1 cup basmati rice (washed and soaked for 30 minutes)
2 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 tomato, chopped
2 green chilies, slit lengthwise (adjust to taste)
1 inch piece of ginger, grated
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
A handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped (for garnish)
2 tablespoons oil or ghee
Salt to taste
Water (for cooking rice)
Instructions:
Cooking Rice:
Drain the soaked rice and set aside.
In a large pot, bring enough water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and the soaked, drained rice.
Cook the rice until it’s 70-80% cooked. The grains should still have a slight bite to them. Drain the water and set the rice aside.
Cooking Potatoes:
Heat oil or ghee in a large pan or pot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Allow them to splutter.
Add diced potatoes and cook until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. This should take about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.
Remove the cooked potatoes from the pan and set them aside.
Making the Potato Masala:
In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed. Add sliced onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
Add grated ginger, minced garlic (if using), and slit green chilies. Sauté for another minute.
Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and the oil starts to separate.
Add turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and garam masala. Mix well and cook for a couple of minutes.
Add the cooked potatoes back into the pan and mix them with the masala. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Combining Rice and Potatoes:
Add the partially cooked rice to the pan with the potato mixture. Gently mix everything together, taking care not to break the rice grains.
Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes on low heat to allow the rice to fully cook and absorb the flavors.
Garnishing and Serving:
Garnish the potato rice with chopped fresh coriander leaves.
Serve hot with yogurt, raita, or a side salad.
Enjoy your quick and flavorful Potato Rice! It makes for a satisfying and delicious meal.
In a blender, combine the chopped tomatoes, onion, green chilies, garlic (if using), and ginger. Blend until you get a smooth paste. Set aside.
Tempering:
Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Add urad dal, chana dal, and a pinch of asafoetida. Sauté until they turn golden brown.
Adding Tomato Mixture:
Pour the tomato mixture into the pan. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the chutney thickens and the raw smell disappears. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
Adjusting Consistency:
If the chutney is too thick, you can add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
Finishing Touch:
Once the chutney is cooked to your liking, remove it from the heat.
Garnish with chopped fresh coriander leaves if desired.
Serving:
Serve the tomato chutney as a condiment alongside dosas, idlis, or any South Indian snack of your choice.
Enjoy your tangy and delicious Tomato Chutney! It adds a burst of flavor to your meal.
Coconut Chutney Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup grated fresh coconut
2-3 green chilies (adjust to taste)
1/2 inch piece of ginger
1 small onion (optional)
2 tablespoons roasted chana dal (split chickpeas)
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon urad dal (split black gram)
A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
A few curry leaves
Salt to taste
Water (as needed for blending)
Fresh coriander leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
Blending the Chutney:
In a blender, combine the grated coconut, green chilies, ginger, onion (if using), and roasted chana dal.
Add a little water and blend until you get a smooth paste. The consistency should be like a thick sauce.
Tempering:
Heat oil in a small pan on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Add urad dal, a pinch of asafoetida, and curry leaves. Sauté until the dal turns golden brown.
Mixing with Chutney:
Pour the tempering mixture over the blended coconut mixture.
Add salt to taste and mix well. Adjust the consistency by adding a little more water if needed.
Finishing Touch:
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves (if using).
Serving:
Serve the coconut chutney as a side with dosas, idlis, vadas, or any South Indian dish of your choice.
Enjoy your quick and flavorful Coconut Chutney! It adds a delightful touch to your meal.
Pudina Chutney Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh mint leaves, tightly packed
1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves, tightly packed
2-3 green chilies (adjust to taste)
1/2 inch piece of ginger
2 cloves of garlic (optional)
1 small onion (optional)
2 tablespoons roasted chana dal (split chickpeas)
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon urad dal (split black gram)
A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Salt to taste
Water (as needed for blending)
Instructions:
Blending the Chutney:
In a blender, combine the fresh mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chilies, ginger, garlic (if using), onion (if using), and roasted chana dal.
Add a little water and blend until you get a smooth paste. The consistency should be like a thick sauce.
Tempering:
Heat oil in a small pan on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Add urad dal, a pinch of asafoetida, and sauté until the dal turns golden brown.
Mixing with Chutney:
Pour the tempering mixture over the blended pudina mixture.
Add salt to taste and mix well. Adjust the consistency by adding a little more water if needed.
Finishing Touch:
If you prefer, squeeze lemon juice over the chutney and mix well for a tangy flavor.
Serving:
Serve the pudina chutney as a side with dosas, idlis, vadas, or any Indian dish of your choice.
Enjoy your quick and aromatic Pudina Chutney!
Peanut Chutney Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup roasted peanuts (skinless)
2-3 green chilies (adjust to taste)
1/2 inch piece of ginger
2 cloves of garlic (optional)
1 small onion (optional)
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon urad dal (split black gram)
A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
1 tablespoon tamarind pulp (or 1 small piece of tamarind soaked in water)
Salt to taste
Water (as needed for blending)
Instructions:
Blending the Chutney:
In a blender, combine the roasted peanuts, green chilies, ginger, garlic (if using), onion (if using), and tamarind pulp.
Add a little water and blend until you get a smooth paste. The consistency should be like a thick sauce.
Tempering:
Heat oil in a small pan on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Add urad dal, a pinch of asafoetida, and sauté until the dal turns golden brown.
Mixing with Chutney:
Pour the tempering mixture over the blended peanut mixture.
Add salt to taste and mix well. Adjust the consistency by adding a little more water if needed.
Finishing Touch:
If you prefer, you can add a little more tamarind pulp for extra tanginess.
Serving:
Serve the peanut chutney as a side with dosas, idlis, vadas, or any Indian dish of your choice.
Enjoy your quick and nutty Peanut Chutney!
Onion Tomato Chutney
Ingredients:
2 medium-sized onions, roughly chopped
2 medium-sized tomatoes, roughly chopped
2-3 dried red chilies (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon urad dal (split black gram)
1/2 teaspoon chana dal (split chickpeas)
A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
1 tablespoon oil
Salt to taste
Water (as needed)
Fresh coriander leaves, chopped (optional)
Instructions:
Preparing the Chutney:
In a pan, heat oil on medium heat. Add dried red chilies, mustard seeds, urad dal, and chana dal. Sauté until the dals turn golden brown and the chilies become fragrant.
Add asafoetida and sauté for a few more seconds.
Add roughly chopped onions and sauté until they turn translucent.
Add roughly chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes.
Blending:
Once cooled, transfer the mixture to a blender. Add salt to taste.
Blend into a smooth chutney, adding a little water as needed to reach your desired consistency.
Finishing Touch:
Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh coriander leaves.
Serving:
Serve the onion tomato chutney as a side with dosas, idlis, vadas, or any Indian dish of your choice.
Enjoy your quick and tangy Onion Tomato Chutney! It adds a burst of flavor to your meal.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour and salt.
Gradually add water and knead the mixture to form a smooth and firm dough. The dough should be slightly stiff.
Cover the dough with a clean cloth and let it rest for about 15-20 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax and makes rolling easier.
Dividing and Shaping:
After resting, divide the dough into small lemon-sized balls. Roll them between your palms to make them smooth.
Roll each ball into a flat disc, about 4-5 inches in diameter. You can use a rolling pin and a little flour to prevent sticking.
Heating the Oil:
Heat oil in a deep frying pan or kadai on medium-high heat. The oil should be hot, but not smoking. To check if it’s ready, drop a small piece of dough into the oil. It should sizzle and rise to the surface.
Frying the Pooris:
Gently slide one rolled poori into the hot oil. Press it down with the back of a slotted spoon as it fries to help it puff up.
Once it puffs up, carefully flip it using a slotted spoon and fry until it turns golden brown on both sides. This should take about 30 seconds to a minute for each poori.
Remove the poori from the oil using a slotted spoon and let excess oil drain on a paper towel.
Repeat the Process:
Continue this process for the remaining rolled pooris.
Serving:
Serve hot with your favorite side dish, such as potato curry, chana masala, or any other curry of your choice.
Rinse the rice and urad dal separately under running water. Add fenugreek seeds to the urad dal while rinsing.
Soak the rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds in enough water separately. Allow them to soak for about 4-6 hours, or preferably overnight.
Grinding:
Drain the soaked urad dal and grind it in a wet grinder or a high-powered blender. Add small amounts of water as needed to make a smooth, fluffy batter. It should take around 20-25 minutes of grinding.
Similarly, grind the soaked rice into a slightly coarse paste. The texture should be like fine semolina or cream of wheat.
Mix the urad dal batter and rice batter together in a large bowl. Add salt and mix well.
The batter should be thick yet pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little water and mix. Avoid making it too runny.
Fermentation:
Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let it ferment in a warm place for about 8-10 hours or overnight. The batter should double in volume and become slightly airy.
Preparing the Potato Filling (Masala):
Boiling and Mashing Potatoes:
Boil the potatoes until they are cooked through. Peel and mash them coarsely.
Making the Masala:
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Add cumin seeds, urad dal, and chana dal. Sauté until they turn golden brown.
Add a pinch of asafoetida, chopped green chili, and grated ginger. Sauté for a minute.
Add chopped onions and cook until they turn translucent.
Add turmeric powder, garam masala, and salt. Mix well.
Add the mashed potatoes and toss everything together until well combined. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Set aside.
Making Masala Dosas:
Preparation:
Heat a non-stick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or griddle on medium-high heat.
Grease it with a little oil or ghee.
Pouring the Batter:
Take a ladleful of the dosa batter and pour it in the center of the skillet.
Using the back of the ladle, gently spread the batter in a circular motion to form a thin, even layer. You can make the dosa as thin or thick as you prefer.
Cooking:
Drizzle a little oil or ghee around the edges of the dosa and on top.
Cook on medium heat until the dosa turns golden brown and starts to crisp up at the edges. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
You can cover the dosa with a lid for a minute or so to help it cook through.
Filling and Serving:
Place a portion of the prepared potato filling in the center of the dosa.
Fold the dosa over the filling or roll it up.
Serve hot with coconut chutney, sambar, and a drizzle of ghee.
Wash and soak the split green gram in enough water for about 2-4 hours.
Draining and Grinding:
After soaking, drain the water from the moong dal.
Add the soaked moong dal to a blender along with green chilies, ginger, and fresh coriander leaves. Blend into a smooth batter. Add water gradually to achieve the desired consistency. The batter should be thick yet pourable.
Seasoning and Salt:
Transfer the batter to a mixing bowl. Add cumin seeds, finely chopped onions, tomatoes (if using), and a pinch of asafoetida. Mix well.
Add salt to taste and mix again.
Making Chillas:
Heat a non-stick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or griddle on medium-high heat.
Grease it with a little oil or ghee.
Pour a ladleful of the batter onto the center of the skillet.
Using the back of the ladle, gently spread the batter in a circular motion to form a thin, even pancake.
Cooking:
Drizzle a little oil or ghee around the edges of the chilla and on top.
Cook on medium heat until the bottom turns golden brown and crisp. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
Flip the chilla and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes.
Serving:
Serve hot with your favorite chutney, yogurt, or pickle.
Enjoy your nutritious and tasty Moong Dal Chillas!
In a large mixing bowl, combine semolina, rice flour, all-purpose flour, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, crushed black peppercorns, asafoetida, chopped green chili, chopped onion, coriander leaves, and grated ginger.
Add yogurt and mix well.
Gradually add water, stirring continuously, to form a smooth, runny batter. The batter should be thin and pourable.
Let the batter rest for about 15-20 minutes. This allows the semolina to absorb the moisture.
Preparing the Skillet:
Heat a non-stick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or griddle on medium-high heat.
Grease it with a little oil or ghee.
Making Rava Dosa:
Pour a ladleful of the batter onto the center of the skillet.
Using the back of the ladle, gently spread the batter in a circular motion to form a thin, lacy crepe.
Drizzle a little oil or ghee around the edges of the dosa and on top.
Cooking:
Cook on medium heat until the edges start to turn golden brown and crisp. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
Flip the dosa and cook the other side for another 1-2 minutes.
Serving:
Serve hot with your favorite chutney, sambar, or a spicy potato filling.
Enjoy your quick and delicious Rava Dosa! It’s best when served hot and crispy.
Rinse the urad dal, idli rice, and poha separately under running water until the water runs clear.
Soak them in enough water separately. If using fenugreek seeds, add them to the urad dal while soaking.
Let them soak for at least 4-6 hours, or preferably overnight.
Grinding:
Drain the soaked urad dal and grind it in a wet grinder or a high-powered blender. Add small amounts of water as needed to make a smooth, fluffy batter. It should take around 20-25 minutes of grinding.
Similarly, grind the soaked rice and poha into a slightly coarse paste. The texture should be like fine semolina or cream of wheat.
Mix the urad dal batter and rice-poha batter together in a large bowl. Add salt and mix well.
The batter should be thick yet pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little water and mix. Avoid making it too runny.
Fermentation:
Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let it ferment in a warm place for about 8-10 hours or overnight. The batter should double in volume and become slightly airy.
Making Dosas:
Preparation:
Heat a non-stick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or griddle on medium-high heat.
Greasing:
Once the skillet is hot, lightly grease it with a little oil using a brush or a cloth.
Pouring the Batter:
Take a ladleful of the dosa batter and pour it in the center of the skillet.
Using the back of the ladle, gently spread the batter in a circular motion to form a thin, even layer. You can make the dosa as thin or thick as you prefer.
Cooking:
Drizzle a little oil or ghee around the edges of the dosa and on top.
Cook on medium heat until the dosa turns golden brown and starts to crisp up at the edges. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
You can cover the dosa with a lid for a minute or so to help it cook through.
Folding and Serving:
Once the dosa is cooked, gently fold it in half or roll it up.
Serve hot with your favorite chutney, sambar, or a potato filling (masala dosa).
Enjoy your delicious homemade dosas! They are best when served immediately.
Rinse the urad dal and idli rice separately under running water until the water runs clear.
Soak them in enough water separately. If using fenugreek seeds, add them to the urad dal while soaking.
Let them soak for at least 4-6 hours, or preferably overnight.
Grinding:
Drain the soaked urad dal and grind it in a wet grinder or a high-powered blender. Add small amounts of water as needed to make a smooth, fluffy batter. It should take around 20-25 minutes of grinding.
Similarly, grind the soaked rice into a slightly coarse paste. The texture should be like fine semolina or cream of wheat.
Mix the urad dal batter and rice batter together in a large bowl. Add salt and mix well.
The batter should be thick yet pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little water and mix. Avoid making it too runny.
Fermentation:
Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let it ferment in a warm place for about 8-10 hours or overnight. The batter should double in volume and become slightly airy.
Steaming the Idlis:
Preparation:
Grease the idli molds or plates with a little oil or ghee to prevent sticking.
Steaming:
Fill a large steamer or a large pot with water, ensuring the water level is below the idli molds.
Bring the water to a gentle boil.
Pour ladlefuls of batter into each mold, filling them about 3/4 full. Do not overfill, as the idlis need space to expand.
Place the idli molds in the steamer or pot, cover with a lid, and steam for about 10-12 minutes on medium heat.
Check the idlis by inserting a toothpick or knife into the center. If it comes out clean, the idlis are ready.
Cooling and Serving:
Allow the idlis to cool for a few minutes. Then, use a spoon or a flat spatula to gently remove them from the molds.
Serve the idlis hot with chutney, sambar, or any accompaniment of your choice.
Enjoy your freshly steamed idlis! They’re best when served hot and soft.