Veg Kurma/Korma ... my mil's recipe

Loads of vegetables simmered in a spicy coconut gravy tastes great along with rice,idli,dosa or chapathi.... its none other than our plain old tasty vegetable kurma which we all love. My mom and mil make this in different ways. They taste different and taste great in their own ways. I make in both ways. This recipe here is the one that I have learned from my mil. She makes in taste heavenly every time. I have fallen in love with her simple style of cooking

This recipe takes a little time but yes its worth waiting . Chop vegetables, grind the spices along with coconut.... then add a few more spices and simmer on low for a while... thats it the gravy should be ready. We make it very often in our home
  

Rajma curry

Kidney beans in a spicy gravy are perfect with ghee rice or chapathis or pooris. Have always loved this and never hesitated to make it whenever suggested. I dont make it very spicy but I do make it a little creamy to enjoy the smooth taste. Here is a simple recipe for you to enjoy

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Chapathis or ghee rice

This is what u'll need....

Rajma 1 cup soaked overnight
Onion 1
Tomato 1 
Gg paste 1 tbspn
Chilli powder 1 tspn
Garam masala powder 1 tspn
Coriander powder 1/2 tspn
Cumin powder 1/2 tspn
Heavy cream 3-4 tbspn
Salt to taste 
Oil
Coriander leaves for garnish

Here is the stir....

• Boil rajma with a little and keep aside
• Heat oil in a pan and toss in chopped onions. Follow it with gg paste and salt. Fry till onion turns translucent
• Add chopped tomates,  chilli, garam masala, coriander, cumin powder and cook covered till oil starts separating from the gravy. 
• Mash a handful of rajma and it to gravy. Stir and add the remaining rajma to the pan
• Boil the mixture for a couple of mins and then add heavy cream
• Stir and remove from heat. Garnish with coriander leaves before serving

Sponge dosa or Gundu dosa as we call

[Updated content n pics for this post]

This is a very spongy dosa that is usually made a lot more thicker than the regular dosas. My mom made these last time when we went to India and me and my hubby were just onto eating and eating and eating. We were too much involved in the taste that we did not even realise how many we ate until I could hear my tummy crying and asking me to stop stuffing it to that extent. 

[Updated]
My kids love this dosa and they have named it sponge dosa. It smells awesome and the texture and taste are too good. Our family loves it a lot. Whenever I have some extra cooked rice leftover then I indulge in making these dosas for the next morning. It just takes a few minutes of our time in grinding the ingredient and then all it requires is fermentation

This dosa goes very well with coconut chutney. We make the chutney thinner or more liquidy than the regular chutney. This kind tastes best with sponge dosa. 

Serves perfect for both breakfast and dinner and I am sure everyone will like it

Banana Cake

Banana cake... hearing the name makes my mouth water. Its a moist, soft, delicious, luscious and inviting cake that anyone to have a bite is to like it. Its a favorite in our home and at all our friends. When baking, the room gets filled with a pleasing aroma that gives anyone coming in a hint of a sweet treat waiting for them. I just love the warmth and aroma and taste ... its delectable, its divine :)

Serves... 8-12 servings
Serve option... Can serve with whipped cream

This is what u'll need....

Maida 1 cup
Sugar 3/4 cup
Butter 8 tbspn(1 stick)
Eggs 2
Baking powder 1 tspn
Salt a pinch
Essence/extract 1 tbspn(your choice)
Corasely chopped almonds 5 tbspn
Raisins a handful/less
Bananas 2

Here is the stir....

• Grease a pan and keep aside
• Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl. Blend in eggs and essense to the mixture
• Peel and mash bananas and add to the above
• Pour all the dry ingredients into the bowl and mix till everything is blended wel
• Bake in a preheated oven-350 degrees for about 40-45 mins or until a fork comes out clean
• Cool it and cut into slices to serve

Masala egg

Masala egg is nothing but just egg, masala and salt of course. It might not sound very interesting but believe me it sure tastes great. We love this at home when we opt for a spicy side dish for dal chaval or lemon rice etc

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Hot rice and dal

This is what u'll need....

Eggs 3
Sambar powder 1 tspn
Salt to taste
Oil

Here is the stir....

• Boil eggs and take the shell off. Slice each egg into 2, length-wise, and keep aside
• In a pan heat a tspn of oil and add sambar powder. Stir for a few seconds till the aroma starts to fill. Add salt followed by 4-5 tbspn of water. Let this boil for a min
• Add the egg halves to the pan, yolk side facing down
• When the water reduces, flip the eggs and turn off the heat in a few secs. Let it sit in the pan for a min before transfering to another bowl
  

Palak dal

Spinach is very good for health and so must add to our weekly menu in some form or other. Palak dal is a version that includes dal and spinach to give a smooth and creamy texture. Just chop everything and toss into the cooker. Finally a tadka is what is needed to finish it off.

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Hot rice

This is what u'll need....

Palak 1/2 bunch
Tuvar dal 1/4 cup
Onion 1 small
Tomato 1 small 
Green chilli 3
Garlic cloves 2 
Salt to taste
Oil
Mustard seeds 1 tspn
Urad dal 1 tspn

Here is the stir....

• Chop spinach, onions, tomato, green chilli, garlic and toss them into a pressure cooker
• Cook them with little water for 4-5 whistles
• Remove from heat and let it cool a little
• Add salt and put tadka with mustard seeds and urad dal
  

Curd Raitha

Fresh curd raitha is a feast to the eyes and the best side for spicy delicacies. Its generally a must in our house with biryani, kothu parotta, bisi bela bath and much more. We eat it every week and never really tire of it. There are many many versions to this. This one is a simple vegetable raitha with cucumber, onions and tomatoes.

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... With biryani, kothu parotta

This is what u'll need....

Curd 1 cup
Chopped cucumber 1/2 cup
Chopped onion 1/4 cup
Chopped tomato 1/4 cup
Chopped green chillies 2 
Lemon juice 1 tbspn
Salt and pepper to taste
Coriander leaves 2 tbspn 

Here is the stir....

• Toss in all the ingredients into a bowl and give a good stir to blend everything together except coriander leaves. Lemon juice brings out the freshness of all the ingredients
• Can also add a little water if needed
  
• Garnish with chopped coriander and serve it cold
  

Quick egg curry

Egg gravies and curries are delectable. They serve well with rice as well chapathis so always a quick choice when we need a change from vegetables. I used to make this when I was new to my own kitchen and cooking on my own. I had to think of very simple recipes so that I never screwed it up in any way. This is one from that list. Quick, easy and delicious too.

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Hot rice or chapathis

This is what u'll need....

Eggs 4
Gram flour 1 tbsp
Onion 1 big
Tomato 1 big
Gg paste 1 tbspn 
Green chillies 3
Chilli powder 1 tspn
Sambar powder 1/2 tspn
Pepper powder 1/2 tspn
Salt to taste 
Oil

Here is the stir....

• Heat oil in a pan and add gram flour to it. Stir it for a few seconds till the flour turns golden brown
  
•  Toss in chopped onions, salt and fry till onion becomes translucent
• Add gg paste and cook till its off the raw smell
• Mix in chopped tomatoes, green chillies, chilli powder and sambar powder. Give it a quick stir and cook it covered for 5 minutes stirring occasionally
• Once the mixture is ready add a cup of water to it and bring the gravy to a boil
• Turn the heat down and slowly start breaking open eggs into the gravy. It will drop into the gravy like a lump. Break open remaining eggs in a similar way. Once done, turn heat to medium
  
• Sprinkle a little pepper powder on top of each egg. Cover and cook for couple of mins
• Flip each egg and cook for another min
  

Raw banana fry

Raw bananas are always a good choice for deep fries. It used to be a tough job initially to keep it on the stove top for a long time and try to make them crispy, golden brown. With the microwave this task too is simplified to help us enjoy favorite fry with no hassles and no sweating. We love this and so we always have atleast once in a week. Should say that it is usually an item to be picked at every weekly veggies shopping.

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Serve hot and crispy

This is what u'll need....

Raw banana 2
Chilli powder 1/2 tspn
Sambar powder 1 tbspn
Salt to taste 
Oil

Here is the stir....

• Peel the bananas, cut them into small circles and place them in a microwave safe bowl
  
• Toss in a tbspn oil, salt, chilli powder, sambar powder into the bowl
• Pop them into the microwave for 3-5 mins stirring once in between
• Meanwhile heat a tbspn oil in a pan 
• Toss the raw bananas into them and fry them on medium high for 3-4 mins. The fry is ready to be served
  

Palak dal with a hint of coconut

My mom used to make this for us all the time. Love it with the hint of coconut. It enhances the flavor of the palak as well. Also a good change from the regular palak dal. I think its a good option to create a variety in the regular palak intake

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Hot rice

This is what u'll need....

Palak 1/2 bunch
Dal 1/4cup
Coconut 2 tbspn
Cumin seeds 2 tspn
Mustard seeds 1 tspn 
Green chillies 2-3 (or chilli powder) 
Salt to taste
Oil 

Here is the stir....

• Boil dal, green chillies and chopped palak in a pressure cooker and keep it aside
• Heat oil in a pan and add mustard, 1 tspn cumin and let them splutter
• Meanwhile grind coconut with 1 tspn of cumin seeds to a fine paste and it to the dal mixture
• Pour entire mixture into the pan and bring it to a boil
  

One omelette to serve many

Warm and soft, fluffy omelette is an irresistible food. I know everyone loves it hot hot... so making for 4-5 people is a big job. I saw this on food network when they make it for many people at the same and no hassle of sweating near the stove when everyone is ready to have lunch. So make this in one shot and join people for lunch enjoying your favorite omelette bite. I have added ingredients to suit our family taste and you can change it your style.

Serves... 4 ppl 
Serve option... Warm

This is what u'll need....

Eggs 4
Heavy cream 1/4 cup
Salt to  taste
Green chillies 4
Onions 1
Tomato 1(optional)
Pasley 1 tbspn
Pepper 1/2 tspn

Here is the stir....

• Beat the eggs and heavy cream together and then toss in chopped onions, chopped green chillies, tomato, parsley, salt and pepper
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Pour the mixture into a oven-safe dish and bake it for 10-12 mins. Keep an eye and remove before it is just almost done as it keeps cooking inside even after removing from the oven. Sere it hot and enjoy
  

Thanni dal... simple dal but a little watery

Eating the same kind of dal every time can be really boring. My father-in-law has a favroite dal recipe .. thanni dal which means watery dal and that is where I picked the name from. This version has a heavy aroma of garlic which adds to the taste. Try this and you will love to add this to your everyday making dal list.

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Hot rice

This is what u'll need....

Tuvar dal 1/2 cup
Garlic cloves 5-7 big
Onion 1 small
Green chillies 4
Curry leaves 1 tbspn 
Mustard 1 tspn
Urad dal 1 tspn 
Oil 2 tbspn
Salt to taste

Here is the stir....

• Boil tuvar dal in pressure cokker for around 4-5 whistles
•  Meanwhile heat oil in a pan. Add mustard, urad dal, curry leaves and wait till mustard seeds splutter
• Toss in finely chopped garlic and stir them till you can smell the sweet aroma of garlic
• Add chopped onions, green chillies and stir for a few mins till the onion turns a little darker than golden brown
• Mash the dal. Add water and salt to it and pour into the pan
• Mix everything well and boil for a couple of mins
  

Kundru sabji

I love kundrus .. the way they look fresh in every season. They look so attractive that I dont mind picking them up if I am not planning for the week. Kundru sabji is a tasty and easy to make. This one here doent need much spice but tastes perfect the way it is.

Serves... 2 ppl 
Serve option... Hot rice and dal or chapathis

This is what u'll need....

Kundru 1/2 lb
Mustard 1 tsbpn
Urad dal 1 tsp
Onion 1 small
Chilli powder 1/2 tspn

Sambar powder 1 tspn

Oil
Salt to taste

Here is the stir....

• Wash and cut kundru into circles
• Heat oil in a pan and add mustard, urad dal
• Toss in chopped onions and fry till they turned translucent
• Add the kundru pieces, salt, chilli powder and sambar powder to the pan
• Cook on medium stirring once in a while until everything is cooked
  

Chicken kurma

We had this at a get-together at my friends place and just loved it. Got the recipe from her and tried it the very next weekend. It just tasted amazing. Try it and you might also say the same.

This is what u'll need....

Chicken 2 lbs

Whole garam masala

Onion 2 med

Salt to taste

Shredded coconut 1/2 cup

Cashews 5(optional)

Gg paste 1 tbspn

Green chillies 4

Curd 2 tbspn

Red chilli powder 1/2 tbspn

Coriander powder 1 tbspn

Cumin powder 1/2 tbspn

Crushed pepper 1/2 tbspn

Turmeic 1/4 tspn

Oil

Here is the stir....

• Heat oil in a pan and add whole garam masala
• Finely chop onions and toss them in. Sprinkle little salt and fry till they turn translucent
• Add gg paste, turmeric, green chillies and fry for 2-3 mins
• Stir in curd , coriander, cumin, chilli powder and chicken and cook on a low flame for around 15-20 mins or until chicken is cooked
• Grind coconut and cashews to a very fine paste and add it to the chicken.
• Cook for 5 more mins and sprinkle crusher pepper towards the end

Vegetable biryani

Biryani and its aroma are far beyond explanation. Anyone who has tested it is the judge. Soft cooked and fluffy basmati  rice and the wonderful aroma of whole garam masala is the speciality that teases our taste buds and mind to eat, eat and just eat. Everyone has their own style to follow and everyone has their own taste to try out. So, here goes my version for the aromatic veg biryani