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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Aloo Poha|Urulaikizhangu Aval Upma

Aloo Poha is a quick, easy and healthy North Indian breakfast dish or snack. It is light, easy to digest and good for diabetes. Eating poha regularly can prevent iron deficiency or anaemia.

Aloo Poha

Ingredients

• Thick flattened rice/Poha - 1 cup
• Onion - 1, big sized
• Potato - 1 cup, chopped into small cubes
• Ginger - 1 tsp, grated
• Green chilies - 1, sliced lengthwise
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
• Roasted peanuts - 2 tbsp
• Coriander leaves - To garnish
• Salt - as required

     For the seasoning

• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - few

Method

1. Take poha in a strainer/colander and wash in running water until the poha absorbs enough water and becomes soft. Don't wash it too much or else it becomes mushy.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
3. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter, add urad dal and curry leaves.
4. When the dal turns light brown, add ginger, roasted peanuts, chopped onions and green chillies. Fry till the onions turn transparent.
5. Add turmeric powder, chopped potatoes and salt and mix well. Cook the potatoes till they are soft.
6. Add the poha and mix gently. Adjust salt to taste. Cook for 2 -3 minutes in low flame.
7. Add lemon juice and mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Tips

- Adding lemon juice to the poha helps in better absorption of iron.

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Tamarind Rice|Puliyodharai|புளியோதரை

Tamarind Rice is a popular and delicious South Indian dish. It is a famous temple prasadam and is an ideal food to pack for travel. It is also a perfect lunch box recipe. You can prepare the tamarind paste (pulikaaichal) in advance and can store in refrigerator for more than a week.

Tamarind Rice

Ingredients

• Raw rice - 1 cup
• Tamarind - Lemon size (soak in 1 cup of warm water and extract juice)
• Roasted Peanuts - 1/2 cup
• Salt - To taste
• Sesame oil - 2 tbsp

     To roast and grind

• Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
• Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp
• Red chillies - 3 (depends on your spice level)

     For the seasoning

• Sesame oil - 2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Channa dal - 1 tbsp
• Urad dal - 1 tbsp
• Asafoetida/Hing - 1/4 tsp
• Red Chillies - 2 (broken into half)
• Curry leaves - few
• Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

Method

1. Dry roast fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds and red chillies and grind into a fine powder.
2. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds.
3. When the mustard seeds start to splutter, add channa dal, urad dal, asafoetida, red chillies and curry leaves. Fry until they turn light brown.
4. Add the tamarind extract, turmeric powder and salt and cook on a medium flame until the mixture thickens.
5. Now add the spice powder and roasted peanuts. Mix well and turn off the stove. Pulikaaichal (tamarind paste) is ready.
6. Cook rice with 2 cups of water and spread the cooked rice evenly in a wide bowl to cool. Mix it gently with 2 tbsp of sesame oil and salt.
7. Add the tamarind paste to the rice. Mix gently and serve.

Tips

- If you are preparing pulikaaichal in advance don't add peanuts while preparing the paste. Add roasted peanuts while heating up the paste if stored in fridge.

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Garlic Paneer

Garlic paneer is a delicious starter recipe and it can be prepared quickly. This dish can also be served as a side dish for chapathi/roti.

Garlic Paneer

Ingredients

• Paneer - 250g
• Onion - 1
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt - To taste
• Coriander leaves - To garnish

     To grind

• Garlic cloves - 6
• Red chillies - 2 or 3 (depends on your spice level)
• Vinegar - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - 1/2 tsp

Method

1. Cut paneer into 1 inch cubes and soak in hot water for 10 minutes.
2. Grind garlic cloves and red chilies together with vinegar, salt and enough water to make smooth paste.
3. Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and stir until they turn dark brown.
4. Add chopped onions and little salt and fry until soft.
5. Then add the garlic chili paste and cook until it thickens and the oil separates.
6. Add paneer and saute for 5 minutes in medium heat.
7. Adjust salt to taste and garnish with coriander leaves.

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