Rice Combination - Menthukura pappu

Ingredients:


1 cup packed menthu akkulu/menthu kura 
1 cup tur dal (kandi pappu, red gram)
1 medium sized onion chopped finely
1 tomato, finely chopped (optional)
4-5 green chillis slit length wise(indian variety)
1/3 tsp turmeric (pasupu)
2 whole dry red chillis(deseed and tear into pieces)
5 garlic flakes slightly crushed
1 tsp chopped ginger
10 curry leaves
1 tsp cumin seeds(jeera)
1/2 tsp mustard seeds (ria,aavaalu)
1 tsp salt
chopped coriander leaves for garnish
2 cups water
oil

Preparation :

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a sauce pan and add the mustard seeds and let them splutter.
      Now add the cumin seeds, slightly crushed garlic, whole red chilli pieces and curry leaves and fry for a minute. This is called “Popu” or “Talimpu” in Telugu (Andhra). The tempering adds flavor to the dish.
Now add the chopped onions, chopped ginger and green chillis and fry for 2 minutes on medium heat.Add the chopped tomatoes and saute for 3 mts. Remove from heat.Add this tempering mixture and turmeric to tur dal and add 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker.Now add the washed and picked fenugreek leaves (menthu kura) on top and pressure cook upto till three to four whistles or until tur dal is soft.Wait until the pressure is released and remove the lid.Add salt to this cooked mixture and mash with ladle till well combined.Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot with rice and ghee, papad and vadiyaalu and you have a complete meal. You can also serve with rotis.

New Snack - Corn Pakodi

Ingredients:

1. Corn – 1cup (I used the frozen corn)
2. All purpose flour or Maida  - 1cup
3. Rice flour – 1/2 cup
4. Green chilli paste – 1tsp
5. Ginger paste – 1tsp
6. Cumin  – 1tsp
7. Salt to taste
8. Oil for deep frying

                                          Method:

• Mix all the above ingredients with a little water and make a thick batter.
• Take a spoonful  of the batter (need not worry abt the shape) ,drop them in oil carefully and  deep fry in oil till golden brown.

                                                                                        

Enjoy them with any chutney or tomato sauce.

Special Rice - Capsicum Rice

Ingredients:

1. Cooked rice – 3cups
2. Capsicums -2 (big size)
3. Ghee/oil – 2tsp
4. Curry leaves – few
5. Salt to taste
6. Roasted peanuts for garnish.

Masala powder:

Roast the following ingredients in ghee and grind them into a powder along with grated coconut.

1. Red chillies – 3 to 4
2. Coriander seeds -  1 tsp
3. Cumin seeds – 1tsp
4. Urad dal – 1tsp
5. Cinnamon stick -1″
6. Peanuts – 2tsp
7. Grated coconut – 1tsp
8. Ghee(clarified butter) – 2tsp
9. Lemon juice – 1tsp(optional)

Method:

• In a wide bottom pan heat oil /ghee,add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
• After the mustard starts spluttering add capsicum pieces and cook for 5min.(Do not over cook the capsicum)
• To this add the above ground powder , salt and mix well.
• Reduce the heat and add the cooked rice and combine with the mixture and salt well.
• Turn off the stove ,add roasted  peanuts at the end, mix well and serve with  raita or any gravy of your choice.