Khaman Dhokla

This recipe is by my friend,Medha Sarathy.I am just putting it on to my blog.

Ingredients : 5 tbsp dosa or idli batter,5 tbsp rava,5 tbsp besan,5 tbsp dahi or yoghurt,1/2 tsp hing,1/2 tsp haldi,1-2 green chillies finely cut,1/2 inch grated ginger,2 tbsp oil,a pinch of baking soda,one sachet of eno fruit salt,a few curry leaves,1 tsp mustard seeds, salt to taste.

Method : Mix dosa or idli batter with rava & besan by adding dahi.Add 1 tbsp oil.Mix again.The consistency should be like dosa batter.For getting this consistency ,dahi amount can be altered - & in no case water needs to be added.Add 1/4 tsp turmeric & 1/4 tsp haldi & salt to taste.Again mix.Keep overnight.

Next day ,in the morning, add finely cut green chilly & grated ginger to the batter & mix.

Keep cooker on gas & let water start boiling in the cooker .Keep a stand in the cooker.Let the water boil.

Take  eno fruit salt & add 1 tbsp water..Add this eno water mix to batter. Batter will start bubbling up.Now gently the batter & immediately pour the batter into a greased plate ..Keep this plate on the stand in the cooker. Close the lid of the cooker.Do not put the whistle.

Steam will keep escaping from the cooker.Let it continue for 15-16  minutes after the dhokla batter plate has been kept in the cooker.

Now put off the gas.Open the cooker lid.Put a knife or fork in the centre of the dhokla batter plate.If it comes out clean,the dhokla is done.

Now ,take 1 tbsp of oil .Put it in a kadhai.Put on the gas.Put mustard seeds into it.When they splutter,add finely cut chilly & kadipattas.Put off the gas Also add 1/4 tsp hing & 1/4 tsp haldi.Now add 2 tbsp of water.Add 1-2 tsp sugar to the mustard seasoning.Boil this water mixture till it gets thicker.Now put off the gas.Pour this sugar-water-seasoning mixture on the dhoklas.The seasoning mixture can be poured on the dhoklas either before or after the dhoklas have been cut.

Take a knife & make squares on the dhokla plate.Now remove the squares.Serve with chutney or fried green chillies.

Option :The dhokla pieces can be garnished with finely cut dhania ( coriander ) & fresh dessicated coconut.

Healthy Noodles

I make my instant noodles in a healthy manner.

Ingredients : A carrot,some peas,1/4 cup sprouted moong,a tomato,a few leaves of fresh coriander,a packet of instant noodles inclusive of their masala packet.

Method : Grate the carrot,cut the tomato finely & take out the peas from the pods.Now boil the water ( take 2 cups instead of 11/2 cups as stated on the noodle packet).More water is needed as we are going to cook the sprouted moong,carrots & peas as well.After the water starts boiling add the sprouted moong,peas ,grated carrot & the instant noodles.Let all this cook for 5 minutes.Then add the diced tomato .Now add the noodle masala.Mix all.Put off the gas after two minutes.Now you can garnish the dish with fresh coriander.

This is healthy as no oil has been used.Only veggies like carrot,tomato , peas & coriander have been added thereby increasing the fibre content & also the quantity.Sprouted moong is an excellent additive.

Tips : One can add more water if you like a curry type consistency.You may also add some pepper & little grated ginger to enhance the taste.Even a squeeze of lemon will make it more tangy.Remember that carrots & tomato will turn the dish little bland.So ,you may need more spice ( any leftover sipces from other ready to cook packets will do fine ) or you can add any masala powder available with you.Some of you may feel the need to add salt but preferably eat without adding salt as you might as well get used to less salt.

Rajma

I love rajma ( kidney beans ) .I opt for the dark red ones called sharmilee The buff colored ones with spots are also available.

Ingredients : 1 / 2 cup rajma beans -soaked overnight,2  small  onions, 2 small  tomatoes, 1 small carrot Grated),1' inch ginger ( grated ),2/3 - hari mirchi, 1/2 tsp jeera, 1-2 bay leaves,  1 tbsp oil, salt to taste.

Method : Pressure cook the soaked rajma by adding  a little salt to the rajma.Let it cook for two whistles,then lower the heat & let it cook for 18-20 minutes. Now,put off the gas.

Chop onions., Puree them in mixer.Pureeing is optional.I puree them as I want my teen to eat some gravy as well.My chopping of onions is not fine & my teen simply skips eating onions. Finely chop green chillies & grate ginger. The chilli-ginger mix can be pureeed as well .Chop tomatoes & carrot.Puree tomato carrot mix as well.Keep aside all mixes seperately in 3 bowls.

Take a kadhai & add oil.Heat the kadhai.Add cumin seeds. When they splutter add chopped onions. Fry them till smell of raw onions  goes away. add bay leaves. Next add green chilli ginger mix. to kadhai.Mix nicely with onions& bay leaves.After 4-5  minutes, add tomato carrot purree to kadhai. Mix nicely.After 5 minutes , add little salt so that chopped tomatoes will get cooked more.Remember that salt has been added to rajma while being pressure cooked.So add little salt to cook tomatoes more.Mix nicely.

Add cooked rajma. Mix nicely.Simmer on gas for 10-15 minutes  Garnish rajma with fresh finely chopped coriander.

Tips :
I pressure cook for rajma with onion tomato carrot gravy up to 2 whistles  as I have top cook rice in pressure cooker & so I can cook the cooked rajma beans with veggie gravy along with rice.

Those of you who are off onions simply skip adding onions as I skip adding garlic. 

Needless to add that I have learnt to cook great rajma from Sangeeta Khanna's blog