Chow Chow Kootu

Ingredients :

1. Chow chow - 2 medium sized 
2. Dal (Moong dal / channa dal)
3. Oil - 2 tbsp
4. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
5. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
6. Curry leaves - 1 tbsp
7. Red chillies - 5  nos
8. Onion - 1 no
9. Garlic - 5 pods
10. Tomato - 1 no
11. Cumin powder - 1 tsp
12. Coconut paste - 1 tbsp
13. Salt to taste

Direction to cook :

1.   Pressure cook the dal.  Boil & cook the chow chow till tender.

2.   Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, red chillies, cumin seeds & curry leaves.  Add finely chopped onion, garlic and saute.

3.   Add tomato pieces  & saute.  Add cumin powder, coconut paste & salt to taste.

4.   Add the cooked dal & chow chow.  Cook for 5 more mins over low flame.

5.   Add some ghee before serving.

Perfect with rice.

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Walnut Crunch Cake

Ingredients :

Topping :

1. Brown sugar - 3/4 cup (150 g)
2. All purpose flour - 1/3 cup (50 g)
3. Cold butter, cut up - 1/4 cup (60 g)
4. Walnuts, coarsely chopped - 3/4 cup ( 90 g)

Cake :

1. All purpose flour - 2 cups (300 gms)
2. Baking powder - 2 tsp
3. Nutmeg - 1 tsp
4. Salt - 1/4 tsp
5. Butter - 1/2 cup (125 g)
6. Brown sugar - 3/4 cup (150 g)
7. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
8. Large eggs - 4 nos
9. Milk - 3/4 cup ( 180ml)

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 180C.  Lightly grease and flour a 9 inch bundt pan.

2.   To prepare the topping, stir the brown sugar and flour in a medium bowl.  Use a pastry blender to cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Stir in the walnuts.

3.   To prepare the cake, stir the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.  Beat the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electic mixer at medium speed until creamy.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating until just blended after each addition.  With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk.

4.   Spoon half the batter into the prepared pan.  Sprinkle with half the crunch mixture.  Spoon the remaining crunch mixture.  Bake for 50-60 mins or until golden brown.

Happy baking:)

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Plain Dal Curry

Ingredients :

1. Toordal - 1 cup 
2. Oil - 1 tbsp
3. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
4. Urad dal - 1 tsp
5. Red chillies - 3 nos
6. Curry leaves - 1 tbsp
7. Onion - 1 no
8. Tomato - 1 no
9. A pinch of hing
10. Green chillies - 3 to 4 nos
11. Garlic - 2 pods
12. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
13. Corriander leaves for garnishing

Direction to cook :

1.   Heat oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, hing, red chillies, curry leaves & finely chopped onion.  Saute.

2.  Meanwhile cook the dal along with the tomato, green chillies, garlic pods & turmeric powder.  Smash it.

3.   Once the onion is cooked, add the dal & salt to taste.  Garnish it with corriander leaves & serve.

Serve with rice.

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