Hyderabadi Mirchi Ka salan

Hyderabadi Mirchi ka salan is served along with Hyderabadi Biryani and it is a very famous and authentic combination!

Ingredients

8-10 Jalapeno chillies (Bajji mirchi)
4 tbsp peanuts
4 tbsp dry coconut
1 tbsp Sesame seeds
1/2 tsp Onion seeds (Kalonji)
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Fennel seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds
2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
2 tbsp of curry leaves
1 tsp green chilli paste
4 tbsp tamarind paste
3-6 tbsp oil
3 large onions (deep fried till brown and crisp)
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
salt to taste
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
2 cups of water
1/2 tsp garam masala

Preparation

There is a lot of pre- preparation that needs to be done before preparing this gravy like, deep frying the onions, preparing tamarind paste, sliting the chillies and keeping all the ingredients near by!
In a pan saute peanuts on low flame for 2 minutes and then add dry coconut and saute for a minute till they get roasted slightly. To this add sesame seeds and roast slightly for a minute and remove from flame. Set aside to cool. Once it has cooled down, grind these ingredients with a little water into a paste.
Leave the stem of the chillies intact and slit open the chillies only on one side. Also remove the seeds inside the chillies if any. In another pan add 3 tbsp oil and fry the chillies. Fry the chillies for 10 to 12 minutes till soft. Set aside.
In another pan heat 2 tbsp oil and add onion seeds, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds and fennel seeds. When the seeds start spluttering, add ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves, green chilli paste and saute for 2 minutes. To this mixture add tamarind paste and cook for a minute. Now add fried brown onions and mix well. Also add cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt and finally the ground peanut paste. Now cook the whole mixture till it leaves oil and also leaves the sides of the pan. To this add 2 cups of water and bring the gravy to a boil. Once you see the boil, add the fried chillies and again cook and bring the mixture to boil on low flame. The flavour of the chillies should get incorporated in the gravy. Finally sprinkle garam masala and remove from heat.
Hyderabadi Mirchi ka salan is ready to go with Hyderabadi biryani.

Ridge Gourd Dal (Beerakaya Pesarapappu)

This recipe is from Pedatha's book. Her book always stays in my kitchen bookshelf. I have learned many basics form it. This is a very comforting dal with rice.

Ingredients
3/4 cup green gram (husked)
2 medium ridge gourd (chopped)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 green chillies (slit length wise)
2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves (chopped)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp oil
salt to taste

For tempering

1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 red chillies
handful of curry leaves
1/4 tsp asafoetida powder


Preparation

Pressure cook the dal with turmeric in 3 cups of water to a soft consistency. If the cooked dal is very thick you can dilute it by adding half cup of water. Churn well and set aside.
Scrape and chop the ridge gourd into medium sized cubes.
In a pan heat the oil for tempering and add mustard and let them pop. Lower the flame and add the rest of the tempering ingredients.
To this add the chopped gourds, cover and cook for a couple of minutes until tender.
Add the cooked gram, green chillies, coriander leaves and salt and continue to cook for a few minutes. Turn off the heat and add stir in the lemon juice.
Serve warm with rice!

Banana stem curry(dry) Aratidhoota Koora

Ingredients

2 cups Banana stem (finely chopped)
1/2 cup freshly grated coconut
2 green chillies (slit length wise)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
salt to taste

For tempering
2 tbsp oil
1/3 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp split black gram dal/urad dal (husked)
2-3 red chillies
handful of curry leaves
a dash of asafoetida

Preparation

It is a little difficult to clean the banana stem. I learnt it from my mom:) Remove the outer fiberous layer of the banana stem. May be 2 or more layers may be that way. Cut the banana stem in round circular slices. Then cut the slices into smaller pieces. While cutting you can make out the hard pieces to discard.
Drop the soft and crisp banana stem pieces in turmeric water so that they do not turn dark in colour.
Heat a pan, add oil and temper with the given ingredients. To the tempering add green chillies and banana stem pieces after draining the water completely.
Also add turmeric powder, salt, grated coconut and mix well.
Cover with lid and cook for 12-15 minutes on low heat. Check to see if the pieces have cooked completely. Remove from heat and serve with rice.