Yellow Moong Dal Khichdi

Khichdi is a famous dish in may parts of India. However I got introduced to it only post my wedding. It is very similar to our South Indian Pongal, however it is much lighter.
My hubby says that Khichdi is usually served at his place when someone is sick as it is easy to digest.

It is very easy to prepare and they are many variations to this. Today I have shared the Basic Moong Dal Khichdi. To this you can add simple Tadka, Vegetables etc

Ingredients

Rice - 1 Cup
Split Yellow Moong Dal - 1/2 Cup
Hing/Asafoetida - A generous Pinch
Ghee - 1/2 Teaspoon (Add more as per your wish,usually they add lots of ghee)
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Green Chilly - 1 (Slit)
Salt - To Taste

Method

• Wash The rice and Yellow moong dal and soak it in 5 cups of water for 30 minutes
• Then cook them in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles or till it is done well.
• Allow the pressure to settle on its own.
• Meanwhile warm Ghee and once it is warm add Cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.
• Switch off the flame, add asafoetida, Green chillies and saute for the minute.
• Add the tadka to the cooked rice-Dal mixture, add salt and mix it well.
• If you want you can add some more warm Ghee. 

Whole Wheat Pav with Indian Herbs. 

I love to add lots of Herbs to my bread, so this time when I decided to Bake Whole Wheat Pav, I decided to add loads of Indian Hers like Coriander, Mint, etc. I have used Wheat flour to make you can use All Purpose flour for very soft Pav. For the recipe with AFP click here. 

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - 3 Cups
Warm Water - 1.5 Cups
Olive Oil - 1 Tablespoon
Salt - 1 Teaspoon
Sugar - 1 Tablespoon
Yeast - 1.5 Teaspoon (1 Teaspoon Instant yeast, 1.5 teaspoon Active Dry or 3 teaspoon Fresh Yeast)
Fresh Coriander Leaves - 2 Tablespoons (Finely Chopped)
Mint leaves - 1 Tablespoon (Finely Chopped)
Green Chillies - 1 Teaspoon (Finely Chopped, adjust to taste)
Garlic - 2 Tablespoon (Peeled, finely chopped)

Method

• In a mixing bowl, place the luke warm water and add the sugar and stir it well.
• To this add the Dry yeast and cover with a plate and leave it aside till it is frothy.
• In another mixing bowl, place the Wheat Flour and Salt and add Butter or Oil and mix it well. 
• To this add the Yeast water and knead for 8-10 minutes or till you get a smooth pliable dough.
• Now place this dough in a oiled bowl and cover it with a damp cloth and allow it to rise.
•  This may take 1 Hour.
  
• Once the Dough has doubled, bring the dough to the top of the kitchen counter and punch it down and knead for couple of minutes.
• Now add Coriander leaves, garlic, Green Chillies and Mint Leaves and knead it well. 
• Then shape it into Pav and place it in a greased  tin.
• Place them touching each other and  Cover it lightly with a damp cloth and allow it to rise for 30-45 minutes.
• After 30-45 minutes, Bake it in a Pre heated Oven for 30 minutes at 180C and Broil for 5 minutes.

Pumpkin Bread - With Wheat 

After my success with the Pumpkin Soup, I wanted to bake something using Pumpkin but somehow I slipped out of my memory. So this time as soon as I purchased Pumpkin, I headed home and started making this aromatic Bread.

Do try this and I promise you wont be disappointed at all.

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - 1 Cup
Pumpkin Puree - 1 Cup (Refer to Pumpkin Soup)
Maida - 1 Tablepoon
Raisins - 1 Tablespoon
Almonds - 6-8 (Roughly Chopped)
Sugar- 1/2 Cup (I used Brown, bu regular sugar is fine too)
Yoghurt - 2 Tablespoon (Subsitute with Soy Milk for Vegan)
Grated Coconut - 2 Tablespoon (Optional, But believe me this takes the bread to the next level)
Oil - 1 Tablespoon
Baking powder - 1 Teaspoon
Cinnamon Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt - A pinch

Method

• In a mixing Bowl add Pumpkin Puree, Curd,Oil, sugar,coconut,cinnamon powder,salt and mix well.
• Sift Wheat flour, Baking Soda and Maida together.
• Mix the Sifted Flour to the prepared liquid mixture and lightly mix them.
• To this add the Raisins and Almonds.
• Pour this prepared batter into greased Baking Pan.
• Bake this at 190C in a pre heated oven for 30-40 minutes or till it is cooked.
• Cool it completely and then slice. 

Vellai Poosani Mor Kootu - White Pumpkin in Buttermilk Gravy 

I don't know why, but we don't buy so much of White Pumpkin as the Yellow Pumpkin? So I decided to buy it and make this Yummy dish. The recipe is from my mom. It was such a easy dish to prepare.

 Ingredients
White Pumpkin - 250 Grams (Peeled, diced into 1 inch square)
Curd - 1 Cup
Turmeric - A pinch
Salt to Taste
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Oil - 1/2 Teasoon (I used Coconut Oil)

To make a Paste:
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Green Chillies - 3-4
Coconut - 1/4-1/2 Cup (Depending on your taste, I added 1/2 Cup)
Rice - 1 Teaspoon (Soak it in water for 10-15 minutes prior to grinding)

Method:

• Grind the soaked rice and then add other ingredients given under 'To make a paste' and grind into a smooth paste.
• Mix this paste with the Curd and keep it. 
• Add very little water and cook the ash gourd. Add turmeric also.
• Cook till the Ash gourd is done.
• Once it is done, reduce the flame to low and add the Yoghurt- paste mixture and cook till the raw flavour of the paste is gone.
• It may take 5-8 minutes.
• In a tadka pan, add little oil, splutter the Mustard seeds and add it to the prepared curry. 

Vegetable Savory Cake - With whole Wheat Flour 

Why does cakes have to be always sweet? So I was searching for a Savory Cake and stumbled upon this recipe. It is simple, easy, Healthy and tasty.

I used whatever vegetables was available at my house. Use your creativity and add veggies of your choice.

Ingredients
Rava/ Semolina - 1 Cup
Wholewheat flour - 1/2 Cup
Curd -1 cup 
Water- 1 Cup
Baking Soda - 1 Teaspoon
Red chilli powder- 1 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Teaspoon
Salt - To Taste
Fresh coriander leaves

For tempering:

Mustard seeds - 1 Teaspoon 
Cumin seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Asafoetida powder - A generous Pinch 
Oil - 2 Tablespoon 

1 cup assorted veggies:

Onion - 1 (Finely Chopped)
Carrot - 1 (Chopped)
Green Beans - 4 (Chopped)
Baby Corn - 3 (Chopped)
Green Peas - 2 Tablespoon
Ginger - 1 Teaspoon (Grated)
Method

• Soak the Rava/Semolina in the cup of water for 10 minutes
• Heat a pan and add Oil and add Mustard and once it crackles add the Cumin seeds.
• To this add Onion, Asafoetida,and Chopped veggies and give it a quick stir.
• To this add Ginger,Chilly powder, Turmeric powder and saute for a minute.
• To the soaked Semolina add yogurt and mix well.
• To this add the Whole Wheat flour and mix well.
• Add salt to taste and add the sauteed Veggies to this.
• Now add the baking soda and mix well.
• Pour this prepared batter into a greased Baking tray.
• Bake this at 190C for 30-40 minutes.
• Cook completely and cut it.