Wednesday, August 15, 2012

4.Hyderabadi Vegetarian Biryani.......

Indian food is diverse and the combination of dishes one can cook using vegetables is homogenous. While an amateur cook struggles and learns the basics of cooking different vegetables, a daring cook experiments with different dishes and tries new vegetables. It becomes a matter of challenge, enthusiasm, and passion for cooking to go ahead and try stuffed parathas, Indo- Chinese dishes, soups, pizzas and many baked goodies. My favorite always has and always will be experimenting with rice dishes.

I love the results that rice and vegetable combos turn out. The simple addition of tomato and cilantro add a whole new flavor to Tomato Rice. Though I have not made the famous Vangi Bhaat, I have tasted and loved it. A bunch of different veggies clubbed with Chinese sauces gives rise to everyone’s favorite Fried Rice. While these veggie-rice combos are easy to put together, there are other varieties that include time, effort, and loads of patience to try out. Top in the category are Vegetable Pulao and Biryani. Cutting vegetables is the most time consuming task; once done, it’s as good as half of the work been done. Whilst the pulao being a mixture of rice, vegetables, and pulao masala cook to perfection, the biryani is an intricate dish prepared using layers of vegetable gavy and saffron-flavored rice.Really I Just love this vegetable biryani and few days back I tried making it at home and also experimented it on dear and near family friend of mine...and to the surprise both my hubby and our friends just loved it!

I think this one is the best one pot meal especially during Friday nights when you are bored cooking same things every day and want something different or change in your daily routine.This Biryani serves three purposes of mine – it gave me a welcome break from the usual chapatti bhaji, and it gave me a valid excuse to stuff our tummies with our not-so-favorite veggies. And of course, making Biryani allows you to clean the fridge of all those itty bitty vegetables. The addition of saar would be “sone pe suhaga”. Now, I was a light eater in my teenage days and only such favorite suppers would turn me into a hungry hyena. I would/could/do consume at least 3-4 plates of  this and saar or along with dahi/curd. Check out the recipe.

Hyderabadi Vegetarian Biryani


Ingredients:
2 tbsp ghee
2 cup Basmati Rice
4 cups boiling water
3-4 whole cardamom pods
salt as per taste
2 tbsp Oil
few sticks of cinnamon
3-4 cloves
2 Bay leaves
2 star anise(optional)
1 tsp cumin seeds
3-4 cashew nuts chopped into pieces
onion chopped lengthwise
2-3 green chillies
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tomato finely chopped
1 tsp of turmeric
1 tbsp of Hyderabadi masala powder
Mixed veggies like carrot ,french beans,potato, green peas,cauliflower as per your choice chopped lengthwise and half cooked (microwave them for 5 mins)
1 cup curd or plain yogurt
coriander leaves for garnishing
few saffron strands
2 tbsp of milk.

Procedure:
It involves 3 steps as follows
A.Cooking Rice Separately-


1.Heat Ghee in a big deep vessel.
2.Add rice and fry it a bit.
3.When you start getting nice aroma add boiling water to it.(exactly double the amount of rice taken)
4.Add few whole cardamon pods and salt.
5.Cook till hole appears on top of rice.Now rice is cooked keep it aside till gravy is made.

B.Making gravy


1.Heat mixture of Oil and ghee.
2.Add Cinnamon,cloves,bay leaf,star anise,cardamon ie khada masala.
3.Add cumin seeds and when it changes it color a bit add cashews.
4.Now add chopped onions and fry till it becomes brown.
5.Add finely chopped green chillies followed by ginger-garlic paste.
6.Cook till the raw flavour of ginger garlic paste goes away.
7.Add tomato and salt.
8.Now add turmeric powder and biryani masala powder.
9.Now add half cooked veggies..see to it that veggies are coated with masala nicely and fry it for 5 mins.
10.Add plain yogurt to mixture.
11.Garnish with coriander leaves.
12.Now your gravy is ready.

C.Arrangement done before serving.

1.Mix saffron strands in warm milk.
2.Take oven proof vessel or big container which can be heated on stove.
3.At bottom place one layer of rice followed by gravy on it.
4.Continue this way with alternate layers of each of rice and gravy...
5.Sprinkle saffron flavoured milk on top of the vessel along with few chopped coriander leaves.
6.Heat it on stove on low flame for at least 6-7 mins or in oven at 300 degrees for few mins.
7.Now your mouthwatering biryani is ready to serve.
8.Serve it with multilayers...you are bound to enjoy it...mix it thoroughly well and enjoy the feast.

Sending this to the amazing event- Show me your Hits....guest hosted by sangee and event by Vardhini....


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

3.Mumbai Pulao...


One of the things Iam missing a lot about Mumbai Meri Jaan - is the mouth watering street food.... that you get, especially the chaats available in every street corner.Vada Pav toh... its just uncomparable... I like Tava Pulav a lot...I like it because of the crunchiness of the vegetables and the taste of pav bhaji -which add a distinct flavor to the rice.... hmm...really missing pav bhaji also...Mama Iam cuming home!

When I was in Mumbai I relished this dish....Every Weekend I used to force my family members to hog it...
If you are bored with same old pulav do make this, It is absolute delight for summer picnics and get-togethers. Here comes the recipe


MUMBAI PULAO

2012-06-11 21.49.41.jpg

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked Rice
1 medium sized onion finely chopped
2 medium sized tomatoes finely chopped
½ cup tomato ketchup
1 Medium potato, peeled, cubed and boiled
1 ½ tbsp pav bhaji masala
1 tsp chilli powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ cup boiled peas
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp Oil
Few soft paneer pieces.(optional)
Salt

Method:
Heat 1 tbsp of oil. Add cumin seeds, ginger garlic paste, onions and cook till the onions become translucent.
Add the tomatoes and peas. Stir for a minute and cook until tomatoes become soft.
Add the potato and stir for a minute.
Add the ketchup, Pav bhaji masala, turmeric, and chilli powder.
Add the rice,soft paneer pieces and salt.Combine it such that there are no lumps. The tomato mixture/gravy should be evenly distributed.
Garnish with coriander leaves .
Serve hot with raita chutneys or dips.

Note:Paneer enhances the rice taste.If paneer is available readily at home then use it by making it soft  by keeping dipped in warm water for few minutes else you can skip it.
It tastes Yummy and spicy!

After enjoying this rice my husband said...Mazza aya...which really made me contented.

Friday, May 4, 2012

2.Comfort food - Dahi Bhaat with Sandgi mirchi

A big Hi to the blogging world!

{ Iam Supriya..a brand new blogger,created my blog last month only....my blog is still in testing phase.

Dahi Bhaat with Sandgi Mirchi is my first ever article to be uploaded for the event....

Cooking with Love~ Dad

o

of Sara's Corner -She introduced it as a tribute to her grandmother.Each month guest blogger host an event where the main theme is to cook for a relative. The theme of this month is to cook for our beloved dad....guest hosted by Nayna's Simply Sensational Food  -..This one proved to be very dear to my heart as it brought my childhood memories back to life..Hence it is tribute to my dear Papa..I have never participated in blog events before and this being my first one Iam very excited and happy to post.

Thanks Nayna for hosting this lovely event!

Kindly forgive me at some point if I do any mistake..Of course Iam bound to do that ...and let me know if you have any suggestions regarding this..}

Meaning of comfort food can be stated as, Food that soothe the soul by reminding us of comforting childhood memories....Very true ...it is the food prepared traditionally that have nostalgic or sentimental appeal.

I remember my childhood days...Dahi Bhaat from dad's plate was my favourite since I was a kid. Everyday at least 1 spoon of dahi bhaat from dad's dish at the end of the dinner I used to enjoy and then only I would complete my dinner and feel contented.Today also if he will offer it to me I would love to eat it...Being in US I miss my dad's plate.

This dish is Maharashtrian cuisine and ultimate one very easy to make and can be enjoyed in any season, Love for this has been passed through generations...live example being me in front of u...

Coming to US only I got to know what exactly comfort food is....from Arnav's (my baby) doctor.Thanks to doctor for his informative lecture on it which showed distinctive trends relating to age,region,location and ethnic upbringing and love of Americans towards this food...how very dependent they are on it?

The information that I would like to share with you all from American Readers Digest is...America's favourite comfort food item includes peanut butter,Jelly sandwiches and grilled cheese that topped the list followed by meat loaf,mashed potatoes,fried chicken,macaroni and cheese,sphagetti and many more...

Coming to my comfort food,,Dahi Bhaat.... is simply a curd rice.I called it as comfort food as is very Easy,Quick and Simple to make.Moreover is it highly nutritive as it contains both milk as well as dahi.

Dahi is full of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, protein and other nutrients. It controls hypertension and improves immunity.Daily consumption of curd increases the level of gamma-interferon in the body.The curd not only protects our body from bacterial infection but it also prevents food poisoning.

It also prevents the formation of ulcers. Ulcers are produced by the various bacterias present in our stomach. Curd is helpful in controlling these kind of bacterias. The bacteria present in curd has the capability to destroy the ulcer forming bacterias.

Curd is a good source of calcium.Hence try to include this dahi bhaat everyday in ur diet.Curd also improves digestion. This is very helpful in the treatment of stomach troubles. Curd prevents burning sensation in the stomach, constipation etc.

Curd is a natural blood purifier. Its consumption reduces the skin diseases. It also improves the texture of the skin. Curd acts on skin as a natural bleach. Curd reduces the harmful effects of sun radiations.If you massage your skin with curd daily before bath and keep it for 10-15 minutes, the complexion of the skin gets lighter and the skin becomes soft and marks free. Thus all my dear friends especially all girls... it acts as beauty agent...

Milk--is a nutritious, cost-efficient source of protein, minerals and vitamins.I think all are wellknown with its benefits for the health of child and adolescent both.

Coming to sandgi mirchi used as flavouring agent in rice over here-- is stuffed dried spiced chilli--filled with variety of spices generally liked and made by marathi people only.You can enjoy it either simply by deep frying or by serving it along with curd rice,mix with raita or you can use it in Dadpe pohe or while making chiwda.Its appearance is similar to mexican green chilli that we get to see in American shop.

Mirchi is generally stuffed with powdered mixture--masala made up of coriander seeds,mustard seeds,hing and salt.You can add sabudana to it if you want to enjoy during fast.Also it includes curd in it.

Dahi bhaat made by mixing this sandgi mirchi tastes awesome! You can enjoy it either for dinner or for lunch.U can prepare this mirchi at home or can get it readymade from the shop.

Method to prepare it at home:

1.Grind Coriander Seeds(300 gms), Mustard seeds(1 cup and handful more), Hing(4 Tbsp), Salt(50 gms) to very fine powder.
2.Wash and dry green chilies
3.Make a vertical cut in middle to all chilies.
4.Stuff the grounded powder in the chilies tightly.
5.Sun dry for 4-5 days . Store it in airtight Box and use it as and when required.

Note:You can deep fry or shallow fry this chili and eat or can add into tadka and use it in Koshimbir or raita.I used it in dahi baath where it tasted the best!

Recipe of Dahi bhaat with Sandgi mirchi:



Ingredients:
1 cup cooked rice
1 medium sized deep fried sandgi mirchi.
3/4 tablespoons of Sweet dahi
1/2 cup milk
salt as per your taste.

Method:
1.Take a big vessel for mixing.
2.Add cooked rice to it.
3.Finely crush fried spiced mirchi in it.
4.You can add little bit of oil also which was used for frying your chilli in your bhaat.
5.Now add dahi and milk.
6.Taste it and then add salt to it as your mirchi also contains heavy amount of salt in it.
7.Now mix together everthing and its done!

Isnt it too simple and quick...can be made within no time if u have sandgi mirchi readily availableat home.

About this blog....

Rice is said to be the most consumed cereal grain grown on the planet.Many people enjoy rice as their staple food.

There is no other food item that provides calories and energy to the world as provided by rice. It is not wrong to say that most of the people in the world are able to do their daily activities due to rice. Rice has about 345 calories per 100 g. Further, it is very easy to digest rice and hence most of these calories are absorbed by the body. How many times has it happened with you that you have eaten stomach full of rice and have felt hungry just one hour later?obviously...this is very commonly observed by each one of us.

Rice is a significant food that improves some health conditions. According to Organic Facts, "Rice helps to relieve indigestion and nausea, diarrhea and dysentery as well as some skin disorders and high blood pressure." Also according to RiceMilk.com, rice also contains b-sitosterol, a natural substance that lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Rice is an important source of complex carbohydrates, which provide energy to the body and fuel for the brain. According to RiceTrade.com, rice provides vitamins including riboflavin, thiamine and niacin. Rice also contains iron, vitamin D,phosphorus and calcium. It contains no cholesterol or gluten and has no additives or preservatives. Rice contains eight amino acids which makes it a good source of protein.Rice contains vitamin B in small quantities

Most of the nutrients and minerals in rice are concentrated in the outer brown layers known as husk and germs. Hence brown rice, from which only husk has been removed, is the most nutritious type of rice. Unfortunately, many consumers prefer pseudo cosmetic preferences and demand white rice or polished rice, in which the germ and bran has been removed.

I love rice very much...Iam very happy to know that rice is proved to be nutritionally very important.So dear Mama...who used to shout on me:"Dont consume simply rice...U will become fat" when i was kid....here's message for u that...on reading above drafted information you are bound to say...Dear Supriya.... u can enjoy eating rice!Also after marriage my Hubby takes my mama's position of teasing me not to consume too much of rice..so this article is to inform him that we can consume rice without any issue as you can derive energy from it.

Really I love rice unconditionally...Trip to US gave me golden oppurtunity to cook food as I like...as and when i want..here only I discovered my love towards cooking...and now cooking has become my Passion...In INDIA being a newly married couple their were lot many tensions and botherations... I would hardly get an oppurtunity to cook as everyone used to love food prepared by my mother-in-law and of course she used to prepare everything fantastically well...but happy to announce that here in USA in case of cooking... iam King of decision and Queen of kitchen...Iam leading happy and tension free life...no one to ask why u did this and no one to shout why u made it wrongly and wasted everything...Also avaliablity of green veggies,all kind of superior kitchen stuffs and instruments..free time that i get over here and also very good nature of my baby boy...allows me rather.force me to cook deliciously.

I try lot many recipes over here especially variety in rice...Everyday I practice making one or other different type of it...Nikhil says"Are do anytime iam goin to get normal plain rice to eat or not"(Just kidding) Really I  have made guinea pig or taste tester of my hubby...But he loves being food fan and tastes my variety of recipes.

Star of my show--my dear hubby--encourages me a lot,appreciates my efforts behind it and enjoys my prepared rice variety as always.He sometimes spreads his helping hand towards me and suggests lot many things which helps me in improving my dish.His ideas are tremendously good and Iam proud to have him as my husband.

His brialliant idea of documenting my work and efforts that I have put in everyday in making variety of rice gave birth to my blog-Just Rice Recipes for U and me.This blog is whole and sole dedicated to rice preparations only.Here Iam going to try and post 101 recipes of rice prepared and tasted by me and my dear hubby.

Really Iam blessed with the cutest guy I would ever meet on earth and I wholeheartedly thank him for giving me oppurtunity of coming to US and also god without him it was not possible.

Hope you all will enjoy reading and preparing it.Your valuable suggestions and feedback is highly appreciated.Also would like to request u to go through my another food blog....Food Frenzy...which describes all the innovative dishes...few are my own creations while few obtained from cookery books and internet...that we try here in US.

Thanks for visiting my blog.Hope u loved it!
Supriya.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

1.Golden Rice.....

This article is my entry for event Announcing cooking concepts # 10-Mom's recipe.





This one solely devoted to Mom on the occasion of Mother's day which falls on 13th May.
Mama being first teacher in my life has not only taught me how to talk,eat and everything
else but also how to cook ! I have learnt this recipe of golden rice from her. I was not at all
interested in cooking till I used to stay with my sweet mom but after marriage when
I came to US I remember everything about how she used to cook and everyday
I experiment with the dishes taught by her.There I gave birth to my blog last month
only as I like to try variety of dishes in my kitchen.She is the very first person to be
happy when I began my first solo effort in kitchen her happiness can be felt and
seen easily glittering through her eyes.
Love you Mom! This one is for you....

Golden rice--the main ingredients includes corn and spring onion...both of these are highly nutritive and has great medicinal value...also combination of corn and spring onion tastes very good...so please try doing this receipe its really yummy! Credit of invention of this recipe goes to my dear mom..so Thanks mama for this amazing recipe..u all will surely love it.
 

While searching few things on internet I got to know that corn is America's number one field crop...Also being biotechnology student I just cant ignore its medicinal values..Corn is easily assimilated as well as palatable.It contains thiamin (Vitamin B1) and pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) which is used in the metabolism of carbohydrates.
 

If corn is eaten, tuberculosis and epilepsy, as well as kidney disorders, can be avoided.So dont just avoid eating it. Also Vitamin C is found abundantly in corn which helps to fight against diseases. The fibre content in corn helps to lower cholesterol, reduces the risk of colon cancer and lowers blood sugar levels in diabetics. 
 

New research shows the compound, phytochemical called ferulic acid in corn could help you keep away from a host of chronic conditions from Alzheimer’s disease...one which is very common in America... to cancer. Thus it has lot many medical applications.
 

Boiled or roasted, corn can be thoroughly enjoyed in every season. So try adding corn in your diet and enjoy its advantages on your health as it is very versatile and can be accompanied with various foods. It can be used in soups, salads, filling for sandwiches, rolls and wraps. It can be sauted and served with grilled vegetables. 
 

Now coming to valuable Spring onions...it add great nutritive and taste value to this dish.It is added as sort of flavoring agent.It is wonderful garnishing agent which makes the food look delicious especially chinese food items and salsas.It has got plain looks with an intense flavor that surely delights your taste buds with its awesome flavor.
 

Do you know the onion bulb was worshipped as the symbol of the universe by ancient Egyptians? Nutritionally, green onions have a combination of the benefits of onions and greens. They are an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin C, and a very good source of vitamin A too.

Spring onion is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium level. It has a high content of dietary fiber, vitamins, magnesium, potassium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, phosphorus, copper and riboflavin.Apart from this, the amount of diseases that it can cure is innumerable. They can be used for destroying worms or other parasites in the stomach.
 

Hence at least to take advantage of nutritive values of these 2 items and to derive maximum nourishment try golden rice!
 

Here is the recipe that describes golden rice...It is very simple and easy to make within very few minutes.
GOLDEN RICE


Components:
1 cup cooked basmati rice
1 tsp of jeera
2-3 finely chopped green chilles.
1 cup boiled corn
1 cup finely chopped spring onions both white and green part.
2 tbsp of oil
a pinch of turmeric.
a pinch of hing.
2 tbsp of finely chopped coriander.
salt as per your taste.

Procedure:
1.Heat oil in cooking pan.
2.Add Jeera allow it to turn brown a little.
3.Add hing and turmeric.
4.Add chopped green chilles.
5.Now add chopped spring onion and boiled corn.
5 Saute it for few minutes.
6 Add cooked rice and salt as per your taste.
7 Mix everything together well and allow is to cook for 2 minutes.
8.Garnish it with coriander leaves and serve hot.

And Enjoy it for dinner...its delicious....