Vermicelli Upma|Semiya Upma|சேமியா உப்புமா

Vermicelli upma/Semiya upma is the popular South Indian breakfast item which can be done in minutes. This nutritious and healthy dish can be eaten for breakfast or dinner or as an evening snack.

Ingredients

• Vermicelli/Semiya - 1 cup
• Grated carrot - 1/2 cup
• Onion - 1, medium sized
• Green chillies - 1
• Water - 3 cups
• Salt - To taste
• Ghee - 2 tsp

     For the seasoning

• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Channa dal/Kadalai paruppu/கடலை பருப்பு - 1 tsp
• Urad dal/Ulundu/உளுந்து - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - Few

Method

1. Roast vermicelli with ghee in a pan and keep aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
3. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter, add channa dal and urad dal. Fry till they turn light brown.
4. Add curry leaves and fry for few seconds.
5. Add chopped onions,green chillies and little salt. Saute till transparent.
6. Add grated carrot and mix well, cook for 3 minutes in medium heat. Sprinkle some water when required.
7. Add 3 cups of water and allow it to boil. Adjust salt to taste.
8. Simmer the stove and add roasted vermicelli little by little to avoid formation of lumps.
9. Keep stirring in low-medium heat until it reaches the consistency you desire.
10. Serve hot with chutney of your choice.

Tips

- You can also substitute chopped carrots and beans for grated carrot.

- You can sprinkle some ghee roasted dry fruits few seconds before turning off the stove.

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Tomato Sabji|Tomato Bajji|Thakkali Bajji|தக்காளி பஜ்ஜி

Tomato sabzi/Tomato sabji is an easy and delicious dish which is served as side dish for South Indian breakfast recipes like Idli, Dosa or pongal and can also be served with roti or chapati. It is prepared by sauteing tomatoes and onion with seasonings.

Ingredients

• Tomatoes - 3, large sized
• Onion - 1, medium sized
• Coriander leaves - A handful
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Channa dal/Kadalai paruppu/கடலை பருப்பு - 2 tsp
• Urad dal/Ulundu/உளுந்து - 1 tsp
• Red chillies - 3
• Curry leaves - Few
• Salt - To taste
• Oil - 1 tbsp

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
2. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter, add channa dal, urad dal and red chillies. Saute till it turns light brown.
3. Then add curry leaves and fry for few seconds.
4. Add finely chopped onions and little salt. Saute till it becomes transparent.
5. Now add finely chopped tomatoes and cook covered in low-medium heat till mashed.
6. Add coriander leaves and mix well.
7. Adjust salt to taste and serve hot.

Tips

- Use juicy tomatoes so that you don't have to add water and therefore tastes better.
- If the tomatoes are not sour, add little tamarind paste to the dish before adding coriander leaves.

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Vegetable Biryani

Vegetable Biryani is a healthy and colorful rice dish prepared with spices and vegetables. This nutrient rich recipe contains soya chunks and vegetables chiefly carrots and green beans. Protein-rich soya chunks provides similar taste of meat and is good for women health to maintain healthy bones and overcome menopausal symptoms.

Ingredients

• Basmati rice - 2 cups
• Carrot - 1/2 cup, chopped
• Green beans - 1/4 cup, cut into 1 inch pieces
• Potato - 1/2 cup, peeled and cubed
• Soya chunks - 1/2 cup
• Onion - 1, medium sized
• Tomatoes - 2, large sized
• Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp
• Chilli powder - 1 tsp
• Biryani masala - 2 tbsp
• Garam masala - 1 tbsp
• Mint leaves - 1/2 cup
• Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup
• Cinnamon/பட்டை - 1 inch
• Cloves/கிராம்பு - 2
• Fennel seeds/சோம்பு - 1 tsp
• Marathi mokku/மராத்தி மொக்கு - 2
• Star anise/Annachi mokku/அன்னாச்சி மொக்கு - 2
• Bay leaf - 1
• Salt - To taste
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp

Method

1. Soak the basmati rice for half an hour. Drain the water and keep aside.
2. Boil water in a pan and turn off the stove. Add soy chunks and let it sit for 5 minutes. Rinse with cold water and squeeze the water. Keep aside.
3. Heat ghee and oil in a cooker and add cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds and bay leaf. Saute till it leaves a nice aroma.
4. Add chopped onions and little salt. Saute till golden brown.
5. Add ginger garlic paste and tomatoes. Cook till mashed.
6. Add coriander leaves and mint leaves & cook till wilted.
7. Add chilli powder, biryani masala and garam masala & mix well.
8. Then add chopped vegetables and soy chunks to the cooker and cook for 2 minutes.
9. Now add well drained rice and mix well.
10. Add 3 cups of water and adjust salt to taste.
11. Close the lid and cook for 1 whistle. Then simmer the stove for 5 minutes and turn it off.
12. After the pressure is released gently mix the rice.
13. Serve hot with raita.

Tips

- You can add or omit vegetables like potatoes, green peas, cauliflower, capsicum and beetroot.
- You can also sprinkle some ghee roasted dry fruits over the rice before serving.

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