Nutty Capsicum Rice

Ingredients:

• Basmati rice – 100 g
• Water – 200 ml
• Split channa dal – 1 Table spoon
• Black gram seeds - 1 Table spoon
• Cumin seeds – 1 Table spoon
• Coriander seeds – ½ Table spoon
• Fenugreek seeds – ¼ Tea spoon
• Sesame seeds – ¼ Tea spoon
• Dried Red chili – 1
• Ground nut – 1 Table spoon
• Capsicum – 1
• Onion (small lemon size) – 1
• Mustard seeds
• Oil – 2 Table spoon
• Asafoetida - Pinch
• Curry leaves – few
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves
• Roasted cashews and ground nuts – 2 Table spoon

Method:

• Soak rice in water for about 20 mins. Cook rice with 200ml water and keep it aside.
• Chop onion and capsicum into small pieces.
• Dry roast split channa dal, black gram seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, sesame seeds, ground nut, asafoetida and red chili.
• Grind them into course powder.
• In a vessel, heat oil. When the oil is in medium heat add mustard seeds. When they pop up add onion, curry leaves and a pinch of salt. Sauté till onion is slightly brown.
• Add capsicum and Sauté till capsicum is half done.
• Add ground mixture and toss them well.
• Add cooked rice and mix thoroughly by not breaking rice.
• Adjust salt and sprinkle roasted cashews and ground nuts.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.

Bottle gourd and Horse gram Curry (Suraikkaai Kollu Kuzhambu)

Ingredients:

• Suraikkaai (Bottle gourd) -1
• Kollu (Horse gram) – 150 g
• Onion – 1
• Tomato – 1
• Garlic cloves – 3
• Kuzhambu podi (Sambar powder) – ½ Table spoon
• Turmeric powder – ¼ Tea spoon
• Salt
• Curry leaves – few
• Coriander leaves

 Method:

• Soak kollu (Horse gram) over night in water. Discard soaked water and rinse them well in fresh water.
• Cook them with little water and grind to course paste. Keep it aside.
• Chop suraikkaai (Bottle gourd), onion and tomato.
• Heat oil in a vessel and add mustard seeds. When they pop up add onion and a pinch of salt. Fry till onion is slightly brown.
• Add suraikkaai (Bottle gourd), tomato, curry leaves, turmeric powder and kuzhambu podi (Sambar powder). Mix and cook them well.
• Now add ground kollu, required amount of water for the gravy and crushed garlic cloves. Adjust salt and cook the mixture until it is done (in a slow flame).
• Garnish with coriander leaves.

Note:

• Excellent dish for weight loss program and delicious too.
• It can be served with rice, idly, dosa , chapati and bread.