Idli Upma

Idli upma.. a very very simple recipe to make from leftover idlis...a good item to be in the lunch box .. a very easy option to satisfy that evening hunger pang..just 5 minutes and its ready..

There are other versions of this  that upma i make , but i am keeping that for later... :)

Ingredients:

Oil or ghee- 1-2 tbspns

Mustard seeds- 1 tspn

Split white urad dal-1/2tspn

Curry leaves- 6-7

Red chilli flakes - as reqd( or 2-3 dried red chillies)

Idlis-4(cut into small pieces)

Salt- as per taste

Fresh coriander leaves- as reqd

How i made it?

Heat the oil.Put in the mustard seeds and let it splutter.Add in the urad dal and the curry leaves.If you are using dry red chillies ,put that also in.Put in the idli pieces and then add in the chilli flakes.Give a good stir . Add in the salt.When the idlis are fried well , add in the chopped coriander and take off the stove.

Serve with a  hot sup of coffee or tea.

You can make this more spicy but for  a quick snack we at home prefer it this way.

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Coconut Rice

A new item on my menu!-coconut rice!!!:) Till yesterday i had never eaten coconut rice nor made it. But i had heard about it and had come across it in many cooking websites .But i never made it.Yesterday  2 Ls- Laziness and Leftover -made me do it.I was feeling lazy to make the normal rice ,curry , vegetable etc  and I had leftover rice in my fridge .So the laziness factor and leftover factor finally made me try  it and also the sudden flash of  grated coconut stashed away in my fridge!!

 I  found the coconut rice to be easy , quick and yummy.Of course it has a wonderful aroma too.The smell of slightly fried coconut  wafts from it and i  saw N sniffing as he came inside our apartment!!!!:)

Ingredients

Coconut oil-1 tbspn( can use refined oil  also )

Mustard seeds- 2tspn

Coriander seeds- 1tspn
Channa dal -2 tbspn
Peanuts- 1 tbspn

Split Urad Dal(split black gram) -1 tspn

Dried red chillies- 1or 2

Curry leaves- 1 stem

Cashewnuts-8-9 

Coriander leaves- for garnish

Grated coconut-1/2 to 3/4 th cup

 Rice- 1 1/2 cups ( i used leftover rice the day before)

Sugar- 1 tspn (optional)

Salt to taste.

(these quantities are roughly what  i used. please adjust according to taste.There are no hard and fast rules)

Method

Soak chana dal for 10-15 minutes.
Heat a non stick pan and pour the oil into it.Then splutter the mustard seeds followed by coriander seeds ,dry red chillis,curry leaves,chana dal ,urad dal,peanuts  and cashewnuts.

Then add the grated coconut.Add in the sugar and salt . Mix well say for a minute( or till a nice aroma fills your kitchen and your apartment, floor....;) )

Add in the rice followed by dhania leaves.Mix well.

Your aromatic ,easy and quick coconut rice is ready to serve.

This is a very good lunch option for kids.

Cucumber Pomegranate Curd Rice

Curd Rice is a very simple and easy lunch option.It is very good for the summer months as it cools your body.
Bland and boring ..yes that's what i used to think of curd rice or thairu saadam.
But yesterday it changed.

Yesterday i wanted to prepare a quick lunch and go out shopping( well had to prepare lunch as Navin would come home for lunch from office..advantage of having rented a house just next to office)..so cos of this quick lunch thing i decided on curd rice.But i did not want to make the ordinary curd rice as i honestly don't like it so much.. So i checked out on the blog that i am totally in love with - Edible Garden . I was sure there will be some different recipe there and of course , the blog did not disappoint me.There were two different recipes.Since i had most of the ingredients of both recipes  i decided to combine the two.
It came out very well and Navin also liked it. Was a little apprehensive of that .

Ingredients

Boiled basmati or ponni rice-1 cup( i used ponni rice)
Curd/Yoghurt - almost 1 1/2 to 2 cups
Pomegranate- i used seeds from half a pomegranate
Cucumber grated - 1 small size cucumber/ around 5 tablespoons
Green Chilli - 2
Ginger grated-1 tablespoon
Coriander leaves- a bunch
Salt to taste
1 tablesppon oil
1 tablespoon mustard seeds



Method

Mash the boiled rice a  little and add all ingredients except oil and mustard seeds.Mix well.Keep aside.

In a small pan or kadai splutter the mustard seeds and add to rice and mix.

Your curd rice is ready to serve. Now isn't that quick ?

Well it was fast  and easy to jot it down here too!!!
So enjoy !!!!

Recipe Source: Edible Garden

Lime Rice

Lime  rice is a very easy and quick lunch option.Its a popular lunch item in the South specially in Tamil Nadu.Lime rice has a very tangy taste and is normally not made very spicy. It has the typical south indian tempering of mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.

Lime rice was never ever made in my   house.. or rather i should say it  does not have  a presence in Malayalee homes. We are always used to the proper rice, curry, a side vegetable etc.. its almost like such simple food items are never considered for lunch.

Anyway i make lime rice often as it is simple, easy and  can be made quickly.. when i am not in a mood for elaborate cooking ,lime rice is my savior.
For other quick and easy lunch options you may check these- Coconut Rice,Cucumber Pomegranate Curd Rice, Tawa pulao.

So here is how i make lime rice.

Ingredients:

Boiled Raw rice-1 cup(i use basmati rice at times)

Refined oil-1 and 1/2tbsp

Mustard Seeds -1 tspn
Dry red chilli- 2,broken

Channa Dal- 2tbspn(soaked for 15 -20 minutes.)
Urad Dal-1 tspn
Curry Leaves-  7-8

Peanuts-2 tbsp( i love  to bite into the peanuts and so i always add peanuts lavishly)

Turmeric Powder- 1/2 tspn (can add more if  you want more colour ..but make sure that the taste of haldi does not become too prominent)

Salt - to taste

Lime juice-1 and 1/2 tbspn

Coriander leaves - a few sprigs, chopped

Method:

Heat oil in thick bottomed non stick pan(preferably).
Splutter the mustard  seeds and then add urad dal.
 When Urad dal turns golden , add in the dry red chillies and curry leaves.

Then add the chana dal and the peanuts.

When these change colour to brown, add the turmeric powder and salt.
Mix well for a minute. Then add the rice.

Mix well till there is a uniformity in colour. 

Add the lemon juice and mix well. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
You can serve lime rice with curd,pickle,and pappadum.

Alternate way:When the rice is boiled add 1 tablespoon of oil and the lime juice and mix well.This rice can be added  to saucepan once thetempering is done.Then you may skip the lime juice added directly on stove top.

Sometimes i add half of an onion and tomato chopped finely.

Note:You can soak chana dal in hot water..it will soften faster.
Sometimes i skip soaking the urad dal.