Veggie Pomodoro | Whole Wheat Italian Pasta Recipe!

Veggie Pomodoro is one pasta dish, we order at Pastamania and Pizzahut. Today my son wanted to eat pasta, so prepared for his lunch at home. These are my son's favourite restuarants. I have used whole wheat organic pasta.

Serves - 1 person

Ingredients

Wheat Fusilli - 2 cups (you can use any of your choice pasta)
Red chilli flakes - a pinch(As per your taste)
Parmesan cheese - 2 tablespoons
Pasta Sauce - as required
Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon
Black olives - 2 nos chopped

click on image for recipe

Preparation Method
In a vessel boil water, add 1 tspn oil and a pinch of salt. Once its boiling add pasta and allow it to cook for 3 to 5 mins. Keep checking it should not be over cooked. Cook al dente.
In a sauce pan/kadai, add olive oil, garlic, pasta sauce and let it cook for few minutes.
Add cooked pasta and mix.
Add chilli flakes, salt and mix well. Cook till all blends well for few mins.

Garnish with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

You can also add mushrooms and green peas to it. Since I don't eat didnot add. Add in the sauce itself and cook.

Veggie Pomodoro is ready to serve. Enjoy hot.

Notes - Some like more sauce but like less sauce and more pasta. Adjust according to your like.
Another way of serving pasta, put boiled pasta on serving plate and pour the sauce over it. Garnish with cheese. Mix and eat.

Achari Tomato Cashew Rice ! Lunch Box Special!

Achari Tomato Cashew Rice was something new I tried one sunday for lunch, but my hubby was working. So packed for lunch that day.

Ingredients
Cooked/Steamed Rice - 1 big bowl
Onion - 1no (thinly sliced)
Tomato - 1no (thinly sliced)
Cashews - Handfull
Tomato Thokku - 2 tablespoons.(click here for recipe)
Curry leaves - few
Oil - 1 tablespoon
Coriander leaves - 1 tablespoon chopped
Spices - 1 bay leaf
Ginger garlic  - 1 tspn
Paneer - 15 cubes (Optional)
Jeera - 1/4 tspn
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tspn(As per your taste)
Salt

Preparation Method
Heat a kadai/wok, add oil, bay leaf add cashews and fry till brown. Remove and keep separately.
In the same kadai, add jeera, onion and fry till brown. Then add tomato, turmeric, red chilli powder and saute till soft.
Add curry leaves and tomato thokku and saute. Add salt and roasted cashews now.
Cook till it leaves oil on sides. Off the stove.
Let it cool a bit, mix the rice. Add salt if required.

Garnish with chopped Coriander.

Delicious Achari Tomato Cashew Rice is ready. Pack for lunch with simple plain curds/yogurt or raitha.

Notes
You can also paneer if you have, it will enchance the taste. I wanted to add but ran out of it.

Tofu Butter Masala ! Lunch Box Special!

Tofu is very healthy since its prepared from Soy Milk. I have been using Tofu rarely at home. This can also be prepared for lunch box with chapathis. I love chapathis for lunch or anytime:-) I have already posted Tofu Masala here and this is with slight variation.

Serves 2 persons
Ingredients
Pressed/Firm Tofu - 1 pkt
Onion - 1no
Tomato - 1 no
Ginger n Garlic - 1/2 tspn
Spices - 1 no cardamom/elachi, cloves/laung, cinamon/pattai/1 bay leaf
Coriander leaves - few sprigs
Dhaniya powder - 1 tablespoon
Red chilli Powder - 1/2 tspn(As per your taste)
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Milk - 1/2 cup
Tomato puree - 1 tablespoon
Kasoori Methi - a pinch
Olive Oil - 1/2 tspn
Butter - 1/2 tspn
Cashews - 4 nos
Salt

Preparation Method
Chop onion and tomato into small pieces.
Grind Onion, tomato, ginger garlic, cashews, turmeric powder, dhaniya powder, spices, red chilli powder, coriander leaves in a blender or mixer into fine paste with little water.
Heat a Kadai/wok, add butter, oil and just toss the tofu pieces and keep aside. 
In the same kadai,add little oil, add the grounded mixture, tomato puree and allow it to boil. Once the raw smell goes.(if reqd you can add in whole spices too at this time in oil)
Add salt, kasoori methi and mix well.
Add milk and mix. When its going to be thick gravy.
Cut tofu into small pieces and add it. Just boil once and off the stove.
Garnish with crushed kasoori methi or chopped coriander leaves.
Top it with 1/2 tspn of butter.

Tofu Butter Masala is ready to pack to your lunch box with chapathis or rotis.

Green Gram, Carrot & Potato Pulao| MW Papad! Lunch Box Recipes!

When Vardhini asked me decide on ingredients to host Dish it out, I was thinking a lot and then when I prepared this for the lunch box, thought of choosing the same ingredients for the event. Here you go with my entry for the event Dish it out by Vardhini guest hosted here @ Sara's Corner.

Ingredients
Green Gram/Pacha Payaru - 1 cup
Carrot - 1no
Potato - 1no
Onion -1 no
Oil - 4 tspns
Ghee (Optional)
Jeera - 1/2 tspn
Rice -2 cups
Pav Bhaji Masala - 1/2 tspn

To grind
Fresh Coriander leaves - 1 cup
Pudina/Mint  leaves- 1 cup
Green Chilli - 2nos
Garlic  - 2 cloves
Ginger - 1" piece
Onion - 1 small
Spices - cinamon, cardamom, cloves 1 each.
Preparation Method
Soak green gram overnite or for 2 hours in warm water.
Wash and cut veggies into 2 inch pieces.
Grind the ingredients above "to grind" to fine paste.
In a pressure cooker, heat oil, add jeera, chopped onion, a pinch of salt and saute till its brown.
Now add the vegetables, a pinch of salt, a pinch of tumeric powder and saute.
Add the ground paste and cook for few minutes.
Add the rice and mix.
Add 4 cups of water. Check for salt.
Add pav bhaji masala.
MIx and pressure cook for 4 whistles and off the stove.

When pressure is up, mix and pack it to your lunchbox.

Microwave Papad

Take 1 papad and keep in MW for 25 to 30 secs depending on MW in medium.
MW Papad is ready to enjoy.

Serve with MW Papad or Tomato Raitha.

Notes - You can also add spices while seasoning.

This recipe is also going to Showcase your Lunchbox Event by Divya and Serve it Pressure Cooked Event by Krithi and Denny.

Thakalli Thokku | Tomato Pickle!

Thakalli Thokku | Tomato Pickle is very tangy and tasty recipe. This is a traditional dish taught by my Mother-in-law who makes this to her perfection,  as in Bangalore we used to do Gojjus. It was new to me and I loved it a lot. Its also my family favourite sidedish. A good timesaver and accompany many dishes. I always prepare and store it in my place, when I find really red tomatoes in Little India cannot miss it.

Ingredients
Fresh Red Tomatoes - 10 nos
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tspn
Red chilli powder - 1 tablespoon(As per your taste adjust)
Fenugreek seed powder - 1/2 tspn
Cooking Oil - 1/2 cup (I use gingely oil or olive oil)
Mustard - a pinch
Hing/Asafotida - 1/4 tspn
Salt

Preparation Method
Wash, cut and chop all the tomatoes into 4 pieces and keep aside.
Heat a heavy big kadai/wok, add oil, a pinch of mustard and hing.
Once mustard pops, add the tomatoes and mix.
Leave it for 5 mins. Then add, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt and mix.
Close it with lid, as it will pop out while boiling and cook till the tomatoes are soft.
It will be too soft  and watery. Continue to close lid.
The colour will change from light red to dark red.
When its going thick add venthaya podi/fenugreek powder. Mix and check for salt and spice levels.
if you wish you can add. Usually, adding the spice and salt little more is better, when it cools, it will be to correct level. Do not cook for long after adding venthaya podi, this will make bitter.

When the gravy is thick and oil leav es the side and good aroma. The dish is ready. Allow it to cool.

Store in clean glass or plastic bottle.  This can be sidedish for kootu rice, curd rice. chapathi, Idlis, Dosas and Adai .

Methods of using tomatoes in thokku. You can use any method.

1. Just chop them and cook
2. Remove seeds and cook.
3. Remove seeds, skin, grind to fine paste and cook.

Notes - This can be stored upto 15days in fridge.
Do not put stainless steel spoon and store, try to put wooden spoon.

How to prepare fenugreek powder at home.
Fenugreek powder /Venthaya podi - Take 1 cup or required amount of seeds dry roast in a kadai in medium flame to slightly brown. Allow it to cool and grind it to a fine powder. Store in air tight container for later use.

This recipe is going to Kalyani's Event Pickles and Preserve Fest and Spring Seasonal Food Event by Sravani.

Dish it Out with Green Gram, Carrot and Potato | Event Announcement!

Dear Friends,

After my Cooking with Love Grandmom Event and Women's Day Event. Now I am guest hosting Dish it out event started by Vardhini of Cooks Joy. Thanks for the opportunity to host your event.

Logo

Rules

1. Make a dish using "Green Gram, Carrot and Potato". We should be able to taste the
    ingredients in the final dish. You can cook from starters to salads or even bake.

2. Only vegetarian entries. Eggs are not allowed.

3. Use of logo is appreciated as it helps spread the word.
4. Link to my Dish it Out event announcement and this event announcement is mandatory.

5. Archived entries are accepted as long as they are linked with both announcements.

6. Do link your entries below and leave a comment.

Be creative and start cooking your recipes.

Feel free to contact me in case you have any questions. Leave a comment or mail me @ simplysara07@gmail.com will reply soon.



Cheers,
Saraswathi

Women's Day Event Roundup and Giveway Winner!

Dear Friends,

Thank you friends for contributing to the event.

I have received 30 entries for the Women's Day Event and thanks to everyone who participated in the event.  I selected the winner through random.org.

The Winner is Vaishali Sabnani of Ribbon and Pastas. You have won a $35 voucher from Electrolux Store. Will contact you soon.

Hope to see you soon in another Event.

Do participate in my Event Cooking with Love Mom guest hosted by Nithu Bala.

Regards,
Saraswathi

Cooking with Love Grandmom Event Roundup!

Dear Friends,

I am so happy to start a Series of Cooking with Love Event. I thought I had posted the roundup of my first event Cooking with Love Grandmom.

Please find in the entries.

Thank you friends for your entries and contribution.

Hope to see you in the next event.

Oreo Milkshake | Summer Specials!

I was trying to post Summer Specials this week and I am ending with Oreo Milkshake. This is simple and easy, kids will surely love. Next  series will be pickles and lunch box.

Take 2 nos oreo biscuits any flavour and crush.
Blend with 1 cup chilled milk(Boiled and cooled) and 1 scoop of vanilla icecream in a mixie or blender.

Serve with ice and top  with 1tblspoon of icecream.

Oreo Milkshake is ready.

Notes - You can prepare this without vanilla icecream also.
Sugar is optional

This Milkshake along with my below entries are going to Summer Spunk by my dearest friend Anusha.

Iced Watermelon
Lemon | Lemonade Juice
Strawberry Milk Shake
Watermelon Juice
Mango Kulfi
Rose Milk

Iced Watermelon!

After the refreshing watermelon juice, I had leftover watermelon tried to prepare for my son. Actually wanted to prepare watermelon sorbet but came up with this.This is simple and easy ice cream.

Ingredients
Watermelon  juice - 1 tall glass
Condensed milk - 1 tspn
Cardamom/Elachi powder - a pinch
Sugar - optional

Preparation Method
Blend all the ingredients in a blender/mixie. Strain it.
Pour it in the icecube moulds and freeze for 1 hour or till its just set.

Serve immediately.

Iced Watermelon is ready.

This can be done with Mango too.

You can also add these cubes to the Watermelon juice.
Notes - If you dont have condensed milk you can just add sugar.

Lemon Juice | Summer Specials!

This is my favourite drink. In my office, the pantry guys used to make it perfectly, so always used to ask one more! I miss them all in Bangalore. Summer has started and this drink will be refreshing. I am sure this is the topper of all Fresh Juices.

Serves - 1 to 2 pax.

Ingredients
Lemon/lemonade/Nimbu/Elamichai - 1no
Chilled water - 1 glass
Sugar -  1 tablespoon
Salt - a pinch
Elachi/Cardamom powder - a pinch
Ice cubes as required

Preparation Method
In a vessel, squeeze the lemon, add water, sugar, salt and elachi powder. Mix well and strain it.

Serve with a slice of lemon and ice cubes.

Lemon Juice is ready to serve.

Watermelon Juice ! Summer Special!

Its been quite hot in the morning and noon. Heard in India also its very hot. But in Singapore the weather is unpredictable, its just raining so heavily. Check out the other Summer Specials here.

Serves - 2 pax

IngredientsWatermelon - 1/4 no of a whole fruit or 2 cups cubed.
Sugar or honey - 1 tspn
Ice cubes - few (optional)
Water as required
Can also add a pinch of Black salt or chaat masala.

Method
In a blender/mixie add watermelon, water, sugar and grind.
Take serving glass add ice cubes and add the juice. (I have dipped in sugar on the rim)
Add a pinch of black salt or chaat masala on the top.
A few pieces of the fruit too.

Such a refreshing juice.

Watermelon Juice is ready to serve.

Manga Sadam | Mamidikai Annam | Ugadi Special Recipe!

I wish you all my readers a very Happy n Prosperous Ugadi and Gudi Padwa!

ಯುಗಾದಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಷಯಗಳು,  ఉగాది శుభాకాంక్షలు and  'गुढी पाडव्याच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा'.

Manga Sadam | Mamidikai Annam| Mavinakayi Chitranna |Mango Rice is very tangy and delicious rice. Its usually prepared on Ugadi. Click here for recipe for Ugadi Festivals.

Ingredients

Rice - 1 cup
Raw Mango - 1 no(Kizhimukku)Grated

Groundnuts - Handful

Gingely Oil - 2 tablespoon

Mustard - 1 tspn

Channa Dal - 1 tspn

Dry Red chilli - 2nos(As per your taste)

Turmeric pwdr - 1/4 tspn
Hing - a pinch

Curry leaves

Salt

Preparation method:

Cook rice with 2.5 cups water for 3 to 4 whistles. Allow the rice to come to normal temperature.

In the mean while

Heat oil in a pan/wok, add mustard seeds. Once it splutters add channa dal, groundnuts. Saute till channa dal turns light brown. Add curry leaves, red chillies and saute.
Add the grated mango and cook till its soft. Add little salt and turmeric powder.

Turn the stove off. Add the rice and salt. Let it sit for a while so that the taste of mango is gets obsorbed into the rice .

Manga Sadam rice is ready to serve. This can be served with fried papads and vadams. I served with Mor Kolambu.

Notes - You can also cut mangoes into small pieces and grind coarsely in mixie.(Optional)

This recipe is going to Only South Indian event by Pari

Homemade Italian Basic Sauce!

I have been wanting to post this recipe from long time,  thought of posting this today as I prepared. I love Italian dishes.

I used to use store bought sauce and this is the first time I tried at home. It was perfect and yummy. This sauce can be used for Pizzas /Pastas /as a dip.

Ingredients
Tomatoes - 2 nos
Garlic - crushed /chopped 2 to 3 nos
Basil leaves - few
Tomato sauce - 1/2 tspn
Olive oil - 1 tspn

Preparation Method
Blanch the tomatoes(see notes below)
Heat wok/pan, add olive oil, add garlic just toss for few mins(it should not be brown)
Add the tomato puree, tomato sauce, chopped basil leaves and cook the gravy till raw smell goes. You will get a thick sauce.

Italian Basic Sauce is ready for use in your dishes.

Allow it to cool and store in air tight container.
Notes - Blanch - Boil enough water in a vessel, put the tomotoes and cover it for few mins. Then put in cold water, remove skin slowly. Cut into four pieces and deseed it. Put in a blender/mixie and grind to fine paste.

Pavakkai Pitla | Bittergourd Gravy - Type 1 | Diabetic Recipe!

Pavakkai Pitla is very tasty sambar, I never knew this pitla until my mother in law told and taught me when she was here. I will be posting the traditional one, but this one I have changed a bit. I don't do anything for the bitterness as I just love the bitter taste in this. I had packed this for lunch to my hubby to office and everyone loved it.

Ingredients
Pavakkai - 4 nos
Black Channa /Karuppu Kadale - 1 cup
Soya bean - 1/2 cup
Tamarind water - 1 cup
Tomato - 1no
Toor Dal - 1/2 cup

For grinding masala
Onion - 1 no
Whole Dhaniya seeds - 2 tablespoon
Channa Dal/Kadale paruppu - 1 tablespoon
Urad dal - 1 tspn
Dry red chili - 3 nos(As per your spice levels)
Few curry leaves

Seasoning
Oil - 1 tablespoon
Mustard - 1/2 tspn
Curry leaves few

Preparation Method
Soak the dals overnite, pressure cook them with toor dal  separately upto 4 to 5 whistles.
Cut Pavakkai/Bittergourd into small pieces.
Heat a vessel, add bittergourd, tamarind water, tomato, a pinch of salt, turmeric and boil it.
In kadai, put 1/2 tspn oil, and fry all the ingredients under Masala grinding till slight brown.
Allow it to cool.
Grind to a fine paste with little water. Mash or whisk the toor dal with water.
Once the bittergourd is soft and cook, add the steamed dals, ground mixture, dal and allow it to boil well.

Season/Talipu with the above ingredients under seasoning.

Serve hot with steamed plain rice.

This recipe is going to Only South Indian event by Pari and Cooking with Love Granddad guest hosted by Shama started by Saraswathi Iyer.

Mixed Flour Dosai!

I make a lot of mixed flour dosas at home for Breakfast, tiffin or Dinner. Each time the mixture is different, now I am posting one of those recipes. I prepared for dinner, sorry about the photo.

Ingredients
Ragi/Millet flour - 1 cup
Rice flour - 1 cup
Rava/Semolina - 1/2 cup
Maida/APF - 1/2 cup
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Buttermilk -1 cup
Water as required
Jeera - 2 tablespoons
Green chilli - 1no(As per your spice level)
Crushed black pepper -1 tspn(As per your spice level)
Hing/Asafotida - 1/4 tspn
Curry leaves few
Salt

Preparation Method
Mix all the ingredients in a vessel to a semi watery consistency. Leave it  for 1 hour.
Heat a non stick tawa/skillet, slowly pour the batter from side, you may not be able to spread like normal dosa.
You can add 1 tspn, gingelly or olive oil and cook. Turnover and cook both sides.(You can cook without oil also)

Mixed flour dosa is ready to serve.

Serve hot with any choice of chutney.

BBB | Spinach Soya Bisibelebath and Oats Onion Pakoda - Ver 2!

Bisibelebath(Hot Dal Rice) is a healthy dish, its also very filling. My previous post on this recipe Ver 1 click here. I mostly prepare on every weekend or fornightly and for get togethers. This is a most popular recipe and food liked in my house. 

Ingredients

Rice - 2 cups

Tuvar Dal – 1 cup
Tomato - 1 no
Potato - 1 no

Soya Beans - 1/2 cup

Capsicum - 1 no
Carrot -  few pieces

Brinjal - 4 nos

Beans - 10 nos
Brocolli - few florets
Spinach/Palak - 1 cup chopped

Broad Beans/Avarekkai - 5 nos

Tamarind Water - 2 cups(from a LEMON SIZE)

Spices Cinamon/Pattai – 2 small pieces/ Cardamom/Elakka - 2nos/ Clove/Lavang - 2 nos

Bisibelebath powder - 4 tablespoons (Adjust accordingly)
Curry leaves few

Jaggery a small piece

Salt

Preparation Method
Wash and cut all vegetables.
Soak soya beans overnite in water.
Cook rice, soya bean and dal separately in a pressure cooker.
Steam the veggies for about 15 to 20 mins with little salt and turmeric or 1 whistle.

Heat a deep vessel or a pressure cooker, add 2 tablespoons oil, add a pinch of mustard, add hing, curry leaves, spices, dry red chillies, and saute for 2mins.
Add chopped tomatoes, spinach and saute for few mins.
Add tamarind water and allow it to boil for sometime.
Then add steamed vegetables, bisibelebath powder and allow it to boil.
When pressure is up, mash or whisk the dal, and add this.
Let it boil, slowly keep stirring without mashing the veggies.
Then mash the rice, and slowly add required rice and keep mixing.
Check on salt and add jaggery. Let it boil, keep stirring.
It should be little watery so by the time you eat, it will be just right and soft.
Off the stove.

Garnish with cashews - optional

Serve Hot Bisibelebath with any vegetable curry/Potato chips/Karaboondi or enjoy as it is.

I served it with Crispy Onion Oats Pakoda. Recipe below 

Notes - I usually make it without onion and if you wish please add.

Oats Onion Pakoda

Ingredients
Onion - 4 nos(Sliced lenghtwise)
Rolled Oats - 1/2 cup 
Kadalai Maav/Chickpea flour/Besan -  3 to 4 tablesppons
Rava/Semolina - 2 tablespoons
Red chlli powder -  1/4 tspn (As per your taste)
Curry leaves - few
Salt
Water to sprinkle
Oil for deep frying

Preparation Method
In a wide bowl, put onion, oats, salt and slight mix.
Add all other ingredients and sprinkle little water and mix well. It should be thick. Leave it for few mins.
Heat oil in a kadai/wok, when its hot. slowly spread and drop the batter in oil. Deep fry till brown both sides and take out on tissue to remove excess oil. Allow it to cool and store it in air tight container.

Enjoy it with Bisibelebath/Coffee/Tea time too.

Notes - Do not store, when its warm or hot it will become soggy.

I had previously posted Cabbage Oats Pakoda check here for recipe. This recipe is going to Fast Food not Fat Food by Priya and Uma.

Write to me if you have queries at simplysara07@gmail.com

Paneer Manchurian | Dry Version !

This has been in my drafts since long long time and thought of posting it now. This manchurian is very tasty and I love paneer. The first dish I order when we go to a restuarant is gobi manchurian or paneer machurian always.

Ingredients
Fried Paneer - Click here for recipe

For Manchurian
Onion - 1 no chopped
Capsicum - 1/2 no chopped
Green chilli - 1 no chopped
Ginger - 1/2 inch chopped
Garlic - 1 no chopped
Fresh coriander leaves (Cilantro) - Chopped 1 tspn
Spring onion - 1 no chopped
Dark Soya Sauce - 2 tspns
Tomato Sauce - 2 tspns
Chilli sauce - 1 tspn
Salt to taste
(Adjust all the sauces according to your taste)

Preparation Method
For Manchurian
In a pan/wok, add oil, add onion, ginger, garlic, green chilli, capsicum and fry till its transperant.
Then add chopped capsicum and saute.
Add all the sauces and mix. Add fried paneer and mix. Cook for 2 mins.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves or spring onions.

Paneer Manchurian is ready to serve.You can serve dry manchurian as starter.

Serve hot with tomato sauce or fried rice.

Notes - I didnot know about light and dark soya sauce, came to know when I reached Singapore. So check before buying.