cookbypassion

Bhindi Stir fry is one of the easiest dish to prepare to go with chapati / roti. Perfect side dish to go with rice too.Adding peanuts gives a nice taste and crunchiness to the dish.  This recipe goes to the week 4, day 2  of BM 65 under the theme " One Vegetable different ways". Here goes the recipe..... Ingredients: Bhindi / Okra  1 lb   Peanuts 1/4 cup Mustard seeds 1/2 spoon Cumin seeds 1/2 spoon  Red chili 2 Crushed garlic 1 spoon Curry leaves 6 Chana dal 1 spoon Turmeric powder 1/2 spoon Chili powder 3/4 spoon Salt to taste Oil 4- 5 tbsp  Preparation: Dry roast peanuts, remove skin  and keep aside. Wash bhindi / okra and pat dry.  Cut them into small pieces. In a wok / pan heat oil and add mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds crackle add cumin seeds, red chili, chana dal, curry leaves, crushed garlic. Saute for a minute, and add okra. Add turmeric powder and salt. Mix well and let it cook for 6 - 7 minutes on  medium flame. Now add chili powder and roasted peanuts. Cook

Okra has always been my favorite vegetable. Most of them do not like Okra  because of it's stickiness. But there is a small technique,  just add little lime juice to the curry  and the stickiness will be disappeared.  Today we are starting with 4th week of BM 65 and my theme for the week is cooking " One Vegetable in Different ways". For next 3 days I will be posting Okra / Bhindi  recipes.  For day 1 am here with sweet and  sour gravy dish called Bhindi Ka Salan. You might have heard about Hyderabad famous dish Mirchi Ka Salan.   Its the same gravy as in Mirchi Ka salan but we will be adding Okra instead of Mirchi.  Source of this recipe is Vahrehvah.com . Here goes the recipe..... Ingredients: Bhindi / Okra / Bendakaya  15 Peanuts 1 tbsp Sesame seeds 1 tbsp Dry coconut powder 1 tbsp Mustard seeds 1/2 spoon Cumin seeds 1/2 spoon Fenugreek seeds 1/4 spoon Tamarind juice 1/2 cup Jaggery 1  spoon Ginger garlic paste 1/2 spoon Chopped onions 1/2 cup Green chili 2 Curry leav

Tawa Pulao is another quick rice dish which is very popular  Mumbai street food. Tawa means flat pan used in Indian cooking for making chapati, dosa, roasting or shallow frying. Street vendors in Mumbai use this huge tawa to make Pav bhaji, vada pav, masala pav and tawa pulao. Tawa pulao  is a quick dish made with left over rice,  streamed veggies  and Pav bhaji Masala. This spicy and delicious pulao can be served with any kind of raita or plain yogurt. Again the spiciness depends on your personal taste, add less masala if you do not like much.  Tawa pulao goes to week 2 and day 3 of BM 65 under the theme " Rice dishes". Here goes the recipe.... Ingredients: Cooked rice 2 cups Boiled potato 2 medium Green chili 2 chopped Green peas  1/4 cup Chopped capsicum 1/4 cup Chopped cilantro 1/2 cups Sliced onions 1/4 cup Ginger garlic paste 1 spoon Tomatoes chopped 1/2 cup Pav Bhaji masala 2 spoon Salt  to taste Butter 4 spoons Preparation: In a large pan or tawa heat butter and add s

Ajwain or carom or vamu is an annual herb originated in the eastern Mediterranean and spread up to India.  Both leaves and fruit of the plant are consumed by humans.   It has a oval shape resembling caraway and cumin. It has a bitter and pungent taste with a flavor similar to anise. Ajwain is used as a medicinal plant in traditional Ayurvedic medicine My mom used to make this Ajwain flavored rice once a week at least as  Ajwain is good for digestion. This is one of the easiest and healthy rice dish which can be made with left over rice too.  Ajwain rice goes to  week 2 and day 2 of BM 65 under the theme "Rice Dishes". Ingredients: Cooked rice 2 cups Ajwain / Vamu / Carom seeds 1 1/2 spoon Chana dal 1 spoon Slit green chilies 2 Curry leaves 6 Chopped ginger 1/2 spoon Mustard seeds 1/4 spoon Turmeric powder 1/2 spoon Salt to taste Oil 3 spoons Preparation: Heat pan and add oil. Once oil is hot enough add chana dal, curry leaves, mustard seeds, ginger and carom seeds. Saute for

The beetroot is the taproot portion of the beet plant. The deep purple roots of the beetroot are eaten boiled, roasted or raw.  The green leafy portion of the beet is also edible.  Beetroot can also be used to make  wine. Other than food beets are used as a food coloring and as medicinal plant. Beetroot has many health benefits like they are high in immune boosting vitamin C, fiber  and essential minerals like manganese and potassium. It is also helpful in reducing blood pressure. Today we are starting with 2nd week of Blogging Marathon 65. The theme I choose for this week is " Rice Dishes".  For day 1, am here with easy, colorful and healthy rice dish, Beetroot Pulao.  Ingredients: Beetroot 1 Basmathi rice 2 cups Onion 1 small Frozen / fresh peas 1/2 cup Ginger garlic paste 1/2 spoon Bay leaf 1 Cinnamon stick 1 inch 1 Cardamom 2 Cloves 2 Shahjeera 1/2 spoon Cashew nuts 6 Salt to taste Turmeric powder 1/2 spoon Coriander powder 1 spoon Grated coconut 1/4 cup / coconut milk 1

  7 years ago, today  is the day I started this blog with regular home  cooking recipes. Was not a professional by cooking nor that good  to write a blog. Just started with with little knowledge which I had. Family and friends encouraged me to write and cook more recipes. In this process did catering too for an year or so. Then I got to know about  Srivalli's  Blogging Marathon . Which made me to cook even more and post them. I would say its BM  where I learnt so much about  cooking and blogging. Wonderful group of friends I have here, who give me the best compliment. E ven though I was busy taking care of my 2 lovely kids, my husband who loves to taste various Cuisines  and my friends who love to try my food helped me  to cook  and blog further.  Today we are celebrating 7th blog Anniversary and I wanted to cook something which is my kids favorite.  Its a Chocolate cake which is baked without eggs, milk or butter. This recipe is adapted from Tip Hero on Facebook.  Simple and deli

Coconut water has  been consumed for centuries in tropical countries and is also believed that it treats a variety of health related ailments. Coconut water contains 5 essential electrolytes that are present in human body which includes Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium  and phosphorous.It is a refreshing  drink to beat the tropical heat.  Coconut and berry Popsicles are healthy and easy to make at home with your kids. As summer just started here in United States, kids started playing outdoor a lot. After a long day at school they come tired looking for some cool treats. Here is the best way to treat your kids with coconut and berry Popsicle. This recipe goes to the Week 1 and  day 3 of BM 65 under the theme "Summer coolers"  Ingredients: Coconut water 1 cup Strawberry 2 Blueberry 10-15 Popsicle molds Preparation: Wash strawberries and blueberries thoroughly. Cut strawberries into small pieces. Add chopped strawberries and blueberries into Popsicle molds. Now fill the Pop

Cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family.It is creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruit that are used as culinary vegetables. Cucumbers are a warm season vegetable. This low calorie  vegetable contain many nutritional benefits including hydrating properties and valuable nutrients.  For day 2 under the theme "Summer Coolers", am here with yet another drink to keep yourself cool.  To keep yourself hydrated in this hot weather am here with a summer cooler with the combination of cucumbers and lemon. Which not only  gives this drink  a nice and tangy flavor  but also keep your body cool. This is refreshing and healthy for the whole family. Here goes the recipe... Ingredients: Cucumber Juice 1 cup Lime juice 1/4 cup Black salt 1 spoon Sugar 1/4 cup ( increase or decrease depending on your taste) Chilled water 3 cups Preparation: Wash and cut cucumbers into medium size chunks.  Blend in mixer or food processor. Press through a sieve  to extract the juice. Add cuc

Today we are starting with 65th Edition of Blogging Marathon and my theme for Week 1 is "Summer Coolers".  Strawberries are in season and my kids love strawberries. As this is the Kids Delight event am here with a super easy, refreshing and quick  summer drink- Strawberry Lemonade. I have added sugar to this recipe, to make it more healthier add honey instead of sugar. Serve it chilled.  Last week I have posted 3 more summer coolers - Rose Milk with Sabja seeds , Aam panna and Mint Lassi . The next one which comes under this category is Strawberry Lemonade. This recipes goes to the week 1 and day 1 of BM 65. Here goes the recipe.... Ingredients: Fresh Strawberries 1 cup Sugar 1/2 cup Water 1 cup Lemon juice 3/4 cup 3 cups cold water Ice cubes  Preparation: Add sugar to 1 cup water and bring it to boil. Let the sugar syrup cool down to room temperature. Wash strawberries well and place them in a blender to make a smooth paste. Now add the strawberry paste  and lemon juice to s