Andhra Style Coconut Rice

Cooking time - 30 minutes
Serves - 3 to 4

Ingredients

Raw Rice - 2 cups
Coconut Milk - 3 cups
Water - 1 cup
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 1/2 tsps (or you can use 6 - 8 cloves of garlic)
Green Chillies - 4, slit lenth-wise
Onion - 1 big
Cardamoms - 3 to 4
Cinnamon - 1 small stick
Bayleaf - 1
Cloves - 4 medium or 5 small
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt t o taste
Ghee - 1/2 tbsp
Oil - 1/2 tbsp
Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method

1. Heat ghee and oil in a pressure cooker.
2. Add the Cinnamon, Cardamoms, Bayleaf and cloves. Fry for a minute.
3. Add the onions and fry until it turns pink.
4. Mix the ginger garlic paste and turmeric powder. Saute in medium heat until for 5 minutes.
5. Add the raw rice and fry for a minute.
6. Put in the coconut milk and water. Add salt,  close the cooker lid and let it blow 3 whistles. 
7. Garnish with coriander leaves before serving. 

This coconut rice can be served with all types of raita, any type of kurma and any spicy curry. 

Mirchi Coconut Biryani

Serves up to 4 

Preparation time 15 minutes

Cooking time 25 minutes

Ingredients 

1.Coconut 1 cup

2.Green chilies 4 to 6 as per taste

3.Onion 1 nos.

4.cinnamon stick 1/2 inch

5.Freshly ground garlic and ginger paste 2 tbsp. Kindly avoid pre grounded,bottled ginger garlic paste.

6. Coriander and fresh mint 1/2 cup

7.pepper 1/4 tbsp

8.Cardamom 3 nos.

9.Bay leaves 1 nos.

10.cloves 2 to 3

11.Dry dhaniya roasted 1/2 tbsp.

12.Juice of 1 Lemon.  

13. Basmathi Rice 1/2 kg

14.salt

15.Carrots diced 2 nos.

16.Beans cut 100 gms

17.potato diced 2 nos.

18.Soya nuggets 50 gms.

19. Jeera 1 tbsp

Method

1. Grind all the ingredients from 1 to 11 with little water to paste.

2.Heat little oil in a pan and add jeera.

3.Add all the vegetables and saute for 5 minutes.

4.Now add the ground paste and cook for 5 minutes.

5.Add salt to taste.

6. Add basmathi rice and water and cook.

7.Finally add juice of 1 lemon.

Note : Soak Basmathi rice in water for 30 minutes. 

Cucumber Pancakes

This is one simple and quick recipe that you can make in the morning hurry. There are people who cannot eat curd once it turns a bit sour, this recipe is helpful in such cases as the jaggery neutralises the sour taste.So you have left over curd and cucumber and the option of raita does not exist... Try this!!! Kids will love will, at least my son and sister does... :)

1. Mix 1 cup of rava and 2 cups of grated cucumber. It is okay to measure the grated cucumber along with the water from the cucumber.

2. Add 1/4 cup of curd and mix well.

3. Add 2 big spoons of jaggery and mix. You can either grate the jaggery and mix or break it evenly as per convenience.

4. Optionally you can also add chopped chilli as per taste.

5. Last of all, add salt and leave it for 5 mins.

6. After 5 mins, heat the tawa and spread the mixture evenly like dosa. Add ghee and turn when colour turns a bit darker brown so as to make sure that the rava is cooked. Cook on both sides and remove when both sides are evenly coloured.

7. Serve the pancake with spicy green chutney or if in a hurry with Tomato sauce. Refer the site for recipe of the green chutney.. :)

Moong dal chilla

1. Soak half cup moong dal and half cup masoor / urad dal for half hour.

2. Break 200gms paneer with hand into small pieces.

3. Mix with salt and coriander leaves.

4. Heat 1/4 tsp oil, add jeera, break 3 dry red chillies into small pieces and put in into the oil. 

5. Once it crackles add it to the paneer and mix well.

6. Grind the soaked moong and masoor dal with 2 or 3 green chillies, 1/4 inch ginger, curry leaves, salt to taste and 1/4 tsp turmeric powder. Add water and grind till its of pouring consistency like dosa batter.

7. Heat a non-stick pan, add few drops of oil and pour some batter and spread like a dosa. 

8. Cook on both sides till its golden brown, before removing from tawa, spread a spoonful of the paneer mix, fold and serve.

Ps: you can spread some tomato ketchup / hot n sweet sauce before serving. It tastes pretty good with that too.