Cauliflower Thoran/Poriyal

Ingredients

1. Cauliflower - 1 medium-sized cut into small florets
2. Pearl onion - 10 sliced
3. Green chillies - 2-3 chopped fine
4. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
5. Crushed whole pepper corns - 8 - 10
6. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
7. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Pepper powder - 1/2 - 1 tsp
9. Salt - To taste

Method

1. Heat oil in a deep pan.  Splutter mustard seeds and brown the dry red chillies.  Add the pearl onions and chopped green chillies.  Stir in the crushed pepper corns and saute for a minute. 

2. Add the cauliflower florets, turmeric powder, grated coconut and salt.  Cover and cook at low heat till the cauliflower is done. Finally add the pepper powder, mix well and cook for a few more minutes. Switch off. Serve hot with rice. It tastes best while hot. Its really delicious, do try it.

Ripe Mango Curry / Nadan Mambazha Curry

Its a very common curry made in Kerala during Mango Season. I got this brecipe from my
Mother.

Ingredients

1. Mangoes -  3 - 4
2. Water - 1.5 cup
3. Green chillies - 4, slit
4. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
5. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Chilly powder - 1 tsp
7. Grated coconut - 3/4 cup
8. Cumin seeds - 1/4 - 1/2 tsp

For the seasoning

• Oil - 2 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/4 - 1/2 tsp
• Dry red chillies - 2, halved

How to Prepare ?

• Grind the grated coconut with cumin seeds to a very fine paste.
• Remove the skin of the mangoes. Cook them adding 1 cup water, green chillies, turmeric powder, chilly powder, curry leaves and enough salt.
•  When they are done, lower the flame and add the ground coconut mixture. Cook for a few minutes. Switch off.
•  Heat oil in a pan, splutter the mustards and fry dry red chillies. Pour into the curry. Serve hot with rice.

Paneer and Peas Pulao

This is different from the regular peas pulao, in that, the peas-paneer combination adds to the richness and presentation of the dish.  It is very simple to make, but lends a royal touch to your spread.

Ingredients :

01. Basmati rice grains – 1 cup
02. Ghee – 2 tbsp
03. Cottage Cheese (paneer), cut into cubes – 250 g
04. Cloves – 4
05. Bay leaf - 2
06. Cardamom – 5
07. Cinnamon – a  1 ½” piece
08. Peas – 2 cups
09. Raisins – 2 tbsp
10. Salt – to taste
11. Sugar – 1 tsp
12. Water – 2 cups

How to Prepare ?

• Wash the Basmati rice grains and soak in water for one hour.
• Heat ghee, and fry the paneer pieces in it till light brown. Keep aside.
• In the remaining ghee, sauté the cloves, bay leaf, cardamom and cinnamon.
• Drain the rice grains well, add it to the pan and fry the grains for two to three minutes.
• Add the peas and the dried raisins and fry for two more minutes.
• To this, add salt, sugar and water and keep to boil on a low flame. When all the water evaporates, it means that the rice has been cooked to perfection.
• Next, add the fried paneer pieces to the cooked rice and blend it in carefully. Allow it to cook for another five minutes.
• The rice must be served hot for best results.

PANEER CURRY

Ingredients :

1. Milk - 1 l
2. Lemon juice - of 1 lemon
3. Cooking oil - 1 tbsp
4. Ginger (chopped) -1 tsp
5. Onions (chopped) - ½ cup
6. Tomatoes (chopped) - ¾ cup
7. Green chillies (split) - 2
8. Red chilly powder - ½ tsp
9. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
10. Turmeric powder  - ¼ tsp
11. Milk cream - ¾ cups
12. Salt - to taste
13. Coriander leaves - a few

How to Prepare ?

• To prepare the paneer boil milk and churn with the lemon juice. Remove from fire and strain through a linen cloth. When the water drains away, place any object over the solid milk portion in the cloth. This is to drain away the remaining water. Now cut the paneer to small pieces.
• Heat oil in a pan and stir sauté the ginger, onions, tomatoes and green chillies.
• Now add the red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and mix well.
• Add the cream to the mix.
• Cook for 10 minutes, add the paneer pieces, mix well. Garnish with the coriander leaves and transfer to serving dish.

FRENCH ONION SOUP

The tantalizing aroma of onions with black pepper and the warmth of bread being toasted with cheese is sure to bring your neighbours rushing to see what’s cooking!

Ingredients :

1. Butter/ oil - 5 tbsp 2. Onions (sliced long) - 4 cups 3. Black pepper powder - ¼ tsp 4. Soup cubes Or stock - 5     5. Salt -1 tsp 6. Toasted bread (in pieces of 2" size) - 5 pieces 7. Grated cheese - 2 tbsp

 

How to Prepare ?

 

1. Heat oil and sauté the onions till they turn brown. Add black pepper powder and keep aside.
2. Dissolve the soup cubes in 5 ¾ cups of water and boil. (5 cups of stock may be used instead).
3. Add the onions to the soup, close and cook for half an hour on low flame.
4. Pour out the soup into 5 soup bowls and drop a toast in each.
5. Garnish with grated cheese and serve hot.
6. You could also try pouring the soup over the toast grilled with grated cheese.
Either way, the soup’s a hit!