Amma Jevayala

Maharashtrian Amti with goodness of drumsticks and flavor of Goda Masala - my all time favorite Quantity - for 2 people lunch Ingredients - Toor dal - 1 cup uncooked Frozen drumsticks - 5/6 Mustard seeds - to temper Cumin seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Curry leaves - few leaves/strands Green chillies - 2/3 as per spice Kokam/dry Amsul - 3/4 Gul/Jaggery - 1 tsp grated Goda Masala - 2/3 tsp Fresh coconut - to garnish Fresh coriander - to garnish Salt - to taste Peanut oil - for cooking Water - for cooking Procedure: 1. Firstly soak and wash toor dal nicely . Then cook it in pressure cooker with little haldi for atleast 3/4 whistles and enough water (2/3 cups).In the meanwhile , cook drumsticks in a saucepan with enough water to cover them . Else you can pressure cook them separately beforehand for 1 whistle . Do not overcook drumsticks - because they will become very soft and disoriented and loose all nutrients if overcooked. 2. Once dal i...

Raw Banana Poriyal -  full with fibre which will keep you full for hours Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients - Raw Banana - 2/3 Mustard seeds - to temper Hing - to temper Haldi - to temper Urad dal - 1/2 tsp Curry leaves - few strands Green chillies - 2/3 as per spice Sambar masala - 2 tsp Salt as per taste Homemade ghee Fresh coconut - optional to garnish Peanut oil - for cooking Procedure- 1. Wash , Peel and cut raw banana into small cubes . Put it in water and bit of salt so that it does not oxidize and become brown . 2. In a kadai , heat oil . Once it is hot , add tadka items - mustard seeds , hing , haldi , urad dal , curry leaves , green chillies finely chopped and fry nicely 3. One tadka is fried nicely , add the raw banana - drain the water nicely .Stir and mix well .Add salt now and cover with lid . 4. Let it cook for atleast 8/10 mins . In between stir well to ensure it does not stick to the pan . Now add sambar masala and stir well. 5. Let it al...

Pudina Thogayal or Mint Chutney with a whole different level of yumminess ! Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients - Mint Leaves - a bunch or atleast 1 cup Tamarind - very little like 1 tsp Molagai podi - 3/4 tsp or as per spice level Peanut oil - for cooking Salt - as required  Appliance Needed : Preeti Mixer Procedure: 1. In a kadai , heat some oil . 2. Once oil is hot , add washed pudina leaves , molagai podi and tamarind (whole - not extract) 3. Cook everything well and add some salt while cooking . Fry nicely till pudina leaves reduce in size. 4. Allow this mixture to cool down and then grind to a fine paste/chutney . Do not add any water . This can be easily grinded in dry small mixer container without water. Serve with phulka as a side dish or mix it with steamed rice and ghee and relish :)

Punjabi Chole - Friday night option with ajwain paratha :) Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients - Chole - 2 cups Onion - 1 medium Tomatoes - 2 vine tomatoes Ginger - 1 and half inch Garlic - 5/6 pods Green chillies - 3 spicy Coriander seeds - 1 tsp Cloves -3/4 Cinnamon - 1 small Black pepper - 1 tsp Cumin seeds - 1 tsp Sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp Fresh coriander - 4 strands Red chilli powder - 2 tsp Bay leaf - 1 Star anise - 1 Salt - to taste Peanut oil - for cooking Ghee - to temper (optional) Procedure - 1. First step is to soak the chole enough so that once they are cooked , they are soft enough and can absorb all the gravy . Soak overnight and for half more day for about 15 hours . Once soaked enough, pressure cook it with little salt in Instant Pot for 25 mins manual mode high pressure and keep it ready for making gravy . 2. In a kadai , heat little oil to make a onion tomato paste with spices . Once oil is hot , add all spices - cumin seeds , coriander see...

Poori or Kurmura Chivda - Fast and tasty chivda option Quantity - for 2 people lasts for a week Ingredients - Kolhapuri Puffed Rice - half packet Red whole chillies - 5/6 broken as per spice level Green Chillies - 2/3 as per spice level Curry Leaves - few strands Cumin seeds - 1 tsp Mustard seeds - 1 tsp Cashews - 2 tsp Dry coconut slices - fistful Peanuts - 2/3 tsp Raisins - 2/3 tsp Haldi - 1 tsp Hing - to temper Red chilli powder - 1 tsp Salt as per taste Peanut oil - for cooking Procedure - 1. In a big kadai , start by roasted puffed rice along with red chilli powder and haldi . Roast it nicely to remove any packet odor and also to  make it crunchy . Ensure it does not become brown or too roasted . We just to to make it crunchy . 2. Once properly roasted , remove them in a separate vessel or plate. 3. Heat oil in the same kadai . When oil becomes hot , put all tadka items - cumin , mustard seeds , hing , curry leaves , red chillies and green chillies c...

Aloo Gobi - a different style of eating cauliflower by using ginger and spices Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients: Potatoes/Aloo - 4/5 small Cauliflower - half and cut medium florets Green Chillies -2/3 finely chopped Ginger - 1 inch finely grated Tomato - 1 medium deseeded Coriander powder- 1 tsp Red chilli powder - 1 tsp Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Mustard seeds - to temper Cumin seeds - to temper Salt as per taste Fresh coriander - to garnish Peanut oil - for cooking Garam Masala - 1 tsp (optional) Procedure- 1. Wash and peel the potatoes nicely . Cut them into small cubes and put in water with salt to prevent them from oxidising . Similarly cut cauliflower florets and soak in same water 2. Now heat kadai with oil . Once oil is hot , add tadka items - mustard , cumin seeds , haldi and hing. 3. Once tadka is hot enough , add green chillies and ginger finely chopped/grated and fry nicely . 4. Next is to add the finely chopped tomato . Ensure everyt...

Pav Bhaji - one dish to get all your mood up and relish some Bombay style home flavors ! Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients- For Bhaji - Potatoes - 4/5 small size Onion - 1 big finely chopped Cauliflower - 1/2 of medium sized Green Pepper - 1 medium size Tomatoes - 5/6 vine tomatoes Green peas - 1/2 cup Ginger - 2 inch finely grated Garlic - 5/6 pods finely grated Green chillies - 2/3 spicy Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder - 2 tsp - just for color Everest Pav Bhaji Masala - 6/7 tsp or as per taste Butter - 1 slab (be very generous with butter) Lemon - 1/2 lemon squeezed + remaining half to garnish Onion - 1/2 small to garnish Fresh coriander leaves - 6/7 strands finely chopped to garnish Salt - for taste Peanut oil - little to add with butter For Pav: Ladi Pav - 12 Butter - Amul or any local variety (generous) Procedure: 1. Little bit of prep before we actually start making the bhaji . Pressure cook potatoes in instant pot in one ve...

Aliv Ladoo - one stop for all your daily iron and folate requirements Quantity - around 18 -20 small ladoos Ingredients - Aliv seeds - 1/4th cup Jaggery - 1 cup powdered Fresh Coconut - 1 cup grated Cardamom - 1 tsp (optional) Homemade ghee - 1 tsp Appliance required : Instant pot Procedure- 1. Soak Aliv seeds in regular water or coconut water for atleast 3/4 hours . Once soaked alive seeds puff up and get jelly like structure . 2. Now in a big vessel , take this puffed up aliv seeds with jaggery and coconut . Mix well and cook it in instant pot for 15 mins manual mode. Make sure you add water to the main pot . No water is needed in the mixture of coconut + aliv + jaggery 3. After the instant pot is done , remove the cooked mixture and let it cool down for couple minutes . 4. In a kadai , heat bit of a ghee and then add the cooked mixture to further cook . 5. Keep cooking in sim to medium heat till all the mixture leaves from the kadai - this can easily take 15/20...

Beetroot Poriyal - sweet and savory style of eating beetroot! Quantity - 2 people Ingredients- Beetroot - 2 big washed and peeled Mustard seeds - to temper Urad dal - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Curry leaves - 1 full strand Red whole chillies - 4/5 broken Molgai podi - 3/4 tsp or as per taste Fresh coconut - to garnish Salt - as per taste Peanut oil - for cooking Procedure - 1. Cut the washed and peeled beetroot into very small cubes . This is the most important step of this dish . Small cubed beetroot is easy to cook and makes the poriyal flavorful . 2. In a kadai , take enough oil for cooking . Once the oil is hot , add tadka items - mustard seeds , hing , haldi , urad dal , curry leaves and whole red chillies . Let them fry nicely till urad dal becomes slight brown . 3. Once the tadka is hot and nicely fried , add the finely cut beetroot and mix well with tadka . Add salt as per taste and cover the lid to cook for atleast 10 mins . Keep the f...

Kaju Mattar Usal - a coconut based usal made with always available/bulk stored ingredients! Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients- Green Peas - used frozen 2 cups Cashews/Kaju - 15-20 soaked in water for atleast 1/2 hr Onion - 1 medium Coriander seeds - 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp Dry coconut flakes/slices - 1/2 cup Fresh coconut - 1/2 cup Red chillies whole - 3/4 Ginger - 1 inch Green chillies - 2 Black pepper whole - 1/4 th tsp Fresh tamarind extract 1/4th cup Garam masala - 1 tsp (optional) Salt - to taste Water for cooking Peanut oil - for cooking Haldi to temper Hing to temper Procedure - 1. Soak the cashews in water ahead of time so that they are ready to be used for cooking . Also , ensure the frozen peas are defrosted ahead of time 2. In a kadai  , take little oil and heat it . On becoming hot , add finely chopped onions and saute for some time. 3. After the onions add remaining spices - coriander seeds , cumin seeds , dry coconut , fresh coconu...

Spicy Potato Roast - a very flavorful potato roast which will ensure you forget french fries forever ;) Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients- Potatoes - 4/5 medium size Mustard seeds - to temper Cumin seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp (as per spice) Sambar powder (MIL made) - 1/2 tbsp Salt - to taste Peanut oil - for cooking Procedure - 1. Wash the potatoes nicely and peel them .Cut into very thin slices - either long vertical or quarter shape. While cutting , put them in cold water with little salt - this avoids oxidation . 2. Now heat oil in a kadai for tadka - take good amount of oil (2tbsp) so that we get nice crunchy roast . Remember we have to roast the potatoes and not make them soft/soggy. 3. Once the oil is hot , put tadka items - mustard seeds , cumin seeds . Once these splutter , add haldi and hing and let it fry for 1 min . 4. Now drain the water from potatoes in a colander and put the potatoes in the hot ta...

Parippu Pradhaman - Moong dal payasam made specially on Vishu/Onam Sadya Quantity - 2 people sweet dish Ingredients: Split Yellow Moong dal - 1 cup washed and cooked properly Jaggery - 2 cup (kerala variety for good color) Water - 1/2 tbsp Coconut milk - 1 cup thick , 1 cup thin Cardamom powder - 1 tsp Rasins - 1 tsp fried in home made ghee kesar - few strands (optional) Pinch of salt - to be added to any sweet Procedure - 1. On previous day , wash and cook split yellow moong dal with enough water . You can also add chana dal 1/2 cup for variety - instead of full 1 cup moong dal . 2. Once the dal is cooked , mash it well to remove any lumps . It should very smooth in consistency . 3. In a saucepan , take the grated/powdered jaggery and add 2 tbsp of water to it . Let it melt nicely so that there are no lumps of jaggery remaining . 4. In the meanwhile , using 1 cup fresh grated coconut , prepare thick coconut milk . After thick milk is strained nicely from first rou...

Bajra Muthia - a healthy alternative of muthia to have with evening chai Quantity - for 2 people - lasts for 3/4 days Ingredients - Bajra flour - 1 cup Whole wheat flour - 1/2 cup ( optional - can replace with Bajra) Cumin - seeds - 1 tsp Fennel whole - 1 tsp Ginger - finely grated 1 inch Green chillies - finely chopped 4/5 as per spice Haldi - 1/2 tsp Hing - 1/2 tsp Red chilli powder - 1 tsp Coriander powder - 1 tsp Kasuri methi - 1 tsp Onion- 1 medium finely chopped Fresh Coriander leaves - finely chopped 4/5 strands Mustard seeds - to temper White sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp Grated coconut - to garnish (optional) Peanut oil - to temper and 1 tsp to add while making doug Water - to make soft doug Salt - as per taste Appliance Needed: Idli steamer to steam muthias Procedure: 1. In a large bowl , mix bajra + whole wheat + all spices - cumin seeds , fennel seeds , ginger , chillies , haldi , hing , red chilli powder , coriander powder , kasuri methi , onions ,...

Pearl Onion Sambar - flavored by MIL's Sambar podi :) Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients- Pearl Onions - 1 cup Tur dal - 1 cup Fresh Coconut grated - 1/2 cup MIL made Sambar podi - 4tbsp (podi recipe will be posted later) Tamarind - 1 small golf ball size soaked in warm water for 15-30 mins Mustard seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Curry leaves - to temper Fresh Coriander leaves - finely chopped to garnish Homemade ghee - to temper Peanut oil - to fry onions a bit Water - for cooking Salt - to taste Procedure - 1. Cook tur dal with enough water and bit of haldi in pressure cooker/instant pot . Once done , strain and reserve any excess water and mash the dal very well. 2. Peel the pearl onions .In a kadai/saucepan , in little bit of oil , fry the pearl onions till they become a bit soft/little browning appears 3. In the meanwhile , extract tamarind juice from soaked tamarind and keep it ready . 4. Once the onion are cooked/appear to be ...

Sprouted Moong dal Usal - ooli and sukhi ! One complete dish to complement your workout profile . Quantity - for 2 people lunch and dinner Ingredients : Green Moong Dal whole - 2 cups Onion - 1 medium finely chopped Tomatoes - 2 medium finely chopped Kokam - 2/3 pods (optional) Ginger - 1 and half inch grated finely Green chillies - 3 finely chopped Garlic - 3 pods (optional) Dried coconut flakes - 1/2 cup Coriander seeds - 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp Sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp Fresh coriander leaves - 5/6 strands finely chopped Goda masala - 4 tbsp Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp or as per spice level Mustard seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Curry leaves - to temper Water - for ooli usal 5/6 cups Salt - as per taste Peanut Oil - for cooking Onion + coriander + lemon - to garch ooli usal Appliance needed: Instant pot for sprouting Procedure: 1.  Sprouting green moong dal is an important process in making this usal extra tasty . For th...

Carrot sabzi - easy , healthy and delicious option ! Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients- Carrot - 4/5 washed , peeled and grated Green Chillies - 2/3 as per spice Roasted Peanut powder - 2 tbsp Fresh Coriander - finely chopped 4/5 strands Fresh Coconut - to garnish (optional) Curry leaves - 1 strand to temper Cumin seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Home made ghee - to cook Salt to taste Procedure- 1. Heat a kadai with ghee . 2. Once the ghee is hot , add tadka items - cumin seeds , haldi , hing , curry leaves and fry nicely 3. After the tadka is well fried , add the grated carrots and peanut powder and mix everything well . Also add salt at this point and mix well . 4. Cover the lid and allow carrots to be cooked well for atleast 8/9 mins. Keep flame low to medium to avoid carrot from getting burnt 5. After 8 mins, check to see if the carrots are cooked . Next add fresh coriander and coconut at this point and mix well and allow to cook on ope...

Capsicum Peeth Perun Bhaji - capsicum plus besan cooked together to make a quick sabzi ! Quantity - 2 people for dinner Ingredients- Green Capsicum (Green Pepper) - 4 medium Besan flour - 1 cup  Garlic - 3/4 pods finely grated/chopped Red Chilli powder- 1 tsp Cumin seeds - 1 tsp Mustard seeds - 1 tsp Coriander powder - 1 tsp Haldi- 1/2 tsp Hing - to temper Salt - as per tate Peanut oil - for cooking Homemade ghee - 1 tsp  Procedure: 1. In a kadai , first roast the besan nicely till the raw taste goes away . Roast on low to medium flame so that it is nicely toasted . Keep stirring and ensure it does not become brown . This will take total 5/6 mins. Keep aside the roasted besan. 2. Now in the same kadai ,heat oil for cooking . While the oil is getting hot , vertically chop all the capsicums and remove all the seeds. You can also chop into small cubes - I do both varieties . 3. Once the oil is hot , put tadka items - mustard seeds ,...

Pavakkai Pitlai - flavorful curry which helps to mask the taste of bitter gourd and is healthy as well Quantity - for 2 people lunch/dinner Ingredients- Tur Dal - 1 cup Pavakkai/Bitter Gourd - 2 small cut into small cubes Tamarind - 1 small ball soaked in warm water Coconut - 1/2 cup fresh Red whole chillies - 3/4 Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp Black Pepper - 1/4 tsp (optional) Salt - as per taste Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Peanut Oil/Coconut oil/homemade ghee - to temper Curry leaves - to temper Mustard seeds - to temper Water - for cooking dal and for curry Procedure: 1.  Firstly , cook the Tur dal with 2 cups of water for 3/4 whistles or in instant pot for high pressure , manual mode 12 mins 2. In a kadai or saucepan , add little oil and fry the pavakkai cubes nicely . Add pinch of salt while frying . 3. Once the pavakkai looks half cooked/fried , add tamarind extract + hing + haldi and atleast 1/2 cup water and allow all of this to boil together for 7/8...

Ghugni - Flavorful Bengali dish for a complete meal Quantity - 2 people Lunch/Dinner This recipe is tried and tested by following Bong Eats Youtube channel . Ingredients: Yellow Peas (Ragda chana) - 2 cups Water - for soaking and cooking yellow peas Onion - 1 medium Tomato - 1 large Potatoes - 1 medium Fresh Coconut pieces - 1/2 cup (optional) Fresh Tamarind paste - 1/2 cup for garnish Cinnamon - 1 stick Bay leaf - 1 Cloves - 3 Cardamom -  2 pods Green chillies - 3/4 finely chopped Garlic - 4/5 pods finely grated/chopped Ginger - 1 inch finely grated Red chilli whole - 2 Cumin seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Salt - as per taste Oil (peanut or mustard - recommended) - for cooking Procedure - 1. Soak yellow peas in enough water overnight . Once they puff up nicely , pressure cook them in cooker or instant pot (manual mode 15 mins- high pressure ) . Put some salt while pressure cooking 2. After the peas are cooked nicely - they sho...

Corn Flakes chivda - best snacking option and also serves as a trail mix Quantity - 2 people for a week of snacking :) Recipe followed from Ranveer Brar's youtube channel . Ingredients - Corn Flakes - original (Kellog's brand) Cashews - 2 tbsp Raisins - 2 tbsp Dried coconut slices - a fistful Peanuts - 2 tbsp Roasted Gram dal - 2 tbsp (optional) Green chillies - 4/5 as per spice Dried Red chillies whole - 2 Red chilli powder - 1 tsp Sugar - 2/3 tsp Salt as per taste Haldi - 1 tsp Hing - for taste Curry leaves - 2 strands Peanut oil - for cooking Procedure: 1. In a kadai , start dry roasting the corn flakes . Keep the flame on low and toast while mixing with hands . Do this gently , ensuring corn flakes do not break 2. In couple of minutes , once the flakes are bit warm , add sugar , salt , red chilli powder and haldi mixed together in a bowl into the kadai and toast with corn flakes . Continue to toast and mix with hands for atleast 7/8 mins . This w...

Ragi smoothie - goodness of Ragi as a healthy breakfast option Quantity - For 2 people glassfull Ingredients- Ragi flour - 4 tbsp Whole Milk - 1 and 1/2 cup Water - 1 cup Dates - 3 deseeded Cardamom - 1/2 tsp Banana - 1 Appliance Needed: Ninja Blender Procedure: 1. Cook Ragi in 1/2 cup milk and 1 cup water nicely . Here ensure no lumps are formed and cook it on medium/low flame to make sure its cooked nicely . Let it cool 2. Now in Ninja blender , cut and add banana slices + 1 cup milk + 3 dates deseeded and cardamom 3. Blend everything together into nice and smooth liquid 4. Now add the cooled and cooked Ragi into the blended liquid and blend everything together for another 3/4 mins 5. Empty into your favorite smoothie jars and enjoy 6. You can also add some kesar , raisins or any other nuts if you like into this smoothie . You can replace dates with honey/jaggery for change in taste as well Relish after a workout or a mid meal snack or just a quick on the go...

Moong Dal Khichadi - power packed lunch or dinner recipe Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients: Yellow Moong dal split(dhuli hui) - 1/2 cup Rice (white sona masoori rice) - 1 cup  Ginger - finely grated 1 inch Green chillies - 2/3 finely chopped Onion - 1 small (optional) Green peas - 1/2 cup Any other veggies - french beans , carrots , potato (as per choice and optional) Salt - as per taste Homemade ghee- for cooking Cumin seeds - to temper Mustard seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Water to cook - 2.5/3 cups Appliance Needed: Instant Pot Procedure: 1. Wash moong dal and rice together and can soak in enough water for 10-15 minutes 2. In the meanwhile , finely chop green chillies , onion and any other veggies if you are adding 3. Heat the instant pot in saute mode and add ghee to heat up 4. Once ghee is hot , add tadka items - mustard seeds , cumin seeds , haldi, hing , grated ginger, green chillies . Fry the tadka well and add onions a...

Guacamole Masala Papad -  original Mexican "tostada" with an Indian twist Quantity - 2 people snacks Ingredients: Avocado - 2 medium to large Onion - 1 small Tomatoes - 1 small Green chillies - 2 Coriander - finely chopped few strands Black pepper - crushed for taste Salt - as per taste Homemade Tamarind Date chutney (recipe in another post) Papad - 2 (Lijjat or Poha papad or any local variety papad) Nylon sev - to garnish (optional - but recommended) Chat masala - to garnish (optional) Procedure : 1. Finely cut the onion and tomatoes and take in a big bowl for mixing 2. Remove the skin and deseed the avocados and mash them into the same bowl 3. Add the finely chopped green chillies , crushed black pepper , salt and finely chopped coriander. 4. Now using a fork , mash everything together till it mixes well . Guacamole is now ready 5. Now roast your favorite papad on stove and keep it ready 6. To serve ,  on the roasted papad put couple of spoon full ...