Chitranna

Chitranna is what we call Lemon rice in Kannada.It is a quick rice that is part of feasts.On festive occasions like Ugadi,it is this  flavoured rice, that is part of the spread.

I love it as it is quite easy to make & is quick too.Moreover,the lemon juice brings it a freshness which is so invigorating.

Ingredients : 3/4 cup rice,1 tbsp oil, 1/ 2 a lemon 1 tbsp peanuts,1/4 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp urad dal, 1-2 chopped green chillies ,1 red byadgi mirchi broken into pieces, a sprig of curry leaves,14 tsp haldi,1/4 tsp hing, salt to taste.

Method : Pressure cook rice for 3 whistles.Take care to prepare rice by using lesser quantity of water than otherwise as the rice grains must be all separate for this dish.

I cook for 3 whistles. Then I put off gas.After the pressure is off,I remove the rice & spread it on to a plate so that rice grains are not sticking to each other,Keep it aside.

In a kadhai take oil. Put on the gas.Add mustard seeds,When they splutter,peanuts,Let the peanuts brown alittle.Add urad dal ,byadgi mirchi,chopped green chillies, curry leaves.After 1 minute.put off gas.Add haldi & hing to kadhai & mix.The oil ,peanuts,urad dal ,chillies,kadi patta mixture is all yellow .Keep it aside.

Take the spread out rice.Squeeze half alemon on the rice & mix nicely.Pour the yellow oily vagar prepared by using peanuts,urad dal etal over the rice. Add salt to rice & mix all the things with a spoon.The chitranna is ready.

Chitranna can be garnished with fresh finely chopped dhania & fresh grated coconut. I am too lazy to do all this .Moreover ,the aroma of lemon rice keeps beckoning me to savour it & I simply comply.

If the tanginess is found wanting ,more lemon juice can be added.Some even add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp sugar while mixing vagar with lemon juice.

Methi cabbage onion salad

The other day ,my mom made this yummy salad ! It has just a few ingredients & tastes superb ! It gets ready in no time at all !

Ingredients :  1 cup methi leaves,cleaned & roughly chopped,1/3 cup  & cleaned finely chopped cabbage,1/3 cup finely chopped onion,1/2 lemon, salt to taste.

Method : Put all chopped veggies in a bowl.Squeeze lemon juice of half a lemon on to the veggie mix.Add salt to taste.Mix all nicely.the fresh salad is ready !

Tip : If the juice of half a lemon is too tangy,less can be added.

Pudina chutni

I love mint.Its refreshing aroma rejuvenates me.I got a bunch of mint leaves from the market & decided to make a chutni as I wanted something tangy to taste.I searched for mint cutni recipes & found one @ http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/mint-coriander-chutney-recipe/

Ingredients : 2.5  cups cleaned & washed fresh  mint leaves,1 cup cleaned & washed  fresh coriander leaves ,1/2 " ginger piece grated ,1-2 washed & finely chopped green chillies,juice of 1/2 a lemon ,salt to taste, 1 tsp of sugar ( optional ).

Method : Chop the mint & corainder leaves.Some use the stalks of leaves while some throw them away.In these times of high prices,it is better to finely chop the stalks & use them in the chutni.

Put the chopped leaves in grinder with grated ginger& chopped chillies.Turn the grinder on.In between ,the grinder can be stopped & some water added.Add salt after a paste like consistency has been obtained.Add lemon juice if tanginess is needed.Be careful with the salt as all green veggies have their own inherent saltiness.My chutni turned out little salty.To rectify that ,I added more lemon juice.Even sugar can be added.

I ate this chutni with palak parathas.It will go well with cutlets,patties,even in chaat items like sev puris,ragda patties etal ! This is  a good spread for sandwitche s as well !