Cook Without Book

Dahi Tadka Tasty tempered yogurt Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  5-10 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients   • Yogurt 2 1/2 cups • Oil 1 tablespoon • Cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Green chillies 2 • Fresh coriander leaves 2 tablespoons • Ginger paste 1 teaspoon • Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon • Red chilli powder 1/4 teaspoon • Coriander powder 1/2 teaspoon • Curry leaves 5-6 • Salt to taste Method Heat oil in a non-stick pan and add cumin seeds. Slit green chillies and finely chop coriander leaves. Add ginger paste to the pan and sauté for a while. Add green chillies, reduce heat and add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder and mix well. Add curry leaves, coriander leaves, salt and yogurt and switch off heat immediately. Mix well and serve immediately.

Kurmura Tadka A tasty snack made from puffed rice. Cooking Time:  5-10 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  5-10 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Puffed rice (kurmura/murmura) 4 cups • Almonds 10-12 • Green chillies 2 • Oil 2 tablespoons • Mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Asafoetida a pinch • Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon • Curry leaves 20-25 • Chole,roasted 1/2 cup black • Salt to taste • Sugar 1 teaspoon Method Heat a large kadai. Halve the almonds and the green chillies. Pour oil into the kadai and when it is heated add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add asafoetida, turmeric powder and sauté for ½ minute. Add curry leaves and almonds and sauté till the leaves are crisp. Add the roasted chana, salt and sugar and mix well. Add kurmura and mix well. When it is completely cooled store in airtight container.

Corn and Potato Handvo with Coconut Sauce Corn and potato handvo with coconut sauce, the innovation here is not just in the handvo, but in the accompaniment too! why settle for normal chutney or sauce when you can be different there too – try making this lovely coconut sauce instead! handvo is usually made with a batter of rice and urad dal, but here it is made using vegetables, corn, rawa etc. Coconut milk lends its unique flavour to this dish, but remember to use thick coconut milk. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients For The Coconut Sauce 1 tsp   oil 1/2 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) a few  curry leaves (kadi patta) 1/2 tsp   green chilli paste 1 cup  thick  coconut milk 1/4 tsp   sugar salt  to taste 2 to 3  drops of  lemon juice 1 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) To Be Mixed Together Into Corn and Potato Mixture 1 cup   boiled and crushed sweet corn k...

Vegetables in Tomato Gravy The highlight of this recipe, as the name suggests, is the abundant use of tomatoes. Moreover, a varied bunch of veggies are used – ranging from ladies finger and drumsticks to french beans and potatoes. You can try other combinations depending on what vegetables you have in stock. The gram flour plays an interesting role in perfecting the consistency and balancing the sourness. Preparation Time:  20 mins Cooking Time:  40 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients 4 cups  roughly  chopped tomatoes 1/2 cup   french beans  , cut into 1” pieces 1/2 cup   cluster beans (gavarfali)  , cut into 1” pieces 1/2 cup   drumsticks  (saijan ki phalli / saragvo) , cut into 2” pieces 1/2 cup  peeled  potato cubes 2 tbsp   oil 1 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 1 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) 2  pinches of  asafoetida (hing) 1/4 cup   besan (bengal gram flour) 5   curry leav...

Semolina and Vermicelli Idlis Semolina and vermicelli idlis are very popular in karnataka, where they make it in such big moulds that one idli will suffice for breakfast! the tempering adds to the aroma, while the cashews provide a crunchy respite in every mouthful. You can add some boiled veggies and coriander to the batter to make it more wholesome. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 16 idlis Ingredients 3/4 cup   semolina (rava) 1 1/2 cups   rice vermicelli (seviyan)  , broken into 1” pieces 4 1/2 tbsp   oil 2 tbsp  coarsely  powdered cashewnuts (kaju) 1/2 cup   curds (dahi) salt  to taste 2 tsp   urad dal (split black lentils) 1 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 2 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies 4 to 5   curry leaves (kadi patta) 1 tsp   fruit salt For Serving coconut  chutney Method Heat ½ tbsp of oil in a broad non-stick pan, add the semolina and roa...

Rava Dosa ( Tava Cooking) Rava dosa is a delectably crispy dosa that can be prepared instantly, without the need for any fermentation. A traditional tempering and quick mix-in of chopped onions, coriander and green chillies add excellent flavour to a batter made of ready flours. This dosa is indeed an irresistible option for breakfast, supper, snack or a sudden meal for a surprise guest. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  25 mins Makes 6 rava dosas Ingredients 1/2 cup   semolina (rava) 1 1/2 tbsp   plain flour (maida) 1 1/2 tbsp   rice flour (chawal ka atta) salt  to taste 1 1/2 tbsp   oil 1 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) a pinch of  asafoetida (hing) 3 to 4   curry leaves (kadi patta) 1 1/2 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) 2 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies 1/4 cup  finely  chopped onions oil  for greasing and cooking For Serving coconut  chutney Method Combi...

Toma to Shorba ( Desi Khana) Tomato shorba is a tangy soup made from tomatoes and coconut milk, mildly spiced with cumin seeds and green chillies. The addition of jaggery imparts a slight sweetness and reduces the sourness of tomatoes, making the soup all the more pleasing to the palate. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  15 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 2 1/4 cups  roughly  chopped tomatoes 1/2 cup   coconut milk  (nariyal ka doodh) 1 tsp   besan (bengal gram flour) 1 tbsp   ghee 1 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) 3   curry leaves (kadi patta) 2   green chillies  ,  slit green chillies 1 tbsp   grated jaggery (gur) salt  to taste 2 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) Method Combine the tomatoes and 1½ cups of water in a deep pan and cook on a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes or till the tomatoes turn soft. Allow them to cool completely and blend in a mixer till smoot...

Coconut Chutney (desi Khana) Coconut chutney is to south indians what green and sweet chutneys are to the north. It is served almost every day as a part of the breakfast spread, and sometimes at lunch and dinner times too, if there is any kind of snack being served. It goes well with fried snacks like vada, as well as with steamed delicacies like idli, dosa and upma. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  15 mins Makes 1 cup Ingredients 1 cup   grated coconut 1/4 cup  roughly  chopped coriander (dhania) 3 tbsp   roasted chana dal (daria) 2   green chillies  , roughly chopped 8   curry leaves (kadi patta) salt  to taste 1 tbsp   oil 1/2 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 1/2 tsp   urad dal (split black lentils) a pinch of  asafoetida (hing) 1   whole dry kashmiri red chilli  , broken into pieces Method Combine the coconut, coriander, roasted chana dal, green chillies, 4 curry l...

Batata Vada Burger ( Burgers and Smoothies Recipe) The batata vada burger can be thought of as a variant of mumbai’s famous vada pav, which is made using batata vada and pav bun. In this variant, the authentic vadas are stuffed inside burger buns with two types of chutneys drizzled over mayonnaise. The use of a traditional salad, lettuce leaves and cheese make this burger different from the regular vada pav. I suggest you add a bunch of onion rings while serving this burger to make it all the more inviting. Preparation Time:  25 mins Cooking Time:  15 mins Makes 4 burgers Ingredients For The Batata Vada 2 cups  boiled , peeled and  mashed potatoes 1 tbsp   oil 3/4 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 1/4 tsp   asafoetida (hing) 10   curry leaves (kadi patta) 1 1/2 tbsp   ginger-green chilli paste 1/2 tbsp   garlic (lehsun) paste 1/2 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying ...

Vegetable Oats Upma Oats replace semolina in this delicious and healthy upma. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Carrot,chopped 1 medium • French beans,chopped 3-4 • Green peas 1/2 cup • Oatmeal 1 cup • Onion 1 medium • Ginger 1 inch piece • Green chillies 2 • Oil 2-3 tablespoons • Mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Split Bengal gram (chana dal) 1 teaspoon • Cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Asafoetida a pinch • Curry leaves 4-6 • Salt to taste Method Dry roast oats in a non-stick pan for 2 minutes and set aside. Chop onion and ginger. Halve green chillies. Heat oil in another non-stick pan and add mustard seeds. When it starts to splutter, add split Bengal gram and cumin seeds and sauté till fragrant. Add asafoetida, ginger, green chillies and sauté. Add onion, carrot, French beans, green peas, curry leaves and salt...

                            Baghare Baingan Cooking Time:  20-30 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Brinjals,small 250 grams • Peanuts 2 tablespoons • Sesame seeds (til) 1 1/2 tablespoons • Poppy seeds (khuskhus/posto) 3/4 teaspoon • Dried coconut ( khopra),grated 1 tablespoon • Oil 4 tablespoons + for deep-frying • Onion ,sliced 2 medium • Mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Cumin seeds 1/4 teaspoon • Fennel seeds (saunf) 1/4 teaspoon • Onion seeds (kalonji) 1/4 teaspoon • Fenugreek seeds (methi dana) pinch • Curry leaves 10-12 • Ginger paste 1 tablespoon • Garlic paste 1 tablespoon • Green chilli paste 1 teaspoon • Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon • Coriander powder 1 1/2 teaspoon • Cumin powder 1/2 teaspoon • Red chilli powder ...