Methi Aloo and Chana dal pulao

This recipe is inspired from Ramya Bala of ramya cook's.. This is one of those fabulous recipe from her kitchen.... i tried to reproduce the same with my taste and what i had at home .... So here goes the recipe...

INGREDIENTS

Basmati Rice-2cups
Methi Leaves-1 bunch(cleaned and chopped)
Chana dal - 1cup(soaked overnite i used the kala/black chana)
Potato - 2nos
Onion- 1 big (finely chopped)
Tomatoes- 2 (chopped)
Fennel seeds-1tsp
Cinnamon- 1stick
cardamom-1
clove -4
bay leaves-2-3
Green chilli-4
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1tbsp
Red chilli pwdr-1tbsp
Coriander Pwdr-1tsp
Jeera pwdr-1tsp
Garam masala pwdr-1tbsp
Turmeric-1tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil-1tbsp
Butter - 1tbsp

METHOD

1. Soak 2 cups of Basmati Rice for 30 mins
2. Heat oil in the pan. Season with fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, cloves and bay leaves.
3. Take a couple of mins and add the green chilli and ginger garlic paste. Wait for sometime until the raw smell of garlic leaves
4. Now add the onions and saute until they turn soft. Add tomatoes and lil salt and saute for couple of more mins. Now add all the powders listed above and give a nice stir.
5. After 2 mins add the methi leaves and saute for around 5 mns and close the lid. This process helps to take away the bitter taste in methi leaves.
6. Now add the potatoes, chana dal, salt and give a quick stir.
7. Now add the rice. If you are using a electric rice cooker transfer contents to the vessel and cook until rice is done.
8. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve it with Onion Raita...

Mint Rice

Mint Rice is a Fast and Quick preparation for my hubby's lunch. I like the mint taste and smell. Learnt this recipe from my mom. But she used to have a big procedure so this is so called Special Item prepared only on occasions. I have modified the process to suit my morning hurry's.

INGREDIENTS

Basmati Rice- 1 cup

Corn Kernals- 1/2 cup(Optional for colourful appearance)

Onion-1(medium sized chopped finely)

Curry Leaves-few

Fennel seeds-1tsp

Cumin Seeds-1tsp

Clove-2nos

Bay leaves-2nos

Oil -2tbsp

Salt to taste

To Grind

Mint Leaves-1/2bunch

Coriander/cilantro Leaves-1/4 bunch or less than that

Green Chillies - 5 nos

Coconut - 1/4 cup (Grated)

Whole Garam Masala-clove/fennel seeds/cinnamon stick

METHOD

1) Wash the mint leaves coriander leaves and Green chillies then Grind all the items given under the to grind section.

2)Heat Oil in the cooker splutter cumin seeds,fennel seeds, bay leaves, cloves then add the curry leaves.

3)Add chopped Onions and let it cook once its done add the corn kernals and stir for a couple of minutes

4)Add the ground paste and let it cook for few min

5)Add salt to taste and chk for the spicy taste if u need really hot rice add red chilli pwder

6)Finally add the Rice and water (1:1) ratio. pressure cook and your delicious Mint rice is ready. Garnish it with some chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with onion raita.

P.S.:Try to soak the basmati rice for 30 mns.

Sprouts Pepper Rice

Wat for lunch? Wat for Dinner? This confusion is running in every womens mind everyday. So like that one day i was so confused and finally came up with this one. I always have sprouts at home bcoz my husband like them and they can be used in many dishes. Nutritious and Healthy one too. This is how i make sprouts pepper rice.

INGREDIENTS

Whole Moong Dal sprouts - cup

Green Pepper- 1/2 cup

Onions(medium sized)-1 chopped
Green chilli- 2nos

Crushed Corn pepper pwdr-1tsp

Ginger Garlic-thinly sliced 1tbsp

Cilantro/Coriander-chopped finely

Jeera-1tsp

Saunf-1tsp

Salt to taste

Oil

METHOD

1)Heat Oil in a pan. Splutter jeera and saunf.

2)Now add ginger garlic to this and saute until the raw smell goes off. Add chopped green chillies as well

3)Now add Chopped Onions and saute unil they become tender and translucent then add the green pepper and toss it for 2mns

4)Finally add the sprouts and toss it for a couple of mins

5)Finish it off with salt and crushed pepper and garnish it with coriander.

Add it with Rice. U have amazing sprout rice. A healthy and tasty food.

PS:You can microwave the sprouts for 2mns so that it is not too cruchy but easy to chew. If u like the rice to be very spicy you can add garam masala as well which add the extra flavour to your rice. Try it with different sprouts all tastes good.

Indo-Chinese Fried Rice

Everyone likes chinese food. Especially the fried rice they are so delicious that u cant resist from eating. So here goes the recipe of Indo Chinese Fried Rice.

INGREDIENTS

Rice-200gms

Carrots,Beans,Peas,Cabbage,Peppers -1 cup(Diced/Cut all put togeather)

Onions - 1(chopped finely)

Eggs - 2 (Optional i dint use them )

Soy Sauce - 2tbsp

Vinegar - 1tbsp (alternatively u can use lemon juice)

Salt - to taste

Green chilli/Chilli sauce - 2tbsp (i add them for a lil spicy taste)

Ginger Garlic- 2tbsp(thinly sliced)

Crushed Pepper corns- 1tbsp

Spring Onions or Cilantro/coriander-chopped

Oil - 2tbsp

METHOD

1)Soak the Rice for 30mns and cook them in 1:1 ratio and keep it aside

2)Heat Oil in a pan and saute Ginger Garlic,Onions one by one. Wait till the onions becomes translucent.

3)Then add the vegetables and stir them for 2mns

4)Now add the soy sauce,chilli sauce to the vegetables and stir again

5)Finally if u use eggs break them into this mixture and stir it so that the vegetables and eggs combine well.

6)Add some crushed pepper corns, salt and simmer it for a couple of mns

7)Finally add the boiled rice squeeze in some lemon juice and garnish it with cilantro and serve it hot.

P.S. Make sure u dont over cook the vegetables coz it shud be a lil crunchy to get the proper chinese style.