Picky Dal or Dal Thadka

I first tasted this dal(lentil) made by my maternal grandfather the late Mr. Padma Rao, whom we fondly called as thatha(Grandpa in Most south Indian Languages) …probably the only dal he could make, but tasty it was, we called it picky dal. I remember vaguely that most of my family was traveling to another state for some wedding, so thatha pitched in to look after us. Whenever I cook this I always remember him, whatever I am today he had a big role to play, he was the one who made Math fun for me. This was also the first dish I made after my wedding. And this tastes just yummy….

Ingredients

Tur Dal – 1 cup
Garlic Pods – 5 to 6 chopped very finely or can be grated
Green Chillies (Thai Chillies) - 5 to 6 chopped finely (Use according to ur level of taste/heat)
Mustard seeds (Rai) - 1 teaspoon
Jeera (cumin seeds) - 1 teaspoon
Onions - Ones Small – chopped finely
Curry leaves - 5 to 10 leaves
Coriander (Kothmir) - a handful
Turmeric Powder - ¼ teaspoon
Oil - 2-3 teaspoons
Ghee - 2 table spoon(optional)

Preparation

Pressure cook or cook the dal with turmeric till it is well done. Now in a pan heat the oil and Ghee add the Mustard and Jeera, now add the curry leaves, then add the garlic, green chillies and onions and fry for some time. Add the same to the dal, add water (which ever consistency you like, I like my dal on the thicker side) and salt to taste boil it for 5 mins, put off the stove add the coriander and serve hot with rice or roti.

Recipe By: Mr. Padma Rao

Posted By: Brinda

Cluster Beans in green coconut curry

Ingredients

Cluster Beans 1 lbs(cut into1 inch pieces)

Onions 2 medium sized

Green chillies (Thai) about 5 to 6(or to your level)

Cloves 5 pieces

Cinnamon stick 1 inch

Ginger-Garlic paste 1 teaspoon

Coriander leaves (Cilantro) One small bunch

Mint Leaves a Handful

Pepper corns 1 teaspoon

Coconut Paste 3 tablespoons

Oil (Olive/Veggie) 3 tablespoons

Salt to taste

Turmeric 1 teaspoon

Grind the Onions, green chillies, cloves, Cinnamon, Coriander leaves, Mint Leaves and Pepper corns to a paste (do not add water).

Grind the coconut and make a smooth paste (can add water)

Cooking method in a pressure cooker

Heat the oil and add the green paste and sauté it for some time say about 4 to 5 minutes, add Turmeric, ginger garlic paste and sauté it for a minutes, Now add the cluster beans, add salt to taste…add the coconut paste and some water and pressure cook it for 3 whistles. Garnish with cilantro and serve with roti or rice.

Cooking method in a pan/cooking dish

Heat the oil and add the green paste and sauté it for some time say about 4 to 5 minutes, add Turmeric, ginger garlic paste and sauté it for a minutes, Now add the cluster beans, add salt to taste and add some water and cook till the beans are tender…now add the coconut and cook for 2-3 minutes Garnish with cilantro and serve with roti or rice.

Recipe By: Mrs. Malathi(my Mom)

Posted By: Brinda

My first blog

Hmm this is my first Blog....Saw the movie Julie and Julia...went out with a friend for the first time for some recreation after having a baby…was not very enthusiastic about watching the movie but my friend has not seen any of the Harry potter movies so could not force her to watch the Half Blood Prince….I just don’t know when I will watch it, hey it’s not that Julie n Julia is a bad movie

I guess was inspired by it and hence this blog...

Hey I am not a foodie or something in that genre...People who know me will swear that

I can never enter a kitchen….yes I don’t like to do that but one must survive, sounds like I am on some kind of battle field J Sometimes feels like it. Before I got married and moved to a different country, mom made fresh food everyday for us three siblings and my dad

More about my family later…Got married and Hubs helps me but he travels most of the time….My hubs cooks some yummy fare. Now I have a kid…and want her to have memories the way I have….

Instead of cooking through Julia’s book…I thought at least try/cook or note down the recipes that I grew up on to my daughter…and in the process let her inherit my memories/traditions as well make new ones for her….so let’s see how many I try and post. I did cook some yummy cluster beans in green coconut curry, yesterday as a startJ, Will post the recipe…..I can’t be doing this everyday…I mean cooking my mom’s recipes but will post them whenever I cook them…So let’s see how many can I collect