Tofu Peas Curry

Tofu – also known as Soya Bean Curd - has been called the perfect food. It is high in protein, low in saturated fats and a good source of calcium as well as vitamin E. It is also cholesterol free. Let’s find out more about ‘the cheese of Asia.’
Tofu is made by grinding cooked soya beans until a milk is produced. The milk is then solidified with a mineral coagulant calcium sulphate. The resulting tofu is naturally bland. It is, therefore an ideal additive to both sweet and savoury dishes. There are two basic types of tofu. Silken tofu is soft and can be utilised as an ideal additive for dressings, sauces and in dairy free versions of ice cream or cheese cake. Firm tofu, on the other hand, comes in a more solid form. It can be stir-fried, grilled, scrambled, pickled, smoked, baked or barbecued.

Ingredients:

Tofu: 200 gms

Peas : 1/2 cup fresh and shelled

Onion: 1 big chopped

Tomato: 2 medium chopped

Ginger: 1/2 inch chopped

Red Chilli Powder: 3/4 tsp - 1 tsp as per taste

Salt to taste

Turmeric Powder: 1/2 tsp

Garam masala: 1/2 tsp

Oil: 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds: 1 tsp

Fresh coriander: for garnish

Method:

Take oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and let it sizzle. Add chopped onion, ginger and saute till light brown. Add chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric, red chilli powder and garam masala and cook till it forms a masala and the oil leaves the sides of the pan. Add peas, little water and cover and cook till peas are soft. Add crumbled tofu and mix well. Remove from heat, garnish and serve hot with rotis.

Navratri

'Nav' means 'nine' and 'ratri' means 'night'. Thus, 'Navratri' means 'nine nights'. There are many legends attached to the conception of Navratri like all Indian festivals. All of them are related to Goddess Shakti (Hindu Mother Goddess) and her various forms. It is one of the most celebrated festivals of Hindu calendar, it holds special significance for Gujratis and Bengalis and one can see it in the zeal and fervor of the people with which they indulge in the festive activities of the season. Dandiya and Garba Rass are the highlights of the festival in Gujarat, while farmer sow seeds and thank the Goddess for her blessings and pray for better yield. In older times, Navratri was associated with the fertility of Mother Earth who feed us as her children.The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion. Her various incarnations - Kumari, Parvati and Kali - are worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl and the mature woman. Next three days are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity), dressed in gold and mounted on an owl and finally, last three are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess Of Knowledge), dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan. Sweetmeats are prepared for the celebrations. Children and adults dress up in new bright-colored dresses for the night performances. In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri. The festival culminates on Mahanavami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country. With commercialization, the festival has moved on to be a social festival rather than merely a religious one. However, nothing dampens the spirit of the devout followers of Goddess Durga, as they sing devotional songs and indulge in the celebrations of Navratri, year by year.

On the festive occasion of Navratri, fast is observed by people for seven or eight days, depending upon when they want to conduct the Kanchika Pujan (when young girls are worshipped). The devotees, who have observed fast, would get up early in the morning, take bath and offer prayers to the deity. People follow a specific diet for Navratri, if they haven't observed a nirahar (waterless) fast. Most people nowadays perform partial fasting. They would abstain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol and those dishes that are made of common salt or any kind of spice. Singhare ka atta (kuttu ka atta) is used to prepare rotis or puris, for the fast. One may drink beverages like tea, coffee and milk, on Navratri. Dishes made of sago and potato is generally consumed by the people, when they observe fast on Navratri. Sendha namak (rock salt) is used instead of common salt, for cooking on the festival. All fruits and foodstuff made of fruits are eaten during the seven days. Nowadays, ready-to-eat snacks are available in the stores, especially prepared for Navratri. In addition to this, certain restaurants in the northern parts of India would offer special menu for the people, who have observed fast on Navratri. After seven days of fasting, people would break their fast on the eighth day - Ashtami - by worshipping young girls. The ritual of offering prasad to the young girls is called Kanchika Pujan. As per the tradition, puris (deep fried Indian bread), halwa (sweet dish made of suji) and Bengal gram curry are served to the young girls, called upon by the people who have observed fast. After seeking the blessings of the young girls (kanchikayen), the devotees would break their fast by consuming the prasad (puri, halwa and sabzi) that they have prepared for them. While this is the tradition followed by majority of people, Navratri fast is also broken on ninth day (Navami), wherein the fast is observed until Ashtami. The same procedure is followed in that case as well.

I am a firm believer in MATA, and hence for the past 5-6 years, i have been following this fast religiously. This year navratri begins on 19th Sep 2009 and culminates on 27th Sep 2009. The 10th day is celebrated as Dusshera in north or Vijaya Dasami in South. Will post recipes soon as i observe the complete 9 day fast. Keep checking.....

Dates and Walnut Cake

Dates are a powerhouse of nutrients. And if u dont how to add them to your daily, here is a simple and sweet version..

I am sending this to Microwave Potluck party September edition hosted by Srivalli @ cooking4all seasons.

Ingredients:

18 Fresh dates seedless
¾ cup Milk
¾ cup Sugar
1 cup Maida
½ cup Refined oil
1 tsp Baking soda
1 Tbsp Cashews
50 g Walnuts
1 Tbsp Blanched almonds

Method:

Soak dates in warm milk for 6-7 hours.

Add sugar and grind to fine paste with the milk. Add oil to this and mix well.

Seive maida and baking soda together in a seperate bowl. Add flour mixture to the dates syrup and mix well.

Add nuts and keep blanched almonds for decorating the base of the tin or the top of the cake. Pour mixture to a greased tin. Bake in microwave for 8-10 mts on high power.

Let it cool. Serve straight away or drizzled with chocolate syrup on top.

Microwave Daliya Idli

Idlis are wholesome as a breakfast item, but for dieters, here is a healthier version...

This goes to the Microwave Potluck party September edition hosted by Srivalli @ cooking4all seasons.

Ingredients:

1½ cup Dalia (broken wheat)
1½ cup Suji/rawa
¼ cup Chana dal
¼ cup Urad dal
2 cup Curd
1 tsp Baking powder
Salt to taste
1 cup Mixed veggies
1 Green chili (optional)
1 bunch Dhaniya (chopped)

Method:

Boil veggies till half done and keep aside. Dry roast daliya and suji till golden brown in colour. Dry roast the dals seperately, add water and cook till soft.

Mash dals, add to suji, daliya mixture, add veggies, salt, chili, salt, chopped dhaniya, curd and warm water to form a batter.

Make idlis and steam in microwave plates for 10 mts on high power. Serve hot with chutney of your choice.

Podalangai Curry

Also called Snake Gourd, the narrow, soft-skinned fruit can reach 150 cm long. Its soft, bland, somewhat mucilaginous flesh is similar to that of the luffa and the calabash. It is most popular in the cuisine of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The shoots, tendrils, and leaves are also eaten as greens.

Ingredients:

2 Podalangai
¼ cup Moong dal soaked
½ cup Coconut grated
1 tsp Oil
½ tsp Haldi
1 tsp Urad dal
1 Red chilli
Salt to taste
1 tsp Mustard seeds

Method:

Wash and cut the podalangai into small pieces.

Soak the moong dal for 10-15 mts. Take oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add urad dal, red chilli and saute till brown. Add podalangai, moong dal, haldi, salt and little water. Cook till done with cover. After done, remove from fire, add coconut and serve hot..

Apple Rabdi

Rabdi is a dish made from milk which is boiled and reduced till half or less in a thick bottom pan with continuous stirring. Almost similar to our paal gova but not removed from fire before reaching that stage. And its served in various forms and with various accompaniments.
Rabdi made with yellow pumpkin, with rose essence, mango rabdi, and is also served just like that, or as a side dish with Malpuas, Jalebis, Jelly, Fruits etc etc.....
The list is exhaustive... Try this one, simple to make and tasty to eat...

Ingredients:

3 Apples medium sized
1 litre Full cream milk
4 Tbsp Sugar
¼ tsp Elaichi powder
8 Almonds (blanched)
10 Pista
Few Saffron strands

Method:

Take a thick bottomed pan, add milk and boil, reduce flame and keep stirring till it reduces to half. Add sugar, 2 grated apples and mix. Cook for 4-5 mts. Add elaichi powder. Cool till it reaches room temperature.Serve in bowls garnished with slivered almonds, pista and apple slices.

Notes:

Health Conscious people can use toned milk instead of full cream milk and sugar free instead of sugar. You can peel the apples and grate them, but i kept them while grating to keep the fibre content intact.

Cottage Cheese Club Sandwich

I love eating sandwiches for breakfast. My family calls me a westerner in this regard as they somehow are yet to develop a taste for it as breakfast dishes. This recipe, which is inspired from tastypalettes,spicy chilly, impressed me, partly because it calls for so many vegetables and partly because it is so darn simple. But since tofu is not easily available in my market, i have substituted it with Cottage cheese. health conscious people can take cottage cheese made from skimmed milk or low fat milk. I have also made changes here and there whenever i ran out of the ingredients hoping that it would still make for its taste. And yessss it did......

Take a look.....

Ingredients:

Brown Bread- 4 slices

Cottage cheese (paneer) 50 gms

1/2 capsicum chopped finely. (take any colour you want, i have taken green which was readily available).

1/2 carrot grated or finely chopped

Little cabbage grated

Mixed sprouts 1/4 cup (boiled) (Take care to boil in less water and keep the water for kitchen use rather than discarding. It can be added to gravies or rasam)

Salt to taste

Pepper powder 1/2 - 3/4tsp

Mixed herbs ( readymade powder available) 1/2 tsp

Lemon Juice 1/2 tsp (optional)

Butter or Nutralite (got widely in India) (it is cholestrol free butter so healthier)

Method:

Take the boiled sprouts in a bowl, add grated cabbage, chopped carrots, capsicum, crumble paneer and add. Add salt, pepper powder, mixed herbs, lemon juice and mix well.

Toast bread slices on tawa with little butter on it. Keep the stuffing in between 2 slices, cut in between to form 2 triangles. Serve fresh else the bread will get soggy.

Serve with a glass of your favourite juice (i have served with fresh homemade pomegranate juice) and a bowl of cut fruits to complete your power breakfast.