Green Apple Thokku / Green Apple Pickle

I saw a recipe of "Mango Thokku"  here and tried it as I had a mango ready. When I was messaging about it to the author, she told me thokku can be made by green apple too! It sounded interesting and I picked up couple of Granny Smith apples during my next shopping and tried this thokku. Its an interesting variation to the regular mango, tomato, poondu thokku we make. So try it once and you will definitely like it. 

Ingredients

Green Apple-2

Chilly powder-1tablespoon(adjust to taste)

Nallennai/Gingelly oil-1/4cup

Mustard seeds-1teaspoon

Asafoetida/hing powder-1/4teaspoon

Methi seeds- 1/2teaspoon

Salt

Method

Dry roast the methi seeds and powder it. 

Wash and peel the apple.

 Grate the apple..

Heat nallennai/gingelly oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let them pop-up. Then add the hing, add the apples after a few seconds.

 Saute for a minute or two, then add the chilly powder and salt.

Cook on medium heat until the apples are cooked. It will form a smooth ball and won't stick to the pan. By then add the roasted methi seeds powder, mix it well. 

Switch off the stove at this stage, let it cool completely. Transfer it into a dry container and refrigerate it.

Stays fresh up-to one week may be longer..we finished it within a week. :) 

Wishes..

Mahi's Kitchen Wishes You A Very Happy Tamil New Year & Vishu! 

Quinoa Pulao/ Vegetable Pulav with Quinoa

Ingredients

Quinoa-3/4cup

Mixed vegetables-1cup

Onion-1

Green chilly-1

Tomato-1

Garam masala-2teaspoons

Turmeric powder-1/4teaspoon

Chilli powder-1/2teaspoon

Mint and cilantro leaves

Ginger-garlic paste - 2teaspoons

Oil 

Salt

To cook the quinoa

Ghee-1teaspoon

Bay leaf-1

Cinnamon stick-2" 

Clove-1

Elaichi-1

Water-2cups[ depends on the quality of the quinoa. Usually 1:2 is the quinoa-water ratio, but mine needs more water, so adjust accordingly]

Method

1.Heat ghee in a pan, add the bay leaf, cinnamon, clove and elaichi. Once they pop-up, add water. 

2.Add enough salt and let it boil nicely.

3. Add the washed quinoa and cook on medium heat until done. [it took about 12 minutes for me]

4. Meanwhile chop the vegetables ready. Chop the onion-green chilly and tomato too.
5. Heat oil in a pan, add the onion followed by the crushed ginger garlic and chopped mint leaves.
6. Sauté for one minute and add in the turmeric-chilly and garam masala powders. Cook till the tomatoes become soft.

7. Now add the vegetables, mix it gently.
8. Add little salt, with about 1/2cup of water and cook until the vegetables are tender(but not mushy)
9. Add the cooked quinoa and mix it with the masala. Reduce the heat to low and cook for few more minutes.
10. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Tasty and healthy pulao is ready to serve.

We had it with Ash gourd Raitha.

Recipe Inspiration : HERE , Thanks Julie for the recipe! 

Whole Urad Dal Idly/ Karuppu Ulunthu Idli

Ingredients

Boiled rice/Idli rice-2cups

Whole urad dal/Karuppu ulunthu paruppu-1/2cup

Methi seeds-1/2teaspoon

Salt

Method

Wash the rice few times and soak it with methi seeds for 6-8 hours.

Wash the urad dal few times and soak it for 6-8 hours. Keep the urad dal in the fridge for the last one hour.

Grind the urad dal (with skin) to a fine paste by adding little water in frequent time intervals.

Grind the rice and methi seeds and add it to the urad dal batter.

Add enough salt and mix it well with your hands.

Keep it in a warm place over night or 8 to 10 hours to ferment.

Heat  enough water in idli pot/idli cooker and make idli.

I use the idli pot, which takes about 7-10 minutes to cook the idlies.

Soft and healthy, protein packed idles are ready to serve.

Enjoy with your choice of chutney, sambar, and idli podi.