the parathas remain softer for longer. It's time now for these parathas, owing to the 'Flat breads / Pancakes' BM theme going on this week here.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 to 1 cup wheat flour + extra for dusting
3 - 4 tbsp. sesame seeds
2 green chilies, finely chopped
2 tbsp. finely minced cilantro
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. oil (optional)
Oil / Ghee to toast parathas

Method:
* Lightly dry toast sesame seeds. 
* Add all ingredients except the oil to a mixing bowl and combine. Prepare a firm yet pliable dough using water as needed. Knead for a couple of minutes and place the dough in a bowl, covered. Let it rest for about an hour or so. 
* Make lime sized balls out of the dough. Take out a dough ball, flatten it and roll into a thin circle of about 5 inches diameter, dusting with flour if needed.
* Repeat the steps with the remaining dough. One can keep rolling and frying the parathas simultaneously or roll some and start frying while keeping the rest covered.
* Heat a griddle or a shallow pan. Place the rolled out dough circle on the griddle. When the bubbles start to appear, flip it. Spread 1/2 tsp of oil around the edges and fry flipping in between, until brown spots appear on both sides. Remove and repeat the steps with the remaining rolled out circles. 
* Keep the rotis covered until ready to serve. Leftovers can be refrigerated or frozen. Just warm them on the griddle again before serving.
* Serve them warm with any subzi / dal. I served them with Vegetable & Soya chunks curry and some tindora chutney.
 

These go to blogging marathon #57 and check here to find out what other marathoners are cooking today.

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