Amma Jevayala

Basil Tomato Dip/Chutney - can be used as a spread for your toast or with poli  Quantity - spread for 4 toasts Ingredients - Basil - 1 bunch Tomatoes - 2 medium  Green chillies - 3/4 spicy Salt  Olive oil - 1 tbsp Black pepper - 1/2 tsp (optional) Procedure - 1. In a pan , heat olive oil . Till the oil is getting hot , wash and dry basil leaves . Use only leaves here .  2. Once oil is hot , add the leaves and fry them nicely . Ensure they don't get burnt - keep flame medium 3. Next add chopped tomatoes and green chillies and continue to cook together with Basil .  4. Keep cooking till tomatoes become mushy and soft . Switch off and let it cool down .  5. Grind into a fine paste on cooling down . Add black pepper while grinding and adjust salt once it is removed from mixer . Use as a spread on your toast or you can use as a chutney with poli + tup :)

Kolhapuri Missal - perfect protein packed dish . 4 important components of a tasty missal are - usal + batata pohe + spicy tarri + farsan  Quantity - for 2 people lunch and dinner Ingredients - For Usal - Whole green moong dal - sprouted  Mustard seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Red chilli powder - 3 tsp  Curry leaves - few leaves Salt - as per taste Peanut oil - for cooking  Kokam - 2/3 petals Jaggery - 1/2 tsp  For Batata poha -  Refer to Kanda poha post  Just add peeled and cubed potatoes along with onion to make batata poha. For Spicy Tarri -  Peanut oil - 4 tbsp  Onion - 1 medium  Tomato - 1 medium  Garlic pods - 6/7  Ginger - 1 inch  Whole red chillies spicy - 4/5 Whole red kashmiri chilli - 2 Dry coconut slices - 1/2 cup Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp Whole black pepper - 1/2 tsp  Sesame seeds - 1/2 tsp Cinnamon - 1  Cloves - 3/4 Fennel seeds - a pinch  Water - for g...

Spicy Appe - a twist to the traditional mix dal appe .  Quantity - make from remaining dosa batter . Make using appe pan/patra - 7 at one time  Ingredients - Left over Dosa batter - batter on 4th day  Onion - 1/2 medium Green chillies - 4/5 as per spice Ginger - grated 1 inch Curry leaves -  few finely chopped Salt - as per taste Oil - for cooking Appliance needed -  Appe patra/pan Procedure - 1. Finely chop onions ,chillies and curry leaves . Also, grate ginger finely . 2. Take remaining dosa batter . Usually dosa batter on day 4 of grinding is best for this dish . 3. Adjust salt and water if required to make this batter very smooth and pourable .  4. Then add onions and everything else to this batter and mix well .  5. Now heat appe pan/patra . Add little oil to each slot of this pan . Once the oil is hot , pour spoonful of batter in each slot . 6. Pour some more oil from sides and cover the pan with a fitting lid .  7. Remove lid and flip appes...

Tomato Chutney - a different kind of dip for you dosa :) Quantity - a small bowl of chutney Ingredients - Chana Dal - 1 and half tsp Kashmiri Whole Chilli - 1 Red whole chillies - 3/4  Onion - 1/4th of medium  Garlic pods - 4/5 Tomato - 1 big Mustard seeds - to temper Hing - to temper Haldi - to temper Curry leaves - few leaves to temper Peanut oil - for frying and to temper Salt - as per taste Procedure - 1. In a pan , heat 1 tsp of oil . Once oil is hot , add chana dal and roast it till it becomes light brown . Remove aside 2. Now in the same pan , add garlic pods , roughly chopped onions , red chillies and kashmiri chilli and also tomatoes roughly chopped . Mix everything well and let it fry . 3. Add little salt and let the mixture cook nicely till tomatoes become mushy . Switch off the gas and let it cool 4.  Once the tomato mixture is cooled , grind it with the fried chana dal to a very smooth paste . Do no add water as oil and juices from tomato/onion are enough for...

Kelyachi Shikran - comfort food or alternative when you feel like having a simple yet complete meal . Quantity - 2 cups of shikran Ingredients - Ripe Banana - 3 medium size  Milk - 1 cup  Sugar - 1 tsp Cardamom powder - a pinch  Procedure - 1. Warm milk slightly if it is directly taken out of the fridge. It should not be too hot . Room temperature is preferred . 2. Peel and mash banana with you hands and add it to the warm milk . Other option is chop banana into cubes or slices and add to milk 3. Add sugar and cardamom powder and mix everything well . Serve with hot phulkas or just eat as a mid meal/evening snacks :)

Rava Ladoo - easy recipe without sugar syrup Quantity - Makes 21 small ladoos Ingredients - Fine Rava/Semolina - 2 cups Homemade ghee - 4tbsp Raw sugar powdered - 1 and 1/2 cups Raisins - a fistful Cashews - a fistful  Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp  Milk - 1/4th cup  Procedure - 1. Heat a pan and add 1 tbsp ghee to it . Let the ghee melt and roast raisins and cashews . Roast till cashews turn light brown and raisins puff up . Remove and keep aside to use later 2. In the same ghee pan , roast rava nicely . Mix well all the ghee and keep stirring till you get slight brown color  . Also this will be accompanied by nice aroma of ghee roasted rava . 3. Remove rava and let it cool a bit. 4. Now in a mixer , grind raw sugar finely into a powder . Add cooled rava to this powdered sugar in mixer and again pulse couple of times till you get fine mix of sugar and rava .  5. Next, in the same pan used for roasting rava , melt 3 tbsp of ghee . 6. While ghee is melting , mix rava...

Basil Thogayal or Basil chutney - use some leftover basil from your Pesto Pasta to give it some indian flavor twist! Quantity - one mason jar  Ingredients - Basil leaves fresh - 1 bunch Tamarind - 1/4th cup dry Molagai podi - 2 tbsp Salt - as required Procedure- 1. Wash and dry basil leaves nicely .  2. In a pan , dry roast these leaves till they are reduced . You can also add little oil while roasting . But this is optional . Let it cool completely 3. In mixy , grind basil leaves along with molagai podi and dry tamarind . Grind to make a coarse powder. 4. Add salt after removing from mixy and mix well . Serve as a side chutney with poli and bhaji and tup :)

Arvi/Arbi/Alkudi Fry - spicy fry to make Alkudi interesting . Other way to eat this tuber is simply pressure cook and eat with salt Quantity - for 2 people dinner Ingredients- Arbi root - 5/6 Mustard seeds - to temper Cumin seeds - to temper Red chilli powder - 3/4 tsp Coriander powder - 2 tsp Molgai Podi - 1 tbsp Hing - to temper Haldi - to temper Salt - as per taste Peanut oil - for cooking  Fresh Coriander leaves - to garnish Procedure - 1. Wash and peel arbi nicely . Then keep a bowl of water ready to add pieces of arbi chopped . Adding in water is necessary to prevent any oxidation of arbi . 2. Cut small cubes or slices of arbi just like potato roast and keep them in water till they are ready to be fried . Then drain all the water and keep it ready to use. 3. Heat oil in a kadai . Once it is hot , add tadka items - mustard seeds , cumin seeds, hing and haldi .Fry the tadka nicely 4. Then add drained arbi into this tadka and mix well . Add some salt and stir for couple of minut...

Methi Thelpa - best way of eating fresh methi leaves and Aai's special recipe Quantity - 7/8 regular sized theplas Ingredients - Whole wheat aata - 2 cups Besan - 1/4 th cup  Fresh Methi bunch - 1  Ginger - 1 inch grated finely Red chilli powder - 2 tbsp  Haldi - 1/2 tsp Hing - a pinch Ajwain - 1/2 tsp Jeera powder - 2 tsp Coriander powder - 2 tsp Sesame seeds - 1 tsp  Homemade curd - 1 tbsp Peanut oil - 3 tbsp Salt - as per taste Homemade ghee - for roasting Water - for kneading  Procedure - 1. Wash methi leaves and remove them from their stalk . Finely chop the leaves. 2. In a parat , add aata and besan . Then add freshly chopped methi leaves and other masala - ginger , red chilli powder , hing , haldi , ajwain , coriander and jeera powder , sesame seeds . Mix everything well with the aata. 3. Now add wet ingredients - curd , 1 tbsp of oil and also add some salt here . Mix everything nicely before we add water for kneading .  4. Start adding water slowly ...

Handvo - protein packed and tasty evening snacks ! Thanks to our friend Suruchi for introducing this to us ! Quantity - Round Lentil Cake Medium size Ingredients - Raw Rice - 1 cup (sona masoori variety or even basmati) Chana Dal - 1/2 cup Tur Dal -1/4th cup Urad Dal - 2 tbsp Green Chillies - 5/6 or as per spice level Ginger - 1 inch finely grated Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp Haldi - 1 tsp Hing - a pinch  Carrot - 1/4th cup grated Dudhi - 1/4th cup grated Fresh Coriander - finely chopped few strands Yogurt - 1/4th cup Peanut oil - 1 tbsp for adding into the batter and some more for tadka  Sesame seeds - 1 tbsp Cumin seeds - 1 tsp  Mustard seeds - 1 tsp Curry leaves - 5/6 to temper Ghee - to coat baking pan  Salt - to taste Appliance Needed -  Baking pan Oven Procedure - 1. Wash and soak rice + all dals together for atleast 4/5 hrs . 2. Drain water from the soaked rice + dal mixture and grind them into a smooth paste . Do not add lot of water . Just add little bit ...

Kuttu sweet adai or buckwheat pancake - healthy and gluten free option Quantity - Makes 6 small pancakes Ingredients - Kuttu flour - 2 cups Ripe Banana - 1  Milk - 2 cups Jaggery/Sugar - 1/2 cup  Ghee - for roasting  Fresh berries - to top with  Honey/Maple syrup - to top with  Baking Soda - 1 tsp (optional) Procedure - 1. Take Kuttu Flour and sift it nicely . 2. Now in a blender , add flour , ripe banana mashed , milk and jagger and blend into a smooth paste . You can also add little cardamom . Add baking soda (optional) 3. Heat a tawa and pour some ghee to heat up .  4. Now pour a ladleful of smooth kuttu prepared batter on the tawa and make small but thick pancakes . Do not spread it like a dosa .  5. Cover with lid and let it cook till you see cracking sound . Then flip it and cook on other side . Do not make it very dark brown .  Serve hot and sprinkle honey and berries :)

Pulihora or Tamarind Rice - with homemade pulihora masala and instant pot goodness  Quantity - for 2 people lunch Ingredients - For Pulihora dry masala - Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp Chana dal - 1 tbsp Urad dal - 1 tbsp Whole Black pepper - 1/2 tsp Methi seeds - 1/4th tbsp  Sesame seeds - 1 tbsp  Whole Red chillies (can use kashmiri for color) - 4  Mustard oil - 2 tbsp  For Rice - Sona Masoori rice - 1 cup  Tamarind extract - 1 cup  Curry leaves - 1 strand  Whole red chillies - 3  Cashews - 1/4th cup  Urad dal - 1 tsp Mustard seeds - to temper  Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Jaggery - 1 tbsp  Mustard oil - for cooking Water - 1 and 1/2 cup for cooking rice Salt - as per taste Appliance Needed - Instant pot  Procedure - 1.  Before we start making pulihora masala , we need to do some pre work of soaking . Soak rice for atleast 20 mins and soak tamarind in warm water for atleast 20 mins .  2. For dry masala , in a f...

Mango Milkshake - the only milkshake we got while growing up ! And its taste is still fresh in mind . Quantity - 2 glass full after dinner late night drink Ingredients - 2 Fresh Mangoes - Alphonso for best taste when in Mumbai, Ataulfo (honey mangoes) in USA Whole Milk - 1 cup  Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp  Nutmeg - a pinch  Kesar strands - 2 per glass Salt - 2 tsp (or more if you have sweet tooth) Appliance Needed - Ninja blender Procedure - 1. Wash and soak Mangoes in water for atleast half hour . This enhances the nutrient value of mangoes - mostly helps to get rid of the excessive phytic acid from mangoes . 2. Next , remove the skin and extract all pulp from mangoes and seeds as well . Take some time to do this , so that all the pulp is nicely removed .  3. Then using hands , smash any hard pieces in pulp and put it in blender  4. Add milk , cardamom powder , nutmeg and sugar as well and blend it into smooth frothy milkshake  5. Remove in your favorite gla...

Dal ki Dulhan - a very simple dal dhokli recipe which is a complete meal  Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients - Tur dal - 1 cup Yellow Moong dal without skin - 1/4 th cup Orange Masoor dal - 2 tbsp  Red whole chillies - 4 Cumin seeds - 2 tsp  Red chilli powder - 2 tbsp Haldi - 1 tsp Hing - to temper Fresh Coriander leaves - chopped finely few strands Garlic - 3 pods minced Ginger - 1/2 inch grated Whole wheat aata - 1 cup Ragi flour - 1/4th cup Water - 4/5 cups for cooking dal and also for kneading dough  Home made ghee - for cooking  Salt - as per taste Procedure - 1. First wash and soak the dals atleast for 20 mins . 2. Now in a kadai , heat some ghee . Once it is hot , put 1 cumin seeds and let them splutter . 3. Next add the drained dals and fry them nicely in ghee .  4. Add haldi , red chilli powder and mix it well with dals . Add 4/5 cups of water to the dals and allow it to cook fully . Cover it with a lid and let it cook on medium/low flame . You ca...

Palak Dal - this is different preparation than what is made at home . Learnt this from my SIL (Meghna) Quantity  - for 2 people lunch/dinner Ingredients -  Spinach bunch/bag -1  Onion - 1 small or half medium (optional) Garlic - 7/8 pods Tamarind extract - small golf size Tur dal - 1 cup ( can add tur 1/2 + chana 1/2) Red whole chillies - 3/4 as per taste Red chilli powder - 1 tsp  Coriander powder - 1 tsp  Mustard seeds - to temper Cumin seeds - to temper Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Salt - as per taste Peanut oil - for cooking  Water - 2 cups for cooking . Appliance needed - Instant pot Procedure - 1. Wash and chop spinach finely . Keep it ready .Also mince the garlic finely and keep it ready . 2. If using onion , chop it finely and keep it ready . 3. Wash and soak tur dal for atleast 20 mins .Also soak tamarind in warm water for 20 mins and then remove its extract . 4. Heat instant pot in saute mode and add oil for cooking . 5. Once oil is hot enou...

Khamang Kakadi - adding tadka and peanuts to cucumber to make it "khamang" or very tasty  Quantity - for 2 people lunch side dish Ingredients - Cucumbers - 2 medium size Crushed peanut powder - 4/5 tbsp  Green chillies - 2/3 as per spice Fresh coriander leaves - few strands  Cumin seeds - to temper Hing - to temper Haldi - just a pinch  Homemade ghee - to temper Salt - as per taste Sugar - just a pinch  Lemon - 1 tsp juice  Fresh coconut - little for garnish Procedure - 1. Firstly wash and peel cucumbers . Next chop them into very small pieces . We do not want to grate the cucumber , but cut them as small as possible .  2. Put cut cucumber in a big bowl .Add little salt and allow it to rest for couple of minutes . Then squeeze and remove all excess water from cucumber . You can drink this water if you like . We just do not use it in the recipe as the salad becomes too watery .  3. Now add roasted and crushed peanut powder , fresh coriander chopped...

Lasuni Masoor dal  - easy recipe to cook orange Masoor dal with flavors of garlic  Quantity - 2 people lunch Ingredients - Whole Orange Masoor dal without skin - 1 cup  Garlic pods - 7/8  Red chilli whole - 2/3  Coriander powder - 1 tbsp Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp Haldi - to temper Hing - to temper Fresh coriander - to garnish Cumin seeds - 1 tsp to temper Homemade ghee - to temper Water - for cooking  Procedure - 1. First wash and soak orange masoor dal nicely . Let it soak for atleast half hour in enough water . Then pressure cook the dal with enough water (2 cups) and pinch of haldi . 2. After dal is cooked , mash it nicely to make it smooth . 3. In a kadai , heat ghee for tadka . In meanwhile , very finely mince the garlic and keep it ready . 4. Once ghee is hot , add tadka items - cumin seeds , haldi , hing . Fry tadka properly and then add the chopped garlic and continue to fry . 5. After couple of mins , the raw smell of garlic will go away and this ...

Paneer Tikka - Bbq style dry and tasty Quantity - makes around 25- 30 regular sized bbq sticks Ingredients - Paneer - 1 slab Nanak brand Red onion - 1 medium or half big Green Pepper - 2 Red Pepper - 1  Yellow Pepper -1 (optional) Greek Yogurt - 2 cups  Ginger - 1 inch grated Garlic - 6/7 pods Coriander powder - 3 tbsp  Red chilli powder - 3/4 tbsp Ajwain - pinch for taste Kasuri methi - 1 tsp crushed Cumin powder - 3 tbsp Salt as per taste Coriander fresh bunch - 1/2 Green chillies - 4 Mint leaves - 1/2 bunch  Roasted gram dal powder/roasted besan- 1 tbsp  Mustard oil - 2 tbsp  Water - to grind green paste. Appliance required- BBQ sticks - soaked in water overnight to prevent from burning Oven or BBQ grill  Procedure - 1. Firstly , we need to prepare marinade atleast 2 hrs before we want to BBQ . If you can prepare previous day its going to add to the taste .  2. Keep all the veggies - onion , peppers and paneer ready . Cut them into cubes of med...

Pumpkin Olan - very simple and tasty stew recipe without any coconut milk  Quantity - for 2 people Ingredients - White pumpkin - Half cut or 1 cup  Red chawali - 1/2 cup  Green chilli - 1/2 as per spice Salt - as per taste Water - as required for cooking Procedure - 1. Soak red chawali in enough water for atleast 4 hrs .  2. Then pressure cook chawali in 1/2 cup water with little salt. Ensure it is cooked nicely but not mashed . 3. Cut white pumpkin into small cubes . In a saucepan , cook pumpkin with 1/2 cup water .  4. Cook the pumpkin nicely till it becomes transparent. 5. Now add cooked red chawali and green chilli . Add any water remaining from cooked chawali also and adjust salt. 6. Let all of this cook very nicely on sim flame for 10 min or till it comes to a boil . Serve hot as a side dish with your favorite sambar and rice + tup :)