Peanut Sundal | Verkadalai Sundal | Navratri Recipes

Wishing All Happy Navratri and Durga Pooja with fun, fare and loads of good food.  Festive times make me miss India a lot, for past few year during pooja times I always been in India and would visit different pandals, the festive mood, song-dance, the unspoken competition of who’s pandal is better than other and not to forget the bhakti songs in popular hit numbers playing day and night is all what makes Pooja days memorable.  Coming back to sundal, popular in South India during Navratri is simple, easy to prepare and taste delicious.  I don’t make much of sundals but I do once in a while and when I saw fresh peanuts in Little India I grab it, last year I posted Mochakottai sundal and to continue the trend this year is peanut sundal.  You can find other Navratri and Vrat recipes here.

Ingredients:

Peanuts - 1 Cup
Oil - 2 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Green Chili - 3
Granted Coconut - 3 tbsp
Salt - To taste



Method:

1. Wash and pressure cook peanuts for 2-3 whistles with little less than 1 cup of water and salt.  Drain and keep aside peanuts.
2. In a pan or wok heat oil add mustard seeds and allow to splutter, add curry leaves, green chili and sauté for 30 seconds.
3. Add peanuts and stir for a minute.  Add coconut and mix well and off flame. 

Variations
~ You can use dry peanuts too.
~ You can add finely chopped 1/2 tsp ginger for extra zing, I add some times.   You can grind ginger and chili together and add too.
~ You can replace green chili with dry red chili.
~ You can add little grated mango if you want tangy taste.

Have a nice day ~~

Fruit Salad In Yogurt Dressing | Navratri Vrat Recipes

Fruits are essential part of fasting, in most of the fast fruits are allowed.  Eating fruits just plain can be boring some times so here comes a simple fruit salad in yogurt dressing.  The recipe is very quick, easy and taste good, actually it’s so easy lot of you may wonderful why I am posting this.  This fruit salad is good not only for vrat/fasting days but also for party or get-together, you will be amaze how this simple salad will be liked by all.  If you are not making this during fasting you can add table salt instead of sendha namak and also sprinkle little of chaat masala for that extra zing. 

Ingredients:

Apple - 1
Banana - 1
Grape - 1 Cup
Pomegranate Seeds - 1/2 Cup
Yogurt/Dahi - 1 Cup
Sugar - 2 tsp
Sendha Namak/Rock Salt - 1/4 tsp
 

Method:
1. Chop all the fruits and mix in a bowl. 
2. Add hung or thick curd, sugar and salt.
3. Mix well to coat all fruits well with curd, chill and serve.


Our super easy and quick salad is ready.  Make sure to have it chilled.



Variations
~ You any fruit of your choice
~ You can add dry fruits for garnishing.
~ Add more curd to make it as fruit raita

Have nice day ~~

Navratri Recipes | Vrat | Upwas Recipes

I am compiling all Navratri  recipes and Vrat/Upwas (Fasting) recipes here.  For Navratri 2014 vrat recipes collection click here. Navratri is 9 days of celebration worship of Durga (Shaki) in different avatars and Navratri celebrated in different forms across India.  In Northern and Western India fasting is observed during nine days of navratra.  So here collection of fasting (vrat/upvas) recipes and South Indian Navratri recipes so it would be easy for you to plan your meal specially during fasting.   Hope you find it useful.

Ganesh Chaturthi Roundup

After a long gap I have revise Festive Food Events with Ganesh Chaturthi and now I am happy that I did.     I had my reservations about it and I was proven wrong for which am glad.   Fellow bloggers have been supportive and send delicious chaturthi goodies to make not only Ganapati but everyone happy.

There are some interesting recipe so check out the roundup and if I missed any of your entry or if there is any correction to be made please inform me.  Thank You all for sending entries and making this event happening once again.

Event started with Prema's entries Urad Dal aka Ulundu Kozhukattai which she learnt from her friend, also she sent some Ammini Kozhukattai which is regular at her place for Ganesh Chaturthi and ofcourse it's so easy and delicious that no wonder it's on the regular list.

Prathibha sent Masale Bath which is must in most of Maharastrian festivals and it looks so yum not only for festive but any time comfort food.  She also sent Undrallu, a simple and yummy recipe to try during busy festive cooking schedule, along with Paneer Modak Peda, it looks so cute ...a must try I say.  Also we have the traditional Andhra specialty Bellam Kudumulu and rounding off her celebrations with Andhra Style Pulihora.

Shailaja sent Mango dal recipe, a simple yet satisfying essential.  Can never say no to this dal.  She also sent Nippattu which is my personal favorite and her version looks so yum.  We also got Undrallu to relish.   Shailaja had cooked a storm and we have got Paala Talikalu which is made of wheat flour, sago & milk.

Sangeeta was sweet enough to sent these yummy Lentil & Spinach Vadas, perfect for festivals and for those evening hunger pangs.

Minu sent Uppuma Kozhukattai with Cornmeal, interesting combo right?  Love for cornmeal continues with Cornmeal Mini Kozhukattai and I simply love the color of it.  Next up is Pillaiyarpatti Modakam Check out the recipes at her place.

Vimitha sent across the very famous Pidi Kozhukattai which she loves and specially the one's made by her mom, well mom can never go wrong..can they?

Kaveri sent Ulundu Kozhukattai which looks just so perfect, and I would like to see her Ganesh Idols collection which she loves to collect...what a novel thought.

Priya sent Red Rice Ammini Kozhukattai, looks cute right? Also we have Soya Chunks and Chickpeas Vada, what a wonderful combo. We do have some Ragi Paal Kozhukattai.  This one is so new for me Steamed Onion & Chickpeas Uppu Kozhukattai and I'm loving it.  Trust her for all the innovative ideas, she has ample of it you should really check her blog.

Ganapati feast and without ladoos?  No way!  So we have Rawa Coconut Ladoo from Chandrani.

Raji has sent Channa Sundal, a simple yet must during Vinayagar Chaturthi ....as long as I have seen.

Sowmya has sent Vella Kohukattai and this is special post since she start to celebrate festive in blog.  You sure going to have fun Sowmya, keep rocking.

Shama sent Oats Kozhukattai, let's eat healthy while feasting.  Yummy Paal Kozhukattai is next in the list.  Another interesting one is Oats Kheer, and some Horsegram Sundal too.

Sanoli sent acroos Rulang Dates Aluwa, a famous Sri Lankan delicacy, looks delish a must try I say.  And the popular Kondai Kadalai Sundal does make it to the event too.  And never a festive is complete without some Payasam so here it is Semaiyer Payesh.

Shweta sent the pretty looking Fried Modak, It's just looks so delicious.

Jayanthi sent the pretty looking Chavde, it looks just fab.

Sara sent the every green, yummy Thengai Kozhukatai.

Nayana has sent Ambyache Ukdiche Modak which is Steamed Mango Modak...yes modak with mango.  After mango it's time for some Chocolate so presenting Chocolate Modak....wow right? And some Ukdiche Modak she sent too.

Nitha sent Sweet & Uppu kozhukattai and Soya bean & Peanut sundal which she learnt from her neighbors along with Tamil way of celebrating Vinayagar Chaturthi how cute is that.

From Blogexplore we have creamy and thick Aval Payasam for Ganeshji.

And we have Muruku from Lubna, truly speaking the pictures are making me drool every time I see her post, such perfect looking muruku, check her post for the beautiful pictures and wonderful writing.

Last up is my entries for the event, for me is Lemon Rice, Ukdiche Modak, Ragi Inippu Pidi Kozhukattai and Rajma Modak.

Thank you all for sending entries, I hope everyone enjoyed the event as much as I did and learnt something new.

Have a nice day ~~

Vrat Ke Papdi Chaat | Navratri Vrat Recipes

You must be wondergin what’s vrat ke papdi chaat?  Well, it’s same like normal papdi chaat recipe with minor changes to suit vrat ie fasting rules like instead of plain flour used here is Rajgeera Atta, no garlic, onion and aloo sev replaces normal sev.  It doesn’t really looks very appealing like papdi chaat because it’s very simple with less ingredients but neither the less it taste delicious. 


During Upwas/fasting it’s going to be feast,  I just got the idea to make papdi chaat suitable for vrat during one of my chaat section with my colleague and she was saying fasting days nothing interesting to eat.  Not only for vrat you can make this any time and enjoy this different and yummy papdi chaat.


Ingredients

For Papdi [ Makes around 30 pieces]
Rajgira Atta / Amarnath Flour - 1 Cup
Jeera/Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Sendha Namak/Rock Salt - to taste
Pepper Powder - 1/4 tsp
Water - As needed

For Assembly
Papdi - 25-30 pieces
Chopped Boiled Potato - 2
Aloo Sev - 1 Cup
Sweet Chutney - As needed
Cilantro Chutney - As needed [recipe below]
Chopped Cilantro - 1/ 4 Cup

For Cilantro or Vrat ki Hari Chutney
Cilantro/Dhaniya Patta - 1 Cup
Green Chilies  - 3-4
Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Sendha Namak/Rock Salt - to taste

Method

1. For cilantro or vrat ki hari chutney, add all chutney ingredients in a blender or mixer and grind to smooth paste, add water only if required.  Keep aside.

2. In a bowl take all the ingredients listed for papdi, add water in small quantity ie 1 tbsp at a time and knead to smooth dough.  This doesn't required too much of water so be careful.  Keep the dough aside for 15 minutes. 


3. Divide dough into 3 parts, take one section of dough, make smooth ball and roll into thin roti.  Use a cookie cutter or any jar/box cap/lid to make small circles.
4. Prick the circles in 4-5 places with fork or knife so it doesn't puffs up and becomes puri.
5. Deep fry in hot oil in small batches until golden brown and drain in kitchen towel.


For Assembly
6. Grab all the ingredients like papdi, chutney, aloo sev, potato, cilantro etc. [ya no papdi in this picture]


7. In a plate arrange 6-7 papdi.  Keep 2-3 potato pieces on top of papdi.  Add 1-2 tsp drops of green/vrat ki chutney.


8.  Now add sweet chutney, aloo sev and garnish with cilantro. 


Our Vrat Ke Papdi Chaat is ready, don’t wait just enjoy. 



Variations ~

~ You can skip pepper powder in papdi, I added to have little spicy papdi.
~ You can sprinkle jeera/cumin powder on top during assembly I didn’t do that as I have jeera powder in papdi.
~ If you like dahi papdi chaat, then just add curd on top and hurray your dahi papdi chaat is ready.
~ Adjust both chutney according to your taste.

Have a nice day ~~

Singhare ki Burfi | Navratri Vrat Recipes

Navratri is around the corner, time to gear up for fun, dance and food.  But if you are fasting during navratri then one tension is to what to cook for that one important meal of day with all the restrictions on vrat eating.  Now a days restaurants features navratri food/thali during and it looks good too but we can’t eat every day in restaurant, can we?  So won’t worry like last year I am going to post some easy and interesting navratri recipes, here starting it with a sweet note.  Singhare or Chestnut flour burfi is one of the easy burfi to prepare and it taste so good.  Lot of people add khoya in this burfi but we don’t do that.   These burfi are light to eat, mildly sweet (you can make it sweet as you like, no worries on that), not only for navratri but it’s good for any day of year.   So enjoy these burfi and the festive.



Ingredients

Singhara Atta/Water Chestnut Flour - 1 Cup
Ghee - 3 tbsp [more if required]
Sugar - 1/2 Cup [ I used less than 1/2 Cup]
Water - 1 1/2 Cups
Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp
Raisins - 1 tsp
Sliced Almonds - 3 tsp



Method:

1. In a pan heat ghee, add singhare ka atta and sauté in medium flame until it becomes light brown and aroma starts to fill.  Be careful not to burn flour so keep stirring.

2. Add sugar and water and mix well, try not to form any lumps.

3. Keep stirring after 2-3 minutes until ghee starts to leave sides of pan.
4. Add cardamom powder, raisins, almonds and mix well, keep stirring for 1-2 minutes until it becomes nice glossy.

5. Grease a plate with a drop of ghee and transfer barfi mixture in plate.  Level the top with back of spatula and allow to set, let it cool for 10 minutes.
6. Cut in square of diamond shape, garnish with almonds slivers.

Enjoy simple yet delicious burfi.


Variations ~

~ You can add khoya for that add that after flour gets roasted well and you might need to adjust sugar too.

Have a nice day ~~