Spicy Smoked Brinjal for a Lazy Day

This is a dish I learnt from my hubby.Perfect to have on any lazy day when we dont want to be in the kitchen for too long !!So simple to prepare and yet so relishable to eat with plain curd rice or hot steaming rice with a dash of ghee.

The smoky flavor of the brinjals has a unique taste thats hard to describe but taste wonderful. I am sure you would enjoy it too.

Ingredients

• 6 medium sized lengthy brinjals
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 2 tsp chilly powder
• 10 tsp olive oil

Procedure

Partly slit the brinjal along the length partly on one side. Rub a few drops of oil over each brinjal.Place them over the medium flame and slowly roast them turning them on all the sides evenly all over.

While the brinjals are being smoked take a small dish and mix the salt, chilli powder and olive oil into a soft smooth paste.

Once the brinjal are smoked and tender when pressed softly take them off the flame . Fill each brinjal along the length with about 1 tbsp of the paste prepared.

Serve the brinjals with curd rice or with hot rice with a dash of ghee and enjoy your lazy day.

Savory Buns For A Snack

Its been ages I did baking and so today I decided to bake something simple and special which will not go wrong !! For these savory buns I took the basic recipe from my stuffed buns and added some magical spices and the outcome was so exciting to watch. I am sure you will have much fun baking these savory buns and enjoy them with a warm cup of tea ..

Ingredients

• 1 n 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 n 3/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp chilli flakes
• 1/2 tsp roasted cumin powder
• 1 tbsp chopped garlic
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 2 tbsp warm water
• 3 tbsp oil

For greasing the buns

• 1/2 tsp milk
• 1 /2 tsp oil

Step 1: Making the Dough

In a big bowl add yeast,sugar,salt n warm water let it sit for 10 min. It will become foamy. Then add oil , milk,chilly flakes,cumin powder,chopped garlic and chopped cilantro n mix nicely. Then add flour slowly 1/2 cup at a time n stir with spatula. Then take it out of the bowl n on a lightly floured surface knead it for 5 min n then make it into a ball. Grease it with oil then put it in a bowl n cover with a damp cloth n let it sit for 1 hr.

Step 2: Shaping

After a hour or till the dough become double.Take it out n punch it in the center to take all the air out.Now divide the dough into six parts n shape it into six to eight balls accordingly n let it sit for another 10 min.

Step 3: Baking

Preheat the oven at 350 F 15 min before baking n bake these buns for 15 min or till they golden brown.

Serving Procedure
Serve the buns once they cool or store them in a fridge reheat in microwave for 10 seconds or cut the bread horizontally, toast it on pan ,apply some butter n serve warm with a cup of tea.

Flavorful Drumstick Curry

Drumsticks pods and leaves are available all thoughout the year.

The pods are excellent cardio-protectors as they contain certain hypotensive compounds like thiocarbamate and isothiocyanate glycosides which help to lower blood pressure along with potassium. The fiber in the pods helps to lower cholesterol and prevent arterial clogs, thus reducing incidence of heart attacks and stroke

Source:http://blog.caloricious.com/2011/06/06/health-benefits-of-drumstick/

In south india it is very common to make dishes with drumstick, this curry is a flavorful combination of drumstick and cashew. It has a mild creamy flavor and the drumstick curry is a excellent accompaniment to rice.I am sure you will enjoy it

Ingredients

• 5 drumsticks chopped at 4 inch length
• 2 cups sliced onions
• 2 cup diced tomatoes
• 8 cashew nuts
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1/2 inch ginger
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tbsp cummin powder
• 1/4 tsp turmertic powder
• chilly powder to taste
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp oil

Procedure

Boil the chopped drumsticks for 10 min in a microwave with enough water that it may all just float and keep aside and dont discard the water.

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan, add the onions and cashewnuts and fry till onions become translucent

Add garlic ginger and fry for 2 minutes, then add tomatoes and let it cook till it becomes soft.

Let the above mixture cool and then grind it to a smooth paste.

Heat another 1 tbsp in the same pan, added this grinded mixture and all the above mentioned powders , stir nicely.

Then add the drumsticks and stir nicely, add the drumstick water and let it cook for another 10 minutes in a low flame. Check the consistently and add little water if required. Serve hot with rice

Simply Yummy Idly Fry

Idly fry has been one of my favorite quick and tasty delicacies to prepare, however they tend to be very oily in restaurants. So today I decided to prepare a healthier version with less oil and also make it tasty to eat.

Ingredients

• 6 idlis
• 1 cup diced capsicum
• 1 cup diced onions
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 2 chopped green chillis
• 2 table tomato sauce
• 1/4 tsp black pepper powder
• 1/4 tsp garam masala
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp oil

Prodecure

Cut the idly into medium size chunks. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and saute the idly in high flame until it has a crispy golden brown exterior. Keep aside

Heat another tbsp oil, add the onions, green chilli and saute for a minute, then add capsicum stir for another 1 min. Then add tomatoes and tomato ketchup, black pepper and salt and stir for 1 more min or until tomato becomes soft.

Now add the fried idlis to the above mixture and stir nicely.Then sprinkle garam masala over it and stir again. Serve hot.