Recipe Index

Seeraga Samba Biryani- Instant Pot & Stovetop

August 3, 2021 By Anusha 1 Comment

Step by step guide to make the best Seeraga Samba Biryani with mushrooms. Seeraga Samba, a fragrant short grained rice is an undiscovered treasure. This is a popular rice cultivar in Southern India. The preferred choice of rice for Biryani in South, Seeraga Samba has a unique flavor that is quite difficult to dislike.

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Seeraga Samba is

undoubtedly, the best short grained rice for making Biryani. While most people know Biryani to be a dish made with Basmati rice, in Tamil Nadu, we use this variety to prepare what is probably the world’s most loved Indian dish- the Biriyani.

Grown exclusively in Tamil Nadu, it gets its name as it is grown during the Samba season. It is one of the most expensive Samba rice varieties and is 1/3rd in size of a Basmati rice grain.

Benefits of Seeraga Samba rice include high selenium content, high fiber and rich in anti-oxidant properties. It is also believed to be rich in phytonutrients.

Seeraga Samba Chicken biryani is probably a legend in itself. Since this is not very common, it is not easily available in most places. In Singapore, you can find Samba Biryani in places like Thalapakatti Biryani but vegetarian options may be hard to come by.

Which is why, I m here with this delightsome mushroom biryani.

Known as Jeera rice in the north India, we call this Seeraga Samba in Tamil.

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Ingredients

To begin with, this is a very typical South Indian biryani. Traditionally, they make mutton biryani and chicken biryani with this Jeera rice.

This biryani is a spin-off of the Ambur star biryani. For uninitiated, Ambur is a place near Chennai and the biryani there is insanely famous. My meat-eating friends have raved about this so much that I had to attempt a vegetarian Ambur Biryani recipe.

Unlike other biryani recipes, this one does not use ghee. And the highlight is the garlic-red chilli paste.

Mushrooms

In this recipe, white button mushrooms work best. I have simply quartered them and used. Never wash your mushrooms. Instead, just wipe them clean with a kitchen towel or paper towel. When you wash mushrooms, they tend to get soggier after cooking. This in turn affects taste and texture.

Rice

I m sorry to disappoint you but only and only Seeraga Samba rice will work well here. Please put away that bag of Basmati. No offence but one should try some Jeerasar Biryani to understand why this is incredibly good.

Spices and aromatics

Like any normal Biryani, this one calls for whole spices too. Other than that, we will be making a red chili and garlic masala paste, and use mint leaves and coriander leaves by the plenty. The beauty of this recipe lies in its rustic qualities. We do not use any ground spices but for red chili powder. And this does not call for any biryani masala powder either.

No ghee Biryani

Yep! Jeera rice biryani does not call for ghee. In fact, it calls for all things that are not traditionally used in a Biryani. We will be using tomatoes here. And some yogurt. Thick yogurt whisked to smooth is what you should be using.

Seeraga Samba Rice Water Ratio

The most intimidating aspect of cooking this particular rice variety is the water and rice ratio. These are finicky little fellows who don’t tolerate even a few extra drops of water.

Whether you are making Seeraga Samba Chicken Biryani or Seeraga Samba Vegetable Biryani, the ratio of Seeraga samba to water is 1: 1.25. That is, for every 1 cup of rice, add 1.25 cups water.

For Instant Pot version, the water rice ratio is equal. Use 1 cup water for 1 cup soaked rice. Always measure the rice and water in the same cup. For best results, use a standard measuring cup. A standard measuring cup measures 250 ml.

1 kg rice is equal to how many cups?

When measured using a standard measuring cup, 1 kg uncooked rice measures 5 cups. By weight, each cup of rice weighs 200 grams. When you make Biryani with 1 kg Jeera Samba rice, this will feed 15 people roughly, assuming you have other dishes.

Recipe Notes

Soaking time plays a crucial role in cooking Seeraga Samba. Soak the rice for only 10 mins. This is a quick cooking rice and minimal soaking is more than enough. In case you soak the rice for longer, reduce the cooking time.
Since this is an Instant Pot biryani recipe, I have soaked the rice. If you are making this in a regular stovetop pressure cooker, skip soaking the rice completely.
Seeraga Samba Rice Online- Finding Seeraga Samba rice in USA is easy. If you are living in Bay Area, you can try Shasta Foods. In Singapore, Seeraga Samba is easily available in Sri Murugan Stores and in almost all Indian shops in Little India.

Variations

You can make Instant pot veg biryani following the same recipe and using Jeera rice. Use 1 cup finely chopped veggies like carrots, beans, potatoes and peas. Follow the same cooking time and instructions. Add the chopped veggies instead of the mushrooms for an amazing veg biryani with Seeraga Samba.

Serving Suggestions

This earthy and rustic Biryani pairs well with some chilled onion Raita or mixed vegetable Raita. You can also serve a dry curry like potato fry by the side. If you are looking for something more indulgent, I recommend our Kerala Egg Curry

Method

Instant Pot Mushroom Biryani with Jeera Samba Rice

Red chili garlic paste

Cut the red chilis into small pieces. Soak the chopped red chili in 1/4 cup hot water for 20 mins. After 20 mins, they will be all plumped up and soft. Drain the water and reserve it. Place the soaked chilis, peeled garlic and the water used for soaking in a coffee grinder or a small blender jar. Grind this to a smooth paste. Set aside.

Soaking the rice

Place the rice in a colander and wash under running water. Now place the washed rice in a mixing bowl with water. I have used 1.5 cups rice and 1.5 cups water. Start a kitchen timer for 10 mins. Let the rice soak for 10 mins. Do not soak the rice for longer than mentioned here.

Prepping the ingredients

While the rice soaks, gather up the remaining ingredients and chop the onions, tomatoes and herbs. This should not take more than 10 minutes. Once ready, let s get cooking some Briyani!

Instant Pot timing and mode

Insert the inner pot into the IP. Plug in and turn on SAUTE MODE for 9 mins on NORMAL. Wait for the display to read HOT. When display reads HOT, add the oil. Tip in the whole spices- bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom. Saute for 20 secs and wait for the spices to splutter.

When done, add the ground red chili paste and grated ginger. Alternatively, you can use ginger garlic paste in place of the grated ginger. But freshly grated ginger adds a nice punch to this recipe.

Mix well and cook for 2 mins until the RAW SMELL GOES AWAY. Next, add the finely chopped onions and mix well. Add salt and red chili powder. Stir to combine. Cook till onions are pink and soft.

Add the tomatoes next and mix well. Cook till tomatoes turn mushy. This takes 2 mins approximately. When the tomatoes are done, stir in the yogurt and mix well.

Let this mixture simmer for 2 mins until the mixture thickens. Now, add the finely chopped mint and coriander leaves. Mix well. Immediately add the quartered mushrooms. Stir to combine. Cook the mushrooms for 1 minute.

Next, add the rice and the water. Add 1 tbsp lemon juice and mix well.

Press CANCEL. Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the Instant Pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.

Press PRESSURE COOK BUTTON- HIGH PRESSURE- 5 MINS.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete. Wait for the pressure to release naturally for 5 mins. After 5 mins of natural pressure release, do a quick pressure release by turning the VALVE to VENTING.

When done, open the lid and gently mix the Biryani.

Garnish with more finely chopped coriander leaves if you desire.

Serve hot.

Pressure Cooker Jeera Samba Rice Biryani

To make this Biryani, do not soak the rice. Skip soaking completely and wash the rice in a colander just before you are going to add it to the cooker.

Seeraga Samba rice water ratio in cooker is 1: 1 and 1/4. However, for this recipe, just use equal measures of rice and water since we will be adding yogurt and tomatoes.

Use a 3 liter deep pressure cooker or pan to make this recipe.

Heat the pressure cooker and add oil. Tip in the whole spices- bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom. Saute for 20 secs and wait for the spices to splutter. When done, add the ground red chili garlic paste and grated ginger.

Alternatively, you can use 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste in place of the grated ginger.

Mix well and cook for 2 mins until the RAW SMELL GOES AWAY. Next, add the finely chopped onions and mix well. Add salt and red chili powder. Stir to combine. Cook till onions are pink and soft.

Add the tomatoes next and mix well. Cook till tomatoes turn mushy. This takes 2 mins approximately. When the tomatoes are done, stir in the yogurt and mix well.

Let this mixture simmer for 2 mins. Now, add the finely chopped mint and coriander leaves. Mix well. Immediately add the quartered mushrooms. Stir to combine. Cook the mushrooms for 1 minute.

Next, add 1. 5 cups rice and 1.5 cups water. Squeeze the lemon juice and mix well.

Close the pressure cooker and put the weight on. Keep the flame at its lowest. Now, cook this on low flame for 1 whistle. After 1 whistle, continue to cook on low flame for 5 minutes. Switch off the flame after 5 mins.

Wait for the pressure to release naturally. When done, open the lid and gently mix the Biryani.

Garnish with more finely chopped coriander leaves if you desire.

More Biryani Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this easy mushroom biryani with Seeraga Samba rice? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

Recipe Card

instant pot Jeera rice biryani served in a brown bowl placed on a burlap mat

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5 from 3 votes

Seeraga Samba Biryani

Rustic, flavorful and delicious biryani made the South Indian style with Jeera rice

Prep Time20

Cook Time14

Pressure release time5

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian- South, Tamil

Servings:

Calories: 505kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt

Ingredients

For the chili-garlic paste

6 cloves peeled garlic
8 dry red chilis
1/4 cup hot water

For the rice

1.5 cups Seeraga Samba rice
1.5 cups water please read the post for water rice ratio in the pressure cooker method

For the biryani

1.5 tbsp vegetable oil
1 bay leaf
2 inch cinnamon sticks
4 cloves
3 green cardamoms
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 tsp red chili powder
2.5 tsp Salt or to taste
3/4 cup finely chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup smoothly whisked yogurt
1/2 cup finely chopped mint leaves
1/2 cup finely chopped coriander leaves
250 g sliced white button mushrooms
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Instant Pot Mushroom Biryani

Red chili garlic paste

Cut the red chilis into small pieces.
Soak the chopped red chili in 1/4 cup hot water for 20 mins.
After 20 mins, they will be all plumped up and soft.
Drain the water and reserve it.
Place the soaked chilis, peeled garlic and the water used for soaking in a coffee grinder or a small blender jar.
Grind this to a smooth paste.
Set aside.

Soaking the rice

Place the rice in a colander and wash under running water.
Now place the washed rice in a mixing bowl with water.
Start a kitchen timer for 10 mins.
Let the rice soak for 10 mins.
Do not soak the rice for longer than mentioned here.

Instant Pot timing and mode

Insert the inner pot into the IP.
Plug in and turn on SAUTE MODE for 9 mins on NORMAL.
Wait for the display to read HOT.
When display reads HOT, add the oil.
Tip in the whole spices- bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom.
Saute for 20 secs and wait for the spices to splutter.
When done, add the ground red chili paste and grated ginger.
Mix well and cook for 2 mins until the RAW SMELL GOES AWAY.
Next, add the finely chopped onions and mix well.
Add salt and red chili powder.
Stir to combine.
Cook till onions are pink and soft.
Add the tomatoes next and mix well.
Cook till tomatoes turn mushy. This takes 2 mins approximately.
When the tomatoes are done, stir in the yogurt and mix well.
Let this mixture simmer for 2 mins until the mixture thickens.
Now, add the finely chopped mint and coriander leaves.
Mix well. Immediately add the quartered mushrooms.
Stir to combine.
Cook the mushrooms for 1 minute.
Next, add the rice and the water.
Add 1 tbsp lemon juice and mix well.
Press CANCEL.
Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid.
Close the Instant Pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
Press PRESSURE COOK BUTTON- HIGH PRESSURE- 5 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
Wait for the pressure to release naturally for 5 mins.
After 5 mins of natural pressure release, do a quick pressure release by turning the VALVE to VENTING.
When done, open the lid and gently mix the Biryani.
Garnish with more finely chopped coriander leaves if you desire.
Serve hot.

Pressure Cooker Mushroom Biryani

To make this Biryani in a regular pressure cooker, do not soak the rice.
Skip soaking completely and wash the rice in a colander just before you are going to add it to the cooker.
Seeraga Samba rice water ratio in cooker is 1: 1 and 1/4.
However, for this recipe, just use equal measures of rice and water since we will be adding yogurt and tomatoes.
Use a 3 liter deep pressure cooker or pan to make this recipe.
Heat the pressure cooker and add oil.
Tip in the whole spices- bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom.
Saute for 20 secs and wait for the spices to splutter.
When done, add the ground red chili garlic paste and grated ginger.
Mix well and cook for 2 mins until the RAW SMELL GOES AWAY.
Next, add the finely chopped onions and mix well.
Add salt and red chili powder. Stir to combine.
Cook till onions are pink and soft.
Add the tomatoes next and mix well.
Cook till tomatoes turn mushy. This takes 2 mins approximately.
When the tomatoes are done, stir in the yogurt and mix well.
Let this mixture simmer for 2 mins.
Now, add the finely chopped mint and coriander leaves.
Mix well. Immediately add the quartered mushrooms.
Stir to combine.
Cook the mushrooms for 1 minute.
Next, add 1. 5 cups rice and 1.5 cups water.
Squeeze the lemon juice and mix well.
Close the pressure cooker and put the weight on.
Keep the flame at its lowest.
Now, cook this on low flame for 1 whistle.
After 1 whistle, continue to cook on low flame for 5 minutes.
Switch off the flame after 5 mins.
Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
When done, open the lid and gently mix the Biryani.
Garnish with more finely chopped coriander leaves if you desire.

Notes

Nutrient values provided here are a rough estimate and please use them as a rough guide only.

Instant pot timings may vary based on the geographic location.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Vernacular names for Jeera Samba Rice

Hindi	Jeera Samba / Jeerasar
Tamil	Seeraga Samba Arisi
Kannada	Samba Annam
Malayalam	Jeerakasala

Explore More Mushroom Recipes

Easy Indian Red Lentil Dahl

July 27, 2021 By Anusha 2 Comments

Easy, quick and delicious vegan Dahl with red lentils – Also called as Masoor dal in Hindi, red lentils are one of the most commonly used lentils and pack a punch in terms of flavor and nutrition. They are the ideal vegan protein source. This easy Instant pot Masoor dal fits the bill for a perfect weeknight dinner.

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Dahl spells comfort food, anytime and all time. And it comes with so many other added benefits. If you are a vegan or trying to transition to a plant-based diet, satisfying protein requirements can be challenging. That is exactly why lentils should be your pantry staple.

Fun fact- 100 grams of cooked red lentils has about 9 g of protein. And this is one of the quickest cooking lentils.

All this means only one thing- this ridiculously easy Instant pot Masoor dal should become one of the most rotated dishes on the weekly menu.

5 reasons to try this Instant Pot red lentils

Super quick and easy.
Wholesome, hearty and filling.
Ideal for batch cooking and freezing.
10 ingredients is all it takes.
Naturally vegan and gluten-free.

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Ingredients

Pantry staples are all what we need for this dish. We are not going to use any fancy spices or spice blends. Instead, we will take the less is more route.

Red lentils

My top reason for stocking up on red lentils is that it cooks really fast no matter what method you choose. May it be in an open pan or in the Instant pot or in a regular stovetop pressure cooker, this Dal cooks like a dream.

No matter what brand you buy, this is a fairly forgiving lentil and that makes it a perfect beginners’ lentil.

This is a red split lentils recipe. If you are looking for another easy dhal recipe, then check out Instant Pot whole brown lentil curry.

Aromatics

Now, repeat after me- Less is More. This recipe calls for just 10 ingredients if you include the salt. Turmeric, coriander, cumin and garlic do their magic and make this lentil curry taste amazing. As for the heat, some paprika is more than enough.

Oil

This is a naturally vegan recipe, meaning, we are not going to add or replace any of these ingredients with processed stuff.

While I have used regular vegetable oil, vegan butter, cold-pressed coconut oil and olive oil are all great options for this recipe.

Storage and freezing

If there is one thing I love about Dal, it is the fact that they are fridge-friendly and freezer-friendly. This dal keeps well in the fridge for 3 days. You can also freeze leftover dal in small portions for 1 month.

This dal is just perfect for batch-cooking. Double the ingredients and make a huge pot of this dal. Let it cool fully.

Divide into portions and freeze in individual boxes. You can thaw this frozen red lentil curry in the fridge overnight. When thawed, gently reheat and serve hot.

Dress up your leftover frozen dal by adding a fresh Tarka aka tempering. Heat a small pan with oil. Add some cumin seeds and when it crackles, add 2 tsp finely chopped garlic.

Allow the garlic to brown. When the garlic becomes brown, switch off the flame and tip in 1/4 tsp smoked paprika.

Now quickly add this to the Dal and serve hot.

Red lentil Dahl without coconut milk

For some reason, the moment someone mentions red lentils curry, everyone assumes there is coconut milk in it. Well, I tell this with pride- this recipe has no coconut milk and tastes delicious. I assure you, you will not miss the coconut milk at all.

But in case you insist on it anyway, then dont forget to check out the Sri Lankan Kottu Dal which is essentially red lentil Dahl with coconut milk.

Variations

Make this easy lentil dal more interesting by

Squeezing some lemon juice- The tang does wonders to the dal.
Throwing in some cubed sweet potato for more nutrition. Vegan dahl sweet potato is an incredibly delicious combination. For this recipe, use 1/2 cup peeled and cubed sweet potatoes. Add them in along with the red lentils and water.
Using vegetable stock or broth instead of water- stock or broth adds so much flavor to the Dal.
Stirring in some low fat coconut milk- because we all could do with creamier dal curry.
Cooking red lentil dahl with spinach for a more nutritious version. Add the spinach along after you add the onions and saute them for just 30 secs.
Experimenting with the aromatics- Add some curry powder for extra flavor. 1 tsp curry powder is perfect for this recipe.
Swapping the paprika for red pepper flakes for more heat if you like your Dal spicier.
Add spinach or even cauliflower and carrots to this Dal for a hearty vegetable rich lentil curry. Butternut squash and pumpkin are also fantastic in this creamy mildly spicy Dal.

Method

Instant pot red lentils dahl

Place the red lentils in a colander and wash them under running water. Set aside.

Place the inner pot inside the Instant Pot. Turn on SAUTE MODE- NORMAL- 8 MINS. Wait for the display to read HOT. Now, add the oil.

Tip in the cumin seeds and when they crackle, add the chopped garlic and finely chopped onions.

Mix well and saute for 1 min until the onions become pink and soft. Now, add the ground coriander and paprika along with salt and turmeric.

Mix well and immediately add the washed lentils and water. Stir well to combine.

Press CANCEL. Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the lid. Close the Instant Pot. Now, press PRESSURE COOK button- HIGH PRESSURE for 10 MINUTES. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

When the cooking cycle is complete, wait for natural pressure release. Once the pressure releases naturally, open the lid and gently mash the dal once or twice using a ladle.

Tempering

Heat a small skillet over medium heat with oil. Now, add finely chopped garlic and wait for the garlic to brown.

This takes about 2 mins on medium heat. When the garlic has browned, switch off the flame and add the smoked paprika. Immediately, transfer this to the cooked dal, stir well to combine.

Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Open pan method

Even though red lentils cook fast, it takes around 20 mins when cooked using the open pan method.

In order to minimize the cooking time, wash the lentils under running water and soak the washed lentils in 2 cups hot water for 20 mins.

After 20 mins, heat a heavy bottomed pan or dutch oven with oil. Crackle the cumin seeds and when the seeds have crackled, add the chopped garlic and finely chopped onions.

Mix well and cook till the onions become pink and soft. While the onions are cooking, drain the lentils in a colander and set aside.

Now, add the ground coriander, ground turmeric and paprika along with salt. Stir to combine. Add the soaked lentils and water. Mix well.

Cook on low flame till the dals are cooked and mushy. It takes somewhere between 12 mins to 15 mins for the dal to be cooked fully.

When cooked, mash well using a ladle.

Tempering

Heat a small skillet over medium heat with oil. Now, add finely chopped garlic and wait for the garlic to brown. This takes about 2 mins on medium heat.

When the garlic has browned, switch off the flame and add the smoked paprika. Immediately, transfer this to the cooked dal, stir well to combine.

Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this vegan red lentils Dahl? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

More easy lentil recipes

If you enjoy cooking with red lentils, then check out the Moroccan red lentil soup. Enjoy the typical Dahl recipe, Indian style? Then have a look at our Dal Tadka. And here are some more lentils.

instant pot vegan dahl served in a white bowl placed on a burlap mat. Dahl topped with a garlic and paprika tempering. Jeera rice and Gobi paratha at the background.

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4.50 from 2 votes

Easy Indian Red Lentil Dahl

Creamy, naturally vegan and gluten-free Dahl curry with red lentils made in the Instant pot.

Prep Time10

Cook Time18

Pressure release time20

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian, International

Servings: persons

Calories: 271kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt

Ingredients

1,25 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
5 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
3/4 cup finely chopped onions
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp red paprika Use chili powder as a substitute
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp Kosher salt or to taste
3/4 cup red split lentils Masoor dal
1.5 cups water

For tempering

2 tsp oil
2 tsp finely chopped garlic
1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

Instant pot red lentils dahl

Place the red lentils in a colander and wash them under running water.
Set aside.
Place the inner pot inside the Instant Pot.
Turn on SAUTE MODE- NORMAL- 8 MINS.
Wait for the display to read HOT.
Now, add the oil.
Tip in the cumin seeds and when they crackle, add the chopped garlic and finely chopped onions.
Mix well and saute for 1 min until the onions become pink and soft.
Now, add the ground coriander and paprika along with salt and turmeric.
Mix well and immediately add the washed lentils and water.
Stir well to combine.
Press CANCEL.
Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the lid.
Close the Instant Pot.
Now, press PRESSURE COOK button- HIGH PRESSURE for 10 MINUTES.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When the cooking cycle is complete, wait for natural pressure release.
Once the pressure releases naturally, open the lid and gently mash the dal once or twice using a ladle.

Tempering

Heat a small skillet over medium heat with oil.
Now, add finely chopped garlic and wait for the garlic to brown.
This takes about 2 mins on medium heat.
When the garlic has browned, switch off the flame and add the smoked paprika.
Immediately, transfer this to the cooked dal, stir well to combine.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Open pan method

In order to minimize the cooking time, wash the lentils under running water and soak the washed lentils in 2 cups hot water for 20 mins.
After 20 mins, heat a heavy bottomed pan or dutch oven with oil.
Crackle the cumin seeds and when the seeds have crackled, add the chopped garlic and finely chopped onions.
Mix well and cook till the onions become pink and soft.
While the onions are cooking, drain the lentils in a colander and set aside.
Now, add the ground coriander, ground turmeric and paprika along with salt.
Stir to combine. Add the soaked lentils and water.
Mix well.
Cook on low flame till the dals are cooked and mushy.
It takes somewhere between 12 mins to 15 mins for the dal to be cooked fully.
When cooked, mash well using a ladle.

Tempering

Heat a small skillet over medium heat with oil.
Now, add finely chopped garlic and wait for the garlic to brown.
This takes about 2 mins on medium heat.
When the garlic has browned, switch off the flame and add the smoked paprika.
Immediately, transfer this to the cooked dal, stir well to combine.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

Heat a 3 liter deep pressure cooker or pan with oil.
Now, add the cumin seeds and allow them to crackle.
Tip in the garlic and onions.
Mix well and fry till onions become soft and pink.
Add the spice powders and salt. Stir well.
Immediately add the washed red lentils along with the water.
Stir to combine.
Close the cooker with the lid and put on the weight.
Pressure cook for 5 whistles on medium heat.
When done, switch off flame and allow the pressure to release naturally.
Once pressure releases, open the lid and mash the dal once or twice.
Follow the instructions given above under the Instant Pot method for tempering the dal.
Mix well and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot.

Notes

Nutrition values provided here are an approximate guide and are given as a courtesy. Please use them only as a rough guide.

Instant pot cooking times may vary depending on the geographical location.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

More Instant Pot Recipes

Broccoli Almond Soup -Vegan & GF

July 26, 2021 By Anusha 4 Comments

Step by step guide to make the creamiest vegan broccoli almond soup. If you have not tried combining broccoli and almonds, seriously, what are you waiting for? Now, go grab some broccoli and let us get started. This insanely delicious soup is dairy-free, gluten-free and can easily be made keto-friendly.

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My H often resorts to soup diets. But this soup was not one of his diet ideas. Thank God for that. Considering the fact that all of his diet regimens are hair raising more for me than for him, I will soon be left with a bald shiny head if he keeps up with his diet regimen.
Jokes apart, we have come long way along the soup road as a family. And this one has become our all time favorite. In fact, this soup is what comes to my mind instantly when there is broccoli in the fridge. And it will be an understatement if I tell you that broccoli with almonds is an insanely delicious way to enjoy broccoli.

Why you should this lip-smacking soup?

Naturally gluten-free and vegan.
Can be made in a huge batch and frozen easily.
High in protein.
Immune boosting soup.
Easy 20 mins INSTANT POT recipe.

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Ingredients

Like I mentioned in the beginning, this is a vegan soup. But let me tell you what is the best part about this recipe-It uses no fancy ingredients unless you consider broccoli and almonds fancy.

Here is a fun fact- did you know that broccoli is a natural immunity boosting ingredient?

Broccoli

Since I m huge on meal prep, I tend to separate the florets and store them in an airtight container in my fridge. This minimizes the prep time to a very large extent. If you are in a pinch, use frozen broccoli florets.

Almonds

Blanched almonds are my go-to here. I always prefer soaking my nuts and seeds before using them in any recipe since soaking reduces the phytic acid in them. As for this recipe, I recommend blanched almonds since those with the peel on may change the color of the soup. To quickly blanch almonds, dunk them in hot boiling water for 15 mins. After 15 mins, drain them and gently press them to remove the skin. Alternatively, you can also use 1/4 cup ground almonds or 1/4 cup of slivered almonds in this soup.

And if you love plant milk, then you can make this broccoli soup with almond milk too. Use 250 ml of unsweetened almond milk and 250 ml of low sodium vegetable stock instead of 500 ml stock.

Garlic

This recipe calls for very basic flavors and spices. In fact, we are going to let garlic do its job for enhancing the flavors in the soup. You can add your own spin to this soup by adding roasted garlic, garlic comfit or garlic powder. Huge fan of garlic? Top the soup with some roasted garlic flakes before serving. Don’t forget to chew on some mint or cloves later, though 😛

Stock

As someone who eats very minimal salt, I m very wary of using stock, stock cubes and broth. I always look out for low sodium stock or broth if I m buying. Please feel free to use whatever stock floats your boat.

Olive oil

Olive oil packs a punch in terms of flavor and taste. I love it in my salads and pasta. And also in my soups. Use extra virgin olive oil or light olive oil. Other oils that work well in this recipe include cold pressed coconut oil and canola oil. You can also use vegan butter.

Potatoes

What I love about this recipe is that it does not call for any kind of plant-based milk. While there really is nothing wrong about using plant-milk, some people may not have access to it. And it is common knowledge that plant-milk can be expensive. Enter potatoes. Potatoes make for a fantastic thickening agent in any soup.

Choose your pick when it comes to the type of potatoes. Hertha, Holland and russet potatoes all make a great choice.

Variations

How can a soup be made and enjoyed in only one way? Not fair to any one, right? So let us dive right in and explore more versions, shall we?

Cheese makes everything better. Make this into a broccoli cheddar soup with almond milk like the Panera version. Leave out the stock, add almond milk in its place while cooking. Add some shredded cheddar just after blending the soup and mix well. Serve piping hot.
Keto-friendly almond and broccoli soup. Yes, you heard right. Leave out the potatoes. Add turnips instead! And you will have some creamy and just as delicious keto broccoli soup.
Swap out the almonds. Use walnuts or cashews for a different creamy version.
For broccoli soup Indian style, add a dash of turmeric and 1/4 tsp Garam Masala.

Shelf life and storage

Hands down a super freezer-friendly recipe, this soup keeps well for 3 days when stored in the fridge. Since we do not add any dairy, the shelf life is longer. Store this in an air-tight fridge-safe container.

To freeze this soup, allow the soup to cool completely. When cool, divide into portions and transfer to small freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 1 month. To use frozen soup, thaw at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours. When done, gently reheat on low flame and serve hot.

Serving suggestions

We love this hearty and wholesome soup with soft vegan dinner rolls. When I m in the mood for a heavier meal, I make some pasta salad or this middle eastern inspired pearl barley tabbouleh.

Method

You can make this soup in so many ways. Today, I ll share how to make this recipe in an open pan and in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Broccoli Soup

Place the inner pot into the Instant Pot. Turn on SAUTE mode for 7 mins. When the display reads HOT, add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped garlic and onions. Mix well. Saute for 1 min until onion begin to soften. Since we are pressure cooking, there is really no need to brown the onions.

Now, add the potatoes, blanched almonds and broccoli florets. 250g means roughly 2.5 cups broccoli florets. Tip in the pepper and salt. Mix well. Add the stock. Stir to combine.

Press CANCEL. Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted properly into the lid. Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to SEALING. Now press the PRESSURE COOK button. Set the timer to 3 mins and HIGH PRESSURE mode. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the PRESSURE TO RELEASE NATURALLY for 5 MINS. After 5 mins, quick release pressure by turning the VALVE to VENTING.

Blending the soup

Open the lid. Blend the soup till smooth and creamy using an immersion blender ( stick blender/hand blender).

Serve hot with some crusty bread or your choice of carbs.

Open pan method

Steam the broccoli using a steamer for 10 mins. Boil potatoes in a pressure cooker until soft and cooked. Heat a pan with olive oil. Now, add the garlic and onions. Mix well and saute until garlic turns golden and onions become pink and soft. This takes roughly 3 mins on medium flame.

When done, add the blanched almonds, steamed broccoli florets, boiled potato along with salt and pepper. Add the stock at this stage and stir to combine. Simmer this mixture on medium flame for 3 to 4 mins until it begins to bubble slightly.

When done, switch off flame. Blend to a smooth puree using an immersion blender. Alternatively, you can allow the mixture to cool down and blend it in a regular blender too. But if you are doing it this way, then simmer the blended soup on low flame for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this vegan broccoli and almond soup recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

Fancy some more soup?

vegan broccoli almond soup served in a red soup bowl with a half eaten roll at the back.

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5 from 2 votes

Broccoli Almond Soup

Creamy, vegan and filling soup with broccoli and nutty almonds.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Pressure release time5

Course: Appetizer, Soup

Cuisine: International

Servings: persons

Calories: 164kcal

Equipment

6 qt Instant Pot/ 3 liter pressure cooker
Immersion blender/ Blender

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
15 grams chopped garlic 1/4 cup approximately
1 cup sliced onions
15 blanched almonds
1/2 cup peeled and cubed potatoes 125 g in weight
250 g chopped broccoli florets 1 medium head broccoli stalks removed.
500 ml low sodium vegetable stock
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp Kosher salt or to taste

Instructions

Instant Pot Broccoli Soup

Place the inner pot into the Instant Pot.
Turn on SAUTE mode for 7 mins.
When the display reads HOT, add the olive oil.
Once the oil is hot, add the chopped garlic and onions.
Mix well.
Saute for 1 min until onion begin to soften.
Now, add the potatoes, blanched almonds and broccoli florets.
Tip in the pepper and salt. Mix well.
Add the stock.
Stir to combine.
Press CANCEL.
Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted properly into the lid.
Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to SEALING.
Now press the PRESSURE COOK button.
Set the timer to 3 mins and HIGH PRESSURE mode.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the PRESSURE TO RELEASE NATURALLY for 5 MINS.
After 5 mins, quick release pressure by turning the VALVE to VENTING.
Blending the soup
Open the lid.
Blend the soup till smooth and creamy using an immersion blender
Serve hot with some crusty bread or your choice of carbs.

Open pan method

Steam the broccoli using a steamer for 10 mins.
Boil potatoes in a pressure cooker until soft and cooked.
Heat a pan with olive oil.
Now, add the garlic and onions.
Mix well and saute until garlic turns golden and onions become pink and soft.
This takes roughly 3 mins on medium flame.
When done, add the blanched almonds, steamed broccoli florets, boiled potato along with salt and pepper.
Add the stock at this stage and stir to combine.
Simmer this mixture on medium flame for 3 to 4 mins until it begins to bubble slightly.
When done, switch off flame.
Blend to a smooth puree using an immersion blender.
Alternatively, you can allow the mixture to cool down and blend it in a regular blender too.
Simmer the blended soup on low flame for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.

Notes

Nutrition values and facts are provided here as a courtesy. Please use this only as a rough guide.

Instant pot cooking time will vary based on geographic location.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

More broccoli recipes

Summer Pasta Salad- Vegetarian Recipe

July 22, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Pasta with salad makes a great meal but what if they both became one? Allow me to introduce you to our favorite summer pasta salad. Fresh, crunchy and colorful, this filling salad is our summer dinner. My little one loves it so much that it has been on rotation in my meal plans.

Come join us on Pinterest to find delicious pins.

Salads are my lifeline during summers. The sweltering heat simply puts me off the moment I think of cooking dinner. So, I prep these salads early afternoon and they are ready to be served for dinner. Since most of the summer salads are eaten cold, this works perfectly.

Off late, my fridge has a constant supply of herbs and salad greens. On days like these, when the fridge is bursting from fresh produce, this pasta salad immediately becomes the most requested meal.

This pasta salad is for you since

This is the best summer pasta salad.
It s chock full of juicy summer veggies.
This makes a perfect salad for picnics.
It is filling, hearty and refreshing.
BBQ parties always call for pasta salads.
Pasta salad also makes a mean lunch.

Ingredients

Like any summer salad worth its salt, this too calls for fresh crisp veggies, a light dressing and packs a punch in terms of flavor and texture. If you have cooked pasta on hand, this recipe comes together in less than 20 mins. This takes even lesser time if you have chopped veggies and the dressing ready in the fridge.

Pasta

Any short or spiral pasta works well. Macaroni, Rigatoni, Fusilli and Penne all are great choices. I have used Rotini pasta to make this salad. Our favorite pasta to use are rotini and macaroni. Yes, we are fans of the summer macaroni salad and the summer tortellini salad. I hope to share the recipes here soon.

Veggies

In my daughter’s words, a complete pasta salad is only a summer pasta salad with corn. So obviously, other than the usual suspects like onions, tomatoes and cukes, this salad has sweet corn.

Dressing

This pasta salad is unlike the summer pasta salad with mayo. We are going to be using this avocado green goddess dressing that is not only light but also low fat.

Herbs

Salad game strategies always include fresh herbs. I cannot imagine a salad without fresh herbs. This recipe calls for a combination of fresh herbs. But fret not if you do not have fresh herbs. You can use dried herbs instead too. Since dried herbs are more potent, use just 1/2 tsp each of the dried herbs.

Variations

A pasta salad recipe can be made in so many ways and this recipe is no exception.

Make it cheesy– add some crumbled feta cheese and this will become something similar to Italian pasta salad.
Throw in some protein– add some grilled chicken (for non-vegans and meat eaters), tip in some pinto beans or top this with hard boiled eggs. This will make the salad more filling.
This is almost a spin off of the Greek pasta salad or should I say Mediterranean pasta salad. You can play around with the herbs for different flavors.
Our pasta salad is a no-oil recipe. You can make it more flavorful by adding a drizzle of olive oil. Use extra virgin olive oil for an amazing flavor.
You can also add carrot juliennes, chopped avocado, steamed broccoli, sweet peas or asparagus along with the other veggies. Baby spinach tastes good too.
For a gluten-free version, Use certified gluten-free pasta. Chickpeas pasta for the win! Not a fan of gluten-free pasta? No problem. Use cooked quinoa or brown rice.

Make ahead and shelf life

Prep the dressing well ahead and you can save loads of time. The avocado green goddess dressing keeps well in the fridge for up to a week. Store the dressing in a clean sterilized glass jar. To further cut down cooking time, batch cook pasta and refrigerate. Bring out the cold pasta, place in a colander and wash it under running water. Drain fully and use it in the salad. Cooked pasta keeps well in the fridge for 2 days.

How to serve?

Sure, this makes for a delicious dinner or a wholesome and filling lunch. But you can make it even more interesting.

This is a great dish to bring to a BBQ party and is so easy to make that even kids can put it together. The older kids can help with the chopping while the little ones can help toss everything. Get creative, set up a salad bar on your kitchen counter and let the family assemble this salad. Make sure to include everyone’s favorite vegetable and protein. Think cooked beans, cheese, eggs or grilled chicken.

Make this a complete meal by serving this as a side with grilled meat or a hearty soup. Pair this with a crisp wine for a wonderful summery meal.

Method

Dressing

Assemble all the ingredients and keep them handy before you begin. Cut open and pit the avocado. Scoop the flesh out.

To a food processor, add the herbs and avocado along with lemon juice, salt and green chilis. Now, blend to a coarse paste. Use the pulse option to do this easily. When done, add the yogurt and blend again to a really smooth paste.

That is it. Our avocado green goddess dressing is ready. Transfer to a clean sterilized canning jar until ready to use.

Cooking the pasta

A recipe for pasta salad involves cooking pasta correctly. Bring to boil 6 cups of water with 3 tsp of salt. When the water begins to boil, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions. The perfect pasta salad has pasta cooked just right. Do not overcook the pasta because soft pasta simply does not taste good in a pasta salad.

Veggies and herbs

While the pasta cooks, strip the corn, halve the tomatoes and prep the remaining veggies. I have used fresh sweet corn. And I added the corn raw. If you have not tried raw sweet corn in a salad, then now is the time. If you cannot source fresh sweet corn, you can also use frozen sweet corn. Sweet peppers are just amazing in a pasta salad. I have used a combination of red, orange and yellow sweet peppers. Feel free to use regular bell peppers if you do not have sweet peppers. Similarly, wash and pat dry the herbs. Chop them as finely as possible and set aside.

Tossing the salad

Once we have everything prepped, add the veggies and cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine. Set aside until ready to serve. Keep chilled if serving later.

Adding the dressing

Pour the dressing over just before serving and combine everything together. Serve immediately.

If you are looking for more salad recipes with pasta, then this green apple macaroni salad may interest you.

Explore more salads

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this Pappu recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

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No ratings yet

Summer pasta salad

An easy and delicious vegetarian summer pasta salad that is just perfect for a hot day.

Prep Time15

Cook Time12

Course: Salad, Salads

Cuisine: International

Servings:

Calories: 279kcal

Equipment

Mixing bowl

Ingredients

1.5 cups cooked rotini pasta

Vegetables

1 cup sliced cucumber
1/2 cup freshly stripped raw sweet corn
1/2 cup chopped sweet peppers
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes about 12 cherry tomatoes halved
10 pitted kalamata olives
3/4 cup thinly sliced red onions

Fresh herbs

1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1 tbsp finely chopped sweet basil
1 tbsp finely chopped mint

Seasoning

1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1.25 tsp Kosher salt or to taste

Dressing

1 cup Avocado green goddess dressing

Instructions

Cooking the pasta

Bring to boil 6 cups of water with 3 tsp of salt.
When the water begins to boil, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions.
Once done, drain the pasta in a colander.
Wash under colander and allow it to sit until all water drains fully.

Veggies and herbs

While the pasta cooks, strip the corn, halve the tomatoes and prep the remaining veggies.
Similarly, wash and pat dry the herbs.
Chop them as finely as possible and set aside.

Tossing the salad

Once we have everything prepped, add the veggies and cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl.
Toss to combine.
Set aside until ready to serve.
Keep chilled if serving later.

Adding the dressing

Pour the dressing over just before serving and combine everything together.
Serve immediately.

Notes

Nutrition values are given here as a courtesy. Please use this as a rough guide and consult a qualified nutrition expert if you are particular about micros and macros.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore more pasta recipes

Dosakaya Pappu – Andhra style yellow cucumber Dal

July 19, 2021 By Anusha 3 Comments

Step by step guide to make Andhra style Dosakaya Pappu, a delicious lentil curry with yellow cucumber. In Telugu, this refers to yellow cucumber and Pappu in Telugu translates to lentils. Pappu is an integral part of any Andhra meal and is the ultimate comfort food in any Telugu household.

The husband man studied in Warangal and spent his college years eating Pappu almost every day during his stay there. It is not a wonder that he is a huge fan of lentils and Dal or Pappu features on my menu every week.

Andhra style lentil curries are our favorite. Whenever I spot these yellow cucumbers in the nearby Indian store, I pick them up to make this creamy and filling Dal.

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What is Dosakaya?

We call these as yellow cucumbers or melon cucumbers in English. Dosakaya is a popular vegetable in the Andhra cuisine. Pachadi, Sambar and this Pappu are dishes that are made with this vegetable. Though I have never seen them in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, I have spotted these in Gujarat.

Ingredients

Toor Dal

Toor dal or pigeon pea lentils is what is used traditionally in this recipe. To expedite the cooking process, always wash and soak the dal for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

Dosakaya

This yellow cucumber can sometimes turn out to be bitter. Choose cucumbers that do not have bruises on the skin and feel firm to touch. It should not be squishy too. Sometimes, this yellow cucumber can taste bitter. So before adding it to the dal, make sure that you taste a small piece. Discard the cucumber if it tastes bitter.

Spice powders

This recipe calls for just basic Indian spices. Red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt are what is needed for this simple Dal.

Oil or ghee

While most Pappu recipes are made using ghee, you can easily switch to cold pressed coconut oil for a vegan Pappu.

Poppu- Tempering

In Telugu, Poppu means tempering. This is the same concept as Tadka. May it be any Pappu, its essence lies in the Poppu. For this cucumber Dal, we will be using a combination of mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds along with curry leaves and Hing for tempering.

What is asafetida?

I use pure Asafetida in my tempering. We call this as Katti Perungayam. If you are using compound Asafetida and are looking to make this Pappu gluten-free, then check the ingredients in the Asafetida to make sure there s no gluten added to the compound Asafetida.

Asafetida is generally added to Dals to reduce gassiness and flatulence. It is called Perungayam in Tamil, Kaya Podi in Malayalam and Heeng in Hindi.

Variations

Traditionally, the typical Pappu has Toor dal, Dosakaya and some whole spices along with garlic. You can also make small tweaks to this dish and give it your own touch.

Add 1/2 cup finely chopped tomatoes along with the Dosakaya to make some Dosakaya Tomato Pappu.
Make this Pappu with Moong dal or Masoor Dal for a different texture and taste.
Skip the garlic for a Sattvic version of the same Pappu.
Add 1/2 cup finely chopped onions along with the garlic for a nice flavor.

Method

You can make this recipe in three different ways. I usually follow the first method but when I m pressed for time, I use the pressure cooker or Instant pot to cook this Dal.

Chopping the Dosakaya

To begin with, wash the Dosakaya. Chop into halves and peel the outer skin. Now scoop out the seeds and chop the cucumber into cubes. Set aside.

Wash the dal well and pressure cook with water and turmeric powder for 5 whistles. Allow the pressure to release naturally. When done, open and mash the dal well.

Heat a pan with ghee or oil. Add chopped garlic and green chilis. Fry till garlic begins to brown. Now add the finely chopped tomatoes and Dosakaya. Mix well. Cook till tomatoes turn mushy and Dosakaya becomes soft.

Now add the red chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Mix well and cook for 30 secs. Now, add the mashed toor dal, salt and mix well. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes on medium flame.

Heat another small pan with ghee or oil. Add the mustard seeds and when they pop, add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds. When the cumin seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry till wilted. Add the tempering to the dal and mix well..

Pressure cooker Pappu

Step 1

Wash the toor dal well and soak for 30 mins. Heat a pressure cooker and add the oil/ ghee. Add the mustard seeds and when they pop, add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds. When the cumin seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry till wilted.

Step 2

Now, add the garlic and green chilis. Fry till garlic begins to brown. Now, add the tomatoes and chopped Dosakaya. Mix well. Add the spice powders and stir to combine.

Step 3

Drain the soaked Toor dal and add this to the pressure cooker along with water and salt. Mix well. Pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles on medium heat. Wait for pressure to release naturally. When done, open and mash the dal well gently.

Serve hot.

Instant Pot Dosakaya Pappu

Setting and mode

Wash the toor dal well and soak for 30 mins. Insert the inner pot to the Instant pot. Plug in and turn on SAUTE mode on NORMAL for 8 mins. Wait for the display to read HOT.

Tempering

Add the oil or ghee. Next, add the mustard seeds and when they pop, add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds. When the cumin seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry till wilted. Now the garlic and green chilis. Fry till garlic begins to brown.

Adding the veggies

Now, add the tomatoes and chopped Dosakaya. Mix well. Add the spice powders and stir to combine. Drain the soaked Toor dal and add this to the inner pot along with 2 cups water and salt.

Cooking time and mode

Press CANCEL. Ensure that the sealing ring has been inserted properly into the lid. Close the IP. Turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer for 10 MINS. Allow the cooking cycle to complete. When cooking is complete, wait for natural pressure release.

When the pressure releases naturally, open the lid and gently mash the dal. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Mix well. Serve hot.

Explore More Dal Recipes

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5 from 1 vote

Andhra Dosakaya Pappu Recipe

A vegan and GF dal curry made with yellow cucumber, pigeon pea lentils and tomatoes. Tastes great with rice and roti

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time30

Course: Mains

Cuisine: Andhra

Servings:

Calories: 331kcal

Author: Anusha Praveen

Ingredients

3/4 cup Toor dal/ Pigeon Pea Lentils
2 cups water
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

For the Pappu

1.5 tbsp Oil
2 tbsp chopped garlic
3 fresh Green chilies slit lengthwise
1 cup peeled and chopped Dosakaya
1/2 cup finely chopped tomatoes
1 tsp Salt or to taste
1 tsp Red chili powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

For tempering

1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp Fenugreek seeds
1 sprig Curry leaves

For Garnish

2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

Instructions

Wash and chop the yellow cucumber into halves and peel the outer skin.
Now scoop out the seeds and chop the cucumber into cubes.
Set aside.
Wash the dal well and pressure cook with 2 cups water and turmeric powder for 5 whistles.
Allow the pressure to release naturally.
When done, open and mash the dal well.
Heat a pan with ghee or oil.
Add chopped garlic and green chilis.
Fry till garlic begins to brown.
Now add the finely chopped tomatoes and Dosakaya.
Mix well.
Cook till tomatoes turn mushy and Dosakaya becomes soft.
Now add the red chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder.
Mix well and cook for 30 secs. Now, add the mashed toor dal, salt and mix well.
Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes on medium flame.

Tempering

Heat another small pan with ghee or oil.
Add the mustard seeds and when they pop, add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds.
When the cumin seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry till wilted. Add the tempering to the dal and mix well..

Pressure cooker Pappu

Wash the toor dal well and soak for 30 mins.
Heat a 3 liter deep pressure cooker and add the oil.
Add the mustard seeds and when they pop, add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds.
When the cumin seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry till wilted.
Now the garlic and green chilis.
Fry till garlic begins to brown.
Now, add the tomatoes and chopped Dosakaya.
Mix well.
Add the spice powders and stir to combine.
Drain the soaked Toor dal and add this to the pressure cooker along with water and salt.
Mix well.
Pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles on medium heat.
Wait for pressure to release naturally.
When done, open and mash the dal well gently.
Serve hot.

Instant Pot Dosakaya Pappu

Wash the toor dal well and soak for 30 mins.
Insert the inner pot to the Instant pot.
Plug in and turn on SAUTE mode on NORMAL for 8 mins.
Wait for the display to read HOT.
Add the oil or ghee.
Next, add the mustard seeds and when they pop, add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds.
When the cumin seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry till wilted.
Now the garlic and green chilis.
Fry till garlic begins to brown.
Now, add the tomatoes and chopped Dosakaya.
Mix well. Add the spice powders and stir to combine.
Drain the soaked Toor dal and add this to the inner pot along with 2 cups water and salt.
Press CANCEL.
Ensure that the sealing ring has been inserted properly into the lid.
Close the IP.
Turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE- HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer for 10 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When cooking is complete, wait for natural pressure release.
When the pressure releases naturally, open the lid and gently mash the dal.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Mix well. Serve hot.

Notes

Nutrition facts and values are shared here out of courtesy and are just a rough guideline. Please consult a qualified nutrition expert for better understanding.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Beans Paruppu Usili

July 19, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Step by step guide with a detailed video for making Beans Paruppu Usili, a South Indian style green beans and lentil crumble stir fry. Usili is the lifeline of a fine Vatha Kuzhambu or Mor Kuzhambu. To get that complete Tambrahm experience, one must eat either of the Kuzhambus with some Usili.

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What is Paruppu Usili?

To put it in a nutshell, this is a stir fry made with veggies and a lentil mixture. We usually use veggies like beans, cluster beans (Kothavarangai), Capsicum, cabbage or Kovakkai ( Ivy Gourd).

While Kothavarangai Paruppu Usili is the more popular version, this recipe that uses French beans is equally delicious.

There are two ways to make this recipe. One is where we steam the lentil mixture and then cook it with veggies. The other is this easy no steam method. This does call for a little more oil than the traditional version but we love this Usili recipe because the lentil crumble becomes crunchy.

Variations

While I grew up eating Beans usili and Cabbage Usili, my MIL taught me that this naturally vegan and protein rich stir fry can be made with other veggies too.

Basically, by switching the main vegetable, you can have different varieties. You can make this easy curry with veggies like capsicum, broccoli, banana flower, purple cabbage, asparagus and Avarakkai too.

Another variation would be to use soaked chana dal in place of the Toor Dal. I often make the same curry with 1/4 cup Chana dal and 1/4 cup Toor dal.

Dal varieties in Tamil

If you are confused about the different names for lentils in Tamil and English, here is a quick guide.

Lentils	Hindi	Tamil
Split yellow peas	Chana dal	Kadalai Paruppu
Pigeon pea lentils	Toor dal	Thuvaram Paruppu
Red lentils	Masoor dal	Mysoor Paruppu
Moong lentils	Moong dal	Paasi Paruppu

Serving suggestions

I could probably write a thesis on Paruppu Usili combination. In a traditional Tamil household, this stir-fry is served with a Kuzhambu that does not have any dal.

Vatha Kuzhambu, Mor Kuzhambu and Kara Kuzhambu are top choices. You can also mix this curry with hot steamed rice and a dollop of ghee or a drizzle of coconut.My daughter carries this in her lunchbox and loves it to bits.

Method

Soaking and grinding dal for lentil crumble

Soak Toor dal (Toor Dal in Tamil is Thuvaram Paruppu) in enough water for 40 mins. Drain thoroughly. Combine with chilies, hing and salt and grind to a coarse paste without adding any water.

Par boiling the beans

Par boil the beans in a pan with salt and water or use the microwave to cook till fork tender. Drain and set aside.

How to make Usli?

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and once they pop, add urad dal and curry leaves. Add ground paste and keep mixing till all oil is absorbed and mixture becomes semi dry.

Once it does, keep mixing and stirring it to crumble it further. Once the mixture resembles a dry crumble, add the beans and mix well. Cook for two mins. Your Usili is now ready.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this Beans Usili? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

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Beans Paruppu Usili

Beans Paruppu Usili- an authentic tam brahm recipe with green beans and crumbled cooked lentils. Pairs well with vatha kuzhambu, mor kuzhambu and such.

Prep Time50

Cook Time20

Total Time1 10

Course: Sides

Cuisine: South Indian- Tam Brahm

Servings:

Author: Anusha Praveen

Ingredients

For the dal mixture

1/2 cup Toor dal
2 cups water
4 to 5 dry Red chilies
1.25 tsp Salt or to taste
1/4 tsp Hing perungayam 1tsp

For the beans

2.5 cups finely chopped green beans
1.5 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Urad dal
1 sprig Curry leaves

Instructions

Soaking the dal

Soak toor dal in 2 cups water for 40 mins to an hour.
Once done, drain thoroughly in a colander.

Grinding Dal mixture

Add dry red chilies, salt and hing to the dal.
Place in a blender and grind to a coarse paste without adding any water.

Cooking beans

Combine the beans and 4 cups water in a pan.
Cook the beans for 4 to 5 mins until fork tender but still crunchy.
Drain the cooked beans in a colander. Set aside.

Making Paruppu Usili

Heat oil in a pan.
Pop the mustard seeds and add urad dal and allow it to brown.
Add curry leaves next.
Now, add ground paste and mix well until the mixture becomes semi dry.
Once semi dry, begin to crumble the mixture using your ladle, while stirring in between.
Cook this mixture till it becomes fully crumbly. It should fall from the ladle freely. Takes anywhere between 5-7 mins.
Now, add beans and mix well.
Cook for a min or two.
Serve hot once done.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

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Instant Pot Mushroom Rice- Vegan

July 15, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

We all could do with more than one good weeknight dinner idea, right? This easy mushroom rice pilaf is one more dish to add to your weeknight menu. Quick and easy, this vegan and soy-free mushroom rice not only makes for a great dinner but also a delicious and filling lunch treat. Instant Pot mushroom rice is the perfect back to school lunchbox treat.

Come join us on Pinterest to find delicious pins.

I have a mushroom lover in the house. The mini loves all sorts of mushrooms and this rice is her absolute favorite. Since this recipe calls for minimal spices and relies largely on herbs for flavor, it is a kids’ delight in more ways than one.

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Ingredients

This recipe is a mushroom lovers’ delight. Packed with umami and loads of flavors from herbs, this simple dish uses minimal ingredients.

Rice

I have used fragrant Basmati rice to make this. Any long grain rice should work well. Chewy rice varieties like brown Basmati will also work but the cooking time will differ.

Broth

Using broth to cook rice dishes gives you the most flavorful outcome. Usually, I combine all vegetable scraps and make homemade vegetable broth. I used this homemade broth to make this dish. You can also use canned broth, vegetable stock or even bone broth if you are not looking for vegan options.

Oil

It is very common to cook mushrooms with butter. For a rich and creamy mushroom rice recipe, use butter. To keep this light, flavorful and vegan, you can use any neutral flavored vegetable oil. Avocado oil, canola oil or even blended vegetable oil works well.

Herbs

Since this recipe does not use any soy or soy based sauces, herbs are used in plenty for a delicious tasting rice. Chives and spring onions along with celery not only add flavor but also give a fried rice like taste to this dish.

Mushrooms

We love button mushrooms! Brown and white button mushrooms or even swiss brown mushrooms are perfect for this rice. Mushrooms tend to brown as they cook. When the rice cooks along with the mushrooms, it absorbs its color and flavor. The end result is a umami packed rice dish. Shiitake, Shimeji and oyster mushrooms are also great choices.

Quick version with leftover rice

During the months of October and November when the nip in the air just begins, we begin craving for something warm and comforting during dinner. This one pot mushroom rice becomes perfect for those kind of nights. But what if you are in a pinch? or what if you have a box of leftover rice from last night staring at you from the counter? Or you are just looking for some recipes with mushroom and rice.

Then you can make this recipe using leftover rice too. Heat a pan with oil. Add the garlic and fry till light golden. Immediately, tip in the onions and spring onion whites. Mix and cook over medium heat till onions are pink and soft

Now, add 250 g chopped mushrooms, chives, celery, crushed pepper, salt and mix well. Wait for the mushrooms to wilt fully. When wilted, add 1 tbsp sriracha sauce and 1 tbsp soy sauce. Mix well. Add 2 tsp rice vinegar. Tip in 2 cups leftover cooked rice and stir to combine.

Garnish with finely chopped celery and spring onion greens. Serve hot. This version is like the Asian inspired or chinese mushroom rice.

How to serve?

Serve it with some warm soup and a light salad for a complete meal.
Add some grilled chicken or roasted veggies and a dip like chimichurri by the side for a wholesome lunch meal.
Make it cheesy– Transfer the rice to an oven safe bowl. Top this with 3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend or shredded cheddar. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for 4 mins or until cheese is melted. Dig in! There you have it – a quick mushroom rice bake. You can even think of this like a shortcut mushroom rice casserole.
Stuff this rice into sweet peppers, top with shredded cheese and bake in a preheated oven at 180 C until peppers are roasted. Takes roughly 6 to 7 mins.
If you want an Italian mushroom rice, then replace the herbs with dried oregano and basil. You can also use mixed dried herbs. Since dried herbs are more potent than fresh ones, 1.5 tsp mixed dried Italian herbs will be perfect here.

Method

Washing and soaking the rice

Place the basmati in a colander and wash under running water till water runs clear. Transfer this to a bowl and add 3 cups water. Let it soak for 15 mins. While the rice soaks, get the chopping done.

How to make mushroom rice in Instant Pot?

Insert the stainless steel inner pot into the Instant Pot. Turn on Saute mode on Normal for 8 mins. Add oil and when it is heated up, add grated garlic. Saute the garlic for 20 to 30 secs. Now, add finely chopped onions and spring onion whites.

Mix well and cook till onions turn pink and soft. If you are using low sodium broth, please add salt at this stage. Add chives and celery. Mix well.

Now, add the sliced mushrooms and pepper. Stir to combine and cook till mushrooms wilt.

Drain the soaked rice in a colander. Add soaked rice and 1.25 cups vegetable broth to the mushroom mixture. Stir well to combine. Add spring onion greens and mix well.

Instant Pot mushroom rice cooking time and mode

Press CANCEL. Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the IP and turn the valve to SEALING.

Now, turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE -HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 3 minutes. Allow the cooking cycle to complete. When done, allow Natural Pressure release for 6 mins. After pressure releases naturally for 6 mins, do a quick pressure release by turning the valve to VENTING.

When the pin drops, open the lid and fluff the rice gently. Garnish with finely chopped chives and spring onions. That is it. Our easy mushroom rice is ready to enjoyed hot.

Mushrooms and rice are simply great together. The mushroom biryani is a great mushroom rice recipe, Indian style.

Recipe Notes

This is not a very spicy recipe. Since I make it for my little one most of the time, I go very light on the spice. You can add more freshly cracked black pepper or even white pepper for a spicy mushroom rice. Increase the spice level especially if you are going to add cheese.
While I have used vegetable broth, you can also use chicken broth. You can also use vegetable stock. This is what gives all the flavors to this dish. So I will not recommend making this rice with water.

Explore More Lunchbox Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this Instant Pot Mushroom Rice? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

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Instant Pot Mushroom Rice

Quick, easy and vegan mushroom rice made in the Instant pot makes for a delicious weeknight dinner.

Prep Time10

Cook Time11

Resting time21

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: International

Servings:

Calories: 347kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

For soaking the rice

1 cup basmati rice
3 cups water

For the mushroom rice

1.5 tbsp neutral flavored vegetable oil
3 tsp grated garlic
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 tbsp chopped spring onion whites
5 fresh chives chopped roughly
2 tbsp finely chopped celery leaves
300 grams sliced mushrooms
1.5 tsp freshly cracked pepper
1 tsp Salt or to taste
1.25 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup finely chopped spring onion greens

For garnish

3 fresh chives roughly chopped
2 tbsp chopped spring onion greens

Instructions

Washing and soaking the rice

Place the basmati in a colander and wash under running water till water runs clear.
Transfer this to a bowl and add 3 cups water.
Let it soak for 15 mins.
While the rice soaks, get the chopping done.

Sauteeing

Insert the stainless steel inner pot into the Instant Pot.
Turn on Saute mode on Normal for 8 mins.
Add oil and when it is heated up, add grated garlic.
Saute the garlic for 20 to 30 secs.
Now, add finely chopped onions and spring onion whites.
Mix well and cook till onions turn pink and soft.
If you are using low sodium broth, please add salt at this stage.
Add chives and celery.
Mix well.
Now, add the sliced mushrooms and pepper.
Stir to combine and cook till mushrooms wilt.
Drain the soaked rice in a colander.
Add soaked rice and 1.25 cups vegetable broth to the mushroom mixture.
Stir well to combine.
Add spring onion greens and mix well.

Instant Pot mushroom rice cooking time and mode

Press CANCEL.
Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid.
Close the IP and turn the valve to SEALING.
Now, turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE -HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 3 minutes.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When done, allow Natural Pressure release for 6 mins.
After pressure releases naturally for 6 mins, do a quick pressure release by turning the valve to VENTING.
When the pin drops, open the lid and fluff the rice gently.
Garnish with finely chopped chives and spring onions.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Barley Lemonade with Orange & Ginger

July 12, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Stepping out in the hot sun? Don’t forget to grab some barley lemonade! Say hello to our favorite drink which lives forever in our fridge. Barley lemonade is a nutrient dense drink which is just what you need on a scorching day.

Barley lemon water or lemon barley is probably the most sipped drink in Singapore after iced tea. Available in almost all hawker stalls and even in tetra packs in most stores, this popular drink is an integral part of our lives. My mom told me recently that packaged barley water has become common in India too.

But here is the plot twist. While everyone living in Singapore sips on this healthy drink happily, I simply cannot stand the smell of barley water. Which is exactly why I resort to ideas such as making lemonade with orange, ginger & other aromatics. Everyone at home loves this and my little one calls this barley juice.

We all know that barley is widely used in brewing beer. My love for barley grew after coming to Singapore because it is here that I learned its nutritional benefits too. I was stumped to know that there is even a barley tea when I moved here newly.

For the uninitiated, barley is rich in fiber and vitamin B1. It is a great cereal to eat if you are looking to bring down your cholesterol levels.

This post includes three recipes- recipe for barley water, lemon barley drink recipe and the lemonade with orange and ginger. Use the table of contents below to easily navigate through the post.

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What is barley water?

Before we get on to making that lemonade, let us delve deep into the concept of barley water. This is nothing but the water that is drained from cooked pearl barley. The reserved water from the cooked barley is naturally diuretic. Not only this, it also helps regulate blood sugar and helps in treating urinary tract infections.

How to make barley water?

Barley water preparation is a very simple and easy process. You can use the cooked barley to make this delicious barley salad.

To prepare barley water, follow the steps mentioned in how to cook pearl barley post. Once the barley has cooked, strain the cooked barley through a colander and collect the water. This is our barley water. Some people wait for the starch to settle down and then collect just the water. I do not do this. You can do this if you wish to.

I use my instant pot to cook barley since it is very convenient and less time-consuming. This is how plain barley water looks like.

If you are making barley water for the purpose of making this lemonade or lemon barley, skip adding the coconut oil while cooking pearl barley.

How to make lemon barley?

Once you have the water collected, making lemon barley is as easy as pie. Allow the water to cool down completely. When cool, just add a squeeze of lemon and some mint leaves to the collected water. Stir well. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or serve over ice cubes.

I usually make a big batch of barley water in my instant pot. Then, I add the lemon to it, mix well and pour it into bottles. I keep these bottles chilled so that anyone can grab one when they are thirsty. On hot days, I send a bottle as a part of my H’s lunch.

This is our usual lemon barley bottle. Think of this as a lemon barley cordial or lemon barley squash base. I love experimenting with this basic recipe and this lemonade is a result of one such experiments.

Benefits of Barley water

Making barley water has become a routine for me. It is so easy to prepare and very good in terms of nutrition. Barley water uses are also many.

Barley water is a natural diuretic. Are you wondering what a diuretic is? Diuretics remove excess water from the body and are usually prescribed for people with high blood pressure. One of the most common reasons why preganant women experience feet swelling is due to high blood pressure. So barley water is commonly prescribed to pregnant women since it is a natural diuretic.
It helps regulating blood sugar and is great for people with diabetes.
Some people also believe that drinking barley water regularly aids weight loss. If you want to know how to make barley water for weight loss, the process is the same as mentioned in the recipe card. Just skip the oil while cooking the barley.
This is also a natural coolant that is free from any refined sugar and other preservatives.

Method

The first step in this recipe is the barley water preparation. To do this, we have to cook the pearl barley till tender and chewy and then filter the water. Here is the detailed procedure-

Place the barley in a colander and wash it well. To the inner insert of your Instant pot, add the washed barley and water along with 1 tsp salt. Mix well. Ensure that the sealing ring is in its correct place in the lid. Close the IP with the lid. Turn the valve to SEALING. Now switch on the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH FOR 15 MINS.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete. When the cooking cycle is complete, do a natural pressure release for 15 mins. After 15 mins, quick-release pressure by turning the valve to venting. When done, strain the cooked pearl barley in a colander and reserve the water that you just drained.

Cooking barley in an open pan

Wash the pearl barley well. Combine the washed pearl barley, 5 cups water, 2 tsp salt and 2 tsp cold pressed coconut oil. Bring the water to a boil and continue to simmer for 40 to 50 mins or until the barley has cooked. To check if it has cooked, take a few grains of barley using a slotted spoon. Press them and if they are soft, then they are cooked.

When done, drain the cooked grains in a colander and reserve the water.

This is our homemade barley water.

Allow this water to cool completely.

Making the lemonade

In a bowl, combine the barley water, orange juice, lemon juice, maple syrup and lemon grass along with grated ginger. Mix well. Chill for 3 to 4 hours.

Chilling not only makes this a refreshing drink but also helps infuse the flavors better. The longer the lemonade sits in the fridge, the better the flavors.

When chill, serve in tall glasses with a lemon wedge by the side. You can also add some mint leaves for garnish.

Variations

You can use other sweeteners like honey, organic coconut sugar or agave instead of maple syrup in this recipe.
Skip the orange juice and just serve this lemon juice and other aromatics.
You can also add other herbs like lemon balm, mint or sweet basil to this lemonade.

Explore More Lemonade Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this barley drink? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

barley lemonade with orange and ginger served in a wooden platter. Lemon wedges, orange halves and lemon grass with a knob of ginger by the side.

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Barley lemonade with orange & ginger

Refreshing and healthy summer drink with barley water, oranges and ginger.

Prep Time10

Cook Time40

Chilling Time3

Course: Beverage

Cuisine: Fusion, International

Servings: tall glasses

Calories: 763kcal

Ingredients

For cooking the barley

½ c Pearl barley
1 tsp Salt
3 c Water

For the lemonade

600 ml barley water
300 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp maple syrup
4 to 5 small pieces roughly chopped lemon grass
2 tsp grated ginger

Instructions

Cooking pearl barley in Instant Pot

Place the barley in a colander and wash it well.
To the inner insert of your Instant pot, add the washed barley and water along with 1 tsp salt.
Mix well. Ensure that the sealing ring is in its correct place in the lid. Close the IP with the lid.
Turn the valve to SEALING. Now switch on the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH FOR 15 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When the cooking cycle is complete, do a natural pressure release for 15 mins.
After 15 mins, quick-release pressure by turning the valve to venting.
When done, strain the cooked pearl barley in a colander and reserve the water that you just drained.

Cooking barley in an open pan

Wash the pearl barley well.
Combine the washed pearl barley, 5 cups water and 2 tsp salt.
Bring the water to a boil and continue to simmer for 40 to 50 mins or until the barley has cooked.
To check if it has cooked, take a few grains of barley using a slotted spoon.
Press them and if they are soft, then they are cooked.
When done, drain the cooked grains in a colander and reserve the water.
This is our homemade barley water.
Allow this water to cool completely.

Making the lemonade

In a bowl, combine the barley water, orange juice, lemon juice, maple syrup and lemon grass along with grated ginger.
Mix well.
Chill for 3 to 4 hours. Serve cold.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Avocado Lassi- Avocado yogurt smoothie

July 9, 2021 By Anusha 2 Comments

Avocado Lassi is a delicious Indian style yogurt drink. Think of this Lassi like a avocado yogurt smoothie but only better because it tastes like dessert. And who can resist dessert for breakfast, right?

Come join us on Pinterest to find delicious pins.

This Indian style avocado Lassi is a revelation of kinds to me. While I have always added avocados to smoothies, it had never stuck my mind to make lassi with avocado previously. Well, i guess there is a first time for everything. During my college days, I used to have avocado juice or butter fruit juice from a nearby juicing stall. I can say this Lassi is inspired by that.

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An avocado is a powerhouse of nutrition, especially for kids and youngsters. We call avocado “butter fruit” in Bangalore, probably because of its texture. This fruit lends body to any dish to which it is added without changing the taste significantly. It is for this reason that I like to use avocado in my smoothie bowls and smoothies.

Avocado Mint Lassi

Like I mentioned before, avocado by itself lacks any taste or flavor. So in order to give this lassi a good flavor boost, I added some mint leaves and a splash of orange blossom water along with lemon juice. And I must say the combination was fantastic.

Just a word of caution though- a very small amount of orange blossom water goes a long way so do not add more of it than the recipe calls for. I used homemade yogurt to make this lassi.

Vegan Lassi

This is a naturally gluten free recipe and you can easily make this recipe vegan. Use cashew yogurt and cashew milk in place of the regular Dairy milk and yogurt for a vegan lassi.

Ingredients

Avocado

Use any ripe avocado for this drink. My favorite avocados are the Hass avocados. I love the fact that this Indian style avocado juice recipe does not feature any bananas. These days, I m looking for banana free smoothies and this is just perfect.

Yogurt

This is a very forgiving recipe. You can use greek yogurt, low-fat greek yogurt, just plain yogurt or even low fat yogurt to make this. The more the fat your yogurt has, thicker and creamier the Lassi.

Milk

Traditional Indian style lassi recipes dont rely on milk. This is because there usually is no fruit added, with the exception of mangoes. Mango lassi is a wildly popular version of Lassi. However, this recipe calls for milk. We will be adding milk to adjust the consistency of this drink. Both regular milk and low-fat milk work well.

Aromatics

My latest love is orange blossom water. I love adding it to smoothies, juices, lemonades and even to my Biryani and Pulao. It goes without saying that I add it to my desserts and adding some to this Lassi was a no-brainer. Orange blossom water has a mild but beautiful flavor.

Fresh mint again adds freshness to this drink. If you are not a fan of mint, add sweet basil or sage! Not traditional for a lassi but both are amazing in terms of flavors.

Sweeteners

Since I was aiming to give a fusion spin to a traditional drink, I stuck to adding sugar. Other sweeteners that you can consider include honey, maple syrup, agave and coconut sugar.

Make ahead- Shelf life

If you plan to serve this Lassi for a party, then you can make this the previous day and keep it refrigerated. This keeps well in the fridge for two days.

Ways to serve

If there is one thing that I love doing, it is experimenting how to serve one dish in many ways. This easy avocado yogurt smoothie is a delight in that sense.

In a smoothie bowl

Use this creamy lassi as the base for your smoothie bowl. Make it a breakfast treat by topping it with fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, granola and a scoop of your favorite nut butter.

As a layered dessert

Skip the milk in this lassi and blend it to a thick drink. Make a biscuit base by combining crushed digestive biscuits and butter. Press this biscuit mixture at the bottom of a glass jar like how you would for a no bake cheesecake. Add chopped mangoes or berries over the biscuit layer. Add the lassi over the fruits. And you have a beautiful layered dessert ready.

Dessert shots

This creamy Lassi is dense and heavy. You can serve this silky, smooth Lassi in shot glasses as dessert. Top them with crushed pistachios or other nuts like almonds and cashews. And serve chilled.

Variations

Add some cubed mangoes along with the avocado to make some avocado mango lassi. Lip smacking good!
If you are not a fan of mint, I suggest adding just cardamom and a splash of rose water. This tastes just as delicious too.
Since avocado itself is rich in fats, try not to add greek yogurt. Instead, choose low fat greek yogurt which is great for making this Lassi creamier.
Make it savory. Yes, this recipe is a sweet lassi recipe. But you can make a savoury lassi by blending avocado, yogurt, 1/2 cup water, mint, green chilies and salt along with lemon juice. Blend till smooth and the savory version is ready.

Recipe Notes

This recipe is a great way to use up that over-ripe avocado, you know, the ones that have a patch of brown or two? But try to avoid fully discolored avocados. When choosing avocados, make sure they are ripe. They should feel squishy when you press them gently with your palms and should look greenish brown.
If you are wary about the sugar added, you can always use maple syrup, agave or coconut sugar. Adding coconut sugar will change the color of the Lassi but taste will remain the same.
Feel free to replace the orange blossom water with vanilla or rose water

Method

Pit the avocado and scoop the flesh out. Place the avocado, yogurt, 1/2 the milk along with the other ingredients in a blender. Blend till the lassi looks creamy and evenly blended . If you find the lassi too thick, add the remaining milk and blend again to adjust the consistency.

Serve chilled or over ice.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Avocado lassi recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

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4 from 1 vote

Avocado Lassi Recipe

Avocado Lassi – a creamy yogurt based drink made with fresh homemade yogurt and avocados. Makes a great breakfast drink or even works well as a dessert

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Beverage

Cuisine: Fusion

Servings:

Author: Anusha Praveen

Ingredients

Avocado 1 largish pitted
Mint leaves 5
Orange blossom water 1 tsp
Lemon juice 1 tbsp
Sugar 4 tbsp
Fresh homemade yogurt 3/4 c
Chilled milk 1/4 c

Instructions

In a blender place all the ingredients and blend till smooth.
Serve cold over ice cubes if desired.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore more breakfast smoothies

Avocado Green Goddess Dressing

July 7, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Meet our family’s current favorite sauce- The avocado green goddess dressing. This easy homemade avocado green goddess sauce comes together in less than 10 minutes and tastes good on everything. We love this fresh and herby sauce so much that we eat it with fries and even our airfryer cauliflower.

Where I live, avocados cost an arm and a leg. My market visits are always punctuated with episodes of me hunting for good deals on stuff like avocado and salad greens. During one such visit, I hit an avocado jackpot and bought 8 for a princely sum of 9$. But, one can eat only so much avocado toast, right?

And that is when I whipped up this creamy vegan sauce with avocados and fresh herbs plucked right from my little balcony garden. There is a supreme sense of satisfaction

Use the table to contents to navigate through this post easily. Head to the recipe card at the end of this post for a printable detailed list of ingredients and directions.

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What is green goddess dressing?

A green goddess dressing is a creamy sauce that uses Mayo or sour cream, garlic and a combination of herbs. The original green goddess dressing recipe is a classic that has its origins in California and uses anchovy paste as well. You can find this is most stores.

The Costco culinary treasures Avocado green goddess dressing and the Trader Joe’s versions are quite popular. I can even say that my recipe is inspired by Trader Joe’s green goddess sauce but only better because anything homemade is better, ain’t it?

Let us not forget avocados that are nutrient dense and is a treasure of healthy fats.

This healthy green goddess sauce recipe is free from oil, preservatives, added salt and sugar. We will also be reaping the benefits of avocado, so who needs Mayo anyway?

Green Goddess Dressing-Ingredients

You can think of this sauce as an easy avocado salad dressing. Add it to all your summer salads for the creamiest salad experience. Yep. That is a thing.

Avocado

The star of this sauce recipe is the avocado. We are looking for those firm, green and just ripe ones. While buying avocados, look for those that have a slightly greenish brown skin, feels squishy when pressed with your palms. Avoid those with wrinkly brown stalks.

Herbs

I love herbs. Period. Let me be honest. I buy way more herbs than I can consume in a few days time. And this sauce is a definitely testimony to that. Light and yet creamy, this recipe uses a combination of herbs like basil and mint. Dried herbs wont work in this recipe, though.

If I have to name the four must herbs here, it would be basil,chives, mint and cilantro. You can also add finely chopped dill at the end for some texture and more flavors. No matter what your choice of herbs are, I m sure this avocado dressing will be repeated in your menus.

No oil salad dressing

Yes,you heard me right. There is no oil in this recipe. Win-win, right? Avocado gives all the fat and creaminess we need.

Vegan green goddess sauce

Make this healthy green goddess sauce vegan in a pinch. While this recipe calls for low fat greek yogurt, I have tried making this with cashew yogurt and coconut yogurt too. Both gave me the same results. The cashew yogurt version is more loved at home than the coconut yogurt one. But you can use either for a vegan green goddess dressing.

Ways to use this sauce

Serve this easy homemade avocado dressing in all your summer salads. Add it to some cooked barley and veggies and make avocado barley salad. Or try a fresh and crunchy garden salad with this light and flavorful green dressing. Pasta salads, potato salad and shrimp salads are all best friends with this dressing.
Drizzle some of this avocado green sauce over your tacos or falafels.
Break out the chip and dip platter. Cut some veggies, make a crudites platter and feature this greek goddess sauce as a dip.
Make this your next sandwich spread. Yes. Some cukes, grated beets and or mashed chickpeas and this sauce make a mean sammich. Better yet, use this dressing in our guacamole dressing recipe based sandwich.
Add it generously to your grain bowls, Buddha bowls or even over your noodle bowls.
Last but not the least, take my daughter’s cue and lick this sauce away by the spoon. Or by the finger. Really, does it matter?

Variations

Switch up the combination of herbs for a different flavored sauce every time. The base ingredients are avocado and yogurt. Introduce new herbs like dill, green onion scapes or tarragon. Or leave one of the herbs out.
Stir in some Tahini or nut butter while blending for a nutty green goddess sauce. But adding Tahini or any other nut butter means that the recipe is no longer oil-free.
You can also add 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil to this sauce while adding the yogurt. This improves the flavor of the sauce. Since I wanted an oil-free dressing, I skipped the olive oil.
Like I mentioned before, use plain vegan yogurt or nut yogurt for a vegan dressing.
To make our homemade avocado dressing based salads more interesting, sprinkle some cajun seasoning or chili-lime salt over your salad.
You can also use Poblano peppers or jalapenos in place of serrano peppers. Please note that using Indian green chilis add more heat. So use with caution.

Recipe Notes

This healthy greek yogurt avocado dressing keeps well for upto 1 week in the fridge. To store this, use a sterilised canning jar.
Use a food processor to blend the ingredients. This gives you the smoothest, creamiest sauce.
I have used low fat greek yogurt. You can use plain yogurt or regular greek yogurt too.
Always keep the dressing refrigerated when not in use. Since this recipe uses yogurt, it tends to become sour when left out at room temperature.
I will not recommend freezing this since the thawed sauce becomes watery and not as creamy as the freshly made sauce.

Method

Assemble all the ingredients and keep them handy before you begin.

Cut open and pit the avocado. Scoop the flesh out.

To a food processor, add the herbs and avocado along with lemon juice, salt and green chilis.

Now, blend to a coarse paste. Use the pulse option to do this easily. When done, add the yogurt and blend again to a really smooth paste.

That is it. Our avocado green goddess dressing is ready. Transfer to a clean sterilised canning jar until ready to use.

More Avocado Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this avocado green goddess dressing? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

avocado green goddess dressing sauce served in a creamer placed on a chopping board with cut veggies.

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Avocado Green Goddess Dressing

Fresh and flavorful dressing with avocado and herbs. This creamy green goddess dressing is a no-oil recipe that tastes amazing when served as a dip or drizzled over salads and rice bowls.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Accompaniments, Condiments

Cuisine: American, International

Servings: cups

Calories: 357kcal

Equipment

food processor

Ingredients

1 medium Avocado
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp finely chopped chives
3 tbsp finely chopped parsley
10 fresh sweet basil leaves
12 fresh mint leaves
1.5 tsp garlic powder
1 serrano pepper
1.25 tsp Kosher salt
1 tsp freshly cracked pepper
1 cup low fat greek yogurt

Instructions

Assemble all the ingredients and keep them handy before you begin.
Cut open and pit the avocado. Scoop the flesh out.
To a food processor, add the herbs and avocado along with lemon juice, salt and serrano pepper.
Now, blend to a coarse paste. Use the pulse option to do this easily.
When done, add the yogurt and blend again to a really smooth paste.
Our avocado green goddess dressing is ready.
Transfer to a clean sterilised canning jar until ready to use.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore sauces and dressings

Lemon Rasam- South Indian Rasam Recipes

July 7, 2021 By Anusha 3 Comments

Lemon Rasam is a light and comforting South Indian style broth. This easy and delicious soup tastes heavenly with hot steamed rice and some Poriyal by the side. Made with lentils, whole spices and fresh lemons, this is a Rasam without Rasam powder.

Come join us on Pinterest to find delicious pins.

We call this Nimmakaya Chaaru in Telugu, elumbichai Rasam in Tamil and lemon Saaru in Kannada. This Rasam, when mixed with hot steamed rice or cooked millet is nothing short of heaven.

I always make it a point to make some of this tangy soup style Rasam after binge eating all the Diwali sweets or a heavy meal that featured paneer recipes or rich desserts. Since this has pepper, cumin and ginger, it is a great digestive aid.

Making lemon Rasam is easy since it calls for no Rasam powder. This makes it the perfect beginners’ recipe. Like my North Indian friend tells, Nimbu Rasam is the best recipe to start learning how to cook South Indian recipes.

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Ingredients

What I love most about this Rasam is that it not only makes for a great accompaniment to rice but also doubles up as a light soup. If you make lemon rasam without dal, you can even serve this as a light appetiser along with some Podi Idlis.

The main ingredients in this are all Indian pantry staples and include tomatoes and toor dal. Please check out the printable recipe card for detailed ingredients list and instructions.

Lemon Rasam without Tomato

Some people do not add tomatoes to this Rasam. If you are not a fan of tomatoes, skip them and make this Rasam with just the dal water and other ingredients. Make sure to add some roughly chopped garlic in the tempering and use 1 tbsp more lemon juice if you are making this no tomato version.

Ginger Lemon Rasam Benefits

This is a great digestive aid. This rasam should be your go-to recipe on days when you are bloated or have an upset tummy.
Since this has lemon, ginger and lemon, I enjoy it when I m nursing a cold.

Variations

Add some lemon grass and mint to your Rasam to add more flavors and depth. Lemon grass enhances the lemon flavors and mint brings a refreshing taste.
Use Moong dal instead of Toor dal. When we make lemon rasam with moong dal, it tastes similar to the Andhra style lemon dal. In this version, you can skip the tomatoes completely.

How to serve lemon Rasam?

Serve this tangy broth warm with steamed rice. Or feature this as one of your party appetisers and serve with some crispy Heerekai Bajjis.

To make this more interesting, use it along with Pani Puris and make it lemon rasam shots. When you plan to serve a full South Indian style lunch platter, include this lemony rasam in the menu.

Lemon Rasam is great on a cold wintery night or on a hot summer day. To make it a nourishing meal, pair this with a spicy potato fry or a simple Beet thoran

Method

Cooking toor dal

Pressure cook the toor dal along with 2 cups water and a large pinch turmeric powder( 1/2 tsp roughly) until mushy. Once done, drain the water completely and preserve. Mash the dal well.

To the reserved water, add the green chili, turmeric powder, hing, grated ginger, tomato and salt. Allow this to simmer on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the mashed dal and mix well.

Simmering

After adding the dal, let the mixture simmer until frothy at the surface. When done, allow the Rasam to cool down a bit.

Tempering

Once cool, heat ghee in a pan and pop the mustard. Add the cumin seeds and crushed black pepper now and wait for it to crackle. As soon as the spices crackle, our tempering is ready. Add the tempering to the prepared rasam.

Garnishing

Finally, squeeze lemon juice into the rasam and mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves and curry leaves.

Recipe Notes

If you add the lemon juice before the rasam cools down, it will turn bitter.
You can skip the ghee and temper with oil for a vegan version.
If you dont like the after taste of pepper, you can skip that too and let the green chili flavor shine through.
Never reheat this rasam. It will become bitter since we add lemon juice.

More Rasam Varieties

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried this quick and easy South Indian lemon Rasam? We value your thoughts and comments! Please leave a recipe rating and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

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5 from 1 vote

Lemon Rasam

A light and flavorsome South Indian style soup with lentils, lemons and spices.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian- South, South Indian, South Indian Tambrahm

Servings:

Calories: 46kcal

Ingredients

2 tbsp Toor dal

3/4 c water
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
3 Green chilies slit lengthwise
1/2 cup finely chopped Tomato
2 tsp grated ginger
3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1.25 tsp Salt or to taste

Tempering

1 tsp ghee or oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp crushed black pepper

Garnish

1 tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves

Instructions

Cooking toor dal

Pressure cook the toor dal along with 1 green chili, 2 cups of water and turmeric until mushy.
Once done, drain the water completely and preserve.
Mash the dal well.
To the reserved water, add the green chili, turmeric powder, hing, grated ginger, tomato and salt.
Allow this to simmer on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the mashed dal and mix well.

Simmering

After adding the dal, let the mixture simmer until frothy at the surface.
When done, allow the Rasam to cool down a bit.

Tempering

Once cool, heat ghee in a pan and pop the mustard.
Add the cumin seeds and crushed black pepper now and wait for it to crackle.
As soon as the spices crackle, our tempering is ready.
Add the tempering to the prepared rasam.

Garnishing

Finally, squeeze the juice of the lemons into the rasam and mix well.
Garnish with coriander leaves and curry leaves.

Notes

If you add the lemon juice before the rasam cools down, it will turn bitter.
You can skip the ghee and temper with oil for a vegan version.
If you dont like the after taste of pepper, you can skip that too and let the green chili flavor shine through.
Never reheat this rasam. It will become bitter since we add lemon juice.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

More South Indian Recipes

If you love Rasam, check out our Rasam powder recipe that also has a detailed video. For more South Indian lunch menu recipes, explore these-

Arachuvitta Sambar

Pudina Rasam

Broccoli Kootu

Potato fry

Keerai Kootu (Spinach Moong Dal Gravy)

July 3, 2021 By Anusha 5 Comments

Step by step guide to make Keerai Kootu two ways; using the Instant pot and on stovetop. Also referred to as Keerai Molagootal, this is a South Indian dish with spinach, lentils and coconut. This is a naturally vegan recipe and easily transforms into a bowl of comfort food when mixed with hot rice and coconut oil or ghee.

While there is really nothing fancy about this, I love spinach and this recipe provides me comfort on gloomy days. I won’t be exaggerating if I tell that this is my favorite amongst all South Indian spinach recipes. In fact any variety of greens are always welcome in my pantry and I make it a point to buy some every week.

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What is Kootu?

Kootu in the South Indian cuisine refers to any gravy or curry that has a vegetable, some lentils and a coconut based spice paste. So, we can call this as Paruppu Keerai or Keerai Paruppu too. Keerai in Tamil means leafy greens and Paruppu means lentils.

As a thumb rule, most Kootus are made with Moong dal but there are variations in they make this recipe with Toor dal too.

My MIL makes one such version which also uses Tamarind but I like to think of it as Keerai Kulambu. Because for me Kootu always is synonymous to Moong Dal and coconut.

This Palak Kootu uses fresh green spinach. Both regular Indian spinach and baby spinach work well here. Spinach is called Palak Keerai in Tamil. Malabar Spinach is called Pasalai Keerai or Kodi Pasalai in Tamil.

No Dal & Coconut versions

Interestingly enough, we can make Kootu with certain varieties of Keerai without using dal. For instance, we do not use any dal to make Murungaikeerai Kootu ( Moringa Leaves kootu).

Similarly, we can make kootu without coconut too. Manathakali Keerai and Ponangani Keerai can be cooked into a Kootu without using coconut.

Ingredients for Keerai Molagootal

We call this as Keerai Molagootal in TamBrahm households. This is a no onion-no garlic recipe and is ideal for days when you fast. Pair this with Chapatis and you will have a lovely, wholesome meal.

Spinach or any leafy greens

We can use regular Indian spinach, baby spinach or any leafy greens to make Kootu. Ara Keerai, Ponanganni Keerai, Manathakkali Keerai, Kodi Pasalai, Vendhaya Keerai, Paruppu Keerai and Siru Keerai are the most commonly used variety of greens to make Kootu.

Lentils

Almost always, the traditional kootu recipe calls for using moong dal. But you can always use toor dal or Masoor dal to make things more interesting. Some people use Chana Dal, ie. Kadala paruppu too.

Coconut

Fresh grated coconut is the essence of any kootu. You can also use frozen grated coconut after thawing it.

Whole spices

There are no ground spices like Sambar powder in this recipe. Instead, we use black pepper corns, cumin seeds and dry red chilis to make the spice paste.

Some people add Urad Dal too. They roast Urad Dal in a tsp of oil until it turns golden and add it to the other ingredients and grind the spice paste.

Oil

This is a minimal oil recipe. And coconut oil gives the best tasting kootu. I highly recommend using cold-pressed coconut oil. This is a game changer when it comes to this recipe.

Watch the video here

Variations

To make Instant pot Indian kale kootu, use Kale instead of spinach and follow the same steps. In fact, Kale works really well here. You can make Kale pressure cooker kootu too. It will be very similar to Kale dal.

If you want to try Indian recipes with Kale, this is a great way to start. Cooking kale in a pressure cooker is also easy.

Simply combine the moong lentils and kale and cook them together and proceed with the remaining instructions for making pressure cooker Kootu.

Method

Coconut Paste

Combine the fresh grated coconut, dry red chillis, cumin seeds, pepper corns and 1/2 cup water in a blender jar. Blend this to a smooth paste. Set aside.

Instant Pot Method

How to cook Moong dal in Instant pot?

Add the moong dal in a colander. Wash well. Transfer this to a stainless steel pot and add water and turmeric.

Insert the inner pot into your Instant Pot. Add 2 cups water to the inner pot and place a tall trivet over this.

Now, place the moong dal vessel over this. Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the IP lid.

Close the Instant pot and turn the valve to SEALING.

Switch on the Instant pot. Turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE- HIGH PRESSURE- 14 MINS on the TIMER.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete. Wait for natural pressure release.

Once the pressure has release naturally, press CANCEL, switch off the Instant Pot and open the lid. Mash the cooked dal with a ladle and set aside.

How to cook Keerai in Instant Pot?

Empty the water from the inner pot and wipe it dry. Now, insert the inner pot into the IP. Switch on the Instant Pot.

Press SAUTE MODE- NORMAL- 9 MINS. Wait for the display to read HOT. When ready, add the coconut oil.

Add the mustard seeds and once they splutter, add the cumin seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.

When the dal begins to brown, add 5 cups finely chopped spinach and mix well.

Adding spinach

Cook this till the leaves begin to wilt. As the leaves wilt, their volume will reduce. This takes 2 to 3 mins in Saute mode.

When the leaves have wilted, add the cooked dal and the coconut paste. Mix well. Add 3/4 tsp turmeric powder and salt to taste. Stir to combine.

Simmer this mixture for 3 to 4 mins, stirring often to prevent burning. Once done, press CANCEL and transfer the cooked kootu to a bowl.

Serve hot with rice, Vatha Kuzhambu and potato curry.

Pressure cooker Keerai Kootu

Add the moong dal in a colander. Wash well. To a 3 l deep pressure cooker or pressure pan, add the washed moong dal, water and turmeric powder. Mix well. Close the cooker with lid, put the weight on.

Pressure cook the dal on medium flame for 5 whistles. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.

Once pressure releases, open the lid, mash the dal well. Transfer the dal to a bowl and rinse and wipe the cooker dry.

Heat the pressure cooker with the coconut oil. When the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and wait for them to splutter.

Now, add the cumin seeds and urad dal along with the curry leaves. When the urad dal turns golden brown, add the chopped spinach and mix well.

Simmering

Saute the chopped spinach for a few minutes until they wilt. Add the cooked moong dal, ground coconut paste, turmeric powder and salt. Mix well. Simmer on low flame for 2 to 3 mins.

When done, serve hot.

Recipe Notes

Generally, spinach and leafy greens should not be pressure cooked to a mush. This is the reason I prefer this method for making Spinach kootu.
You can also use any neutral flavored vegetable oil for this recipe too.
To make this kootu without coconut, then add cumin powder, freshly cracked black pepper and whole dry red chillies in the tempering. Add the chopped spinach and follow the remaining steps. Instead of adding the ground coconut paste, add 1/2 cup thick coconut milk along with the cooked moong dal and mix well. Simmer for 1 min.
Use a food processor to chop the spinach or your choice of leafy greens. This minimises the prep time to a great extent.
You can also use frozen spinach in this recipe. Add frozen spinach cubes once you finish the tempering and immediately add the cooked dal and coconut paste. Mix well. No need to thaw the frozen spinach.
I love adding a second tadka to this. For this, I use mustard seeds, urad dal and red chillies. This is optional but recommended.
If you are using other types of lentils – Toor and Masoor Dal, then cooking time will differ. To minimise cooking time, soak the washed lentils in hot water for at least 30 mins before you begin cooking.
Other non-Indian greens that you can use to make Kootu are chard, broccoli and Bok choy.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Instant Pot Keerai Kootu? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

keerai kootu served in a white and blue bowl placed over a wooden chopping board. Moong lentils and spinach leaves by the side.

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5 from 1 vote

Keerai Kootu- Instant Pot & Stove Top

Keerai Kootu- a hearty South Indian style spinach and moong lentils gravy. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Prep Time20

Cook Time23

Pressure Release Time24

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian- South, South Indian, South Indian Tambrahm

Servings:

Calories: 240kcal

Equipment

6 qt Instant Pot/ pressure cooker
Blender

Ingredients

For the spice paste

3/4 cup fresh grated coconut
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp whole black pepper
3 to 4 dry red chilies
1/2 cup water

For the dal

10 tbsp Moong dal
1.5 cups water
3/4 tsp turmeric powder

For the Keerai Kootu

1 tbsp cold-pressed coconut oil
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp Urad dal
5 to 6 fresh curry leaves
5 cups finely chopped spinach
1 recipe cooked moong dal
1 recipe coconut spice paste
3/4 tsp turmeric powder
1.25 tsp Salt or to taste

Instructions

Coconut Paste

Combine the fresh grated coconut, dry red chillis, cumin seeds, pepper corns and ½ cup water in a blender jar.
Blend this to a smooth paste.
Set aside.

Instant Pot Method

Moong dal in Instant pot

Add the moong dal in a colander.
Wash well.
Transfer this to a stainless steel pot and add water and turmeric.
Insert the inner pot into your Instant Pot.
Add 2 cups water to the inner pot and place a tall trivet over this.
Now, place the moong dal vessel over this.
Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the IP lid.
Close the Instant pot and turn the valve to SEALING.
Switch on the Instant pot.
Turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE- HIGH PRESSURE- 14 MINS on the TIMER.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
Wait for natural pressure release.
Once the pressure has release naturally, press CANCEL, switch off the Instant Pot and open the lid.
Mash the cooked dal with a ladle and set aside.

How to cook Keerai in Instant Pot?

Empty the water from the inner pot and wipe it dry.
Now, insert the inner pot into the IP.
Switch on the Instant Pot.
Press SAUTE MODE- NORMAL- 9 MINS.
Wait for the display to read HOT.
When ready, add the coconut oil.
Add the mustard seeds and once they splutter, add the cumin seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.
When the dal begins to brown, add 5 cups finely chopped spinach and mix well.
Cook this till the leaves begin to wilt.
As the leaves wilt, their volume will reduce.
This takes 2 to 3 mins in Saute mode.
When the leaves have wilted, add the cooked dal and the coconut paste.
Mix well.
Add ¾ tsp turmeric powder and salt to taste. Stir to combine.
Simmer this mixture for 3 to 4 mins, stirring often to prevent burning.
Once done, press CANCEL and transfer the cooked kootu to a bowl.

Pressure cooker Keerai Kootu

Add the moong dal in a colander.
Wash well. To a 3 l deep pressure cooker or pressure pan, add the washed moong dal, water and turmeric powder.
Mix well.
Close the cooker with lid, put the weight on.
Pressure cook the dal on medium flame for 5 whistles.
Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
Once pressure releases, open the lid, mash the dal well.
Transfer the dal to a bowl and rinse and wipe the cooker dry.
Heat the pressure cooker with the coconut oil.
When the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and wait for them to splutter.
Now, add the cumin seeds and urad dal along with the curry leaves.
When the urad dal turns golden brown, add the chopped spinach and mix well.
Saute the chopped spinach for a few minutes until they wilt.
Add the cooked moong dal, ground coconut paste, turmeric powder and salt.
Mix well.
Simmer on low flame for 2 to 3 mins.
When done, serve hot.

Notes

Timing for pressure cooker method is roughly 25 mins.
Instant pot timings may vary depending on your geographical location.
Generally, spinach and leafy greens should not be pressure cooked to a mush. This is the reason I prefer this method for making Spinach kootu.
You can also use any neutral flavored vegetable oil for this recipe too.
To make this kootu without coconut, then add cumin powder, freshly cracked black pepper and whole dry red chillies in the tempering. Add the chopped spinach and follow the remaining steps. Instead of adding the ground coconut paste, add 1/2 cup thick coconut milk along with the cooked moong dal and mix well. Simmer for 1 min.
To make Instant pot Indian kale kootu, use Kale instead of spinach and follow the same steps. Cooking kale in a pressure cooker is also easy. Simply combine the moong lentils and kale and cook them together and proceed with the remaining instructions for making pressure cooker Kootu.
Use a food processor to chop the spinach or your choice of leafy greens. This minimises the prep time to a great extent.
You can also use frozen spinach in this recipe. Add frozen spinach cubes once you finish the tempering and immediately add the cooked dal and coconut paste. Mix well. No need to thaw the frozen spinach.
I love adding a second tadka to this. For this, I use mustard seeds, urad dal and red chillies. This is optional but recommended.
If you are using other types of lentils – Toor and Masoor Dal, then cooking time will differ. To minimise cooking time, soak the washed lentils in hot water for at least 30 mins before you begin cooking.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

More South Indian Recipes

Cilantro Chimichurri- Vegan, Gluten-free Sauce

July 2, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Cilantro Chimichurri – flavor packed, green and oh so good with everything!This fresh and herby sauce is a great accompaniment to everything from grilled meat to roasted veggies. In South America, they use this pesto-like sauce as a marinade for grilling.

Come join us on Pinterest to find delicious pins.

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What is Chimichurri?

Chimichurri is a South American grilling sauce. This has its origins in Argentina and Uruguay.. Strangely enough, there is the Dominican Chimi burger or the Dominican Chimichurri Burger which in no way is connected to this sauce. I dug deep into the internet and still found nothing about this.

Coming to the sauce, this is traditionally made with fresh parsley, oregano, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and red wine vinegar. This is a loose oil based condiment, much like the Indian style pickles. Even though it is compared to pesto because we use herbs, the chilli churri is not pasty like the pesto.

Over the years when the Chimi began to trend on the internet, several variations have come up. Variations featuring different combination of herbs and the red chimichurri are the most common.

Ingredients

Since my family loves Cilantro ( clearly, the Indian roots speaking here), I made a Chimichurri sauce with cilantro. Cilantro is also called coriander in the UK and in some Asian countries. We will be using fresh cilantro, parsley, red pepper flakes and lemon juice among other things.

No matter what you do, try to use fresh, green bunches of herbs possible for this sauce. The herbs are the star here.

Uses

This cilantro parsley chimichurri can be used in so many ways. This sauce that has become a prominent American restaurant menu item is great with chicken, fish and steak. For vegans, add it to your cauliflower bowls, Buddha bowls or slather it on tofu and grill it.

Make cilantro chimichurri marinade for fish or meats. Or how about a spicy cilantro chimichurri roasted veggies bowl? In our house, we even eat this as a dip with Moong Dal Cheela or slather it on bread to make some mean sandwiches. Better yet, name your Sandwich Chimichurris because why should burgers have all the Chimi privilege?

Variations

Use fresh sweet basil instead of cilantro for a chimichurri without cilantro.
Or use a combination of mint, cilantro and parsley for mint chimichurri sauce.
Make it spicy by adding Korean chili threads.
Change up the heat by adding freshly cracked black pepper instead of the red pepper flakes.

Recipe Notes

Use extra virgin olive oil for the best chimichurri.
A food processor gives the best results when it comes to blending this sauce. The oil has to be poured while the processor is running. And for this, a food processor works best. A regular blender may not work just as well because the herbs must not be blended to a fine paste. For this reason, a blender does not work well. I tried making this sauce with both the processor and the blender. And I found that the processor version had better texture and flavor.
You can also use a Mezzaluna to chop your herbs, shallot and garlic very finely and then mix the finely chopped herbs with the remaining ingredients to make this sauce. But yes, this is super labour-intensive.
While grinding the herbs, do not make it into a fine paste. Unlike pesto, the herbs here are not ground to a paste. Instead we shred them as finely as possible.
This chimichurri sauce recipe yields about 1.5 cups. You can easily double the ingredients in a pinch.

Method

Gather all your ingredients together. First, wash and dry your herbs. Using a salad spinner is a fantastic way to dry the herbs. It is very important to dry the herbs thoroughly. When there is moisture, there is molding and fungal growth.

Once you are done with drying, this quick chimichurri sauce comes together in less than 5 minutes. To your processor, add the parsley, dried oregano, cilantro, shallot, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and salt. Now, pulse this a few times to shred the mixture.

When the herbs etc have been shredded, with the food processor running on slow speed, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil. Once you have added all the olive oil, stop the processor. Now, pulse the mixture twice or thrice.

That is all. Our Chimichurri cilantro sauce is now ready. Transfer this to a sterilised air tight glass jar.

How to store?

Any sauce that has some sort of acidic ingredient can be stored easily. If your sauces have vinegar, lemon juice or lime juice, they tend to last a while in the fridge. But to store them correctly, you have to use a sterilised airtight glass jar . Make sure to use a clean dry spoon whenever you handle the sauce.

You can store this sauce in the fridge for upto 2 weeks. Just be sure to sterilise the jars used for storing.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Chimichurri with cilantro sauce? We value your thoughts and comments! Please rate this recipe and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this recipe.

cilantro chimichurri in a glass jar with a spoon of chimichurri held over it.

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4.50 from 2 votes

Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce

Easy and quick, fresh and herby condiment from Argentina and Uruguay. Uses fresh parsley and cilantro.

Prep Time20

Total Time20

Course: Accompaniments, Condiments

Cuisine: Argentinian, South American

Servings: cups

Calories: 897kcal

Equipment

food processor
salad spinner

Ingredients

100 grams fresh cilantro measures 1 tightly packed cup when chopped
70 grams fresh parsley measures 1/2 a tightly packed cup when chopped
3/4 tsp dried oregano
2 small shallots peeled
2 tsp finely chopped garlic 2 cloves garlic peeled
1.5 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice or lime juice
1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
10 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Gather all your ingredients together.
First, wash and dry your herbs.
Use a salad spinner to dry the herbs.
It is very important to dry the herbs thoroughly. This helps prevent molding and increases the shelf life of the sauce.
To your processor, add the parsley, dried oregano, cilantro, shallot, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and salt.
Now, pulse this a few times to shred the mixture.
When the herbs etc have been shredded, with the food processor running on slow speed, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil.
Once you have added all the olive oil, stop the processor.
Now, pulse the mixture twice or thrice.
Our Chimichurri cilantro sauce is now ready.
Transfer this to a sterilised air tight glass jar.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

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Instant Pot Sona Masoori Rice – Medium grain brown rice

June 29, 2021 By Anusha 2 Comments

Instant Pot Sona Masoori Rice- step by step guide to cook perfectly fluffy and separate grains of medium grain brown Sona Masoori, an aromatic medium grain rice. Most Indian families prefer this raw rice variety. Easy to cook, flavorful and widely available, Sona Masoori is a crowd-favorite.

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It is one of the most widely exported rice variety. It also happens to be one of the most consumed varieties. In this post, I will walk you through on how to cook brown Sona Masoori rice perfectly in the Instant pot and in the stove top pressure cooker.

From now on, simply say no to mushy brown rice.

Let us admit it. Making the switch from white rice to brown rice is akin to moving a mountain for Indians. Especially for south Indians who eat rice in some form or the other on an every day basis, the texture and taste of brown rice comes as a surprise.

And if your brown rice cooks to a mush, then the struggle is harder. Who does not love beautiful fluffy grains of rice, all separate and cooked to perfection, right?

And this is why buying the Instant Pot has been a game changer for me. Initially, it was a tad bit difficult because you need to get a hang of the timings and settings. But once you do, cooking rice or any staples like beans or dal in the Instant pot is a breeze. It gives you consistent results every time, making it a fantastic gadget well deserving of the counter space in any kitchen.

This post is a step wise guide to cook brown medium grain rice in the instant pot. I have used brown Sona Masoori. Use the table of contents below to navigate easily through the post. If you are in a pinch, scroll up and hit the jump to recipe button to get to the recipe card straight away.

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Ingredients

You only need four ingredients for this. Three, if you leave the water out. I have used 24 Mantra’s organic brown Sona Masoori. Please note that this method works only for brown Sona masoori rice and not for Brown Basmati rice.

While Costco Sona Masoori rice is very popular in the US, 24 Mantra Organic and Dawat Sona Masoori are popular in Singapore.

I have also included instructions on cooking sona masoori rice in the stove top pressure cooker in this post.

Please use a standardised measure to measure the rice and water. Using non standard measuring cups will not give you the same results. Also, measure your rice and water using the same measuring cup. In this post, 1 cup = 250 ml.

White vs Brown Sona Masoori Rice

Like most Indian families, we prefer eating white rice. But over the years, our choices have evolved and we are now aware of various benefits of eating whole grains like brown Sona Masoori. Brown Sona Masoori rice is unpolished, has more fiber and is lower in GI, making it diabetic friendly.

Why oil/ ghee?

We add oil or ghee while cooking brown sona masoori rice to keep the grains separate. The fat in the oil/ ghee prevents the rice grains from sticking to each other.

Ways to make brown rice flavorful and enjoyable

Many people who switch from white rice to brown rice find it difficult in the beginning and eventually give up. But that is because either the rice has not been cooked properly or it lacks flavor. Here are some ways to make brown rice more interesting.

Add broth (vegetable/ chicken) instead of water to cook the rice. This makes it flavorful. The proportions remain the same but skip the salt.
Add 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon to the water while cooking the rice.
Include herbs! Herbs like mint and basil give a beautiful aroma to cooked brown rice.
Or try adding whole spices like cumin or bay leaf to flavor the rice.
Make pilaf or biryani or salads instead of serving it plain.
Last but not the least, follow this step by step guide to cook brown rice perfectly in the Instant pot every single time.

Accessories you need

For cooking rice in the Instant Pot, you will need a tall trivet, an Instant pot compatible stainless steel pot and the inner pot of the Instant pot.

We will be cooking the rice using the pot in pot method. I personally love this method because we can reuse the inner pot several times without having to wash it. And pot in pot cooking works perfectly well for cooking rice and dal.

Method

How to cook Sona Masoori rice in Instant Pot?

Pot in pot method

Place the rice in a colander. Wash this until water runs clear. Transfer the washed rice to an Instant Pot compatible tall, deep pot. I prefer using stainless steel pots for pot-in-pot cooking.

To the washed rice, add water, salt and ghee or oil. I love the flavor of cold pressed coconut oil in this.

Now, add 2 cups water to the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Place a tall trivet over this. Now, keep the rice pot over the tall trivet.

Sona masoori rice water ratio

If you are cooking the rice in Instant pot using pot in pot method, then you need 1.5 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. Make sure you use the same measuring cup to measure both rice and water.

To cook Sona Masoori rice in a regular stove top pressure cooker, use 2 cups water for every 1 cup rice.

Cooking time and mode

Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted correctly inside the lid. Now, close the Instant pot and turn the valve to sealing. Switch on your IP. Press PRESSURE COOK – HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 20 MINS.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete fully. Now, wait for the pressure to release naturally. It takes roughly 25 mins for natural pressure release. Yes, its a bit too long but the wait is well worth it.

Once the pressure has released naturally,open the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. That’s it. Perfectly cooked brown sona masoori rice is ready.

Cooking brown rice directly in inner pot

You can also cook rice directly in the inner pot. To do this, wash the rice in a colander until water runs clear. Now, transfer the washed rice to the inner pot. For every 1 cup of brown Sona Masoori rice, you need 2 cups water if you are cooking the rice directly in the inner pot. Combine the rice water, salt and oil in the inner pot. Mix once.

Once you have added the water, place the inner pot in the Instant Pot. Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted correctly into the lid. Close the IP with the lid and turn valve to SEALING. Now, switch on the Instant pot.

Set the IP to PRESSURE COOK MODE- HIGH PRESSURE- 20 MINS. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. When pressure releases fully, open the lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork.

How to cook Sona Masoori Brown rice in pressure cooker?

Place the rice in a colander. Wash this until water runs clear. Transfer the washed rice to an tall, deep pot.

To the washed rice, add water. Now, to a deep pressure cooker, add 2 cups water, salt and ghee/oil. Mix well. Place the rice pot in the cooker. Ensure that the gasket is fitted properly into the lid of the cooker. Close the cooker. Insert the weight.

For every 1 cup of brown rice, you need 2 cups of water for pressure cooking in the stove top pressure cooker.

Pressure cook the rice on medium flame for 3 whistles. After 3 whistles, reduce the flame to the lowest. And cook for 5 more mins. During this 5 mins, there may or may not be more whistles. It does not matter. Just use a timer to keep an eye on the time.

After 5 mins, switch off the flame and wait for the pressure to release naturally. When the pressure has released, open the lid and fluff the cooked rice with a fork.

Serve hot.

How to cook white Sona Masoori rice in Instant Pot?

For every 1 cup regular polished white Sona Masoori, you will need 2 cups water.Follow the pot in pot method and cook the rice using the RICE PRESET MODE. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.

If your rice is old crop, you may need 2.5 cups water for every 1 cup water.

How to use Sona Masoori rice?

Sona Masoori uses are innumerable. You can use this,like how you would, regular white rice. Pair it with Sambar, Rasam or Kootu. You can also mix this with Thogayals or pickles and enjoy the meal with a Raita.

Other ways to use this aromatic rice is to make Sona Masoori Pilaf or toss them with veggies in a salad. You can also make some variety rice like curry leaves rice with cooked rice.

Recipe Notes

Do we need to soak brown medium grain rice before cooking?

No. You need not soak the rice. Since we are using the Instant pot and cooking on high pressure for 20 mins, soaking is not needed.

Why Instant pot?

Because brown rice cooked in the Instant pot comes out perfectly every single time. Not only this, it is much quicker than the open pan method.

Brown rice for babies

If you intend to introduce brown rice to your baby or toddler, then cook the rice for 25 mins. This will give you softer brown rice, which in turn will make it easily digestible.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Did our Instant pot method for cooking brown rice work for you? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this soup.

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brown sona masoori rice cooked in instant pot served in a grey bowl set against a black background

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Instant Pot Sona Masoori Rice

How to cook Sona Masoori Brown rice perfectly every time in the Instant Pot?

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Pressure Release Time25

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian, International

Servings: people

Calories: 1071kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt

Ingredients

For Instant Pot Brown Sona Masoori Rice using pot in pot method

1 cup brown Sona Masoori rice
1.5 cups water
1/4 to 1/2 tsp Oil or ghee
1 tsp Salt or to taste

For Instant Pot Brown Sona Masoori Rice in the inner pot directly

1 cup brown Sona Masoori rice
2 cups water
1 tsp oil
1 tsp salt or to taste

For pressure cooker brown Sona Masoori rice

1 cup brown Sona Masoori rice
2 cups water
1 tsp oil or ghee
1 tsp Salt or to taste

Instructions

How to cook Sona Masoori rice in Instant Pot?

Pot in pot method

Place the rice in a colander.
Wash this until water runs clear.
Transfer the washed rice to an Instant Pot compatible tall, deep pot.
To the washed rice, add water, salt and ghee or oil.
Now, add 2 cups water to the inner pot of the Instant Pot.
Place a tall trivet over this.
Now, keep the rice pot over the tall trivet.

Sona masoori rice water ratio

If you are cooking the rice in Instant pot, then you need 1.5 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice.
Make sure you use the same measuring cup to measure both rice and water.

Cooking time and mode

Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted correctly inside the lid.
Now, close the Instant pot and turn the valve to sealing.
Switch on your IP.
Press PRESSURE COOK – HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 20 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete fully.
Now, wait for the pressure to release naturally.
It takes roughly 25 mins for natural pressure release.
Once the pressure has released naturally,open the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork.

Cooking brown rice directly in inner pot

Wash the rice in a colander until water runs clear.
Now, transfer the washed rice to the inner pot.
For every 1 cup of brown Sona Masoori rice, you need 2 cups water if you are cooking the rice directly in the inner pot. Combine the rice water, salt and oil in the inner pot.
Mix once.
Once you have added the water, place the inner pot in the Instant Pot.
Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted correctly into the lid.
Close the IP with the lid and turn valve to SEALING.
Now, switch on the Instant pot.
Set the IP to PRESSURE COOK MODE- HIGH PRESSURE- 20 MINS.
Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
When pressure releases fully, open the lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork.

How to cook Sona Masoori Brown rice in pressure cooker?

Place the rice in a colander.
Wash this until water runs clear.
Transfer the washed rice to an tall, deep pot.
To the washed rice, add water, salt and oil. Mix once.
Now, to a deep pressure cooker, add 2 cups water.
Place the rice pot in the cooker.
Ensure that the gasket is fitted properly into the lid of the cooker.
Close the cooker.
Insert the weight.
Pressure cook the rice on medium flame for 3 whistles.
After 3 whistles, reduce the flame to the lowest. Cook for 5 more mins.
During this 5 mins, there may or may not be more whistles.
It does not matter. Just use a timer to keep an eye on the time.
After 5 mins, switch off the flame and wait for the pressure to release naturally.
When the pressure has released, open the lid and fluff the cooked rice with a fork.
Serve hot.

How to cook white Sona Masoori rice in Instant Pot?

For every 1 cup regular polished white Sona Masoori, you will need 2 cups water.Follow the pot in pot method and cook the rice using the RICE PRESET MODE. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
If your rice is old crop, you may need 2.5 cups water for every 1 cup water.

Notes

Instant pot cooking time and mode may vary depending upon the geographical location.

The cooking time may also vary if other varieties of brown rice like brown jasmine rice or brown basmati rice is used. This post is a step by step guide to cook Sona Masoori brown rice or other medium grain brown rice varieties only.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

How to store leftover cooked brown rice?

To store leftover rice, transfer it to a fridge-safe container and refrigerate for upto 2 days.When needed to use, allow it to sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Steam for 5 mins in the Instant pot or a regular pressure cooker before using.

How to cook brown rice in Mealthy Multipot?

You can use the same method to cook Sona Masoori brown rice using the 6 qt Mealthy Multipot.

Moong Dal Chilla- How to make Moong Dal Cheela?

June 28, 2021 By Anusha 15 Comments

Step by step instructions and photos to make Moong Dal Chilla, an Indian breakfast recipe featuring Moong dal. Also called as Cheela, Pudla, Poli or Puda, these thin savory crepes are popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan regions.

They taste delicious on their own or when filled with a soft crumbled paneer filling. These naturally gluten free Desi style crepes are healthy, nutritious and protein-packed, making them just perfect for brunch, high tea, a light snack with Chai or even as a lunch box recipe.

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I tasted these cheelas for the first time in a small hole-in-the-wall eatery in Gujarat. Paneer stuffed moong dal ke cheela made in ghee and served with a spicy green chutney was our dinner on one too many nights during those golden days. Eventually, I made friends with the cook there and he was sweet enough to share his recipe for moong dal cheela.

And that is what I have in this post, with my own tweaks added here and there.

Navigate through the contents of this post using the table of contents below. If you are in a pinch and want to get to the recipe directly, use the jump to recipe button at the top of this post.

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Here is a small video. You can find more video recipes on our Youtube channel.

Ingredients

What is the best thing about these cheelas? It uses basic pantry staples.

Moong Dal– Yellow split moong dal is the key ingredient.

Ground spices– This is a kid-friendly recipe. So, I have not used any green chilis. Instead, we will be adding red chili powder and ground turmeric for the heat and color.

Aromatics and whole spices– Garlic, ginger and cumin are all used here. All these three ingredients help in easy digestion.

The Paneer filling has crumbled paneer, roasted cumin powder and finely chopped coriander leaves among other things.

Variations

Whole green moong cheela

Make these chillas with whole green moong instead of yellow moong for a healthier version of the same recipe. When you use whole green moong, make sure to soak them for 4 hours after washing.

Better yet, you can also make sprouted moong dal chilla using moong bean sprouts.

Add other grains or lentils or millet

Add 1 cup steel cut oats along with the yellow moong dal while soaking to make oats moong dal cheelas. Adjust the spices and aromatics as necessary. You can also add Dalia or Millet Rava to the dal while you soak.

Moong Dal Chilla with vegetables or cheese

Looking for a vegan moong dal ka chilla? Simply, swap the paneer filling with grated veggies. Carrots, cabbage and beets all make a very crunchy filling.

If you are packing these in the lunchbox or making them as a quick snack, you can add some shredded cheese along with the veggies in the filling. Season the filling with some chaat masala, Peri-peri seasoning or even taco seasoning for a fusion version.

You can also add some finely chopped spinach ( Palak) or your choice of greens in the batter, mix well and make Palak moong dal chilla. Fresh moringa leaves or fenugreek leaves or even dill leaves are other options.

Recipe Notes

1.If you forgot to soak moong dal in advance, wash and drain the dal well. Place the washed dal along with 4 cups hot water in an air tight container or a hot pack on in the Instant pot. If you are using the Instant pot for this purpose, do not switch it on. Place the dal and hot water in the inner steel insert. Keep the pot in the IP, close with the lid and let it sit..Close it and let it sit for 1 hour. And your soaked dal is ready.

2.You can make this chilla without adding garlic and onions too. These Sattvic chillas can be eaten on fasting days too.

3. Prepare the filling just before you are ready to make the cheelas. Chopped onions tend to release water. This will make the filling soggy.

Shelf life and storage

Store ground batter in an air-tight container in the fridge for upto 2 days. You can also freeze the ground batter in small portions in freezer-safe silicon bags. Frozen dal cheela batter keeps well for upto 1 month. Before using, leave it in the fridge for 4 hours or 2 hours at room temperature to thaw.

Method- Step By Step Photos

Soaking the dal

To begin with, place the yellow moong dal in a colander. Wash this well under running water. Transfer the washed dal to a mixing bowl. Add 4 cups water and let it soak for 3 hours.

Grinding Dal Chilla Batter

When the dal has soaked, drain it in a colander. To a blender jar, add 1 teaspoon each red chilli powder and turmeric powder, salt, ginger and cumin seeds. Now, add the drained dal and 1/2 cup water. Grind soaked moong dal along with the other things to a smooth paste.

Add 1/4 cup water more if you find the batter too thick. The batter should be similar to dosa batter in consistency.

Paneer filling

In a mixing bowl, combine the crumbled paneer, 1/2 cup finely chopped onions, 3 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves, 1 tsp each roasted cumin powder and red chili powder. Mix well and set aside.

Cooking

Add the finely chopped coriander leaves to the batter and mix well. Heat a cast iron griddle or an Iron Dosa pan. Pour a ladle of the batter and spread it into a thin circle, like how you would, Dosa.

Cook this on low medium flame for 40 seconds to 1 minute or until you see no raw batter on the top. Drizzle oil around the edges and cook for 20 secs. Now, flip and cook the other side for 30 secs on medium flame. Flip over. You will see some golden brown spots on the cheela. Time taken to cook one cheela is approximately 2 mins on medium flame.

Now, place 1.5 tbsp of the paneer filling in the middle. Fold over and serve hot with chutney or tomato ketchup.

Explore more Indian breakfast recipes

If you are like me( read always stumped about ideas for a nice Indian breakfast recipe), then check out these recipes.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Moong Dal Chilla recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this soup.

Moong dal cheelas stuffed with paneer and served with chutneys and a smoothie

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Moong Dal Chilla

Thin, savoury crepes made with moong lentils, these Moong Dal cheelas are healthy, protein-packed and gluten-free.

Prep Time10

Cook Time2

Soaking Time3

Total Time3 12

Course: Breakfast, Breakfast/ Brunch, Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian, North Indian

Servings: cheelas

Calories: 147kcal

Equipment

Griddle
Blender
Mixing bowls

Ingredients

For the batter

1 cup yellow split moong dal
5 cups water
2 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 inch knob of ginger
3/4 cup water
1.5 tsp Salt or to taste
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander

Paneer filling

1 cup crumbled paneer
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
3 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp roasted cumin powder
1 tsp Salt or to taste

For cooking the cheelas

1 tsp oil for each cheela

Instructions

Soaking the dal

To begin with, place the yellow moong dal in a colander.
Wash this well under running water.
Transfer the washed dal to a mixing bowl.
Add 5 cups water and let it soak for 3 hours.

Grinding Dal Chilla Batter

When the dal has soaked, drain it in a colander.
To a blender jar, add the red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt, ginger and cumin seeds.
Now, add the drained dal and ½ cup water.

Grind to a smooth paste.

Add ¼ cup water more if you find the batter too thick.
The batter should be similar to dosa batter in consistency.

Paneer filling

In a mixing bowl, combine the crumbled paneer, onions, chopped coriander leaves, roasted cumin powder and red chili powder.
Mix well and set aside.
Cooking
Add the finely chopped coriander leaves to the batter and mix well.
Heat a cast iron griddle or an Iron Dosa pan.
Pour a ladle of the batter and spread it into a thin circle, like how you would, a Dosa.
Cook this on low medium flame for 40 seconds to 1 minute or until you see no raw batter on the top.
Drizzle oil around the edges and cook for 20 secs.
Now, flip and cook the other side for 30 secs on medium flame.
Flip over.
You will see some golden brown spots on the cheela.
Now, place 1.5 tbsp of the paneer filling in the middle. Fold over and serve hot with chutney or tomato ketchup.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Do you love lentils? Then check out these lentil based recipes for your plant-protein fix.

Explore lentils

Methi Thepla- Soft Thepla Recipe

June 22, 2021 By Anusha 3 Comments

Methi Thepla is an Indian flatbread made with whole wheat flour and fresh fenugreek leaves. The Gujarati Methi Thepla is a healthy breakfast staple and can be enjoyed hot or cold. These theplas have a long shelf life and is just perfect for train journeys or travel.

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What is Thepla?

To put it in a nutshell, thepla is to every Gujarati home like Idli is to every Tamil household. These soft and slightly thick flatbreads are a breakfast staple and tea time treats in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Thepla is different from the regular parathas. We add besan, that is, gram flour or chickpea flour and yogurt (curd) to Thepla dough. Generally, thepla is a no onion- no garlic recipe. But variations to this humble yet wholesome bread exist and one of them is where you can add garlic.

What vegetables can be added to Thepla?

During my stay in Baroda, I have eaten Lauki (grated bottle gourd) na Thepla and Beetroot na thepla. But traditionally, the first choice for Gujarati Thepla recipe is fresh fenugreek leaves. The finer they are chopped, the better the theplas.

Vegan Methi Thepla

Unlike other flatbreads, the Thepla is not naturally vegan. We add curd while kneading the dough. But we can easily make this vegan by skipping the yogurt. Add 1 more tbsp of oil instead of the yogurt, while kneading the dough to make it soft.

Or you can use your choice of non-dairy yogurt in place of the dairy yogurt in this recipe.

Variations

When it comes to variations, the sky is the limit for Thepla.

Masala thepla

Skip the fresh methi leaves in this recipe and you will have the recipe for Masala Thepla. You can also add 1/2 cup of Jowar flour or Bajra flour to the dough. Just adjust the water as required.

Kasuri Methi Thepla

If you live outside India, it may be difficult to source fresh fenugreek leaves. While frozen methi is easily available in Indian grocery stores, it is not a practical solution. Use dried fenugreek leaves instead and make Kasuri Methi Theplas.

However, kasuri methi has a much stronger flavor than fresh fenugreek leaves. Use only 1/3rd of the amount of fresh fenugreek leaves if you are substituting them with Kasuri methi.

How to make Theplas for travel?

Theplas have a long shelf life unlike Parathas. These come in handy, especially if you are a vegetarian traveling abroad. When making theplas for travel, skip the gram flour (besan). The besan makes the theplas hard and dry.

So if you are going to consume them straight away, you can add Besan. If you are packing them for travel or you intend to store them for a few days, then give the Besan a miss.

Methi Thepla without curd

When making theplas for travel, it is best to avoid adding curd to the dough. Adding yogurt reduces the shelf life and there is a chance of the theplas becoming moldy sooner.

Tips to pack theplas for travel

As mentioned above, skip the Besan and yogurt if you are making theplas for traveling.
Add 2 to 3 tbsp oil while kneading the dough. This increases the shelf life and also keeps them softer. The more the oil, the softer your theplas.
Never pack theplas while hot or warm. Allow them to cool on a cooling rack before packing them. Hot theplas sweat and this in turn makes them moist. Moisture drastically reduces shelf life of any dish.
Pack them in batches of 3 to 4 in aluminum foil wrappers. This way, you can avoid handling the whole batch and take out whatever is required. Read longer shelf life.
The best sidekick for Theplas has to be Mango pickle. However, pickles and travel do not go together. So give the pickles a miss.
Theplas stay fresh at room temperature for upto 2.5 days. They last upto 15 days in the fridge.
How to store Methi Thepla?– Make sure to pack the foil-wrapped theplas in an air-tight container. This will make sure that there is no mold or fungal growth.

Recipe notes

Theplas are made with groundnut oil ( peanut oil) and not ghee, unlike Parathas. This has a rustic flavor that makes theplas outstanding. Use cold pressed coconut oil for kneading thepla dough and for making the theplas.
Traditionally, theplas are a mix of sweet, spicy and sour. In Gujarat, they add a mashed banana or some jaggery or sugar to the flour while kneading the dough. If you want, you can add 1 tbsp jaggery for the quantity of flour mentioned here.
For more flavors, you can also add 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves.
You can add a combination of flours to the dough. Bajra, Jowar, Barley flour and even oat flour can be added. Use 1 cup of any of these flours in place of 1 cup of whole wheat flour in this recipe.
If you are allergic to sesame seeds, give it a miss.
You can also add grated garlic to the thepla dough to make some methi thepla with garlic.
Theplas are slightly thicker than Rotis but thinner than parathas. Make sure that you do not roll them too thinly since these become dry and brittle soon.
Avoid dusting them with too much flour while rolling. When you use too much flour for dusting, the theplas turn out to be hard and dry.

Method

Prepping the methi

Place the chopped and cleaned methi in a large mixing bowl. Pour 3 cups water and add salt.
Rinse well. Let it sit for 15 mins. After 15 mins, drain the methi in a colander. Squeeze the methi to get rid of all the excess moisture. Set aside.

200 g cleaned methi leaves will give you approximately 1/2 cup chopped methi leaves.

This step will make methi less bitter. I follow this for making Methi pulao and pretty much any recipe with Methi.

Ginger green chili paste

Place the ginger and green chili in a mortar and pestle. Pound this to a slightly coarse paste.
Set aside.

Mixing the thepla dough

Place 2 cups whole wheat flour along with the besan( gram flour),turmeric powder, red chili powder, crushed kasuri methi and sesame seeds in a large mixing bowl. Add the pounded green chilli and ginger paste.
Mix roughly using your hands. Now, add the finely chopped methi leaves, that has been squeezed to this and mix again.
Make sure the methi has been evenly mixed into the flour mixture. Now, add 1 tbsp peanut oil and curd to the mixture. Add water little by little and mix till you get a rough shaggy dough.

Knead dough

Now, add the remaining 1 tbsp peanut oil and begin kneading. Knead for about 5 mins till you get a smooth pliable dough. Cover the dough with a moist kitchen towel. Let it rest for 15 mins.
After 15 mins, open and knead again for 1 to 2 minutes. This second time kneading will give us a soft dough.

Shaping and rolling the thepla

Divide the dough into equal parts. Make small balls of the divided parts. Now dust the balls with a little flour and start rolling into thin rounds on a flat surface. Repeat the same for the remaining dough.

Cooking

Heat a tawa. Place a round and drizzle oil on the sides. Cook till brown spots appear on the surface of the thepla. Then flip over and repeat for the other side too. Serve hot with pickles and yogurt or raitha. Makes a great travel food too as it has a shelf life of 2 to 3 days.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Methi Thepla recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this soup.

methi thepla,an Indian flatbread stacked and served with buttermilk and pickles

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Methi Thepla

Gujarati Methi Thepla is a delicious Indian flatbread made with whole wheat flour and fresh fenugreek leaves.

Prep Time25

Cook Time25

Resting Time15

Course: Breads, Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Gujarati, Indian, North Indian

Servings: Theplas

Calories: 102kcal

Ingredients

For the dough

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 c Besan Chickpea flour
2 tsp crushed kasuri methi
1.5 tsp red chili powder
1.5 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp white sesame seeds
1 tsp salt or to taste
1 cup Water for kneading you may need anywhere between 3/4 c to 1 c water

For the green chili ginger paste

1.5 tsp chopped ginger
2 green chilis
1/4 c yogurt
2 tbsp peanut oil divided use any neutral flavored vegetable oil as a substitute

For prepping the Methi

200 g cleaned Methi leaves 1/2 cup approximately
3 cups water
1 tsp salt

For cooking the theplas

1 tsp Oil or ghee for each thepla

For rolling the Theplas

1/4 c wheat flour

Instructions

Prepping the methi

Place the chopped and cleaned methi in a large mixing bowl.
Pour 3 cups water and add salt.
Rinse well.
Let it sit for 15 mins.
After 15 mins, drain the methi in a colander.
Squeeze the methi to get rid of all the excess moisture.
Set aside.

Ginger green chili paste

Place the ginger and green chili in a mortar and pestle.
Pound this to a slightly coarse paste.
Set aside.

Mixing the dough

Place the wheat flour along with the besan,spice powders, crushed kasuri methi and sesame seeds in a large mixing bowl.
Add the pounded green chilli and ginger paste.
Mix roughly using your hands.
Now, add the chopped methi to this and mix again.
Make sure the methi has been evenly mixed into the flour mixture.
Now, add 1 tbsp peanut oil and curd to the mixture.
Add water little by little and mix till you get a rough shaggy dough.
Now, add the remaining 1 tbsp peanut oil and begin kneading.
Knead for about 5 mins till you get a smooth pliable dough.
Cover the dough with a moist kitchen towel.
Let it rest for 15 mins.
After 15 mins, open and knead again for 1 to 2 minutes.
Divide the dough into equal parts. Make small balls of the divided parts.
Now dust the balls with a little flour and start rolling into thin rounds on a flat surface.
Repeat the same for the remaining dough.

Cooking Methi Na Thepla

Heat a tawa. Place a round and drizzle oil on the sides.
Cook till brown spots appear on the surface of the thepla.
Then flip over and repeat for the other side too.
Serve hot with pickles and yoghurt or raitha.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

How to serve Thepla?

Undoubtedly, Aam ka achar or Keri nu chundo is the best sidekick. But you can also serve this with a simple potato curry like Aloo Jeera or some tangy Gujarati Kadhi. Theplas taste good when eaten hot, warm or even cold. We love having theplas with piping hot masala chai. Yes. That is a thing.

Explore More Methi Recipes

Tiffin Sambar- Hotel Style

June 22, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Tiffin sambar is a popular South Indian lentil stew that is served with Idlis, Dosas and Vadai. Made with split pigeon pea lentils, vegetables and tamarind, this is a delicious and hearty dish that is a staple in most South Indian homes.

Come join us on Pinterest to find delicious pins.

Tiffin sambar is so popular that some restaurants are sought after for their Sambar. The Ratna cafe Sambar or the Annapoorna sambar are examples for this. Even though I have been making this Sambar for years, somehow I never got around to sharing it here. So, here I am with a typical Hotel style sambar recipe.

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Ingredients

This is a naturally vegan and gluten-free recipe. That is the beauty of several South Indian recipes. It glides into the vegan way of eating so effortlessly.

Lentils

I have used a combination of toor dal (split pigeon pea) and split yellow moong dal. Combine both in a colander and wash well. Now, combine the washed dal with water and let it soak for 25 mins. While the dals soak, prep the veggies.

Many people use only Toor dal or only moong dal for hotel sambar. While there is nothing wrong in this, I find that the Toor dal is what gives the typical Sambar taste and Moong dal has a creamy texture.

When we use them together, we have the best Tiffin sambar in terms of consistency, taste and texture. You can find split pigeon peas, moong lentils and tamarind in Indian grocery stores.

Tamarind

To make things easier, I have used tamarind paste here. In case you do not have tamarind paste, soak 10g tamarind in 1/3 cup warm water for 20 mins. Then squash the tamarind along with the water. Strain this mixture and this is the tamarind extract.

Veggies

When it comes to veggies, a combination of potatoes, carrots, drumsticks, shallots and tomatoes work like symphony in this restaurant style sambar recipe. While it is not customary to use potatoes in sambar, the hotel style Idli sambar recipe is an exception.

Ground spices

A combination of sambar powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder along with salt and jaggery does its magic here. You can use any store bought sambar powder. You can also add 1 tsp red chilli powder if you want a spicier sambar.

This is a no-grind sambar. I resort to this recipe many times on weekdays and so, I prefer not to do any roasting or grinding in the morning rush. So I have just used my homemade sambar powder here.

Oil

Many recipes call for ghee but I prefer using neutral flavored vegetable oil. This is because we dunk Idlis in this sambar and drizzle some ghee over it. You can use ghee for making this sambar too.

Method

Sambar For Dosa, Idli- Pressure cooker method

While this is an one-pot Sambar when made in the Instant Pot, we may have to make some changes if using the regular pressure cooker.

Tamarind mixture

Combine the tamarind paste and water well using a whisk.
Set aside.

Pressure cooking Dal for Sambar

To begin with, wash and soak the dal for 20 mins. When the dal has soaked, drain all the water used for soaking. Add 2.5 c water to the soaked dal along with 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/4 tsp oil to a deep steel pot. I prefer cooking pot-in-pot. This way, we can use the same pressure cooker to make the sambar later.

Use the stainless steel pot-pot stackable insert pans for pot in pot cooking. These are convenient.

The most commonly asked question about sambar has got to be ” How many whistles for Sambar in pressure cooker?” This totally depends on the dal you use. The cooking time differs for different brands and varieties of dal. But for Toor dal, 5 whistles work for me. And for Moong, 3 whistles work.

For this sambar, pressure cook the soaked dals for 3 whistles or until mushy. As we have soaked the dal before, 3 whistles should be enough to cook dal till mushy. Once done, wait for the pressure to release naturally. After the pressure drops, mash the dal well using a masher and set aside.

Making in pressure cooker

Now, heat the same pressure cooker with oil. When oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and fennel seeds. When the mustard seeds splutter, add the shallots and saute for 1 min till they turn pink.

Now, add the rest of the veggies and mix well. Pour the tamarind mixture and add salt and jaggery along with the spice powders. Add 1 cup water. Mix well and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the chopped veggies- potatoes, carrots, drumsticks and tomatoes. Stir to combine.

Now, add the cooked dal and mix well. Close the pressure cooker and cook this mixture for 1 whistle. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. When done, open and garnish with curry leaves and coriander leaves. Mix well and serve hot.

Instant Pot Method

Making sambar in instant pot is easier than making sambar in cooker. Why? Because it is one-pot. For me, less dishes to wash always means easier cooking. Do you agree?

Tamarind mixture

Combine the tamarind paste and water well using a whisk. Set aside.

Soaking the dal

Wash the dals together in a colander under running water. Add this to a bowl along with 2.5 c water and let it soak for 25 mins. While this is soaking, prep the veggies.

Cooking Sambar

Place the inner pot inside the Instant pot and turn on Saute mode- Normal for 9 mins. Add oil and wait for the display to read HOT.

When ready, add the mustard seeds and wait for it to crackle. As soon as the mustard seeds crackle, add the shallots and saute for 1 minute until shallots turn pink. Now, add the veggies and mix well. Saute for 1 minute.

Add the tamarind mixture next and stir to combine. Now add all the spice powders along with the jaggery and mix well. Pour in 1 cup water and stir well. Add salt, curry leaves and fennel seeds in that order. Mix well. You will see that the mixture has begun to boil now. Continue to simmer for 2 mins.

Next, add the soaked dal along with the water. Mix well. Simmer for 1 min. When done, press cancel.

Instant Pot Sambar cooking time and mode

Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted well on the lid. Close the IP. Now, turn the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON AT HIGH PRESSURE FOR 12 MINS. Turn the pressure valve to sealing.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete. When cooking is complete, wait for the pressure to release naturally. Natural pressure release takes roughly 20 to 25 mins. When the pin drops and the pressure has released fully, open and mix well.

Mashing

Mash the sambar gently with ladle or use a coffee frother to do this. When we use a coffee frother, only the dal gets mashed but the veggies remain intact. So I prefer using my coffee frother.

Garnishing

Add finely chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves as garnish. Pour ladles of sambar on piping hot Idlis, drizzle with ghee and garnish this with finely chopped onions for a typical restaurant style Idli sambar recipe experience.

Hotel Style Sambar For Dosa Video

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried making our hotel sambar in Instant pot or pressure cooker? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this

hotel style tiffin sambar served in a pail with idli, vada,chopped onions and a ladle by the side.

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Tiffin sambar – Instant pot & Pressure Cooker recipe

This hotel tiffin sambar is an easy sambar recipe that pairs well with Idli, dosa and vada. You can make this in the Instant Pot or regular pressure cooker too.

Prep Time20

Cook Time20

Pressure release time25

Total Time1 5

Course: Accompaniment, Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian- South, South Indian

Servings:

Calories: 187kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot
Pressure cooker

Ingredients

Lentils

1/4 c toor dal (split pigeon peas)
1/4 c split yellow moong dal ( Moong lentils)
2.5 c water

For tempering

1.5 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Mustard seeds

Vegetables

15 peeled shallots
100 g chopped drumsticks
100 g chopped carrots
100 g chopped potatoes
200 g chopped tomatoes

Tamarind mixture

1.5 tbsp tamarind paste 20 g in weight
1/3 cup water

Ground spices and seasoning

1 tsp ground coriander ( coriander powder) dhania powder
3/4 tsp ground turmeric( turmeric powder)
1 tbsp Sambar powder
1.25 tbsp powdered jaggery
1 cup water
2.5 tsp Salt or to taste
15 fresh curry leaves
1/2 tsp fennel seeds

Garnishing

2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
10 fresh curry leaves

Instructions

Hotel style tiffin sambar- pressure cooker recipe

Tamarind mixture

Combine the tamarind paste and water well using a whisk.
Set aside.

Pressure cooking Dal for Sambar

To begin with, wash and soak the dal for 20 mins.
When the dal has soaked, drain all the water used for soaking.
Add 2.5 c water to the soaked dal along with ½ tsp turmeric and ¼ tsp oil to a deep steel pot.
Pour 2 c water to a 3 liter pressure cooker.
Place the dal pot in the cooker, close the lid and put the whistle on.
Pressure cook the soaked dals for 3 whistles or until mushy.
Once done, wait for the pressure to release naturally.
After the pressure drops, mash the dal well using a masher and set aside.

Making tiffin sambar in pressure cooker

Now, heat the same pressure cooker with oil.
When oil is hot, add the mustard and fennel seeds.
When the mustard seeds splutter, add the shallots and saute for 1 min till they turn pink.
Now, add the rest of the veggies and mix well.
Pour the tamarind mixture and add salt and jaggery along with the spice powders.
Add 1 cup water.
Mix well and simmer for 2 minutes.
Add the chopped veggies- potatoes, carrots, drumsticks and tomatoes. Stir to combine.
Now, add the cooked dal and mix well.
Close the pressure cooker and cook this mixture for 1 whistle.
Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
When done, open and garnish with curry leaves and coriander leaves.
Mix well and serve hot.

Tiffin Sambar- Instant Pot Method

Tamarind mixture

Combine the tamarind paste and water well using a whisk.
Set aside.

Soaking the dal

Wash the dals together in a colander under running water.
Add this to a bowl along with 2.5 c water and let it soak for 25 mins.

Cooking Sambar

Place the inner pot inside the Instant pot and turn on Saute mode- Normal for 9 mins.
Add oil and wait for the display to read HOT.
When ready, add the mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter.
As soon as the mustard seeds crackle, add the shallots and saute for 1 minute until shallots turn pink.
Now, add the veggies and mix well.
Saute for 1 minute.
Add the tamarind mixture next and stir to combine.
Now add all the spice powders along with the jaggery and mix well.
Pour in 1 cup water and stir well.
Add salt, curry leaves and fennel seeds in that order.
Mix well.
The mixture will begin to boil now.
Continue to simmer for 2 mins.
Next, add the soaked dal along with the water.
Mix well. Simmer for 1 min.
When done,press cancel.

Instant Pot Sambar cooking time and mode

Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted well on the lid.
Close the IP.
Now, turn the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON AT HIGH PRESSURE FOR 12 MINS.
Turn the pressure valve to sealing.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When cooking is complete, wait for the pressure to release naturally.
Natural pressure release takes roughly 20 to 25 mins.
When the pin drops and the pressure has released fully, open and mix well.

Mashing

Mash the sambar a few times gently.

Garnishing

Add finely chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves as garnish. Pour ladles of sambar on piping hot idlis, drizzle with ghee and garnish this with finely chopped onions for a typical restaurant style idli sambar recipe experience.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore more Instant Pot recipes

Breakfast Recipes

FAQs – South Indian Sambar

How to reduce spiciness in South Indian sambar?

It happens to all of us, isn’t it? Sometimes, we go a bit overboard with the spices. To fix spicy sambar, add 1 tbsp jaggery powder or 1 boiled potato or 1 boiled carrot or 1/2 c boiled pumpkin. If none of this work, add 1 tbsp tamarind paste mixed with 1/2 c water and simmer on medium heat for 2 mins.

What is sambar powder?

Sambar powder is a south Indian spice blend. This has Chana dal ( split chickpea lentils), fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds and dry red chilis as the main ingredients. Sambar powder is what makes this recipe authentic and complete. So, what happens when you do not have sambar powder?

Use 2 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp red chili powder in place of the sambar powder. Add 3/4 tsp fenugreek seeds and 1/2 tsp cumin seeds in your tempering.

What is the difference between the sambar we serve for rice and this Idli sambar?

As a rule of thumb, sambar that is served with rice uses toor dal. But here, we add toor and moong. Rice sambar has only one or two veggies and may or may not have tomatoes and onions. Whereas, the tiffin sambar has more veggies- carrots and drumsticks being mandatory. The tiffin sambar is also more diluted since it is served with Idli and dosa.

What other veggies can be added ?

You can add brinjals, zucchini, pumpkin and lady’s finger/okra too. All these work well.

Can we use other dals/lentils?

For this recipe, a combination of toor and moong dals work best. You can also use red lentils, i.e, Masoor dal instead of the Toor dal. Or you can simply make it with just moong dal. Since moong dal tends to thicken as it cools, make sure to add 3/4 c more water if you are using just moong dal.

How to make Jain Sambar masala?

Sambar masala aka sambar powder, in itself is free from onions and garlic. To make Jain Sambar, simply skip the onions, potatoes, carrots and drumsticks in this recipe. You can use brinjals, okra and zucchini or pumpkin instead.

How to make sambar taste like the ones they give in hotels?

Use jaggery and fennel seeds in the sambar for a typical restaurant sambar. You can also grind fresh grated coconut and add it to the sambar.

Watermelon Agua Fresca – Agua De Sandia

June 21, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Watermelon Agua Fresca is a refreshing summer drink with fresh watermelons. This Mexican style summer drink is made with just three ingredients and is perfect for those outdoor grill parties.

Agua fresca sounds very fancy right? Like I mentioned, this is a popular Summer drink in Mexico. They make it with different fruits but fresh water, lime and sugar are three must-haves here. My version is a no-refined-sugar version.

For as long as I can remember, watermelon has been our favorite fruit. We love this sweet chunky fruit and because we live in Singapore, we get it year round. Will you believe it if I told that I make this almost every month?

Why is it called Agua Fresca?

Agua means water and fresca; cool in Spanish. So, basically it translates to cool water. Aguas frescas or Agua fresca is something you find on the streets of Mexico and central America very commonly.

This drink has only three ingredients- fruit, water and a touch of sugar. Some people add lime or mint. There is no alcohol in Agua fresca. But, you can always spike this mexican watermelon agua fresca with some vodka or gin. Because, why not??

How to choose watermelons?

When you buy watermelons, look for oblong ones rather than perfectly round ones. Slightly light green ones taste sweeter when compared to dark green watermelons. Also, look for the yellow spot. When watermelons have been sitting on the ground for long enough, they develop a splotch. If this splotch is yellow, then the fruit is ripe.

A ripe watermelon also sounds hollow when you thump it. So go on, thump and pick a big fat watermelon home.

Recipe Notes

You can skip adding sugar if your watermelon is sweet.
Chill the watermelon beforehand so that you can enjoy the drink right away.
Adding lime/lemon and mint is not the traditional way to make agua de sandio. We love these flavors which explains why I added both.
I added honey to my version of Agua de Sandia. You can also add maple, agave or just skip the sweeteners.
Swap the lemon juice for lime juice and vice versa for different flavors.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our watermelon agua fresca? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this

mexican watermelon agua fresca served in glasses and bottles with red and white straws

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Watermelon Agua Fresca Recipe

A refreshing summer drink with fresh watermelon and lime.

Prep Time25

Total Time10

Course: Beverage

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

Author: Anusha Praveen

Ingredients

3 cups cubed watermelon
1 cup cold water
1 tbsp Honey/ sugar/ maple
2 tbsp lime juice
10 fresh mint leaves

To serve

1/2 cup ice cubes

Instructions

Prep the watermelon by removing the rind and cubing it.
Place the cubed watermelon, honey, lime juice and water in a blender along with mint leaves.
Blend till smooth.
Serve over ice.

Notes

You can also add soda to the juice before serving.

It gives a nice twist to the drink. The same can also be tried with yellowmelon.

When you buy a melon , choose an oval one with a lot of yellow than green. These fruits are sweeter and yummier.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore More Summer Recipes

Weekly Vegetarian Meal Plan 3

June 20, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Vegetarian meal plan 3 is here with fresh, easy and quick meals for the summer. I cannot believe that this is the third meal plan I m sharing here. Little did I know that I would get hooked to this.

In this weekly vegetarian meal plan 3, I have some easy Instant Pot recipes. If you do not have an Instant pot, you can always make these recipes in a regular stovetop pressure cooker. We will also be rustling up healthy salad meals this week.

This week’s meals

Monday

Breakfast- Toast, blueberry chia smoothie

Lunch- Rajma Paratha,yogurt

Dinner- Sponge dosa, Chana Ghashi

Tuesday

Breakfast- Bread upma, Chai

Lunch- Rice, Instant Pot Green Moong Dal , carrot kosambari

Dinner- Akki rotti, Coconut chutney

Wednesday

Breakfast- Mapillai Samba Adai, Jaggery and Tomato Chutney

Lunch- Barley Salad, Aloe vera lemonade

Dinner- Rajma quesadillas

Thursday

Breakfast- Sponge dosa , leftover chutneys

Lunch- Instant pot Bisi Bele Bath, mixed vegetable raita

Dinner- Mapillai Samba Adai, Yogurt

Friday

Breakfast- Toast, Mango milkshake, nuts

Lunch- Chapati, Vellai Kurma

Dinner- Multigrain Thalipeet, Yogurt

Download this week’s vegetarian meal plan here

Tomato Blues weekly vegetarian meal planDownload

Prep work

On Sunday night

Make the batter for Sponge dosa and Mapillai Samba Adai.
Soak rajma and chickpeas.
Grate coconut and freeze.
Blend the blueberry smoothie and refrigerate.

On Monday night

Chop spinach.
Roast the rava for Kichdi.
Shred carrots.
Wash and soak whole green moong.

On Tuesday night

Make tomato chutney.
Prep the dressing for the barley salad and refrigerate.
Make aloe vera lemonade and refrigerate.

On Wednesday night

Chop veggies for Bisi Bele Bath and raita. Skip chopping the onions as raw onions must be chopped only before cooking or consuming.
Soak tamarind for Bisi Bele bath if you do not have tamarind paste.
Set yogurt.

On Thursday night

Blend the mango milkshake and refrigerate.
Chop veggies for the Kurma.
Knead dough for Rotis

That is all, peeps. It s a long and hectic week ahead for me. Do let me know in the comments if you all found this meal plan useful, if you would like me to switch things up a bit or you want me to share any other hacks and tips.

More meal plans

Also, here are the previous week’s meal plans. You can always use any one of them.

Rava Kichadi – Sooji Khichdi

June 20, 2021 By Anusha 3 Comments

Rava Kichadi is a South Indian style Kichdi made with semolina and veggies. This makes for a filling meal when served with coconut chutney and sambar by the side.

Growing up as a kid, rava kichadi was definitely not a hot favorite. I am sure that is the case with many children. I remember scorning and booing the moment Amma or daddy mentioned upma or anything that had semolina in it. But like they say, times change. Especially when you are a newly wed and you step into the kitchen for the first time.

Rava Kichadi vs Rava Upma

While the Rava kichadi is a close cousin of the humble rava upma, it is a richer more indulgent version of the same,replete with ghee and cashews. While I am not a fan of the kichadi that is usually served in marriages, i love the kichadi that a famous hotel chain in Coimbatore serves.

But then, I did a double take when I happened to eat it elsewhere along the Trichy- Tanjore belt. Their version is so very different and i have here tried to bring about a version that s similar to it. If you are a rava kichadi lover or even if you are not, this hotel style Rava Kichadi recipe will definitely blow your mind.

Ingredients

Semolina

Choose coarse semolina to make this Rava Kichadi. The texture of Rava upma and Rava Kichadi has to be grainy and not mushy and smooth like the Dal Khichdi. So, for this recipe, coarse Rava works best.

Veggies

I have used a combination of carrots, peas, beans and potatoes along with onions and tomatoes. You can also add finely chopped capsicum or zucchini to this Kichadi recipe.

Oil or ghee

Traditionally, we use ghee to make this. But you can always use any neutral flavored vegetable oil for a vegan Kichadi.

Whole spices

Yep, you read that right. This sooji khichadi uses whole spices. And trust me, the flavors are nothing short of amazing.

Water

The key to getting Upma or Kichadi right lies in using hot boiling water. When we use cold water, the semolina does not cook but rather absorbs all the water. Semolina, in general, cooks fast and better in hot water. Using hot water also prevents lumpy kichdi.

Side Dish for Rava Kichadi

If you ask me, the best side kick for this is definitely coconut chutney and sambar. If you are looking for something different, then you can also check-

Peanut chutney

Red bell pepper chutney

Method

Roasting the Rava

Heat a pan with 1 tsp of ghee. Roast the sooji in this till aromatic and set aside.

While the rava roasts, heat 3.5 cups of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Switch off flame and set aside. I always use my kettle to heat up the water since it is easier and quicker.

Tempering

In a small pressure cooker or pan, heat ghee and oil.

Once hot, add the cashews and fry till golden. Drain and set aside.

Add the mustard seeds and wait for them to splutter.Now,add the remaining spices along with the urad dal and curry leaves.

Once the dal turns a light brown, add the grated ginger and chilies and fry till chilies turn white.

Add turmeric at this stage and mix well.

Cooking the veggies

Next, add the onions and fry till translucent.Once done, add the tomatoes and fry till mushy. To this add the chopped veggies and fry till half cooked. Turn down the flame to medium.

Rava Kichadi in cooker or saute pan

I have made this in both a stovetop cooker and a saute pan. In fact, I prefer using a deep pressure pan to make dishes like these as there tends to be lots of splatters and splutters. You can use whichever you are comfortable with. Pick a pan or pressure cooker that is big and deep enough for the quantity mentioned here.

Next, add the roasted semolina and mix well. You will have a crumbly mixture in the pan. To this add the roasted cashews and mix well. Now, to this mixture, add the hot water gradually while whisking the mixture using your other hand.

I know it s tricky but you never know what you can do until the time a situation calls for it.

Once you have added all the water, add the salt and mix well. Keep stirring the mixture continuously until all the water is absorbed making sure that there are no lumps. If you stop stirring there will definitely be lumps.

Once the water is absorbed completely, turn down the flame to the lowest and close the pan with .a lid without the weight. Turn off flame after 5 mins. Mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Rava Kichadi recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this

Rava kichdi placed in a pool of coconut chutney

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5 from 2 votes

Rava Kichadi

Rava Kichadi or Sooji Khichdi is a one pot dish made with semolina, nuts and veggies.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Course: Breakfast, Breakfast/ Brunch, Mains

Cuisine: South Indian, Tamil

Servings:

Equipment

Saute pan
Balloon whisk
Sauce Pan

Ingredients

1.5 cup Semolina/ Sooji/ Bombay Rava
1 tsp ghee
3.5 c hot boiling water

Vegetables

1/4 cup peeled and cubed Carrot
1/4 c chopped Beans
1/4 c peeled and cubed Potato
2 tbsp Green peas
5 Green chilies slit lengthwise
1 c finely chopped Onion
3/4 c finely chopped Tomato
1 sprig Curry leaves
2 tsp Salt or to taste

For tempering

1 tbsp Ghee
1 tbsp oil
10 whole Cashews broken into halves
1 small Bay leaf
2 Cloves
1/2 inch Cinnamon stick
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Urad dal
1 tsp grated Ginger

Ground spices

3/4 tsp Turmeric powder

Garnish

2 tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves

Instructions

Heat a pan with 1 tsp of ghee.
Roast the sooji in this till aromatic and set aside.
Heat 3.5 cups of water and bring to a rolling boil. Switch off flame and set aside.
In a small pressure cooker or pan, heat ghee and oil.
Once hot, add the cashews and fry till golden. Drain and set aside.
Once hot enough, splutter the mustard seeds and add the remaining spices along with the urad dal and curry leaves.
Once the dal turns a light brown, add the grated ginger and chilies and fry till chilies turn white.
Add turmeric at this stage and mix well.
To this add the onions and fry till translucent.
Once done, add the tomatoes and fry till mushy.
To this add the chopped veggies and fry till half cooked.
Turn down the flame to medium.
Next, add the roasted semolina and mix well.
You will have a crumbly mixture in the pan.
To this add the roasted cashews and mix well.
Now, to this mixture, add the hot water gradually while whisking the mixture using your other hand.
I know it s tricky but you never know what you can do until the time a situation calls for it.
Once you have added all the water, add the salt and mix well.
Keep stirring the mixture continuously until all the water is absorbed making sure that there are no lumps. If you stop stirring there will definitely be lumps.
Once the water is absorbed completely, turn down the flame to the lowest and close the pan with a lid without the weight.
Turn off flame after 5 mins.
Mix well.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Notes

It is very important to roast the semolina till aromatic. Or you will land up with a lumpy kichadi.
2. Heating water is also crucial as adding cold water will not give good results.
3. You can choose to cook this recipe fully with ghee or oil.
4. Addition of cashews is optional but highly recommended.
5. Be careful with the stirring part. Use a balloon whisk to stir the mixture thoroughly to avoid any lumps.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

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Mango Avocado Salad- Vegan mango salad

June 19, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

This Mango Avocado Salad is just what Summer and barbeque parties call for. Sweet mangoes, creamy avocados and crunchy cucumbers come together in this quick and easy 20 minute recipe.

Think of this salad like an upgraded mango salsa. You can eat this on its own or serve it as a dip with some pita chips or nachos. Or you can serve it as a side with grilled meat. So many different ways to enjoy this one amazing avocado mango salad.

Come summer, I hate the kitchen. As much as I love cooking, the sweltering heat is something that I just cannot deal with. And that is when I resort to mango salad and the likes.

Why we love this Mango avocado salad?

20 mins in the kitchen- that’s how long this salad takes to come together.

Fresh, wholesome and nutritious.

A very simple but flavorful dressing that makes this salad an explosion of flavors.

So colorful and kid-friendly.

Vegan. Gluten free.

Ingredients

For me, a salad should be something that can be whipped up at a moment’s notice, without having to rush to the store to buy sundry things for the dressing. This mango salad is testimony to that. A few pantry staples, seasonal produce and 20 minutes is all this vegan mango avocado cucumber salad takes.

Mangoes

Choose mangoes that are ripe but firm. They should not be tangy but should be sweet and tangy at the same time. Thai mangoes are the best for this salad. If you cannot find them, choose mangoes that you can cube easily.

To check if a mango is ripe, try to squish it gently. If it gives in easily, its ready.

Cucumber

Who knew cucumbers could make such a huge difference to a salad? Crunchy english cucumber is my go-to when it comes to any salad and this is no different. Persian and japanese cucumbers are good too.

Avocado

Soft and creamy avocado adds a beautiful layer of texture here. Choose ripe avocados that are not too squishy. You should be able to cut them into cubes easily. If your avocado is brown or more brown than green, then it is too ripe. Also, check the eye of the avocado. It should not be too dry or wrinkly.

As soon as you cut them,toss them in some lemon juice or chop and add the avocados only at the very last, just before mixing the dressing.

Herbs

I have always loved the way sweet basil works with mangoes. The sweet, aromatic flavors of basil work so well in this recipe. Apart from sweet basil, we will also be adding baby spinach. If you do not have sweet basil, use mint instead. Both work well. But the flavors will certainly be different.

Dressing

The dressing in this salad is a very basic lime dressing. I initially tried adding black pepper to this but somehow, the red pepper flakes were more flavorful. Because I wanted to keep this oil free, I did not add the usual extra virgin olive oil to the dressing. Since avocado is creamy and has enough good fat, I really did not see the need for oil.

You can always use lemon juice in place of the lime juice in the dressing. And if you do not have both, then rice vinegar makes for a great substitute.

Prep and make-ahead

Can you make this ahead of time?- The short answer is no. What you can do is chop the mangoes, cukes and store them in separate containers. Make the dressing and keep it ready. Just before serving, combine everything together in a big bowl and serve immediately.

This salad tastes best when served fresh mostly because of the avocado. Avocados tend to become discolored due to oxidisation when cut open.

Variations

Add chopped cherry tomatoes to this salad to make it more colorful.
You can try adding nuts for some crunch. When it comes to a mango salad, pine nuts, sliced almonds and chopped walnuts are great. Toast them slightly and use them in this salad.
To make this more nutritious, you can also add roasted pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts or flax seeds as toppings.
Other salad greens like arugula or lettuce can also be tossed in. Arugula and mango,in particular, are great together.

How to serve this Mango Avocado Cucumber Salad?

You can serve this as a dip along with some chips or nachos. This is a great dish to take to any bbq party too. Or make it a part of a grazing board or a vegan charcuterie board.

To make this salad a complete meal, serve this as a side with grilled chicken or any grilled meat of your choice. This salad tastes delicious when served in a Buddha bowl too. Some quinoa, this salad and a stir fry will make for a healthy meal in a bowl.

Method

Dressing

Combine all the ingredients for the dressing- maple syrup, red chili flakes, garlic powder, basil leaves, salt and lime juice in a bowl. Whisk well. Our dressing is ready.

Salad

In a large mixing bowl, add the spinach, mango, cucumber, avocado along with the dressing. Toss well or mix using a salad spoon.

Serve immediately.

That is it. Our delicious vegan mango avocado cucumber salad is ready.

Recipe Notes

You can also add 1/2 c finely chopped red onions to this salad. I m not a fan of raw red onions and so I did not add them. However, I made this salad with the onions for others in my house and they loved it.
Swap the lime juice for lemon juice or red wine vinegar or rice vinegar for a different flavor in the dressing.
Use thai basil, finely chopped cilantro or mint if you cannot source sweet basil. You will need about 12 fresh mint leaves here.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our mango avocado salad recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this

Mango avocado salad served in a white deep plate placed on a burlap mat. Mango cubes in a bowl, herbs and avocado by the sides

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5 from 1 vote

Mango avocado salad

Fresh, sweet and juicy mangoes tossed with avocados to make a light salad.

Prep Time15

Course: Accompaniment, Salad, Salads

Cuisine: International

Servings:

Equipment

Mixing bowl

Ingredients

For the dressing

2 tbsp Lime juice
1.5 tbsp Maple syrup
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Red chili flakes
1 tsp Salt
12 fresh basil leaves Chiffonade and chop.

For the salad

2 cups cubed mango
1/2 cup cubed avocado
3/4 cup chopped english cucumber
1/2 cup loosely packed spinach leaves

Instructions

Make the dressing

Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl.
Whisk well until well incorporated.

Tossing the salad

Add all the veggies and fruits to a mixing bowl.
Pour the dressing over.
Toss well using a salad spoon or a silicon spatula.
Serve immediately.

Notes

You can also add 1/2 c finely chopped red onions to this salad. I m not a fan of raw red onions and so I did not add them. However, I made this salad with the onions for others in my house and they loved it.
Swap the lime juice for lemon juice or red wine vinegar or rice vinegar for a different flavor in the dressing.
Use thai basil or mint if you cannot source sweet basil. You will need about 12 fresh mint leaves here.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

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Rajma Paratha- Stuffed Rajma Cheese Paratha

June 18, 2021 By Anusha 5 Comments

Rajma paratha- Indian style flatbreads stuffed with cooked kidney beans and spices. These protein-rich parathas make a hearty breakfast or dinner. All they need is some chilled Raita or plain yogurt and some pickles ( Achar) by the side.

I happened to have some leftover Rajma after making Instant Pot Rajma. While I could have easily made some salad with it, I chose to stuff them into Parathas. And I conclude, this leftover Rajma Paratha is easily our favorite Sunday brunch.

These kidney bean stuffed parathas are so versatile. When I mentioned that they are happening for dinner, my little one wanted some quesadillas instead. I decided to switch up things a bit and made some Rajma cheese parathas for her. In this post, I ll be sharing both recipes.

Ingredients

This recipe involves two components- the Paratha dough and the filling. Making Paratha dough is really simple and easy.

For the dough– we will be using whole wheat flour, salt and water.

For the filling, we will be using cooked kidney beans, spices and some cheese for the Rajma cheese parathas. White or red cheddar works beautifully with Rajma. You can also use canned kidney beans here to save time. Just make sure to wash and drain them completely.

In case, you do not have leftover cooked rajma, wash and soak 1/2 cup kidney beans in 3 cups of water for 8 hours. When soaked, drain all the water used for soaking the beans. Combine the soaked kidney beans with 2 cups water and 1 tsp salt. Pressure cook this for 5 whistles. When cooked, the beans must be soft.

Drain the pressure cooked beans in a colander. And proceed with this stuffed rajma paratha recipe.

Method

Kneading the dough

Combine wheat flour and salt along with 1 tsp oil in a mixing bowl. Add water little by little and knead to a smooth, non-sticky and supple dough. For 2 cups of whole wheat flour, I used about 3/4 to 1 cup water. Always add water gradually by 1/4 cup and knead the dough.

Once your dough is ready, cover it with a damp kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 mins. While the dough is resting, get the filling ready.

Making the stuffing

Place the cooked kidney beans, red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, ground cumin, garam masala and salt in a blender jar.Now grind this to a slightly coarse mixture. You should be able to shape the filling into balls. If you find that the mixture crumbles easily, add 1/2 tbsp water and blend again. Do not add more water than mentioned here.

For making the filling for Rajma Cheese Paratha, add 2 tbsp grated cheddar to the ground mixture. Mix well. Skip the cheese if you are just making regular stuffed parathas with rajma.

When the mixture is ground, transfer it to a mixing bowl. Add finely chopped coriander leaves to this and mix well. Now,divide it into equal portions and shape each portion into a ball.

Rolling the parathas

Now, open the kneaded dough. Turn it out onto a slightly floured surface. Knead once or twice. Divide the dough into 10 equal portions. Shape each dough portion into a ball. Gently flatten the ball and dust with flour.

Now roll this ball into a 1/4 inch thick round circle. Place a ball of filling in the center. Bring the edges of the dough together and seal it shut by pinching the edges together.

Flatten this filled dough ball. Dust with flour. Now, roll it out gently using a rolling pin to a 8 inch circle.

Repeat this with the remaining filling and paratha dough.

Cooking the Parathas

We will be cooking each side of the Paratha on medium heat for about a minute. We will know that the parathas are cooked when beautiful golden spots appear on both sides.

Heat a griddle. Place a rolled paratha and cook on medium heat for 30 secs. Flip and brush the top side with 1 tsp oil. Cook for another 30 secs.

Flip again, brush the other side with 1 tsp oil. And cook for 30 secs on medium flame. You will see golden brown spots on the surface of the Paratha now.

When done, remove and serve hot.

How to serve Rajma Paratha?

If you are serving this to kids, I recommend serving it with some plain chilled yogurt. You can also go the ketchup route.

For adults, I recommend serving this with a spiced up yogurt. Simply, whisk the yogurt till smooth, stir in some pickle oil or roasted cumin powder and red chilli powder along with salt. Mix well. And enjoy this with Parathas. This works well for all North Indian style stuffed parathas.

While I wont call these low cal, they are definitely healthy and so, make for a great lunchbox option too.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our stuffed Rajma Paratha recipe? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

Rajma cheese paratha served on a wooden plate with capsicum zunka, pickles and yogurt by the side.

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No ratings yet

Stuffed Rajma Paratha

Indian style stuffed flatbreads with kidney beans and cheese filling

Prep Time30

Cook Time15

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Fusion, Indian

Servings: Parathas

Ingredients

For The Paratha dough:
2 c Whole wheat flour
3/4 to 1 c Water to knead
3/4 tsp Salt
1 to 2 tbsp Oil to cook
1/2 c Flour to dust
For The Filling:
1 c cooked Rajma
1 tsp grated garlic
1 tsp Red chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp Garam masala powder
2 tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves
1/4 c grated cheese

Instructions

Kneading the dough

Combine wheat flour and salt along with 1 tsp oil in a mixing bowl.
Add water little by little and knead to a smooth, non-sticky and supple dough.
For 2 cups of whole wheat flour, I used about 3/4 to 1 cup water.
Always add water gradually by 1/4 cup and knead the dough.
Once your dough is ready, cover it with a damp kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 mins.

Making the stuffing

Place the cooked kidney beans, spice powders and salt in a blender jar.Now grind this to a slightly coarse mixture.
You should be able to shape the filling into balls.
If you find that the mixture crumbles easily, add 1/2 tbsp water and blend again.
Do not add more water than mentioned here.

Making the stuffing for Rajma cheese paratha

For making the filling for Rajma Cheese Paratha, add 2 tbsp grated cheddar to the ground mixture.
Mix well.
When the mixture is ground, transfer it to a mixing bowl.
Add finely chopped coriander leaves to this and mix well.
Now,divide it into equal portions and shape each portion into a ball.

Rolling the parathas

Now, open the kneaded dough.
Turn it out onto a slightly floured surface.
Knead once or twice.
Divide the dough into 10 equal portions.
Shape each dough portion into a ball.
Gently flatten the ball and dust with flour.
Now roll this ball into a 1/4 inch thick round circle.
Place a ball of filling in the center.
Bring the edges of the dough together and seal it shut by pinching the edges together.
Flatten this filled dough ball. Dust with flour.
Now, roll it out gently using a rolling pin to a 8 inch circle.
Repeat this with the remaining filling and paratha dough.

Cooking the Parathas

Heat a griddle.
Place a rolled paratha and cook on medium heat for 30 secs.
Flip and brush the top side with 1 tsp oil.
Cook for another 30 secs.
Flip again, brush the other side with 1 tsp oil.
And cook for 30 secs on medium flame.
You will see golden brown spots on the surface of the Paratha now.
Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
When done, remove and serve hot.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore More Paratha Recipes

Barley Salad- Middle eastern style Barley Tabbouleh

June 18, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Middle eastern style Barley salad- This is a twist to the classic Tabbouleh and uses cooked pearl barley, fresh herbs, nuts and lots of veggies. This vegan barley salad makes for a hearty lunch when served with some toasted bread or a filling smoothie.

Welcome summer and warm days with this hearty, chewy and healthy salad. Last week, I shared how to cook pearl barley. And this is what I made with all that cooked barley.

If I have to describe this salad, I would call it a spin-off of the popular Tabbouleh. Who does not love a Tabbouleh? Fresh herbs, chewy barley, lots of veggies all go into this salad along with some crunchy toasted nuts

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Ingredients

Pearl barley

You need cooked pearl barley for this recipe. Cooking barley in an instant pot is so easy. Check out how to cook pearl barley and then let us get started with the salad. For this salad, cooked and cooled barley works best. Please do not add it while it is hot. Allow it to cool fully before tossing it in the salad.

Veggies

The crunchier, the better.Bring those cukes, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. All of these add more zest, flavor and texture to our salad.

Herbs

The moment I hear middle eastern, only one herb calls out to me – Parsley. In fact, tabbouleh= parsley. The more parsley, the better. And the finer you chop the parsley, the more the flavors.Time to bring out that mezzaluna, peeps.

Apart from parsley, I have also added mint and cilantro. You can give the cilantro a miss but mint and parsley are mighty important here.

Nuts

Not only do the toasted nuts add some crunch but they also contribute to the protein. Toasted almonds, walnuts and pistachios all work well here. Choose either one or a combination. And don’t forget to reserve a few nuts to add as a topping to your salad before serving.

Dressing

And finally, this is what makes this salad amazing. A combination of lemon juice, olive oil and za’atar can never go wrong. Never. The first time I discovered za’atar, I definitely underestimated it.

But it has quickly climbed to the top spot on my favorite spices list. For the uninitiated, Za’atar is a middle eastern spice blend. It has dried oregano, thyme, marjoram and toasted sesame seeds with sumac.

While I won’t recommend skipping this, you can try to mimic the flavors by making your own za’atar spice blend. Combine 1 tbsp tsp each dried thyme, dried oregano, dried marjoram and toasted sesame seeds with 1/4 c sumac and 2 tbsp chili flakes in a small jar and shake well.

You can use za’atar as a topping on breads, yogurt or any salads that you whip up.

Other than the za’atar, our dressing has the usual suspects like garlic, olive oil and lemon juice.

Variations

A salad should never be restricted to one ingredient. You can use cooked farro, quinoa or even brown rice to make this salad. Just swap one of these ingredients with the barley.

You can also add dried raisins, cranberries, finely chopped apricots and some crumbled feta cheese. All these add so much flavor and texture to this salad. While these are not traditional tabbouleh ingredients, it is ok to add more nutrition, right?

How to serve barley tabbouleh?

Barley tabbouleh tastes great when served chilled as a meal on its own. You can also serve this with grilled chicken or bring it to a summer barbeque party.

You can also go the traditional mezze platter route and serve this with some crunchy pita chips, hummus, baba ganoush, dolma and falafels.

Another option would be to add them to wraps or gyros. A combination of this salad, some falafels and a creamy hummus in some pita pockets is something that everyone at my home loves.

Method

Cooking pearl barley

Wash the barley well.
Place the barley in a colander and wash it well.
To the inner insert of your Instant pot, add the washed barley and water along with 1 tsp salt.
Ensure that the sealing ring is in its correct place in the lid.
Close the IP with the lid. Turn the valve to SEALING.
Now switch on the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH FOR 15 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When the cooking cycle is complete, do a natural pressure release for 15 mins.
After 15 mins, quick-release pressure by turning the valve to venting.
When done, strain the cooked pearl barley in a colander.

Make the dressing first

In a small glass jar, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, za’atar, crushed pepper and salt. Skip the salt if your za’atar has salt added in it. You can use 1 clove garlic that has been grated in place of the garlic powder too.

Close the jar and shake it well to mix all the ingredients. Set aside.

Making barley salad

In a bowl, add the cooked barley, veggies and herbs in that order. Mix well. Now, pour the dressing over and stir to combine. Add the toasted nuts and mix.

Our middle eastern inspired barley salad is ready.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Kidney bean quesadilla? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

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5 from 2 votes

Barley Salad- Middle eastern style Barley Tabbouleh

Fresh, hearty and wholesome pearl barley salad with middle eastern flavors.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Course: Accompaniments, Salads

Cuisine: Fusion, Middle eastern

Equipment

Mixing bowl

Ingredients

For the barley

1/2 c Pearl barley
2.5 c Water
1 tsp Kosher salt

For the dressing

1.5 tbsp Olive oil
2 tbsp Lemon juice
2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1 tbsp Za'atar
1 tsp Garlic powder use 1 clove garlic grated instead for a substitute
1 tsp Kosher Salt or to taste

For the salad

2.5 c Cooked pearl barley
3/4 c chopped cucumbers
1/4 c chopped sweet peppers
12 small cherry tomatoes halved
1/2 c very finely chopped onions
1/2 c finely chopped parsley
1/2 c finely chopped coriander leaves
12 fresh mint leaves
1/4 c roughly chopped toasted almonds and walnuts

Instructions

Cooking pearl barley

Wash the barley well.
Place the barley in a colander and wash it well.
To the inner insert of your Instant pot, add the washed barley and water along with 1 tsp salt.
Ensure that the sealing ring is in its correct place in the lid.
Close the IP with the lid. Turn the valve to SEALING.
Now switch on the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH FOR 15 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When the cooking cycle is complete, do a natural pressure release for 15 mins.
After 15 mins, quick-release pressure by turning the valve to venting.
When done, strain the cooked pearl barley in a colander.

Making the dressing

In a small glass jar, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, za'atar, crushed pepper and salt.
Skip the salt if your za'atar has salt added in it.
You can use 1 clove garlic that has been grated in place of the garlic powder too.
Close the jar and shake it well to mix all the ingredients. Set aside.

Making barley salad

In a bowl, add the cooked barley, veggies and herbs in that order.
Mix well. Now, pour the dressing over and stir to combine.
Add the toasted nuts and mix.
Our middle eastern inspired barley salad is ready.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

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Vellai Kurma- Instant Pot & Stove Top

June 18, 2021 By Anusha 2 Comments

Vellai Kurma; translates to white Kuruma. This spicy vegetable Kuruma gets its name from its color. White Kuruma is a popular accompaniment in Tamil Nadu hotels. So we can even call this restaurant style Vellai Kurma. This gravy is especially popular in the Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants.

The typical Saravana Bhavan style vellai kuruma is something that has eluded me since my 3rd grade. I guess i started eating spicy food roughly when i was in 2nd grade. It was at this time that I discovered the joys of eating parotta kuruma. And I used to love this particular white kuruma.

I grew up in a household where typically it was no onion no garlic no spices food. My house was where things like vellai kuruma were not given much thought. So, things remained that way for a very long time. My love for Vellai Kurma flourished in hotels.

But then i got married and i got to run my own house and my own kitchen. And with it came boundless freedom to cook and eat what i please. And that s when i started making this hotel style vellai kuruma. This is a very simple recipe. And you can make different versions of this hotel style vellai kuruma by adding soy chunks in place of the veggies. You can even add mutton or eggs.

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What is Vellai Kurma?

So, what is all the hype about this gravy? This Kurma uses no red chili powder, dry red chilies or turmeric powder. We are going to rely on green chilis for the spice. For the creamy gravy base, coconut, cashew nuts and other ingredients come into play.

As for the veggies, this Kurma tastes good with a combination of vegetables or with just any one vegetable. Potatoes, peas, carrots, cauliflower and even dried beans like butter beans work well in this recipe. Sometimes, I also add turnips and chayote squash.

The gravy base for this has an assortment of spices. Apart from this, we have cashews to give a rich velvety mouthfeel.

Make sure that coconut you add to this gravy is white. Frozen grated coconut works like a charm. I have used just regular coconut pieces here today because I could not source this.

If you use grated coconut that does not have the brown outer layer,the Kurma will be a pristine white. Similarly, choose spicy green chilis. This way, we will have to use fewer green chilis. And that will help in retaining the white color too.

What is Kalpasi?

Kalpasi is black stone flower. This belongs to the lichens family and they call it Dagad Phool in north India. This is a spice that is used largely in meat based dishes. I use it in Kurmas and even for making Masala Puri chaat. While this is not mandatory, adding it makes a big difference to the overall taste.

How to serve Vellai Kurma?

This Vellai Kurma pairs well with almost everything. In Tamil Nadu, we commonly serve this with pretty much all Tiffin. So, when we visit a restaurant, you are very likely to come across dishes like ” Chapati Kurma”, ” Aapam Kurma” and “Idiyappam Kurma”

Serve this Kurma piping hot with Chapatis, Aapam, Idiyappam, Idlis or Dosas.

Variations

This popular vegetable Kurma goes by many names. Some call it the Chettinad Vellai Kurma. You can also add meat to this Kurma base and make Mutton Vellai Kurma.

I have used fresh vegetables in this recipe. You can also frozen mixed vegetables like carrots, peas, beans, potato and corn. That will save you even more time especially if you are making the Instant Pot vegetable Korma version.

Recipe Notes

Make this recipe with thin coconut milk instead of water for a richer flavor and texture.
Allergic to cashews? Use blanched almonds. Or skip the nuts in the spice paste and use thick coconut milk or coconut cream to enhance the taste.
Use coconut oil or peanut oil for different flavors. However, I prefer using neutral flavored oil. This way, the spices and the veggies shine through in this recipe.
Along with finely chopped coriander leaves, you can also add finely chopped mint leaves for garnish.
Try to avoid red onions for this recipe. Choose white or light purple ones. This way, the color wont change.

Pressure Cooker Vegetable Kurma Method

Cooking the veggies

Wash and chop all the vegetables. Add this to a pressure cooker with 1 cup water and 1 tsp salt. Pressure cook for 2 whistles. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. When done, do not drain the water.

Making the spice paste

In a blender jar, combine the coconut, cashews, Kalpasi, fennel seeds, green chilli, ginger, garlic and Pottu Kadalai( roasted gram dal).

Pulse a few times to break down everything to a coarse paste. Then add 1/2 c water and grind to a smooth paste. Add 1/4 cup more water if required to grind to a really smooth paste. Grinding the spice paste very smoothly is important here.

Making the Kurma

Heat a pan with oil. When the pan is hot add the mustard seeds and wait for them to splutter.Now, add the bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon. When the spices pop, add the finely chopped onions, curry leaves and salt.

Mix well and cook till onions turn pink. Please do not brown the onions. The onions should turn just pink and soft. If you brown the onions, the whole color of the Kurma will change. This takes approximately 2 mins on medium flame.

Now, add the ground paste and mix well. Cook on low flame for 1 min. Again, keep stirring every now and then to prevent the paste from sticking to the bottom or burning. You can see that the paste will begin thickening.

At this stage, add the cooked veggies and mix well. Add 1 c water and sugar. Stir to combine.

Simmer this for 3 to 4 mins on medium flame,stirring every now and then. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Just before serving, squeeze some lemon juice and serve hot.

Instant Pot Vellai Kurma

Let’s see how to make Vellai kurma in the instant pot step by step

Making Vellai Kurma in the Instant Pot is very easy. When we use the Instant Pot to make vegetable kurma, it becomes an one-pot affair.

Grinding the spice paste

The procedure for grinding the coconut paste is the same as mentioned in the pressure cooker method. When the spice paste is ready, we can begin making the Kurma.

Instant Pot Cooking Time and Mode

Insert the inner steel pot into the Instant Pot and switch it on. Press Saute mode- Normal for 6 mins. Now, add oil and wait for the display to read HOT. Now, add the mustard seeds,bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon. Wait for the mustard seeds to splutter.

When they splutter, add the finely chopped onions and saute until they turn pink and soft. This takes roughly 1.5 minutes.

As soon as the onions are cooked, add the finely chopped veggies and mix well. Saute for 30 seconds and add 1 cup of water. Now, add the ground spice paste and mix well.

Add 1 tsp sugar and the curry leaves. Stir to combine and simmer for 1 minute. Now, press cancel.

Press the PRESSURE COOK BUTTON and SET TO HIGH PRESSURE FOR 2 MINUTES.

Wait for the cooking cycle to complete. And wait for natural pressure release. It takes 13 mins roughly for the pressure to release naturally.

When the pressure releases, press cancel. Open the lid, mix well. Press SAUTE MODE- NORMAL-2 MINS and simmer for 2 minutes.

When done, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our restaurant style Vella Kurma? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

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5 from 2 votes

Vellai Kurma- Instant Pot and Stove top

Hotel style Vellai kurma is a flavorful restaurant style kuruma . It is mixed vegetables in a white sauce and pairs well with Chapati, Poori, Idli, Dosa and Parotta

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Accompaniment, Side Dish

Cuisine: South Indian, Tamil

Servings:

Author: Anusha Praveen

Equipment

Pressure cooker/ Instant Pot
Blender

Ingredients

1/2 c peeled and chopped Carrot
1/2 c peeled and cubed Potatoes
12 fresh green beans chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/4 c frozen or fresh green peas
1.5 tbsp Oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 small Bay leaf
1 piece clove
1/2 inch cinnamon stick
1 c finely chopped onions
10 fresh curry leaves
1.5 tsp Salt or to taste
1 tsp Sugar
2 tbsp finely chopped Coriander leaves

Spice paste

1/2 c fresh grated coconut
2 tbsp Pottu kadalai
1.5 tsp Ginger
4 cloves Garlic
10 whole Cashews 8-9
2 green Chillis
1 tsp Fennel seeds
1 small piece Kalpasi black stone flower/ Dhagad phool
1/2 to 3/4 cup Water

Instructions

Pressure cooker method

Cooking the veggies

Wash and chop all the vegetables.
Add this to a pressure cooker with 1 cup water and 1 tsp salt.
Pressure cook for 2 whistles.
Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
When done, do not drain the water.

Making the spice paste

In a blender jar, combine the coconut, cashews, Kalpasi, fennel seeds, green chilli, ginger, garlic and Pottu Kadalai( roasted gram dal).
Pulse a few times to break down everything to a coarse paste.
Then add 1/2 c water and grind to a smooth paste.
Add 1/4 cup more water if required to grind to a really smooth paste.
Grinding the spice paste very smoothly is important here.

Making the Kurma

Heat a pan with oil. Pop the mustard seeds.
Now, add the bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon.
When the spices pop, add the finely chopped onions, curry leaves and salt.
Mix well and cook till onions turn pink.
Please do not brown the onions.
The onions should turn just pink and soft.
If you brown the onions, the whole color of the Kurma will change.
This takes approximately 2 mins on medium flame.
Now, add the ground paste and mix well.
Cook on low flame for 1 min.
Again, keep stirring every now and then to prevent the paste from sticking to the bottom or burning.
You can see that the paste will begin thickening.
At this stage, add the cooked veggies and mix well.
Add 1 c water and sugar. Stir to combine.
Simmer this for 3 to 4 mins on medium flame,stirring every now and then.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.
Just before serving, squeeze some lemon juice and serve hot.

Instant Pot Vellai Kurma

Insert the inner steel pot into the Instant Pot and switch it on.
Press Saute mode- Normal for 6 mins.
Add oil and wait for the display to read HOT.
Now, add the mustard seeds,bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon. Wait for the mustard seeds to splutter.
When they splutter, add the finely chopped onions and saute until they turn pink and soft. This takes roughly 1.5 minutes.
As soon as the onions are cooked, add the finely chopped veggies and mix well.
Saute for 30 seconds and add 1 cup of water.
Now, add the ground spice paste and mix well.
Add 1 tsp sugar and the curry leaves.
Stir to combine and simmer for 1 minute. Now, press cancel.
Press the PRESSURE COOK BUTTON and SET TO HIGH PRESSURE FOR 2 MINUTES
Wait for the cooking cycle to complete. And wait for natural pressure release. It takes 13 mins roughly for the pressure to release naturally.
When the pressure releases, press cancel.
Open the lid, mix well. Press SAUTE MODE- NORMAL-2 MINS and simmer for 2 minutes
When done, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore More Accompaniments

Brussels Sprouts Pasta With Lemon- Vegan

June 16, 2021 By Anusha 7 Comments

Brussels sprouts, pasta and lemon is an incredibly delicious combination. I learned this from my husband. The man tasted this at a restaurant and literally followed me everywhere till I made it. And boy, I m glad he did!

The first time I made this pasta, I used spaghetti. But I was not thrilled. Let us just say, I m not a fan of spaghetti anything but spaghetti aglio olio. The second time, I used Fusilli and I knew I had nailed it. And ever since then, this absolutely delicious pasta has been on regular rotation for dinner.

Did you all know that Brussels sprouts is a cruciferous vegetable? It belongs to the same family as cabbages, cauliflowers and Romanesco. They look like tiny cabbages and we love them in just about anything and this vegan pasta with nutty brussel sprouts tops that list.

Why is this pasta your go-to dinner?

For the simple reason that everyone loves pasta.

Brussel sprouts in pasta is unbelievably good. You have to try it to believe it.

This quick pasta has no cheese and no dairy. Naturally vegan.

30 mins is all it takes for this to reach your table.

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How to choose brussels sprouts?

Even though these are available year round, the peak season is during December, January and runs through mid-February. Look for fresh, bright green brussels sprouts. The leaves should also be tightly wrapped and must not fall off easily. Avoid those with yellow leaves on the outside.As for the size, look for small to medium ones. The bigger the brussels, the lesser the flavor.

Store them unwashed in an air-tight bag in the fridge. They keep well for a week this way.

Ingredients

Pasta

Short pasta works best for this recipe. I know, I know. Most recipes on the internet call for spaghetti. But after trying this recipe with both, I conclude- Fusilli and penne are the best here.

Brussel Sprouts

This pasta is a great way to use up those brussel sprouts nearing their prime. Slightly yellowed brussel sprouts? No problem. Just trim the yellow layers off and proceed. You can use a knife to chop these up or take the food processor route to shred them. If you are using the processor to shred them, make sure to pat them dry completely before shredding. Also, avoid shredding them too finely.

I chopped them roughly into small pieces using a knife. The layers come apart while roasting anyway.

Lemons!

Ah.. tangy zesty lemons. I m a lemon lover, in and out. And I love them in just about anything! It is not a real wonder that I have at least five recipes for lemonade here. But lemon in pasta? Yes, with a capital Y! If you have not tried adding lemon or lemon zest to your pasta, you are in for a treat.

No cheese,so what do we use?

When I made this with spaghetti, I added grated parmesan. But I wanted to try a vegan version. And yet, I did not want to buy vegan cheese or nutritional yeast. Both cost as much as my arm and leg here. And I was convinced that there has to be another way out.

Enter nuts! Almonds or walnuts. Toasted and ground. That is what we will add to give a nice cheesy twist to our pasta.

What about the spice?

I have used red pepper flakes. You can use coarsely ground black pepper too. Both work brilliantly.

Pan roasted brussel sprouts

For prepping the brussel sprouts in this recipe, I did not fire up my oven. Instead, I pan-roasted them till the edges became golden brown. You can roast the brussel sprouts in the oven or in your airfryer too.

Wash and pat them dry. Cut them into halves. Toss them with olive oil,salt and red pepper flakes. Arrange them cutside down on a baking tray or in your airfryer basket. Roast them for 15 mins in a preheated oven/ airfryer at 205 C or 400 F. Add them right after the garlic is done in this recipe.

Prep Work

The biggest task here is chopping the brussel sprouts. Once you have that out of the way, everything else is pretty quick and straight forward.

Toasting almonds in microwave

I used my microwave to toast my almonds. To toast them in the microwave, place them in a single layer in a microwave safe glass bowl. Heat on high for 1 min and 20 secs. You will get a nice nutty aroma when they are toasted. The timing and temperature may vary a bit depending on the microwave you use. You can also use your oven to toast them. Since this is a small batch of almonds, I used my microwave.

Allow the toasted almonds to cool down a bit. Now, add this to a coffee grinder or spice grinder. Grind to a slightly coarse powder and set aside.

Recipe Notes

Make sure that the brussel sprouts are fully dry before adding them to the pan. If there is moisture, they will become soggy and won’t crisp up just as well.
Adding pasta water is what makes this dish umpteen times more flavorful. So do not forget to reserve 1/2 c of pasta cooking water.
You can use grated parmesan if you are not looking for a vegan brussel sprouts pasta recipe. You will need 1/2 c grated parmesan for this recipe. Please remember to scale down the salt if you are using cheese.

Method

Cooking the pasta

Heat 6 c water in a pot. Add salt and 1/2 tsp olive oil to this. Allow the water to come to a boil. Now, add the pasta and cook for 2 mins minus the timings mentioned on the packet. My pasta package recommended cooking for 8 mins. So I cooked the pasta for 6 mins.

This is because, the pasta will finish cooking later in the pan. Cooking it for 8 mins will give you soft and slightly mushy pasta. This texture will not work well here.

Making almond powder

To toast them in the microwave, place them in a single layer in a microwave safe glass bowl. Heat on high for 1 min and 20 secs. You will get a nice nutty aroma when they are toasted. The timing and temperature may vary a bit depending on the microwave you use. You can also use your oven to toast them. Since this is a small batch of almonds, I used my microwave.

Allow the toasted almonds to cool down a bit. Now, add this to a coffee grinder or spice grinder. Grind to a slightly coarse powder and set aside.

Roasting the brussel sprouts

While the pasta cooks, let us work on the brussel sprouts. Heat a pan with olive oil. Add the chopped garlic and saute till garlic becomes a light golden brown. When the garlic browns, add salt and chopped brussel sprouts.

Toss to combine. On a medium flame, saute the brussel sprouts until the edges begin to brown. This takes roughly 3 mins. When done, add the chili flakes and mix well. By now, the pasta must have cooked.

Combining pasta and brussel sprouts

Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain the rest. Add the cooked pasta to the pan along with lemon zest, parsley and lemon juice. Toss well. Now, add the pasta water, mix well and let it cook for 2 mins.

When done, finish with the ground almonds. Stir to combine. Serve hot.

Serving suggestions

Serve this up with some warm toasty bread and some hearty soup or with chilled wine. Either ways, it is one insanely yummy meal.

vegan lemon brussel sprouts pasta served in a white plate set on a white marble background. Forks, spoons, lemon and ground almonds by the side.

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5 from 7 votes

Brussels Sprouts Pasta

Tangy, zesty, nutty vegan pasta with brussels sprouts. Easy weeknight dinner.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: International, Italian

Equipment

Sauce Pan
Coffee grinder
Colander

Ingredients

For cooking the pasta

150 g Fusilli or any short pasta Penne or Orecchiette work well.
6 c Water
1/2 tsp olive oil
2.5 tsp Salt

For almond powder

1/4 c almonds

For brussel sprouts pasta

1 tbsp olive oil
1.5 tbsp grated garlic roughly 12 grams
200 g roughly chopped brussels sprouts
1 tsp Salt or to taste
2 tsp red pepper flakes adjust according to your spice tolerance.
1 recipe cooked pasta
3 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1.5 tbsp Lemon juice
2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 c pasta cooking water
1 recipe ground toasted almonds

Instructions

Cooking the pasta

Heat 6 c water in a pot.
Add salt and 1/2 tsp olive oil to this.
Allow the water to come to a boil.
Now, add the pasta and cook for 2 mins minus the timings mentioned on the packet.
My pasta package recommended cooking for 8 mins.
So I cooked the pasta for 6 mins.

Making almond powder

Place the almonds in a single layer in a microwave safe bowl.
Heat on high for 1 min and 20 secs in bursts of 30 secs.
Toss them around every time you stop.
You will get a nice nutty aroma when they are toasted.
The timing and temperature may vary a bit depending on the microwave you use.
Allow the toasted almonds to cool down a bit.
Now, add this to a coffee grinder or spice grinder.
Grind to a slightly coarse powder and set aside.

Roasting the brussel sprouts

Heat a pan with olive oil.
Add the chopped garlic and saute till garlic becomes a light golden brown.
When the garlic browns, add salt and chopped brussel sprouts.
Toss to combine.
On a medium flame, saute the brussel sprouts until the edges begin to brown.
This takes roughly 3 mins.
When done, add the chili flakes and mix well.

Combining pasta and brussel sprouts

The pasta would have cooked by now.
Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain the pasta in a colander.
Add the cooked pasta to the pan along with lemon zest, parsley and lemon juice.
Toss well.
Now, add the pasta water, mix well and let it cook for 2 mins.
When done, finish with the ground almonds.
Stir to combine. Serve hot.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Kidney Bean Quesadilla

June 13, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Kidney Bean quesadilla – healthy, delicious, cheesy, protein-rich Mexican style snack. You can pack this for lunch boxes or even serve it as breakfast.

So, what exactly is a quesadilla? A quesadilla is like the Indian Paratha. We use a filling that usually has beans, cheese and some ground spices. The most common beans used are red beans, pinto beans or black beans. And they also use a combination of cheeses- cheddar, Montrey Jack or even Mozarella.

While I do love pinto beans and black beans, I always have a soft spot for Rajma aka the Desi kidney beans. So I used kidney beans, also called as Rajma to make these quesadillas.

This recipe is not made from scratch. This is a semi-homemade recipe. I m using store-bought tortillas and canned kidney beans. After all, who wants to make everything from scratch in this scorching weather, tell me?

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If I have to pick my favorite cuisine, it will be Mexican, hands-down. I love how similar it is to Indian cuisine and yet, the flavors are so different. I also love Mexican because it is very vegan-friendly. Cheese and sour cream are probably two of the most used dairy ingredients in Mexican food. And these can easily be given a miss.

Ingredients

I have used canned kidney beans and flour tortillas here. You can also use canned red beans or pinto beans for this recipe. As for the tortillas, I have used wholemeal flour tortillas. Corn tortillas or even the regular flour tortillas work well here.

If you are interested, you can even try making whole wheat tortillas and make some whole wheat quesadillas.

Veggies- Sweet corn kernels give a nice sweet bite in this recipe. Bell peppers add a crunch in the filling. Personally, I love both these veggies in my quesadillas.

Cheese- In this kidney bean quesadilla, I have used sliced cheddar. You can also use grated cheddar. For this recipe, you will need 1/2 c grated cheddar. Both white and red cheddar work equally well here. You can also grate cheese cubes to use here.

Cilantro– Like all mexican recipes, quesadilla filling too uses cilantro. And because I love it, I tend to add a little more than usual. Feel free to adjust the amount of cilantro based on your preferences.

Prep work, shelf life and storage

Prep

Since we are using canned beans, frozen sweet corn kernels and flour tortillas, not much has to be done in terms of prep. However, this filling is freezer-friendly. I usually make a double batch and freeze half. This way, I can whip up these quesadillas at a moment’s notice.

Shelf life and storage

To freeze the filling, simply transfer the portion you want to freeze to a freezer-safe bag or box. I recommend using a freezer-friendly silicone bag. If you are using a zip-lock bag or silicone bag, then make sure to release all the air out and flatten the bag evenly. Label it with the date. Freeze till ready to use.

Whenever you want to use the filling, add it to a pan and gently reheat on low flame for about 5 mins.

Frozen quesadilla filling keeps well for 3 weeks in the freezer and 3 days in the fridge.

Recipe Notes

You can also mash the beans lightly using a potato masher for a creamier filling.
Adding oil to toast the quesadillas is completely optional.
I prefer toasting the quesadillas on low heat till the cheesy starts to melt.
Do not add too much filling. This will make it difficult to flip the quesadillas.

Method

Making the filling

Heat a pan with oil.
Toss in the onions, garlic and bell peppers next.Mix well and saute till onions become pink and soft.
Next, add the spice powders and saute for half a min.
Now, toss in the tomatoes and cook till mushy.
Add the beans along with the sweet corn next. Stir and mix well.Cook for 1 to 2 mins. When done, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.Set aside.

Making Kidney bean quesadilla

Heat a griddle. Brush 1/2 a tsp oil on the griddle.Place the tortilla on it and cook for 20 secs.
Add 1/2 c of the bean filling in such a way that it covers only one half of the tortilla.
Place the cheese slice over this. Or sprinkle grated cheddar if you are using grated cheese.
Fold the tortilla over. Cook on medium flame for 30 secs.
Using a flat ladle, gently flip the quesadilla and cook for another 30 secs until the tortilla is toasted. Slice into two and serve hot. Repeat with the remaining filling and tortilla.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve these lip-smacking cheesy quesadillas with either of these or some sour cream and the classic tomato salsa.

kidney bean quesadilla served with a tomato salsa on a slate board

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Kidney Bean Quesadilla

Protein rich and cheesy quesadillas made with kidney beans.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: whole quesadillas

Ingredients

For the stuffing

1 c drained and canned Kidney beans
1/2 c finely chopped Onion
2 tsp grated Garlic
1/2 c frozen sweet corn
1/4 c finely chopped bell peppers
1/2 c finely chopped tomatoes
1 tsp Red paprika
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 slices cheddar or 1/2 c grated cheddar
1/4 tsp Salt or to taste
1 tbsp Oil 1 tbsp
1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro leaves

For The Quesadilla

2 flour tortillas
2 tsp oil

Instructions

Making the filling

Heat a pan with oil.
Toss in the onions, garlic and bell peppers next.Mix well and saute till onions become pink and soft.
Next, add the spice powders and saute for half a min.
Now, toss in the tomatoes and cook till mushy.
Add the beans along with the sweet corn next. Stir and mix well.Cook for 1 to 2 mins.
When done, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.Set aside.

Making Kidney bean quesadilla

Heat a griddle. Brush 1/2 a tsp oil on the griddle.
Place the tortilla on it and cook for 20 secs.
Add 1/2 c of the bean filling in such a way that it covers only one half of the tortilla.
Place the cheese slice over this.
Or sprinkle grated cheddar if you are using grated cheese.
Fold the tortilla over.
Cook on medium flame for 30 secs.
Using a flat ladle, gently flip the quesadilla and cook for another 30 secs until the tortilla is toasted.
Slice into two and serve hot. Repeat with the remaining filling and tortilla.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

More kidney bean recipes

Weekly Vegetarian Meal Plan 2

June 13, 2021 By Anusha 3 Comments

Your weekly vegetarian meal plan for this week is here. We have some easy recipes that will make the heat more tolerable for you all, this week. But before I share the meal plan, I just wanted to share that I was touched with the response I received for the last week’s meal plan. Thank you so much for the love.

I m going to keep this week’s meals simple, quick and healthy. I m back to packing lunches and so, it is going to be a week of Rotis.

This week’s recipes

Monday

Breakfast- Rava Idli and Tomato chutney

Lunch- Rotis, Mushroom Rogan Josh, sprouts salad

Dinner- Singapore noodles

Tuesday

Breakfast- Coriander Poha, yogurt

Lunch- Avocado paratha, Raswali kohhlrabi

Dinner- Thai style quinoa salad

Wednesday

Breakfast- Mango overnight oats

Lunch- Instant pot vegetable pulao, and Masoor dal tadka

Dinner- Tomato soup and garden salad

Thursday

Breakfast- Banana coffee smoothie with nuts

Lunch- Rice, sweet potato curry, Jeera Rasam,and carrot kosambari

Dinner- Sabudana Kichdi, yogurt

Friday

Breakfast- Mandakki Upma ( Pori Upma)

Lunch- Jeera rice, and Spinach Dal

Dinner- Easy Arabiatta pasta, and Mango lemonade

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Join our facebook group for millet recipes. Tried Vegetarian weekly meal plan? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

Download this week’s meal plan and grocery list here

Tomato Blues Weekly Indian Meal Plans (1)Download

Prep Work

Over the weekend-

Roast peanuts
Shop for groceries that you do not have.
Sprout the Moong beans

On Sunday Night

Roast semolina and other spices as mentioned in the recipe. Set aside.
Set yogurt.
Make dough for rotis
Chop veggies for noodles.
Prep the mushrooms.

On Monday Night

Chop the Kohlrabi
Prep the dough for Paratha.
Make the salad vinaigrette.

On Tuesday Night

Prep the overnight oats.
Chop veggies for Pulao and soak the dal if needed.
Chop veggies for the salad.
Make croutons if you are adding it to the salad.

On Wednesday Night

Make the smoothie.
Roast ingredients and make the spice blend for the sweet potato curry.
Shred carrots.
Prep the coconut and freeze.
Soak tamarind for rasam if you dont have tamarind paste.

On Thursday Night

Make the mango lemonade and allow it to chill in the fridge.

Dont forget to relax and unwind on Friday night and Saturday before you begin the next week.

Spinach Dal/ Dal Palak – Instant Pot& Stovetop

June 12, 2021 By Anusha 6 Comments

Spinach Dal is a classic combination of pigeon pea lentils and spinach. We also call this Dal Palak or Palak Dal. There are so many variations to this wholesome and nourishing dish. For instance, we have the Palak Koora Pappu in South India and this is an Andhra special.

Do I need to say, spinach and split pigeon pea lentils are a match made in heaven? Or that it tastes heavenly with a dash of garlic? This is a vegan-friendly dal that can be made in a stovetop pressure cooker too.

In our house, Dal is something we enjoy regularly. My daughter loves all kinds of Dal and I rotate my lentils whenever I make some. Not all days have Toor dal. Whenever there is a heavy meal, I make Moong dal since it is light and easier to digest.

Why we love this Spinach Dal?

Protein-rich and iron-rich dal that is just perfect when you crave for a comfort meal.
Can be doubled in a pinch and easily serves a crowd.
This spinach garlic dal is freezer-friendly and can be made vegan easily.

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Ingredients

Spinach- This is our star ingredient. Palak and Toor dal complement each other so well. You can use baby spinach to make this dal too.

Toor Dal- In this recipe, we are going to cook Toor dal to a mushy consistency and combine it with other ingredients. In case you do not have this dal, you can use split yellow moong Dal to make this too.

Garlic- Like the title suggests, garlic is our dominant flavor in this recipe. Apart from flavoring, garlic also helps reduce gassiness and bloating that Dal normally gives.

Aromatics- Lastly, this recipe uses very minimal spices and ghee as aromatics. Apart from ghee, we will be using some regular red chili powder and turmeric. That is all. This is such a simple recipe.

This is just an overview of the ingredients used here. Check the recipe card for a precise ingredient measures and instructions.

Vegan Spinach Garlic Dal

As you can see, this creamy dal uses ghee. If you want to make this into a vegan Dal, then you can use any neutral-flavored vegetable oil or cold-pressed coconut oil. While Canola or rice bran oil will work well here, garlic fried in coconut oil has a unique taste and flavor. So my bet is on coconut oil.

Meal Planning and Prep Work

Meal Planning

This dal freezes very well. After cooking the dal, allow it to cool down fully. When cool, transfer to clean freezer-safe boxes and freeze. To use frozen spinach dal, allow it to thaw in the fridge for 3 to 4 hours. When thawed, transfer to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat gently and serve hot.

You can also use the microwave to thaw your frozen dal. Make sure you use a microwave-safe glass bowl to do this.

Prep Work

If you are going to use Indian spinach, this Dal may take some time in terms of prep work. So I suggest that you begin with cleaning the Palak. Soak the Toor dal before beginning to clean the dal. This will minimize the cooking time for the Dal too.

While the dal is getting pressure-cooked, chop the onions, garlic, ginger and tomatoes.

You can also use your Instant Pot to cook your Toor dal.

Method

Instant Pot Spinach Dal

Wash and soak the Toor dal in 2 c water for about 20 mins. This helps speed up the cooking process.

Insert the inner pot into the Instant pot. Turn on Saute Mode on Normal for 8 mins. Wait till the display reads HOT.

When the display reads HOT, add oil/ ghee. After 20 to 30 secs, add the cumin seeds, green chili and finely chopped garlic. Saute till garlic becomes a light brown.

Now, add the finely chopped onions and saute for 1 min till the onions become pink and soft. When onions are done, quickly tip in the ground spices and finely chopped tomatoes. Mix to combine.

Add salt and mix well.

Drain the soaked dal fully. Add this soaked Toor dal to the inner pot. Add water to this and mix well. Now add finely chopped spinach, stir to combine, and press Cancel.

Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted properly in the IP lid. Close the IP and turn the valve to SEALING. Turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH PRESSURE FOR 9 MINS.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.

When the pressure has released, open the lid and gently mash the dal with a potato masher or a ladle. Add 1/2 c water if you find that the consistency is too thick.

Tempering

Now, heat another small pan with ghee. Use cold-pressed coconut oil for a vegan version. Add finely chopped garlic and when the garlic begins to brown, add 1 tsp crushed Kasuri Methi. Immediately switch off the flame.

Transfer this fried garlic mixture to the Dal and stir to combine. Serve hot.

Variations

You can add both ginger and garlic to this Dal Palak recipe. Or you can even add 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste after you add the cumin seeds.
Adding 1/2 tsp garam masala lifts up the flavors in this easy Dal recipe.
In this recipe, you can skip the red chilli powder completely and just make it with green chillies alone. Just remember to fish out the green chilies before serving.
The time taken to cook the lentils may differ depending on the brand and its age. You can also make Dal Palak with red lentils or moong lentils.

Serving suggestions

You can make this a whole meal by cooking rice along with the Dal. To do this, we can use the pot in pot cooking method. Just before closing the lid of the IP, place a tall trivet in the inner pot. Wash 1 c rice in a colander. Add the washed rice to a stainless steel pot.

Add 2 cups of water to the rice along with 1/2 tsp oil. Place the rice pot on the tall trivet and cover it with a lid. Now proceed with pressure cooking the recipe as directed here.

Just remember to use a deep pot that is compatible with the Instant Pot while following the pot in pot cooking method.

You can check out a step by step tutorial for pot in pot cooking in our Instant Pot whole masoor dal post.

More Dal Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Spinach Garlic Dal ? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

Spinach garlic dal served in a wooden bowl placed on a wooden plate

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5 from 3 votes

Spinach Garlic Dal

Easy, wholesome and nutritious lentils cooked with spinach and flavored with loads of garlic.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Pressure release time10

Course: Mains

Cuisine: Indian

Servings:

Equipment

Pressure cooker

Ingredients

1 tbsp Oil/ghee
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp minced garlic
2 small green chilis chopped roughly
3/4 c finely chopped Onion
3/4 tsp Red chili powder Red paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
3/4 c finely chopped tomato
1.25 tsp Salt or to taste
1/2 c Toor dal split pigeon peas 1/3 c
2 c Water
2 c Tightly packed Finely chopped Spinach

For adjusting consistency

1/2 c Water if needed

For tempering

1 tsp Oil
3 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 tsp Crushed Kasuri Methi

Instructions

Wash and soak the Toor dal in 2 c water for about 20 mins. This helps speed up the cooking process.

Instant Pot Method

Insert the inner pot into the Instant pot.
Turn on Saute Mode on Normal for 8 mins.
Wait till the display reads HOT.
When the display reads HOT, add oil or ghee.
After 20 to 30 secs, add the cumin seeds, green chili and finely chopped garlic.
Saute till garlic becomes a light brown.
Now, add the finely chopped onions and saute for 1 min till onions become pink and soft.
When onions are done, quickly tip in the ground spices and finely chopped tomatoes.
Mix to combine.
Add salt and mix well.
Drain the soaked toor dal and add this to the inner pot.
Add water to this and mix well. Now add finely chopped spinach, stir to combine and press Cancel.

Instant Pot Cooking Mode and Timing

Ensure that the sealing ring is fitted properly in the IP lid.
Close the IP and turn the valve to SEALING.
Turn on PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH PRESSURE FOR 9 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.
When the pressure has released, open the lid and gently mash the dal with a potato masher or a ladle.
Add 1/2 c water if you find that the consistency is too thick.

Tempering

Now, heat another small pan with ghee.
Use cold-pressed coconut oil for a vegan version.
Add finely chopped garlic and when the garlic begins to brown, add 1 tsp crushed Kasuri Methi.
Immediately switch off the flame.
Transfer this fried garlic mixture to the Dal and stir to combine. Serve hot.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

Wash and soak the Toor dal in 2 c water for about 20 mins. This helps speed up the cooking process.
Heat a 3 litre deep pressure pan with oil or ghee.
Add the cumin seeds and wait for it to crackle.
Now add minced garlic and green chilis.
Wait for the garlic to begin to brown.
Next, add finely chopped onions and saute on medium flame for 1 to 2 mins.
Saute the onions till they turn pink and soft.
Next, add the spice powders,salt and tomatoes.
Add 1/2 c water and stir to combine.
Cook till tomatoes become mushy.
Drain the soaked toor dal well and add it to the pressure cooker.
Add water and spinach leaves. Mix.
Close the pressure cooker with the lid and put the weight on.
Cook this on medium flame for 5 whistles.
Once done, allow pressure to release naturally.
When done, open and mix well to combine.
Heat a small pan with ghee/oil.
Add the finely chopped garlic.
Fry the garlic till it begins to brown.
Add kasuri methi to this and immediately switch off the flame.
Now, transfer the fried garlic mixture to the dal and stir well.
Serve hot.

Notes

You can also use split moong dal to make this recipe. For every 1/2 c of Moong dal, use 1.5 c water. Moong dal becomes thicker after cooking. So please add up to 3/4 c of water to adjust the consistency once the dal has cooked.
I highly recommend soaking Toor dal. Please do not skip soaking especially if you are cooking rice along with the dal.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore more spinach recipes

Lychee Rose Chia Pudding- Pink Chia Pudding

June 11, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Lychee Rose Chia pudding is the perfect summer breakfast. Chilled breakfasts are such a welcome change during hot summers. Lychees or Litchis are in season now. I have always loved this jelly like meaty fruit. And I never come back without buying a box when I spot them at the wet market here.

Rose and lychee are like soul sisters. They compliment each other so well. Subtle rose flavors and the sweet lychee come together like notes in a symphony. Yes. You can quite imagine how much I love this combination. Needless to say, I always have at least 5 cans of the Heaven n Earth’s Lychee Rose white tea sitting on my desk.

Why should you try this Lychee chia pudding?

Chia pudding in itself is a nutrient-dense breakfast treat.

This rose-flavored lychee chia pudding is free from refined sugar.

It is also vegan, gluten-free, and high in protein.

And finally, it is a no-cook breakfast that is just perfect for batch-prepping.

Ingredients

In our lychee chia pudding, chia is the key ingredient. Other than this we will be using non-dairy milk and fresh lychees. I have used edible food-grade rose extract for aromatics. You can use food-grade rose water if you cannot source rose extract.

I love maple syrup and so I went with that as my choice of sweetener. You can also add agave in place of maple syrup.

Method

Blooming the chia

In a mixing bowl, combine chia seeds, rose extract and 1/4 cup almond milk. Mix well. Let this sit for 30 mins. After 30 mins, you can see that the chia has bloomed and the mixture looks jelly like.

Adding lychee

While the chia sits, prep the lychee. Wash them under running water. Peel them and pit them using a fruit knife. Chop the lychee into small pieces and set them aside.

When the chia has bloomed and is ready, add the chopped lychee and the remaining almond milk. Stir in the maple syrup and add the beetroot powder.

Mix well. Transfer to a clean sterilized glass jar. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

That is all. Our Lychee rose chia pudding is ready.

Recipe Notes

Chia has to be bloomed before mixing in the other ingredients. Never eat chia raw or without blooming them. These tiny seeds tend to expand in size. When you swallow them raw, they may swell up inside your throat. This may cause choking. Please do not skip this step.
Low fat coconut milk works well in this recipe too. I have used unsweetened almond milk in this recipe.
I did not want to use food colors. So I picked beetroot powder. A little goes a long way when it comes to beet powder. For a pretty pink, 1/2 tsp was more than enough.
Tinned lychees tend to have added sugar in them. For this reason, I will not recommend using them if you are looking for a recipe that has no refined sugar in them. If you are not very particular about this, feel free to use tinned lychees. Drain them fully and chop them into little pieces and use as directed in the recipe.
Chia puddings taste best when served chilled. Allow them to chill in the fridge for atleast 2 hours before eating. The pudding thickens further as it chills.
You can also add some lychees as topping before eating.
I have used a 250 ml jar to make this chia pudding.

Variations

To make this chia pudding healthier and more filling, sprinkle some pepita or hemp hearts before eating.
More fresh fruits like mangoes or berries work well as toppings.

More ways to incorporate chia

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Join our facebook group for millet recipes. Tried mango coconut vegan overnight oats? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

lychee rose chia pudding in a glass jar perched on a wooden tray, lychees scattered around

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No ratings yet

Lychee Rose Chia Pudding

Lychee and rose come together in this refreshing summer breakfast treat

Prep Time40

Chilling Time2

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American, International

Servings: jar

Equipment

Mixing bowl
fruit knife
250 ml jar

Ingredients

1.5 tbsp Chia seeds
1/2 c unsweetened almond milk
3/4 tsp edible food-grade rose extract use 1 tbsp food grade rose water instead if you are unable to source.
1 tbsp Maple or Agave syrup
10-12 fresh lychees peeled and chopped about 1/3 c
1/4 tsp beetroot powder

Instructions

Blooming the chia

In a mixing bowl, combine chia seeds, rose extract and 1/2 cup almond milk.
Mix well. Let this sit for 30 mins.
After 30 mins, you can see that the chia has bloomed and the mixture looks like jelly..

Adding lychee

While the chia sits, prep the lychee.
Wash them under running water.
Peel them and pit them using a fruit knife.
Chop the lychee into small pieces and set them aside.
When the chia has bloomed and is ready, add the chopped lychee and the remaining almond milk.
Stir in the maple syrup and add the beetroot powder.
Mix well. Transfer to a clean sterilized glass jar.
Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Notes

Chia has to be bloomed before mixing in the other ingredients. Never eat chia raw or without blooming them. These tiny seeds tend to expand in size. When you swallow them raw, they may swell up inside your throat. This may cause choking. Please do not skip this step.
The pudding thickens further as it chills.
Low fat coconut milk works well in this recipe too.
I did not want to use food colors. So I picked beetroot powder. A little goes a long way when it comes to beet powder. For a pretty pink, 1/4 tsp was more than enough.
Tinned lychees tend to have added sugar in them. For this reason, I will not recommend using them if you are looking for a recipe that has no refined sugar in them. If you are not very particular about this, feel free to use tinned lychees. Drain them fully and chop them into little pieces and use as directed in the recipe.
Chia puddings taste best when served chilled. Allow them to chill in the fridge for atleast 2 hours before eating.
You can also add some lychees as topping before eating.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Explore more lychee recipes

Instant Pot Bisi Bele Bath- Easy Bisi Bele Bath

June 10, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Instant Pot Bisi Bele Bath is the easier way to make this classic South Indian dish. This is a South Indian style rice and split pigeon peas medley. This wholesome and nourishing dish has veggies, some tangy tamarind, and fresh ground spices. Eaten for breakfast and lunch, this has its origins in Karnataka, which is a Kannada-speaking Southern state in India.

Bisi Bele Bath is the Kannada name for this dish and it translates to hot dal and rice. The authentic version has short-grained rice, Toor dal, tamarind, and a flavorful spice powder that has coriander seeds, cloves, and cinnamon among other things.

And if you are wondering if Sambar sadam and this are the same, then the answer is no. Sambar sadam is a typical Tamil style dish and uses Sambar powder. Even though they use similar ingredients, the little things are what make this wholesome dish uniquely different from Sambar Sadam.

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I have often marveled at the genius of this one-pot dish. When you think about it, it is a wholesome, balanced meal in itself. The rice provides the carbs, dal, protein, and veggies the micronutrients. The spices and the tamarind have all sorts of beneficial properties.

Ingredients

Rice/ Carbs

Short-grained rice, typically, Sona Masuri or raw rice is used. You can also use brown rice, quinoa, or millet in its stead.

Dal/ lentils

This recipe is simply incomplete without Toor Dal ( split pigeon peas). One of the main factors in nailing this dish right is the rice and dal proportions.

Tamarind

I have used tamarind extract here. To make this tamarind extract, soak 10g tamarind in 7 tbsp warm water for 20 mins. After 20 mins, squeeze the tamarind well along with the water. Discard all the strings and seeds. This is our tamarind extract. If you do not have access to tamarind, you can also use tamarind paste.

For the quantity of ingredients mentioned in this recipe, you will need 1.5 tbsp tamarind paste and 7 tbsp warm water. Just whisk everything well using a balloon whisk.

Vegetables

I have used a combination of carrots, beans, and peas. This is by far the best combination that works here. Other than this, I have used shallots. If you cannot source shallots, please use 1/4 finely chopped regular onions or just skip them.

Spice powder

Now comes the most interesting part of this recipe. I love Bisi Bele Bath masala powder. And I always have a stash of it in my freezer. In this recipe, I have used homemade MTR style Bisi Bele Bath Masala. You can use any store-bought Bisi Bele bath masala mix to make this.

Jaggery

The authentic recipe has a hint of jaggery. This balances the tangy and spicy tastes beautifully in this iconic Karnataka dish. Please do not use maple syrup, agave, or brown sugar in place of jaggery. You can use palm jaggery or coconut sugar instead of jaggery.

Variations

Like I mentioned before, you can use millet, brown rice, or quinoa in place of regular rice in this recipe.

Here are the proportions, cooking time and mode:

Instant Pot Millet Bisi Bele Bath

Barnyard millet or Kodo millet or little millet works well here. For every 3/4 c of millet used, you need 10 tbsp Toor dal. Wash and soak both together in 3 c water for 30 mins. You will need 4 c water to make this millet Bisi Bele bath in Instant pot.

Cooking mode and timings- Pressure Cook Mode- High Pressure- 14 mins- Natural Pressure Release

In a regular pressure cooker, cook for 5 whistles and wait for stovetop pressure to release naturally.

Instant Pot Quinoa Bisi Bele Bath

White quinoa works best here. For every 3/4 c quinoa, you will need 6 tbsp toor dal. Combine both and wash them together. Soak this for 30 mins in 3 c warm water. You need 4 c water to make Quinoa Bisi Bele Bath in Instant Pot

Cooking Mode and Timings- Pressure cook mode- High pressure – 9 mins- Natural Pressure release.

I m yet to make quinoa Bisi Bele bath in a regular stovetop pressure cooker. I ll definitely try soon and update here.

Brown rice Bisi Bele Bath

Brown rice tends to be chewier and takes slightly longer to cook. So we will be cooking it for a longer time as well. For every 3/4 c brown rice, you will need 8 tbsp Toor dal. Combine the dal and brown rice and wash well. Add 4 cups of water to this and soak for 45 mins.

To cook brown rice Bisi bele bath in an Instant Pot, you will need 4 cups water for 3/4 c brown rice and 10 tbsp Toor dal.

Cooking Mode and Timings- Pressure Cook mode- High pressure- 18 mins- Natural Pressure release.

In a regular pressure cooker, cook on a medium flame for 6 whistles. Release pressure naturally.

Recipe Notes

Bisi Bele Bath has to be runny and gooey. If you find that all the water has been absorbed after cooking, add 1 c hot boiling water to the cooked mixture, mix well and simmer. To simmer, turn on SAUTE mode on NORMAL for 5 mins and simmer for 5 mins. This applies to quinoa, millet, and brown rice Bisi bele bath. When you add extra water, do not forget to adjust the salt.
Fried cashews, peanuts, and Kara Boondi are all great toppings for this toothsome dish.
This dish tends to thicken as it cools down and overtime. It is also best enjoyed when served piping hot. So please cook and serve accordingly.

Prep work, leftovers and storage

I prefer soaking rice and dal for at least 30 mins. This way, cooking time reduces drastically and there is no fear of the dal being undercooked. While the rice and dal soaks, I prep the veggies and my tamarind.

Leftovers tastes amazing the next day. Try it to believe it! I store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge. To heat up leftovers, allow them to come to room temperature and steam it in the Instant pot for 10 mins. Alternatively, you can also steam the leftovers in a stovetop pressure cooker for 6 to 8 mins.

Reheating leftovers in Instant Pot

To heat up leftover Bisi Bele Bath in the Instant Pot, add 2 c water to the inner pot and place a tall trivet in. Transfer the rice to a stainless steel pot and place this pot over the trivet. Ensure the sealing ring is fitted properly. Close the IP with the lid. Do not put the valve on.

Start a kitchen timer and set it to 10 mins. Now, press the STEAM mode on and allow it to steam for 10 mins. Once done, wait for the pin to drop before opening the lid.

Method

Soaking rice and toor dal

Wash the rice and dal together. Drain all the water used for soaking. Add 4 c water to the washed rice and dal. Soak for 30 mins. While this is soaking, prep the tamarind and cut the veggies.

Sauteeing veggies

Place the inner pot in the Instant Pot. Turn on Saute mode on Normal for 8 mins. Wait for the display to read HOT. When hot, add oil to the inner pot.

Add the cashews and fry till golden. Do not leave the cashews unattended while this happens. As soon as the cashews are done, drain and set them aside.

Now, add the shallots to the pot and fry till they turn soft and pink. Next, add all the veggies and saute for 1 to 2 mins. Tip in the tamarind extract along with salt and jaggery. Simmer this mixture for 2 to 3 mins.

Add the Bisi Bele bath powder, Kashmiri chili powder, and ground turmeric next and mix well. Simmer for 1 min. Drain all the water from the soaking rice and dal. Add this to the pot and add 4 cups water. Mix well.

Press cancel.

Pressure cooking

Ensure the sealing ring of the lid is fitted correctly. Now, close the IP with the lid and turn the valve to SEALING. Turn on RICE mode and allow the cooking cycle to complete.

When the cooking cycle is complete, allow pressure to release naturally.

Press cancel.

Adjusting consistency and simmering

If you find that the rice and dal have absorbed all the water while cooking and the Bisi Bele bath does not look gooey and runny, then, add 1 c hot water to this. Using a potato masher, mash this lightly and mix well.

Now, turn on SAUTE MODE on NORMAL for 5 mins. Simmer for 5 mins.

Garnishing

Heat a small pan with oil. Add mustard seeds and once they pop, add curry leaves. Wait for the curry leaves to crisp up. When done, add this along with the fried cashews to the rice and stir to combine.

Serve hot with any Raita and some potato curry.

Explore More Instant Pot Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Join our facebook group for millet recipes. Tried Instant Pot Bisi Bele Bath? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

Instant Pot Bisi Bele Bath served in a wooden bowl with garnishing of curry leaves and cashews. The bowl is placed over an antique platter and is surrounded by bowls of raita and fried okra.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Instant Pot Bisi Bele Bath

The classic South Indian Bisi Bele Bath is a medley of rice and lentils. Easy one pot dish made in the Instant Pot

Prep Time30

Cook Time23

Pressure Release Time18

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian- South, Karnataka, South Indian

Servings:

Calories: 189kcal

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

For soaking

1/2 c Raw rice
6 tbsp Toor dal Split pigeon pea lentils
3 c Water

Veggies and aromatics

1.5 tbsp Sesame oil or any neutral flavored vegetable oil
10 whole Cashews
10 shallots peeled and chopped
1/2 c cubed carrots
12 french beans chopped into 1 inch long pieces
1/4 c green peas fresh and frozen both work well.
7 tbsp Tamarind extract Soak 10g tamarind in 8 tbsp warm water for 20 mins. Squeeze the soaked tamarind in the warm water well, discard strings and fiber.
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder
1 tbsp Jaggery please do not use maple syrup/ sugar/agave as substitute.
2 tsp Salt or to taste
4 cups water
1 recipe soaked rice and toor dal, water drained fully

For Simmering

1 c Hot water

For tempering

1 tsp Mustard seeds
10 curry leaves

Instructions

Soaking rice and toor dal

Wash the rice and dal together. Drain all the water used for soaking.
Add 4 c water to the washed rice and dal.
Soak for 30 mins.
While this is soaking, prep the tamarind and cut the veggies.

Sauteeing veggies

Place the inner pot in the Instant Pot.
Turn on Saute mode on Normal for 8 mins.
Wait for the display to read HOT.
When hot, add oil to the inner pot.
Add the cashews and fry till golden.
Do not leave the cashews unattended while this happens. Cashews burn quickly.
As soon as the cashews are done, drain and set them aside.
Now, add the shallots to the pot and fry till they turn soft and pink.
Next, add all the veggies and saute for 1 to 2 mins.
Tip in the tamarind extract along with salt and jaggery.
Simmer this mixture for 2 to 3 mins.
Add the Bisi Bele bath powder, Kashmiri chili powder and ground turmeri next and mix well.
Simmer for 1 min. Drain all the water from the soaking rice and dal.
Add this to the pot and add 4 cups water. Mix well.
Press cancel.

Instant Pot Pressure cooking

Ensure the sealing ring of the lid is fitted correctly.
Now, close the IP with the lid and turn the valve to SEALING.
Turn on RICE mode and allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When the cooking cycle is complete, allow pressure to release naturally.
Press cancel.

Adjusting consistency and simmering

If you find that the rice and dal have absorbed all the water while cooking and the Bisi Bele bath does not look gooey and runny, then, add 1 c hot water to this.
Using a potato masher, mash this lightly and mix well.
Now, turn on SAUTE MODE on NORMAL for 5 mins.
Simmer the Bisi Bele bath for 5 mins.

Tempering and Garnishing

Heat a small pan with oil.
Add mustard seeds and once they pop, add curry leaves.
Wait for the curry leaves to crisp up.
When done, add this along with the fried cashews to the rice and stir to combine.
Serve hot with any Raita and some potato curry.

Notes

Bisi Bele Bath has to be runny and gooey. If you find that all the water has been absorbed after cooking, add 1 c hot boiling water to the cooked Bisi bele bath, mix well and simmer. To simmer, turn on SAUTE mode on NORMAL for 5 mins and simmer for 5 mins. This applies to quinoa, millet, and brown rice Bisi bele bath. When you add extra water, do not forget to adjust the salt.
Fried cashews, peanuts, and Kara Boondi are all great toppings for this toothsome dish.
Bisi Bele Bath tends to thicken as it cools down and overtime. It is also best enjoyed when served piping hot. So please cook and serve accordingly.
Nutrition facts mentioned here are provided as a courtesy and not accurate. Please treat them as a rough guide.
Instant pot cooking times will vary based on your geographical location.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Serving: 551g | Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5.2g

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

How to serve?

This has to be served piping hot. It is a very common dish served in many small hole-in-the-wall food joints in Bangalore. They top it with Kara Boondi and serve it with mixed vegetable raita.

Here are some Raita recipes you may enjoy with Bisi Bele Bath

Mango Coconut Overnight Oats

June 9, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Mango coconut overnight oats is that breakfast that makes me want to wake up an hour earlier than usual. Because mango and coconut are so good together. This easy no-cook overnight oats is a burst of tropical summery flavors in your mouth.

And when you can have a healthy breakfast in literally no time, then overnight oats in myriad flavors have to be the best bet.

I will admit. I have come to love coconut in overnight oats. Sometimes, I add more coconut that it becomes more of a coconut mango overnight oats. Mango overnight oats with turmeric is another version we enjoy.

Talk about overnight oats always brings up one question- do you eat it hot or cold? You can do both but for me, cold works. If you are someone like my husband who loves their breakfast hot, then just empty your overnight oats in a bowl. Microwave on medium power for 30 secs twice. And you are good to go.

Why this Mango coconut overnight oats should be your breakfast?

First things first, it’s too pretty. And a cheerful yellow. Ever heard of the saying, “the eyes eat first”?

Comes together in no time.

No-cook breakfast.

Make ahead and eat for a week.

Ingredients

When it comes to overnight oats, I like to look at the recipe as if it were made of small blocks. You can read about how to make some amazing overnight oats on my overnight oats 4 ways post.

Rolled oats– For me, old-fashioned rolled oats always win when it comes to overnight oats. Instant oats soak up all the liquid and become a mush too soon. Rolled oats is just perfect in terms of texture and bite.

Mangoes- Use any variety of mangoes that are in season or available locally. You can also frozen mango puree or frozen mango in this recipe. Just blend frozen mango to a smooth puree to use here.

Almond milk– As always, my first choice of plant milk is almond milk. You can use regular dairy milk (for a non-vegan version) or low-fat coconut milk to make this.

Chia seeds- These need no introduction. Chia is a powerhouse of nutrition and is a very good source of protein.

Sweeteners- Honestly, I got really lucky with mangoes this year. The mangoes that went into this were too sweet and I did not add any sweeteners. However, if you are using frozen mango puree or frozen mangoes, you may need 1.5 tbsp maple syrup or agave for this.

Coconut- What makes this overnight oats recipe fabulous is coconut. I have used desiccated coconut flakes. You can use desiccated shredded coconut too. One more option would be to use tender coconut meat. Just chop them into small bite-sized pieces and mix them up.

You can also use freshly grated coconut. Please note that using freshly grated coconut or tender coconut meat reduces the shelf life of these overnight oats. If you choose to use either of these two, then it is best to eat them within a day.

Aromatics– I have added ground cardamom and vanilla. Coconut and cardamom are like soul sisters. Mango elevates that combination umpteen times more. Other flavors that work well here are ground ginger and ground cinnamon.

Shelf life

This mango coconut overnight oatmeal keeps well in the fridge for a week. I generally batch prep this along with other flavors of overnight oatmeal on Sunday. This way, my breakfast is sorted for a week.

Recipe Notes

If you intend to warm up your mango coconut overnight oats in the morning, then skip adding the finely chopped mangoes as a topping. Instead, add them as a topping after you heat the oats up.
I used 300 ml jars to make this. Make sure you leave some space at the top of the jar to add toppings.
Other toppings that will work well here are raspberries, pepita, goji berries, and strawberries.
This recipe is a dairy-free recipe that uses certified gluten-free rolled oats. Always make sure to check if your oats is certified gluten-free in case you are looking for celiac-friendly, oats-based recipes.
You can also use 1 to 2 tbsp nut butter like almond butter or peanut butter in this recipe. Add it as a topping or swirl it in along with the mango puree. I personally love adding cashew butter to my overnight oats.
Tinned mango puree also works here. Make sure to choose one that is relatively low on added sugar.

Explore more oats recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried mango coconut vegan overnight oats? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

mango coconut overnight oats in a jar placed on a tie-dye towel with a spoon beside.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Mango Coconut Overnight Oats

Easy overnight oats with mango and coconut. Vegan.

Prep Time20

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: International

Servings:

Equipment

Mixing bowl

Ingredients

1 tbsp chia seeds
1.5 c Almond milk
3/4 c Mango puree
1 tsp ground cardamom
1/3 c rolled oats
2 tbsp desiccated coconut flakes

Topping

2 to 3 tbsp finely chopped mango

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine chia seeds with 1/2 c almond milk
Mix well.
Allow it to sit for 10 mins.
Now, add the mango puree, cardamom and coconut to this.
Whisk to mix well.
Add the remaining milk. Stir to combine.
Now, add the oats and mix well, making sure everything is well incorporated.
Transfer to jars,
Top with chopped mango and close the jars.
Refrigerate overnight.
Enjoy chilled in the morning.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Instant Pot Barley

June 8, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Instant Pot Barley is something I have fallen in love with. Earlier, cooking pearl barley used to be such a long process. To be honest, this used to deter me from cooking barley. But now, the IP has changed all that.

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pearl barley cooked in instant pot and served in a white bowl placed over a grey backdrop — Instant Pot barley is so easy to make

You will find two types of barley commonly in the market- pearl barley and hulled barley. Hulled barley is whole grain barley.

This is nutty brown in color and is considered more nutritious than pearl barley. However, it does not taste great. It is chewier and takes forever to cook.

If you want to include barley in your diet, then pearl barley is a good place to start.

Even though pearl barley is considered not as nutritious as hulled barley, it is softer, slightly chewy, and tastes wonderful. It also cooks faster.

Types of barley

The most common varieties are hulled barley and pearl barley. You may also find scotch barley (pot barley), unhulled barley, barley groats or barley flour.

Unhulled barley is barley in its purest form. This is best for barley tea. Yep. Barley tea is a thing and is very popular in Korea.

Hulled barley- This is where the outer husk is removed and the bran is left intact. This is by far the most nutritious form of edible barley. However, this literally takes forever to cook.

Quick-cooking barley– Something similar to breakfast cereal, this is basically partially cooked and steamed barley that cooks instantly. Works well in porridges.

Barley grits- Think of them like corn grits. These are also processed to cut down cooking time and works well in porridges, soup and gruel.

Barley flour– I use this in my baking and add it to my everyday Roti dough too. You can check out my barley flour banana bread recipe to see the flour in action.

In this post, I will share three methods to cook pearl barley. One is the Instant Pot Method. I will also share how to cook pearl barley on the stovetop in an open pan and in the traditional pressure cooker.

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How to cook pearl barley in the Instant Pot?

Place the barley in a colander and wash it well. To the inner insert of your Instant pot, add the washed barley and water along with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp cold-pressed coconut oil. Mix well.

Ensure that the sealing ring is in its correct place in the lid. Close the IP with the lid. Turn the valve to SEALING. Now switch on the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH FOR 15 MINS.

Allow the cooking cycle to complete. When the cooking cycle is complete, do a natural pressure release for 15 mins. After 15 mins, quick-release pressure by turning the valve to venting.

When done, strain the cooked pearl barley in a colander and reserve the water that you just drained. This is our homemade barley water.

Stovetop

Place 1/2 c barley in a colander and wash it well.
Combine the washed barley and 2 cups water.
Add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp oil. Mix well.
Close the pressure cooker with a lid and put the weight on and cook for 5 whistles. Let pressure release naturally.
Please note that in this method, you will not have any excess water.
Barley cooks like rice in the stovetop pressure cooker method.

Open pan

Wash the pearl barley well. Combine the washed pearl barley, 5 cups water, 2 tsp salt and 2 tsp cold pressed coconut oil.
Bring the water to a boil and continue to simmer for 40 to 50 mins or until the barley has cooked.
To check if it has cooked, take a few grains of barley using a slotted spoon.
Press them and if they are soft, then they are cooked.
When done, drain the cooked grains in a colander and reserve the water.

Do you need to soak pearl barley before cooking?

If you have the polished white pearl barley variety, I will not recommend soaking it. When you soak barley before cooking, it becomes mushy and loses its chewy texture when cooking.

If you are using a slightly light brown variety of pearl barley, I recommend washing it once and soaking it for 30 mins before cooking.

How to use barley?

Barley can be used as a replacement for millet or rice in your daily diet. One of its biggest plus is that it is high in fiber. You can also use cooked barley in salads.

Other than this, you can add barley to soups. However, please note that you need not cook barley beforehand while adding to soups.

Explore More Instant Pot Recipes

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Instant Pot Barley

How to cook pearl barley perfectly every time?- Instant Pot, Open Pan and Stovetop Pressure cooker method

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Pressure release time15

Course: Main Course, Sides

Cuisine: International

Servings:

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt

Ingredients

1/2 c Pearl barley
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cold pressed coconut oil
2.5 c Water

Instructions

Washing the pearl barley

Place the barley in a colander and wash it well.

Cooking barley in Instant Pot

To the inner insert of your Instant pot, add the washed barley and water along with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp cold-pressed coconut oil.
Mix well.
Ensure that the sealing ring is in its correct place in the lid.
Close the IP with the lid.

Instant Pot Cooking Mode and Timing

Turn the valve to SEALING.
Now switch on the PRESSURE COOK MODE ON HIGH FOR 15 MINS.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
When the cooking cycle is complete, do a natural pressure release for 15 mins.
After 15 mins, quick-release pressure by turning the valve to venting.
When done, strain the cooked pearl barley in a colander and reserve the water that you just drained.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

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Sandwich Chutney- Bombay street style

June 8, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Green chutney for sandwich is an easy spread. We even call this the Bombay Sandwich chutney. Made with fresh coriander leaves and mint, this is what makes the typical desi Bombay sandwich uniquely delicious

If you have lived in India, especially Bombay ( Mumbai), you will know why this sandwich is to die for. Just a few bread slices ( the concept of whole wheat bread is still new in India and is on the rise), some veggies and a slather of this delicious sandwich chutney will leave you longing for more even as you sit down to your next meal.

Bombay sandwiches are a thing with foodies across India and many try to recreate the magic at home. And also fail. Why? Because the secret to making the perfect Bombay Green Chutney Sandwich lies in the chutney.

Ingredients

The street-style Bombay Sandwich uses a slightly different combination of ingredients. Ever wondered why the chutney does not become a dull green or is thicker than the regular chaat chutney? Well, let me tell you why.

Other than the regular suspects like coriander leaves and mint leaves, this Bombay sandwich chutney uses blanched spinach leaves. This gives the chutney body, a beautiful green color and also the nutrition from spinach.

Lemon juice helps prevent the chutney from changing color. So i generally add some to almost any mint-based chutney that I make.

Bread slice– We will be adding a slice of bread to our chutney to thicken it. This is what makes it easily spreadable. I will not recommend adding coconut or roasted gram dal for this sandwich chutney. Both these ingredients change the taste of the chutney and the sandwich too.

Shelf life and storage

I have found that this chutney keeps well when stored in a clean sterilized glass jar. This lasts in the fridge for 3 days. Use only a clean dry spoon every time you use the chutney.

Other ways to use this chutney

This fresh and flavorful spread is just not limited to sandwiches alone. You can always use them in chaats too. Or you can use them as a topping on crackers or as a dip with Pita chips.

Use this chutney in other sandwiches like Mushroom cheese sandwiches or the chutney cheese sandwich for a filling evening snack. Better yet, use them as a filling in pull-apart breads.

Recipe Notes

Use fresh mint , coriander and spinach leaves for the brightest and freshest looking green chutney.
If you do not have lemon juice, you can use 1 tbsp yogurt or 1 tsp white vinegar as a substitute.
Almost all street vendors use white bread in the chutney. If you are not comfortable using white bread, you can always use whole wheat bread. The color of the chutney will be slightly different in this case.

Method

Blanching the spinach

Boil 3 cups of water. Add the spinach leaves to this, switch off the flame and let it stand for 1 min. After a min, drain all the hot water and wash the spinach under cold water.

Blending

In a blender jar, combine the blanched spinach, coriander leaves, mint leaves, cumin seeds, green chili, 1/2 tsp chaat masala, lemon juice, black salt, sugar and salt. Blend to a coarse paste. Trim the crust of the bread slice. Chop it roughly and add it to the blender.

Now, add 1/4 c water and blend to a smooth paste.

Our Green chutney for sandwiches is ready. Store in a clean, sterilized air-tight glass container in the fridge.

bombay sandwich chutney in a glass jar with cheese slices, herbs and bread slices around

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Green chutney for sandwich

Green chutney for sandwich or the Bombay Sandwich chutney, a spread used to make all types of sandwiches

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Accompaniment

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: c

Author: Anusha Praveen

Ingredients

For blanching spinach

100 g Spinach leaves
3 c Water
25 g Mint leaves
75 g Coriander leaves
1 slice Bread crust removed
1/2 tsp Chaat masala
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1 Green chili
1 tbsp Lemon juice
1/2 tsp Black salt
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Salt or to taste

Instructions

Heat 3 c water in a pot and bring to a boil.
Add spinach leaves to the boiling water, switch off flame and cover the pot.
Let this sit for 1 min.
After a min, drain the spinach completely and wash it under cold water.
In a blender jar, combine the blanched spinach, coriander leaves, mint leaves, green chili, 1/2 tsp chaat masala, cumin seeds, lemon juice, black salt, sugar and salt.
Blend to a coarse paste.
Trim the crust of the bread slice. Chop it roughly and add it to the blender.
Now, add 1/4 c water and blend to a smooth paste
Transfer to a clean air tight container.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Instant Pot Vegan Dal Makhani- Healthier Dal Makhani

June 7, 2021 By Anusha 4 Comments

Instant Pot Vegan Dal Makhani is the healthier, vegan, and gluten-free version of the traditional Dal Makhani. This vegan Dal Makhani uses black lentils, red kidney beans to make a creamy rich lentil curry. An easy one pot Dal, this pairs well with Jeera rice or Parathas.

Two words that come to my mind, the moment when someone mentions Dal Makhani are “rich and buttery”

Dal in Hindi means lentils and Makhani in Hindi translates to buttery or butter. Traditionally, this is a rich and creamy lentil curry made using a combination of red kidney beans and whole black gram. They slow cook this for hours until the lentils are buttery soft and creamy.

But… but…but.. while we do love the butter and the slow-cooked version, neither is practical for today’s lifestyle. This vegan Dal Makhani is something we have come to love. Over the years, we have taught our palates that butter is not always delicious, at least, not to our waistlines. I used to cook this healthier Dal Makhani in my pressure cooker.

The Instant pot changed all that. It is a breeze to make this curry using an Instant Pot. In this post, I will be sharing how to make the creamiest Dal Makhani sans all the butter and the stirring.

Before I launch myself full throttle into the recipe, let me share a few more things.

Black gram vs Beluga lentils

Dal Makhani uses black gram. We call this sabut urad dal in Hindi, Karuppu Muzhu Ulundhu in Tamil and Minnapappu in Telugu. Black gram and black lentils are used interchangeably . However,black gram is just that- gram. They are not lentils. The whole black gram lentils are called Ulutham Paruppu in Tamil and Urad Dal in Hindi.

These grams are called Vigna Mungo and they are not the same as Beluga lentils. Beluga lentils got their name because they resemble Beluga caviar.

Ingredients

This is a very straightforward recipe made with gluten free ingredients. We will be cooking the black gram and kidney beans in a basic onion-tomato curry base using some ground spices and whole spices.

Whole black gram/ whole black urad– This is the star ingredient. There are many variations of Dal Makhani out there. Some of them call for using equal quantities of black gram and canned beans. But personally, we love it when the black gram is more in quantity.

Kidney beans– I have used red kidney beans. You can also use canned kidney beans. If you are using canned kidney beans, drain them and wash them well. There is no need to soak them. Instead, just add them along with the soaked black gram while cooking.

Ginger and garlic- I usually go for my store-bought ginger garlic paste to make any Dal. But for this recipe, I like using freshly chopped ginger and garlic. You can also use ginger-garlic paste instead. Substitute the ginger and garlic in this recipe with 1.5 tsp ginger garlic paste.

Dried fenugreek leaves– Known as Kasuri Methi in Hindi, this imparts a heavenly flavor to any dish in an instant. In our house, we love this herb so much that we even add a sprinkle to our other Dals. I highly recommend adding this to Dal Makhani. However, if you are unable to source it, feel free to give it a miss.

Other spices and ground spices– We will also be using Garam Masala, cumin seeds, bay leaf and paprika for making this dish.

Ways to make Vegan Dal Makhani

There are so many ways to achieve that buttery taste without adding any butter. In my recipe, I have used just 1 tbsp full-fat coconut milk for garnish. You can also use coconut cream, cashew cream, any nut milk of your choice, or just skip this step.

To cook Dal Makhani today, I have used canola oil. You can also use avocado oil or any neutral-flavored vegetable oil.

Making ahead, freezing leftovers and shelf life

Making ahead

Because this is an Instant Pot recipe, you can always make this 8 hours ahead and leave the keep warm function on. Dal Makhani keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days. It tastes better the next day, in fact. And since it is impossible to make a small batch, you can always freeze the leftovers.

Freezing Dal Makhani

Allow the Dal Makhani to cool completely. When cool, freeze in freezer-safe containers in portions. It is always easier to thaw smaller portions. So whenever you freeze curries or dal, I suggest freezing them in small portions that are about 250 ml in quantity.

Dump and Go Dal Makhani

I have tried this too! Add the oil, spices, onions,ginger-garlic, spice powders, tomatoes, soaked lentils and water in layers in this order to the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Place the inner pot in the IP. Ensure the sealing ring is in place and close the lid.

Turn the valve to sealing. Switch on the IP and set it to Bean/Chili mode. That is it. You need not saute anything. Just let the cooking cycle complete. Once it is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally. Open and mix well. Mash gently. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Recipe Notes

You can make the same recipe in any electric pressure cooker. This recipe works very well in the Mealthy Multipot too.
I recommend a soaking time of at least 4 hours. Soaking reduces the cooking time and also aids in easy digestion of lentils and legumes. If you want to make it in the morning, you can also soak both the beans overnight.
It is absolutely normal for the beans to look a dark blackish green after soaking. Please do not freak out.

Method

Prepping the beans

Place the beans in a colander and wash them under running water. Combine the washed beans and 3 c water in a large bowl. Soak this for 4 to 6 hours. You can skip soaking the kidney beans if you are using canned kidney beans.

Making Dal Makani

Place the inner pot inside the IP. Switch on the IP and choose Saute mode on normal for 8 mins. Wait for the display to read HOT. When hot, add the oil. After 30 secs, add the cumin seeds and bay leaf.

When the cumin seeds begin to crackle, add ginger, garlic and finely chopped onions. Mix and saute for 1.5 mins or until the onions become pink and soft. At this stage, add the crushed Kasuri Methi, spice powders and salt. Mix well. Cook for 20 secs.

In the traditional Dal Makhani, they use a method called Dhungar. In this, they place a small piece of burning coal inside the dish and cover it just for a few seconds. This gives a beautiful smoky flavor. This is what they call as the Dhaba style Dal Makhani.

I prefer using smoked paprika to achieve this smoky flavor. While it may not be the real deal, it does give a nice smoky flavor.

Immediately, tip in the chopped tomatoes. Mix well and cook for 2 to 3 mins until tomatoes turn mushy. While the tomatoes are cooking, drain the beans completely and wash them once. When the tomatoes have cooked, add the soaked beans,maple syrup and water. Mix well.

Instant Pot Cooking Mode and Timing

Press cancel button. Ensure the sealing ring of the Instant Pot lid is in place. Now, close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to sealing.

Press the Bean/ Chili Mode. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

Pressure Release

When cooking is complete, do a quick pressure release after 5 mins of natural pressure release. That is, wait for 5 minutes before releasing pressure manually. Leave the Keep Warm mode on after the cooking is complete to keep track of the time. Make sure to be careful when doing a quick pressure release.

Quick pressure release means turning the valve from sealing to venting manually. By doing this, the pin drops, and the pressure is released manually. Please use a ladle or spoon to do this and keep your face away from the lid when you do a QPR.

Simmering

Open the lid and mix well using a ladle. Mash the lentils using a potato masher. Now, add 1 cup, water to the dal and stir to combine.

Turn on the Saute mode on Normal for 5 mins and simmer the dal for 5 mins. Towards the end, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Serving

Just before serving the Dal Makhani, swirl in the coconut milk on the top and serve hot.

Explore More Instant Pot Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Instant Pot Vegan Dal Makhani? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

Serving Suggestions

This Dal tastes great with any flatbreads or rice. The typical restaurant style Dal Makhani tastes great when you scoop it up with buttery naans or mix it with Pulao.

Pair this vegan Dal Makhani with

Jeera rice- Indian style cumin rice.

Whole wheat kulcha

or just steamed Basmati rice.

instant pot vegan dal makhani served in a black ladled bowl placed on an antique plate. Lemon wedges and onions with cumin rice by the side.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Vegan Dal Makhani

Creamy delicious black gram and kidney beans cooked with whole and ground spices in the Instant Pot

Prep Time6

Cook Time43

Pressure release time5

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: North Indian, Punjabi

Servings:

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt

Ingredients

Beans

1 c Whole black Urad dal Black gram
1/4 c Kidney beans Rajma

For Dal Makhani

1.5 tbsp Neutral vegetabble oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
4 cloves garlic very finely chopped
2 tsp finely chopped ginger
3/4 c finely chopped onions
1/2 c finely chopped tomatoes
1 tsp paprika Red chili powder
1 tsp Smoked paprika
1/2 tsp crushed kasuri methi
1.5 tsp Salt or to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander Dhania powder
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 tbsp Maple syrup Use 1.5 tsp brown sugar as a substitute
2+1 c water 1 c water to be added to the dal after it is cooked.

To serve

2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
1 tbsp coconut milk

Instructions

Soaking the beans

Place the beans in a colander and wash them under running water.
Combine the washed beans and 3 c water in a large bowl.
Soak this for 4 to 6 hours.
You can skip soaking the kidney beans if you are using canned kidney beans.

Making Dal Makani

Place the inner pot inside the IP.
Switch on the IP and choose Saute mode on normal for 8 mins.
Wait for the display to read HOT.
When hot, add the oil. After 30 secs, add the cumin seeds and bay leaf.
When the cumin seeds begin to crackle, add ginger, garlic and finely chopped onions.
Mix and saute for 1.5 mins or until the onions become pink and soft.
At this stage, add the crushed Kasuri Methi, spice powders and salt.
Mix well. Cook for 20 secs.
Immediately, tip in the chopped tomatoes.
Mix well and cook for 2 to 3 mins until tomatoes turn mushy.
While the tomatoes are cooking, drain the beans completely and wash them once.
When the tomatoes have cooked, add the soaked beans, maple syrup and water. Mix well.

Instant Pot Cooking Mode and Timing

Press cancel button.
Ensure the sealing ring of the Instant Pot lid is in place.
Now, close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to sealing.
Press the Bean/ Chili Mode.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

Pressure Release

When cooking is complete, do a quick pressure release after 5 mins of natural pressure release.
That is, wait for 5 mins before releasing pressure manually.
Leave the Keep Warm mode on after the cooking is complete to keep track of the time.
Make sure to be careful when doing a quick pressure release.

Simmering

Open the lid and mix well using a ladle.
Mash the lentils using a potato masher.
Now, add 1 c water to the dal and stir to combine.
Turn on the Saute mode on Normal for 5 mins and simmer the dal for 5 mins.
Towards the end, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Serving

Just before serving the Dal Makhani, swirl in the coconut milk on the top and serve hot.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Indian Meal Plans-Vegetarian Meal Plan 1

June 6, 2021 By Anusha 2 Comments

Indian meal plans, ideas for meal planning for the week, and healthy recipes.

What is meal planning?

Have you ever wondered why cooking on a daily basis can be so stressful? Yes, I mean it. In an average Indian family, we cook almost 3 meals a day and most are from scratch. Smoothies, toasts and cereal are a very recent development. It is still unheard of, in many homes.

Let me tell you a secret. The fact that you do not know what to cook is more stressful than the cooking process. Just imagine- you open the fridge and veggies stare at you. But you do not know what to cook or where to start? This is one of the most frustrating moments, especially for working people.

Enter meal planning. You buy your grocery, fruits and veggies on Saturday. And decide on the week’s menu on Sunday morning. This way, you will have lots of time to prepare for the weekly meals. Small things, when prepped ahead, can make a huge difference.

Not only does meal planning help save time but it also helps minimize food waste. When you have a clear idea of what to buy and what is in stock, every week, this helps to understand how much has to be restocked and what has to be refilled.

Tips to make meal planning a breeze

Cooking meals at home from scratch is not only economical but also a healthy lifestyle. We know what goes into our meals. This also means we can cut down on snacking and eat healthier. Healthy eating definitely means happy living.

Here is a list of things that you can keep handy in your pantry or fridge to save time over the week:

Ginger garlic paste
Tamarind paste
Idli and dosa batter
Chapati dough ( keeps well for 2 days when you wrap it in cling wrap and store it in a pyrex)
Idli podi
Some chutneys to eat with Idli and Dosa
Nut butter
Yogurt

Prep Work

If you are someone who prefers planning the menu for the next day the previous night, even then this will work for you. I prefer chopping veggies over the weekend and storing them in the fridge. Idli dosa batter is also something I grind on Sunday. Apart from this, a little work the previous night can make your life easier.

For this week, I have already made my batter and tomato thokku.

Prep work on previous nights

On Sunday Night

Roast peanuts.
Chop zucchini.
Make watermelon juice and refrigerate.
Knead the dough for Rotis.

On Monday night

Clean and prep curry leaves.
Set yogurt.
Shred carrots.
Make Palak Paratha dough, wrap in cling wrap and place it in a fridge-safe box. Refrigerate.

On Tuesday night

Prep the overnight oats, transfer to a jar and refrigerate.
Make the dressing for the salad and refrigerate.
Chop veggies except onion& garlic for the fried rice.
Cook rice for fried rice.
Set yogurt if needed.
Make the instant mango pickle.

On Wednesday night

Shred and freeze coconut for the Ragi Puttu
Chop all veggies except onions for upma.

On Thursday Night

Soak for Adai.
Wash drumstick, carrots and beans.

On Friday Night

Sit back and relax. Make sure to recharge yourself on Saturday too before you begin work for the next day.

Please remember that these meal plans are only a guide. You need not follow it to the T. This is just like a rough menu idea for the week. There are bound to be some hitches or it may even turn out that you may have to eat out. Use this meal plan and tweak it as you see fit to make it work for you.

Get this week’s meal plan here-

Indian Vegetarian Meal Plan and Grocery List For This WeekDownload

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Did you use our Indian meal plans for the week? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

Day/ Meal	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Mon	Millet Idli + Peanut Chutney+ Watermelon Agua Fresca	Roti+ Zucchini Channa Dal Chopped Mangoes	Kanda Poha
Tues	Millet Dosa+ Tomato Thokku	Curry leaves rice+ carrot raita Brinjal Podi Curry Sliced Cukes+ Oranges	Palak Paratha+ Zucchini Raita+ Tomato Thokku
Wed	Chocolate Peanut Butter overnight oats+ leftover watermelon juice	Thai Basil fried rice+ Cucumber salad	Chilled curd semiya+ Instant mango pickle
Thur	Ragi Puttu + Banana Gulkand Milkshake	Lemon Rice+ Vazhakai Varuval	Vegetable wheat rava upma+ yogurt+ Mango Milkshake
Fri	Adai + tomato chutney	Rice+ Drumstick Sambar+ Carrot beans poriyal	Uthapams with leftover batter &chutney
Sat	Masala kichdi+ Coconut chutney	Rice + leftover sambar+ Onion rasam	Leftover Adai batter+ yogurt
Sun	Avocado sandwiches	Flex	Leftovers from lunch

Instant Pot Veg Pulao – Easy Vegetable Pulao

June 5, 2021 By Anusha 2 Comments

Instant Pot Veg Pulao is an easy one-pot vegetable and rice medley. This is a vegan pilaf with fragrant basmati rice, veggies, and whole spices. In our family, this Pilaf features on our weekly meal plans once every week. Quick and easy to rustle up, we love this vegetable-loaded rice with a light curry or dal.

Before I share how to make mixed vegetable pulao in the Instant Pot, let me tell you why you should absolutely rely on this recipe-

Works for everyone- for dorm-cooking, bachelor-cooking, and for anyone who is tired but still wants to rustle up a healthy meal.

Vegan-friendly and gluten-free.

Comes together in less than 10 mins of hands-on cooking.

Feeds a crowd easily.

Makes for a filling school or work lunch.

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Ingredients- Substitutes and Replacements

We are going to be using whole spices, veggies and aromatic Basmati rice.

Basmati rice- While this is the most ideal choice for any Pulao, Jasmine rice and good old Sona Masuri will work too. For cooking Jasmine rice pulao, follow the timings for cooking Jasmine rice from our Thai Basil fried rice recipe.

Whole spices- While I have used a combination of whole spices here, you can adjust them based on whatever is available in your pantry. Generally, I do not like adding cumin seeds to veg pulao. Somehow, I feel it begins to taste like Jeera rice. But you can add cumin seeds if you like the flavor. I highly recommend adding cloves, bay leaf, and cardamom though.

Mint leaves- Fresh mint gives a beautiful aroma to the Pulao. You can also use crushed dried mint instead. Use 1/2 tsp crushed dried mint for this recipe.

Veggies- A combination of carrots, green peas and beans works very well every time in this recipe. You can also add cauliflowers, potatoes, broccoli florets and chunks of paneer. If you are adding paneer, add it after the Pulao finishes cooking. Adding it along with rice and veggies while they cook, will make the Paneer rubbery and chewy.

Frozen veggies for Pulao- I chop the veggies while the rice soaks. But you can also use frozen mixed vegetables to make this Instant Pot Vegetable Pulav. Use 1.25 c frozen mixed veggies. You need not thaw the veggies. Just add them as they are, after the onions are sauteed.

Spice powders

In a typical restaurant-style veg pulao, they do not add any spice powders. However, you can also add ground paprika/ cayenne ( red chili powder) instead of green chilis in this recipe. You will need 1 tsp of ground paprika or red chili powder for this. Use cayenne pepper if you want a spicier version.

A sprinkle of Garam Masala after the veggies are sauteed will also give a nice flavor to the pilaf. You can even add store-bought Pulao masala instead of Garam masala. Use 1/2 tsp of Garam masala or Pulao Masala for this recipe.

For a richer version of this easy veg pulao, add cashews and raisins fried in oil/ ghee in the end as a garnish.

Vegan Rice Pilaf with Vegetables

This is a naturally vegan recipe for Instant Pot Veg Pulao. You can use any neutral vegetable oil or cold-pressed coconut oil for making this. In case you are not looking to make this vegan, add ghee or butter for this pilaf.

Variations

Here are some combinations you can use to make this Pulao-

Use just potatoes to make an Instant Pot Potato Pulao. Add spice powders like ground coriander, garam masala or Pav Bhaji masala in this version.

Add some broccoli florets or cauliflower florets along with peas instead of adding all the veggies. A combination of ground turmeric, paprika and garam masala works beautifully for this version. For a better idea, check out our cauliflower peas pulao recipe.

Method

Soaking the rice

Before you begin making this, we need to soak the rice. For this, we need to wash our aromatic Basmati rice under running water until water runs clear. This is an important step in making fluffy pulao.

Washing the rice well gets rid of the starch. This in turn prevents the rice from sticking to the pot and gives us a fluffy pulao.

Place the basmati rice in a colander. Wash under running water until water runs clear. Combine the washed rice with 1.25 cups water and soak for 10 mins. While the rice is soaking, prep the veggies.

Making Instant Pot Veg Pulao

Cooking on Saute Mode

Place the inner pot in the IP. Turn on Saute mode on Normal for 7 mins. Wait for the display to read HOT. When hot, add the oil to glaze the pot. Add the whole spices to the pot and saute for 20 secs. Next, add slit green chilis and ginger garlic paste.

Immediately, tip in the finely chopped onions and mix well. Cook this for 1.5 to 2 mins until the onions turn pink and soft.

Add salt next and mix well. At this stage, add the mint leaves and veggies. Mix well to combine. Continue cooking on saute mode for 2 mins. Add the soaked rice along with the water.

Stir to combine. Add the lemon juice and Kewra Pani ( Screwpine extract) and mix. Allow the water to begin to boil. Press cancel button to end the cooking process in Saute mode.

Pressure cooking

Ensure that the sealing rid is fitted properly in the IP lid. Close the IP and turn the valve to sealing position. Turn on the Pressure cook mode on low pressure for 5 mins. Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

Natural Pressure Release

When the cooking cycle has completed, wait for the pressure to release naturally. It took 18 mins for me. When the pin falls down, you will know that the pressure has released.

Fluffing and serving

Now open the lid and fluff the pulav by mixing gently. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes

Please follow the soaking time, cooking time and pressure release method to get the perfect results. Over soaking rice or cooking for longer than mentioned here will make the pulao mushy.
You can easily double this recipe. For 2 cups of basmati rice, you will need 2.5 c water.
Follow the same recipe and instructions to make vegetable pulao in a Mealthy Multipot or any electric pressure cooker.
I generally do not use the RICE mode for cooking any Basmati rice based dishes in my IP. In my experience, delicate rice varieties like Basmati cook better in Manual mode. Also, in the Manual mode ( Pressure Cook mode), its easier to adjust cooking time, temperature and pressure levels.

Pressure Cooker Veg Pulao

Say, you do not have an IP. You can still make this in a regular pressure cooker. Skip soaking the rice for this version. Heat a 3 liter heavy bottomed pressure cooker and follow all the instructions mentioned till closing the IP lid. Use a medium flame to saute onions and veggies.

After adding the rice and water, close the lid of the PC. Put the weight on and cook on low flame for 1 whistle. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. Once done, open and fluff with a fork.

Explore Pulao Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Instant Pot Veg Pulao? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

instant pot vegetable pulao in a black bowl served with cucumber raita. both bowls placed on a burlap mat over a rustic platter.

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5 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Veg Pulao

Quick and easy one pot vegetable pulav made in the Instant Pot.

Prep Time10

Cook Time5

Pressure Release Time18

Course: Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian, North Indian

Servings:

Equipment

Instant Pot 6 qt

Ingredients

1 c Basmati rice
1.25 c Water
1.5 tbsp Vegetable oil
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
1/2 inch cinnamon stick
1 mace
1 star anise
2 green cardamoms
1.25 tsp Ginger garlic paste
1 c finely chopped onions
1.25 tsp Salt or to taste
10 to 12 fresh mint leaves
1/4 c frozen or fresh green peas
1/2 c cubed carrots
1/2 c finely chopped french beans
1/2 tsp Lemon juice
1/2 tsp Screwpine extract optional but recommended

Instructions

Soaking the rice

Place the basmati rice in a colander.
Wash under running water until water runs clear.
Combine the washed rice with 1.25 cups water and soak for 10 mins.
While the rice is soaking, prep the veggies.

Making Instant Pot Veg Pulao

Cooking on Saute Mode

Place the inner pot in the IP.
Turn on Saute mode on Normal for 7 mins.
Wait for the display to read HOT.
When hot, add the oil to glaze the pot.
Add the whole spices to the pot and saute for 20 secs.
Next, add slit green chilis and ginger garlic paste.
Immediately, tip in the finely chopped onions and mix well.
Cook this for 1.5 to 2 mins until the onions turn pink and soft.
Add salt next and mix well.
At this stage, add the mint leaves and veggies.
Mix well to combine.
Continue cooking on saute mode for 2 mins.
Add the soaked rice along with the water.
Stir to combine.
Add the lemon juice and Kewra Pani ( Screwpine extract) and mix.
Allow the water to begin to boil.
Press cancel button to end the cooking process in Saute mode.

Pressure cooking

Ensure that the sealing rid is fitted properly in the IP lid.
Close the IP and turn the valve to sealing position.
Turn on the Pressure cook mode on low pressure for 5 mins.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.

Natural Pressure Release

When the cooking cycle has completed, wait for the pressure to release naturally.
It took 18 mins for me.
When the pin falls down, you will know that the pressure has released.
Fluffing and serving
Now open the lid and fluff the pulav by mixing gently.
Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Please note that the timings for Instant Pot cooking may vary if you live in a higher altitude location.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Chinese Cucumber Salad- Smashed Cucumber Salad

June 3, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Chinese cucumber salad- Crispy umami-packed bites of refreshing cool cucumbers. Just the perfect salad for a hot day. Take this salad to that barbeque party or serve it up as a side dish with a simple Asian meal featuring fried rice or noodles and I m sure the meal will be loved and relished.

Cucumber salad in pretty much every possible way is so IN right now. Cucumber salad in all forms- smashed cucumber salad, crushed cucumber salad, you name it and it’s there. There are recipes that call for black vinegar in the dressing too.

Basically, it is the cucumber gate crashing at every salad party, only in a good way.

We love cucumbers and I always have a few stashed away in my fridge. It is forever hot in Singapore and crunchy cukes have always been our go-to snack since we moved here. So, why not a cucumber salad, eh?

This Chinese cucumber salad was a surprise. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Soy, Chili oil and garlic to add so much flavor and depth to something so simple as a cucumber. Guess, we have done tofu, paneer and rice with all the umami. It is time to give cucumbers the much-needed umami makeover too.

Ingredients

The main ingredient here is cucumber. I have used Japanese cucumbers but pretty much any variety should work. Choose cucumbers that are tender and those that have fewer seeds. Otherwise, use a corer and remove the seeds and proceed with the recipe.

Other cucumbers that work well here- Persian cucumbers, English cucumbers.

The dressing is pretty much straightforward. All things Umami come together to make for a lip-smacking dressing that reminded me of our Thai style vinaigrette.

And I have used the same dressing to whip up tofu puff salad. Tell me in the comments if you would love to see the recipe.

Recipe Notes

One step will make or break this salad- salting the cucumbers. You absolutely must salt the cucumbers and let them sit for 1 hour before you begin making this salad. Salting helps remove the water from the cucumbers, which means your salad wont become soggy or watered-down after chilling it.
Adding chili oil to the salad has been a game-changer for me. Ever since I tried it in this salad, I have been adding chili oil to pretty much any Asian-inspired dish I make. A word of warning though- Chili oil is super spicy. So go ahead and add it only if you can handle the heat. If you think this is not your game, then try adding red pepper flakes.
Using the right number of garlic cloves is what makes this salad worth all the hype. Too much of it and you will have something like garlic salad. Too little and it simply won’t make the cut.
To make an exemplary Chinese cucumber salad, be sure to add lots of fresh cilantro.

Method

Prep the cucumbers

Wash and pat dry the cucumbers. Core them using a vegetable corer and scoop out all the seeds. Now, slit them vertically into halves. Place the flat side of a cleaver on the cucumber halves and smash them. Now cut them into thick diagonals using a knife.

Salting

Place all the smashed cucumbers in a bowl and add some salt. Toss well and transfer to a colander. Keep the colander over a bowl and let it rest for 1 hour. This will draw out all the water from the cucumbers. After an hour, discard the water collected. Alternatively, you can make some cucumber lemonade with that water too.

Refrigerate the cukes during this time. That way, we can serve this salad cold immediately.

Wash the cucumbers under running water. This will wash away all the excess salt.

Dressing

Place the vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, salt, and garlic in a bowl. Whisk well. Add 1 tsp toasted white sesame seeds to this and mix well.

Putting the salad together

Place the cucumbers in a wide bowl. Pour the dressing over it. Add finely chopped cilantro and remaining toasted sesame seeds. Drizzle the chili oil and combine well.

Serve immediately.

Explore More Salad Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Wheat Kulcha? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this.

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Chinese Cucumber Salad

Refreshingly delightful cucumber salad packed with Umami.

Prep Time1 10

Course: Appetizer, Salads

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Servings:

Ingredients

400 g Japanese cucumbers
1 tsp Sea salt

For the dressing

1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tsp light soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp Palm sugar Or use any dark brown sugar
4 cloves garlic grated
1 tsp Toasted white sesame seeds

To serve

3 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp toasted white sesame seeds
2 tsp Chili oil

Instructions

Prep the cucumbers

Wash and pat dry the cucumbers.
Core them using a vegetable corer and scoop out all the seeds.
Now, slit them vertically into halves. Place the flat side of a cleaver on the cucumber halves and smash them.
Cut them into thick diagonals using a knife.

Salting

Place all the smashed cucumbers in a bowl and add some salt.
Toss well and transfer to a colander.
Keep the colander over a bowl and let it rest for 1 hour.
This will draw out all the water from the cucumbers.
After an hour, discard the water collected.
Refrigerate the cukes during this salting process
Wash the cucumbers under running water. This will wash away all the excess salt.

Dressing

Place the vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, salt, and garlic in a bowl.
Whisk well.
Add 1 tsp toasted white sesame seeds to this and mix well.

Putting the salad together

Place the cucumbers in a wide bowl.
Pour the dressing over it.
Add finely chopped cilantro and remaining toasted sesame seeds.
Drizzle the chili oil and combine gently.
Serve immediately.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Rava Dosa -Instant Onion Rava Dosa

June 2, 2021 By Anusha 8 Comments

Rava Dosa; Lacy crisp South Indian style semolina crepes. This is an instant Rava Dosa recipe and can be made in a pinch. These semolina crepes are pure South Indian breakfast bliss when served with coconut chutney and Sambar.

This is a very popular Dosa in most South Indian restaurants. They also serve this with the Potato masala that is usually served with Masala Dosa.

Dosa is a staple in most South Indian homes. The traditional Dosa batter has rice and urad dal. This is a fermented batter and making this is like a ritual in my house. There is always a sense of calm that familiar ritualistic habits bring. For me, grinding my weekly stash of Dosa batter is one.

What happens when I do not grind a batch of batter? I resort to Instant Dosa recipes like this. These golden Dosas are an indulgence that happens typically for breakfast on Saturdays. We wake up late, have a big breakfast of Rava dosa and some chutney. All this is followed by steaming hot cups of chai.

Today, I will be sharing how to make the best Rava dosas that are like the ones you order in a restaurant. In this post, I will also try to include all the tips for someone who is trying their hands at making Rava dosa for the first time.

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Ingredients

Key ingredients- Semolina, rice flour, Maida

We are going to be using a combination of Rava rice flour maida today. Apart from this, we will be adding some whole spices, nuts and water. Making Rava dosa without Maida will not give you the same texture and taste as that of a restaurant-style Rava dosa.

But if you are wary about including Maida in your diet, you can substitute Maida with whole wheat flour in the same quantity.

What Rava to use?

Instant Rava Dosa recipe uses Bombay Rava. Choose a finer variety for some amazing lacy crisp Rava Dosas. Chirotti Rava, for instance, works beautifully in this recipe. Do not worry if you are unable to find the finer variety. Regular Bombay Rava works just fine as well.

Tips to make the best Rava Dosa

Consistency of the batter– The first step to make those lacy and crispy dosas is to get the batter in the right consistency. Unlike traditional dosa batter, this batter is watery and thin. To test whether the batter is of the right consistency, first pour a ladle of batter on a preheated Tawa. If the dosa does not have holes on the surface and is thick, then the batter is thick. Dilute the batter with 1/4 c water and test again.

After making the batter- Allow it to rest for 30 mins. Resting the batter give you a smooth batter. Smooth batter means easier pouring and crispier dosas.

The heat of the Tawa- Many people assume that a nonstick pan is easier to use when making instant dosas. This s not true. Let me explain why. It is very difficult to control the heat in a non stick pan. It tends to heat up very quickly and cools down very quickly too. When the Tawa is too hot, the dosa may stick to the pan.

For Rava Dosa, we need to maintain a consistent heat. If the Tawa is not in the right temperature, the dosas will tear or stick to the Tawa. How to tell if the Tawa is heated up correctly? Take a tbsp of batter and pour it on the Tawa. If it sizzles immediately, your Tawa has heated up correctly.

To get the best sooji dosa, use a cast iron griddle or an iron griddle. Maintaining and controlling heat is easier. Also, crispy dosa guaranteed!

Dosa Making Tips

Before making every dosa– Mix the batter well. If you find that the batter is becoming thicker, dilute it with 1/4 c water. Scrub a cut onion on the Tawa before every dosa. Crank up the flame while pouring the batter. The Tawa has to be sizzling hot while we pour the batter. But the Tawa should not smoke.

Pouring the batter– Do not use a ladle to pour the batter on the Tawa. Yep. Use a tumbler or a measuring cup with a handle instead. Begin with the outer edges of the Tawa and proceed to the middle.

After you pour the batter- lower the flame to medium and wait till you see no more raw batter on the surface. Now, drizzle oil around the edges and inside a few holes on the Dosa and continue to cook till edges crisp up and become golden. You can see through the dosa when this happens. Always cook these instant semolina dosas on medium flame and ensure that you pour batter on a hot tawa.

Once dosa is cooked- Do not flip! Yep. Rava dosa is best when cooked on one side. Unlike our regular Dosas, we will not flip these.

Variations

Use this recipe like a template. You can make several variations with this batter. Try making Rava Podi Dosa with our Idli Podi. Or stuff the dosa with our traditional potato filling to make Rava Masala Dosa.

In this post, I have shared how to make Onion Cashew Rava Dosa aka Rava Mundhiri Dosa.

There are some things that should always feature in this recipe. Finely chopped cilantro and ginger are two of those. The dosa will taste flat without these ingredients.

Method

Making Instant Rava Dosa Batter

In a bowl, combine the Rava, Maida and rice flour along with salt. Add cumin seeds, whole pepper corns and ginger to this. Mix well using your hands.

Now, add 1 cup water at a time and mix into a free-flowing lump-free batter. For the quantity of flour I have given here, I used about 6 c water. Depending on the quality of your flour, you may need 1 c more or less of water.

When you are mixing the batter, always go with the lesser quantity of water. Start with adding 1 c water and go on till 4 c. After the 4th cup, start adding water by 1/2 c to mix the batter.

Your batter should be thin and watery. It should literally pour down like water when poured from a ladle.

After adding the water and mixing the batter, add the finely chopped coriander leaves and cashews. When adding cashews, chop them very finely. Now, allow the batter to stand for 30 mins.

This s how the batter will look after 30 mins. The flour mixture would have absorbed some of the water. You can see that the flours have settled at the bottom too. Now, using a ladle, mix well. You can also use a balloon whisk. After mixing well, if you find the batter thick, then dilute the batter with 1/4 to 1/2 c water.

Now, let s make the dosas.

Making Rava Dosa

Heat a cast-iron or iron griddle. The pan should not be smoking hot. It should be hot enough for you to hear the sizzle.

To test this, sprinkle 1 tsp water on the tawa. It should sizzle immediately and quickly evaporate.

Once the Tawa is ready, mix the batter well. Pour 3/4 c of the batter on the tawa. Begin with the outer edges of the Tawa and quickly proceed to the center. Lower the flame. And wait till you see no more raw batter on the surface.

At this stage, drizzle oil around the edges. Continue to cook on low flame until the edges become crispy and golden brown. Once done, sprinkle finely chopped onions over the dosa. Do not flip the dosa. Fold and serve hot.

It takes around 2- 3 mins for each dosa to cook. This is a slow process and you will get the best results when you do not rush the process. A low flame, while the dosa gets cooked, will give you beautifully thin, lacy, and crispy golden Dosa.

Explore More Dosa Recipes

Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for regular cooking updates and short videos. Find us on Pinterest for delicious content. Tried our Onion Rava Dosa? We value your thoughts and comments! Leave a comment and tell us how it worked for you. Email us your questions to anusapraj@gmail.com if you need any guidance in making this

crispy Instant rava dosa served with chutney by the side on a black plate. Coriander leaves and cashews sprinkled on the top and by the side.

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Rava Dosa

Thin, lacy and crisp south Indian style semolina crepes. Instant dosas with Sooji.

Prep Time10

Cook Time3

Standing Time30

Course: Breakfast, Breakfast/ Brunch

Cuisine: Indian, Indian- South, South Indian

Servings: Dosas

Ingredients

1 c Bombay rava ( Semolina/ Sooji/ Vella Ravai)
3/4 c Maida ( All purpose flour)
3/4 c Rice flour
1.5 tsp Cumin seeds
2 tsp Whole black peppercorns
2 to 3 tsp Salt or to taste
5 o 6 c Water
3 tbsp very finely chopped cashews
1/4 c finely chopped coriander leaves

For making dosas

1.5 to 2 tsp Oil for each dosa
1 c very finely chopped onions around 2 tbsp finely chopped onions for each dosa

Instructions

Making Instant Rava Dosa Batter

In a bowl, combine the Rava, Maida and rice flour along with salt.
Add cumin seeds, whole pepper corns and ginger to this. Mix well using your hands.
Now, add 1 c water at a time and mix into a free-flowing lump-free batter.
For the quantity of flour I have given here, I used about 6 c water.
Depending on the quality of your flour, you may need 1 c more or less of water.
When you are mixing the batter, always go with the lesser quantity of water.
Start with adding 1 c water and go on till 4 c.
After the 4th cup, start adding water by 1/2 c to mix the batter.
Your batter should be thin and watery. It should literally pour down like water when poured from a ladle.
After adding the water and mixing the batter, add the finely chopped coriander leaves and cashews.
When adding cashews, chop them very finely.
Allow the batter to stand for 30 mins.
After 30 mins, the flour mixture would have absorbed some of the water. You can see that the flours have settled at the bottom too.
Now, using a ladle, mix well. You can also use a balloon whisk.
After mixing well, if you find the batter thick, then dilute the batter with 1/4 to 1/2 c water.

Making Rava Dosa

Heat a cast-iron or iron griddle. The pan should not be smoking hot. It should be hot enough for you to hear the sizzle.
To test this, sprinkle 1 tsp water on the tawa. It should sizzle immediately and quickly evaporate.
Once the Tawa is ready, mix the batter well.
Pour 3/4 c of the batter on the tawa. Begin with the outer edges of the Tawa and quickly proceed to the center.
Lower the flame. And wait till you see no more raw batter on the surface.
At this stage, drizzle oil around the edges.
Continue to cook on low flame until the edges become crispy and golden.
Once done, sprinkle finely chopped onions over the dosa.
Do not flip the dosa. Fold and serve hot.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Instant Pot Corn On The Cob- Pressure Cooker Corn On Cob

June 1, 2021 By Anusha 1 Comment

corn on the cob made in the instant pot and served on a black plate. IP in the background

Instant Pot Corn on the cob is the quickest way to get to that juicy corn. Period.

It is summer officially and every way else. The temperature is soaring and I m already dreading June. But there are some things beautiful about Summer. Like corn.

The last week when I hit the farmers markets, I discovered ears of golden corn, freshly picked and displayed so beautifully. I was compelled to buy a few. 20 mins and 4 ears of corn later, I came home and reached out for my Instant pot.

Cooking corn on the cob is not rocket science. All that matters is that we pick them ears of corn fresh and cook them just right. Timing, my friends, is the key here. With an instant pot and its in-built timer function, this becomes such a breeze.

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How to buy corn?

Look for these

Vibrant green husks. Avoid pale green, yellow or brown husks.

Lots of silk. The more the silk, the fresher the corn. And these strands of corn silk must look golden and feel soft and moist. Brown strands mean that the corn is not fresh.

Stems or the stalks must be moist and again a pale yellow. Brown stalks indicate that the corn is not freshly plucked and it has been a while since it came out to visit the market.

And finally the kernels- Must be tightly arranged together and should look yellow, plump and juicy.

Ways to cook corn

You can cook corn in many ways. Sweet corn can be grilled, boiled or steamed. Pressure cooking corn in the easiest and quickest method. While you can cook sweet corn in an open pan, this takes time and effort.

Pressure cooker corn on the cob and Instant Pot corn on the cob are two of the quickest ways. Another advantage when you cook corn in this way is that you can cook a big batch.

All you need to cook corn perfectly using a pressure cooker is fresh ears of corn, fresh water and salt. And an Instant Pot or a pressure cooker, of course.

No matter what you do, do not overcook corn. Over cooked corn is dry, rubbery and loses all its flavors and sweetness.

Pressure cooker Corn

If you are from India, it is highly likely that you have a pressure cooker or two in the kitchen. This is the most frequently used gadget ever in any Indian kitchen. To make pressure cook corn in a traditional stovetop pressure cooker, all you have to do is-

First, tear out the husks. Pull out all the silk and wash the corn thoroughly. Make sure you get rid of all the silk before you cook. After you clean and prep the corn, cut the corn into halves.

In a 3-liter pressure cooker, you can cook up to 3 medium-sized ears of corn and in a 5-liter pressure cooker, 5 corns will fit in comfortably. Cut the corns in halves. Add 5 c water to your 3 liter pressure cooker and 4 tsp salt. Add the corn pieces.

Ensure that the gasket is in place. Now close the lid of the cooker and put the valve on. Cook on a medium flame for 3 whistles. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.

To make corn in a 5-liter pressure cooker, combine the corn halves with 8 cups of water and 5 tsp salt. Ensure that the gasket is in place. Now close the lid of the cooker and put the valve on. Cook on medium flame for 3 whistles. Wait for the pressure to release naturally.

Instant Pot Corn

You will need 2 c water, a tall trivet and a 6 qt Instant pot to make corn on the cob in the Instant Pot.

Prepping the corn

First, tear out the husks. Pull out all the silk and wash the corn thoroughly. Make sure you get rid of all the silk before you cook. Cut the corn into halves if they are too long to fit in to the IP comfortably. Use a sharp knife to do this.

Arranging the corn

Add 2 c water to the inner insert of your 6 quart IP. Place a tall trivet inside it. Now, place the inner pot into the IP.

Arrange the corn on the trivet like you see in the picture below. In this picture, you can see that my corn is bruised slightly. I accidentally dropped the corn and this happened. That is how tender my ears of corn were!

Ensure that the sealing ring is fit correctly. Now, close the lid and set the valve to sealing position.

Switch on the IP. Turn on Pressure Cook mode on High Pressure for 2 mins. Wait for the cooking cycle to complete.

Wait for 5 mins before doing a Quick Pressure Release. To quick release pressure in Instant Pot, turn the valve carefully to the venting position. Make sure you wear gloves and keep your face away from the vent when you do this.

Remove the cooked corns with a pair of tongs. Brush them with butter and your favorite seasonings before you serve.

Try these ways to dress up your corn

Lime, salt and chili
Smoked paprika and salt
Sriracha+ Mayo
Garlic butter
Parmesan butter

And here is an Indian-style Corn on the cob. This has tamarind sauce+ paprika +salt

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Instant Pot Corn On The Cob

How to make the juiciest perfect corn on the cob in an Instant Pot?

Prep Time10

Cook Time2

NPR time5

Course: Snacks

Cuisine: American, International

Servings: ears of corn

Equipment

Instant Pot
Tall trivet

Ingredients

4 ears fresh sweet corn
2 c Water

To serve

2 tsp Butter
1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
2 wedges Lime or lemon

Instructions

Cleaning the corn

Discard the husks from the corn and tear away all the silk. Make sure there are no threads.
Wash the corn well under running water.
Cut the corn into halves if you desire.

Placing in the instant pot

Pour 2 c water in the inner insert of your IP.
Place a tall trivet in the inner insert.
Place the inner vessel with the trivet in your IP.
Now, arrange the ears of corn in layers on the trivet.
Ensure that the sealing ring is properly inserted to the IP lid.
Close the IP, turn the valve on the lid to the sealing position and switch it on.

IP Cooking time and method

Switch on the pressure cook mode on high pressure for 2 mins.
Allow the cooking cycle to complete.
Allow 5 mins of natural release pressure.
After 5 mins, carefully quick release pressure by turning the valve from sealing to venting. Wear a glove and keep your face away while you do this.

Serving

Remove the cooked corn using a pair of tongs.
Brush with butter, salt and lime.
Serve hot.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Wheat Kulcha- Wheat Kulcha Without Yeast

May 31, 2021 By Anusha 4 Comments

Whole wheat kulcha – Soft and fluffy whole wheat garlic Kulchas made on stove top. This is a no yeast recipe and is so simple to make. 100% whole wheat kulcha bread is not complicated at all!

I am not very fond of eating flatbreads in a restaurant. Gujarat hotels offer so many varieties but honestly, there s not much of a difference among any of them. I prefer kulchas because they are simple to make and do not involve the addition of yeast. And I love making them at home. Making bread brings a sense of joy and fulfillment. It does not matter if it is flatbread or the regular loaf.

To see those pieces of bread puffing up on the Tawa speckled with brown spots is a delightful experience for me and I consider it an indulgence. I made these kulchas with whole wheat flour. The outcome was fluffy soft kulchas with garlic flavor. H devoured it and that only indicated how much he loved it. I serve kulchas with something spicy and flavourful like Kadai Paneer or we eat it with healthy and green Saag Paneer

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What is the basic difference between a Kulcha and a Naan?

The most basic difference between these two flatbreads is the leavening agent. Naan almost always has yeast added to the dough. Kulcha on the other hand may be leavened or unleavened, depending on where it comes from. And then there is the stuffing.

Traditionally, both kulchas and naan are made with Maida or refined flour. My version is a whole wheat kulcha recipe with loads of flavors. Since this is a whole wheat version, the Kulchas tend to be a light brown shade as compared to those Kulchas made with Maida.

Kulchas may or may not be stuffed with a filling. Amritsari Kulchas are filled with potatoes or paneer. Another difference is in the way they are shaped. Naan is slightly oblong whereas Kulchas are rounder.

Making ahead, freezing kulchas and storage

How to freeze kulchas?

If you plan to freeze kulchas, I suggest cooking them briefly, for about 30 secs on each side. And then allow them to cool. Separate each Kulcha with a sheet of parchment paper. Make sure the topmost and bottom-most kulchas in the pile are covered with parchment paper too.

Place them in a zip-loc bag and freeze. Don’t forget to label it with the correct dates. These keep well in the freezer for up to a month. When you want to use these frozen kulchas, do not thaw them. Instead, bring them out. Heat a Tawa or griddle and cook them immediately after you take them out from the freezer.

Leftovers

Fully cooked kulchas keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just place them in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate.

You can also freeze cooked kulchas for up to 1 month. Use the same method as described above.

Reheating kulchas is so easy. You can do this in an oven preheated to 180 C or on a preheated Tawa or Griddle.

Making Ahead

You can knead the dough and let it rest overnight if you plan to make it the next day.

Variations

When it comes to making wheat kulchas, you can experiment with different flavors. You can add spice powders like Red chili powder ( paprika) to the dough for a spicier kulcha. You can roll the dough in sesame seeds and then make the kulchas. This way,you will have sesame seed speckled kulchas.

Another variation would be to use a mix of white and blacksesame seeds along with nigella seeds (Kalonji). Other herbs can also be added. Finely chopped coriander leaves is a very good alternative to the dried mint mentioned in this recipe.

You can also stuff these Kulcha breads with finely chopped onions and spice powders to make stuffed onion Kulchas.

Method

Kneading wheat kulcha dough using a stand mixer

Place the wheat flour along with all the ingredients in the bowl of your stand mixer and combine well. Make a well in the center. Add all the wet ingredients and 1/4 c water into the bowl. Attach the dough kneading hook and begin kneading the dough.

Wait for the dough to just come together. At this stage, add water little by little while the dough kneads.I used about 3/4 c water to make the dough.

Knead on low speed for about 4 to 5 mins until you have a smooth, supple and slightly sticky dough. The dough will be a bit sticky and it should be that way. This is what makes Kulchas soft.
When the dough reaches this consistency, remove and set aside for 1 hour.

As the dough sits, it absorbs the flavors of garlic and mint well here. The dough may turn slightly yellowish after resting and this is normal.

Kneading by hand

You can also knead the dough by hand. To do this, add all the dry ingredients to a bowl. Mix well and make a well in the center. Add all the wet ingredients except water to the flour mix.
Use your hands and mix into a crumbly dough.Now, begin kneading by adding 1/4 c water at a time.

When the dough becomes a soft but slightly sticky mass, stop kneading. Smear your hands with a little oil and knead until you get a smooth pliable dough. Takes about 5 mins. The dough will be a bit sticky and it should be that way. This is what makes Kulchas soft. And this is how a regular Paratha dough and Kulcha dough differ.

Transfer the dough to a dry bowl or container and wrap with cling wrap. Let it rest for 1 hour.

Rolling the kulchas

When the dough has rested, remove the wrap and place the dough on a lightly floured surface.
Divide into equal parts and make small balls. Keep the remaining dough balls covered with a damp kitchen towel to prevent them from drying out.
Flatten and roll them into rounds. The rolled kulchas must be slightly thicker than regular Chapatis, around 1.5 mm thick. Use flour for dusting while you roll them.

Cooking the kulchas

Heat a tawa. Place one rolled kulcha at a time and cook on low flame. When you see small bubbles on the surface, brush a tsp of water on the kulcha and flip. Cook the other side till bubbles rise on the griddle side up. While you do this, place the grill mesh on flame. When the bubbles rise, immediately transfer the kulcha to the wire mesh. Cook as you would, a normal phulka.

When done, brush with butter and serve hot.

whole wheat kulcha served on a wooden platter

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Whole wheat kulcha

Soft and fluffy whole wheat Kulchas made on stove top. Kukcha recipe without yeast.

Prep Time25

Cook Time2

Resting Time1

Course: Breads, Main Course, Mains

Cuisine: Indian, North Indian

Servings: kulchas

Equipment

Stand mixer
Griddle

Ingredients

For the dough

2 c Whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Baking soda
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Sugar
1/4 c whisked fresh yogurt
2 tbsp Vegetable oil
2 tbsp grated Garlic
1 tbsp crushed dried mint leaves
1/2 tbsp Ghee
1/2 to 1 c water for kneading

For rolling the kulcha

1/2 c Flour for dusting

For cooking kulcha

1 tsp Oil or ghee for cooking each kulcha

For serving

1 tsp Butter for serving

Instructions

Kneading using a stand mixer

Place the wheat flour along with all the ingredients in the bowl of your stand mixer and combine well.
Make a well in the center.
Add all the wet ingredients and 1/4 c water into the bowl.
Attach the dough kneading hook and begin kneading the dough.
Wait for the dough to just come together.
At this stage, begin adding water little by little while the dough kneads. Add 2 to 3 tbsp every time and not more than that.
I used about 3/4 c water to make the dough.
Knead on low speed for about 4 to 5 mins until you have a smooth, supple and slightly sticky dough.
When the dough reaches this consistency, remove and set aside for 1 hour.

Kneading by hand

You can also knead the dough by hand.
To do this, add all the dry ingredients to a bowl.
Mix well and make a well in the center.
Add all the wet ingredients except water to the flour mix.
Use your hands and mix into a crumbly dough.
Now, begin kneading by adding 1/4 c water at a time.
When the dough becomes a soft slightly sticky mass, stop kneading.
Then smear your hands with a lil oil and knead until you get a smooth pliable dough. Takes about 5 mins.
Transfer the dough to a dry bowl or container and wrap with cling wrap.
Let it rest for 1 hour.

Rolling the kulchas

When the dough has rested, remove the wrap and place the dough on a slightly floured surface.
Divide into equal parts and make small balls.
Flatten and roll them a little thickly into rounds. Your rolled kulchas must be around 1.5 -2 mm thick.

Cooking the kulchas

Heat a tawa. Place one rolled kulcha and cook on low flame.
When you see small bubbles on the surface, flip and cook on the other side for 45 secs to 1 min.
When it begins to puff, transfer it to a Roti mesh placed on the flame.
Continue to cook until the kulcha puffs up over the mesh. When done, remove and brush with butter.Serve hot.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Barley Dosa -How to make Barley Dosai?

May 30, 2021 By Anusha 10 Comments

Barley Dosa- Crisp and delicious dosas made with whole barley grains. This is a no rice dosa recipe.

Barley dosa is a healthy, south Indian style crepe. Barley is a nutritious whole grain that is rich in fiber. I hooked on to this wonderful grain during my days in Baroda. While barley water is a very common drink during summers, I m always looking for new recipes to include barley in our diet.

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Ingredients

This dosa uses no rice. Yep. We are just going to be using regular pearl barley, fenugreek and urad dal to make our batter. If you are a bit skeptical about making this recipe using only barley, you can reduce the barley by 1 c and use 1 c idli rice in its place.

While choosing barley, make sure you choose the tanner varieties. White pearl barley works well but it undergoes a polishing process and they tend to remove the bran fully. Hence the slightly tanner variety of pearly barley is healthier.

Read the benefits of barley here.

Shelf life and storage

This dosa batter works like our regular dosa batter only. After grinding the batter and fermenting it, store in clean air tight container in the fridge. Barley dosa batter keeps well for up to 3 days.

Recipe Notes

This recipe can easily be halved for making a small batch. If you want to make a smaller batch, use 1.5 c barley and 1/2 c urad dal along with 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds.
In case you are making a small batch, I recommend using the blender to grind the batter.
Fermenting the batter may take longer if you live in a cold place. Use your Instant pot Yogurt setting to ferment the batter in this case. Or leave the batter in the oven with the light turned on for 6 to 7 hours.
If you are using your Instant pot for fermenting, do not use the Instant pot lid. Use a glass lid to cover the pot. This is because there is always the chance of batter overflowing. When this happens, the lid may get locked. It is also easier to keep an eye on the batter if you use a glass lid.

Method

Soaking

Wash the barley under running water twice. Similarly, combine urad dal and fenugreek seeds. Wash this well under running water twice. Drain all water used for washing. Combine barley with 8 c water and set aside for soaking. Similarly, add 3 to 4 c water to the Urad dal and fenugreek seeds and set aside for soaking. Let the barley and urad dal soak for 4 to 5 hours.

Grinding barley dosa batter in a wet grinder

Once soaked completely, drain the water from the both.
In a wet grinder, add the drained soaked urad dal and fenugreek seeds.
Add 1/4 c water and grind the urad dal till soft and fluffy.
Make sure to stop in between, scrape down the sides and add another 1/4 c water while grinding urad dal. Urad dal takes about 15 mins to grind to a fluffy consistency.
To check if it has ground to the correct consistency, drop a small blob of the batter in a bowl of cold water. If it floats without disintergating, it means urad dal batter is ready. Transfer the ground urad dal to a large container.

Add the drained barley next along with 1/2 c water. Grind to a smooth batter. Again, stop every once in a while and scrape down the sides. Add 1/4 to 1/2 c water for grinding barley midway.
It takes roughly 20 mins for the barley to be ground to a smooth paste.
Barley unlike rice remains a lil grainy even after you grind it very smoothly. Once the barley is ground,add this to the ground urad dal. Add salt and mix well. Leave for about 6 to 8 hours to ferment. This may take longer in case you live in cold places.
After about 8 hours or after the batter has fermented, mix well again.

Making barley dosa

Heat an iron skillet or girdle.
Pour a ladle full of the batter and spread into a thin circle starting from inwards and going outwards just like how you do for normal dosa.
Drizzle oil on the sides and cook till golden brown on one side.
Flip to the other side and cook for 30 secs more.
When done, flip, fold the dosa in half and serve hot.

To grind barley dosa batter in a blender:

Soaking

Let the barley and urad dal soak for 4 to 5 hours. Refrigerate the urad dal and barley while it soaks. Once soaked completely, drain the water from both.

Grinding

Use cold water to grind the batter in a blender. If you are using a blender like Blendtec or Ninja, the smoothie mode works perfectly well.

Grind the urad dal to a smooth consistency using a blender adding about 1/8 cup of water gradually. The urad dal must be ground just like grinding for idli or dosa. Transfer the ground urad dal to a large container. Now, grind the barley next in 3 batches adding about 1/4 cup of water in parts gradually. The barley must be ground smoothly and it took me about 4 mins for each batch. Barley unlike rice remains a lil grainy even after you grind it very smoothly.

Once the barley is ground,add this to the ground urad dal. Add salt and mix well.
Leave for about 6 to 8 hours to ferment. This may take longer in case you live in cold places.
After about 8 hours or after the batter has fermented, mix well again. Proceed to make dosas.

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5 from 1 vote

Barley Dosa

South Indian style crepes made with whole barley grains and urad dal

Prep Time5

Cook Time2

Fermenting time6

Total Time11 2

Course: Breakfast, Breakfast/ Brunch, Main Course

Cuisine: Indian- South, South Indian

Servings: dosas

Ingredients

For soaking

3 c whole Pearl Barley
7 to 8 c water
1 c Whole white urad dal
3 to 4 c water
1.5 tsp Fenugreek seeds
Salt to taste

For grinding the batter

2 to 3 c water
For making Barley dosa
1 tsp Cold pressed peanut oil or sesame oil for each dosa

Instructions

Wash the barley under running water twice. Similarly, combine urad dal and fenugreek seeds. Wash this well under running water twice. Drain all water used for washing.
Combine barley with 8 c water and set aside for soaking.
Similarly, add 3 to 4 c water to the Urad dal and fenugreek seeds and set aside for soaking.
Let the barley and urad dal soak for 4 to 5 hours.
Once soaked completely, drain the water from the both.
In a wet grinder, add the drained soaked urad dal and fenugreek seeds.
Add 1/4 c water and grind the urad dal till soft and fluffy.
Make sure to stop in between, scrape down the sides and add another 1/4 c water while grinding urad dal.
Urad dal takes about 15 mins to grind to a fluffy consistency.
To check if it has ground to the correct consistency, drop a small blob of the batter in a bowl of cold water.
If it floats without disintergating, it means urad dal batter is ready.
Transfer the ground urad dal to a large container.
Add the drained barley next along with 1/2 c water.
Grind to a smooth batter.
Again, stop every once in a while and scrape down the sides.
Add 1/4 to 1/2 c water for grinding barley midway.
It takes roughly 20 mins for the barley to be ground to a smooth paste.
Barley unlike rice remains a lil grainy even after you grind it very smoothly.
Once the barley is ground,add this to the ground urad dal.
Add salt and mix well.
Leave for about 6 to 8 hours to ferment.
This may take longer in case you live in cold places.
After about 8 hours or after the batter has fermented, mix well again.

Making Barley dosa

Heat an iron skillet or girdle.
Pour a ladle full of the batter and spread into a thin circle starting from inwards and going outwards just like how you do for normal dosa.
Drizzle oil on the sides and cook till golden brown on one side.
Flip to the other side and cook for 30 secs more.
When done, flip, fold the dosa in half and serve hot.

To grind this in a blender:

Wash and soak the barley and the urad dal separately for about 4 to 5 hours. Add the fenugreek seeds to the urad dal while soaking.
Refrigerate the urad dal and barley while it soaks.
Once soaked completely, drain the water from the both.
Use cold water to grind the batter in a blender.
If you are using a blender like Blendtec or Ninja, the smoothie mode works perfectly well.
Now, grind the urad dal to a smooth consistency using a blender adding about 1/8 cup of water gradually. The urad dal must be ground just like grinding for idli or dosa.
Transfer the ground urad dal to a large container.
Now, grind the barley next in 3 batches adding about 1/4 cup of water in parts gradually. The barley must be ground smoothly and it took me about 4 mins for each batch.
Barley unlike rice remains a lil grainy even after you grind it very smoothly.
Once the barley is ground,add this to the ground urad dal. Add salt and mix well.
Leave for about 6 to 8 hours to ferment. This may take longer in case you live in cold places.
After about 8 hours or after the batter has fermented, mix well again.
Proceed to make dosas

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

This post was originally published in Jan 2013. This has been updated with process shots, fresh pics and recipe card.

Rasam Powder- How to make Rasam Podi at home?

May 29, 2021 By Anusha Leave a Comment

Homemade Rasam Powder- A South Indian aromatic spice blend that is used to make Rasam, a light broth. This spice blend has whole spices and can easily be prepared at home.

If you are a South Indian, especially one that hails from Tamil Nadu, the chances of your survival without rasam can border to zero. Rasam is everything all at once- comforting, tangy and healthy.

What is Rasam?

In a three-course Tamil-style meal, Rasam usually is the second course. Poured over some piping hot rice and mixed, this tongue-tickling combination is not only yummy but also a great digestive aid. Rasam can be described as a light broth. There are so many variations to this classic and most recipes call for Rasam powder.

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Homemade Rasam Podi or Saaru Pudi

Saaru in Kannada means Rasam. And Andhra cuisine has Chaaru which is their version of Rasam. No matter where you go in South India, a lunch menu features Rasam. Rasam podi or Saaru Pudi is a spice blend that we use to make Rasam.

Ingredients

This pantry staple calls for very few ingredients. Coriander seeds, whole black pepper, and cumin are among the most called for. Almost all recipes use these ingredients. So, what makes every version different? It is the proportion of the ingredients and the way they are handled that makes every recipe for this spice powder different.

For instance, my MIL makes this in two ways. One is the traditional roasting and grinding method. The other is where she sundries all the ingredients for 3 days. She then grinds it in a flour mill. The disadvantage to this second method is that you cannot do it if it is not sunny.

My friend’s mother makes Rasam powder without any chilis. This tastes good too but the color will be slightly on a dull green side.

Recipe Notes

Make sure that you sun the ingredients for at least 4 hours before you begin roasting them.
Using a cast iron skillet and dry roasting on low flame patiently gives best results.
This spice blend calls for Toor Dal and is just perfect for Rasam recipes that do not use cooked Dal.
Roasting the ingredients properly and ensuring that there is no moisture in them before grinding is very crucial. Even a tiny amount of moisture will result in fungal growth.
I like using a combination of Guntur chilis and Kashmiri or Byadagi chilis. The latter gives a beautiful red color without increasing the heat.
While roasting chilis, discard all the stems in the dry red chilis. Break them into smaller pieces if they are too long. This makes even roasting easier.
Adding dried curry leaves to Rasam powder is a great way to include them in our diet. I tend to dry curry leaves after washing and patting them dry. Once they are free from moisture, I dry them out in my oven or microwave or let them dry under the sun. These dried curry leaves come in handy when I dont have fresh ones on hand.
If you do not have dried curry leaves, skip this step. Alternatively, take about 1/4 c loosely packed curry leaves and wash them in a colander under running water. Pat them dry using a kitchen towel and let them dry completely.
Once the leaves have dried, add them to the skillet after roasting cumin and pepper. Roast curry leaves until shriveled and crisp. You can now add this to Rasam Powder.

Storage and Shelf Life

Storing Rasam Powder

Store Rasam powder in a clean, dry airtight container. I prefer and recommend using glass jars for best results. Try to sterilize the glass jars before storing any spice blends. Also, as I mentioned earlier, use a dry jar. Any moisture means fungus in your Rasam powder. This holds good for all spice blends.

Shelf life

While this spice blend stays fresh for a long time if processed correctly, it loses its flavors as time goes by. So, making this in small batches and storing them in a clean dry jar is the most ideal thing to do. I make a small batch every three weeks once. You can easily half the ingredients mentioned here and make a smaller batch too if you do not make Rasam often. Similarly, if you are making a larger batch, you can also double the quantity of ingredients mentioned here.

Homemade Rasam Podi- Method

Dry roasting

Before setting out to make this Rasam masala, make sure to measure out all your ingredients and keep ready. Use standardized measuring cups and spoons for best results. In case you do not have a set of standardized measuring cups, then use the same measuring cup that you use to measure one ingredient to measure all ingredients.

Heat a cast iron skillet. When the skillet is hot, add the coriander seeds first and dry roast on low flame till aromatic. This takes 3 to 5 mins. Keep stirring the seeds every now and then and mixing them up to ensure even roasting. Transfer the coriander seeds to a plate immediately.

When the coriander seeds are roasted, add the Toor Dal. Again, roasting on low flame is key. Roast the Dal until light golden and aromatic. Again this takes 3 to 5 mins. Once the Dal has roasted, transfer to a plate immediately

Next add the dry red chilis and roast just for 1 to 2 mins until chilis begin to plump up. Take care not to burn the chilis. When done, transfer to the plate immediately with the roasted coriander and toor dal.

Now, add the cumin seeds and pepper corns. Switch off the flame. Toss and turn the cumin and pepper a few times and roast till they turn aromatic. You can see that the cumin seeds become a deeper brown when they are roasted. When they are done roasting, immediately transfer them to the plate.

Grinding

Allow the ingredients to cool down. Transfer the cooled ingredients to a blender jar. Add a handful of dried curry leaves and asafetida ( Refer recipe notes). Close and blend to a slightly coarse powder.

Transfer this powder to a clean and air-tight jar. Now, you can use this homemade Rasam powder in all Rasam recipes.

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Rasam Powder

South Indian aromatic spice blend for making Rasam

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

CoolingTime20

Total Time1

Course: Condiments, Spice Blends

Cuisine: South Indian, Tamil

Servings: c

Equipment

Cast iron skillet
Blender

Ingredients

1/2 c coriander seeds
1/4 c toor dal
10 to 12 dry red chilies
2 tbsp Cumin seeds
2 tbsp Whole black peppercorns
1/4 c loosely packed dry curry leaves
1 tsp Asafetida

Instructions

Heat a cast iron skillet and add the coriander seeds.
Dry roast coriander seeds on low flame till aromatic.
When roasted, transfer to a plate immediately for it to cool down.
Next, add the Toor dal and roast on low flame till light golden and fragrant. This takes 3 to 5 mins.
As soon as the Dal has roasted, transfer to the plate.
Now, add the dry red chilis and roast on low flame for 1 to 2 mins.
Just roast until chilies begin to plump up in the heat.
Make sure not to burn them.
Transfer the roasted chilies to the plate.
Now add the cumin and pepper. Switch off the flame.
Dry roast this on low flame till the spices begin to pop here and there.
This takes roughly 1 to 2.5 mins.
When done, transfer to cool with the remaining ingredients on the plate.

Grinding

Transfer the cooled ingredients to a blender jar.
Add the dried curry leaves and asafetida.
Grind to a slighly coarse powder.
Transfer to a clean and dry container.

Video

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Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Rasam Powder- FAQs

Is Rasam powder the same as Sambar powder?

No. Both spice blends are different. We use other ingredients like fenugreek and channa dal in Sambar powder. Whereas, in Rasam Podi, it is only Toor Dal.

Can we use Rasam powder for making Sambar?

Yes, you can. The taste will be slightly different than the authentic sambar but still, it will work.

When to add Rasam powder?

Every one has their own way of making Rasam. For me, I prefer adding the Rasam powder either when I saute the tomatoes like I do in my Tomato Rasam. Or I add them directly to the tamarind extract like I do in my basic rasam.

What do you use Rasam powder for?

Many people often limit spice blends to its intended use. However, a little experimentation with whatever is available in the pantry can give different delicious results. Rasam powder, for instance, can be used to make a quick sambar or used in a Raita for flavoring. You can also add some Rasam powder while making Kichdi for a unique taste.

How much Rasam Powder to use?

To make 600 ml of Rasam, you will need about 2 heaped tsps of this Rasam powder. Adjust the quantities according to your family’s palates. Also, please remember that freshly ground Rasam powder tends to be spicy during the first 3 days. The spices mellow down after this.

What are the medicinal properties of South Indian Rasam?

I won’t have done enough justice to this post if I do not answer this.

Coriander seeds- good for digestion and is known to help maintain blood sugar levels.

Cumin seeds– again, aids digestion, reduces bloating and gas.

Peppercorns- cure cold and cough.

Asafetida- is good for controlling flatulence and reducing bloating.

Tamarind- has anti-inflammatory properties and helps alleviate constipation.

Tomatoes- are rich in lycopene and anti-oxidant properties.

Toor dal- has protein.

That is it. Pretty much sums up why you should have Rasam on a daily basis. 🙂