Tomato dal (lentil) recipe

Hello readers,its been a while since my last post.life got busy ..busier?is that even a word?anyways  with a new baby and a very active toddler my timetable has completely gone "cuckoo- cuckoo",but here I am trying to write one post at a time ,and I promise video tutorials very soon .

   This recipe is a quick fix for lunch boxes and goes great over some rice or with rotis and sides of veggies.  

  Ingredient:   

•  Toor dal 1 cup
• tomato 2 large chopped
• garlic cloves smashed,whole:4 to 5 
• green chillies- 4 to 5
• curry leaves-few springs
• cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
• red chili powder-1/2 tsp
• oil-1 tsp
• salt -1 tsp or as per taste
• extract of 2 inch tamarind
• coriander to garnish

For tempering
mustard seeds- 1/4th tsp
curry leaves
whole red chilies -few

Directions:

• Clean the lentil and soak in 1:2 ratio that is 1 cup dhal to 2 cups water
• heat oil in a pressure pan .
• add in the cumin seeds let splutter
• add in the garlic ,green chilies and the curry leaves saute for a minute
• now add in the turmeric and the chopped tomatoes,saute for few more minutes until tomatoes turn mushy
• season with salt and red chilli powder 
• now to this add the dhal and water let this come to a boil,add in the tamarind paste
• mix everything well and close the lid,and turn the heat to medium low
• let whistle for 5 to 6 times
• heat a pan and add the tempering to 1/2 tsp of heated oil
• once the pressure is settled remove the lid mash the dhal and temper.
• garnish and enjoy.

Tips

use cherry tomatoes for a sweeter version of the dhal.

can use asafetida.

leave out the tamarind if your tomatoes are too sour,which is very unlikely if you happen to live in the U.S(I really miss the sour indigenous tomatoes we used to get back in my country-naatu thakaali ...just sharp and tangy ) .hope you enjoy the recipe.

Thankyou for visiting my blog!

2 minutes chocolate cake- microwave,low fat and eggless

This cake is soft and spongy,not like the rubbery spongy texture that sometime mug cakes turn into, but more like a real cake ,just good enough to satisfy the craving for a chocolate cake, say at 2 pm on a lazy Sunday afternoon and also not to forget the fact that this is low fat- oil or butter free you almost can't believe it until you try it yourself

Ingredients:
all purpose flour:4 tbs
sugar: 2 tbs
coco powder: 2 tbs
(ratio of two part flour,one part sugar and one part coco makes it easy to remember)
instant coffee granules- 1 tsp
baking powder-1/4 tsp
milk (I used 2%,if you don't care, then never mind, use full fat) 8 tbs or more to get the consistency required.
vanilla extract -1/4 tsp
cinnamon -a dash(optional)
Method:

• mix the flour,coco powder,sugar,coffee,baking powder together in a microwave safe mug,if making a bigger batch do this step in a large mixing bowl
• add in the milk and whisk for a couple of minutes ,until all the lumps are gone and a cake batter consistency is obtained 
• add more water if the batter is too thick to manage .make sure to reach the bottom of the mug with the wire whisk or fork to ensure no dry flour is sticking around.
•  add in the vanilla mix.
• microwave on high for one minute,check for the top, if dry and set remove and cool ,if still wet then microwave for another 10 or 15 sec,until set.do not overcook!
• cool and serve . Believe me ,it is very enjoyable just plain but still  you can dust the extra icing sugar or do a tiny weenie frosting for a "cupcake" feel, if you want .

Here is a quick video tutorial :

 

Thank you for visiting !

Mexican sopes recipe

Hola everyone,

Sopes are traditional mexican dish, very versatile and very tasty .Once the corn base are prepared there are many ways to assemble them also the toppings can be varied from black bean to tuna to chicken to whatever you wish.The authentic recipe involves deep frying the corn base disc ,but here greenhouse cuisine brings you the low calorie pan fried version.

INGREDIENTS :

(makes approx 18 sopes )

• MASECA flour ,or masa harina - 1 cup[This is flour(masa)made of ground maize soaked in lime,available in any grocery store].
• 1/3 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup water.
• Oil -2 tsp
• refried beans -1/2 cup
• chicken Brest cooked 1 cup or for a veggie version substitute black bean and sweet corn of same amount .
• Salsa or roughly chopped tomatoes,onions and cilantro -1/2 cup
• taco mix -2 tsp



Meet my three amigos  

• fat free sour cream -1/2 cup

Many have the idea that Mexican cooking involves a lot of  fat calories and is totally time consuming ,but it doesn't have to be the case if some of the ingredients be switched  for fat free, and good  quality canned products be used ,which saves a lot of time .

METHOD:

• Mix 1 cup of the flour with 2/3 cup water and 1/3 tsp salt and make a soft dough.
• Divide the dough into 18 to 20 portions and shape into balls.
• Prepare the bean sauce by heating the refried beans with 2 tsp of taco mix and a little water.keep aside
• wet your fingers with water and flatten out each ball in the palm of your hand as seen in step 2
• Heat a non stick griddle spray some oil and place the sope to cook on one side. 
• Flip within a minute,there will be change in color indicating that the masa has started to cook.
• take the sope out of the pan and very carefully start pinching the ends to give it a disc shape.(stp 3)
• return the disc to the pan and fry for another minute 
• repeat untill all of the masa has been made into discs .
• Assemble the sopes with the bean sauce stp(4),thechicken or topping of your choice stp(5),the salsa stp(6) and the finally sour cream.

Enjoy when still warm.Optional :top it all up with some lettuce to add that extra crunch.Also try replacing the salsa with tomatillo sauce that will add a tangy flavor to your sopes.Hope you give it a try.

Muchas Gracias for visiting my blog !