Nasuha Blog

Idli with coconut chutney is a staple breakfast at my place. Idlis and dosas were a part of my childhood. My mom used to grind the soaked urad dal and rice and let it ferment overnight for amazingly delicious steaming hot idlis and dosa for the next day breakfast. We loved this along with my mom's special coconut chutney or sambhar.
 Nowadays lots and lots of different varieties of idlis and dosas are made worldwide. One of them is made by using oats. This does not require fermentation and can be made instantly. Even on a busy day, just temper the ingredients and steam this to perfection. A deliciously protein-rich, nutritious breakfast is ready within half an hour.


In India, we used to buy the idli- dosa batter often as it was readily available in the market.After coming to the US, I started making regularly the idli batter at home. When I do not have a stock of the homemade idli batter, this instant oats idli is a standby. I have paired oats idli with my mom's special coconut chutney. Though many varieties of chutney recipes are available online, I prefer this coconut chutney.
This month's MFB challenge is to prepare any breakfast item and here is the new healthy recipe which is very nutritious and will be like by all.


I have been preparing oats idli for so long and this recipe is a fail-proof. If you are trying to include oats in your daily diet, then this is a perfect option to try. low in carbs and a healthy breakfast is made using oats and grated carrots. Oats are rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins do not compromise on taste. Try this highly nutritive dish and let me know.


Ingredients:

1. Oats- 1 Cup
2. Semolina- 1/2 Cup
3. Grated Carrot- 1/2 Cup
4. Grated Ginger- 2 tbsp
5. Oil- 1 tbsp
6. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
7. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
8. Chana Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Coriander Leaves- few (optional)
10. Curd- 1 Cup
11. water- 1/4 Cup
12. Salt- as required
13. Baking Soda- 1 Tsp

1. Grind the oats to powder and keep this aside.
2. Heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Drop the urad dal, chana dal, grated carrots, grated ginger and coriander leaves.
3. Roast for about 2 minutes on a low flame. Add the semolina and powdered oats. Fry for some time till it turns lightly golden in color. Switch off the flame.
4. Drop these in a mixing bowl and when it cools down, add the curd, required amount of water and mix well till it resembles a batter consistency.
5. Before pouring in the idli molds add the baking soda, mix and pour a spoonful of batter into each mold and steam for about 15- 20 minutes or till done. Enjoy the steaming hot idli breakfast.

Ingredients:

1. Grated Coconut- 1 Cup
2. Ginger- 1 small piece
3. Green Chillis- 2 nos
4. Tamarind- 1/2 tsp/ a small piece
5. Salt- as required
6. Oil- 1 tbsp
7. Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
8. Urad Dal- 1 tbsp
9. Curry Leaves- few

1. Grind the coconut, ginger, green chilies, tamarind and salt to a fine paste by adding little water.
2. For tempering, heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Add the urad dal and curry leaves. Switch off the flame and enjoy with the above-made idlis.

Sago pudding is a favorite in my house and since it is a breeze to whip up this pudding, it's one of the dessert of choice to make when I have sudden guests at home. Kitchen Aid India has announced a contest at IFBM, a first of it's kind, bloggers meet in India and they are giving away a kitchen Aid Chopper to the winner. One of the condition to participate in the contest is to cook with plums. Keeping the theme in mind, I came up with this combination of our favorite dessert topped with a sweet and tangy Plum and Vanilla compote and it came out a real winner. Here is the simple recipe to make this delicious dessert.


All you need is

For the pudding

Sago pearls \ Saboodana - 1 cup
Full cream milk - 1 liter
Coconut powder - 1\4 cup
Sugar - 1\2 cup ( you can adjust according to your taste )
Cardamom powder - 1\2 tsp

For the compote

Plums - 8-10 ( de seeded and chopped )
Castor sugar - 1\4 cup
Vanilla bean - 1 ( you can use vanilla extract if vanilla bean is not available )


Method of preparation

For the pudding

Wash and soak sago pearls in enough water for 4-5 hours.
Drain the water.
Boil full cream milk in a pan.
Add soaked sago pearls and coconut powder and simmer the heat to low.
Add cardamom powder and mix well.
Cook the pudding till it thickens. ( approx 30 minutes )
Add sugar and cook for another minute.
Remove from heat and cool.

For the compote

Add plums and castor sugar in a pan.
Slit the vanilla bean into half and scrap the sedds.
Add the seeds and bean in the pan.
Cook for 5-7 minutes.
Remove the bean and whizz the compote in a blender just once.

Assembly

Fill the serving glasses or bowls with the pudding.
Top with the plum compote.
Garnish with a mint sprig.
Serve chilled.

It's been really long since I made some Indian sweet. With the festive season coming close, it's the right time to indulge in some sugary treats and so I bring you this easy to make yet very delicious Nariyal Ki Barfi. Nariyal ki barfi or coconut fudge is a must make sweet for the weddings in Mathur community and is called Pili barfi for it's yellow color. The sweet which is decked with silver foil, saffron strands and dry fruit slivers is arranged on a big thaal or plate and is send to the grooms family along with the other goodies as a token to mark the beginning of the celebration. The soft, melt in your texture of this sweet is loved by all in my family and it is so easy to make that I end up making a batch of this goodness for all the festivals. Keep the consistency of sugar syrup in check and you will nail this recipe. Here is how to make this simple yet very delicious Nariyal Ki barfi.


All you need is

Grated fresh coconut - 3 cups
Ghee - 3 tbsp
Sugar - 1 cup
Water - 3\4 cup
Yellow food color - 1\4 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
Khoya - 200 g
Dry fruits slivers, silver foil and saffron strands for garnishing



Method of preparation

Grease a 9 inch pan with ghee.
Keep aside.
Heat khoya in a pan.
Fry till pinkish in color.
Keep aside.
Heat sugar and water in a pan.
Cook till the sugar dissolves and the syrup reaches a 2 string consistency.
Do not swirl while the sugar syrup is cooking.
Add yellow food color and cardamom powder.
Mix.
Meanwhile, add ghee in a pan.
Add grated coconut and fry on medium heat for 5-6 minutes.
Add khoya and sugar syrup and mix well.
Pour the mixture in the prepared pan and spread evenly.
Let the barfi set for 3-4 hours.
Cut into small pieces.
Garnish with dry fruits slivers, silver foil and saffron strand.

Note - If your Barfi is not setting and is too soft, just microwave the mixture for 3-4 minutes and set again.
You can skip using food color and can make a white color barfi.
The consistency of sugar syrup is important for the barfi to set nicely.

Coconut chutney is the most famous South Indian style chutney. This was the only chutney we had with our monthly treat of Dosa and idli as kids. I am sharing the traditional way in which most household make this chutney. There could be some variations but the basic recipe remains the same. Here it is.


Prep time - 10 minutes
Making time - 10 minutes
Yields - A cup of chutney

All you need is

Coconut - 1 cup ( cut into small pieces. )
Roasted Bengal gram - 1\4 cup
Curd - 2 tbsp
Green chili - 1
Ginger - 1\2 inch piece
Salt to taste

For tempering

Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1\2 tsp
Urad dal\ split skinned black lentil - 1 tsp
Dry red chilies - 1-2  ( broken )
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Heeng \ asafoetida - 1\4 tsp


Method of preparation

Blend all the ingredients for chutney in a blender to make a smooth paste.
Use little water to blend the chutney.
Transfer in the serving bowl.

For the tempering

Heat oil in a small pan.
Add mustard seeds and urad dal.
Fry till the dal turns brown.
Add dry red chilies, curry leaves and heeng.
Pour the tempering over the chutney.
Mix the tempering with the chutney.
Serve with dosa, idli or paniyaram.