Ribbon Pakoda/Ribbon Murukku

                                    Ribbon Pakoda is a crispy South Indian Snacks.Mostly they prepare for festivals especially 'Diwali 'celebrations.I made from store bought flours,some pepole will make flours at home.

Ingredients needed

• Rice flour - 2 cups
• Besan flour/Chick pea flour - 1 cup
• Unsalted butter - 1 tsp
• Salt - as needed
• Red chili powder - 2 tsp
• Sesame seeds - 1 tsp
• Hing/Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
• Oil - for deep frying

Method

1. Add rice flour,besan flour,red chili  powder,butter,sesame seeds,salt and water.Mix well.Make a soft dough like chappathi dough.
2. Now put some dough into the murukku press.Use the plate having two lines as shown in the picture below. 
3. Heat enough oil for deep fry.Once oil heat,carefully press the murukku press on top and press dough into the oil.
4. Fry until golden brown color.Drain the extra oil by placing it in a paper towel.

Notes-

1.After dough made,cover the dough and make it immediately.Don't leave time,otherwise the dough will get dry.

Leftover Rice Fritters

                                                         Leftover Rice Fritters

                    we always don't know what to do with left over rice.This fritters gives really good taste.These fritters are good combination for tea time snacks.

Ingredients needed

• Leftover rice - 1 cup
• Besan flour - 1 cup
• Onion - 1 no(finely chopped)
• Green chilies - 2 no (finely chopped)
• Curd - 1/2 cup
• Coriander leaves - 1 spring (finely chopped)
• Curry leaves - 1 spring (finely chopped)
• Asafoetida/Hing powder - a pinch
• Ginger - 1/2 tsp (finely chopped)
• Salt - as required
• Water - as needed
• Oil - for deep frying

Method

1. In a bowl,Soak left over rice with curd for 10 minutes and then grind them in a grinder well.Or if you don't want add curd,directly grind left over rice in mixer along with little water.
2. Add chopped onion,green chilies,coriander & curry leaves,hing powder,ginger,besan flour and salt as required with mashed rice.Mix them well.
3. Add some water if you need ,make a thick batter to pakoda consistency.
4. Heat enough oil in a pan for deep frying,take a spoonful of batter and drop into the hot oil and fry them until it turns golden brown.
5. Take them out and serve with sauce or chutney.

Note - 

1. Suppose If you add curd,the curd should not be sourness.Add thick curd.

Garlic Chutney

                             Home style spicy garlic chutney is greatest side dish for idlies and dosas.We can made different ways of garlic chutney using ingredients like coconut,shallots,tomatoes.I made with ripe tomatoes.

Ingredients needed

• Garlic - 10 cloves
• Dry red chilies- 5 0r 6 nos
• Tomatoes - 3 nos
• Tamarind - 1 (blueberry size)
• Salt - as needed
• Oil - 1 tsp

Tempering

• Oil - 1tsp
• Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad dal -1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - 1 spring

Method

1. Heat a pan with a tsp of oil, add red chilies and tomatoes.Saute till tomatoes are cooked thoroughly.Now add tamarind and fry for few seconds to loosen it.Let it to cool.
2. In a blender,add garlic ,fried tomatoes mixture and salt.Don't add water,grind until gets nice smooth paste. 
3. Heat a tsp oil in a pan for tempering,add mustard seeds after it is spluttered,add urad dal and curry leaves and saute for few seconds.Now add ground paste and mix well.Saute on medium flame until the oil separates. 
4. Serve with hot idlies ,dosas.

Notes-

1. If you  want,you can make large quantity of chutney and store it in a bottle for 2 weeks.
2. If you add sesame oil,it gives more flavor for this chutney.

Eggless Banana Muffins

                               Eggless banana muffins is very easy to make with home ingredients. I always prepared milkshake only in banana,first time i tried this muffins. My kids are really enjoyed,you can give as a breakfast for them.Using this same batter can make different type of muffins with ingredients like choclate chips,nuts,dry fruits,tuti fruti ,etc..

Ingredients needed

• Banana - 2 no
• All purpose flour/Maida - 1 cup
• Sugar  - 1 cup
• Salt - pinch
• Baking soda - 1 tbsp
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Vanilla essence - 1 tsp(optional)
• Butter - 1/2 cup
• Milk - 1/4 cup or as needed
• Nuts(anything you want) -1/4 cup (chopped)

Method

1. Sieve maida,baking soda,baking powder in a plate and keep it aside.
2. In a big bowl,add banana after removing the skin and butter then mix them well.
3. Now add the sugar and mix well until the sugar completely dissolves. 
4. Add sieved maida,baking powder and baking soda mixture and mix well.Then add vanilla essence and mix well.
5. Now add milk as required so we will  get a thick batter.When you add milk be careful because the batter should not be watery.
6. Now add the chopped nuts whatever you want and mix well.
7. Preheat the Oven to 350 deg F or 180 deg C,mean while spoon the batter in the muffins tray up to 3/4 th of it.Because it will raise when you bake,so leave the enough space for it.Sprinkle some nuts over the top.
8. Now bake them for 20 to 25 minutes. If you check out with  knife or toothpick, it comes out clear the baking is ready .
9. Ready to eat soft and spongy banana muffins.

Note-

1. When you prepared the batter ,it should not be watery.
2. If you add nuts ,it will give extra crunchiness to the muffins.Without nuts you can make the muffins.
3. If you want make egg banana muffin,skip the milk and add one egg.Before you add beat the egg completely.One egg is enough for this measurement.

Peanut chutney

                             Peanut chutney is a very popular chutney in Andhra.It is a great side dish for Dosa,Idli,Upma,Pessarattu and Pongal.Peanuts are rich in nutrients and have high protein content.Some people add coconuts with peanuts,but i didn't add coconuts.

Ingredients needed

• Peanuts - 1 cup (Roasted)
• Onion - 1/4 th(Chopped)
• Red chili -4 Or green chili - 4
• Ginger - small size
• Garlic -1 clove
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Tamarind - small size
• Curry leaves - 1 spring
• Salt - as needed
• Oil - 1 tsp

Tempering

• Oil - 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - 1 spring

Method

1. Heat an oil in a pan,Add onion,garlic,ginger and red chilies.Fry until onion gets soft.Turn off the heat.Let it cool.
2. In a blender add fried items,peanuts,cumin seeds,tamarind,curry leaves,and salt.When you grind add some water and grind till smooth.
3. For tempering, heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds,when it is spluttering add urad dal and curry leaves.Fry for few seconds.
4. Finally add tempering with chutney and serve with idly,dosa and pongal.

Pavakkai Varuval / Bitter Gourd Fry

                      Bitter gourd/Pavakkai has many health benefits value contents and it is good for diabetic persons.Simple and crispy pavakkai varuval which goes very well with any kind of rice.

Ingredients needed

• Bitter gourd/Pavakkai -  4 nos
• Rice flour -3 tsp
• Corn flour - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Red chili powder - 1 tsp
• Lemon juice -2 tsp
• Salt - as needed
• Water - as needed
• Oil - for frying

Method

1. Wash and slice the bitter gourd into circles as thin as possible.Keep it aside.
2. In a big bowl, add rice flour,corn flour,ginger garlic paste,turmeric powder,red chili powder,lemon juice and salt.Mix everything well and now add sliced bitter gourd and mix well. Sprinkle some water as needed.Don't add too much water.
3. Marinate for 15 to 20 mins.
4. Heat oil in a pan and when it is hot,deep fry marinated bitter gourd slices cook in medium flame until it turns golden brown color on both sides.
5. Using tissue paper remove the excess oil and serve with any rice especially with sambar rice too good.

Note-

1. Remove the seeds of bitter gourd when you sliced otherwise it will give bitterness.
2. You can also shallow fry the sliced bitter gourd instead of deep fry.

Tomato Dates Jam

                                            Tomato Dates Jam

                                       My younger daughter like to eat different types of jams and sauces.So that I will try different things for her and then give with chips,chappathi,idly.dosa.I saw in the internet to make a tomato and dates jam.Really it was came out very well and taste is also very good.I hope you will also like this yummy jam.

Ingredients needed

• Tomato - 2 nos
• Dates - 3 nos(pitted)
• Sugar - 3 tsp
• Ghee - 2 tsp
• Cashew nuts (chopped)

Method

1. Boil the water and make a slit with knife on the tomatoes.After water boiled switch off the stove and add tomatoes into the water.Keep it aside for 5 mins.
2. Then peel off the skin  and chop them into small pieces.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes and dates into a blender along with pinch of salt,grind like a smooth puree.
4. Heat a pan with tsp of ghee,roast cashew nuts until golden brown. Remove cashews from the pan and keep it aside.
5. Add the ground puree into the same pan and stir until raw smell goes.Then add sugar and remaining ghee,stir for few seconds. Now add roasted cashew nuts and continue stirring until you will get sticky jam. 
6. Lets allow to cool and store it in air tight container.

Notes-

1. It will get little time to get a jam,so don't hesitate while you are stirring.
2. When choose tomatoes little careful,the tomato shouldn't be sourness.