DONDAKAYA KOORA (KOVAKKAI PORIYAL)

Dondakaya in telugu which is called kovakkai in tamil, Tindora in hindi, Ivy gourds in english is a small cute vegetable which has the crunchy texture. It is rich in protein and fibre which is yummy when cooked in different ways. So this is one of the easy fry which we can make and serve with rasam, dhal and hot steamed rice + ghee.


Ingredients :

Dondakaya - 1/2 kg sliced thinely
Curry leaves - few
Mustard for seasoning
Salt and oil for sauting
Garlic powder :

Roasted gram dhal - 1/4 cup
Red chilli - 2
Garlic pod - 3



Method :

1. Heat oil in the frying pan and season with mustard and add the dondakaya.
2. Then add curry leaves close with some lid by sprinkling water and salt for few minutes until they are cooked.
3. Then remove the lid and saute until they become roasted. While it is roasting we can do the powder.
4. Fry the roasted gram dhal and chilli in dry pan. Cool it then add garlic and make powder.
5. Now add it to the dondakaya and mix well so that they all will get blended.
6. Serve with rice.



Note :

1. You can prepare the garlic powder ahead and in more quatities if you need it.
2. This powder can be served with hot steamed rice and ghee
3. Dondakakya can be substituted by capsicum, Brinjal, and ladies finger.
4. And if you are not diet concious you can do deep fry instead of sauting and sprinkle this powder to coat it. Tastes so yummy.

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MEXICAN FEAST (QUESADILLA)

' Queso' is cheese in spanish. Quesadilla is toasted tortilla with melted cheese inside. With cheese we can put any kind of stuffing inside. Here I have put Bell peppers, onion and mushroom. Stuffing can be made according to our choice and combination. And regarding cheese again its our choice. We love sharp cheddar and mozzeralla so I have added both. It is served with sour cream, salsa and guacamole. Since I made 3 types of salsa I am posting it with store bought tortilla chips. Enjoy this mexican platter !!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients :

Store bought Flour tortilla - 4 ( You can also use home made whole wheat Chappathi or Home made Tortilla)

Bell pepper - 1 sliced thin

Onion - 1 thinly sliced

Mushroom sliced - 1/2 cup

Garlic powder - 1/2 tsp

Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
Chili powder - 1/2 tsp ( or as needed)
Oregano - 1/4 tsp
Roasted Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp
( you can also use cajun seasoning, taco seasoning or quesadilla seasoning instead of above powders)

Paprika + Roasted cumin powder - 1 tsp to sprinkle on top (optional)

Olive oil for roasting

Salt for taste

Sharp cheddar - 1/2 cup

Mozzeralla - 1/4 cup
(You can also use 4 cheese mexican blend)

Method :

1. Heat oil in the frying pan and add onion saute until light brown then to that add the mushroom.

2. When all the water oozes out and dried add bell pepper salt, garlic powder and pepper.

3. Saute until they are lightly browned.

4. Now heat olive oil in the pan put all the tortilla one by one and make it warm and keep it aside.

5. Now again put one tortilla in pan and add the topping mixture and cheese.

6. And cover it with other tortilla. The cheese melts and they will stick to each other.

7. Using spatula lift up with one side of quesadilla and flip over other side very carefully.

8. Do this every 3 minutes in low flame until they are browned and crispy on both sides or quesadilla.

9. Once it is done remove from pan before it is cooled cut them using pizza cutter and serve hot sprinkling with paprika and cumin powder.

10. Enjoy with salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

11. Now get ready to make another quesadilla with remaining wraps and stuffing.

SALSAS

Guacamole :

Guacamole, a dip made from avocados. To get the perfect guacamole use ripe avocados. The color of avocado should be dark and give it a gentle press outside of avacado if it is bit soft then right to make.

Ingredients :

Avocado - 1

Tomato - 1/2 de seeded and pulp removed

Serrano chilli or Jalapeno chilli - 1 tsp de seeded and chopped finely

Cilantro - few

Lemon juice - 1 tbsp

Red onion - 1/4 cup chopped finely

Garlic - 1 pod small grated

Salt and pepper to taste.

Method :

1. De seed the avocado and put in the bowl. Mash it with fork.

2. Then add all other ingredients and mix well.

3. Everything has to be blended well. Refrigerate until used so that it enhances the flavour.

4. Serve with chips or quesadilla or in Burrito.

Mango salsa :

Mango salsa its with tomato, Onion and cilantro with little sweetness of mango yummm....

Ingredients :

Tomato - deseeded 1 cup chopped finely

Mango - 1 cup finely chopped

Onion - 1/2 cup

Serrano chilli or Jalapeno chilli - 1 tsp chopped finely deseeded

Cilantro - 2 tbsp finely chopped

Garlic - 1 tsp crushed (optional)

Salt and pepper for taste

Method :

1. Mix all ingredients and refrigerate to enhance flavors. serve with chips.

Hot and spicy tomato salsa :

Tomato - 1 chopped roughly

Onion - 1/4 chopped

Habanero chilli (this has more spice level) or Jalapeno chilli - 1 tsp

Cilantro leaves - 1 tbsp

Garlic - 1 pod

Bell pepper red - 1/4 cup

Lemon juice - 1 tbsp

Salt and oil.

Method :

Put everything in the blender and run it until everything is well blended. But they should not be so fine has to chunky enough. Add some cilantro for garnishing. So yummy and serve with tortilla, quesadilla, Burritos.

Note:

Regarding chillies each of them will give different taste and if you do not have those particular chilli in your fridge use jalapeno for everything and adjust it according to your spice levels.

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