Easy One Pot Vegetable Biriyani | Step by Step Recipe

Easy One Pot Vegetable biriyani

Quick,easy and delicious one pot Vegetable Biriyani.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Ingredients:

1. Basmati rice - 1 cup
2. Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
3. Fennel seeds - 1/4 tsp
4. Cinnamon - 1" piece
5. Green Cardamom - 2
6. Black cardamom - 1(optional)
7. Cloves- 3
8. Bay leaf - 1
9. Green chilies,cut vertically - 1 or 2( or according to taste)
10. Ginger and garlic,finely chopped- 1.5 tsp
11. Onion,finely chopped - 1 cup( 1 large)
12. Kashmiri chili powder - 1/2 tsp
13. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
14. Coriander powder- 1/2 tsp
15. Cashew nuts and raisins - 1/2 tbsp each( optional)
16. Tomato ,finely chopped - 1/2 cup(1 medium)
17. Vegetables,cubed - 1 cup( i used carrots,green beans and green peas)
18. Yogurt - 2 tbsp
19. Coriander leaves,finely chopped - 1 tbsp
20. Mint leaves,finely chopped - 1/2 tbsp
21. Oil or ghee - as required
22. Salt - to taste

Instructions:

Heat oil in the rice cooker pan .( you may use a pressure cooker or heavy bottomed pan -see notes). Add cumin seeds,fennel seeds,cinnamon,green cardamom,black cardamom,cloves and bay leaf.Saute for few seconds or until fragrant.Next add ginger ,garlic and green chilies.Saute for about 30 seconds.

Now add onion and saute until it turns slight golden brown.

Add Kashmiri chili powder,turmeric powder and coriander powder.Mix well until combined.Add cashew nuts and raisins and saute for few seconds.

Now add tomato and mix well until combined.Cook until it turns mushy.

Add vegetables and mix well.Next add yogurt.

Add chopped coriander and mint leaves.Mix well until combined.

Wash and drain rice well.Add it to the vegetable masala and mix well.Add 2 to 2.5 cups water.( the quantity of water depends upon the rice that you use.I used 2.5 cups water.)

Add salt to taste , cover and cook until done.Fluff it up using a fork.Serve with raitha ,pickle and pappadom.

NOTES

• If you are using a pressure cooker.Close the cooker after adding water,bring to full pressure on high heat.Place the vent weight ,reduce the heat to low and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes( 1 whistle).Allow cooker to cool gradually. 
• You can also use a heavy bottomed pan to prepare the biriyani.In that case after adding water bring it to a boil over high heat.Reduce the flame to low ,cover and cook for about 15 minutes or until rice is done.Fluff the rice using a fork.

Pineapple Kichadi | Pineapple in Coconut and Yogurt Sauce| Onam Sadhya Recipe

Pineapple Kichadi

Pineapple in coconut and yogurt gravy.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 3 to 5
Ingredients:

1. Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
2. Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
3. Pineapple,chopped- 1 Cup
4. Green chilies,sliced- 1 ( or according to taste)
5. Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
6. Sugar /grated Jaggery- 1 or 2 tsp( or according to taste)
7. Yogurt - 3/4 cup
8. Mustard seeds- 1/8 tsp
9. Salt- to taste

For tempering:

1. Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
2. Curry leaves - few
3. Dry red chilies- 1 or 2
4. Oil- as required

Instructions:

In a blender combine together grated coconut ,cumin seeds and water ,grind to form a smooth paste.Keep aside.

In a pan,add pineapple ,green chilies ,turmeric powder ,salt and sufficient quantity of water.Cook until it turns soft .Next add the coconut-cumin paste and sugar/jaggery ( if using),mix well and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.Make sure that the water is completely absorbed and mixture is thick.

Crush 1/8 tsp mustard seeds using a mortar and pestle.Add this to the curry and mix well.Switch off the stove and allow this to cool slightly.

Add yogurt and mix well until combined.Add more salt ,if required.

Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds and let it splutter.Add curry leaves and dry red chilies and saute for few seconds.Add this to the curry and mix well.

NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of sugar /jaggery according to the sweetness of the pineapple used.
  

Oats- Moong Dal Tikki | Healthy Kids Snacks

Oats- Moong Dal Tikki

Healthy and delicious oats and moong dal tikki /pattie.
Recipe Source: Tarla Dalal,You can find the original recipe here.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 12 Tikkis
Ingredients:

1. Yellow Moong dal /split yellow gram- 1/2 cup
2. Quick cooking rolled oats - 1/2 cup
3. Yogurt - 2 tbsp
4. Onion,grated - 3 tbsp
5. Ginger and garlic,paste - 1 tsp
6. Green chilies,finely chopped - 1/2 tsp
7. Chaat masala - 1.5 to 2 tsp
8. Red chili powder - 1.5 to 2 tsp( according to taste)
9. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
10. Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp
11. Coriander leaves, chopped - 2 tbsp
12. Salt - To taste
13. Oil - 2 tsp

Instructions:

Wash and soak Moong dal in plenty of water for about 2 hours.Drain and cook with about 1 cup water until soft and all the water has evaporated.Allow it to cool completely.Blend the dal in a mixer to a coarse paste.

In a bowl,combine together together dal with the rest of the ingredients ( except oil).Mix well until combined. 

Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and shape each portion into round flat tikkies/patties.Heat a non stick pan,drizzle 1 tsp oil and cook the patties over medium low flame .Drizzle 1 tsp oil on top and cook until the patties turns golden brown on both the sides,turning once or twice in between. 

  

 NOTES

• Adjust the quantity of red chili powder according to your taste.
  

Pear,Banana,Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

Pear,Banana oatmeal breakfast smoothie.

Healthy oatmeal and Pear,Banana ,breakfast smoothie recipe.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1
Ingredients:

1. Rolled oats- 2 to 3 tbsp
2. Pear ,peeled and cubed- 1
3. Banana ,peeled and sliced- 1
4. Low fat Yogurt-1/2 cup
5. Cinnamon - 1 pinch
6. Ginger,grated- 1/4 tsp
7. Honey / sugar- to taste

Instructions:

Firstly add rolled oats into the blender and grind to form a fine powder.Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.Serve immediately.

NOTES

• Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup apple juice to adjust the consistency ,if desired.  
  

Beetroot Kichadi | Kerala Sadhya Recipe

Beetroot Kichadi

Beetroot in coconut and yogurt sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 3 to 5
Ingredients:

1. Beetroot, grated - 1/2 cup
2. Green chilies,sliced - 1
3. Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
4. Cumin seeds - 1 fat pinch
5. Yogurt - 3/4 to 1 cup
6. Mustard seeds - 1 pinch
7. Water - as required
8. Salt- to taste( see notes)

For tempering:

1. Mustard seeds - 1/8 tsp
2. Dry Red chilies,cut it into two - 2
3. Shallots,sliced - 2 or 3
4. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
5. Coconut oil - as required

Instructions:

In a pan,add beetroot,green chilies and sufficient quantity of water.Cook until beetroot turns tender.

Grind together coconut and cumin seeds with sufficient quantity of water to form a fine paste.

Next add the coconut paste to the beetroot and cook for a minute or two.Add salt to taste and switch off the stove.Allow this to cool slightly and add yogurt and mix well.

Crush mustard seeds ( using a mortar and pestle) and add it to the curry.Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds,let it splutter .Add red chilies,shallots and curry leaves and saute until it turns golden brown.Add this to the curry and mix well.Add more salt if required.Serve with rice.

.

Banarasi Lassi | Sweet Lassi

Banarasi Lassi

Banaras style sweet lassi ,served with rabdi and malai.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: -
Serves: 2
Ingredients:

1. Thick yogurt- 2 cups(recipe below)
2. Sugar-1 to 2 tbsp( or according to taste)
3. Rabdi / Rabri- 2 tbsp
4. Almonds,sliced- 2 to 3 tsp(optional)
5. Saffron strands -to garnish( optional)

Instructions:

• In a bowl ,whisk ( using a whisk or  mathu-wooden whisk) together yogurt and sugar until combined.

• Pour this into serving bowls and add top with rabdi/rabri.Garnish with almonds and saffron strands.Serve immediately.

Ingredients to prepare yogurt:

1. Full fat milk- 2 cups
2. Yogurt ( with live culture)-1 to 2 tbsp
Instructions:

1. In a heavy bottomed pan,bring milk to a boil.Reduce flame to low and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes ,or until it turns slightly thick.Stir well in between to avoid burning.Allow it to cool until luke warm .Add yogurt and mix well.
   
2. Pour this into a jug /bowl and back to the first one.Repeat this few times so that the yogurt is mixed well with the milk.
   
3. Pour this into  shallow vessel /clay pot ,cover and keep aside in a warm place for about 5 to 8 hours or until set.
   

NOTES

• You can also add 1 or 2 tbsp of malai /cream to the lassi ,if desired.
• Garnish with 1 or 2 tsp finely chopped pistachios ,if desired.
• Adjust the quantity of sugar according to your taste.

Strawberry Lassi | Lassi Recipe

Strawberry Lassi

Healthy and delicious strawberry yogurt smoothie.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1 or 2
Ingredients:

1. Strawberries- 10 to 12
2. Yogurt- 1 cup
3. Ice cubes- few
4. Honey / agave nectar - to taste

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a blender/food processor .Blend until smooth.

Serve immediately .

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt | Healthy Dessert Recipe

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Healthy and delicious strawberry frozen yogurt.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3
Ingredients:

1. Frozen strawberries- 500 gms
2. Greek yogurt / Hung curd- 1 cup
3. Honey / agave nectar - to taste
4. Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp (optional)

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a blender/food processor .Blend until smooth.

Serve immediately or transfer it to an airtight container, place in the freezer until firm.