Crab curry /Nandu Masala

Made this awesome Nandu curry. Had postponed this recipe for too long now and had to try it today.
Turned to be much easier and quicker than I had expected.

Ingredients
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Nandu /Snow Crab- 1lb
Onions -2 medium - finely chopped - as small as possible
Tomatoes - 1 1/2 medium -finely chopped
Ginger Garlic paste - 3 tbps
Turmeric powder
Chilli powder - 2 tbsp
Cumin powder -1 tbsp
Corriander powder - 1tbsp
Any packet mutton masala -me used MDH / Garam masala
Coconut - 1 cup


Wash the crabs , break it up , coat it with turmeric powder and allow it to set.

Use a big enough vessel to fit the crabs in. Fry onions and once browned add tomatoes.
Then add the ginger garlic paste.
Once the mixture comes together well, add a little water and add the turmeric powder , cumin powder, corriander powder and chilli powder and the mutton masala powder
Allow the powders to mix well with onion-tomatoes. Close the lid tell that is done.

Now add the crabs, coat it well and add 1 cup water. Add more water so that crabs sink in.
Close the lid and allow the crab to cook for 15 mins, stirring in-between.
The curry should start leaving oil by now.
Add the ground coconut and allow it cook for another 5 mins.
The curry is done. Garnish with cilantro and serve. Goes well with Idly/Rice.

It actually tastes better when it is a day old.
Also, add a spoon of ghee just before serving with rice.

Gobi Manchurian

This was my favorite back at college. Since our hostel mess didn't have it on the menu, we used to buy this from a road-side vendor near the hostel. I guess the cost was Rs.10 and being the thrifty student I was, I would buy either mollaga bajji, black forest cake, egg puff or this depending on the budget at hand.
After I started venturing into the kitchen, I have tried this a couple of times and failed miserably. And again, Uma , who I have started idolizing by now, blessed me with her insight into this and boom I got it all right. Here is how I got it right.

What goes in
Cauliflower - 1 medium head
Green chillies - 6
Garlic - 5 pods
Ginger - about an inch
Onion - 1
Green Bell Peppers - 1
Turmeric powder
Chilli powder
Soy sauce
Salt/Aji-no-moto

For the garnish
cilantro, Green Onions

For the batter
All purpose flour/maida - 1 cup
Corn flour - 2 tbsp
Rice flour - 1 tbsp (optional)
Salt

Preparing the Cauliflower
Cut it into medium florets and soak in hot water for 5 mins. Spread the florets evenly on a plate and microwave it for 5 minutes. The florets should be partially soft and not mushy.

Mix the batter with the ingredients given above and beat it well until you see all the lumps gone. The batter shouldn't be too thin. It should be thick enough to coat the florets evenly. You should be able to see the coating. Add the florets in batches.

Heat oil in a kadai and fry the florets in batches.


1.Cut the onions into medium slices and chop the garlic,green chillies and ginger very finely.
2.Add oil in another kadai and fry the green chillies, ginger and garlic in medium heat. This will give a mild garlicky taste the recipe.
3. When the onion is half done, add the capsicum.
4. After the capsicum is cooked well , add 2 tbsp of Heinz tomato sauce. Adding more of this will make the manchurian soggy. Add some turmeric and chilli powder according to taste.
5. Add some chopped cilantro.
6. Finally add salt and some soy sauce
7. Add the fried florets to this and add some soy sauce , and a pinch of ajinomoto and toss well. Make sure all the florets gets the even color.
8. Garnish with more cilantro and green onions.

இனிய புத்தாண்டு நல் வாழ்த்துகள் -Menu today

Menu today
drumstick sambar
beans porriyal
potato porriyal
butternut squash pachadi
Medhu vadai
vadam (missing in the pics)

& Gulab jamun

Ran out of applams :(

Chilli Idly

This post is for Idli lovers like me.

Idly - 8 nos
Green chillies -3 Onions - 1 finely chopped,Tomato paste- 2 tbsp,Ginger Garlic paste
Carrots, Cabbage - a few grated pieces ,All indian spice powders available in your pantry
Olive Oil

1.Make the idlies in the usual way.
2.Cut each idly into 4 quarters
3.Arrange them in a baking tray, lined with aluminum foil. (picture shown)
4.Drizzle Olive Oil over , so that the pieces get coated evenly
5. Pre-heat the commercial oven to 350 and then bake the idlies at 350 for 10 minutes and then briol at 450 for 5 minutes. This should give a crispy brown texture to the pieces

If you don't have the option of using a commercial oven, you can always deep fry the idlies and skip steps 3,4,5

6. Fry a little oil and fry mustard till it splutters. Add the green chillies, onions, ginger garlic paste and fry till done. add any vegetables - carrots, cabbage etc
7. Add some tomato ketchup. You can also add mashed tomatoes after removing the water.
8. I love corrainder. So I add a handful of it.
9. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, garam masala, cumin powder.
10. Add a few drops of water and fry.
11. Now add the idlies from the oven and coat evenly and you are doneeeee