Kaara kulambhu

Onion- 1 big
Tomatoes- 2 medium
Required Vegetable- 150 gms (Brinjal, Drumstick or Ladies finger are good choices)Coconut slices-2 to 3 big pieces
Chiili powder -2 spoons
Dhania powder-2 spoons
Turmeric powder-a pinch
A lime sized ball of tamarind
Gingelly oil--as required (could be substituted with refined oil)

Soak tamarind in water 1/2 hour before you start the preparation.

Slice the onions, tomatoes and the vegetable. Mash the tamarind and extract the juice. Heat oil in a kadai and saute onions in it. Once they become translucent, add the masala powders and saute. Add the tamarind juice and a cup of water to the above. Saute the vegetable seperatley in oil (Drumsticks can be sauted along with the masalas. Other vegetables need to be fried seperately). Add the vegetable to the masala mixture in the kadai. Fry tomatoes in little oil. Grind the tomato and the coconut together. Add this mixture to the kadai, once the liquid comes to a boil. Cover the kadai with a lid and let it simmer for 10 minutes. If the vegetable is cooked and the liquid is thick, season it. Else, simmer it for some more time.

For Seasoning: Add 3 spoons of oil to the kadai. As it heats up, add urad dal, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and jeera. As soon as they splutter, add finely chopped onions and curry leaves. Fry till the onions turn brown and add it to the liquid.

Kara Kulambu is ready to be served.

Blog that's so yummy!

http://adukalavishesham.blogspot.com/
(No, the authors aren't paying me anything to advertise this site; just chanced upon this ;)

Paruppu Usili with Snake Gourd

Usually, Paruppu Usili is made with Beans. Try with Snake Gourd for a change!!
Note: Serves for four.
Ingredients:
· Snake Gourd – ¼ kg
· Onion ( medium sized ) – 2
· Ginger – ¼ inch
· Garlic – 5 cloves
· Curry Leaves – to taste
· Bengal Gram – 100 gms
· Red chilies – 5
· Turmeric powder – a pinch
· Salt – to taste
· Oil – 5 teaspoons
Preparation:
· Soak the Bengal Gram for 30 minutes.
· Grind the Bengal Gram, Red Chilies, and salt to a coarse paste.
· Chop the Snake Gourd to fine pieces and fry in one teaspoon of oil.
· Heat the remaining oil.
· Add chopped onions, ginger, garlic, and curry leaves.
· Sauté till the onions turn transparent and then add the Bengal Gram paste.
· Add turmeric powder and keep stirring for 10 minutes.
· Add the fried Snake Gourd pieces.
· Simmer and keep stirring frequently for 20 minutes.
Can be served with Sambar Rice!

Paalak Paneer

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil, and toss in one bunch paalak with two green chillies. Keep frying until the greens shrink. Keep this aside.
2. Again heat 1 tbsp oil. Add onions, tomatoes, and garlic and sautee for a while. You know when to stop. :) Grind together the output of step 1 and 2.
3. Again, heat 2 tbsp oil, saute onions and jeera. Add the ground paste.
4. Add coriander powder, salt, red chilli powder, and 1/2 tsp of sugar. Lower the flame.
5. After around 5 minutes, when the gravy starts to boil, add paneer and garam masala.
6. Switch off the stove after about 2 minutes.
7. Garnish with cream or grated cheese.

Eggless Vanilla Cake

Ingredients: Two and half cups flour (maida)

One tin condensed milk example Milkmaid (about 220 ml)

One cup oil (preferably refined oil. You can also use 3/4 cup butter. But oil is healthier and if you refrigerate an oil-based cake the texture remains unchanged).

Half a cup of milk or more if needed

Two teaspoons baking powder

One teaspoon baking soda

One teaspoon vanilla essence

Two tablespoons sugar ( DO NOT USE MORE SUGAR AS CONDENSED MILK IS ALREADY SWEETENED)

Method: Sieve together the flour, baking powder and soda.

1. In a bowl blend the oil and condensed milk thoroughly.Use a hand beater for this.
2. Add milk, vanilla essense and sugar.
3. Add the flour mix gradually and fold it in.
4. The batter must be of thick pouring consistency. If it is too thick add a little more milk.
5. Oil a cake tin and dust it with maida. Pour the batter and bake it in a preheated oven at 150 degrees celsius for a hour.
6. Stick a clean skewer into the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. If not bake for some more time.

Instead of vanilla add quarter cup of cocoa to make it a chocolate cake.

For people who do not have an oven this can be made in the cooker (preferably Prestige) also

1. Heat the empty cooker on high heat for 4 minutes
2. Place the separator and put the cake tin with the batter in it . .( Do not put water inside the pressure cooker)
3. Close the lid without the gasket
4. Lower the flame from high to low after 2 min
5. Let it cook for 40 minutes, then switch off the heat. Do not open the lid immediately.
6. Stick a clean skewer into the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Else cook for some more time.