Carrot Fry|Carrot Poriyal

Carrot Poriyal is a great healthy side dish for any rice varieties. I have not used coconut in this recipe but you can also garnish this poriyal with fresh grated coconut.

Increased intake of antioxidant-rich foods like carrots reduce cancer and cardiovascular disease risks. Carrots may also help with blood sugar regulation, delay the effects of aging and improve immune function.

Carrot Poriyal

Ingredients

• Grated carrot - 2 cups
• Onion - 1/2 cup, finely chopped
• Coriander leaves - To garnish
• Salt - To taste

     For the seasoning

• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
• Channa dal - 1/2 tsp
• Red chillies - 1, broken into half
• Curry leaves - Few

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
2. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter, add urad dal and channa dal. Fry until they turn light brown.
3. Add red chillies and curry leaves and saute for few seconds.
4. Add chopped onion and little salt. Cook until it turns soft.
5. Then add grated carrot and salt. Sprinkle some water and cook covered until it gets cooked.
6. Adjust salt to taste and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.

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Broccoli Fry|Broccoli Poriyal

This tasty and healthy indian style broccoli fry is the perfect side dish to any main meal. 

Broccoli is one of the best health-boosting foods and it has numerous health benefits. Broccoli is one of the cruciferous vegetables and to receive the health benefits include broccoli as part of your diet at least 2-3 times per week.

Broccoli Fry

Ingredients

• Broccoli florets - 2 cups
• Onion - 1, medium sized
• Sambar powder - 1 tsp
• Garlic - 2 cloves, finely chopped
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Urad dal - 1 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 1 tsp

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
2. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter, add urad dal and garlic. Saute for a few seconds.
3. Add chopped onions and cook until soft.
4. Add sambar powder and salt and mix it well.
5. Now add the broccoli florets and sprinkle some water.
6. Cook for 5 minutes in medium heat and serve hot.

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Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

This flavorful and delicious strawberry-banana smoothie is very simple and easy to make, and perfect for a hot summer day. Fruit smoothies are the next best thing in case you skip your breakfast and will help you feel fuller, longer.

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries - 1 cup
• Banana - 1 medium sized
• Greek Yogurt - 3/4 cup (Strawberry flavored)
• Cold milk - 1 1/2 cups

Method

1. In a blender, place all the ingredients and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into 2 glasses and serve immediately.

Tips

- If you don't have greek yogurt you can also use plain yogurt. But the yogurt should be thick.

- You can also add frozen strawberries and banana to make the smoothies thick and cold.

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Aloo Bonda|Urulaikizhangu bonda|உருளைக்கிழங்கு போண்டா

Aloo Bonda is a popular south indian deep fried snack made with gram flour batter and stuffed with potato filling.

Ingredients

• Potatoes - 3, medium sized
• Onion - 1, medium
• Grated ginger - 1 tbsp
• Green chilli - 1
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Cilantro - 2 tbsp, finely chopped
• Curry leaves - few
• Urad dal - 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt - To taste

     For the batter

• Gram flour - 1/2 cup
• Rice flour - 1 tbsp
• Asafoetida/Hing/பெருங்காயம் - 2 pinches
• Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
• Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - To deep fry

Method

1. Pressure cook the potatoes for 3 whistles. Cool down, peel off the skin and mash it well.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. Once it splutters, add urad dal and fry till it turns slight brown.
3. Add curry leaves and grated ginger and saute for few seconds and add onion and green chilli.
4. Cook till the onion turns soft.
5. Add turmeric powder and salt.
6. Now add the mashed potatoes and mix well. Cook for 2 minutes.
7. Cool down and make small balls. Keep aside.
8. In a bowl mix gram flour, rice flour, asafoetida, baking soda, chilli powder and salt. Add water slowly to make a thick batter.
9. Heat oil in a pan. Dip a potato ball in the batter, coat it well and slowly drop into the pan. Repeat for other balls.
10. Fry the balls for a minute in medium heat and turn over to cook evenly on both sides. Fry them until all sides are golden brown.
11. Serve them hot with chutney/sauce.

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Crispy Fried Onions

Fried onions are used for garnishing various food recipes like biryani, soups and salads. They can be pan fried or deep fried.

Ingredients

• Onions - 2
• Corn flour - 1 tbsp
• Oil - for deep frying

Method

1. Peel the onions and cut them into thin slices lengthwise.
2. Sprinkle corn flour on the slices and lightly toss them to coat.
3. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.
4. Reduce the flame to medium. Add few onion slices and deep fry until golden brown and crisp.
5. Remove and place on paper towels to absorb oil.
6. Repeat the process until all onions are fried.

Tips

 - Corn flour is optional. In that case, pat dry onions well with kitchen towel to absorb the moisture. But if you want crispy ones corn flour is a must.

 - Ensure the oil is not very hot and cook in medium flame to cook thoroughly.

 - Do not overcrowd the slices and fry in small batches.

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