Aval/Beaten Rice Savory Snack

Tweet

Woohoo! What a day, what a day! India won the cricket match and what a match it was! Very proud to be an Indian!
It is definitely a good day for more than one reason. I am back to blogging! My back aches are gone, and I am feeling well. I thank you all for sending me your get well soon notes. It was very nice and I feel quite loved.

I can’t seem to keep my trail of thought today. It must be all the excitement from the “India winning cricket match.” My mind is so much on it that I fear I might keep going on unless someone gags me. Please allow me to say just one more thing around the topic of cricket. Thank you facebook buddies for keeping me company in cheering the Indian team! I had a terrific time! It almost felt like you guys were sitting next to me on the sofa, laughing and punching the air every time India scored or got a wicket. Thank you ;)

Again, where was I on the cooking scene!? Yes, I am back to blogging and I have Aval/poha recipe for you.  It is another favorite snack. I still remember the first time I had it.  Yes, I am big on everything first time, like how today was my first time watching cricket with virtual friends.  I warned you I cannot keep cricket out.  Focusing!  I was saying, my friend brought this poha snack on a family outing and since then I have been hooked.  And thankfully it is easy to make and I make them a lot now.  Believe me when I say it’s good!

Is there a phrase or idiom to explain having a good time close on the heels of another?  I can’t think of any but that is how I feel right now.  At the risk of being repetitive India won, I am back to blogging and spring is tangible.  The trees and plants are all bursting out their verdant glory.  Can it get any better!?  As for you, try this recipe that will be the icing on the cake for an otherwise perfect day you are having.  Love! J   


Ingredients:

Aval/Beaten rice- 3 cups
Peanuts- 1/4 cup
Dalia/ chana dal- 2 tbsp
Curry leaves- 1 sprig
Red chili powder- 1 tsp/to your taste
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida- a pinch

A strainer similar to the one in the picture
Oil for frying

Method:

1.Heat oil in a thick bottom deep pan.
2.Place the beaten rice 1/2 cup at a time on the strainer and dip it in the hot oil. It will be done in a couple of seconds.
3.Take out the fried beaten rice and spread on a paper towel.Repeat the same with the rest of the beaten rice.
4.In a similar way fry the peanuts and the channa dal.
5.Switch off the heat and keep the hot oil in a safe place.
6.Heat a tablespoon of oil in a wide pan,on low heat.
7.Throw in the curry leaves (or you could fry them in the same oil you fried the aval and nuts after switching off the heat, but if you are scared about them spluttering then you could do like this) and saute. Add in the chili powder,turmeic powder and asafoetida.Saute for a minute.
8.Throw in the fried aval,channa dal and peanuts and mix everything well.Switch off the heat and let it cool before you store in an airtight container.

Notes:

1.I used the brown aval and that explains the color :-)
2.If you don't have a strainer,don't try this method. Because by the time you take all of it from the oil, it will be over-done.

Contributor: Namitha

Asparagus and Sweet Pepper Roasted

Tweet

Who said vegetarian has to be boring? Maybe nobody did, but sometimes I sure feel like it is. For example, this morning , my brain just couldn’t process any new ideas for a vegetarian meal. Therefore, I decided to have coke and chips for lunch. (Terrible, I know!!) Having settled on that, I proceeded to photograph raw vegetables and fruit, which is my latest interest. Everything was going well until my stomach decided to groan its displeasure. I kept going on with my business and ignored my stomach completely. Finally, when photography started frustrating me and my stomach was not letting up, my brain processed an idea. I grabbed all the asparagus I was photographing and snapped off its end. It was going into the oven.

As I bent over to replace half of the asparagus, which is for another recipe, I spotted the sweet peppers. Grabbed some, washed, and added it to the asparagus. And then, sprinkled sea salt, a generous amount of pepper and olive oil over the vegetables and picked up the cookie sheet. Lined it with foil and dropped the oil bathed vegetables on it. Feeling a little whimsical, I threw in a couple slices of lime. Cranked up the oven to 425 D F, waited for about 10 minutes to let it heat up, and then slid the cookie tray laden with veggies in. Baked for 10 minutes and I picked out the asparagus and placed on a platter. Turned the oven setting to broil and charred both sides of the pepper, takes only a few minutes on both sides.

As they all came out of the oven and was placed on a platter, I topped it with a handful of cheddar cheese and let it melt. Grabbed my glass of water melon juice and have to say enjoyed a fantastic lunch. No more groaning stomach but a blissful siesta invites me.

All is well in this part of the world, hope yours is too.

Ingredients:

Asparagus – 20
Sweet Pepper – 8
Pepper – to taste
Sea Salt – to taste
Olive Oil – 1 Tbspn
Cheddar Cheese – to taste

Method:
1. Snap the ends of the asparagus and place it on a cookie sheet lined with foil
2. Add the sweet peppers
3. Sprinkle pepper, salt and drizzle the olive oil over.
4. Bake at 425 D F for about 10- 12 minutes. Remove the asparagus into a plate.
5. Change the oven setting to broil and blacken both sides of the pepper about a minute or two on both sides.
6. Place the peppers in the serving plate and sprinkle cheddar cheese over and let it melt

This is not an original idea, of course you know that. I am just saying I just decided to eat this as lunch which is new for me.

Contributor: Sunitha

Mixed Lentil Soup

Tweet

Here is a hearty winter soup just before the start of spring. Mixed lentils can be bought at any food store.  It is both pretty and healthy at once and you don't want to miss that combination.  Lentils, beans and barley! As much as it is good to look at, they make a tasty protein rich fare. The benefits continue. They freeze well and also keeps in the refrigerator for at least three or four days. If you are planning to make a big batch, like I have done, then make sure you separate the soup into smaller containers, cool and then refrigerate or freeze.

I like this soup because of all the above reasons and also because they are not too cumbersome to prepare. I agree that the the cooking time can be a little much, but preparation (chopping, peeling etc) and the time you need to stand by the stove is considerably less. I hope you will enjoy this soup as much I did.

Dunk in some toasted French bread for more fun. You deserve some carbohydrates when you are good enough to eat only a lentil soup. Right?

Ingredients: (Serves 8)

Mixed Lentils - 1 1/2 cups (Soak overnight)
Onions           - 1 big chopped
Garlic            -  4 - 5 cloves
Chili Powder - 1 tspn
Cajun Seasonings - 1 tspn
Oregano       - 1 tspn
Basil             - a dash
Bell Pepper  - 1 chopped
Tomato in garlic and onion - 14 oz (blend to make small chunks)
Parsley - to garnish
Yogurt - to garnish
Lime or Lemon Wedges - to garnish
French Bread or garlic bread to go with the soup

Method:

1. Pressure cook the soaked lentils with 1/2 tspn of salt and 4 cups of water.  Wait for one whistle and shut off the fire/heat.  Set aside until all pressure has been released.
2. In a large pot saute onions followed with garlic until the onions are translucent.
3. Add all the spices. Chili powder, Cajun seasoning and oregano and saute for a minute.  Add the chopped bell pepper and saute for 2 minutes
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, stir and cook for 2 minutes.  .
5. Add about 6 cups of water and bring to a boil.
6. Add the pressure cooked lentils in and cook for about 45 minutes.
7. Soups are always better when it cooks a while on the stove.  Therefore, simmer for as long as possible.  If you need the soup to be thin after it has cooked through add boiling water and bring the soup to a boil again.
8. Serve into soup bowls and top with a small scoop of plain yogurt and finely chopped parsley.  You may also use lime wedges instead of the yogurt.

Contributor: Sunitha