Pudina Chaas

Ingredients:

Yogurt (1 1/2 cup )

Crushed dry mint leaves(1tsp)

Roasted cumin powder (1tsp)

Peeled ginger (1 inch piece)

Fresh mint leaves ( 10-12 Leaves)

Green chilly (1)

Ice cubes ( 4-5 )

Water ( 4 cups )

Salt to taste

Preparation:

• In a blending jar add crushed dry mint leaves,5-6 leaves of fresh mint, ginger, green chillies,salt to taste and grind them to a coarse paste.
• Add yogurt , cumin powder , 4 cups of water and the blend it.
• Pour the chaas in a glass ,garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve it immediately.
• Enjoy this drink in summer.

Bhendakaya Pulusu ( Okra Pulusu )

Ingredients:
Okra ( 10-12 )
Tomatoes ( 2 small )
Onion ( 1/2 )
Green chillies ( 2-3)
Cumin Seeds (1/4 tsp)
Mustard Seeds (1/4 tsp)
Ginger garlic paste (1/2 tsp)
Cooking oil ( 2 tsp )
Turmeric ( 1/4 tsp )
Salt to taste
Red chilly powder (1/2 tsp)
Tamarind ( lemon size )
Water ( 1-2 glass)
Cilantro to garnish.

Preparation:

• Wash and cut the okra into half,chop the tomatoes and onion and keep them aside.
• Soak Tamarind in water for 10 mins,extract water from it.
• Take a pan add oil , Cumin seeds , Mustard seeds , Onion , Green chillies, Turmeric ,Ginger garlic paste.
• Fry for 2-3 mins then add Tomatoes and fry for 2 mins.
• Add Okra and fry for 2-3 mins then add Salt to taste, Red chilly powder and fry till Okra is half cooked.
• Then add tamarind water , required amount of water and close the lid.Cook for 5-8 mins or until the okra is cooked well , mix it well for every 2-3 mins.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve the okra pulusu with white rice.

Masala Puri

Ingredients:
Wheat flour ( 2 cups)
Red chili powder ( 2 tsp )
Turmeric powder ( 2 tsp)
Corainder powder ( 1 tsp )
Cumin seeds powder ( 1 tsp )
Salt to taste
Ajwain (1-2 tsp)
Sesame seeds ( 1 tsp)
Asafoetida (hing) a pinch
Cilantro (Optional)
Oil for deep frying

Preparation:

• Take a large mixing bowl add the wheat flour , 2 tsps oil and all the above ingredients ,mix then well.
• Knead it into a firm dough by adding enough water.(The dough should be harder than the chapati dough.)
• Cover it and keep it aside for about 20-30 minutes.
• Lightly knead it once more.Make small balls and roll out small puris.
• Heat oil in the frying pan and fry the puris.
• Have the puris with any gravy curry even dal goes well with the puri.

Masala Dosa

Ingredients:
Dosa:
Rice (3 cups)
Urad dal (1 cup)
Salt to taste
Cooking Oil

Masala Filling:
Potatoes ( 2 large )
Chopped onion (1 medium)
Green peas ( 1/2 cup )
Mustard seed (1/2 tsp)
Cumin seeds (1/2 tsp)
Turmeric (1/4 tsp)
Green chillies (2-3)
Oil (1tbsp)
Salt to taste

Preparation:
Dosa:

• Soak rice and urad dal for at least 6 hour or overnight in water.
• Grind to paste ,mix them well and add salt with water to make batter.
• Leave in room temperature overnight.
• Heat pan or griddle with little oil, Spread the mix on pan in circular motion to make thin Dosa.
• Cook on both the sides, if desired.
  

Masala Filling :

• Take a pan add oil, mustard seed , cumin seeds, onions ,green chillies and turmeric.
• Fry for about 2-3 minutes on medium heat or until onions are golden brown.
• Add green peas ,potatoes , salt to taste and cook for 5-8 mins, until the potatoes are soft.
• Add filling inside Dosa and roll. Serve hot with Chutney.
  

Tip: For Crispy and golden brown dosa,add 1/2 cup of poha or cooked rice while grinding the rice and Urad dal.

Pudina Sandwich

Ingredients:

Mint Leaves - 1 cup

Cilantro - 1/2 Cup

Green chillies (2-3)

Yogurt - 1tsp

Salt to taste

Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp

Coconut powder -1 tsp

Lime juice

Sugar(optional)

Ghee or Butter

Preparation :

• Add all the ingredients in a mixer jar and grind them well , then add 2-3 drops of lime juice.
• Sugar is optional ,if you want sweetness add 1/2 tsp of sugar.
• Take the bread ,cut the edges and toast the bread in a toaster or on a pan.
• If you are toasting on pan add 1/2 tsp of ghee or butter.
• Apply the pudina mixture on the bread slice and close the other end with the another slice.
• Pudina Sandwich is ready to have.

Spinach Parata (Palak Parata)

Ingredients:
Spinach (1 1/2 cup)
Cumin seeds (1/4 tsp)
Oil (3 tsp)
Ginger garlic paste (1/2 tsp)
Salt to taste
Red Chilly Powder
Wheat Flour (1 cup)

Preparation:

• Heat the pan with 2 tsp oil, add cumin seeds, ginger garlic paste, spinach and let it cook for 3 mins.
• Then add salt and red chilly powder and bring it to curry consistency.
• In a bowl take wheat flour,mix the curry which me made into the bowl of wheat flour and mix well like we mix our chapathi dough with very little water(if needed).
• Divide the dough into equal portions.
• Take the dough and prepare small size chapathi.
• Fry them on pan with 1 tsp ghee or oil,until brown on both sides.
• Palak parathas are ready to serve,goes well with yogurt.
  

Contributed by

Navya Alladi

Spinach Masala Pulao

Ingredients:
Basmati rice (2 cups)
Spinach (2 bunches)
Onion (1 large)
Pav bhaji masala (3 tbs)
Amchur (1 tsp)
Salt to taste
Oil
Red Chillies (2 chillies)
Cilantro

Preparation:

• Cook rice with 1:1 1/2 ratio of water.
• In a bowl,split the cooked rice and add pav bhaji masala,oil,salt then mix well.
• Heat large size wok,add oil,cumin seeds,red chillies,onions.when onions turn slightly brown add turmeric powder then add chopped spinach and let it cook for 3 mins.
• Add the rice into the wok and mix well,then add amchur powder and cilantro and let it cook for another 3 mins.
• Your spinach masala pulao is ready.
  

Gudalu

Ingredients:
Onion ( 1/2 )
Green chillies (2-3)
Black eyed peas (1 cup)
Frozen Corn kernels ( 1 cup)
Peanuts (1/2 cup)
Water ( 3-4 cups)
Turmeric (1/4 tsp)
Salt to taste
Cooking Oil ( 2tsps )
Cilantro to garnish.

Preparation:

• Soak black eyed peas for an hour,chop the onion,green chillies and keep aside.
• In a pressure cooker add black eyed peas , Frozen Corn kernels , Peanuts , water
  and cook for 2 vessels.
• In a pan add oil , cumin seeds ,chopped onion, green chillies , turmeric and fry for 2-3 mins.
• Then add the boiled black eyed peas, corn kernels and peanuts,fry for 3-4 mins.
• Garnish with cilantro ,its ready to serve.

Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients:
Finely chopped Garlic ( 1 tsp )
Finely chopped Ginger ( 1 tsp )
Finely chopped onion ( 1/2 )
Finely chopped celery (1/4 cup)
Diced Tomatoes ( 2 cups )
Fresh basil ( 1/2 cup ) or Dry basil (1 tsp)
Cooking oil (2 tsps)
Corn starch ( 1tbsp )
Red chilly powder (1/2 tsp)
Black pepper (1/2 tsp)
Salt to taste
Veg stock ( 2cups)

Preparation:

• Take a pan,add Oil , finely chopped garlic , finely chopped ginger and finely chopped onion and saute for 2-3 mins.
• Add Celery ( optional ) then add diced tomatoes,Basil , salt , red chilly powder and cook for 5 mins .
• Let it cool down add the cooked tomato mixture in a blending jar and blend smooth.
• In a small bowl add 2-3 tbsps of water and 1 tbsp corn starch.
• In the same pan add the smooth tomato mixture and add veg stock and cook for 2 mins.
• Add 2 tbsps of water and con starch mixture , 2 tsps of tomato ketchup , black pepper 2 tbsps of cream (optional) and cook for 2-3 mins.
• Garnish with cilantro ,you can add croutons or rusk biscuits on the top.Tomato soup is ready to serve.

Red bell pepper chutney

Ingredients:
Red bell pepper ( 3 )
Peanuts ( 1/2 cup )
Green chillies ( 2-3 )
Salt to taste
Cumin seeds (1/2 tsp)
Garlic ( 2 pieces )
Turmeric (1/4 tsp)
Oil ( 2tsp )

Procedure:

• Cut 3 red bell peppers into small pieces.
• Take a pan dry roast peanuts,cumin seeds, Green chillies for 2 mins and keep it aside.
• In the same pan add 2 tsps oil,Red bell peppers, turmeric , Salt to taste and crushed garlic.
• Fry them for 3-4 mins,till the red peppers are soft.
• Add all the contents in the blending jar and grind them well
• Garnish with cilantro.Red bell pepper chutney is ready to serve.

Bread Pizza

Ingredients:
Bread (4 slices)
Onion (1 medium)
Capsicum (1 whole)
Tomato (1 whole)
Tomato ketchup
Butter or ghee

For Chutney:
Cilantro (1 whole bunch)
Mint leaves (10)
Ginger (1 small piece)
Green Chillies(2)
Lime juice(2 tsp)
Salt to taste

To garnish:Fine sev

Preparation:

• ChutneyClean the cilantro,and finely chop them with stems also.Peel ginger and remove stems from green chillies.
• Grind these along with the remaining ingredients into smooth paste in a blender.
  

Pizza

Apply a tbsp of chutney ,then tbsp of ketchup on a slice of bread.

 Heat a tawa and toast the bread slice,chutney side up with tsp of ghee till the downside becomes brownish and crispy.

Top the toasted bread slice with little finely chopped onion,capsicum and tomato.

Garnish with sev and serve hot.

Tip:This dish tastes good only when served hot or else it becomes soggy.

Aloo Parata

Ingredients:
Wheat flour (1 cup)
Shredded Carrot (1/4 cup)
Boiled potatoes ( 4-5 )
Cumin seeds (1/2 tsp)
Salt to taste
Red chilly powder (1/2 tsp)
Cooking Oil

Preparation:

• Boil the potatoes , peal them and mash them and keep them aside.
• In a bowl add wheat flour , a pinch for salt and water , mix it well and make a proper dough to make paratas.
• In a bowl add the mashed potatoes , cumin seeds ,shredded carrot , red chilly powder and salt to taste.
• Mix it well and make small balls out of the potato mixture.
• Make a small size chapathi with the wheat dough and place the stuffing in the middle.
• Close it from all sides and make parata , sprinkle wheat flour if the stuffing comes out.
• Take a chapathi pan add 1tsp butter and roast the parata for 2 mins on either side.
• Aloo parata is ready, Serve hot.

Drumstick Sambhar

Ingredients:
Frozen Drumsticks ( 1 Packet )
Tomatoes ( 2 )
Carrot ( 2 )
Onion ( 1/2 )
Toor dal ( 1 cup)
Green chillies ( 2-3)
Cumin Seeds (1/4 tsp)
Mustard Seeds (1/4 tsp)
Ginger garlic paste (1/2 tsp)
Cooking oil ( 2 tsp )
Turmeric ( 1/4 tsp )
Salt to taste
Red chilly powder (1/2 tsp)
Sambhar powder ( 1 tbsp )
Tamarind ( lemon size )
Water ( 1-2 glass)
Cilantro to garnish.

Preparation:

• Boil the Toor dal in pressure cooker and keep it aside.
• Soak Tamarind in water for 10 mins,extract juice from it.
• Take a pan add oil , Cumin seeds , Mustard seeds , Onion , Green chillies, Turmeric ,Ginger garlic paste.
• Fry for 2-3 mins then add Carrots ,Tomatoes and fry for 2 mins.
• Add drumsticks and fry for 2-3 mins then add Salt to taste, Red chilly powder and Sambhar powder.
• Cook for 3 mins,then add tamarind water , water and close the lid.
• Cook for 5-8 mins or until all the vegetables are cooked well , mix it well for every 2-3 mins.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.
• Sambhar goes well with White Rice, Idli , Dosa.

Spinach Rice

Ingredients:
Rice ( 2 cups)
Spinach ( 2 cups )
Soya Granules ( 1 cup)
Green chillies ( 3 )
Cloves 2-3
Cinnamon 1 inch stick
Cardamom 2-3
Onion ( 1 )
Ginger garlic paste ( 1/2 tsp)
Salt to taste

Preparation:

• Soak Soya granules in water for 10 mins .Cut the Spinach into small pieces.Soak rice in water for 10-15 mins.
• Take a pan add 2-3 tsp oil , cloves , cinnamon , cardamon , green chillies , onion and saute until onions are golden brown.
• Add ginger garlic paste , Spinach , Soya granules , Salt to taste cook for 3 mins.
• Then drain out the water from the rice and add the rice and cook for 2 mins then transfer into rice cooker.
• Add 3 cups of water ( 1:1/2 ratio ) and cook till done.
• Spinach rice is ready to serve.

Masala Rice

Ingredients :
Rice (2 Cups)
Chopped carrot ( 1 Cup)
Chopped Cilantro ( 1 Cup)
Chopped Onion ( 1 )
Green chillies ( 2 )
Cumin seeds ( 1/2 tsp )
Salt to taste
Pav bhaji masala ( 1 tbsp )
Cooking oil ( 2 tsps )

Preparation:

• Cook the rice with 1:11/2 ratio of water.
• Take a large pan add 2tsps oil , cumin seeds, chopped onion, Green chillies and cook it for 2mins.
• Then add chopped carrot , salt to taste and fry for 3-4 until carrot is cooked well.
• Add chopped cilantro and cook for a min then add rice and Pav bhaji masala and cook for 2 mins.
• Masala Rice is ready to serve.

Cucumber Raitha

Ingredients:
Curd (Yogurt) ( 1 cup)
Grated cucumber (1)
Chopped Cilantro or Mint (10 leaves)
Salt to taste (1/4 tsp)
Black pepper powder (1/8 tsp)Preparation :

• Take a bowl add Yogurt and beat it properly add Salt to taste and Black pepper powder,mix it thoroughly.
• Peal the cucumber and grate it.Squeeze out the water from the grated cucumber and mix it with the curd.
• Garnish with Cilantro or Mint.
• Cucumber Raitha is ready to serve.Goes well with biryani and fried rice.

Baingan Bhartha

Baingan Bhartha is a North Indian speciality of roasted brinjals.

Ingredients:

Brinjals ( 8-10 small )
Cooking Oil ( 2 tbsp )
Cumin seeds ( 1 tsp )
Onion ( 1 Big )
Ginger ( 2 inch piece )
Green chillies ( 2 )
Red chilly powder ( 2 tsp )
Salt to taste
Tomatoes ( 4 large ) or ( 1 can )
Cilantro to garnish


Preparation:

• Wash and roast the brinjals over open flame or in a preheated oven until the skin scorches and starts peeling off and eggplants start to shrink.
• Let them cool or you can cool them by dipping them in water. Remove skin and mash the pulp completely.
• Heat oil in a pan add cumin seeds ,cook for half a minute and add chopped onions and saute until onions are golden brown.
• Add ginger and green chillies and cook for a minute then add red chilly powder and mashed roasted eggplants.
• Cook for 5-6 minutes over medium heat, stirring continuously add salt to taste.Add tomatoes and cook on medium heat for 5-6 minutes .
• Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.