Tofu Butter Masala ! Lunch Box Special!

Tofu is very healthy since its prepared from Soy Milk. I have been using Tofu rarely at home. This can also be prepared for lunch box with chapathis. I love chapathis for lunch or anytime:-) I have already posted Tofu Masala here and this is with slight variation.

Serves 2 persons
Ingredients
Pressed/Firm Tofu - 1 pkt
Onion - 1no
Tomato - 1 no
Ginger n Garlic - 1/2 tspn
Spices - 1 no cardamom/elachi, cloves/laung, cinamon/pattai/1 bay leaf
Coriander leaves - few sprigs
Dhaniya powder - 1 tablespoon
Red chilli Powder - 1/2 tspn(As per your taste)
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Milk - 1/2 cup
Tomato puree - 1 tablespoon
Kasoori Methi - a pinch
Olive Oil - 1/2 tspn
Butter - 1/2 tspn
Cashews - 4 nos
Salt

Preparation Method
Chop onion and tomato into small pieces.
Grind Onion, tomato, ginger garlic, cashews, turmeric powder, dhaniya powder, spices, red chilli powder, coriander leaves in a blender or mixer into fine paste with little water.
Heat a Kadai/wok, add butter, oil and just toss the tofu pieces and keep aside. 
In the same kadai,add little oil, add the grounded mixture, tomato puree and allow it to boil. Once the raw smell goes.(if reqd you can add in whole spices too at this time in oil)
Add salt, kasoori methi and mix well.
Add milk and mix. When its going to be thick gravy.
Cut tofu into small pieces and add it. Just boil once and off the stove.
Garnish with crushed kasoori methi or chopped coriander leaves.
Top it with 1/2 tspn of butter.

Tofu Butter Masala is ready to pack to your lunch box with chapathis or rotis.

Green Gram, Carrot & Potato Pulao| MW Papad! Lunch Box Recipes!

When Vardhini asked me decide on ingredients to host Dish it out, I was thinking a lot and then when I prepared this for the lunch box, thought of choosing the same ingredients for the event. Here you go with my entry for the event Dish it out by Vardhini guest hosted here @ Sara's Corner.

Ingredients
Green Gram/Pacha Payaru - 1 cup
Carrot - 1no
Potato - 1no
Onion -1 no
Oil - 4 tspns
Ghee (Optional)
Jeera - 1/2 tspn
Rice -2 cups
Pav Bhaji Masala - 1/2 tspn

To grind
Fresh Coriander leaves - 1 cup
Pudina/Mint  leaves- 1 cup
Green Chilli - 2nos
Garlic  - 2 cloves
Ginger - 1" piece
Onion - 1 small
Spices - cinamon, cardamom, cloves 1 each.
Preparation Method
Soak green gram overnite or for 2 hours in warm water.
Wash and cut veggies into 2 inch pieces.
Grind the ingredients above "to grind" to fine paste.
In a pressure cooker, heat oil, add jeera, chopped onion, a pinch of salt and saute till its brown.
Now add the vegetables, a pinch of salt, a pinch of tumeric powder and saute.
Add the ground paste and cook for few minutes.
Add the rice and mix.
Add 4 cups of water. Check for salt.
Add pav bhaji masala.
MIx and pressure cook for 4 whistles and off the stove.

When pressure is up, mix and pack it to your lunchbox.

Microwave Papad

Take 1 papad and keep in MW for 25 to 30 secs depending on MW in medium.
MW Papad is ready to enjoy.

Serve with MW Papad or Tomato Raitha.

Notes - You can also add spices while seasoning.

This recipe is also going to Showcase your Lunchbox Event by Divya and Serve it Pressure Cooked Event by Krithi and Denny.

Thakalli Thokku | Tomato Pickle!

Thakalli Thokku | Tomato Pickle is very tangy and tasty recipe. This is a traditional dish taught by my Mother-in-law who makes this to her perfection,  as in Bangalore we used to do Gojjus. It was new to me and I loved it a lot. Its also my family favourite sidedish. A good timesaver and accompany many dishes. I always prepare and store it in my place, when I find really red tomatoes in Little India cannot miss it.

Ingredients
Fresh Red Tomatoes - 10 nos
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tspn
Red chilli powder - 1 tablespoon(As per your taste adjust)
Fenugreek seed powder - 1/2 tspn
Cooking Oil - 1/2 cup (I use gingely oil or olive oil)
Mustard - a pinch
Hing/Asafotida - 1/4 tspn
Salt

Preparation Method
Wash, cut and chop all the tomatoes into 4 pieces and keep aside.
Heat a heavy big kadai/wok, add oil, a pinch of mustard and hing.
Once mustard pops, add the tomatoes and mix.
Leave it for 5 mins. Then add, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt and mix.
Close it with lid, as it will pop out while boiling and cook till the tomatoes are soft.
It will be too soft  and watery. Continue to close lid.
The colour will change from light red to dark red.
When its going thick add venthaya podi/fenugreek powder. Mix and check for salt and spice levels.
if you wish you can add. Usually, adding the spice and salt little more is better, when it cools, it will be to correct level. Do not cook for long after adding venthaya podi, this will make bitter.

When the gravy is thick and oil leav es the side and good aroma. The dish is ready. Allow it to cool.

Store in clean glass or plastic bottle.  This can be sidedish for kootu rice, curd rice. chapathi, Idlis, Dosas and Adai .

Methods of using tomatoes in thokku. You can use any method.

1. Just chop them and cook
2. Remove seeds and cook.
3. Remove seeds, skin, grind to fine paste and cook.

Notes - This can be stored upto 15days in fridge.
Do not put stainless steel spoon and store, try to put wooden spoon.

How to prepare fenugreek powder at home.
Fenugreek powder /Venthaya podi - Take 1 cup or required amount of seeds dry roast in a kadai in medium flame to slightly brown. Allow it to cool and grind it to a fine powder. Store in air tight container for later use.

This recipe is going to Kalyani's Event Pickles and Preserve Fest and Spring Seasonal Food Event by Sravani.

Dish it Out with Green Gram, Carrot and Potato | Event Announcement!

Dear Friends,

After my Cooking with Love Grandmom Event and Women's Day Event. Now I am guest hosting Dish it out event started by Vardhini of Cooks Joy. Thanks for the opportunity to host your event.

Logo

Rules

1. Make a dish using "Green Gram, Carrot and Potato". We should be able to taste the
    ingredients in the final dish. You can cook from starters to salads or even bake.

2. Only vegetarian entries. Eggs are not allowed.

3. Use of logo is appreciated as it helps spread the word.
4. Link to my Dish it Out event announcement and this event announcement is mandatory.

5. Archived entries are accepted as long as they are linked with both announcements.

6. Do link your entries below and leave a comment.

Be creative and start cooking your recipes.

Feel free to contact me in case you have any questions. Leave a comment or mail me @ simplysara07@gmail.com will reply soon.



Cheers,
Saraswathi

Women's Day Event Roundup and Giveway Winner!

Dear Friends,

Thank you friends for contributing to the event.

I have received 30 entries for the Women's Day Event and thanks to everyone who participated in the event.  I selected the winner through random.org.

The Winner is Vaishali Sabnani of Ribbon and Pastas. You have won a $35 voucher from Electrolux Store. Will contact you soon.

Hope to see you soon in another Event.

Do participate in my Event Cooking with Love Mom guest hosted by Nithu Bala.

Regards,
Saraswathi

Cooking with Love Grandmom Event Roundup!

Dear Friends,

I am so happy to start a Series of Cooking with Love Event. I thought I had posted the roundup of my first event Cooking with Love Grandmom.

Please find in the entries.

Thank you friends for your entries and contribution.

Hope to see you in the next event.

Oreo Milkshake | Summer Specials!

I was trying to post Summer Specials this week and I am ending with Oreo Milkshake. This is simple and easy, kids will surely love. Next  series will be pickles and lunch box.

Take 2 nos oreo biscuits any flavour and crush.
Blend with 1 cup chilled milk(Boiled and cooled) and 1 scoop of vanilla icecream in a mixie or blender.

Serve with ice and top  with 1tblspoon of icecream.

Oreo Milkshake is ready.

Notes - You can prepare this without vanilla icecream also.
Sugar is optional

This Milkshake along with my below entries are going to Summer Spunk by my dearest friend Anusha.

Iced Watermelon
Lemon | Lemonade Juice
Strawberry Milk Shake
Watermelon Juice
Mango Kulfi
Rose Milk

Iced Watermelon!

After the refreshing watermelon juice, I had leftover watermelon tried to prepare for my son. Actually wanted to prepare watermelon sorbet but came up with this.This is simple and easy ice cream.

Ingredients
Watermelon  juice - 1 tall glass
Condensed milk - 1 tspn
Cardamom/Elachi powder - a pinch
Sugar - optional

Preparation Method
Blend all the ingredients in a blender/mixie. Strain it.
Pour it in the icecube moulds and freeze for 1 hour or till its just set.

Serve immediately.

Iced Watermelon is ready.

This can be done with Mango too.

You can also add these cubes to the Watermelon juice.
Notes - If you dont have condensed milk you can just add sugar.

Lemon Juice | Summer Specials!

This is my favourite drink. In my office, the pantry guys used to make it perfectly, so always used to ask one more! I miss them all in Bangalore. Summer has started and this drink will be refreshing. I am sure this is the topper of all Fresh Juices.

Serves - 1 to 2 pax.

Ingredients
Lemon/lemonade/Nimbu/Elamichai - 1no
Chilled water - 1 glass
Sugar -  1 tablespoon
Salt - a pinch
Elachi/Cardamom powder - a pinch
Ice cubes as required

Preparation Method
In a vessel, squeeze the lemon, add water, sugar, salt and elachi powder. Mix well and strain it.

Serve with a slice of lemon and ice cubes.

Lemon Juice is ready to serve.

Watermelon Juice ! Summer Special!

Its been quite hot in the morning and noon. Heard in India also its very hot. But in Singapore the weather is unpredictable, its just raining so heavily. Check out the other Summer Specials here.

Serves - 2 pax

IngredientsWatermelon - 1/4 no of a whole fruit or 2 cups cubed.
Sugar or honey - 1 tspn
Ice cubes - few (optional)
Water as required
Can also add a pinch of Black salt or chaat masala.

Method
In a blender/mixie add watermelon, water, sugar and grind.
Take serving glass add ice cubes and add the juice. (I have dipped in sugar on the rim)
Add a pinch of black salt or chaat masala on the top.
A few pieces of the fruit too.

Such a refreshing juice.

Watermelon Juice is ready to serve.

Manga Sadam | Mamidikai Annam | Ugadi Special Recipe!

I wish you all my readers a very Happy n Prosperous Ugadi and Gudi Padwa!

ಯುಗಾದಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಷಯಗಳು,  ఉగాది శుభాకాంక్షలు and  'गुढी पाडव्याच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा'.

Manga Sadam | Mamidikai Annam| Mavinakayi Chitranna |Mango Rice is very tangy and delicious rice. Its usually prepared on Ugadi. Click here for recipe for Ugadi Festivals.

Ingredients

Rice - 1 cup
Raw Mango - 1 no(Kizhimukku)Grated

Groundnuts - Handful

Gingely Oil - 2 tablespoon

Mustard - 1 tspn

Channa Dal - 1 tspn

Dry Red chilli - 2nos(As per your taste)

Turmeric pwdr - 1/4 tspn
Hing - a pinch

Curry leaves

Salt

Preparation method:

Cook rice with 2.5 cups water for 3 to 4 whistles. Allow the rice to come to normal temperature.

In the mean while

Heat oil in a pan/wok, add mustard seeds. Once it splutters add channa dal, groundnuts. Saute till channa dal turns light brown. Add curry leaves, red chillies and saute.
Add the grated mango and cook till its soft. Add little salt and turmeric powder.

Turn the stove off. Add the rice and salt. Let it sit for a while so that the taste of mango is gets obsorbed into the rice .

Manga Sadam rice is ready to serve. This can be served with fried papads and vadams. I served with Mor Kolambu.

Notes - You can also cut mangoes into small pieces and grind coarsely in mixie.(Optional)

This recipe is going to Only South Indian event by Pari

Homemade Italian Basic Sauce!

I have been wanting to post this recipe from long time,  thought of posting this today as I prepared. I love Italian dishes.

I used to use store bought sauce and this is the first time I tried at home. It was perfect and yummy. This sauce can be used for Pizzas /Pastas /as a dip.

Ingredients
Tomatoes - 2 nos
Garlic - crushed /chopped 2 to 3 nos
Basil leaves - few
Tomato sauce - 1/2 tspn
Olive oil - 1 tspn

Preparation Method
Blanch the tomatoes(see notes below)
Heat wok/pan, add olive oil, add garlic just toss for few mins(it should not be brown)
Add the tomato puree, tomato sauce, chopped basil leaves and cook the gravy till raw smell goes. You will get a thick sauce.

Italian Basic Sauce is ready for use in your dishes.

Allow it to cool and store in air tight container.
Notes - Blanch - Boil enough water in a vessel, put the tomotoes and cover it for few mins. Then put in cold water, remove skin slowly. Cut into four pieces and deseed it. Put in a blender/mixie and grind to fine paste.