Cranberry chutney

The love towards cranberries started for me from past 3 years now. But I was just having them in salad all the while until one of my colleagues mentioned cranberry chutney/tokku tastes awesome. So, I figured let me try and it turned out to be just awesome!

Ingredients:

Fresh cranberries- 1 cup

Red chilles- 10-12

Oil - 5tbsp

Garlic-4-5 pods

Mustard-1 tsp

Methi seeds-1/2 tsp

Jeera -1tsp

Curry leaves-5-6

Salt- as per taste
Hing -a pinch

Dry roast 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp methi seeds and powder them

Heat 1 tsp of oil and fry Red chillies, garlic pods and take them into a bowl

Add another tsp of oil in the same pan, and add cranberries, salt and let it cook for 4-5 minutes until cranberries become soft

Blend red chillies, garlic pods first and then add cranberries and blend the mixture again.

For tadka- Heat rest of the oil, add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, jeera, hing, curry leaves,mustard/methi powder and 2 red chillies.

Garnish cranberry chutney with the tadka. Adjust salt accordingly

Try and adjust red chillies according to your taste. I like chutneys to be very spicy! Enjoy with Rice andghee or with Rotis/Bread as a spread.

Jeera rice

One of the easy and tasty recipes in rice varieties.

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice- 2 cups

Cloves-3-4

Cardamom- 2-3

Cinnamon stick- 1inch

Star Anise- 1

Jeera-1tbsp
Jeera Powder 1/2 tsp

Salt - as per taste

Wash basmati rice and add water in 1:1.5 (Rice:Water) ratio.

Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan and add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, anise and Jeera.

Fry for few seconds and add jeera powder and fry for few seconds.

Add this tadka to rice.

Add salt and switch on the cooker. Mix rice for 2-3 times in between.

Enjoy with any curry/Raita!

Toor Dal (Kandi Pappu) with Tomato

Name a dish which is very common in every telugu household? Pappu (Dal). Of all the dals, Toor dal is more a staple food. Especially at my home, I make Dal twice a week no matter what I cook on side. There are a few varieties we can cook out of Toor dal. One is with tomato which is very simple and yummy.

Ingredients:

Toor dal- 1 cup

Green chillies (slit them length wise) - 4-5

Tomato- finely chopped- 1

Tamarind (Chintapandu)- 1/2 the size of lemon.

Turmeric -1/2 tsp

Dhaniya powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt- as per atste

For Tadka (Popu):

Jeera- 1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp

Red chillies -3-4

Hing- pinch

Garlic pods -2

Karvepaku (Curry leaves) 4-5

Cilantro -1/4th bunch

Take washed toor dal in a pressure cooker and add chopped chillies, tomato,turmeric and tamarind.

Add 4 cups of water and let it pressure cook for 5-6 whistles.

Once the pressure is gone, add salt and mix it well.

Let the dal cook on low flame.

In the mean while, do the tadka (popu) in a small pan.

Add oil to the small pan and when it is hot, add jeera, mustard seeds,red chillies(break each in to half), hing and thinly sliced garlic pods, curry leaves.

(Cutting Garlic pods- Instead of directly chopping, crush the pod using the knife blade by placing it flat over the pod and press it strongly with your hand. Then chop it finely)

Once the tadka becomes dark in color, add it to dal and garnish with washed and cut cilantro.

Enjoy with Rice/ Roti :)

Low calorie Chicken 65

Who doesn't love chicken 65? When ever I eat it I don't stop.The next day I feel really guilty and plan to hit the gym. Why do you have to work so hard to eat the dish you like? This made me invent this Low calorie Chicken 65.

Ingredients:

Chicken - 2lbs
Onion -1
Red Chilli Powder- 2 tsp
Salt- According to taste
Ginger Garlic paste- 1 tsp
Yogurt- 3 Big Scoops
Lemon juice-  1 tbsp
Ajinomoto 1/2 tsp

For frying:
Oil -3 tbsp
Yougurt -1Cup
Green chillies-5-6
Curry leaves -5-6
Garama Masala powder- 1/2 tsp

Red Food Color- 1/2 tsp
Black Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp

Cut the chicken in to medium sized pieces and wash it properly.


Add Julianne style cut onion, chilli powder, salt, yoghurt, ajinomoto, lemon juice to chicken and coat the chicken pieces well

                       

Marinate it for 10-15 minutes
                            

In a non-stick pan, add the marinated chicken pieces(No oil), close the lid and let it cook until the chicken is well done.


Take out the pieces and heat a non stick pan and add oil.

Add green chilies, curry leaves, black pepper powder and fry for few seconds. Add chicken pieces.
                            

Mix food color in yogurt and add it to chicken.

Mix it well till the chicken pieces becomes red in color and the water that is formed from yogurt is evaporated.

Garnish with Cucu