Vangibath (Brinjal Rice)

Happy valentines day to all my viewers. This is my most comfort & tasty rice variety, which I cook very often for my DH lunch box.  I always prepare the vangibath powder & store it in the freezer for a week or more.  It makes my cooking very simple & easy.  Best way to serve this rice is with papads or with raitas as well.  

Ingredients :

1. Green / purple Brinjal - 100 gms (or eggplant - 1 medium sized)
2. Basmati rice - 1 cup
3. Oil - 1 tbsp
4. Channa dal - 1 tsp
5. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
6. Tamarind pulp -1/2 tsp
7. A pinch of jaggery
8. Onion - 1 no
9. Potato - 1 small sized
10. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
11. Vangibhath powder 
12. Dry coconut powder - 1 tsp
13. Roasted cashewnuts for garnishing
14. Salt to taste

For vangibhath powder :

1. Red chillis - 2 nos (or black pepper corns)
2. Corriander seeds - 1 tsp
3. Poppy seeds - 1/4 tsp
4. Urad Dal - 1 tsp
5. Channa Dal - 1 tsp
6. Dry coconut powder - 1/2 tsp
7. Cinnamon stick - 1 no
8. Clove - 2 nos
9. Sesame seeds - 1/4 tsp
10. 1/4 tsp hing

Dry roast the above ingredients & grind it to smooth powder.

Direction to cook :

1.   Cook the rice & allow it to cool.

2.   Meanwhile, heat oil in the pan.   Add channa dal, mustard seeds, finely chopped onions & then cut potato slices.  Cook till tender.

3.   Slice the brinjals in lengthwise & add them to the above mixture.  Add turmeric powder & salt to taste.

4.   Add tamarind pulp & coconut powder.  Cook till brinjals are done.

5.   Now add grounded vangibath powder & a pinch of jaggery.  Add cooked rice & mix them throughly till nicely combined.

6.   Add roasted cashewnuts.

Serve with papads or raita.

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Sweet Jaggery balls (using wheat flour)

I m back after a long uninformed break with sweet wheat flour balls, perfect for weekend breakfast.  When it comes to weekend cooking, I will be bit slow in cooking & finally, it will arround 3 when we have our lunch.  So, I prefer to cook something very heavy for the breakfast.   

Very healthy & heavy  perfect for kids.  Addition of cardamom powder & nuts are totally optional but I would recommend it for ultimate taste.  This dish needs to be served immediately otherwise it will become hard & difficult to eat.

Ingredients :

1. Wheat flour - 1 cup
2. Jaggery - 3/4 to 1 cup (Depending on ur sweet)
3. Water - 1 cup
4. Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
5. Cashew nuts (Roasted) - 1 tbsp
6. Ghee - 1 tbsp

Direction to Cook :

1.   Dry roast the wheat flour till light brown in color.

2.   Melt the jaggery in water over low flame & filter it.  

3.   Bring the dissolved jaggery water to boil & add the roasted wheat flour in the middle of the pan.  Do not stir it.

4.   Over a low flame, allow the wheat flour to cook & finally mix it together till u get the required consistency. 

5.   Add the cardamom powder & roasted nuts.  Switch off the flame.

6.   Apply some ghee in the palm & make little balls.  

Serve immediately.

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Pineapple topped Cake

Delicate, soft, fluffy & delicious cake made with fresh pineapple and a dash of cardamom powder for additional flavour.  Perfect with tea & occasionally for parties.  

Ingredients :

1. Softened butter - 125 gms
2. Sugar - 1 cup
3. Pineapple essence - 1/2 tsp 
4. cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
5. A pinch of salt
6. Eggs (medium) - 3 nos
7. All purpose flour - 2 cups
8. Baking powder - 2 tsp
9. Milk -2 tbsp
10. Crushed pineapple - 1/2 cup
11. Pineapple pieces for topping
12. Melted butter - 2 tbsp

Direction to bake :

1.   Grease the baking pan with butter & preheat the oven at 180 C.

2.   Sieve the flour, baking powder & salt together.

3.  Whisk the butter till creamy, add pineapple essence, cardamom powder, sugar & egg one at a time.

4.   Fold the sifted flour & crushed pineapple alternating with milk.   Pour the mixture in the greased baking pan & arrange the sliced pineapple pieces on the top and finally pour the melted butter on the top.  Bake it for 45 mins or until done.

Enjoy baking :)

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