LUNCH MENU # 1 |
I always have a problem when I cook just rice or some veggie at home, as my kids are always the choosy ones. I have to make an ultimate choice suitable all four of us in the same time, and when such situations arise, I cook such Lunch Menus, where I serve both Chapatis & Rice and cook Side dishes to go along with them. This is a wholesome Vegetarian Meal.
To finish with, serve it with some dessert/payasam. A simple Lunch with delicacy!!!
LUNCH MENU # 1 :
- Rice
- Chapatis
- Chana Dhal Masala
- Mint & Coriander Thogayal
- Lady's Finger Fry
- Carrot Poriyal
- Pasi Paruppu Kootu
- Moru Curry/Yogurt Curry
- Curd/Yogurt
- Appalam /Pappadam
- Pickle
1) RICE:
For detailed recipes on HOW TO COOK DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF RICE, Click here...
2) CHAPATI
For a detailed Recipe on HOW TO COOK CHAPATI, Click here...
3) CHANA DHAL MASALA
CHANA DHAL MASALA |
INGREDIENTS :
Bengal Gram Dhal / Chana Dhal - 1 Cup
Water - 5 Cups
Ginger - 1/2" Piece
Garlic - 2 Cloves
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Chilli Powder -1/4 Tspn
Garam Masala - 1/4 Tspn
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Ghee/Oil - 3 Tbspn.
Salt - To taste
For a detailed recipe of CHANA DHAL MASALA, Click here....
METHOD :
- Wash Bengal Gram Dhal and soak it for 20-30 minutes.
- Drain the water and wash it once again.
- Cook the Dhal with Turmeric Powder, chopped Ginger along with 5 Cups of water until well cooked.
- If cooking in pressure cooker, add just 3 Cups of water and cook for three whistles in high flame and 2-3 whistles in low flame.
- Heat Ghee/Oil in a pan, splutter Cumin Seeds, sauté chopped Garlic Cloves until they become golden brown.
- Add Chilli Powder and fry for a while in low flame.
- Immediately pour the above (ghee and spices) from the pan into the cooked dhal and stir well.
- Garnish with Coriander Leaves and serve hot with Rice, Roti, Paratha or Chapati.
- (NOTE : Cooking time differs with the quality of the dhal, and the type of pressure cooker used. Adjust accordingly)
4) MINT & CORIANDER THOGAYAL
MINT & CORIANDER THOGAYAL |
INGREDIENTS :
Coriander Leaves – 1 Cup
Mint Leaves – 1/2 Cup
Mint Leaves – 1/2 Cup
Bengal Gram Dhal – 2 Tspn
Dry Red Chillies / Green Chillies – 3-4 Nos.
Tamarind – a Small Piece
Salt – To Taste
Dry Red Chillies / Green Chillies – 3-4 Nos.
Tamarind – a Small Piece
Salt – To Taste
Sugar - A Pinch
Coconut - 1/4 Cup
Oil – 1 Tspn
Oil – 1 Tspn
For a detailed Recipe of CORIANDER & MINT THOGAYAL, Click here...
METHOD :
- Clean & wash the Mint & Coriander Leaves in running water.
- Leave it aside in a colander until the water in the leaves is well drained off.
- Heat oil in a pan & fry the Bengal Gram Dhal until they turn into golden brown colour in a very low flame.
- Add Dry Red Chillies/ Green Chillies and fry for a while.
- Add Coriander and Mint Leaves to the above along with Salt, Tamarind and a pinch of Sugar.
- Then add grated Coconut and mix well.
- Sauté them for a few minutes until the leaves look like they have wilted off.
- Remove from fire and allow it to cool.
- Grind the mix into a smooth paste in a Mixer.
NOTES :
- Can prepare the Thogayal without Coconuts.
- Adjust a number of Chillies to your preference.
- Can use Dry Red Chillies/Green Chillies.
- Adding sugar is totally optional, but it will help in retaining the green colour of the leaves.
- Goes well with Rice and Chapatis.
5) MORU(YOGURT) CURRY
MORU / YOGURT CURRY |
INGREDIENTS :
Curd - 1/2 CupTurmeric Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - A Pinch (Optional)
To Grind :
Coconut - 1/4 CupCumin Seeds - A Pinch
Green Chillies - 2 - 3 Nos.
Garlic - 1 Clove (Optional)
For Tempering :
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Fenugreek Seeds - A Pinch
Dry Red Chillies - 2 Nos.
Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
Coconut Oil -1 Tbspn
For MORU CURRY/MORU KACHIYATHU RECIPES, Click here...
METHOD :
- Grind the ingredients mentioned under 'To Grind' to a smooth paste.
- Pour this into a heavy bottomed pan.
- Beat the Curd/Yogurt slightly with a fork and mix this into the ground paste.
- Add Turmeric Powder, Salt and a Pinch of Sugar and mix well.
- Cook this on a very low flame stirring it continuously until it becomes warm.
- Do not allow it to boil, which can curdle the mix.
- Heat Oil in a pan, splutter the Mustard Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Dry Red Chillies and Curry Leaves.
- Pour the Tempering to the Moru Curry and mix well.
NOTES :
- Cooking the mix on high flame without stirring can curdle the curry.
- Curd / Yogurt should be at room temperature.
- Pour the tempering over the curry and mix well.
6) CARROT PORIYAL(STIR-FRY) :
CARROT PORIYAL |
INGREDIENTS :
Carrot - 250 GmsCoconut - 2 Tbspn
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Tspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - A Pinch
For Tempering :
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Urad Dhal - 1/4 Tspn
Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
Shallots - 5-6 Nos.
Green Chillies - 2 Nos.
Oil - 1 Tbspn
For a detailed recipe of CARROT PORIYAL, Click here...
METHOD :
- Clean the Carrots and finely chop them.
- Heat Oil in a pan, splutter Mustard Seeds, Urad Dhal and Curry Leaves, fry them in a very low flame until Urad Dhal turns into golden brown colour.
- Sauté Onions and Green Chillies until onions turn translucent.
- Add Turmeric Powder and fry in a very low flame for few seconds.
- Add chopped Carrots, Salt and a pinch of Sugar and mix well.
- Now add grated Coconut and mix well.
- Sprinkle some water over the mix.
- Cover and cook for 5-8 minutes in low flame, stirring occasionally.
NOTES:
- Can pre-cook the carrots and then add it to the tempering.
- Adding coconut is truly optional.
- Adjust a number of Chillies to your preference.
- Adding sugar is also truly optional, it helps in retaining the colour of the vegetable.
7) LADY'S FINGER/OKRA STIR FRY:
LADY'S FINGER / OKRA STIR FRY |
INGREDIENTS :
Lady's Finger / Okra - 250 Gms.Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Tspn
Sambar Powder - 1 Tspn
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
Shallots - 5-6 Nos.
Green Chillies - 2 Nos.
Cumin Seeds - A pinch
Oil - 1 Tbspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - A Pinch
METHOD :
- Wash and clean the Okra / Lady's finger. Trim off the corners and chop them into small pieces
- Heat Oil in a Pan, splutter Mustard seeds and Curry Leaves.
- Sauté Onions, Green Chillies and a pinch of Cumin seeds until onions turn translucent.
- Add chopped Okras, Turmeric Powder, Sambar Powder, Salt and a pinch of Sugar and mix well.
- Sauté the Okras on low flame until they are done and the stickiness of the vegetable is totally gone.
8) CABBAGE AND GREEN GRAM DHAL KOOTU:
CABBAGE KOOTU |
INGREDIENTS:
Cabbage - 1 CupGreen Gram Dhal / Moong Dhal - 1/3 Cups
Asafoetida - A pinch.
Turmeric Powder - 1Tspn
Ginger - A Small Piece
Coconut - 3 Tbspns
Green Chillies - 2-3 Nos.
Garlic - 1 Clove (optional)
Cumin Seeds - A Pinch
Onion - 1/2 No.
Dry Red Chillies - 2 Nos.
Mustard Seeds - 1 Tspn
Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
Oil / Ghee - 1 Tbspn
METHOD:
- Pressure-cook Moong Dhal along with a drizzle of coconut oil/ghee and a pinch of Asafoetida for 2 Whistles in High Flame and 1 Whistle in low flame.
- Clean, shred and chop the Cabbage.
- Add chopped Cabbage to the cooked Moon Dhal, along with Turmeric Powder, Finely chopped Ginger and Salt.
- Cover and cook for a few minutes.
- Pulse grated Coconut, Green Chillies, Garlic and Cumin Seeds for 2-3 times. (Do not grind)
- Add this to the cooked Moon Dhal and Cabbage and mix well.
- Leave this in low flame until raw flavour goes for a few minutes.
- Heat Oil/ Ghee in a pan, splutter Mustard Seeds, Dry Red Chillies and Curry Leaves.
- Sauté Onions until they turn translucent.
- Add cooked Moong Dhal and Cabbage kootu to the tempering and mix well.
NOTES:
- Do not overcook the Dhal.
- Can also cook Moong Dhal in Sauce pan alternatively.
LUNCH WITH CHAPATIS AND RICE |
HOW TO SERVE:
- In a big Platter or a Plate serve each side dish in a small bowl or side-by-side.
- Then serve a Chapati or two for each plate.
- Serve a small bowl/cup of Rice.
- Serve a cup of Curd/Yogurt along with these dishes.
- No Indian meal is complete without a smidgen of Pickle and crunchy appetizers like Appalam/Pappadam or Vadagam.
- Succumb your SWEET TOOTH with some Sweet/ Dessert/Payasam to finish the menu.