Monday 30 December 2013

Puffed Rice Crisps with Jaggery / Murmura Laddoo / Muri unda


 


Crispy, Crunchy, Sweet Puffed Rice Crisps / Murmura Laddoo / Muri Unda is irresistable.  It is made with minimum ingredients. This is one of the special sweets which we prepare during festive seasons. Kids will love it.

This recipe looks very simple and  easy to make , but I failed 2-3 times, then followed  measurements and timings given by mom and got it correct.


Ingredients ( Makes 30 Balls) 

3 1/2 Puffed Rice 
1/2 cup Jaggery
1 tablespoon Water
1 tablespoon Ghee / Clarified Butter


  1. Using a sharp knife, cut jaggery to very small pieces. Heat a thick bottomed pan, add Jaggery and water.
  2. After Jaggery dissolves completely, strain this syrup to remove impurities. Pour syrup back into the pan and boil it again. Keep Puffed Rice ready.
  3. To check the consistency of syrup, keep water in a small bowl ready . When you see too many bubbles in syrup, start checking the consistency, pour a tiny quantity of syrup in water. Keep checking till you get the right consistency till a small ball is formed.Remove the pan from stove.
  4. Add Puffed Rice to syrup immediately, mix it well. Wait for 5 minutes for murmura mixture to cool down. Apply Ghee to your hands, take a fistful of murmura mixture, tightly press it to bring murmura together to make a ball shape.
  5. Enjoy :)

Monday 23 December 2013

Stir Fried Okra / Bhindi Fry / Bendakaya Vepudu

 

Kids like Stir fries more than any other curry. My kids also want to have Potato fry or Tindora fry or Okra fry in almost all their meals.

Okra fry is a very easy recipe with simple ingredients. Selecting Okra is the only toughest work here. My mom gave me few tips on how to select and make this simple fry.


Ingredients

40 - 50 Okra 
1 teaspoon Salt
3/4 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
2 teaspoons Oil

  1. Selecting Okra : Select bright green okra that is 2-3 inches long. Select only those which break at the end easily.Don't use Okra which give weird sound while cutting.Clean them thoroughly, place them on a kitchen towel or an absorbent paper  and cover them with towel or paper to completely remove water on Okra.
  2. Cut and remove the ends of Okra and then cut into small circles. Heat a heavy bottomed pan. Place Okra in the hot pan, no need to add Oil now. Use a flat spatula to saute. Stir every 2 minutes, till Okra pieces start changing colour to dark green.
  3. Add Oil, Salt and Chilli Powder. Mix and stir fry until almost all pieces turn dark brown.
  4. Tastes good with Rice and a spoon of Ghee. 




   


Thursday 19 December 2013

Vermicelli Upma / Semiya Upma

 

Upma is a popular South Indian Breakfast recipe. Upma is made in different ways with Vermicelli or Suji with or without vegetables. Vermicelli is very thin sticks made of wheat flour. I like Vermicelli upma than Suji Upma. Today I am posting a very simple version of Vermicelli Upma with peanuts and Onions. Vermicelli Upma can be eaten without accompaniments / chutney. 



Ingredients
2 cups Vermicelli
4 cups Water
2 teaspoons Salt

To Temper
 
1/2 teaspoon Bengal Gram
1/2 teaspoon Black Gram
1/4 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1/4 teaspoon Mustard
2-3 Green Chillies
10 Curry Leaves
1 Onion
2 teaspoon Oil


  1. Break Vermicelli sticks to small pieces. Heat a pan, dry roast Vermicelli till golden brown. Transfer this to another bowl and keep aside. Cut Onion to small pieces.
  2. In the same pan, add Oil, Bengal Gram, Black Gram, Cumin Seeds, Mustard and peanuts. Saute till all Lentils and peanuts turn light brown. Add Green Chillies and Curry leaves. Saute for 2 minutes. Add Onion,Salt, Turmeric Powder and saute till Onion turns translucent. 
  3. Pour water, bring it to boil. Add roasted Vermicelli to water. Cook till water completely evaporates.
  4. Serve it hot.