Sweet Kozhukattai|Vella Kozhukattai|Mothagam

Vella Kozhukattai is a delicious sweet recipe prepared during Vinayagar Chathurthi festival. The stuffing is made out of coconut and jaggery (thengai pooranam).

Ingredients

• Rice flour - 1 cup (Idiyappam flour preferable)
• Oil - 1 tsp (sesame oil preferable)
• Salt - to taste

    For pooranam

• Jaggery - 1 cup
• Ghee - 1 tsp
• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

Method

1. Boil 1.5 cups of water with oil and salt for a minute and turn off the flame.
2. Add rice flour gradually while stirring continuously with a spatula. Cover it and let it cool.
3. Knead the dough while it's warm and keep aside. Keep it covered with a damp cloth and close it with a lid.
4. For pooranam, heat a pan and add jaggery and 1/4 cup of water. Mix till the jaggery melts and filter to remove impurities. Return the jaggery water to the pan and add grated coconut, ghee and cardamom powder. Mix well for 5 minutes in low-medium flame until it thickens and become dry. Turn off the stove. Don't overcook the mixture.
5. Make even sized balls from the dough. Keep it covered with the damp cloth to prevent drying.
6. Grease the mould with oil, close it and put 3/4th of the ball in the mould. Press the dough on the walls of the mould using your fingers. 
7. Add a portion of pooranam and seal it evenly with the remaining 1/4th of the ball on top.
8. Open the mould and gently remove the kozhukattai/modakam from the mould.
9. Repeat this and keep covered until steaming.
10. Arrange all the kozhukattais on a idli plate and steam cook for 10 minutes. Ready to serve.

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Aloo Capsicum Sabzi|Potato Capsicum Curry

Aloo capsicum curry is a simple North Indian dry curry that goes perfectly as a side dish for both chapati and rice. Potato and capsicum is an awesome veg combo loved by many.

Ingredients

• Potatoes - 4, medium sized
• Capsicum - 1, large sized
• Onion - 1, medium sized
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
• Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Coriander leaves - to garnish

     To grind

• Tomatoes - 2, medium sized
• Dry coriander seeds - 1 tsp
• Green Chillies - 1

Method

1. Boil the potatoes for 15-20 minutes. Peel the skin, cut into cubes and keep aside.
2. Grind tomatoes, green chillies and dry coriander seeds together into puree and keep aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds.
4. Add onion and fry until light brown.
5. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 1-2 minutes in low-medium heat.
6. Add turmeric powder, cumin powder and garam masala. Mix well.
7. Now add tomato puree and salt and cook till the oil oozes out of the mixture.
8. Then add cubed potatoes and capsicum and mix well.
9. Add 1/4 cup of water and cook covered in medium heat until done. The consistency of the gravy should be thick.
10. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with chapati or rice.

Notes

- Don't pressure cook the potatoes as it gets mushy while cooking the gravy.

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Chicken Mayo Sandwich

Chicken mayo sandwich is easy to make and loved especially by kids. This delicious sandwich filling is made by mixing mayonnaise with boiled and shredded chicken.

Ingredients

• Chicken - 1 cup, boiled and shredded/chopped
• Bread slices - 4
• Mayonnaise - 4 tbsp
• Salt - to taste
• Pepper powder - to taste
• Butter - 1 tsp

Method

1. Boil the chicken with little salt and cook for 15-20 minutes or until done.
2. Take out the chicken and shred it or chop into smaller pieces.
3. Combine chicken, mayo, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
4. Butter the bread slices and toast them in a pan.
5. Add 2-3 tbsp of chicken mixture over the toasted bread and spread it evenly. Cover with another slice and press down. Cut the sandwich diagonally.
6. Repeat with remaining slices and chicken mixture. Serve immediately.

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Vermicelli Kheer|Semiya Payasam|சேமியா பாயசம்

Semiya payasam is one of the easiest sweets and a very common dish that can be made for any occasion. This delicious dish is made with roasted vermicelli, sugar and milk. It can be served hot or cold.

Vermicelli Kheer

Ingredients

• Vermicelli/Semiya - 1/2 cup
• Sugar - 1/2 cup
• Milk - 1 cup
• Water - 2 cups
• Cashews - 5-6
• Raisins - 10
• Cardamom powder - a pinch
• Ghee - 2 tbsp

Method

1. Heat ghee in a pan and fry cashews and raisins until light golden brown. Remove from the pan and keep aside.
2. In the same pan roast vermicelli in low-medium heat until golden. Keep aside.
3. Boil water in a sauce pan and add the roasted vermicelli. Cook until soft.
4. Add the milk and bring it to boil.
5. Add sugar and cardamom powder. Stir well. Cook until the sugar dissolves and switch off the stove.
6. Garnish with roasted cashews and raisins. Ready to serve.

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Egg Muffins

Egg muffins otherwise called as baked omelette is a quick, easy and delicious snack. These fluffy egg muffins are low-carb and high in protein and can be prepared with your favorite toppings.

Egg Muffins

Ingredients

• Eggs - 12
• Onion - 1, finely chopped
• Mushrooms - 1 cup, chopped
• Grated cheese - 1 cup
• Salt - 1/2 tsp
• Garlic powder - 1/2 tsp
• Cooking spray/oil - To coat the pan

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Beat the eggs with salt and garlic powder.
3. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray or oil. Divide the chopped onions, mushrooms and cheese between each muffin cup, then carefully pour egg mixture until the tins are 2/3rd full.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
5. Let them rest in the pan for a few minutes and carefully remove them.
6. Serve immediately.

Tips

- Store the extra muffins in a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for a month.

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Soya Chunks Curry

Soya chunks curry is a healthy and delicious vegetarian side dish that goes well with rotis, chapatis and pulao. Soya chunks are good source of protein and soy protein in general is rich in B vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Soya Chunks Curry

Ingredients

• Soya Chunks/Meal maker - 1 cup
• Onion - 1
• Tomato - 2
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
• Coriander powder - 2 tbsp
• Garam masala - 2 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Coriander leaves - to garnish
• Green Chillies - 1
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp+1 tbsp

Method

1. Boil water in a pan with a little salt and turn off the flame. Add soya chunks to it, cover and keep it aside for 15 mins. Rinse well in cold water, squeeze it nicely to remove all water content and keep it aside.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onion. Saute well until transparent.
3. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until soft.
4. Cool the mixture and grind to a smooth paste.
5. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and green chilly.
6. Add ground onion tomato paste and ginger garlic paste. Saute well for 2 minutes.
7. Add turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala and salt. Saute well till the oil oozes out of the mixture.
8. Now add soya chunks and cook covered for 10 minutes in low-medium flame.
9. Adjust salt to taste and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.

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Onion Tomato Uthappam

Onion tomato uthappam is a healthy South Indian breakfast and tastes delicious. It is easy to make and can be served with chutney and sambar.

Onion Tomato Uthappam

Ingredients

Dosa batter - 2 cups
Large onion - 1/2 cup, chopped
Tomato - 1/2 cup, chopped
Green Chillies - 2 tbsp chopped
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
Oil/Ghee - To cook uthappam

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients except oil and dosa batter in a bowl.
2. Heat a tawa and grease with oil.
3. Pour a ladle of batter and spread it into a thick circle.
4. Sprinkle the mixture of toppings all over the uthappam. Drizzle some oil/ghee around it and cook covered in medium flame for 2-3 minutes.
5. Flip on the other side and cook until lightly browned.
6. Serve hot.

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