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Beetroot Masala

This is a very versatile dish that can be used as a side for rice or chapathi and can also be mixed with white rice. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 Beetroots, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 Small onion, finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon of cumin seeds
• 1 Tablespoon of fennel seeds
• 1 Tablespoon of mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• 2 Tablespoons of oil
• 1/2 cup of shredded coconut
• 3-5 Dried red chillies
• 2 Garlic cloves
• Salt to taste

Directions

Grind shredded coconut, fennel seeds, garlic and 3 red chillies into fine powder and set it aside. Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the mustard, cumin seeds, curry leaves and remaining chillies and let them sizzle. Now add the onion and saute until the onions turn brown. Add the beetroot. Cover the skillet with a lid and let the beetroot cook. Now add the masala powder to the beetroot and give it a stir. Mix everything well and cook for 5 - 10 minutes. Serve hot with rice or chapathi.

,n 

Black Pepper & Cumin Seeds Rasam

Rasam is a must have in most of the South Indian meals. Especially in my kitchen sambar gets the 2nd place. I don't cook a traditional South Indian meal every day. But when I cook one, I always make a kootu and rasam. Here is a recipe for a quick rasam just in case you forgot to keep dhal in the cooker.

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Black pepper seeds
1 Tablespoon Cumin Seeds
1/2 Tablespoon Toor dhal
1/2 Teaspoon of a Asafoetida
1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 1/2 Cup of tamarind juice
1/2 Teaspoon turmeric powder
1 Spring of Curry Leaves
1 Clove garlic
1 Small tomato roughly chopped
Salt to taste

To garnish

1/2 Tablespoon Mustard seeds
1/2 Tablespoon Cumin seeds
1 Tablespoon Ghee

Directions

Soak black pepper, cumin seeds and toor dhal in 1/2 cup of water for an hour. In a sauce pan pour the tamarind juice. Add the turmeric powder, asafoetida, cut tomatoes and salt. Let it boil until the raw flavor of the tamarind juice wears off. Grind the black pepper, cumin seeds and toor dhal with the garlic. Add the paste to the sauce pan and add in a cup of water. Add the cilantro when the rasam boils and turn off the stove.

Heat the ghee small pan. Add the mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds splutter add the cumin seeds and curry leaves. Pour the ghee on the hot rasam. Serve hot with rice.

PS - You might not find cilantro and the curry leaves in my rasam because I didn't have any left when I made this :).

Vegetable Sevai/Vegetable Rice Vermicilli

I would say readymade sevai(rice vermicilli) is a must have in a pantry. When I run out of options for night dinner I end up making sevai. I usually make lemon sevai and sweet coconut sevai. But for a change I decided to make vegetable sevai since I had to finish off frozen mixed vegetables I had in my freezer. Here is how I made it.

Ingredients

• 1 Packet of readymade rice sevai
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 1 and 1/2 cups of mixed vegetables
• 1/2 Tablespoon of urad dhal
• 1/2 Tablespoon of channa dhal
• 1 Sprig of curry leaves
• 1 Tablespoon of finely chopped cilantro
• 2-3 Green chillies halved
• 1 Tablespoon of cashewnuts
• 1/2 Tablespoon of Fennel seeds
• 2 Dried bay leaves
• 1 Teaspoon of garam masala
• 1 Teaspoon of corriander powder
• 1 Tablespoon of mustard seeds
• 2 Tablespoons of cooking oil (My personal favorite is sesame oil/gingely oil)
• Salt as per taste

To grind

• 1/4 Cinnamon stick
• 2 Cloves
• 3 Cloves of garlic
• 1 Inch of ginger
• 4-5 Green chillies
• 1/2 Cup of Cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1/2 Tablespoon of Fennel seeds
• 2 Sprigs of mint leaves

Directions

Cook the sevai as per the instructions and drain it in a colander. Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the mustard seeds and allow it to splutter. Now add the fennel seeds, bay leaves, urad dhal, channa dhal, cashews, cilantro, curry leaves, green chillies in the same order. Add turmeric powder and the onions and saute until the onions soften. Add the veggies to the skillet and mix the onions and veggies . Cover the skillet and let the veggies cook. Now add the ground masala and salt to the skillet and saute until the raw smell wears off. If its too dry add a splash of water. Add the garam masala and the cooked sevai. Mix them well . Garnish it with some cilantro. Serve when its hot.