Rajma Masala / Red Kidney Beans Masala

Heres how I made it at home :

Rajma ( Kidney Beans ) -2 cups; If you have dry beans , soak it overnight and pressure cook next day for 15 whistles or until well cooked. Add beans and water, in the pressure cooker pan, in the ratio 1:3 for it to cook well. Do not discard the water used for cooking the beans, you will need it soon. FYI, Canned beans are easier to use and they cook well sooner.

In the meanwhile grind the following to a fine paste using as little water as possible-

Onions- 2; small or medium sized,cubed

Tomatoes-2;cubed

Green Chillies- 3 or 4 ; adjust per taste or tolerance

Cumin Seeds- 1 tsp

Garam Masala Powder- 1 tsp

Garlic- 4 or 5 pods

Ginger paste-2 tsp; or 1/2 inch sq piece if you don't have the paste

Kasoori Methi- 1 tsp

Preparation Method:

In a pan add oil- 1 tbsp and the ground mixture. Let it come to a boil and cook it covered till you can see the oil separating from the mixture. Stir occasionally.

Now add salt, garam masala powder- 2 tsp , kasoori methi ( crushed )-2 tbsp, jaggery - 1/2 inch square cube, amchur powder- 1 tsp and mix well. 

Now add chopped cilantro-few , well cooked Rajma along with the water from the pressure cooker and bring it to a boil.

Reduce the flame and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir occasionally and cook until the water from the gravy is reduced. 

Do a taste test and add salt if necessary.

Rajma Masala is ready to be served with warm Chappathis :)

Yucca Root Fry / Kappa Mezhukkupuratti

This recipe is also called "Kappa Mezhkupuratti" in Malayalam. It is a delicacy among all who love Yucca ( Kappa in Malayalam). Here's how I prepare it at home.

Things you will need:

Yucca Root (Kappa in Malayalam)-2 medium size
Green Chillies- 3 or 4
Curry Leaves
Salt to taste
Onion- 1 medium size diced
Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
Chilli powder- 1 tsp
Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
Oil- 1 tbsp

Preparation Method:

Peel and cut the yucca root into 1 inch cubes.
Add the yucca root , salt and turmeric powder and water in a pan.
Add enough water to immerse the yucca root.
Now bring this to a boil and cook until the root is nice and tender. Make sure it is not overcooked.
Once done use a strainer to drain the water off.
Heat oil in a pan .
Now add, mustard seeds and wait till they splutter.
Then add , Onion , green chillies, Curry leaves, and stir on medium-high heat.
Once onion is carmelized, add red chilli powder and stir.
Now add the cooked root to this pan and stir for 2 minutes. Do a taste test and add salt if necessary.

Yucca Root stir fry is ready to be served with warm rice and a curry like Mango Curry.

Aloo ki Sabzi / Potato Fry

Aloo ki Sabzi, my all time favorite, can be made in several different ways. This is one of those methods .

Things you will need:

• Potatoes - 3 or 4 ,medium size, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
• Curry Leaves -few 
• Salt to taste
• Onion- 1 medium size diced
• Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
• Red Chilli powder- 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Cilantro- for garnishing
• Tomato- 1 chopped finely
• Oil- 1 tbsp
• Green Chillies- 3 or 4, slit

Preparation Method:

• Heat oil in a pan .
• Now add Mustard seeds,Cumin seeds and wait till they splutter.
• Then add Onion , Green chillies, Curry leaves, Tomatoes and stir on medium-high heat.
• Once onion is golden brown in color,reduce the flame and add Turmeric, Red chilli powder,salt and mix well.
• Now add the Potatoes to this pan and stir for 2 minutes. 
• Cover the pan and cook on medium flame for 5 minutes. 
• Cook for another couple of minutes if you like the potatoes to be more tender.
• Do a taste test and add salt if necessary.
• Garnish with Cilantro.
• Aloo ki Sabzi/ Potato fry is ready to be served with Chappathi or Poori .

Banana Bread

This is, my friend, Saumya Sumesh's recipe. She was kind enough to share it with all her friends and encourage us to try.


 "Saumya, your recipe is just awesome ....Banana Bread couldn't get any better than this...Thank You " 

Below is her recipe in her own words -

Things you will need:

                                                

• Ripe bananas - 4  (mashed well)
• Eggs - 2
• All purpose flour  - 2 cups
• Baking Powder - 1 Tsp
• Baking Soda - 1 tsp
• Unsalted Butter - 1 stick
• Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
• Sugar - 1 cup (or more - depend on our desired taste)

Preparation Method :

• Sieve the All purpose flour, Baking soda and Baking powder in a bowl and keep it aside.
• Pre-heat the oven to 350 F. Butter the loaf pan on all sides and bottom. 
• Using little all purpose flour dust the sides of the pan and bottom to keep the bread from sticking to the pan.
• Beat Sugar and Butter in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon/hand mixer. Then add the eggs and beat it again for two minutes. Add Vanilla essence to it and beat again.
• Now add the mashed bananas to it and mix it for 3 minutes approximately. Then, add the sieved flour mix to this bowl adding little  at a time, and mixing it continuously. Mix it for 4 minutes.
• Pour this to the baking ware/loaf pan and bake it for an hour exactly. 
• Rule of thumb - Bake until the toothpick comes out clean when pierced inside the bread.
• Once done, set it aside to cool . 
• Banana Bread is now ready !!!

Tips:

• The proportion is based on the No. of bananas. Lesser the number, lesser the quantity of ingredients should be used.
• One hour always woks for me. and I  just test it with small knife/fork to make sure its fully baked
• Sugar level is based upon our taste. One cup of sugar gives the right taste - not too sweet kind.
• This can be made without using the electric mixer -- Wooden spoon is more than enough to mix the ingredients well.
• If you like, you could , top the batter with raisins or cashews before you place it in the oven. Its purely optional.

Banana & Mango Milkshake

Things you will need:

• Ripe Banana - 1
• Mango - 4 or 5 pieces
• Sugar - 1 tbsp
• Milk - 1.5 cup
• Vanilla Essence - 1 or 2 drops ( optional )
• Ice Cubes - 1 or 2

Preparation Method : 

• Blend all the ingredients, except ice cubes, together .
• Now add the ice cubes and the blend again for a minute.
• Banana & Mango Milkshake is now ready to cool off the summer !!!

***** THIS RECIPE IS A WINNER !!! *****