Monday, 26 October 2009

MLLA-15th Helping Round-up & The Winner is...

Nobody there is that doesn't love a bean.
If not the royal Navy bean, then the wax bean,
the soybean, the green bean, the black bean—the
pot is large, it contains multitudes—white bean,
pink bean, small red bean, the lowly pinto, the
lovely lentil—let the lamp affix its bean—or
the walnut-shaped garbanzo, large lima bean, baby lima,
(A reunion of the Bean families is here assembled),
the cranberry bean, white kidney bean, northern bean,
or their ed cousins: green split pea, yellow
split pea, and ol' blackeye. A lineup
of likely legumes. Gather ye bean-pods
while ye may. Go and catch a falling bean
and if you catch one, let me know.
A man and a woman are one. A man and a woman
and a bean are one, or two, or three.

The beans I mean, no one has seen them made
or heard them made, but at supper-time
we find them there. Come live with me,
and eat some beans and we will love
within our means. One could do worse
than be an eater of beans.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's bean?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Had we but world enough, and time,
this coyness, Lady, were no crime.
But, at my back, I always hear
a pot of beans bubbling near.

Mark but this bean, and mark in this,
how little that which thou deny'st me is.
An aged bean is but a paltry thing.
I must lie down where all ladders start,
in the foul rag-and-bean shop of the heart.
O my love is like a red, red bean,
that's newly picked in June:
O my love is like a pinto bean,
that's truly cooked at noon.

So much depends upon a red kidney
bean. You might ask, Do I dare
to eat a bean? Dry beans can harm no one.
They remind us of home sweet home,
home on the range,
home where the heart is.
Without expecting anything in return,
they give us protein, zip, and gas.
Add what you will—onion, tomatoes, red
pepper, chili powder, juice of lemon,
salt & pepper to taste. Add ham
hocks, bring to a boil, simmer slowly.
Call your friends, serve with
panache, ers, and green salad.

How do I cook them? Let me count the ways—
boiling, steaming, frying, baking.
And if these verses may thee move,
Sweet Lady, come live with me
and be my love. And if this fare
you disapprove, come live with me
and please be my cook.

(Source: Bean Soup, Or A Legume Miscellany by Philip Paradis)

Yes, legumes remind us of home sweet home… a bowl of comfort food which takes us down the memory lane! And 65 plus blogger friends with more than 70 recipes have shared their Legume Love Affair. Thank you one and all for participating in MLLA, 15th Helping and a big thank you to dear Susan for giving me this wonderful opportunity to host one of my very favourite food blog event and giving me ample time to post this round-up. Friends, please accept my sincere apologies for delay in putting up this round-up. Without much delay, presenting you all the grand round-up of My Legume Love Affair, 15th Helping. Don't forget to scroll down to see the winner of this edition.

Salads & Soups

Preeti Kashyap from Relishing Recipes: Black Eyes Peas Salad on a Crispy Spinach Spoon
SE from Denufood: Chane/Harbare/Chole Koshimbir(Chikpea Salad)
Sailaja from Sailaja’s Kitchen: Lettuce & Moong Dal Poriyal
Nisha Mudliar from Nisha’s Kitchen: Kalachanna & Aloo Salad
Graziana from Erbe in Cucina: White Bean Soup
Soma from eCurry: Red Lentil & Vegetable Soup
Allison from Spice and More: Fenugreek Srouts
Astra Libris from Food for Laughter: Warm Black-Eyed Pea and Feta Salad
Lisa from Lisa's Kitchen: Mung Bean and Vegetable Soup
Supriya from Queen of My Kitchen: Beans Salad

Spice Powder & Chutney:

Lata Raja from Flavours and Tastes: Gujarathi Milgai Podi

Appetizers, Tiffins & Snacks

Kalva from Curry in Kadai: Pappu Upma (Moong Dal Upma)
Supriya from Celebrating Little Things In Life: Handvo
Priya Suresh from Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes: Horsegram Masala Vadai
Shaista Tabrez from Mixcalculations: Fried Black Chickpeas
Srivalli from Cooking 4 all Seasons: Kadambam Dosa (Mixed Lentil Crape)
Mints from Vadani Kaval Gheta: Ragada Patties
Faiza from Faiza Ali's Kitchen: Falafel
Lata Raja from Flavours and Tastes: Muthusarai/Magizhampoo Thaenkuzhal
EC from Simple Indian Food: Rajma Cutlet
PJ from Seduce Your Tastebuds: Peanut Sundal
Gethan from My Tasty Recipes: Green Gram & Oats Dosa
Smitha from Kannada Cuisine: Nucchina Unde
My Experiments & Food: Moong Dal Cheela
Smitha from Kannada Cuisine: Kadalekai Usli
Deepika from My Life and Spice: Zhatpat Chatpat Matar Chaat
Sarah Jayne from Weekend Carnivore: Baked Bean and Veggie Burger
Radhika Vasanth from Food for 7 Stages of Life: Mangodae (Mung Bean Fritters)
Kanchan from Kitchen Gossip: Mung/Moong Pakode (Mung Dal Fritters)
Esaiselvi from My Kitchen: Sprouted Moong Sundal
Shoba Shrinivasan from Anubhavati - Tastes from my Kitchen: Sweet Green Gram Dhal Sundal
Indu Subramanian from Kaipakkuvam- Indu Subramanian's Blog: Sundal Varieties
Saritha from My Kitchen's Aroma: Black Eyed Beans Masala Vada
Susan from The Well Seasoned Cook: Spicy Vegetable Fritters

Side Dish

Pari Vasisht from Foodelicious: Chana Masala
Mrs. RV Singh from Melting Pot: Chana Masala
Lata Raja from Flavours and Tastes: Varuththu Araitha
Johanna from Green Gourmet Giraffe: Smoky Baked Beans
Kamala Bhoopathy from Cook @ Ease: Moong Dal Tadka
Purva Desai from Purva’s Daawat: Chowli (Black Eyed Beans) Curry
Priya Suresh from Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes: Amarnath Leaves Kootu
Sandhya Hariharan from Sandhya’s Kitchen: Chole puri with Cucumber-Onion Raitha
Jaya Wagle from Jaya Space: Green Beans & Moong Dal Sabzi
Rupali from Chakh...Le...Re!: Mixed Beans Curry
Suma Gandlur from Veggie Platter: Mamidikaya Pappu / Mango Dal
PJ from Seduce Your Tastebuds: Pachai Payaru Kadaiyal (Green Gram Gravy)
Pari Vasisht from Foodelicious: Paneer, Peas & Potato Curry
Shalini Venkatesh from Sizzling Spices: Mixed Dal
Pavitra from Dishes from My kitchen: Unta Majiga Pulusu(Lentill Balls in Yoghurt Sauce) & Chaaru
Renu from Renu’s Kitchen: Lobia Curry
Siddhi Sheth from Cooking Vegetarian: Mesir Wat
Shri from Tasty Touch: Channa Masala
Priti Nilesh from Khaugiri: Shepu Dal
Sweatha from Tasty Curry Leaf: Tofu Bhurji
Jisha from Kerala Recipes: Snow Peas Thoran
Satya from Satya's Cooking Experiments: Cluster Beans Curry
Nalini Mehta from Route to India: Dal Dhokli
Sheetal from Life is Beautiful: Chi-Stew
Ramki from One Page Cookbooks: Tamil Paruppu
Shwetha Thammaiah from Cookie Shutter: Urad Sabat
Rachana Shakyawar from Humming Today: Indian Broad Beans with Baby Potato Curry
Melanie Crasta from Thondore: Moong Curry
Anu Ramesh from Anuz Cookbook: Kabuli Chana Masala
Sia from Monsoon Spice: Badanekayi-Erulli Huli

Main Dish

Sheba from Art, Food and Travel Chronicles: Lentil Shepherds Pie
Gethan from My Tasty Recipes: Red Chilli, Green Gram Rice
Vaishal from Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes: Trinidadian Rotis Stuffed with Split Peas
Sushma from Savi-Ruchi: Black Eyed Peas 'N' Pasta
Preeti Kashyap from Relishing Recipes: Dhuli Moong Dal Paratha

And the winner of MLLA, 15th Helping is..... ~Drums roll~

MLLA-winner


Congratulations Soma :) Please mail me your contact details at sia[at]monsoonspice[dot]com ASAP.

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Friday, 23 October 2009

Curry Leaves Chutney Powder: An Aromatic Affair!

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Curry Leaves Chutney Powder


“What are they?” asked British lady standing right next to me in Asian grocery store.
“Its curry leaves”, I replied.
“Oh! So curry powder is made from these leaves then?”

I just met another person who thinks curry powder is made from curry leaves or some part of its tree and I am sure that there are many more like her who thinks the same! I, along with my friends here in BC and many other food bloggers, have been stressing that there is nothing called “Curry Powder” in Indian cuisine. Now that I have told that curry leaves are not used in making curry powder, shall we go one step ahead and explore the fragrant routine of discovering how curry leaves are used in Indian cuisine?

The Curry Tree or Karivepallai or Kadipatta (Scientific name: Murraya koenigii) is a tropical to sub-tropical tree in the family Rutaceae, which is native to India. It produces the leaves known as Curry leaves or Sweet Neem leaves.

The small and narrow leaves somewhat resemble the leaves of the Neem tree; therefore they are also referred to as Karuveppilai (translated to Black Neem leaf) in Tamil and Malayalam, Karu/Kari meaning black, ilai meaning leaves and veppilai meaning Neem leaf. In the Kannada language it is known as Kari BEvu and Karivepaku in Telugu, again translating to the same meaning Black Neem leaf. Other names include Kari Patta (Hindi), which probably is a corrupt translation of Karuveppilai, noroxingha (Assamese), Bhursunga Patra (Oriya), Kadhi Patta (Marathi), Mithho Limdo (Gujarati) and Karapincha (Sinhalese).

(Source: Wiki)

Curry leaves are aromatic and hence used as one of the main ingredients in tadka/tempering for most of South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisines. Although it is a most loved ingredient for seasonings in the south Indian culinary world, its use doesn’t limit to this. The fresh aromatic leaves are used to make wet chutney, chutney powders, spice blends etc. They are also used for many medicinal purposes as an antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-hypercholesterolemic etc. My grandmother never got tired of saying how good these leaves are for lustrous and glossy hair when consumed in fresh/raw form! And trust me when I say that our Grandmothers never lie when it comes to curry leaves!

Many good Asian grocery shops sell good bunch of fresh curry leaves and some also sell them as frozen or in dried form. Although you can use these frozen or dry curry leaves, their aroma and flavour is much mellow when compared to the heady aroma of fresh curry leaves. When these curry leaves are added to hot oil, along with other seasonings ingredients, the heady aroma of released from these leaves is something that you need to experience on your own as it is way too difficult to express in few words! These leaves infuse their flavour to any dish they touch and make their presence felt.

Today’s recipe features Curry Leaves in lead role and not just as a cameo! This recipe of Curry Leaves Chutney Powder is made from one of my favourite cookbooks: Cooking at Home with Pedatha. In South India, any traditional meal is incomplete without Pickles and/or Chutney Podi. For all who are short of time, pickles and podis are nothing short of saviours! For a quick fix meal, all that is needed is some steamed rice, ghee (Indian clarified butter), some papads and pickle or podi of your choice and voila, you have one delicious meal to savour!

This Curry Leaves Chutney Powder is one of my favourite condiments to have with some crisp Dosa or fluffy and spongy Idli or simple steam cooked rice and chilled curds/yogurt. The recipe is simple and straight forward! All you need is a bunch of curry leaves, few lentils and whole spices. Roast them all in few teaspoons of oil and grind them to coarse powder along with tamarind for that tangy flavour. And in few minutes you have this aromatic, spicy, tangy, protein rich Podi that could be simply stored for a month or two!!! As and when needed, take one or two spoonfuls of this powder and mix them with a bowl of hot/warm rice, papad, ghee or a bowl of yogurt and you have this delicious meal ready in a jiffy. Life can’t get much simpler than this!


curry-leaves-chutney-powder
Roasted Ingredients for Curry Leaves Chutney Powder


Curry Leaves Chutney Powder (Spicy, tangy & aromatic blend of Curry Leaves, Lentils, Spices & Tamarind)
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time: 10-15 mins
Makes: Around 1 cup of Chutney Powder
Shelf Life: 2-3 months when refrigerated
Recipe Level: Basic/Beginner
Recipe Source: Cooking at Home with Pedatha

Ingredients:
2 cups Fresh Curry Leaves, loosely packed
8-10 Dry Red Chillies, about 3 inch long and stalks removed
1 small Lime sized Tamarind Pulp
1 tsp powdered Hing/Asafoetida
2 tsp Urad Dal/Split Black Lentils
2 tsp Channa Dal/Split Chickpeas
1 tsp Jaggery/Sugar (Optional)
2-4 tbsp Oil
Salt to taste

curry-leaves-chutney-powder1
Curry Leaves Chutney Powder

Method:
Remove curry leaves from its stalk and rinse them clean. Wipe them dry using kitchen towel and keep them aside till needed.
Heat a wide pan on medium flame and dry roast urad dal and channa dal, separately, till they turn golden brown and keep them aside.
In a same pan, add hing and roast on low heat for half a minute and keep it aside along roasted lentils.
Add about 2-3 tbsp of oil in a pan and when it is heated add curry leaves. Roast these curry leaves on medium heat till they turn crisp but retain that lovely green colour, about 3-5 mins. Keep it aside.
In a same pan, add dried red chillies and roast for around half a minute to minute. Make sure that you don’t roast the chillies too much and turn black. Keep it aside along with other ingredients.
Next add tamarind pulp in a pan and roast for around 45 seconds. Keep it aside to cool.
Once all the ingredients have cooled enough, transfer them into dry mixer or food processor jar and grind to fine or coarse powder according to your preference.
Transfer ground powder into dry and clean jar. Pop it in refrigerator for longer shelf life. You can serve this delicious Curry Leaves Chutney Podi/Powder with Dosa, Idli or steamed rice and enjoy.

Serving Suggestion:
Take a teaspoon or two of Curry Leaves Chutney Powder and mix them with a bowl of steam cooked rice, topped with ghee and some Papads. Or mix this Chutney powder with a bowl of rice and yogurt.
You can also serve it as a side dish with Dosa or Idli, topped with a dollop of Ghee or oil.


Special Notes/Tips:
Make sure that the curry leaves are washed, rinsed and dried thoroughly before frying them as the moisture will reduce the shelf life of this chutney powder.
(This post is reproduced from Beyond Curries. While you are enjoying this Curry Leaves Chutney Pwder, don't forget to take a quick peek at my Diwali post on Beyond Curries where something sweet is waiting for you. Yes, you heard me right. We are having Sabudana Payasa/Kheer for dessert.)

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Wednesday, 14 October 2009

RCI: Udupi & Mangalorean Cuisine Round-up

From simple stir fries to complex curries, from aromatic rice dishes to delicious desserts, from sinful appetizers to refreshing drinks, from delightful sea foods to tantalising pickles…we have it all!!!

A warm welcome to tantalising round-up of RCI: Udupi & Mangalorean Cuisine.

I know I am quite late in posting this round-up. The house moving stress along with mountain load of work at office kept me away from blogging and my other loved hobbies. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay and a big thank you for all my dear blogger friedns for participating. I hope you enjoy this flavourful journey of delicious food cooked by over 55 bloggers around the world. So are you ready to taste test over 90 delicious meals of beautiful temple city Udupi and coastal city of Mangalore?

RCI-Udupi & Mangalore


Appetizers and Snacks

Keerthana from Kitchen Vibes : Chakkuli
Archy From Archy's Recipe Book: Golibaje
Pavithra Kodical from Pakashale: Jackfruit Appa
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Phodis
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Boiled Banana
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Kele Phodi
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Surna Phodi
Lata Raja from Flavours & Tastes: Goli Baje
Sumana from Sum’s Cuisine: Halasina Mulka
Sumana from Sum’s Cuisine: Goli Baje
Jyoti V from Panch Pakwan: Goli/Mangalore Baje
Nupur from One Hot Stove: Medu Vada

Refreshing Drinks

Jaya Wagle from Jaya’s Space: Sol Kadhi
Deesha from Vegetable Platter: Kokum Tambli

Breakfast & Tiffin

EC from Simple Indian Food : Haalubai
Pavithra Kodical from Pakashale: Patrode
Meera from Enjoy Indian Food : Nanchanya Khadi
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Udidh Rulava Polo
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Bachanga Polo
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Masala Dosa & Potato Bhaji
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Sheeth ani Mooga Bette
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Pan Polo with Red Chutney
Meera from Enjoy Indian Food: Patrode
Varsha Prabhu from Vegan Treats: Sanna Polo (Spicy Yam Dosa)
Jyoti V from Panch Pakwan: Rava/Manipal Idli
Meera from Enjoy Indian Food: Dhoddak
Sumana from Sum’s Cuisine: Neer Dose
Arch from The Yum Factor: Paan Pole
Vani from Mysoorean: Taushe Doddak
Lata Raja from Flavours & Tastes: Neer Dosa
Shri from Tasty Touch: Neer Dosa
Keerthana from Kitchen Vibes: Soutekai Dosa
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Patholi
Vanita from Nan Prapancha: Kendadadya
Prathibha from The Chef and Her Kitchen: Mysore Masala Dosa
Lata Raja from Flavours and Tastes: Shavige
Ramya from Shadruchi: Masala Dosa
Sushma from Savi-Ruchi: Heerekayi Dose
Pratibha Rao from The Indian Food Court: Jackfruit Idlies
Asha Latha from Oceanic Hope: Halasina Hannu Hittu
Asha Latha from Oceanic Hope: Halasina Hannina Dose
Asha Latha from Oceanic Hope: Mangalore Idli
Archana from Paaka Shastra: Arasina Ele Kadubu

Vegetarian Side Dish

Miri from Peppermill: Udupi Sambar
Ramki from One Page Cookbooks: 10 Simple Udupi Curries
Rekha from Plaintain Leaf: Daali Thoy
Rekha from Plaintain Leaf: Sorekai Bolu Kodhel
Sushma from Savi-Ruchi: from : Sevu Bajji(Kesuvina Gojju)
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Ambe Sasam
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Ambuli Chutney
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Keerlu ani Valache Ghashi
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Chane Gashi
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Ambe Upkari
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Kosambari
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Keerla Neeli Sukke
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Kadgi Chakko
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Batato Alambe Song
Arch from The Yum Factor: Tomato Saar
Pavithra Kodical from Pakashale: Balekayi Ale Bajji
Sushma from Savi-Richi: Punarpuli Saaru
Ashwini from Konkani Foodie: Dhavve Adsaaney aani Magge Koddel
Ashwini from Konkani Foodie: Alsandey Upkari
Yasmeen from Heath Nut: Kosambari
Jaya Wagle from Jaya’s Space: Sol Kadhi
Pari Vasisht from Foodelicious: Sour & Spicy Bendekayi Gojju
Deesha from Vegetable Platter: Kokum Tambli
Preeti Nilesh from Khaugiri: Udupi Saaru
Smitha from Kannada Cuisine: Spinach Tambli
PJ from Seduce Your Tastebuds: Keerla Sukke
Pavitra from Pakashale: Gulla Kodhel
Deepika from Less Sugar, Please: Virsa
Abhirami from Soulful Creations: Udupi Sambar
Nags from Edible Garden: Mixed Vegetable Saagu
Jayasree from Kailas Kitchen: Bittergourd Palya
Lata Raja from Flavours and Tastes: Udupi Sambar
Pratibha Rao from The Indian Food Court: Ivy Gourd Gojju
Pratibha Rao from The Indian Food Court: Sprouted Moong Usli
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Gajbaje

Non-Vegetarian Side Dish

Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Raja Phanna Upkari
Arch from The Yum Factor: Mangalorean Style Fish Curry (Surmai Amshe Tikshe)
Shama Nagarajan from Easy 2 Cook Recipes: Egg Curry-Mangalorean Style
Veena from Mangalorean Cuisine: Chicken Ghassi

Sweets & Desserts

EC from Simple Indian Food: Haalubai
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Madgane
Mrs. RV Singh from Kriatv Vasari: Kashi Halwa
Jayasree from Kailas Kitchen: Keera Halwa
Preeti Nilesh from Khaugiri: Hayagreeva
Ashwini from Pakashastra: Kai/Coconut Holige

Spice Powders

Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Sara Pitti/Rasam Powder

Pickles & Chutney

Aarthi from Aarthi’s Kitchen: Mango Pickle
Aparna Prabhu from Aps Kitchen: Red Chutney
Deepika from Less Sugar, Please: Cumin-flavoured Coconut Chutney
Divya Kudua from Easycooking: Loshney Pitti Chutney/Garlic Dry Chutney


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Friday, 2 October 2009

Happy 3rd B'day, My Bloggy Baby!

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Belated b'day wishes to my one and only bloggy baby...
May you live all the days of your life ;)

Your ever loving Momma,
Sia :)
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