Hot & spicy raita - A perfect Dip

Raita the most popular south Indian dip can be made in different variations.  This is simple & easy way of making raita just with onion & tomato as the main ingredients.  Addition of grounded coconut spicy paste adds the flavour & taste simply delicious.  Perfect side dish for biryani & I served it with chicken biryani this weekend.

Ingredients :

1. Curd - 1 cup
2. Onion - 1 no (Finely chopped)
3. Tomato - 1/2 no (chopped)
4. Mint leaves - 1/4 cup ( Finely chopped)
5. Corriander leaves - 1 tbsp (Finely chopped)
6. Grated Coconut - 2 tbsp
7. Green chillies to spice
8. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
9. Chaat masala to sprinkle
10. Salt to taste

Direction to cook :

1.   Grind together the coconut, cumin seeds & green chillies.

2.   Combine all the ingredients together along with the grounded masala.  Adjust the salt to taste.

Sprinkle the chaat masala & serve it with biryani.

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Kuzhi Paniyaram

Kuzhi paniyaram is the most popular chettinad food served with hot and spicy chutneys.  I make this dish very rarely as it consumes more oil in the preparation.  Adding more vegetables, greens & lentils makes this dish little nutricious to the kids.  "Best dish for those who wants to gain weight" but it taste simply superb.

Ingredients :

1. Dosa / Idly batter -  2 cups
2. Finely chopped onion - 1 no
3. Green chillies -2 to 3 nos
4. Finely grated carrot - 1 small sized
5. Curry leaves - 1 tbsp
6. Coconut pieces - 1 tsp
7. Oil - 1 tsp and for greasing the paniyaram mould
8. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
9. Urad dal - 1 tsp
10. Corrainder leaves - 1tsp
11. Salt to taste

Direction to cook :

1.   Heat a tsp of oil in the pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal & curry leaves.  Add finely chopped onion & green chillies.  Saute till tender.

2.  To the dosa / idly batter, add the above seasonings.  And add the grated carrot, coconut pices, corriander leaves & salt to taste.

3.   Heat the paniyaram mould & grease it with oil.  Pour the batter in the each mould & cook on either side till golden brown in color.

Serve warm with spicy chutney.

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Naan - Pan made

Naan is the India flat bread traditionally cooked in the oven.  But this variation is made directly in the tawa/pan which taste really delicious & soft.  Perfect way to serve this naan is with spicy curry.  Very tasty :)

Ingredients :

1. All purpose flour - 4 cups
2. Salt to taste
3. Sugar - 1 tbsp
4. Milk - 1/2 cup
5. Egg - 1 no
6. Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
7. Oil - 5 tbsp
8. Onion seeds - 1 tsp (optional)
9. Butter for brushing

Direction to cook :

1.   Sift together flour, baking powder, salt & onion seeds.  Make a well in the middle.

2.   In a another bowl, mix and whisk together milk, egg, oil & sugar.  Pour it into the flour mixure & knead the dough softly.  Add water if necessary.  Apply some oil arround the dough.

3.   Cover the dough with damp cloth for half an hour.   Now knead the dough again & cover and leave for one hour.

4.   Divide the dough to equal sized balls and roll them to circles.  Meanwhile heat the pan, now cook the naan on either side till golden brown spots appears randomly.

5.  Before serving brush some melted butter over the naan.

Serve with hot curry.

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