Coconut Mint Tomato chutney

Chutneys come in all permutations and combinations, you toast some seasoning, add some fresh herbs, blend it and there you go….its as simple as that. The wonderful thing about chutneys is that you can make it out of anything and everything. Here I have given a simple , yet tasty recipe for a chutney which has the punch of mint , sweetness of coconut with a hint of tangy flovour from the tomatoes.

You need

Mint leaves – a bunch

Tomato – 1 chopped

Grated coconut – 2 Tbsp

Putna daal/channa daal - 1 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Urad daal – 1/2 tsp

Green chillies – 2

Red chilli – 1

oil and salt for seasoning

Method

1. In a kadai heat a tsp of oil and add the jeera and urad daal, let it brown slightly .Add the chillies and the tomatoes

2. Now saute the mixture for a minute and then add the mint leaves

3. Once the mint leaves wilt, add the grated coconut and saute for another minute and put off the flame. Allow the mixture to cool and blend it with the putna daal and little water

This chutney goes very well with idly, dosa, uthappam etc., You can grind it thick with little water and have it with some hot rice and ghee, tastes just excellent.

Arisi-paruppu sadham – reliving coimbatore tradition

Agriculture was the predominant occupation of people in and around coimbatore, pollachi, tirupur etc., That demands daylong toiling in the fields , its like doing a complete workout at a gym!! So when people came back home in the eve all they need is a warm bath and some yummy for the worked out tummy….now no matter how tired they are , the mothers always ensured that their families are well cared for with a heartiful meal . So what do they do?? not a 2 minute noodle…but they make arisi-paruppu sadham!!It could be done in a jiffy and still was wholesome in itself.The name says it all , arisi (rice)-paruppu(lentil) sadham…..its a balanced diet with rice, pulses , veggies and more importantly its lip-smacking good. So here is how we go about it

You need

Rice - 1 cup

Toor dhal – half cup

vegetables (carrots, cabbage, beans, peas….or a combination of these) – half cup

Shallots or small onions ( you could use the normal large variety too, but this enhances the taste)

garlic – 3 or 4 cloves

green chillies – 2

tomato – 1 small

curry leaves

mustard seeds and oil for tempering

Method:

1.Wash and soak the rice and toor dhal for half an hour

2.In the meantime chop the onions, garlic,vegetables, and tomatoes finely.Slit the green chillies

3.In a pressure cooker heat a tsp of oil, preferrably til oil and let the mustard seeds splutter, now add the green chillies, onion ,garlic and curry leaves. Once the onions are translucent add the tomatoes , little salt, turmeric powder and chilly poweder and saute it for a minute.

4. Now add the veggies(I used cabbage, but it could be anything as mentioned earlier) and 3-4 cups of water depending on the type of rice and let it come to a boil

5.When the masala , veggie , water mixture starts boiling drain and add the soaked rice and daal. At this point taste the seasoning in the water, the level should be little higher so that when it is cooked it is of right amount.So go ahead and add salt/chilly powder/more slit green chillies

6.Put the pressure cooker lid and let it give a whistle, turn it to low heat , leave it for a couple of minutes and switch it off. You can even make this by simply boiling everything in a kadai like how i did, tastewise both are same.

When the pressure is released transfer it to a plate and serve this with a dollop of ghee, pickle and some yoghurt. Trust me, it dosent taste like bisi bela bath, its completely differnt and heavenly….

Starting trouble

Well….today was not actually a great day….it was too blue and dull….early morn in my half sleep i was thinking of lot of things which never lead me anywhere….the day is still dull….boring…..hundred times i have thought about writing a blog and have dismissed it

for the 101th time again i thought about and why not give it a try…..so here I am having the strating trouble of what to post….hmm….should i start with a discussion of a devotional song that would bless my blog with lots of readers which the internet cant achieve or should i talk about the great Indian nation like a true patriot or the male chauvinism or what it is??

finally i thought let me just state my blog again….itsgreen….go make the world green as much as u can….not with envy but with lot of plants , shrubs, trees…..

go green…..thats it….will make a better post when I am in a more bright mode…