GREENGRAM SPINACH CURRY / PASALAI PACHAPAYARU KOOTU(Stepwise)

Greengram and Spinach curry together is wonderful combination.  This simple healthy curry/kootu(tamil) is very comforting and tastes great both with rice and roti. Enjoy this healthy treat.

 

 

 

GREENGRAM SPINACH CURRY / PASALAI PACHAPAYARU KOOTU

 

 

 

Ingredients:

Greengram - 3/4 cup ( Wash and soak it overnight)
Spinach - 2 cups (washed, drained and chopped)
Shallots - 10 (you can use big onion too)
Tomato - 1 (small)
Curry leaves
Tamarind extract - 1/2 tbsp(thick)
Salt 

Tempering :

Oil - 1/2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tbsp
Urad dhal - 1/2 tbsp
Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp

 

 

Grinding :

Coconut - 1 1/2 tbsp
Roasted gram dhal  - 1 tbsp
Cummin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric - little
Red chilli - 6 to 7 ( You can use according to ur spicelevel)

Grind the above things to fine paste adding little water.

 

 

Method :

1. Cook the greengram in the boiling water(2 cups), cook until it is soft but not mushy. Remove the foam that forms when it is cooking. Keep it aside.

 

2. Heat the oil in the pan, add the mustard seeds, when it splutters add the urad dhal.
2. Add onion and saute till transparent.

 

3. Add the tomato and curry leaves. Saute till the tomato are mushy. 

4. Now add the chopped spinach saute for 2 to 3 minutes ( don't overfry it, as it looses color)
5. Add the cooked greengram with water.

 

6.Add the ground paste, tamarind extract, salt and water if needed. Let it cook for few minutes to the desired consistency.

 

Serve with Rice and Roti !!!

Note :

1. Adjust the spice level and sourness according to your preference.
2. You can also use lemon juice instead of tamarind extract.
3. You can also add red chilli powder instead of whole red chillies.

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CANTALOUPE SORBET

Cantaloupe is one of our favorite fruit. Cantaloupe is also known as cantaloup, mushmelon, muskmelon, cantalope, rockmelon .Cantaloupe in milkshake, juice, ice cream or even as a fruit without  any sugar tastes great.  Try this cardamom infused cantaloupe sorbet, I am sure you would love this. Difference between sherbet and sorbet take a look at this post.

Also take a look at the posicles, sherbet, icecream ideas

Chocolate Popsicle

Chocolate Banana Popsicle

Zesty Avocado Sherbet 

Eggless Mango Icecream 

CANTALOUPE SORBET

 Ingredients :

Cantaloupe - 1 ( cubed)
Sugar - 1/3 cup
Cardamom infused sugar syrup - 3/4 cup

 

 

 

Method :

1. In a bowl mix the cantaloupe and sugar keep aside for few minutes.
2. Puree the cantaloupe and transfer to a container.
3. Refrigerate for few hours.
4. Now stir in the cardamom infused sugar syrup and chill it for 3 to 4 hours or even overnight.

Cardamom sugar syrup

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 cup of water
10 cardamom pods crushed

Method :

1. In a small pan bring the water, sugar and cardamom.
2. Let it be in the flame until the sugar dissolves.
3. Remove from heat. Close with the lid for 1/2 hr.
4. Strain the mixture and chill in the fridge for 1 hour before we add to the cantaloupe mixture.

 

 

If your using Icecream follow the instruction as given in the manufacture's guide.

Else Follow this

1. Freeze the above mixture, when it is frozen slightly , churn it in the blender.  Repeat this one moretime.
2. Then freeze it for 6 to 7 hours.
3. Keep the frozen mixture for few minutes, before serving.

Scoop it !!!  Beat the heat and enjoy the fragrant/fresh sorbet !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note :

1. You can prepare the cardamom syrup and cantaloupe mixture ahead of time.
2. If you are using the ice cream maker, make sure the mixture is chilled for atleast 3 to 4 hours minimum, overnight would be good.
3.Keep the frozen sorbet out for 10 minutes before scooping.

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GREEK PASTRIES - GREEK FESTIVAL PART II

Hope you guys enjoyed my last post.  As I said this post is super interesting.  This post is full of Greek Pastries.. We almost enjoyed tasting all the pastries there.  Here is the virtual treat for you ....

 Here is the array of sweet pastries and these are freshly baked sweet breads.. 

The coconut Macaroons it tasted awesome, as already I am big fan of these coconut macaroons I enjoyed so much munching it.  Next is walnut cake soaked in the warm honey that was super moist absolutely yummy.  Kataifi shredded wheat pastry tastes like the Baklava. Koulouria is butter cookie which is a real  melting moment.

These are sweet cute fritters named Loukamades, deep fried balls, Yeasted batter similar to doughnut served with warm honey and dusted with powdered sugar and little cinnamon.  Watch how they are done.... Did u see the automated machine that drops the batter in the oil.. 

These are kourmbiethes which is greek shortbread cookies covered with powdered sugar, followed by spice cookie which is dipped in honey syrup they are called as Melamakorana. 

These are Galotoboureko which is Greek custard covered with Phyllo pastry sheet and baked.. that was really good so creamy with crispy top.. Loved it a lot.  And Baklava almost everyone like this and very famous greek pastry.

Baklava cheese cake, it was like normal cheesecake but the crumble topping tasted like Baklava.. that was wonderful combination. Those Almond cookies tasted great and they call it as Ergolavi.

They did have the shaved ice, biscotti and the frozen custard....

I know many of us are familiar with the above pastries but the name of the pastries in their own language was fun to learn.  Hope you guys enjoyed the Greek festival thru my lens. 

" EFCHARISTO"

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LITTLE GREEK ISLAND ON HIGHLAND - GREEK FESTIVAL IN MEMPHIS

Hope everyone had wonderful weekend!!!  I wish all mom's Happy Mother's day.  I know all moms would have received cute and memorable gifts from your kids that we cherish throughout our life. 

Ok coming to the post its Greek Festival that we enjoyed here in Memphis.  It is 53rd Annual Memphis Greek festival. I am going to share all the drooling dishes that we enjoyed during the visit.   Hope you all enjoy your stay here and have good time as we had. Let me start with the highlights.

Highlights

• Sanctuary Tours

• Greek Folk Dancing

• Authentic Greek Foods/Pastries

• Gift Shop

• Athenian Playground (Childrens Activities)

You will be seeing the Authentic Greek food/ Pastries. Every food was so tasty and ,particularly loved all the pastries.  We tasted little in everything, since we are vegetarian we had limited choice in vegetarian food. 

I mainly focused taking food pictures..

Did you see the Greek folk Dancing? Yah it was so good and they danced beautifully, and I just fell in love with their traditional dress... They looked gorgeous.

They had so many stalls in the outdoor . These are some of the food stalls...

This is Greek Pizza, It tasted great, the crust itself tasted different from other Pizzas.  With little tomato, basil, feta and it was garlicky...yummy :)

This is Greek Coffee... see the coffee pot don’t they look cute :) and the Gift shop,  it had all cute utensils but it was bit expensive :(

This is Indoor stalls where they had all these stuffs like Greek salad, Shish kebob, Pilaf, Grecian chicken, Greek Style Green Beans, Spanakopeta (spinach pie) etc

If you look at the pictures you can see the description of each item.

This is Saganaki Flaming cheese.  Saganaki in Greek literally means little frying pan.  This refers to various dishes prepared in Greek cuisine and is named after the single-serving frying pan in which it is cooked. The saganaki cheese is flambéed at the table (typically with a shout of "opa!"), and the flames then extinguished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.  These are typically feta-based.  See how the flame comes...this tasted like firm Feta cheese with dash of lemon yumm :)

Did you know how mother and Father called in Greek???

Stay tuned to see the next part.  It just makes you drool !!!

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CREAMY AVOCADO POTATO SALAD/SANDWICH (Stepwise)

Hi all, Before going to today's post, I am very happy to share this good news.  I am one of the 5 finalists for the most creative edible container for the Daring Baker's ! The selection for the finalist  is under voting. So if you like my submission please vote for me in

#1 pavithra : coffee cinnamon jello edible container(using agar agar), filled with vegan maple mousse.

You can go here for voting  http://thedaringkitchen.com/
Sorry to bother you all !!!  My hearty thanks to all my friends who have voted for me.

Ok coming to today's post this is one of our favorite salad, which is so healthy, creamy.  It tastes so good in both the ways as a salad or filling for bread. Without any further delay about this  creamy, healthy and colorful salad here you go for the virtual treat.. 

Did you know Avocado+Potato is wonderful combination..if not try out this awesome salad...

CREAMY AVOCADO POTATO SALAD/SANDWICH

Ingredients:

Avocado - 2
Potato - 1/2 diced and boiled (I love using red potatoes for this, but its ok to use any variety)
Corn - 1/4 cup
Onion - 1/4 cup
Tomato - 1/2 diced(remove the seeds)
Spring onion- sliced(only green part) handful
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Pepper - as needed
Salt as needed
Pickled Jalapeno - chopped (2 tbsp)

Method :

1. Make paste of the Avocado in the food processor.

2. Transfer this to the mixing bowl.
3. Add all other ingredients one by one.

4. Add the lemon juice, pickle chilli, salt and pepper.

5. Atlast add the spring onion. Give a nice mix until well blended.

For Arranging sandwich :

1. Slice of bread.
2.Lettuce leaves.
3.Spoon the avocado mixture.
4.Top with another bread.

You can also use toasted bread for this. But we love without toasting.

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