Batate saung ( Potatoes in red gravy)

Potato saung and daali thoy is my hubby's all time favourite. RK doesn't mind eating this everyday and hence this is our favourite now though i don't prepare this everyday...i make it a point to make it atleast once in 15 days.

Ingredients:
potatoes - 2 medium sized
Onions - 2 medium
red chilli powder - 1½ tsp
tamarind pulp - 2tsp
salt to taste
coconut oil or any oil of your choice - 1 tbsp

Method:
Pressure cook potatoes, peel the skin and chop into cubes. OR peel and chop potatoes into cubes and place them in a Microwave-safe dish and add just enough water and microwave for 8 minutes more/less depending on the power of your microwave oven.

Peel and chop the onions to square pieces.

Heat oil in a kadai add chopped onions and saute till light brown. Now add red chilli powder fry for a minute. Soak tamarind in warm water for 10 minutes and sqeeze out the juice or use ready-made tamarind pulp.( i used home made tamarind pulp). Add this pulp to the kadai. mix well. Now add cooked potato cubes and saute for a minute. Add salt and 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes on medium flame or till semi dry. Serve hot with rice and daali thoy

Methi (Fenugreek) Pulao

This recipe is from my amma and she makes it quite often as methi has high medicinal properties inspite of its bitter taste. This Pulao is a complete and healthy meal by itself when served with raitha of your choice.

Ingredients: serves 2-3
Rice - 1 cup (Basmathi/sona masoori or any rice)
methi leaves - small bunch
Onions - 2
green chillies - 2
clove - 2 (optional
cinnamon - 1" (optional)
ginger - 1"
garlic - 4 cloves
tomatoes - 2 medium
garam masala powder - ½ tsp
red chilli powder - ½ tsp
turmeric powder - ½ tsp
water - 2 cups
salt to taste
refined oil/olive oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Wash methi leaves till the water comes out clear(not muddy) For the final rinse add salt and leave for 10 minutes and then drain the leaves on a colander. Chop the leaves finely.
Wash rice well in running water and keep aside to soak for 30 minutes. Drain it and keep aside the water in which the rice was soaked.
wash and peel ginger and garlic and blend to a smooth paste.
Peel onions and slice them finely.
wash and chop tomatoes into fine pieces.
wash and slit green chillies.

Heat oil in a deep bottomed non stick kadai, when hot splutter cloves and cinnamon then add chopped onions, slit green chillies and ginger-garlic paste and saute till brown. Add chopped methi leaves and saute for around 5-7 minutes until the leaves are wilted and turns dark green in colour. Now add red chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala powder. saute for about 30 secs and add chopped tomatoes. Mix well and cook till tomatoes are soft and nice.

Now add salt and rice and saute on low flame for around 3 minutes till the rice turns opaque. Meanwhile make 2 cups of water with the water that was used to soak the rice ( so that the nutrients of the rice are not gone a waste). Boil the water separately in a vessel and add to the methi-rice mixture. Increase the flame to high and get the mixture to a boil.
Cover the lid, reduce the flame to medium and cook for around 7 minutes without interfering in between. Put off the gas and forget it again for another 5 minutes. Don't peep to check if the rice is cooked. After 5 minutes or so, open the lid and tranfer the pulao into the serving bowl and serve hot with raitha of your choice!!

Oats Halwa

During pregnancy, each one goes through several kinds of cravings like sweet, salty, spicy or fatty preferences. End up result will be the bulge which we gain in 9 months. Eating sensibly a healthy balances diet will not only help during delivery but also during post delivery to loose the sensibly gained weight.


Crunchy,nutty, highly nutritous with high fibre content makes oats a breakfast favourite. But during pregnancy that might not be your favourite. But eating them is also important because:
-Oats are high in carbohydrates for sustained energy which will make you feel full for a longer time.
-Oats contains high water soluble and dietary fibre, which aids in controlling weight gain.
-Oats provide zinc, which is needed for growth, reproduction and good vision.
-Oats also provide magnesium, iron, the antioxidant Vitamin E and the vitamins niacin and thiamine.

Now don't you feel that oats plays a major role in pregnancy. Those craving for sweet nothings can make this in minutes and fullfill your cravings. My mom used to make badam-kaju burfi using powdered badam and kaju with milk and sugar...so i tried the same with oats. It is a real treat to the sweet tooth.

Ingredients:
Quick cooking white Oats - 1 cup
ghee - 1 tbsp+ greasing
milk - 1 cup
sugar - ¼ cup

Coarsely powder oats in a blender. Heat a tbsp of ghee in a wide pan, add coarsely powdered oats and roast till llight brown and aromatic. Now add milk and then sugar and keep mixing till the mixture leaves the sides of the pan. Grease a thali lightly with ghee and then spread this mixture evenly. let cool.
Cut into desired shape once cooled and enjoy them!!!

This dish, Palak Pulao and Palak Chutney is my entry to the Event
Eat healthy - During Pregnancy hosted by Sangeeth at Art of cooking Indian food.

Yogurt Dip

This is one of the easiest and instant dish if u are too busy or if you are too lazy to cook any side dish for rotis. If u have left over or frozen parathas or kubbus(pita bread) this is just the right dip for you.

Ingredients:
skimmed thick yogurt - 1 cup
garlic - 1 clove
coriander leaves - 2 sprigs
salt to taste
red chilli powder - ½tsp
lemon juice - 1tsp

Method:
Beat the yogurt well till creamy.
Crush the garlic to coarse paste
finely chop the coriander leaves
Add the crushed garlic and chopped coriander leaves to the beaten yogurt. Mix well. Season with salt and lemon juice and mix again, finally garnish with chilli powder and just swirl with the spoon and serve with parathas or pita bread.

This dish can also be used as a salad. Just add chopped cucumber, onions and tomatoes and u have your salad ready!!!

This dish is my entry to the event Recipes for the rest of us Event hosted by Ramki at One Page Cookbooks.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

WISH YOU & YOUR FAMILY A
VERY HAPPY, BRIGHT, PROSPEROUS,
HEALTHY, WEALTHY, NEW - YEAR 2009 & AHEAD