Horse Gram/Kollu/கொள்ளு Chutney

Horse Gram Chutney is so delicious and a perfect accompaniment for Idli / dosa. This Kollu chutney is a unique and so tasty too. It also helps in weight loss. Try this Kollu Chutney and share your experience!

Ingredients

Horse Gram/Kollu - ½ cup
Channa Dal – 2 tsp
Jeera/Cumin Seeds – 2 tsp
Grated Coconut – 4 tsp
Tamarind – 2 tsp
Dried Red Chillies – 6
Salt to taste
To Temper
Oil – 1 tsp
Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
Hing – a pinch
Urad Dal – 1 tsp
Curry Leaves – few
Method
Dry roast horse gram till slightly browned. That will give nice aroma to the chutney. Switch off the flame and keep it aside.
In a pan, heat ½ tsp of oil. Add channa dal, dry red chilli, jeera, and grated coconut. Then roast it for another 2 to 3 min.
Then add horse gram and roast for 2 min. Finally add tamarind. Cool down the mixture and transfer to a mixer.
Add little water and grind it form a semi coarse paste. Temper the items listed under “to temper” let it splutter then transfer it to chutney. 
Add required salt and mix well. Serve with hot idli/dosa.

Masala Pasta

Another yummy pasta recipe. This made with some Indian spices. As per your tongue taste, you can adjust the spicy level. Adding veggies are absolutely based on your wishes. Enjoy with this spicy yummy treat!

Ingredients
Pasta – 1 cup
Chopped Tomatoes – 2
Chopped Onion – ¼ cup
Chopped – ¼ cup
Crushed Garlic – 2 tsp
Cumin Seeds/Jeera – 1 tsp
Red Chilli Paste – 1 tsp
Chopped Veggies - ½ cup
(Carrot, Capsicum & Beans ) 
Garam Masala Powder – 1 tsp
Coriander Powder – 1 tsp
Method

In a pan boil water. Add pasta, required salt and a tsp of oil. Cook pasta until soft and rinse it in running water then drain and set aside. Puree chopped tomatoes, Set aside.

In a pan heat oil, add cumin seeds let it crackle then add crushed garlic and onion. Saute till it becomes transparent.

Add carrot and saute it for 2 mins. Add tomato puree, red chilli paste. Then mix well and cook for a minute. Then add garam masala powder, coriander powder and required salt.

Cook until raw smell of tomatoes leaves. Add capsicum and cook for 2 more mins until the mixture becomes saucy and thick.

Add cooked pasta and toss well until the masalas coat the pasta well. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Creamy Mayo Corn Pasta

This is a simple, yummy and creamy pasta and easy to prepare. Shanu loves this dish very much. He used to take to school for his lunch snack. It' a mild pasta, goes very well with French fries.

Ingredients

Pasta – 2 cups
Finely Chopped Garlic – 2 tsp
Chilli flakes – ¼ tsp
Finely Chopped Onions – ¼ cup
Boiled Sweet Corn – 1/2 cup
Chopped Capsicum – ¼ cup
Pepper powder – 2 tsp
Mayonnaise – 4 tsp
Milk (Boiled & Cooled) – 1 Cup
Mixed Herbs – 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method

Bring water to boil, when it starts to boil, add the pasta along with salt and a few drops of oil. Cook in medium flame.

Keep cooking and make sure you stir in between. Cook until it becomes soft but not mushy. Switch off flame and drain water.

Heat oil in a pan – add garlic saute till golden then add onion saute till transparent.

Then add corn and capsicum saute along with required salt, pepper powder and mixed herbs.

Now add mayonnaise and give a quick mix then add half of milk.

Let it bubble and cook for a minute, once it becomes a thick sauce and coats the laddle.

Add remaining milk and pasta, toss over and cook for few minutes till the sauce coats the laddle,

Serve hot with a sprinkle of chilli powder and mixed herbs!

Chocolate Burfi

It’s an easy and tasty recipe. This will be perfect treat for kids. They really love it.

Ingredients

Milk Powder – ¼ cup

Sugar – 1/3 cup

Water – ¼ cup

Coco Powder – 1 tsp

Melted Ghee – 3 tsp

Finely Chopped Almonds – 3 tsp

Method

Grease a plate with ghee and keep it ready before you start cooking.

Mix milk powder and coco powder together, whisk it well so that it gets mixed evenly.

Now add sugar and water, stir well so that sugar completely dissolves.

Let the syrup boil till the syrup reaches single string consistency.  Now add milk powder coco mixture and mix well. Keep mixing, in few seconds it will become thick but still in flowing consistency.

Add ghee, give a quick mix and switch off. Transfer the mixture to a ghee greased plate, level it with a back of spoon for a smoother finish on top.

Garnish with chopped almonds. When it is still warm, cut into squares. Cool down and store in airtight container.

Semolina Coconut Burfi / Coconut Rava Burfi/ Thenga Paarai/ Sooji Coconut Burfi/ தேங்கா பாறை

Semolina Coconut Burfi is one of my childhood favorite Diwali sweets. My aunty (Dad's sister) used to prepare and give me lot in those days. I am still surprising how the time has changed. It's possible in y kitchen now. I simply love it, My kids too.

Ingredients

Grated Coconut – 2 cups
Sugar – 1 ½ cups
Water – ¾ cup
Roasted Semolina/ Sooji/ Rava – ¼ cup
Broken Cashew – 3 tsp
Ghee – 4 tsp
Cardamom Powder – 1 tsp
Method
Add little ghee, roast the broken cashews till golden brown and keep aside.
Now add the sooji and fry till get slight golden color then keep it aside.
In the same pan add the coconut and fry for few min then keep aside.
Grease a tray/plate with ghee and keep it ready.
Take wide bottomed stick pan, add sugar and water mix well till sugar dissolves completely and starts bubbling.
Keep stirring continuously, cook till a single string consistency. At this stage add coconut.
Combine and keep stirring till bubbles start forming at the edges. Now add ghee.
Then add cashews and cardamom powder and give a quick stir. After 5 minutes, it will start thickening and form a mass without sticking and starts coming off easily from the sides of the pan. Then switch it off.

Transfer the mixture to the tray and cut into squares when it’s still warm. Cool down completely then store it in airtight container.

Semolina/Sooji/ Rava Laddu

Semolina Laddu is a quick recipe. This is very easy to make this kind of sweet urundai. Enjoy your festive with this sudden sweet.

Ingredients

Semolina/Sooji/Rava – 1 cup

Sugar – ¾ cup

Cardamom Powder – 1 tsp

Melted Ghee – ¼ cup

Cashew Nuts – 3 tsp

Method

In a kadai, add sooji and dry roast until nice aroma comes and it turns slightly golden. Turn off heat, keep aside and allow it to cool. Heat a tsp of ghee in a pan, and roast cashews till get golden brown, keep aside.

Powder the sugar very fine, set aside in a bowl. The transfer roasted sooji to the same mixie jar.

Grind it to a semi coarse mixture. Transfer powdered sooji and sugar to a mixing bowl and mix until it combined well.

Then add the fried cashews, cardamom powder. Add ghee.

Mix everything together. With your hands form them into round balls by pressing tight.

Press it tight and form balls. Set aside. Store in airtight container.

Lemon Ginger Detox Drink

This drink is a perfect way to start your day! Ginger is a powerful detox ingredient that helps to kick start your metabolism. Lemons are natural detoxifier. This helps to remove unwanted toxins from your body.

Ingredients

Hot Water – 1 cup
Lemon – 1 (Extract Juice)
Honey – 1 tsp
Pepper Powder – ¼ tsp (optional)
Method
In hot water, add lemon juice, crushed ginger and let it be for few min.
Then filter and transfer it separate glass. Now add honey and pepper powder. Mix well.
Drink well and stay healthy!