Tomato Thokku (தக்காளி தொக்கு)

Ingredients:
Tomoato -4
Turmeric powder - 1 Teaspoon
Chilli powder - 2 Tablespoon
Asafoetida - 1/2 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds - 1 Teaspoon
Fenugreek powder (methi) (fry dry methi seeds and powder it) - 2 Teaspoon
Salt - to taste
Oil - 3 Tablespoon

Preparation:
1. Boil tomatoes and peel the skin and make a puree.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and asafoetida.
3. Add the tomato puree and turmeric powder and salt and stir well.
4. Add chilli powder and fenugreek powder and mix well and close it with lid and cook till the raw tomato smell goes away oil floats.

Tomato thokku is good combination for Idly/Dosa/Rice. Especially this is a lovely combination for curd rice/lemon rice. You can also stock this in an air tight container in refrigerator for 1 week.

Ellu (Sesame) Rice

Sesame seeds are very rich in Iron, magnesium and calcium. Nutrients of these seeds are better absorbed if they are ground before consumption. This is a very easy to make recipe and can be prepared in lesser than 30 minutes.

Ingredients:
Rice - 1 Cup

Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tablespoon

To fry and grind
Black Sesame seeds - 1/4 cup

Red chillies - 5 t0 6 (If your chilly is more spicy, you can reduce the number).
Asafoetida - pinch
Urud dhal -1 teaspoon
Channa dhal - 1 teaspoon
Coriander seeds - 1/4 teaspoon

Preparation:

1. Heat pan and fry sesame seeds in a low flame without oil till it pops and comes out with a good smell. Donot over fry it. Fry all the other ingredients with little oil and allow it to cool.

2. Grind the mixture to a coarse powder

3. Cook rice by adding little salt to it.

4. Spread 2 tablespoon of oil over hot rice and add the powder and add salt as required and mix it well.
5. You can add fried groundnuts or cashewnuts to make it more tastier.

Paruppu Urundai (lentil dumplings) Kuzhambu

This is an authentic South Indian recipe made of lentils (channa dhal). This lentil is good for people with diabetes and helps them control their glucose levels.


Ingredients:
Dumplings:
Channa Dhal - 150 gms
Onion - 2 (medium sized)
Green chillies - 3
Salt - to taste
Gravy:
Vadavam - 1 tablespoon (Alternatively you can use 2 teaspoon of mustards)
Onion - 1 (medium sized)
Tomato - 2 (medium sized)
Garlic - 15 pods
Tamarind water- 2 cups
Coconut - 1 cup
Sambhar Powder - 1 1/2 tablespoon
Oil - 3 tablespoon
Salt -to taste

Preparation:
To Make Dumplings:
1. Soak dhal in water for 1 hour.
2. Chop 2 onions and green chillies into fine pieces.
3. Grind it in mixer (little coarsely) and mix onions and chillies with required salt.
4. Add required salt and make small balls with this mixture.
5. Steam these balls in pressure cooker for approximately 10 minutes till they cook. You can steam them in the idly plates by spreading a little oil on the plates.


To make Gravy:
1. Chop onions length wise and tomatoes into fine pieces.
2. Heat oil in a pan and when oil is hot add vadavam.
3. Add onions and garlic and fry niely. When this is almost cooked, add tomatoes and fry.
4. Now add sambhar powder and salt and mix well.
5. Add the tamarind juice and bring it to boil in low flame.
6. Grind coconut into a fine paste.
7. When the gravy cooks well and the raw tamarind smell is gone, add the coconut paste and cook the mixture in low flame for another 5 to 10 minutes.
8. Now gently prick the dumplings with the fork and drop them into the boiling gravy.

9. Boil the mixture well for another 10 minutes and the tasty urundai kuzhambu is ready.

Urundai kuzhambu can be served with rice or idli or dosai.

Ladies Finger (Okra) Raita (Pachadi)

Okra is an ideal vegetable for weight loss and it has to be always cooked over low flame to retain its properties. The fibre of okra has many superior qualities in maintaining health of the gastro-intestinal tract. A very simple yet tasty and healthy dish. Ladies Finger (Okra) is a very

Ingredients:

Ladies Finger - 200 gms

Mustard - 1 teaspoon

Urud dhal - 2 teaspoon

Asafoetida - 1/4 teaspoon

Oil - 3 tablespoon

Curd - 1/2 cup

Salt - to taste.

Preparation:

1. Cut Ladies finger into pieces.

2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.

3. When it splutters, add urud dhal and asafoetida and when it turns golden brown, add ladies finger.

4. Add little salt and cook ladies finger well without adding water.

5. Remove this from heat and cool the mixture.

6. Add curd and salt if required and mix it thorougly.

Pachadi is ready to be served.

Carrot Raita (Pachadi)

Carrot as we all know is very nutritious vegetable highly rich in Vitamin A. Especially raw carrots are very good for health. This preparation with Carrot also uses raw carrot with few other basic ingredients and is a yummy dish that will tempt you by its color and taste. This dish can be prepared in 15 to 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

Carrot - 3 to 4

Onion - 2 small

Green Chillies -2

Curd - 1 cup

Coriander leaves - for garnishing

Salt to taste

For Seasoning:

Oil - 3 tablespoon

Mustard - 1 tablespoon

Urud dhal - 1 tablespoon
Asafoetida - 1/4 teaspoon
Curry leaves - 3 to 4

Preparation:

1. Finely grate the carrots and transfer it to a bowl.

2. Chop the onions to fine pieces.

3. Split the green chillies into halves.

4. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds when hot. When it splutters add urud dhal and asafoetida and fry till it becomes golden brown.

5. Add curry leaves and green chillies and fry for 1 minute.

6. Now add finely chopped onions and fry till it becomes golden brown.

7. When done, add this to the grated carrot and wait till it cools down.

8. Add curd and salt to taste and mix thoroughly.

9. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Carrot Pachadi is ready to eat.

Note:

1. You can add little grated coconut finally to get an additional flavor.

2. If you are prefer sweet to salt, you can add sugar instead of salt.