Onam guest post - Puli Inji

Onam wishes to all my friends.

I have some close friends and we end up speaking about food more than our other stuff.So I thought I'm going to ask some of my friends to make guest posts for me.They are non bloggers just people so close to my heart.I'm glad such friendships exist in this age when people hardly find time to do anything but their own stuff.I thank Nandana who is a school friend of mine she took efforts to send me step wise pictures of this beautiful Onam delicacy - Puli Inji.

Lets see how this dish goes about.

Puli Inji

Preparation time - 20 mins

Quantity one ramekin as shown in the pic.

3-4 tbsp of finely chopped ginger

2-3 tsp of finely chopped green chilli 

2 tsp of Urad Dal (optional)

1 tsp of chana dal (optional)

1/2 tsp of grated Jaggery

Lime sized piece of tamarind

1/2 tsp of mustard seeds

Curry Leaves 3-4

Dried Red chillies 3-4

Oil 2 tsp

Pinch of Asafoetida

1. Heat 1-2 tsp of oil and burst mustard seeds in it .

2. Add Urad Dal, chana dal and red chillies and fry until dals turn light brown.

3. Add chopped ginger, curry leaves and green chillies and fry for about 30 seconds .

4. Add juice of tamarind, grated Jaggery and salt and boil.

5. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium and simmer until the mixture becomes a thick paste.

I have a collage of the procedure and ingredients below.

Second pic is taken at the end when it becomes a paste.

Hope you enjoy your Onam Sadya.Thanks Nandana for giving me this lovely post.

Onam guest post - Puli Inji

Onam wishes to all my friends.

I have some close friends and we end up speaking about food more than our other stuff.So I thought I'm going to ask some of my friends to make guest posts for me.They are non bloggers just people so close to my heart.I'm glad such friendships exist in this age when people hardly find time to do anything but their own stuff.I thank Nandana who is a school friend of mine she took efforts to send me step wise pictures of this beautiful Onam delicacy - Puli Inji.

Spiced Watermelon Juice

Should I even tell anyone how hot it is in Chennai!phew!I can say that i'm almost melting :) Thank God for such heavenly blessings fruits they are natural coolants to our poor bodies.

I know you must be wondering why I'm making a juice out of this when it is so yummylicious to have it just by itself.Its so cooling and refreshing in its every bite but this juice is a good substitute for those who can't do without their teas and coffees.

I have heard many people say how watermelons are too cooling and kids catch a cold too soon I don't know how much thats true now because fruits are so healthy right.So when my LM comes back dripping in sweat I make her a glass of this juice and all goodness goes in at one go.

This I watched on tv long back one of the many recipes of Sanjeev Kapoor I used to watch religiously on tv.But I haven't added many more of the stuff he had mentioned.

To make this juice, you need

Watermelons chopped 2 cups (don't bother to de-seed) 

Sugar/Honey as per need

Mint leaves/pudhina 4 sprigs

Lime juice 1 tablespoon

Ginger 1 inch piece

• Whizz everything up in a blender and sieve it if you feel like drinking juice without any tid-bits else your refreshing juice is ready to go.

Cooling watermelon spiced juice is ready to cool your head :) 

Sending this to Summer Splash

Spiced Watermelon Juice

Should I even tell anyone how hot it is in Chennai!phew!I can say that i'm almost melting :) Thank God for such heavenly blessings fruits they are natural coolants to our poor bodies.

Gooseberry Ginger lemonade

Amlas/Indian wild gooseberries are really healthy, if you can get to eat them that is.I find it too bittery sour that I can't even nibble a bite of it!!So my mum gave me this idea of making gooseberry juice and i added a little spice to it :) The results were refreshingly cool!

The simple technique to enjoy some amla is by chewing it and then gulping down some water, which makes your mouth taste really sweet (after all that bitterness) :)

I thought of pickles and relishes before this easy lemonade came by...I felt this was the best alternative to pickles.Healthy, cooling and refreshing too.Not to forget its loaded with Vit C to fight some cold and Iron which most women are deficient off.

You need
Gooseberries/amla as much as you need
Lemon as per need
Sugar/honey as per your need
Ginger an inch sized piece
Water as required.

• Chop off the flesh of the amlas and ginger and blend them in a mixer with a little water.Squeeze off the juices using a strainer.Store this concentrate in the refrigerator.

• To make the juice:
• In a glass add about 2 3 tablespoons of amla juice concentrate and a tsp of lemon juice.Mix in sugar or honey to make the juice as sweet as you like.Add enough water.

• Serve chilled or as it is :) Enjoy your spiced amla lemonade :))

Note:

- The amla juice concentrate has been sitting in my fridge for the past week and its doing good.I haven't added any preservatives.

Gooseberry Ginger lemonade

Amlas/Indian wild gooseberries are really healthy, if you can get to eat them that is.I find it too bittery sour that I can't even nibble a bite of it!!So my mum gave me this idea of making gooseberry juice and i added a little spice to it :) The results were refreshingly cool!

Spiced Almond milk-Magic Mingle

Magic mingle time again!I was waiting for 3 weeks to hear what the next set of magic ingredients would be, and I must congratulate Kalyani for coming up with such a magical event each month, which has definitely got some of us to don our thinking caps!

When i read this month's ingredients-almonds and ginger, first thought,yes cookies but then I don't know why I don't feel like making anything sweet lately.So I had a vague idea and looked up a few places and decided on this easy drink.

Almond milk is a rich and nutritious drink for the kids and adults alike.I have spiced it with ginger candy and dates.If you are thinking how that would taste, it was sweet and the taste of almonds lingered in my mouth for a long time.I made just one mistake of having a nice glassful which left me full for a long time.Like i said its a wonderful drink for the kiddies!

To make this..
Preparation time: 10 minutes.
Makes 2 large cups of almond milk.

You need

Almonds 10
Ginger candy 2 pieces
Dates de-seeded 2
Water 3 cups

- Boil the almonds in some water for 2 minutes and cool it.This is to help peel off the almonds.
- In a blender add the almonds,dates and ginger candy with the 3 cups of water and blend until all is mixed well.
- Filter the contents using a fine sieve or muslin cloth.
- The clear liquid is ready to be served as it is or stored in the refrigerator.

- Serve chilled.

Tips:
- i have used ginger candy,you can use fresh ginger an inch sized piece with honey or sugar for sweetness.
- i didn;t need to add anything for sweetness as the ginger candy did this for me.
- you will get some good amount of almond pulp which can be used for cookies.i'm still trying to use my pulp which i have frozen(since i didn't want to throw it away)

Sending this to Magic Mingle #2@ Sizzling Tastebuds



and to Just 4 fun @ Good food

Spiced Almond milk-Magic Mingle

Magic mingle time again!I was waiting for 3 weeks to hear what the next set of magic ingredients would be, and I must congratulate Kalyani for coming up with such a magical event each month, which has definitely got some of us to don our thinking caps!