Tawa Pulao / Butter Pulao

          Tawa pulao / butter pulao is a famous Maharashtrian street food available in many of the pav-bhaji thelas. It is quick and easy to prepare yet tastes delicious. Even novice cook can create this wonderful rice dish within minutes as no special skills of selecting, roasting and grinding of any of the spices are required! The pav - bhaji masala itself is the sole and unique taste giver which is readily available in all the Indian grocery stores. This also forms an excellent way to give a new life to the left-over rice!

Ingredients:

• Basmati rice - 1 cup (If not available regular sona masoori rice can also be used)
• chopped onion - 1cup
• Chopped capsicum (Bell peppers) - 1 cup 
• Chopped tomato - 1 cup
• Cooked and cut potato - 1 cup
• Boiled green peas - 1/2 cup

(Along with these vegetables cooked beans, carrots, cauliflower can also be used) 

• Ginger - garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Pav - bhaji masala - 1 1/2 tsp
• Chili powder - 1/2 to 1 tsp
• Finely chopped cilantro (green coriander) - 1/4 cup
• Lemon juice - 2 tbs
• Butter - 2 to 3 tbs ( Ghee or oil can also be used instead)
• Salt - to taste

Method:

• Wash the basmati rice thoroughly add two cups of water, 1/4tsp salt (optional) and 1tsp oil and cook in a rice cooker or pressure cooker until 3 whistles. Adding oil prevents the rice from getting sticky. Allow the cooked rice to rest undisturbed for atleast 30 min - 1 hr or until it is completely cool and then separate the grains so that they remain unbroken.

• Heat the butter in a large tawa (skillet) or pan. Add cumin seeds followed by fennel seeds

• When they are brown add onion and saute until they sweat. Add the capsicum and saute them until they are done. Its OK if they retain slight crunchiness. Then add tomato and saute.
• Add in the ginger-garlic paste followed by potato and green peas, mix well.

• Add turmeric powder, pav-bhaji masala, chili powder and mix. 
• Add 1/2 cup water, mix and let it boil for some time. This prevents masala powders from getting burnt and also add some moisture to the rice added.

• Add in the rice, cilantro, lemon juice, salt (be cautious if some salt has been added while cooking rice) and give a thorough mix.

• Remove from stove top and serve hot with raita, pickle and papad of your choice.

Watch the video for the recipe:

                      

Check out our YouTube channel here and subscribe!

Read More

Bottle Gourd Stir Fry / Sorekayi Palya / Lauuki ki Sabzi

          Bottle Gourd (calabash) is a low calorie vegetable rich in vital nutrients. It cooks fast and easily absorbs the flavors of the spices added. Hence it can be incorporated effortlessly in many of the quick recipes. "Bottle gourd stir fry" is one such easy recipe which is good to go with chapatis, rotis and rice.

Ingredients:

• Bottle Gourd (calabash) - 1 / Around 3 cups cut into cubes.
• Grated coconut - 1/2 cup (use according to your requirement)
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Urad dal / split and skinned black gram - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 10 leaves
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Asafetida - 1/4 tsp
• Vangibath powder / sambar powder / rasam powder / red chili powder - around 2 tsp (use according to its spiciness)
• Lemon juice -1 tbs
• Cilantro (Green coriander) - For garnishing
• Water - Around 1/2 cup
• Oil - 2 tbs
• Salt - to taste

Method:

• Thoroughly wash and peel the bottle gourd and cut into cubes.

• Heat the oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. As the mustard seeds crackle, add urad dal.
• When urad dal slightly changes color add curry leaves followed by turmeric powder and asafetida.

• Add the grated coconut and saute for few seconds and add in the bottle gourd pieces, mix and saute for some time.

• Add water, cover and cook until the water is evaporated.

• Then add the lemon juice, vangibath powder, salt and mix. Saute until any residual water is evaporated.

• Finally garnish with fresh cilantro and enjoy.

Watch the video for recipe:

Check out our YouTube channel here and subscribe!

Read More

Lemon Tea - Refreshing & Energetic Drink

          Summer mainly reminds me of two things, exhausting sunny days and my mom's special lemon tea. Lemon tea with refreshing lemon juice and a hint of mint flavor is an excellent beverage which can uplift your mood and energy instantly. With all the ingredients readily available in the pantry its so very easy to prepare...

Ingredients:

• Black tea powder - 1 tbs, 2 to 3 tea bags can be used in its unavailability.
• Water - 3 cups
• Lemon juice - 4 tbs
• Mint leaves - 3 to 4
• Chopped ginger pieces - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Green cardamom - 2
• Jaggery / Brown sugar -  around 5 tbs ; if not available normal sugar any sweetener can be used.

Procedure:

• Slightly pound the cumin seeds and green cardamon in pestle and mortar.

• Take water in a sauce pan and put on a stove top. Add the pounded cumin and cardamon. Add the chopped ginger pieces and let it come to a good boil.

• Add in the black tea powder, mint leaves and jaggery. keep the stove on medium heat, cover and let it boil for 4 to 5 more minutes.

• Take the sauce pan off the stove top and strain the tea.

• To this add the lemon juice and give a good mix.

• Serve the tea hot with the snacks of your choice.

Watch the video for recipe:

Checkout our YouTube channel here and subscribe!

Read More