Kobbari Kudumulu - Vinayaka Chaviti (Ganesh Chaturthi ) Recipe

 

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all of you. May Lord Ganesha remove all the obstacles of your life and bless you with everything you want. 

Kudumulu (South Indian Modak) along with Undrallu is Lord Ganesha's favorite food. Offer this to Lord Ganesha and make him happy. Don't forget to read / listen to the Ganesha Chaturthi story and don't see the moon today.    

Heard in Sri Chaganti Koteswara Rao gari pravachanams that Lord Ganesha likes the number 21 so we should offer everything to him in that number. Ekavimsati means 21. So I made exactly 21 kudumulu and 21 Undrallu today.   Have a look at the Undrallu recipe.

 

(Makes 21) 

For the outer Layer

2 cups of Rice Flour

1 teaspoon Salt

1 1/2 cup of Water

For the Stuffing

2 cups of Coconut pieces

2 1/2 cup Jaggery

5 tablespoon of Water

 

1. Stuffing : Grate or cut  jaggery to small pieces. Grind Coconut pieces in a processor. Heat a pan, add coconut and 5 tablespoons of water, mix it and then add jaggery. Let the jaggery melt and cook along with coconut. After 10 -15 mins the mixture comes close. When all the liquid in the pan evorates or disappears transfer the coconut jaggery mixture into another bowl and let it cool. Make 21 small balls with this.


2. Outer Layer : Boil water. Add salt to rice flour and then add hot water little by little. 3/4 cup of hot water should be enough to make a smooth dough. Cover the dough in a damp cloth for 10 -15 mins. Grease your hands with ghee and then make 21 small balls of the dough. 


3. Kudumulu : Now grease your hands again. Take a rice flour ball flatten it by spreadin it on your palm, place a coconut ball in the middle of it. Cover the coconut ball from all the sides with flour dough and make a ball again. Repeat this and make all 21 balls. Steam them in a pressure cooker or Idli cooker for 10 -12 mins.

4. Offer this Lord Ganesha.

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake / Instant Mug Cake in Microwave

An Instant and easy cake  

that too in a microwave  

           in just 5 minutes   

Yes... You can do it. 

This recipe is for my friends living in India. They told me many times that are not able to try any of my recipes while requires ovens. So this recipe is specially for them. Ingredients for this are available these days in some super markets in India. Try this yummy chocolate mug cake in just 5 mins and surprise your kids.

(Makes 2 Mug Cakes)

8 tablespoons All Purpose Flour (Maida) / Cake Flour

2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder

4 1/2 tablespoons Sugar

6 tablespoons Milk

6 tablespoons Oil 

1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Essence 

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

2. Grease 2 microwave safe mugs. Pour cake batter into mugs. Pre-heat microwave for 2 mins and then place the mugs in it. Bake it for 3 mins. That's it. Cake is ready. 

Nankhatai / Indian Chai Biskoot / Indian Short Bread Cookies

Want to enjoy your evening with a nice cup of chai (Indian tea) then have it with Indian biscuits (Short bread cookies) ?? Here is how to make Nan Khatai. 

Nan( a Persian word meaning bread) Khatai (Biscuit) is made with plain flour and besan which originally used to be made with left over bread. We are forgetting about this  very popular good old Indian Chai Biskoot. 

1 1/2 cup All purpose Flour / Maida

1/4 cup Besan / Chickpea Flour

2 tablespoon Yogurt

1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 cup Ghee

3/4 cup Powdered Sugar 

1/4 teaspoon Cardamom Powder

2 teaspoon water (if necessary to need)

1. In a bowl, with your fingers rub the ghee and yogurt into all purpose flour, besan and sugar. Add cardamom powder( and water if necessary), knead it till the dough starts come together.


2. Pre heat oven at 200 degrees. Grease the baking tray or put a baking paper on it. Make small gooseberry sized balls of the dough. Press that into a circle. Place them on the baking tray and bake it for 20 - 25 mins.

3. Indian Biskoot with Indian Chai. Enjoy.



Medu Vada / Minapappu Garelu / South Indian Doughnuts

Medhu vadas (South Indian Doughnuts) are fritters made with Black gram ( Urad dal). This is a part of everyday breakfast in South Indian families and also a traditional recipe. No festival menu is complete without these vadas.

Medhu (Soft) vadas are made with Urad dal batter with just enough water. The consistency of this batter is very important to make soft and nicely shaped vadas. Make the vadas immediately after the batter is ready. Don't leave it to ferment. Fermented batter absorbs more oil while deep frying. Don't forget to put a hole in the centre of these vadas.

Vada with Idli, Coconut chutney and sambar is a delightful combination.

2 cups Urad Dal / Black Gram

3/4 teaspoon Salt

5-6 teaspoons Water 

Oil for deep frying

1. Clean, wash and soak Urad Dal in water for atleast 2 hours.  Drain all the water, blend in a mixer with 3 teaspoons of water till you get a smooth batter. Scrap the sides of the mixer every min and 2 teaspoons of water. Add salt when 90 %  of the blending is done. Don't tend to add more water. 5-6 teaspoons should be enough to make a nice smooth batter . Heat oil for deep fry while you are making the batter.


2. Keep a small cup of water and wet your hands every time you make vada. Take a small portion of vada keep a hole in the centre with your thumb. Now carefully without loosing the shape of vada drop it in oil.
   
3. After one side of the vada turns golden brown flip vada and till other side turns golden brown .Remove it from oil and drain on an absorbent paper.

4. Serve it hot with coconut chutney. Tastes good with Til chutney too.