Punjabi Mini Thali ~ Jeera Rice & Punjabi Style Kadhi

My 'thaali' of the day comes from Punjab, a northern state of India. People who have tasted Indian food in any restaurant, especially in the western world can be automatically assumed to have tasted Punjabi food. The North Indian cuisine especially served in these restaurants is basically the delicious, calorie laden Punjabi food. The famous tandoor breads like naans, kulchas and parathas, the stuffed breads come from the region as are the paneer (Indian cheese) based side dishes. And of course the region can also boast about their mouthwatering side dishes like rajma, chole, dal makhnis which are equally popular in the other parts of  the country. And the scrumptious carrot halwa, the ultimate dessert of the bollywood movies also is a gift from the region to the Indian subcontinent.
 
My today's thaali consists of the following items and I had tried to cut down calories wherever I can though traditionally it is not done so. I baked the samosas instead of deep frying, prepared a microwave version of gajar ka halwa using skim milk, didn't use butter in dal and made rotis using a little oil. I wanted to try the famous combo of 'makki  di roti and sarson da saag' but wasn't sure how it would be received at home and decided to stick with roti, dal and palak paneer instead. I am posting recipes for jeera rice and Punjabi style kadhi today.

Baked mini Punjabi Samosa
Mithi chutney / Sweet chutneyJeera rice / Cumin flavored rice
Roti (Wheat flour based flat bread)
Achaar (Mango pickle)
Dhaabay di dal  (Mixture of lentils cooked in a spicy base)
Punjabi Kadhi (Spicy chickpea flour & yogurt based gravy)
Palak Paneer 
Gajar ka halwa
Onions and chillies on the side
Salted lassi

Ingredients for jeera rice:
1 cup Basmati rice
1 tbsp. ghee
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 small bay leaf
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 or 2 cardamom pods
Salt to taste
Method:
* Rinse and soak rice in water for 10 to 15 minutes and drain. 
* Heat a tbsp. ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon stick and cardamom. When cumin starts to brown, add rice and saute for a minute. 
* At this point, the rice can be continued to cook in the pan or pressure cooked. 
Add 2 cups water and salt to the pan and bring it to a boil. Cover and cook on low flame until the rice grains appear cooked and fluffy. Don't be tempted to stir in between.
Or transfer the mixture to a container to place in a pressure cooker or directly to a small pressure cooker. Add 1&1/2 cups water and salt to it and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
 
Ingredients for tadka / tempering: 
1 - 2 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp fenugreek/methi seeds
1 or 2 small dried, red chillies, broken into bits
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. ginger paste / minced ginger
2 pinches of asafoetida

Ingredients for the Punjabi kadhi:
2 small onions, thinly sliced lengthwise or chopped
1 cup sour yogurt
1/3 cup besan / chickpea flour
Salt to taste
Red chili powder to taste
1/8 tsp turmeric powder
About 2 & 1/2 cups water or as needed
1/4 tsp each garam masala or as per tasteMaking kadhi:
* Heat the oil in pan and add cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, bay leaf and red chillies. When cumin starts to brown, add ginger and saute for few seconds. Next add asafoetida and onion and fry on low flame until the onion turns translucent.
* Mean while churn / beat the yogurt to get a uniform consistency. Sieve the besan. (Sieving beforehand helps in preventing the besan forming lumps when added to the yogurt.) Add the yogurt to the besan and mix well. Pass the yogurt - besan mixture through a sieve again to avoid any lumps if present. (I take this extra measure to avoid the trouble of lumps in the kadhi mixture later.)
* Add this yogurt mixture, chili powder, turmeric powder and salt to the fried onions. Also add about 2&1/2 to 3 cups of water to it. Cook on low heat for about 15 - 20 minutes till it thickens. Stir now and then. In between, the heat can be increased once or twice for a minute or so to quicken the cooking process. Add garam masala and amchur too if preferred to the kadhi. Cook for a couple of minutes more. Turn off the stove.
Kadhi further thickens after sitting for a while and so prepare the kadhi a little thinner than you like.
 

This goes to Blogging marathon #70, under the theme 'Thaali Recipes'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.

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Andhra Pradesh Homestyle Thaali ~ Panasa Pottu Koora / Raw Jackfruit Curry

This must be my first 'Thaali' post ever on my blog. I cook 2 to 3 side dishes almost on a daily basis to serve with rice besides the pickle / chutney and yogurt. However I am not adventurous enough to serve a thaali for my family on either a festival day or for blogging purposes. It seems suicidal to me, especially when you don't have a helping hand and you are staring at two sinks full of dirty dishes after the cooking and clicking part. However this time when the thaali theme was announced, it clicked that I don't need to cook everything on the same day and I can cook a mini thaali. And so, this thaali happened and I stuck to my home state of Andhra Pradesh for the first post to skip the 'exploring recipes' part. 

This homestyle or a simple festive thaali (sans onion and garlic) consists of 
Annam (Rice)
Gongura Pachadi (Sorrel leaves Chutney)
Cabbage - Pesarapappu Koora (Cabbage & Moongdal Curry)
Panasa Pottu Koora (Raw Jackfruit Curry)
Muddha Pappu (Lentils seasoned with just salt)
Majjiga Pulusu (Spicy yogurt based gravy)
Palakoora Pappu (Spicy Lentils cooked with Spinach)
Chaaru / Rasam (Spicy Lentil Broth)
Pulihora (Tamarind Rice)
Payasam (Kheer / Indian Pudding)
Garelu (Whole Black Bean Fritters)
Perugu (Yogurt)
Appadam (Papad) & Neyyi (Ghee)

Most of the preparations here are eaten along with rice and a dollop of ghee. The first course would be rice mixed with gongura pachadi and a tsp. of ghee. Followed by kooras / the vegetable preparations eaten in a similar fashion as above. Then pulihora and the lentil preparations again eaten with rice along with the appadam or the toasted lentil wafers . In Andhra, majjiga pulusu (a kadhi, if loosely translated) is always eaten with rice along with the muddha pappu / plain dal. Then the garelu / fritters and payasam. (My fritters are dark here because I used the whole black gram with out removing the skin.) The meal is rounded off with yogurt rice. 

I chose to post the recipe for panasa pottu koora from the above thaali for today. Vegetable preparations using panasa pottu or the shredded raw jack fruit is a common feature in the northern coastal areas of Andhra. Panasa pottu is readily available in markets there though a can of raw jack fruit in lieu of it would as well serve the purpose. My version today is one of the simple yet delicious preparations using panasa pottu.

Ingredients:
1.5 cups shredded raw jackfruit
1.5 to 2 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. split chickpeas / chana dal
1 tsp. skinned black gram / urad dal
1 tsp. mustard seeds
1 tsp. cumin seeds
3 to 4 dried red chillies, broken into bits
A stalk of curry leaves
1/8 tsp. turmeric powder
2 pinches of asafoetida powder
Salt to taste
1 tbsp. tamarind extract or 1 tsp. lemon juice
1 - 2 tsp. powdered jaggery

Method:
* If using canned raw jackfruit, drain and rinse thoroughly. Drain again and dry if needed. Shred the jackfruit pieces pulsing through a food processor as shown in the above picture.
* Heat oil in a pan and add split chickpeas, black gram, mustard seeds and cumin seeds in that order. When the split chickpeas and black gram starts turning brownish, add red chiilies, curry leaves, turmeric and asafoetida. saute for few seconds and then add the shreeded raw jackfruit and salt.
* Mix well and cover the pan. Cook on low flame until jackfruit is done. Add jaggery and tamarind extract to the cooked curry and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. Cook for a couple of minutes more and turn off the stove.

This goes to Blogging marathon #70, under the theme 'Thaali Recipes'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.

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Dhaabay Di Dal

Dhaabas, the roadside eateries serving Punjabi food is a common feature along the Indian highways. The traditional dhaabas mostly cater hearty food at a reasonable price to weary truck drivers and the others who are eager enough to try out their greasy offerings. I have not been adventurous enough to try out the food from a roadside shack but have tried to create some of their dishes in my kitchen albeit low cal versions. This dhaabay di dal which literally means a lentil preparation from dhaaba comes from a cookbook by Sanjeev Kapoor and have been tried in my kitchen many times over the years. This tasty and spicy dal is prepared using a mixture of three different kind of lentils and is a favorite of mine.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup kidney beans / rajma
1/4 cup whole black gram / sabut urad dal
2 to 4 tbsp. roasted split chickpeas / chana dal
2 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. ginger - garlic paste
1 small green chillie, chopped fine
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 tsp. cumin powder
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp. red chili powder
1 to 1.5 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. kasuri methi
Minced cilantro to garnish

Method:
* Soak all the beans overnight or for about 8 to 10 hours and pressure cook them softly adding sufficient water. Drain the water if preferred and lightly mash the dal with the back of the ladle.
* Heat oil in a pan and add ginger and garlic paste and saute until golden brown. Next add chillies and onion and fry until the onion start to brown. 
* Next add cumin and chili powders and stir. Add tomato pieces and cook until mushy. 
* Add the cooked dals, butter, salt, cilantro and extra water (to the desired consistency) to the pan and stir. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for about five minutes.

* Crush kasuri methi between your palms and sprinkle over the dal. Stir and turn off the stove.
* Serve hot with rotis / rice.

This goes to Blogging marathon #69, under the theme 'Bookmarked Recipes'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.

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Flax Seed Chutney Podi

This spicy podi comes from Sapana's blog and this was one more recipe I bookmarked from last month's mega marathon. I tried it as it was a different kind podi than the chutney podi version I am used to and was based on flax seeds. It is a good one for those who prefer strongly flavored podis and my husband enjoyed this flax seed based podi very much with his breakfast dishes.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup peanuts
1/4 cup skinned black gram / urad dal
1/4 cup roasted split chick peas / dalia dal
1/4 cup grated, dried coconut
6 to 8 dried red chillies
1 tablespoon tamarind
1.5 tsp. cumin seeds
Salt to taste
2 tsp. oil
2 pinches of asafoetida
Method:
* Dry toast flax seeds and peanuts individually and keep them aside. 
* Next add skinned black gram, roasted split chickpeas, coconut, chillies, cumin seeds and tamarind to the saute pan and toast them until the black gram starts turning brownish. Transfer them to a wide plate and let them cool.
* Add all the toasted ingredients to a mixer / grinder and grind them fine.
* Heat oil in  small pan and add asafoetida and turn off the stove. Add this to the ground powder above and mix well.
* It can be served along with dosas / idlis / upma or even with some plain rice and ghee.

This goes to Blogging marathon #69, under the theme 'Bookmarked Recipes'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.

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Greengram Idli / Moong Idli

The idea for this healthy breakfast option came from Kalyani's post from last blogging marathon though I overlooked the details at the time of preparation, ending up altogether with a different variety of idlis if I am not wrong. My husband loves his idlis as my daughter does her macaroni and cheese. The man wouldn't be complaining if idlis are the only thing that get served at breakfast table all his life while I am the opposite. I would eat them only as my last option though I make good quality idlis, thanks to my south Indian upbringing. The healthy infusion of moong beans in the idli captivated my attention though I wasn't sure how my husband would receive the idea. My husband considered me crazy to try to mess up with the perfected, traditional version of fluffy idlis though he wasn't that vehement about the idea after tasting them. They were a little heavy when compared to the standard version idlis and a few will fill you up good for a longer time. I used idli rice, forgot the seasoning part before filling the idli moulds and so, my idlis ended up looking different than Kalyani's. I am sure that the seasoning would make them more flavorful and there is always a next time to try them. :) These idlis make a healthier meal option and a great variation if looking out to try a different variety idli. 

Ingredients: (Yield 18 to 20 idlis)
1/2 to 3/4 cup whole green gram / sabut mung
3/4 cup split, skinned black gram / urad dal
3/4 cup idli rice
Salt to taste

Method:
* Rinse green gram, black gram and idli rice twice and soak in water (submerging them well) for 3 to 4 hours. Drain the water used to soak before grinding.
* Finely grind the soaked ingredients adding salt and enough water into thick batter. Transfer the batter into a container that can hold more than the ground batter since it is going to raise during the fermentation period.
* Cover the container and keep it in a warm place to ferment overnight. (I usually grind the batter in the evening and leave it in the oven with the light on. I do not turn on the oven. I live in a cold place and this method works for me resulting in a good fermented batter in around 12 to 14 hours.)

* Grease the idli plates and fill the moulds with the batter and steam them on low flame, about 20 minutes.
* Serve them with chutney / sambhar of your choice. 
 
This goes to Blogging marathon #69, under the theme 'Bookmarked Recipes'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.

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Apple Kheer

For today's 'fruit' based recipe, here is a very yummy dessert based on apple and it involves a simple preparation. I am sure that anyone with a sweet tooth would enjoy this treat, irrespective of their age. Any variety of apple works here as long as it is a sweet one. I have just used milk here and reduced it in quantity to get a thicker consistency but for a quicker and more decadent version, a small quantity of condensed milk or cashew paste can be added. It would make a great treat for gatherings as it can be prepared a day in advance or it can be a part of festive meal for a quick 'sweet' option.

Ingredients: (yield 2 servings)

1 small sized apple (1/2 cup grated)
1 to 2 tbsp. ghee 
1 & 1/2 cups full fat milk 
2 to 2.5 tbsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. ground cardamom
1 tbsp. slivered almonds to garnish

Method:
* Peel and grate the apple.
* Heat ghee in a pan, preferably a non stick one and fry the apple on low flame until it softens, about 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer the cooked apple to a bowl and keep it aside.
* To the same pan, add the milk and bring it to a boil. Lower the flame and continue to heat it until the quantity reduces to about 2/3rds (about a cup), stirring intermittently.
* Add sugar and cardamom to the milk and stir until the sugar dissolves. Turn off the stove and stir in the cooked apple. 
* Either serve the kheer warm or let the mixture cool and chill it before serving. 
* Garnish with almonds or other nuts/ dry fruits of your choice.
 
These pancakes go to 
1. Blogging marathon #69.
2. 'Kids' Delight' event hosted by Varada this edition, with a theme of 'Fruit based Recipes'. 

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Eggless Multi Flour Banana Pancakes

 
These banana based pancakes are made with a melange of flours to up the nutrition factor. I tried to replace the good old APF with wheat, oat and amaranth flours here though any other flours can be substituted easily. The flours I used here do not affect the flavor of the pancakes at all and so, chances of these pancakes getting rejected by kids are not that much.

Ingredients: (Yield 6 pancakes)
1 tbsp. flax meal or 1 egg substitute
1/2 cup wheat flour
1/4 cup oat flour
1/4 cup amaranth flour
2 to 3 tbsp. buckwheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder 
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 mashed banana
2 to 3 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. honey
3/4 cup milk or as needed

Method:
1. Whisk flax meal and 3 tbsp. warm water together and leave aside for about 5 minutes.
2. Heat a griddle / non stick pan on medium heat such that a drop of water beads when dropped on it.
3. Whisk together the flours, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Whisk the flax meal from step 1, mashed banana, melted butter, honey and milk in another bowl. Combine both dry and wet ingredients and whisk the mixture to a thick batter of pouring consistency. 
4. Pour about 1/4 cup batter of batter onto the pan. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface and the bottom side turns golden brown. Flip the pancake with a spatula and cook for about 30 - 40 seconds more. Transfer onto a serving plate. Repeat the steps with the remaining batter.
5. Serve the pancakes warm with maple syrup or any sauce of your choice.
 

 
These pancakes go to 
1. Blogging marathon #69.
2. 'Kids' Delight' event hosted by Varada this edition, with a theme of 'Fruit based Recipes'. 

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Strawberry Sauce

 
My post today is a simple yet yummy sauce made with strawberries. This fruit based sauce works as topping for pancakes/crepes, waffles, ice creams, cakes and much more. It is a beginner recipe where you can dump everything together into a pot and stir intermittently until the sauce of desired consistency is reached. My daughter eats this sauce with pancakes where I enjoy it as it is sometimes.
 
Ingredients:
1.5 cup hulled and sliced strawberries
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar (or adjust to taste)
2 tsp. corn starch 
1/2 tsp. vanilla essence (optional)
(Corn starch and vanilla can be replaced with vanilla flavored custard powder.)
 
Method:
* Add berries, sugar and water to a pot and bring to boil on medium flame. Lower the heat and continue to cook until the berries are soft.
* Mix corn starch with a tbsp. of water and whisk it to a thick liquid. Add this to the pot, stirring continuously until it is blended well into the berry mixture. Cook for few minutes more until it becomes thick and syrupy. Mash it with the back of a spoon or puree it if a chunky sauce is not preferred.

 
This goes to 
1. Blogging marathon #69.
2. 'Kids' Delight' event hosted by Varada this edition, with a theme of 'Fruit based Recipes'. 

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Brown Rice Masala Dosa

Dosa, a common and popular breakfast choice from South India can be dubbed as the Indian version pancake albeit an eggless and flourless version and healthier to boot. The term 'dosa' usually refers to the ones prepared using ground and fermented batter of rice and black gram though there are a myriad variety of dosas that are prepared using fermented batters / ground but not fermented batters and instant version mixes. 

Among the wide range of delectable dosa choices, the supreme status undoubtedly goes to the masala dosa and is the most popular variety of dosas sold in south Indian restaurants. Dosas filled with a spicy and yummy potato masala and served with chutney and onion sambhar would make a very enjoyable combination for spicy food lovers. And a pat of butter on top, restaurant style definitely increases the flavor factor of a masala dosa. 

Substituting brown rice for white rice makes these dosas healthier and somehow we find brown rice dosas more flavorful than the traditional white rice dosas. The potato filling that is usually served in restaurants or homes is this version though I love and prepare this version more. Coconut chutney is commonly served at restaurants though peanut chutney would be a great substitution for it.

Ingredients for dosa batter:
2 cups brown rice
1/2 cup skinned black gram / urad dal
A fistful of split chickpeas / chana dal
1 tbsp. beaten rice flakes / poha
Salt to taste

Ingredients for masala dosa:
Dosa batter (Recipe below)
Oil / Ghee to make dosas (I use canola oil.)
Potato curry
Coconut chutney / Peanut chutney

 Preparing the dosa batter:
* Rinse rice, dals and poha in two exchanges of water and soak them in enough water to let the ingredients be submerged, for about 3 o 4 hours. Drain the water after the soaking period.
*  Grind the soaked ingredients into a smooth, thick batter using enough water as needed.
* Transfer the ground batter to a container, add salt and mix well. (Choose a container which can hold more than the ground batter since it is going to rise during the fermentation process.)
* Cover  the batter and allow it to ferment overnight or for at least 10-12 hours in a warm place. (I usually leave my batter in my convection oven overnight, with the light on. I don't turn my oven on. This tip really works, if you live in a cold place.)
* If the batter is fermented properly, there will be an increase in the quantity of the batter and appears frothy when stirred.

Making dosas:
* Heat a non stick shallow pan / griddle. When you sprinkle a few drops of water on the griddle, the water should sizzle and evaporate. This means the griddle is ready to use.
* Pour a ladleful of batter on the griddle and spread it into a thin circle with the help of the backside of the ladle. Spread about ½ tsp of oil around the edges of the dosa. Cook on low - medium flame until the lower side turns golden brown. Flip the dosa and cook it  for about 15 to 20 seconds  so that it is cooked on the other side too. Flip again and place about 3 to 4 tbsp. potato curry on one half side and fold the dosa. Remove the dosa with a spatula and repeat the process with the remaining batter.
* Serve dosas with chutney & onion sambhar.
 
This goes to Blogging marathon #69, under the theme 'Flatbreads'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.

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Beetroot Parathas / Spicy Stuffed Beetroot Flatbreads

My second one in the 'Flatbreads' series this week is going to be these Indian style spicy flatbreads with a beetroot stuffing. Potato, radish, cauliflower, lentils or paneer (milk based Indian cheese) are the most commonly used ingredients to stuff the unleavened Indian breads called parathas / paranthas. These parathas with a spicy stuffing do not need any other side dishes to go with and are served with a pat of butter, yogurt and a hot pickle if needed. Beetroot filling though not a conventional one, offers a healthy alternative and these parathas are one more way to include the iron and folic acid rich root vegetable in the diet.

I love the earthy flavor of beets and usually prefer to retain it in a dish by not overly masking it in spices. These parathas are no exception and only ginger and chili powder add the heat factor here. I sometimes tend to add garam masala but not particular about it in these parathas. A dash of ground coriander and cumin or amchur may be an interesting addition too though I prefer to keep the filling simple as mentioned above. I had made them spicy and so, a cup of yogurt was all I needed to enjoy them.

Ingredients: (Yield 6 parathas)
1 cup wheat flour / atta + extra for dusting
1 peeled and grated beetroot (about 2 cups)
1/2 tsp. grated ginger
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1/2 tsp. red chili powder (or as per taste)
1/4 tsp. garam masala (optional)
Salt & oil as needed

Method:
* Combine wheat flour and 1/4 tsp. salt in a mixing bowl. Add water and mix working with your fingers to for a firm, pliable dough. (6 to 7 tbsp. water would be needed for this quantity flour.) Add a tsp. of oil and knead the dough for a minute or two. Cover and leave the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes. I usually leave the dough to rest for about two hours as I don't knead.
* Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing for parathas. Heat 2 tsp. of oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. When they start to brown, add the grated beetroot and salt. Mix with a spatula, cover and cook on low flame until the beet gratings are cooked. Add chili powder and any other seasonings if using and mix well. Cook for a minute more and turn off the stove. Let this stuffing come to room temperature before preparing the parathas.
* Knead the dough again for few seconds and divide it into 6 or 12 portions depending upon which method mentioned below you are going to use to roll out the stuffed parathas. Roll each dough portion into a smooth ball. Work on one portion at a time and keep the remaining covered. 
* There are two ways to stuff and roll the parathas. The first method requires some amount of expertise to stuff and roll without spilling. In this case, a dough ball is rolled into a circle and the stuffing is placed at the center. Then the edges are brought together encasing the stuffing in a disc form and rolled again. 
The second method is the easiest one where you roll out two dough circles for each paratha. Spoon out the stuffing over one circle, place another circle over it, join the edges and then roll them together. Check my aloo paratha post for a detailed explanation with pictures. 
* Heat an iron griddle or a shallow, non stick pan and place the rolled out paratha. Toast the paratha, brushing generously with oil until both sides are cooked well and brown spots appear.
* Repeat the steps of rolling and toasting the parathas with the remaining dough balls and the stuffing. Serve them hot with yogurt and a spicy pickle.
 
This goes to Blogging marathon #69, under the theme 'Flatbreads'. Check here to find out what the other marathoners are cooking as part of the BM.

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