Perugu Pachadi (Tomato Pachadi)

I first heard about perugu pachadi from my friend, during our phone conversation. I asked what she cooked for lunch, and she said perugu pachadi, and as I was not familiar with that term I asked her what it is. She explained the preparation, and I told her its tomato raita and I know it. My friend told its different from raita, as sauted tomato gives different taste to it. When we met she cooked this pachadi, eggplant curry and pappu. Ever since that day I started cooking it regularly in home. My hubby calls it “Easy Moar Kuzhambu”.

Recently my blog friend Aruna –  Aaharam suggested me some other variations with eggplant, coconut, ladies finger. I should try it soon

Ingredients:

Tomatoes – 2, chopped

Curd – 1 cup + 1/3 cup, beaten well

Turmeric Powder – a pinch

salt – as needed

To Temper:

Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp

Cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp

Curry leaves – few

Green chilli – 1/2, slit and de-seeded

Dry  Red chilli – 1 , de-seeded and teared (optional)

Asofetida – pinch

Oil – 1 tsp

Method:

•  Add oil to the pan, when the oil becomes hot add the items under to temper and let mustard seeds splutter
• Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for 6 – 8 minutes till the tomatoes become slightly mushy and fully cooked.  Switch off
• Add the cooked tomato mixture to  the beaten curd. Add salt; mix well and  Serve with rice/rotis

My Notes:

• I prefer my food to be less spicy so I reduced the chilli my friend old also desseded

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Microwave Ladies Finger Fry

My hubby loves ladies finger, even If I cook It daily he will be happy. For me more than cooking ladies finger pre work is the one which demands a lot of time – Washing and patting well with a dry cloth or dry in a paper towel for a longtime. These days with my little one running around my legs I find it difficult to do the steps my mother usually does to avoid mushy ladies finger. As I mentioned in my Bhindi Masala, microwave helps me to skip those steps. One  day when I had microwaved ladies finger, I thought of giving a try with cooking the entire curry in microwave and it worked.

Ingredients:

Chopped Ladies Finger – 2 cups

Sambar powder/ chilli powder – 1 tsp  ( I used Sambar powder)

Coriander Powder – 1/4 tsp

Cumin powder – 1/8 tsp

Rice flour – 1/8 tsp

Asofetida – generous pinch

Curd – 1/2 tsp

Salt – to taste

Oil – 1/2 tbsp

Method:

• In a small bowl combine sambar powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, rice flour, asofetida and salt
• Cut the washed ladies finger into small pieces and place them in a paper towel. In a bowl add oil and ladies finger; mix well

• Microwave them for 3 minutes, take out and add curd. mix well. Microwave for another 3 – 4 minutes till the mushy texture changes
• Add the spice powder mix and combine well

• Microwave for 6 – 8 minutes or till the bhindi cooks well with spice powders flavors well incorporated. Serve it with rice/roti

My Notes:

• Can do tempering separately and add it to the curry but I skipped it
• Curd is optional. Add it of you thinks Okra is very sticky than usual
• Can bake ladies finger instead of using microwave method. Bake it for 375 degree Fahrenheit 20 to 25 minutes if its cut like this. If  cut pieces are lengthy baking time changes
• Can add coconut for extra taste during the last minute
• Can cut ladies finger into big pieces, slit and stuff the spice powder
• Can add garam masala, chat masala or any other spice powder of choice

Macaroni Payasam (Kheer)

Both my husband and I love pasta, and now a days even my little one started liking Mac & Cheese. Every time I open a pasta packet I wouldn’t finish it and have some leftover. To finish the remaining uncooked pasta, I end up buying same variety of pasta again.  Other day I felt like having payasam and searched for semiya, suddenly pasta pulled my attention and tried payasam with pasta. It was a big hit at home.

Ingredients:

Macaroni – 1/3 cup

Milk – 3 cups

Condensed milk  – 3 tbsp

Sugar –  3 tbsp (adjust according to your sweetness)

Saffron  – A pinch

Cardamom powder –  pinch

Butter/ Ghee-  1 tsp

Salt – a pinch

Method:

• Add ghee and macaroni to the pan; saute for a minute. Add 3 cups of warm milk and cook till the macaroni are fork tender

• Add saffron, condensed milk,  sugar, cardamom powder and salt, continue cooking for 4 – 6 minutes and switch off. Can  serve immediately or chill this overnight and serve it next day.

My Notes:

• Adding condensed milk gives rich creamy texture adjust the sugar accordingly
• Payasam tends to thicken more when cool down
• Usually I add cashew and raisin for payasam but other day missed to add while taking picture so I didn’t write in my recipe!
• I have used whole wheat pasta instead maida pasta can also be done
• If you are using penne, rotini, fettuccine, bow or any other pasta, cut the cooked pasta with ladle according to your taste

Zucchini Thogayal

I have a happy news to share with you all. My 25 recipes under the title “Paarampariya Muriyal Naveena Samyal (Traditionally Modern) got published in a magazine called Sneghidi, as a supplement 🙂 I thought I will tell this note with one of the recipes I gave them.

After moving abroad, I started eating Zucchini. Usually I add it in dishes like pasta, panang curry etc. One lazy day I wanted to do some quick rice accompaniment and when I was searching in my fridge Zucchini pulled my attention. Inspired from Ridge Gourd ( Peerkangai) thogayal, this is a version using Zucchini.

Ingredients

Zucchini  – 2, peeled and cut into small cubes

Urad dal – 1 tbsp + 1 tsp

Mustard seeds – 1/8 tsp

Red chilli – 2 (Adjust according to your taste)

Tamrind – 1/2 tbsp, without seed

Asofetida – generous pinch

Salt – as needed

Oil – 1 tsp

To temper:

Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp

Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Urad dal – 1/2 tsp

Coconut oil -1/2 tsp

Method:

• Add oil in a heavy bottomed pan; add the zucchini with a pinch of salt and sauté until they turn soft and tender. Add mustard seeds, dry red chillies and urad dal and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until urad dal changes color

•  Transfer the content to a plate and let them cool

• Grind the cooled mixture along with tamarind, required salt and little water; into a smooth texture. Add water according to the desired consistency
• Add oil to the pan, when the oil becomes hot, add mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves. Allow it to crackle and add it to the zucchini thogayal. Serve the Zucchini Thogayal along with a rice and ghee/idli/dosai/uthappam

Notes:

• Zucchini and urad dal can be cooked separately
• Coconut can be added if desired

Pumpkin Buns – Guest post from Swapna’s Kitchen

Its guest post day :-)Today we have Swapna from Swapna’s Kitchen. It makes me feel good when people write a post for me, happy to have such sweet friends around 🙂

Couple of months ago I happen to come across Swapna’s page. I am a big fan of her homestyle recipes, and having a sweet tooth, lot of her sweet recipes are in my to-do list.  I know she is a mom so I approached her for toddler friendly Recipes. She immediately told yes and asked if I am looking for anything specific, and I was happy to let her choose one for me. Swapna gave a list of recipes and I choose Pumpkin buns, as my Son is having sweet tooth like Mother and likes Pumpkin puree:-) She has a lot of sweet words about me:-)

Over to Swapna

When Vidya mailed me for a guest post I was really shocked for I could not believe how a person who has achieved so much in blogging could trust a new blogger like me.This is my first guest post here.I really wanted to give my best for the trust she had on me.I am so glad to have her as my friend here.I love all her traditional recipes especially the Poondu Kulambu and Karadaiyan Adai.

I am a big fan of her Microwave oven recipes . I guess its time for me to start making them at home for I have gained lot of weight after starting this food blog..I really want to thank Vidya for giving me this opportunity to let me write on her space.

After mailing her some few recipes she selected Pumpkin buns for her cute little son loves pumpkin puree .So this post is especially made for her little boy who loves Pumpkin and his mother who loves him….

Fb Link:https://www.facebook.com/swapnaskitchenofficialpage?ref=hl

 

PUMPKIN BUNS

INGREDIENTS

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp melted butter

1/2 cup warm milk

2 tbsp warm water

1/4 tsp salt

3-5 tbsp all purpose flour for kneading the dough

FOR PROOFING YEAST

2 tbsp warm milk

1/4 tsp sugar

2 & 1/4 tsp yeast

METHOD

Pressure cook the pumpkin for a whistle,grind them and keep it aside.Add  1/2 tsp of sugar to  warm milk and add the yeast to it.The yeast will rise in few mins.

In a large mixing glass bowl,add sugar,warm milk and 1/2 cup warm pumpkin puree.Then add melted butter ,yeast and mix them well.

Add the all purpose flour little by little (1/4 cup) and mix them well until a mild sticky dough is formed.Now transfer the dough to your work space ,sprinkle some flour and start kneading the dough for 15 mins.

Place the dough in a glass bowl and cover it with a plastic wrap.Leave it in a warm place for an hour until it doubles in volume.

Transfer the dough to your work space and knead it for  2 mins to remove the air bubbles.Divide the dough into 12 equal parts and roll each part into a ball.Place the balls in a baking dish and cover it with a plastic wrap.Leave it for 30 mins to rise again.

Bake at 350 degree F for 15-20 mins or until the tops are lightly brown.Brush the top of the buns with melted butter.

Baked Quinoa Croquettes – Guest Post from Anupama

Its guest post day, and today we have Anupama from Easy bites Online. Social media is playing a great role in finding new people, I happened to see Anupama’s post in a FB group and started visiting her space. I am a big fan of her healthy recipes. I  apporached her to do a guest post for Toddler friendly recipes, she instantly agreed and here is her healthy snacks.

Anupama says,

Quinoa, although less known, this super grain is making a definite way into our lives, rightly so if you ask me. Packed with all the eight essential amino acids (and thereby a complete protein), fiber, magnesium, phosphorous and iron, quinoa has made its way for sure into my kitchen.

Nearly every meal of ours entails either rice or wheat, our habitual grains. I am aware that to bring in quinoa can be tricky especially with picky toddlers!

When Vidya Srinivasan, from Traditionally Modern Food, asked me for a toddler-friendly guest post on her blog, I could not refuse; not because I find it hard to say ‘No’ to anyone, but because being such a professional, enthusiastic blogger, lovely and a thoughtful person that she is, I simply could not bring myself to say no. I feel this has opened up another channel to know Vidya and her wonderful blog better. Do visit her blog for numerous delicious, healthy recipes.

I decided this would be another opportunity to bring in quinoa and make it toddler-friendly!

An eye-catching finger food presented to hungry kids after school is sure to entice them to dig in. As anticipated, the array of Baked Quinoa Croquettes sitting at the table with some ketchup, drew my kids to it. They simply grabbed one each, dug into the dip and ‘puff’ it was gone.

These are baked, however, can be deep-fried too.

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Ingredients:

cooked quinoa – 1/2 cup

cooked mashed or cooked grated potato – 3/4 cup

paneer – 1/4 cup (Indian cottage cheese)

finely chopped onion – 1/2 cup

finely chopped green bell pepper – 1/4 cup

garlic – 1 clove chopped fine

ginger – 1 tsp grated fine

fresh mint leaves – 6-8 roughly chopped

fresh coriander chopped fine – 2 tbsp

raisins, roughly chopped cashews – couple of tbsp as stuffing (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

lemon juice – 2 tsp (or to taste)

corn slurry prepared using a tbsp of corn flour mixed in 1 tbsp of water

bread crumbs prepared using brown bread powdered in a blender

olive oil – few tsp to drizzle over and to grease the tray

Method:

– First cook quinoa as per the instructions on the pack.

– Add this 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa to a bowl, add the rest of the ingredients.

– Mix everything well. it should come together nicely like a dough.

– Now take small portions of the mixture of the size of a golf ball.

– Flatten it over your palm using your fingers.

– Place a couple of raisins and cashew pieces (if preferred). cover this up by bringing together the mixture all around and over the stuffing. make a ball shaped croquette.

– Now, dip this in cornflour slurry, then roll over bread crumbs to cover all over. Pat gently all over to allow bread crumbs to stick well.

– Place this on a plate or tray. Repeat the same with the rest of the mixture.

– Pre-heat the oven to 190 deg C.

– Allow these balls to sit for 10-15 min. this will allow the corn flour to harden a bit. This will ensure that the balls do not open up when deep-fried. It retains its shape well too when baked.

-Now drizzle over or brush gently some olive oil over each of the balls.

-Place them on a lined, greased baking tray.

-Bake them for 22-25 min or until nicely browned up.

-Serve with ketchup.

Notes:

Since this is meant for kids, green chili has not been used. but if tolerated, can be used.

If preferred, the cornflour slurry can also be seasoned with salt and pepper powder.

The finer you chop the vegetables, the easier it will be to prepare balls.

Stuffing with raisins, nuts is optional. if stuffing is not preferred, make smaller balls.

Keep an eye on the bake.

Allow it to cool slightly before you attempt to remove from the tray. Use a flat plastic ladle to gently dislodge it from the tray.

Black Bean Soup

 

Couple of days back, one of my relatives pinged me and asked have you tried “Black bean soup”. I thought why it didn’t it strike my mind, and told her no. She told her co-sister prepares a delicious ” Black Bean Soup” and sent me the recipe. Based on the ingredients I had in my home I altered the recipe and here is my version

Checkout other soup varieties,

• Sugar Snap Peas Soup
• Creamy Broccoli Soup
• Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:

Black bean – 3/4 cup

Yellow bell pepper – 1

Onion – 1 , big

Tomato – 1

Bay leaf – 1

Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp

Coriander powder – 1 tsp

Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp (Adjust according to your taste)

Pergo Tomato garlic basil sauce – 3 tbsp

Water – as needed

Butter – 1 tsp

Olive oil – 1 tsp

Kosher Salt – as needed

Cheese – 2 tbsp

Method:

• Wash and Soak the black bean in warm water for 2-3 hours and drain the water. Pressure cook the black bean with 1:2 water for 2 whistles and after the stream releases naturally strain the water

• Add oil and butter to the pan, and when its hot add onion; sauté till the onions are translucent. Add tomato and bell pepper and cook till the tomatoes get mushy

• Add the cooked black bean and mix well. Add pergo sauce, coriander powder, chilli powder and cumin powder and mix well;cook for 3-5 minutes

• Remove the bay leaf and after the mixture comes to room temperature, blend them into fine paste and transfer it to the pan

• Add water according to the consistency you desire and cook till the soup thickens. Add cheese and cook till the cheese melts, switch off and enjoy the warm soup

My Notes

• Instead of kosher salt, regular salt can also be used
• Instead of pergo sauce, you can use one garlic pod, one more tomato
• Can be served with sour cream instead of cheese

Banana Pudding

I am not a big fan of Banana but I don’t want my son to be like me. Like I mentioned in Oatmeal Banana Cookie, my son is very picky when it comes to fruit. If I give him smoothie he refuses to drink so I started preparing this. To my surprise this texture worked. When he was getting his molar he refused everything I gave, luckily few worked and this banana pudding was one among them

Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

Banana -1

Milk – 1 cup

Corn flour – 3 tsp

Cardamom powder – 1/8 tsp

Salt – pinch

Method:

• Put all the ingredients into a mixie jar and grind them smooth without adding water
• Transfer the mixture into the pan and cook in medium heat till the mixture thickens for about 5 -7 minutes.  Serve it warm or chil (I keep in fridge for an hour and give him)

My Notes:

• Can add sugar while cooking the pudding or honey while serving

Vella Sadam

Vella sadam is a traditional dish, preparrd during Aadi perukku. My Amma either prepares Sakkarai pongal or Vella sadam, along with Pulikaichal, Coconut rice and Aviyal.  Sonerimes after returning from school, my sweet tooth craves for eating something sweet and I remember Amma making Vella sadam in no time with leftover rice.

Ingredients:

Rice –  1/2 cup, washed and drained

Jaggery – 1/2 cup, powdered /cut into small chunks

Water  –  2 cup + 1/4 cup

Grated Coconut – 3 tbsp

Cardamom Powder – 1/4 tsp

Almonds – 1 tbsp

Raisins/Dried grapes –  1 tbsp

Ghee – 1 tsp

Method:

• Cook rice with 1 cup of water either in rice cooker, or in pressure cooker for 2 whistles
• Soak jaggery in 1 cup + 1/4 cup of hot water, After the jaggery completely melts in water, strain the impurities
• In a pan, add jaggery syrup and bring to boil. Add the coconut and cardamom powder; mix well and cook  for 2- 3 minutes

• Add  cooked rice to the boiling jaggery syrup and cook till the jaggery syrup is completely absorbed in the rice

• Add ghee to the pan, once the ghee becomes hot, add raisins and switch off. Add the raisins and almonds to the Jaggery rice and serve hot

Notes:

• You can use cashew instead of almonds
• Basamti rice can be used instead of regular rice
• You can cook jaggery in water instead of soaking jaggery in hot water

Pudina (Mint) Rice

For a lazy cook like me variety rice items are favorites, as I need not spend much time in kitchen, and it tastes delicious with a gravy/ raita. When we get a take out order in Indian restaurant, if we order gravy, they give a box of complimentary rice. Caramelized onion in that rice gives mild sweetness to the dish and should I say that is the reason I liked it:-) I tried a mint and ghee rice inspired by that rice. Should I call this rice as “Ghee Rice” or “MintMint Rice”, I am confused. Let me call it Ghee/Pudina Rice:-)

Check out my other Variety Rice,

• Vegetable Rice
• Puliyodharai
• Mango Rice
• Kashmiri Pulao
• Brinjal Rice
• Semiya Bagala Bath
• Vegetable Biryani
• Bisi Bele Bath
• Coconut Rice with coconut milk
• Tomato Biryani

Mint Rice

Preparation time : 10 minutes | Soaking time : 30 minutes to 1 hour | Cooking time : 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice – 1 cup, soaked and drained

Mint – 1 bunch

Onion – 1

Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tsp

Water – 2 cups

Cardamom Pods – 2

Cinnamon Stick -1/8 tsp

Star Ansie – 1

Bay leaf – 1

Sugar – 1/8 tsp (optional)

Salt – as needed

Fennel Seed  powder – 1/8 tsp

Ghee – 1 tbsp

Oil – 1/2 tsp

Method:

• Soak rice in warm water for 30 minutes and strain the water
• Add oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add onions and saute till the onions turn translucent.  Add a pinch of salt and sugar; cook till the onions are caramelized (Sugar is optional, with little more oil this can still be achieved, but I like little sugar in all dish to neutralize flavour and yes I can hear your question, its not sweet). Keep aside

• Add ghee to the same pan. When the ghee is hot, add whole spices and cook for 30 seconds. Add cashew, and when they turn golden brown, add ginger garlic paste and green chilli. Cook till the raw smell goes
• Add mint and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the rice and cook for a minute

• Add required salt and transfer the mixture to rice cooker and add 1:2 water and cook. Add the caramelized onions and mix well. Serve Mint Rice with gravy/raita

My Notes:

• Instead of using caramelized onion can sauté onions and use them or use fried onion
• Instead of whole spices garam masala can also used
• Mint can be pulsed and added