Onion Mint Sandwich

I was happily napping one fine afternoon (which is rare these days with a 5.5months old hyperactive baby :)), my tummy started kicking me. Opened the fridge no veggies except for 1 not so fresh beetroot and half a packet of bread. I remembered the left over puthina chutney which I had for idly that morning, so made this quick sandwich.

So what are u waiting for.....no veggies in stock try this sandwich with the ingredients that are sure to be in your pantry!

Ingredients:

Bread - 4 slices (I usually use wheat bread)

Urad dhal - 2tsp

Mint(puthina) leaves - 3 tbsp

Finely chopped onion -1

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder

Chilli powder - a pinch

Sambar powder - 2tsp (optional)

Ghee - to toast

Method:

1.In 1 tsp of oil, add urad dhal, let it temper then add mint leaves and saute well till the leaves are crushed, add few drops of water and grind it to a fine paste. Keep it aside.

[Though this is not the orginal recipe for puthina chutney this goes well for sandwiches]

2.Drizzle oil, add onion, turmeric powder, chilli powder, sambar powder and saute till onions turn light brown.

3.Take 2 bread slices and apply the mint paste on both the slices.

4.Add the onion filling in between the 2 slices and press it.

5.Toast it with ghee in a toaster/dosa pan.

You can substitute mint leaves with coriander leaves.....It tastes gud too!'Just not any other dish'

Masala Kuzhi Paniyaram

I've been eyeing this masala kuzhipaniyarams since I saw it in Nags space, made it for breakfast last weekend and it turned out very tasty. I didnt know that the paniyarams with dosa batter wud taste soo gud!

I replaced coconut with carrot and sauted all the ingredients before I added them to the batter.

Ingredients:

Dosa/Idly batter - 2 cups

Mustard seeds - 2tsp

Turmeric powder - 1tsp

Finely chopped Onion - 1

Finely chopped Green chillies - 1

Red chilli powder - 1 pinch

Hing - a pinch

Grated Carrot - 1 big size

Curry leaves - few

Salt - to taste

Oil

Method:

1.Drizzle oil, allow mustard seeds to splutter.

2.Add onions, chillies, carrot and curry leaves and saute for 5mins till onions turn light brown.

3.Add turmeric powder, hing, chilli powder and salt. Now add above to the dosa batter and mix well.

4.Heat the paniyaram pan add a drop of oil in each hole, fill in each hole with the batter, but not more than 3/4th full as the paniyarams will raise a little . Let it cook on the other side until its crisp.

5.Turn over and cook the other side. Serve hot with chutney!

The spices were well blended that it needed no sidedish but we had it with leftover coriander chutney...:)

Creamy Curd Semiya

Curd Semiya is best suited for ending guest dinners and parties, a different alternative to curd rice!

Ingredients:

Vermicelli Semiya - 1.cup

Onion -1 medium sized

Oil -1 tbsp

Chilled curd - 1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Grated Carrot - 1 small size

To temper :

Mustard seeds - 1tsp

Urad Dal - 1 tsp

Finely chopped green chillies - 1

Ginger - 1/2 inch piece

Method:

1.Roast vermicelli in 1/2 tsp oil for 2mins and keep seperately. [NOTE : Roasting vermicelli in oil keeps the semiya seperated]

2.Drizzle oil, temper mustard, urad dhal, green chillies and ginger.Add onions, saute till it becomes transparent.

3.Now add 1.5 cups of water and bring it it to boil, add salt to taste. Add roasted vermicelli semiya to boiling water and keep closed for 3mins.

4.Open and turn to other side, check if its cooked else sprinkle lil more water.

5.Leave it to cool then add curd, carrot and mix well. It tastes gud when it is served chilled!

Poha(Aval) Upma - A quick evening snack!

This is one of the easiest yet filling snack which can be done in a jiffy!

Ingredients :
Poha/Aval (thick or thin) - 1cup
Onion - 1
Curry leaves - 3 to 4
Finely chopped Green chillies - 1
Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 2 tsp
Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp

Method:
1. Soak poha in water for 5mins (I used thin if its thick it will take some more time). Then sqeeze water and keep the poha aside for 5mins.

2. In a kadai : Drizzle oil, add mustard seeds then add onions, curry leaves, green chillies and turmeric powder.

3. Saute till onions are fried well. Add grated coconut which is purely optional, but it adds to the taste.

4. Add the poha to the above and mix well. Add salt to taste.

5. Poha upma is ready to be served!

Dates Cornflakes Smoothie

I often find myself getting confused with a smoothie and a milk shake so tried googling today. Some facts about smoothie from wikipedia :

A smoothie is a blended, chilled, sweet beverage made from fresh fruit or vegetables.In addition to fruit, many smoothies include crushed ice, frozen/.dry fruit, honey or frozen yogurt. They have a milkshake-like consistency but much more thicker. Unlike milkshakes, they usually don't contain ice cream, but contain milk.

A smoothie is very refreshing for a morning breakfast. This dates smoothie is not only filling its healthy too! The flavour when cornflakes,dates and honey are blended tastes so gud!

Ingredients:

Milk - 1 cup

Yogurt - 1tbsp (optional)

Dates - 5 to 6

Cornflakes - 1tbsp

Honey - 2tsp

Crushed ice- from a cube

Method:

1.Blend everything together to form a smooth mixture

[No sugar needed]

2.Serve chilled

I am planning to post here every tues/wed so watch out this space every week!