Soya chunks and cauliflower pakodi kadhi

This is a Rajastani thali meal which we enjoyed at a resort in Hyderabad. It was served hot along with background Rajastani folk music!!



Ingredients
1/2 cup Soya chunks

For Pakodis

1 cup cauliflower
1 cup cup gram flour
salt to taste
1/2 tsp chilli powder
oil for frying

For Kadhi
1 1/2 cup yogurt
2 tbsp gram flour
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp ginger garlic paste

For tempering and garnish
2 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
7-8 curry leaves
2 dry red chillies
1 tbsp fresh chopped coriander for garnish

Preparation

In a bowl prepare batter for making pakodis by adding gramflour, salt, chilli powder and water. Dip cauliflower in the batter and make pakodis. Set aside.
Soak soya chunks in water till it becomes soft. Drain the water and keep aside.
To prepare Kadhi, in a bowl mix yogurt, 2 cups of water, ginger garlic paste, salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder and gramflour. Mix well and set aside.
In a pan add 2 tbsp oil and temper with the given ingredients. Add the yogurt mixture and stir. Cook till the kadhi thickens, stirring continously.
Add the cauliflower pakodis and soya chunks and bring the kadhi to boil.
Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot.

My Little one turns "2" today and Roti making

No Picture pleaseeeee...... I am not ready yet :)

She is down with a fever and I feel terrible.... Hope she feels better by evening for cutting her cake!!!

Time flies and we never know when kids grow up... I feel that it was just yesterday when the nurse brought her to me for the first time and she was cuddling into my hands, she had not even opened her eyes fully.... and now......

She wants to have what ever her big brother has, she want to be taught what ever he learns, she gets angry and possessive when her brother is paid attention, she slowly learns the poems, alphabets and even Hindi alphabets all by herself looking at her brother, she wants to eat by herself. She snatches the remote to watch cartoon, she slowly takes away his stuff and runs into the other room to get him annoyed:) and they both start fighting like two little lambs and finally she lands up crying as the survival of the fitest happens!!

The story does not end here though..... Will catch up later on this.

The Art of Roti Making

While in Mount Abu, I was lucky to get into the Brahma Kumaris Kitchen, where a big hall is just alloted for making " Rotis". During special events the Rotis are made for about 15,ooo to 20,000 people in the huge kitchen. Right from preparing the dough to the packing of the rotis, take a beautiful tour through this kitchen.

Dough making

There are about 5 to 6 rows and in each row there are about 80 to 100 people helping to shape the rotis. I even spotted some kids who were helping take the rotis to the tava (hot pan) .


Rotis on the Tava!!

Not just a Tava...

and from the tawa to the alignment table which lay side to side..





The Ghee rotis are kept separately and the dry ones separate.

Packing and delivery...

While I was back home from US, I found some friends who made themselves very comfortable at my balcony.

Coriander Rice - A southern delicacy

A very delicious and aromatic rice made in no time.

Ingredients

1 cup rice
2-3 tsp oil
Salt to taste

For grinding:

1 cup coriander leaves
1" piece ginger
1 onion
2-3 green chillies

For Tempering:

1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp Chana dal (Bengal gram dal)
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp cashew nuts
1 tsp raisins
curry leaves- a hand full
Asafoetida- a dash

Preparation

Pressure cook the rice with 2 1/2 cups of water and let it cool. Grind the coriander leaves along with other ingredients. In a pan heat oil and temper with the given ingredients. To that add the coriander paste and salt. Let it cook for few minutes until the raw smell of the onion and coriander is gone. Add the cooked rice and fold gently until all the ingredients mix well and the rice takes up the flavours. Serve hot with pappad.