Rava Idli / Semolina Indian Style Dumplings

Rava idli is a very popular dish in southern India and a personal favourite of mine. Unlike the conventional type of rice idlis , this does not take any time to ferment and is quiet instant. MTR makes instant rava idli mix. My mum uses this mix very often but she also makes them from scratch which is very easy . There are no unusual ingredients . Its quick and tasty . This can be served with chutney or just eaten plain. These have a flavour of their own and hence I normally eaten just plain. Thanks to mum for this recipe . I have altered it a little looking at many recipes online.

Ingredients

2 cups semolina / rava

1 cup sour curd beaten smooth ( I used my normal soya yogurt which is not quiet sour but this should also work)

1 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp urad dal

1 tsp channa dal

3 mild green chillies slit

3 dry red chillies broken

few curry leaves

handful of crushed roasted cashewnut

handful of chopped coriander leaves

1/2 cup of grated coconut (optional , I did not use this time)

1 tsp salt

2 tomatoes sliced for garnishing

a pinch of baking soda (optional , I normally use it but ran out of it this time). This will make the idlis fluffy and spongy

Method

Heat a wok and add oil . when the oil is hot add mustard seeds , urad dal , channa dal , curry leaves , green chillies , dry red chillies . Saute for not more than a minute. Now add semolina and roast it with constantly stirring till a nice aroma of semolina is smelt . Turn off the heat and transfer into a wide big bowl. To this add salt , coriander leaves , grated coconut , and beaten yogurt. Add a cup of water to make a thick batter . Now get the steamer ready and idli moulds greased with oil. Add soda at this last point just before pouring the batter into idli moulds. On top of each idli in the mould placed roundly sliced tomato. This batter will make 2 batches of idlis approximately. I have four idli mould plates with four idli mould in each plate so this should make about 25 - 30 idlis. Cook on high flame for 5 mins and then simmer it for 10 - 15 mins. To check whther the idlis are done , insert a toothpick and check if it comes out clean then the idlis are done else keep for further 5 mins. Serve hot .

For detailed video see Show me the curry youtube video. The have added ginger which I do not add , I still haven't tried using with ginger . This video will give the idea for consistency of idli batter.

Batata Pohu ( Spicy rice flakes with potatoes)

Its been very long since my last post. I became pregnant and was feeling quiet tired and fatigued so could not cook for long in the kitchen . I was experiencing morning sickness as well and so cooking was a torture for me as the smell of curries and any cooked food would make me nauseated. But after whole 4 months , I am back to my original self ( still pregnant with a growing bump though). This dish is a very simple one and I cooked it quiet often during my 1st trimester. Its normally eaten either for breakfast or as an accompaniment with tea in the evening. It should be served straight from wok . I got this recipe from MIL . My mom also made this but I like my MIL recipe. Thanks to her.

Ingredients

1 medium potato boiled and sliced into small bite sized pieces (I don't like peeling them for nutritional reasons)

1 1/2 cup poha / rice flakes

1 tsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp urad dal

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 medium sized onion sliced

3 medium hot green chillies

few curry leaves

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp salt

handful of fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Method

Wash the rice flakes thrice and set aside for 5 mins. This will make the poha soft. Meanwhile heat a wok and add oil . When the oil is hot add mustard seeds , cumin seeds , urad dal, green chillies , curry leaves and onion. Saute the onions till they soften and to accelerate this process you can add salt with onions . This will make the onions cook faster. Now add turmeric and potato pieces. Stir it well and add the rice flakes / poha. Mix well and stir for a minute or two. Put of the heat and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Spicy Vermicelli / Shavige Bath

Ingredients

200g vermicelli / mung beans noodles

1 onion chopped

2 tomatoes chopped

6 baby corn sliced

1/2 carrot grated

2 tsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp urad dal / beaten black gram

1/2 tsp channa dal / beaten bengal gram

4 mild green chillies slit

1 sprig curry leaves

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

2 tsp salt

handful of chopped cilantro to garnish

Method

Soak vermicelli in hot water for 15 mins. Heat oil in a wok , to this add mustard seeds . After they stop spluttering add cumin seeds , urad dal , channa dal , curry leaves , green chillies. Saute for a minute. Add chopped onion and saute till they soften and start turning brown. Add tomatoes and cook till they are tender and then add turmeric powder , salt , all the veggies. Cook till the veggies are cooked and tender. Now finally add the vermicelli and stir for 5 mins. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Variations

Any type of veggies (like green beans , peas, sweetcorn , peppers ) and any amount can be added to this.

VEGETABLE LOVE 2009 - Upma / Spicy Semolina with Mixed Vegetables

I am posting this recipe as an entry for the Vegetable Love 2009 competition.

This is the first culinary competition I am participating . I am very excited . The recipe I have posted is very easy and quick recipe. The advantage of making this is , it takes just 20 - 25mins to make it from scratch and its absolutely delicious and not to forget, its healthy too. Hence, you don't need to spend hours and hours in the kitchen preparing a meal for the special day. About the recipe, its a south Indian breakfast , but can be eaten for evening snack or as any main meal. I have used 5 different vegetables and 1 type of herb.

Ingredients

1 cup mixed frozen vegetables (preferably without green beans. I have used frozen peas,half fresh carrot chopped and frozen mixed peppers. You could also add frozen sweet corns or baby corns)
1 large onion chopped corsely
1 medium sized tomato chopped coarsely
1/2 cup semolina
2 1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp urad dal / beaten black gram
1 sprig curry leaves
2 medium hot green chillies slit into two
handful of chopped corrainder
2 tbsp grated coconut/ dessicated coconut (optional)
1/2 tsp salt

Method

Heat a wok and dry roast semolina till it leaves an aroma , this may take about 5 mins. Remove the semolina into a bowl. Now heat oil in the same wok , add mustard seeds. After they stop spluttering, reduce the flame to minimum and add urad dal/ beaten black gram, curry leaves, green chillies. Saute it for a minute and then add onions. Saute this for a minute or two and add tomatoes and mixed vegetables and salt. Cover and cook on medium flame for 5 - 10 mins or till they are cooked. You can add 2 tbsp water if the vegetables are dry. Now add all the roasted semolina and 2 1/2 cups of warm water. Now reduce the flame to minimum and gently stir it for 3 -4 mins till semolina absorbs all the water and becomes a semi solid consistency. Remove from flame . Garnish with grated coconut and corrainder.

Watermelon rind spicy pancakes

Normally the juice core of the melon is eaten and the rind is discarded . But this rind is also edible and tastes like cucumber. So this can be used as a substitute for cucumber. This can be used in salads and desserts (because of the little sweetness it gets from the core of the melon).

My mother makes a different kind of pancake with this but I never liked it, so I tried out this simple and easy kind and it was a hit.

Ingredients

1/4 watermelon's rind grated (need not be fine). Do not discard the juice while grating.

1/4 tsp salt

2 green chillies finely chopped

6 tbsp semolina ( more can be added according to the consistency)

Method

Mix all of these ingredients and allow it to stand for 5 - 10 mins. The consistency should not be very dry or very watery. If there is approximately more than 2 tbsp of juice then more semolina can be added. The whole mixture should be wet with very little juice dripping while spreading on a hot greased pan. This is ready to be eaten or a dollop of soya butter can be added on the hot pancake. Note that both the sides of the pancake must be cooked.