SOYA BEAN GRAVY

This is yet another tasty gravy recipe from my mother. Soya bean is a healthy pulse and this recipe of soya bean gravy brings out its wonderful taste. Soya bean gravy is one of the most commonly made veg gravies at home as it is very delicious. Do try this easy and quick gravy at home and serve hot with roti or chapathi.

Ingredients

1 cup Soya beans

3 tomatoes pureed

1 small onion chopped

2 tbsp oil

1 tbsp butter

1 cardamom

1 cinnamon

¾ tsp garlic paste

¾ tsp ginger paste

1 tsp red chilli powder

¾ tsp salt

3 tbsp coriander leaves

Method

Wash and soak the soya beans in water for at least 8 hours. Then take a pressure cooker, add the soya beans along with water and ½ tsp salt and pressure cook for 6 to 7 whistles or 10 minutes. Transfer the soya beans to a bowl and set aside. Then heat oil in the same cooker, add butter and oil. Once it melts, add cardamom, cinnamon and onions. Sauté for a minute, then add garlic and ginger paste, red chilli powder, salt and mix well. Then add tomato puree and cook till oil separates. Finally add coriander leaves, soya beans and 1 cup water. Mix well, close the lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Serve hot with roti, chapathi or naan.

MUSK MELON JUICE

Musk melon is a seasonal fruit which helps in reducing body heat, tiredness and lack of appetite. It is best had as it is with adequate sprinkling of sugar. It also tastes delicious and refreshing when had in juice form.

Ingredients

10 tsp sugar

1 large melon

4 tsp honey

Method

Remove the skin of the melon, cut open and deseed. Cut into small pieces and grind along with sugar and honey in a mixer grinder. Pour into glasses, refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours and serve chilled.

CORN VEGETABLE RICE

This is a perfect lunch box recipe packed with vegetables and corn. The presence of corn adds that extra bite to the rice making it more flavourful and delicious. If the veggies are cut and ready then it takes just about 15 minutes to cook. This is the easiest way of eating vegetables which you don’t normally like to eat.


Ingredients

1 cup corn

1 beetroot

1 potato

1 carrot

½ cup peas

3 tomatoes

2 onions

1 ½ tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp garam masala powder

1 ½ tsp salt

4 to 5 tbsp oil

1 cardamom, 1 cinnamon

2 cups rice washed and soaked in water for ½ an hour

4 cups water

3 tbsp coriander leaves

Method

First chop the vegetables, tomatoes and onions into small pieces and set aside. Then heat oil in a pressure cooker, add onions, cardamom and cinnamon and sauté till onions turn golden. Then add garlic paste, ginger paste, chopped tomatoes, coriander leaves, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt. Mix well and cook till oil starts separating. Then add the vegetables and corn. Cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the drained rice, cook for a minute, then add water, close the lid and pressure cook for 10 minutes or up to 3 whistles. Serve hot. It can be had with meat balls, shami, cutlets or sauce.

CHICKEN MEAT BALLS

This is a traditional recipe from my mother. It is very easy to make, takes just about 30 minutes and uses minimal quantity of oil. It can also be had as a starter or as a snack.

Ingredients

250 gms boneless chicken cut into small pieces

1 Big onion chopped

½ tsp garlic paste

½ tsp ginger paste

2 tomatoes pureed

¾ tsp red chilli powder

¾ tsp salt

100 gms roasted gram powder

5 drops of lemon

Coriander leaves

Method

First grind the chicken pieces, onion and coriander leaves into a fine paste. (Do not add water)Then remove the paste into a bowl and add all the other ingredients for the kofta and mix well. (The mixture will not be firm but you will be able to make balls easily).Once done, set aside.

Then heat 3 cups water in a pan and when it starts boiling, take the kofta mixture, make small balls and drop it into the water. Cook till most of the water has evaporated. As it starts getting dry, add 2tbsp oil and stir fry the koftas in the same pan till they are golden brown in color. Serve hot with rice and curry.

You can also check out my chicken meat ball gravy here. 

MASALA FISH FRY

Fish fry with rice and Dal is popular in several south Indian homes. Given below is a simple recipe to make delicious fish fry with minimum ingredients and in very little time.

Ingredients

4 slices of Seer fish (Vajram)

1 1/2  tbsp red chilli powder

½ tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp Salt

Oil

Method

Wash and clean the fish slices and set aside. Then in a bowl, add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and mix well. Then take the slices, one at a time and coat both the sides completely with the masala. Since the slices are wet, the masala will easily stick to it. Set aside the slices to marinate for about 2 to 3 hours. If you are in a hurry, you can omit this step. Then heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the slices till cooked. Serve hot with rice and Dal.

HOW TO MAKE SEEKH KABAB AT HOME

Seekh kabab is one of the most popular varieties of kabab. Traditionally it is cooked in a charcoal oven which gives a wonderful texture and flavour to the kababs. But it can also be made easily at home with minimal effort and yet without any compromise on taste. I have given below the recipe of making seekh kabab by frying in oil.