Corriander Chutney- Kottimera Pachadi

Coriander Chutney- Kottimera Pachadi

Well with mom in town it could mean only one thing well few things none stop talking sessions,

excellent company for shopping and best of all home cooked mom food. I have been enjoying four

course meal every since my mom is here, as much as I try to cook she still insists on cooking and makes

these delicious meal that are hard to resist. Dreading to get on the weight scale, will sweat it out one

mom returns back (note to self :- good luck with that !!)

Made coriander chutney this weekend, fresh coriander from the local farmers market was way too tempting and ended by buying more than required,fresh ingredients elevate the flavor the chutney so much more.

For recipe click here

Few ways to relish chutney would be to make a Panini sandwich with chutney on slice of bread and butter slathered on the other, dilute a little and top it on soft taco's just like dressing, use as a sauce to dip

samosa's or other fritters.

I hope you give this a try !!

Spilling The Beans

Its been hetic few weeks in my neck of the woods, trying to catch up on quite a lot of stuff.

Sent this pic as an entry to B&W contest hosted by Food Pixel, what do you guys think ?

Channa Masala- Chole - Spicy Garbanzo Beans

Channa Masala- Chole - Spicy Garbanzo Beans

Just came back and settling in after a fabulous cruise vacation to Mexico totally relaxed and rejuvenated.
With parents visiting me it feels amazing coming home from work to parents and sitting down with a cup of tea and catching up on stuff. Have been eating mom made stuff and some of those taste no matter how hard I try can never come close to mom's. Truly enjoying my summer and kids are having a blast with their grandparents.

Today's recipe is one of India's staple sabji/curry. Hearty and tasty goes excellent with roti's/poories.

Ingredients
1 cup of garbanzo beans soaken overnight/ 2 canned garbanzo beans
2 medium size Potatoes ,peeled and cubed
1 big tomato cut into small cubes
2 red onions sliced thinly
2 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
1 tbsp pepper
1 Tbsp Red chilli powder
2 tbsp Channa Masala ( I used MDH Channa masala)
1 tbsp amchur powder (dried mango powder) optional
1 tbsp Turmeric (Haldi)
Juice of 1 lemon

Process
1.Pressure cook soaked beans and potato add salt and tumeric/haldi.
2. In a separate pan add 2 tbsp oil , add tumeric and ginger garlic paste add onions and fry till onions turn translucent
3. Now add tomatoes , channa masala powder ,amchur powder, red chilli powder and pepper
4. Add boiled garbanzo beans ,keep aside a small cup of boiled beans
5. Grind the small cup of beans into a fine paste
6. Add the above paste to the rest of channa and allow to cook for few minutes add water if channa seems to thick
7. Allow to cook covered for about 6-8 minutes till channa soaks up all the masala flavors
7. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and garnish with coriander

Serve hot with Poori's/Roti. This is a favorite at home.
On a personal note kids have been painting during their break and below are the two stone painting created during the last  few weeks at home.

 Turtle by my 9 year old

Nemo by my 7 year old

 I wish I could go back in time and relive my summer vacation those days filled with noting but play and fun. Happy summer everyone  !!

Sweet and Tangy Plum Chutney

Sweet and Tangy Plum Chutney

It's no doubt fruiting season here in California look around and you see trees filled with fruit . We had a good friend of our give us plums from their yard. As sweet as there were just plopping into your mouth ,decided to make something different. Sweet and tangy flavor of the plums made it a perfect candidates for chutney.

Ingredients
6-8 ripe plums
2 tbsp Panch phoran
1 tbsp turmeric/haldi
2 green chilies
2-3 red chilies
3 tbsp jaggery/brown sugar
few sprigs of curry leaves (optional)
about an inch of fresh ginger
Salt according to taste
2-3 tbsp of olive oil

Process
1. Cut plums and remove stone inside
2. Heat 2 tbsp oil, when oil gets hot add cut plums and allow to boil for few minutes till they get tenderize.
3. Remove from heat and keep aside.
4. In the same pan add tbsp of oil add panch phooran, ginger,green chillies, red chillies , turmeric and curry leaves.
5. Saute for  few seconds and then add the plum mixture.
6. Add jaggery and salt and allow the plums to boil till all the flavors are well incorporated.
7. Remove from heat and puree in a blender.

Allow to cool to room temperature. Makes for tangy and sweet chutney goes well with nachos,toasts,spread on hot roti's. Plums can be substituted with other fruits like peaches or  raspberries.

Happy 4th Of July -- Water Melon Chiller

Happy 4th Of July -- Water Melon Chiller

We asked for it and now we have it, perfect 4th of July weather, hot and sunny just the way it's supposed to be. We at home are getting ready to watch the fire work tonight. How did you all spend the day.

Watermelons in season bursting with flavor called for perfect cold chiller to compliment the hot sun.

Simple yet refreshing

Ingredients serves 6-8 glasses/cups
watermelon cut into cubes about 6-8 cups
inch of ginger
couple of tbsp of agave or honey
1/2 cup lemon juice
pinch of black pepper
ice cubes about 2-3 cups
Process
1. using a melon scoop, scoop out few melon balls and allow them to chill in the freezer. These can be used as ice cubes
2. Blend the rest of the ingredients in a blender, I use Vitamix and it blends like a charm.
3. Garnish with mint leaves and add frozen melon ball and serve super chilled.

Happy summer everyone !!!