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Showing posts with label Kids Recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kids Recipes. Show all posts

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Vermicelli upma/Vegetable Semiya


I am an egg lover and try to have them daily in my breakfast menu but we eat total veg on Mondays & Tuesdays, hence try to prepare some special breakfast for these days, so that it can compensate those missing eggs. Vermicelli upma or Namkeen semaiya is always a yes in my home. It is a very traditional South Indian breakfast too and made with lots many varieties.  It requires very little effort and tastes delicious. And best of all, my family loves it. I love its texture and have it with lots of veggies and lime juice. Sometimes with coconut or tomato chutney. I still remember those lazy weekends at my mom's place, when everyone used to sit together and had this in breakfast. So lets see the ingredients following the method.

Ingredients :
  • Vermicelli/Semiya : 2 cups (I used Bombino)
  • Onions : 1 large (finely sliced)
  • Green Chillies : 1-2 slit (or as per the taste)
  • Carrots : 1/2 cup (finely chopped)
  • Peas : 1/2 cup (Frozen/fresh)
  • Potato : 1 medium (Finely chopped)
  • Tomatoes : 2 medium (optional)
  • Chili powder : 1 tsp (optional)
  • Mustard seeds : 1 tsp
  • A Sprig of curry leaves
  • Peanuts : 1/4 cup
  • Oil : 2 tbsps
  • Salt : As per the taste 
  • Lime juice : 2 tbsps (or as per the taste)

Method :
  • Dry roast the vermicelli in a pan on low flame. Stir continuously till you get the aroma and a very light golden color. If you are using already roasted ones, then you can skip this step. 
  • If adding peanuts, roast them and keep aside. I usually dry roast my peanuts in microwave for 4-5 minutes (depends on the quantity). You can also fry them in oil.
  • Heat 8 cups of water in a big pan, add some salt. As soon as the boil comes add roasted vermicelli to it and switch off the gas. Keep an eye, as soon they are done (you can check by braking them with fingers) strain them in a sieve.
  • Simultaneously, heat oil and add mustard seeds, let them splatter, then add curry leaves and green chillies.
    Now add onions and saute a bit, then add carrots & potato, saute, cover it with a lid and let it cook. If you are using fresh peas add with carrots only as frozen ones can be added later with tomatoes.
  • Add finely chopped tomatoes, chili powder, salt and cook. Once tomatoes are little soften, add strained vermicelli and mix. Add lime juice, peanuts and serve hot.

Notes:
  • Try to boil the vermicelli and fry the veggies simultaneously, as after boiling and keeping the vermicelli for long makes them a bit sticky. If there is a situation where you need to keep them for long, then spread them on a tray and apply some oil gently. 
  • Adding tomatoes and red chili powder is optional, but I like the taste hence add them.
  • You can add as many veggies you like and also adjust their quantities as per you likings.
Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks & Happy cooking
Priyanka :)






Friday, 20 June 2014

Veg Pulav/Pilaf with Soyabean Chunks


Hello Everyone, today I got a vegetarian Pulav recipe for you all. Its perfect alternative for biryanis, very delicious and my all time favourite. Its my mother's recipe and she used to prepare it with just whole spices (Garam Masala), which are all mostly dark colored with rice so while we were kids we used to call it "black & white pulav". She used to add soyabean chunks which were like cherry on the cake. Some times she also added jack fruit to it but only during its season. Its a super easy recipe and always a hit in my house. Sushant loves to eat it with just plain curd and homemade aam ka achar. So without wasting much of the time here you go with the ingredients following the method.


Ingredients :

  • Basmati rice/Any long grain rice : 1 cup
  • Soya chunks : 3/4 cup
  • Onions : 1 cup thinly sliced
  • Cumin Seeds : 1 tsp
  • Bay leaves : 2 nos
  • Cloves : 4-5
  • Cinnamon stick : 1 large size
  • Black Cardamom : 2 big or 3 small sized
  • Green Cardamom : 4 nos
  • Mace : 1 small sized
  • Star Anise : 1 nos (optional)
  • Black Peppercorns : 1 tbsp (Coarsely crushed)
  • Whole red chillies : 2-3  
  • Oil : 2-3tbsps
  • Salt : As per the taste
  • Water : 2 cups (appx)
Method :
  • Soak rice in water for 10 minutes. Drain the water completely and keep it aside.
  • Soak soya chunks in salted boiling water for 10-15 minutes. Once soaked properly, squeeze them and keep aside.
  • Now, in a pressure cooker heat oil, when its medium hot add cumin seeds, let it crackle, add cinnamon stick, bay leaves, both cardamoms, cloves, star anise, mace, whole red chillies. Let them saute for few seconds, let them release their flavours. Then add thinly sliced onions and fry till they are golden brown. 
  • Once done add crushed peppercorns and soya chunks, mix well and saute for a minute. 
  • Add drained rice and salt (I used 2 tsp), give it a gentle mix and finally add water (I added 1+3/4 cups), it varies as per the variety of rice, usually it takes double the amount of rice. Let it come to a boil, close the lid with weight, let the flame be on high. 
  • As soon as you get the first whistle lower the flame to low and cook for another 4-5 minutes. 
  • Switch of the flame and let the pressure completely subside. 
  • Open the cooker, let it sit for couple of minutes, then gently mix with a fork and serve.
Enjoy it with plain yogurt, pickled onions or mango pickle.

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks & Happy Cooking
Priyanka