Instant Idli

Idli used to be my favorite breakfast and my mom used to make it but she was never happy when I would ask her to make it. Now...after becoming a mom myself I am also not very crazy when the request for idli comes around once in a a while, without  my prior planning.

I know there are lots of recipes for instant idlis and this time around I had to make some instant idlis...well instant is not the correct word cause idlis do take some time to get made. Anyway...

Here is the recipe I made my "instant" idlis with. No Eno salt. But with baking soda and baking powder.

Instant Idli (Steamed rice buns wiwhout 2 days of preparation)

Instant Idli

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup poha (flatenned rice)
2. 2 cups rice flour
3. 1 cup urad dal flour
4. 1 teaspoon fenugreek powder 
5. 1 teaspoon salt
6. 1/2 teaspoon citric acid
7. 1 teaspoon baking soda
8. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
9. 1 tablespoon plain yogurt (optional)
10. 3-4 cups of water

Mix all the ingredients together and set it aside for 10 minutes.

Apply oil to the idli molds, add batter to them and steam them for 18-20 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes and serve with your favorite chutney. Here are some suggestions :)

Coconut chutney

Tomato Chutney

Ridge gourd Peel chutney

Eggplant chutney

Peanut chutney

Carrot Chutney 

Turai Pulao

I was searching for something different o make with rice because I was bored with plain ol' rice. And when I started searching there were a million recipes you could make with vegetables and rice. SInce I had Turai on hand I made my own recipe and it was great. I served it with Kakoda Fry

Turai Rice ( Rice cooked with Ridge Gourd)

Turai Pulao

Ingredients:

1. 1/4 cup chana dal
2. 2 medium turai or ridge gourd peeled and chopped
3. 2 green chillies
4. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, mustard seeds, urad dal, salt, coriander powder
5. 1 tablespoon oil
6. 1/2 cup sliced onions
7. 1 teaspoon sambar powder
8. few curry leaves
9. 2 pods garlic minced
10.  2 cups rice

In a flat bottomed pan heat the oil and fry the cumin, mustard seeds and urad dal and curry leaves for a minute. Add onions and green chillies and fry until the onions start getting brown. Add garlic and fry for a minute. Add chopped turai and salt and coriander powder and cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add 4 cups water and bring to a rolling boil. Add 2 cups rice and cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is done. Add sambar powder and coriander leaves and enjoy hot hot on a cold autumn evening

Coconut green bean chicken

So for the dal with coconut I opened a can of coconut milk and used about half. So I had half a can of coconut milk which I had to use. When I have coconut milk and chicken I usually make Thai coconut chicken curry but this time I made a Kerala curry

And when I was looking for this recipe it called for green beans. I have never made curry with green beans and it is super delicious and good for you too

Green bean chicken in coconut sauce

Chicken with Green beans in Coconut sauce

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb boneless chicken cut into bite size pieces
2. 1 1/2 cup coconut milk
3. 1 tablespoon oil
4. 1 cup sliced onions
5. 1 cup green bean
6. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin, mustard seeds, fennel seeds
7. Few curry leaves

In a pan heat the oil and add the seeds. When they start to splutter add curry leaves and dry for a minute. Add onions and fry till they become translucent. Add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste. Add chicken and green beans and all the powders and cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add coconut milk and simmer for 10 more minutes . Garnish with cilantro and gram masala if you like and enjoy

Coconut Masoor Dal

I wanted not to cook today, especially any meat. I wanted to just eat dal on hot bed of steamed rice...yum yum yum. Simple pleasures of life.
Masoor dal or the red lentils are one of my favorite lentils. My mom did not cook them very often.

Anyway, the dal I made today is super delicious creamy dal with coconut milk. Enjoy with hot steamed rice or your favorite roti

Khopra Masoor Dal (Red lentils in coconut milk)

Coconut Masoor dal

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup masoor dal
2. 2 ripe tomatoes chopped fine
3. 1 medium small onion chopped fine
4. 2 large garlic cloves
5. 1 tablespoon oil
6. 1 cup coconut milk
7. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, urad dal, mustard seeds, hing, salt, chilly powder, coriander powder, turmeric
8. 3 dried red chillies, few curry leave

In a pressure cooker cook the dal with 2 cups water add turmeric for 4-6 whistles. Let the steam escape.

In the mean time heat oil in a pan and add cumin, urad dal, mustard seeds, red chillies and curry leaves and fry till they start to splutter. Add finely chopped garlic and hing and fry for 30 minutes. Add the rest of the powder ingredients and mix well. Add onions and fry till they become brown. Add tomatoes and cook for 5-7 minutes. Open the cooker after the steam has escaped and add it to the pan and mix well. Simmer for 5-7 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add coconut milk and simmer further for 5 more minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy hot hot :)