Tomato chutney

Preparation time : 10 mins
Cook time : 15 mins

Tomato chutney goes well with most of the Indian breakfast choices. Don't hold back by seeing the colour of chutney. I am sure it will become one of your favourites too  :) . This is my Mom's version . I used to prepare it often for dosa and idly . The colour of chutney is pale yellow due to the usage of dals and onions .  I will soon post the Red chutney / Easy onion tomato chutney . Hope u will try this recipe and let me know how it turned out .

Ingredients needed :-

Ripe Tomatoes - 3
Onion - 1 (big one )
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Channa dal / kadalai parupu -1 tsp
Long red chilli - 3
Coconut - 4 (medium pieces) or 2 tbsp
Curry leaves - few
Tamarind - a small - bit
Salt

For seasoning :-

Oil
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves

Method :-

1. Heat oil in a pan and add urad and channa dal , saute till it turns slightly golden brown ,then add red chilli and saute for a minute & keep it aside .
2. In the same pan add roughly chopped onions and saute till it becomes translucent .
3. Add chopped tomatoes . After it is half -cooked , add curry leaves, coconut , tamarind and switch off the flame.
4. Add salt needed .Cool it and grind it in a mixer or blender . Do not add water . 
5. Again heat oil in a pan add the ingredients for seasoning .
6. Add the ground chutney and again cook it for 5 more minutes in simmer till the oil separates or any raw flavor goes.

Serve it with Idly, Dosa or Chapathi .

Tips :-

• Saute urad dal , channa dal and red chilli in simmer to avoid burnt .
• Do not cook tomatoes mushy . Let it be half - cooked .
• Curry leaves enhances the flavor of tomato chutney .
• If you prefer slightly thinner consistency, then just add little amount of water while cooking the grounded chutney .
• To avoid the chutney from sputtering, Cook it with the closed lid . stir from time to time .

Serving size :- 2 - 3

Sprout moong salad

Preparation time : 10 mins
Cook time : 5 mins

I just soaked green moong dal some extra , so i thought why not i make sprouts ?? Today i prepared sprout moong salad which is colourful, refreshing and nourishing dish. Sprouts are considered to be very healthy as they have rich in protein . Sprouts can be a good evening snack or sometimes a afternoon meal .

Ingredients needed :-

Sprouts - 1 cup

Pomegranate - 1/2 cup
Carrot - 1 (medium -sized)
Onion - 1
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Black pepper
Salt

Method :-

1. Grate carrot and keep it aside.Chop onions finely .
2. Just toss all the ingredients in a bowl . Add salt and pepper according to your taste .

Serve it immediately as a snack or meal .

Tips :-

How to make sprouts ?

Soak the whole moong dal for overnight .The next day drain water and transfer to a clean muslin cloth . Keep it aside for at-least 8 hrs or still longer .

Bring the corners of the muslin cloth to the centre tie a knot and hang it over , or else u can just cover it with a lid or in a air-tight container . You can see the sprouts are ready now !!!

• Adding veggies is completely of your choice.U can add cucumber , tomatoes, cabbage .
• If you don't like to have the raw sprouts , just steam the sprouts .
• If you pack it up for lunch just skip tomatoes and cucumber as it leaves water .
• Sprouts can be kept in the fridge for 4-5 days.
• You can either add pomegranate or skip it off .

Serving size :- 2-3

Carrot stir fry - Carrot poriyal

preparation time : 15 mins
Cook time : 20 mins

Carrot is rich in vitamin A. It is a common vegetable used as a side dish .Carrot can be eaten in variety of ways .Lack of vision can be remedied by adding vitamin A to the diet . I like the colour of carrot . orange in colour , so appetizing !!!! It has been steamed or even raw !!!This recipe as a side dish goes well with sambar.

Ingredients needed :-

Carrot -4
Onion -1 (medium sized)
Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
Chilli powder-1/2 tsp
Grated coconut -2 tbsp
Salt

For seasoning :-

Oil
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves

Method :-

1. Wash carrot and peel the skin . Grate the carrot and keep it aside .It yields  upto 2 1/4 cups.
2. Heat oil in the pan ,add mustard seeds once it sputters add curry leaves, chopped onion.Saute till it gets golden brown .
3. Then add grated carrot , turmeric powder ,chilli powder , required salt .saute it for few minutes till raw flavor goes.Add 1/4 cup of water.Cover it with a lid and cook on low flame stirring from time to time .
4. If the water has evaporated sprinkle some more water if needed.Cook till carrot become soft add grated coconut mix it well and switch off the flame.

Serve it  as a side-dish for rice with (rasam,sambar or curd ).

Tips :-

•  Dont add too much off water ,it will become mushy.
• Can also add 1 slitted green chilli while seasoning. But i dint use it here.

Serving Size :-2-3

Tomato rice -Tomato bath-Thakkali sadham

Preparation Time : 10 mins
Cook Time : 25 mins

Ingredients needed:-

Rice - 1 cup
Water- 1 & 3/4 cup
Oil
Onion - 2
Tomato - 1 (big one )
Cinnamon stick -1
Cloves-2
Star anise -2
Cardamon-1
Ginger garlic paste-2 tbsp
Green chilli- 1
Turmeric powder-1/4 tbsp
Chilli powder -1/2 tbsp
Garam masala -1/4 tbsp
Salt

For garnishing :-

Coriander leaves
Ghee (optional)

Method:-

1. Wash rice and soak it for 20 minus.
2. Heat oil in a pressure cooker , add cinnamon,cardamon,cloves , star anise and add length-wise cutted onions. Wait until it turns golden brown .
3. Then add ginger garlic paste , saute till raw flavor goes ,add slitted green chilli ,chopped tomatoes ,turmeric powder,chilli powder,garam masala. Saute till it become mushy or oil separates from masala.
4. Then add the soaked rice ,water and needed salt .And pressure cook it for 3 whistles.Once the pressure cooker subsides garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve with raitas , papad's or potato chips.

Tips:-

• Add small amount of salt to cook onion faster.
• If you like tomatoes not to be mushy ,then chop it roughly and cook it only for little time , you need not wait untill it become mushy . It is totally your choice .
• If you prefer can add mint leaves .
• If you prefer can add 2 cups of water . but i have used 1 &3/4 cup ,because tomatoes oozes out water while cooking ,as well rice to be pluffy and not sticky .

Serving Size:- 2

Lemon rice -Ellumichai sadham

Lemon rice is my hubby's favourite dish.whenever i wake up late in the morning i used to prepare lemon rice to pack him for lunch .simple and quick process .Best accompaniment  i ever say for lemon rice is potato fry and just i have tried  with kovakkai /tindoori fry .It goes well along with that too.I hope u will try this recipe and let me know how it turned out.

Ingredients needed:-

Raw rice -1 cup
Lemon (Juicy one)-1
Cashews -few(optional)
Turmeric powder-1/4 tbsp
Sesame oil-1 tbsp
Salt

For Seasoning:-

Oil
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves
Green chillies-2
Peanuts/groundnut-2tbsp

Method :-

1. Wash  rice and pressure cook in the ratio of 1:2 for 3 whsitle.Squeeze the lemon and collect the juice in a cup and keep it aside. 
2. Once the pressure cooker subsides , allow the rice to be cool by spreading sesame oil on to it and keep it aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds , once it sputters add curry leaves,slitted green chillies,peanut ,cashews .saute until it gets golden brown .
4. Then add squeezed lemon juice,turmeric powder and needed salt .
5. Add the cooked rice and mix it well ,till the lemon juice spreads evenly all over the rice and switch off the flame.
6. Granish with coriander leaves.

Tips:-

• Using sesame oil avoids rice to be sticky together while mixing.
• If you prefer can add urad dal and channa dal /kadalai parupu while seasoning.I dint use it here .
• If you like peanuts ,can add some more according to your taste.
• If you like lemon's tanginess can add even some more drops or 1/2 tbsp juice before mixing Cook in simmer while seasoning ,to avoid burnt.

Serving size :- 2-3

Apple - Dates smoothie

Apple- dates smoothie is filling and freshing .If i don't feel like to have my lunch ,i just go for smoothies.Today i combined apple and dates and made this delicious smoothie.It is an healthy nutrient diet .I hope u will try this and let me know how it turned out for you.

Ingredients needed :-

Apple -1
Dates(Deseeded) - 8-10
Milk -1 1/2 cup
Sugar (optional )

Method :-

1. Wash apple and peel the skin off .Cut the apple in cube sized by discarding the seeds and keep it aside.
2. Chop the dates and soak with 1/2 cup of milk for 15-20 minutes ,to get soft.
3. Blend all the ingredients together with half a milk until smooth .Add the remaining milk and blend again to combine well .

Serve chilled (you can optionally use ice cubes to blend along with smoothie)

Tips :-

• You can definitely skip the sugar and add some more dates if needed .Because the dates will sweeten this smoothie.I dint use sugar here.
• Soaking dates with milk helps to become more soft .

Serving size :- 2

Peanut- Groundnut chutney

Peanut lovers will like this chutney . I used to preapare it often for chapathi and idly .My hubby is not a great fan of idly ,if it is peanut chuney as a accompaniment then he goes for it without any hesitation.Easy and quick to preapare this recipe .peanut /Groundnut adds their own flavor.

Ingredients needed :-

Peanut/groundnut -1/2 cup
Grated coconut-1/4 cup
Garlic cloves- 2
Long red chilli -2-3
Curry leaves- 1 stem
Tamarind - a small bit
Salt

For seasoning :-

Oil
Pepper(optional )
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves

Method :-

1. Dry roast the peanut and remove its skin .
2. Grind peanut , grated coconut ,garlic cloves,red chillies,curry leaves , Tamarind, salt needed in a mixer or blender with little amount of water first .Then add some more water and grind it to a slightly smooth paste .
3. Heat oil in a pan add pepper , mustard seeds once it sputters add curry leaves and pour it into a chutney.

Serve it with Idly ,dosa or chapathi .I used to have with hot steamed rice sometimes.

Tips :-

• If you prefer  thick chutney then add less water while grinding .
• If you don't like pepper ,then add urad dal instead of it.

serving size :- 2-3