Chana Dal Chutney or Split Bengal Gram Chutney

Hello Everyone

I am back with a little pause.Pause was due to festive time.Gudi Padwa (Hindu New yr) ... then Navratri.. Ram Navami... So many festivals... I like all the festivals in our Indian Culture... Then it may be hindu... sikh .. Christian or Muslim or any other religion festival.. I love them all... As at the end they all bring us together... and here is the essence of celebrating them .... Message is deep inside them... but now days People just splitted there part away from other religion celebration. One should always understand that every religion or caste or creed belongs to one almighty... We people divided them into different forms... But they all give us same preaching ... and teach us to believe ... live you life and at the end how to reach to god.... So we should always learn and enjoy every festival with same enthusiasm  and zeal as we do for ours... This is my view... may views differ but ultimate view will be same ... "One Humanity One God " just different forms...  :) :) :) :)

I don't want to hurt anyone feelings .. and I don't to force anyone ... I am just here to share my views with you all... for me every human is my family and every religion is mine... So here I am closing this topic with having faith on god and on all of you.. that soon will everyone will understand this small but deep thought and then I am sure there will be peace .... harmony.. serenity all over... I took my pledge on this.... hopping from you all doing the same :) :)

Lets move on.... on today's recipe.Today we will be discussing here one very simple but really awesome taste chutney known as Chana Dal(Bengal Gram lentil) Chutney.

Eating Lentils in our diet is always a good choice.Taking them in any form will help us to get lots of protein , fiber and manganese. Lentils add essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber to the diet, and they provide protein and sustenance that can replace meat in meals. In all lentils plays a vital role in our diet.Here we will be using roasted Bengal Gram for chutney.Below is the pic of Bengal gram:-

Let's start our recipe :-

Ingredients :-

1/2 cup roasted Bengal Gram or Chana dal or Dhaliya
1 medium size chopped onion
1 tomato chopped
2-3 small green chilly chopped (optional)
salt to taste
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp red chilly powder
1+1/2 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp Asfotedia

For Tempering :-

1 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
4-5 curry leaves
1-2 dry Red Chilli

Procedure :-

In a pan heat oil.Once heated add asfotedia and green chilly.Give a good mix.Then add onion and fry until translucent. Once done add tomatoes. Cook them until they become soft.Then add the chana dal.Cook for 2 more mins.Once done add all the masalas. Give a good mix.Let it cool down.

After cooling down grind them into a paste.If you feel difficulty in grinding you can add little water.Once done , take out in a bowl and keep aside.Now heat oil in another pan.Add mustard seeds , red chilly and curry leaves.Once splutter add this hot oil to chutney.Give a good mix.And you chutney is ready..

So its so simple but taste yummy.You can have it with Idli , dosa , parathas or as side chutney with chapati or rice. Everyone will loves its taste.

Let me know your views on this chutney.Will come soon with new recipe.Thanks and tc....

Dal Farae or Lentil Rice Flour Dumplings

Hello All

India is a country of many cultures and religions.Because of this it have wide range of different forms of cuisines.Each state has its on special dishes , snacks , curries etc.Each one of them unique taste and spices enrolled in them.I am from MP i.e from heart of India.We are famous for Daal Bhati , Poha jalebi , Kachori , Samosa , Chat , Wide range of namkeen..etc. Like this other states are famous for there cuisine and local Snacks.Some of the dishes are joined with festivals.

Today we will discuss here a great local food of UP and Bihar.Its "Daal Farae". Very famous and tasty snack.Its quiet healthy and nutritious dish.We can say it as a steamed rice flour dumplings stuffed with spicy lentils.They are soft , crunchy , yummy , spicy and tasty to eat.Its prepared specially on the occasion of Karwachauth in UP and Bihar. Karwachauth is festival of Love and respect , fasting done by ladies for there long life of husband.

I love any dish made with rice or rice flour.So when I came across this snack, thought to try it.And in first try I am amazed with this Chana Dal Dumplings.Awesome taste , loved every bite of it.Now this is popular dish made in my home :) :).These can be enjoyed anytime of the day with your family and friends.Goes good with Coriander Chutney or Tamarind Chutney.So lets start with the recipe :-

Ingredients :-

1 cup Rice Flour
1 cup Chana Dal ( Split Bengal Gram)
1 inch Ginger
1 tsp Garlic Paste( optional)
3-4 Green chilies ( as per your taste)
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
Salt Per Taste
Luke warm water to kneed soft Dough

For Tempering :-

2 tbsp of Oil
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/4 tsp Asafoetida
4-6 Curry Leaves (optional)
1/2 cup of chopped Coriander Leaves

Procedure :-

Soak Chana dal for 3-4 Hours.Then Corasly Grind it with Green Chili and Ginger.Mix salt , turmeric Powder , Garam Masala and Garlic paste.Give a good mix.Stuffing is ready.

In a bowl take Rice flour and add little salt.Knead the dough with Luke warm water with hands.As rice flour will be sticky.After kneading the dough apply 2tsp of oil on the dough and let it rest for some time.Roll a portion of dough into a from of Poori Or a round small Chapati , add 1 tsp of stuffing on one half side.And with the help of other side fold it like a pattis or gujiya.You can give any shape you want.Seal the edges properly by applying some water. 

There are two ways of cooking this Dumplings:-

1)Either you steam them in Steamer.
2)Boil them in water.In a minute or two these dumplings will come on surface. Take them out when done.

Both the ways it will be good.I tried in both this ways.And personally I liked steamed one more.
So put a steamer on gas with 1 Lt of water and close the lid.Once steam formed , use the steamer plate attachment to gently put rice dumplings in it.You can grease the steamer plate with little oil so that dumplings should not stick to the plate.Cover the lid and cook it for around 15-25 minutes.

Once done you can check with the knife or tooth pick.Let the dumplings cool down for sometime.After that cut them into small pieces.Some people like to eat at this point of time with chutney.But I prefer the tempering version.

So take another pan add 3tbsp of oil.Once hot add asafotedia , mustard seeds.Once splutter add curry leaves.Then add pieces of faras or dumplings.Fry them till little crisp.Garnish with Fresh chopped Coriander leaves.Serve hot with Tamarind or Green Chutney.Tomato Sauce also goes fine with it.

So enjoy with your friends and family this amazing snack.Let me know your views and queries .Will be back soon with new recipe.Till then Cia.Be healthy and be foodiee...

Crispy Ladyfinger or Kurkuri Bhindi

Hello All

Spring is near about to come here in US.This time I felt like winter's are quiet long and cold.Hopping for Spring to come fast and bless us with good weather, Flowers , Cherry Blossom.I love Cherry Blossom.The flowers of this season will take your heart away.Lovely colors, stunning views of tress loaded with cherry flowers.In Washington D.C , every year Cherry Blossom festival is celebrated.They have planted very amazingly this tress near by Washington Monument and capitol.So when all blossoms at the same time the view of that place can't be expressed in words.Its just marvelous..Below are some pics of Cherry Blossom festival we attended in 2015.This year again we are planning to go.... :) :)

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Some of the below pics are from state parks near my place in New Jersey.. Tulips also another attraction in Spring Season.. Look at these beautiful colors... treat to eyes to see them.

Today I am here to share a very easy but tasty... now this time its treat to our taste buds...Kurkuri Bhindi.This is my mom's recipe and we all love it.I don't like soggy Ladyfinger.I always prefer to have crispy curry of Bhindi.They can be made in many ways.But the best way to make it with grounded roasted peanuts.Peanuts will give a crunchy flavor to Curry.So , lets start with today's recipe :-

Ingredients :-

1/2 kg of chopped Lady Finger

3/4 cup of grounded roasted peanuts

1+1/4 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp red chilly powder

1/4 tsp of turmeric powder

1/4 tsp Garam Masala

1/4 tsp asafoetida

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

2-3 tbsp oil

salt to taste

chopped coriander leaves for garnish

Procedure :-

Take a pan add oil in it.Once oil hot add asafoetida.Also add mustard and cumin seeds.Once Splutter add the ladyfinger.Give a good stir.Let it cooked on medium low flame for 5-10mins.In between give 4-5 times a gd stir.Pan should be wide enough that most of the chopped ladyfinger should touch the bottom of the pan.In this way you will get crispy bhindi.If you feel oil is less you can add 1-2 tsp more at this time.Slowly the ladyfingers will turned crispy and brown.Once you see its nicely cook add all other masalas. Don't cover the pan anytime.Try to cook it without covering.It will take some more time to cook without cover but you will happy with the result.Now after adding the masalas cook for another 2-3 mins so that all the spices cooked nicely , then garnish with chopped coriander leaves and switch off the flame.Serve hot with Chapati(Bread) or as side dish with rice.

Note:-

1) In order to get nice crispy crunchy curry , the ladyfingers should be dry.I mean after washing your vegetable , dry it properly.

2) You can also add roasted sesame seeds.

3)For crunchy vegetable always you should add more oil then normal curry.

Enjoy with your friends and family .Let me know your reviews.Will come back soon with another easy simple yummy recipe.Enjoy and tc...

Also to all my lady readers "Happy Women's Day "

Keep Rocking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!