Amaranth leaves-shallots stir fry

Amaranth leaves called as Thotakura in telugu or Mulai keerai in tamil is used in different ways in the southindian kitchen. It can be used to make dals and curries too.

Ingredients

2 cups of Amaranth leaves (cleaned and chopped finely)
1 cup shallots (chopped)
1/2 cup freshly grated coconut
2 green chillies (slit lengthwise)
salt to taste

For tempering
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp split urad dal
2 tbsp curry leaves
1/2 tsp asafoetida powder

Preparation

Heat a pan, add oil and temper with the given ingredients. Once the tempering is done, add the shallots and saute for a minute. To the shallots add green chillies, chopped amaranth leaves, grated coconut, salt and saute on medium heat. Cover with lid and cook for five minutes till the leaves are soft and moisture has dried up. Serve warm with rice and dal:)

Wheat Flour Laddu for Neivedyam's 4th Birthday!

Four long years of blogging, blog hopping, comments, friends, facebook and many more. I never get bored of doing all this apart from regular nagging by hubby and others in the family, my 2 year old saying stop publising even if she does not know what she is saying:), weight gain and all my jeans going tight:( ......
Neivedyam has given me an identity apart from what I am!! I love doing what I am doing and thanks to all my friends and visitors for making this possible. I know I say it every year but I mean it from my heart!

Now lets get back to the job.....:)

Ingredients

2 cups wheat flour
1 1/2 cup sugar (finely powdered)
1 cup ghee (melted)
1/4 cup almonds(chopped into small pieces)
1/4 cup cashewnuts(chopped into small pieces)
1 tbsp pistachios (finely chopped)
2 tbsp raisins
1/2 tsp cardamom powder

Preparation

Heat a pan, add 2 tsp ghee, add all the chopped dryfruits and fry till they slightly change colour. Set aside.
In the same pan add 2-3 tbsp ghee and roast the wheat flour on medium heat.
Once the flour changes colour slightly and aroma raises, turn off the flame, add the dryfruits, cardamom powder, remaining melted ghee, sugar and mix well. Transfer the flour from the pan to a plate and make laddus while the mixture is hot and bearable enough to hold in your hands.
Wheat flour laddus are ready. Some people even add edible gum to this laddu to give extra richness.

Capsicum Sesame Curry (Dry) / Capsicum nuvvulu kura

Ingredients

2 cups finely chopped capsicum
1 cup finely chopped onions
2 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp split urad dal(husked)
1/2 tsp coriander powder
salt to taste

for tempering
2 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/3 tsp Asafoetida powder
2 tbsp curry leaves
1 green chilli slit length wise

Preparation
Heat a heavy bottomed pan and dry roast sesame seeds for 2 minutes on medium heat till slightly brown. Set aside. Similarly roast urad dal till golden and set aside to cool. Once the urad dal and sesame seeds have cooled down completely, grind it into a coarse powder and keep aside.
Heat a pan, add oil and temper with all the ingredients in the given order.
Once tempered, add onion and saute for a minute. To this add capsicum and saute on medium flame till capsicum is slightly soft and cooked. Do not overcook. To the capsicum add the prepared sesame powder, salt and coriander powder and mix well. On low heat let the curry cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and serve with rotis or rice!