#vegan – Latha's Ladle

Arapuli Kuzhambu

#vegan, South Indian, South Indian Kozhambu

Arapuli Kuzhambu is a traditional recipe but not a common one. The vegetables used are yam or brinjal and black chickpeas. It’s little tangy in taste. The original name is arachuvita puli kuzhambu that became arapuli kuzhambu. This gravy goes well with rice, indian breads and upma.

Ingredients:

Yam (cubes, small, 1/2 cup)
Jeera [Cumin Seeds] (1 tsp)
Hing (cake, 2, small pieces)
Tamarind (Gooseberry size)
Turmeric Powder ( 1/2 tsp)
Sambar Powder (1 tsp)
Coconut (grated, 3 tbs)
Mustard Seeds (1 tsp)
Curry Leaves ( 2 tsp)
Black Pepper (1 tsp)
Red Chilies (2)
Salt (to taste)
Oil (6-7 tsp)
Urad Dal [Black Gram] (split, de-husked, 2 tsp)
Black Chickpeas (small, 1/8 th cup or 2 tbs)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Lunch \ Dinner

Serves: 3

Method:

Wash and soak chickpeas for 8 hours or overnight and Soak tamarind for 30 minutes.
Pressure cook both chickpeas and chopped yam using separators for 4-5 whistles.
In a shallow pan add oil, black pepper, urad dal, hing, curry leaves, cumin seeds and red chilies and sautee till urad dal turns golden.
Add coconut to a grinder bowl and add the sauteed ingredients to a coarse consistency.
In a deep pan add oil and mustard seeds. wait for the seeds to splutter.
Add curry leaves then pour 2 cups of diluted tamarind pulp.
Add salt, sambar and turmeric powder and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the cooked yam and chickpeas and the coarse powder and cook for 15 minutes or until thickened.
Add oil before you switch off the flame.

Step by step pictures of the recipe:

Wash and soak black chickpeas overnight.

Cook yam and chickpeas in a pressure cooker.

Add oil in a pan and sautee urad dal, black pepper, jeera, hing, curry leaves and red chilies

Transfer the sauteed ingredients along with coconut and grind to a coarse consistency.

In a pan add oil, mustard seeds and after the seeds splutter add curry leaves.

Add tamarind pulp, salt, sambar and turmeric powder.

Add oil before you switch off the flame.

Notes:

Cook chickpeas and yam separately because chickpeas require more whistles.
If black chickpea is not available use white chickpeas.

Hara-Bhara Paratha

#vegan, North indian, North Indian breads

Hara-bhara paratha is very nutritious and filling meal. This paratha doesn’t need any side dish but can be eaten with either curd or pickle or chutney.

Ingredients for the dough:

Wheat Flour (1 cup)
Mint Leaves (1 Cup)
Cilantro (1 cup)
Green Chili (1)
Salt (1/2 tsp)

Ingredients for the filling:

Peas (1/2 cup)
Carrot (diced, 1/2 cup)
Cabbage (chopped, 1/2 cup)
Capsicum (chopped, 1/2 cup)
Beans (chopped, 1/2 cup)
Ginger (chopped, 2 tsp)
Potato (diced, 1/2 cup)
Onion (chopped, 1/2 cup)
Spinach (chopped, 1 cup)
Red Chili (powder, 2 tsp)
Salt (to taste)
Jeera (1 tsp)
Oil (8 tsp)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 55 minutes

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Breakfast \ Lunch \ Dinner

Serves: 3

Method to make the dough:

In a grinder bowl add mint leaves, cilantro leaves, green chili, salt and water.
Grind to a fine paste.
In a bowl add wheat flour and half a cup of ground paste.
Knead the flour to a soft dough. If required add the paste or plain water.
Add oil and allow it to rest for an hour.

Method to make the filling:

In a grinder bowl add cut spinach, potato, cabbage, beans, peas, capsicum, carrot, onion, ginger and grind to a fine paste.
In a skillet add oil and jeera then add the ground paste.
Add salt and red chili powder and cook for 10 minutes or until the excess water is fully absorbed.
Cool the mixture.
Divide the mixture into lemon sized balls and set aside.
Knead the dough again and make equal sized balls.
Dust the ball with the wheat flour and roll out to 4-5″ diameter.
Place the stuffing at the center and seat it tightly.
Dust again with the wheat flour and roll out to 6-7″ diameter.
Heat a griddle to medium and place the paratha.
Cook partially on both the sides and then add oil.
Cook both the sides or until the brown spots appear.
Apply butter on both the sides if you prefer.

Add ground paste to the wheat flour to make a dough.

Grind the chopped vegetables to a fine paste.

Divide the mixture into lemon sized balls.

Notes:

For the dough if the wheat flour is 1 cup the ground paste is 1/2 a cup. Knock down the dough using your fist.
Knead the flour till the dough is soft and pliable.
The dough as well as the filling should be soft. This step is very essential to ensure smooth and soft parathas.

Arbi Balls

#vegan, South Indian, South Indian Curry, South Indian Side dish, South Indian Snacks

Arbi balls are made with arbi, bread crumbs and other spices. It’s a modified recipe of arbi roast. Arbi roast is made without adding bread crumbs.

Ingredients:

Arbi [Taro Root] (300 gm)
Bread Crumbs (1/2 cup)
Red Chili Powder (2 tsp)
Oil (12 tsp)
Salt (to taste)
Curry Leaves (few)
Turmeric Powder (1/2 tsp)
Hing [Asafoetida] (Powder, 1/4 tsp)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

Category: Lunch \ Dinner

Cuisine: Indian

Serves: 2

Method:

Pressure cook arbi by adding 1 and a half cup of water.
Cook to 3-4 whistles.
Peel off the skin and add salt, red chili powder, hing, and turmeric powder and mash well.
Add bread crumbs and mix altogether.
Rub your palms with little oil and make small lemon sized balls.
Add oil to a shallow skillet and add the curry leaves.
Sautee for a minute and set aside.
Add the balls and allow it to cook for 5 minutes.
Gently flip over after 4-5 minutes and cook till they are crisp.

Step by step pictures of the recipe:

Add salt, hing, red chili, and turmeric powder.

Gently flip the balls and cook on all the sides.

Notes:

Bread crumbs can be substituted with chick pea flour.
While cooking arbis it should not be under cooked or over cooked.

Mango Rice

#vegan, South Indian, South Indian Rice

Mango rice is a very simple recipe and the best lunch box recipe even. Fresh mangoes are available during summers and can be prepared during that season. It can be served with coconut chutney.

Ingredients:

Mango (raw, 1 1/4 cups)
Curry Leaves (5)
Peanuts (2 tsp)
Hing (powder, 1/4 tsp)
Ghee (1 tsp)
Methi [Fenugreek] (powder, 1/4 tsp)
Salt (to taste)
Cooked Rice (2 cups)
Mustard Seeds (1 tsp)
Urad Dal [Black Gram] (split, 1 tsp)
Chana Dal [Chick Peas] (split, 1 tsp)
Turmeric Powder (1/2 tsp)
Red Chili Powder (kashmiri, 1 1/2 tsp)
Oil (4 tsp)
Ginger (grated, 1/4 tsp)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Category: Lunch \ Dinner

Serves: 2

Method:

Heat oil and ghee in a skillet and add mustard seeds.
Wait for the seeds to splutter.
Add urad dal [black gram, split], chana dal [chick peas], peanuts, chopped green chili, grated ginger and curry leaves.
Add methi [Fenugreek], hing, and turmeric powder.
Sautee for 2-3 minutes or till golden.
Add the grated mango, salt and red chili powder.
Cook till they are soft.
Add the cooked rice and mix well.
Serve with coconut chutney.

Step by step pictures of the recipe:

Add oil, ghee, mustard seeds and wait to splutter. Add urad dal, chana dal, peanuts, green chilies, curry leaves and ginger.

Notes:

Fine grater can be avoided while grating the mango.

Baked Vegetables

#vegan, Baked recipe, Healthy, Keto diet

Baked vegetable is a delicious meal with lots of veggies and cheese. I have added almond milk which can be substituted with whole milk or any other milk. This can be eaten plain or with breads, quinoa and chapatis.

Ingredients:

Almond Milk (2 cups)
Beans (chopped, fine, 1/4 cup)
Beetroot (cubes, 1/4 cup)
Cabbage (chopped, fine, 1/4 cup)
Capsicum (chopped, fine, 1/4 cup)
Carrot (chopped, cubes, 1/4 cup)
Cauliflower (chopped, medium, 1/4 cup)
Cottage Cheese (grated, 1/2 cup)
Coconut (grated, 1 cup)
Cilantro (1 cup)
Cheese (grated, 4 tbs)
Ginger (grated, 2 tsp)
Oil (4 tbs)
Peas (1/4 cup)
Red Chili Powder (2 tsp)
Spinach (chopped, 1 cup)
Spring Onion (chopped, fine, 1/4 cup)
Salt (to taste)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 55 minutes

Category: Lunch \ Dinner

Serves: 2

Method:

Wash and cut all the veggies mentioned in the ingredients.
In a skillet add oil, spring onions, cabbage, beetroot, beans, capsicum, carrot, ginger, peas , salt and red chili powder.
Cook for 10 minutes or till the vegetables turn soft.
Add water if required while cooking.
When these vegetables are almost done add cottage cheese and spinach.
Grind coconut, cilantro and almond milk to a fine paste.
Add the ground paste to the veggies and mix well.
Transfer the cooked veggies to a greased tray.
Add the grated cheese.
Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes at 200 degree Celsius.

Step by Step pictures of the recipe:

Grind coconut, cilantro and almond milk to a fine paste.

Add oil, spring onion, carrot, beetroot, capsicum, beans, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, ginger, salt and red chili powder.

Add water and cook till veggies are soft.

Notes:

If keto diet is not followed then whole milk can be substituted.
Plain flour can be substituted for coconut. In that case grind cilantro and add milk and plain flour to make a paste.

Lemon Pickle

#vegan, South Indian pickles

Lemon pickle differs from each state or even regions in India. This is the traditional south-indian style recipe with minimum ingredients. This can be eaten with rice, bread, upma and chapatis.

Ingredients:

Lemon (750 gm)
Salt (7 tsp)
Mustard Seeds (2 tsp)
Oil (Sesame, 1/2 cup)
Turmeric Powder (1 tsp)
Red Chili Powder (1/4 cup)
Methi [Fenugreek] Seeds (1 tsp)
Hing (cake, 3-4 pieces or powder 1 tsp)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Total time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1kg

Cuisine: Indian

Method:

Wash, dry and cut lemons into small pieces.
Add salt and mix well.
Rest for two to three days and mix every 24 hours.
Add red chili and turmeric powder.
In a shallow skillet add methi seeds and hing cakes.
Dry roast till hing doubles and crisps up and methi seeds till red
Grind to a fine powder and add along with the red chili powder and turmeric.
In the same skillet add oil and mustard seeds.
Wait for the seeds to splutter.
Wait until the oil cools down.
Add to the lemon mixture and mix well.
Store in a clean, dry jar .
Refrigerate once the pickle is done.

Step by step pictures of the recipe:

Add the spluttered mustard seeeds and mix well.

Notes:

Instead of malta lemons lime or small Indian lemons can also be used.
If the lemons are not juicy, extract juice from 4-5 lemons and add to the mixture before adding salt.
After refrigerating the pickle take out the jar onve a week and mix well to avoid getting spoilt.
It remains good for 6 months to one year.

Yam And Sweet Potato Curry

#vegan, North Indian Gravy, South Indian Curry

Yam and sweet potato curry is a very delicious, simple and easy to make recipe. I used tomatoes as a base for the gravy but legumes can also be substituted for tomatoes.

Ingredients:

Yam (cubes, 1/2 cup)
Brinjal (cubes, 1/2 cup)
Carrots (cubes, 1/2 cup)
Tomato (Puree, 1 1/2 cups)
Green Chili (chopped, fine, 1)
Sweet Potato (cubes, 1/2 cup)
Coriander Powder (2 tsp)
Turmeric Powder (1/2 tsp)
Red Chili Powder (Kashmiri, 1 1/2 tsp)
Oil (4 tsp)
Ghee (1 tsp)
Salt (to taste)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 55 minutes

Category: Lunch \ Dinner

Cuisine: Indian

Serves: 3

Method:

Add oil and jeera to a pressure cooker.
Add chopped green chilies, coriander, turmeric and red chili powders.
Cook for 5 minutes.
Add tomato puree, salt and chopped cilantro and cook for 10-12 minutes.
Cook till the oil separated from the gravy and Stir occasionally to prevent from burning.
Add cubed yam, carrots, sweet potatoes and brinjal.
Add half a cup of water and pressure cook for 4-5 whistles.
Garnish with ghee and chopped cilantro.

Step by Step Pictures of the recipe:

Add oil, jeera, and chopped green chilies.

Notes:

Finely Chopped tomatoes can be substituted for puree.
All the spice powders should be sauteed constantly. Burnt spices will spoil the taste.
Cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods can be added along with jeera.

Falafel

#vegan, Healthy

Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern food made with chickpeas, spices and herbs. My children fondly relish falafels with pita bread. The taste of falafel differs from country to country but the basic ingredients are chick peas, parsley and cumin powder that are same everywhere. Falafel can be baked or fried but authentic falafel is fried.

Ingredients:

Chick Peas (1/2 cup)
Cilantro (1/2 cup)
Parsley (1/2 cup)
Onion (chopped, 1/2 cup)
Cumin powder (1/2 tsp)
Pepper Powder (1/2 tsp)
Red Chili Powder (kashmiri, 1 1/2 tsp)
Sesame Seeds (2 tsp)
Salt (to taste)
Oil (to fry)
Baking Soda (1/2 tsp)
Bread Crumbs (2 tsp)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Category: Breakfast \ Lunch \ Dinner

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Yield: 12

Method:

Wash and soak chickpeas for 8-10 hours.
Strain the water and set aside.

To Grind:

In a food processor add parsley, cilantro and onion and grind to a coarse consistency.
Add soaked chiskpeas, red chili, pepper, cumin powder, salt and baking soda and use the pulse setting to grind to a coarse consistency.
When it is done add bread crumbs and sesame seeds and run on pulse setting for 5-7 seconds.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and mix well.
Cover the mixture with a cling film or a plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.
Form the mixture either into balls or use any small bowl and fill in 2 teaspoons of mixture.
Flip upside down on a plate. Place the uncooked falafels on a plate before deep frying.
Heat oil in a pan and gently lower the discs or balls.
Allow them to cook for 2-3 minutes and then flip to cook on the other side.
Fry till they turn crisp or brown.

Step by step pictures of the recipe:

Grind parsley, cilantro and onions to a coarse consistency.

Grind soaked chickpeas, chili, pepper, cumin powder, salt and baking soda to a coarse consistency.

Notes:

Use a strainer to filter the chickpeas from water. Before grinding there should not be any water.
For grinding either food processor or a mixer can be used. The batter should be coarse.
The mixture should hold together nicely and not fall apart.
Sesame is optional.
Ice cream scoop can be used to make balls.
Falafel mold is available in the market and that can be used too.

Idli Milagai Podi

#vegan, South Indian, South Indian Podis

Idli \ Dosai milagai podi is a dry condiment served with idli, dosa, roti and also for bread. Ghee or sesame oil is used to make a paste and used as a dip. The consistency is dry and coarse and shelf life is for four to six months. We love this in our family to eat with bread and rice even.

Ingredients:

Urad Dal (Black Gram] (whole, 100 gm or 1/2 cup)
Til [Sesame] (seeds, white, 30 gm or 1/4 cup)
Red Chilies (Kashmiri, 3/4 cup or 25 gm)
Hing [Asafoetida] (cake, 2 pieces)
Red Chilies (3/4 cup or 25 gm)
Coconut/Any oil (2 tsp)
Salt (to taste)

Cook time: 15 minutes

Category: Lunch \ Dinner \ Breakfast

Cuisine: South Indian

Yield: 250 gm

Method:

Heat a shallow or deep skillet to medium and add urad Dal (black gram].
Dry roast for 7-9 minutes or till golden. Constant stirring is required while roasting.
Set aside and in the same skillet add til [sesame] seeds and dry roast until it splutters. Set aside when the splutter sound subsides.
In the same skillet add oil and hing [asafoetida] cakes and wait for those to double and crisp up.
Set aside and add red chilies (kashmiri) and sautee for 2-3 minutes.
Set aside the kashmiri chilies and add red chilies and sautee for 2-3 minutes.
Let the ingredients cool completely before grinding.

Step by step pictures of the recipe:

Dry roast urad dal till golden and set aside.

Roast both the chilies with little oil and set aside.

Grind the red chilies, hing and salt to a nice powder.

Coarse grind urad dal and sesame seeds.and mix the ground ingredients.

Notes:

While dry roasting stir constantly to prevent burning.
While roasting sesame seeds they pop up or splutter switch off the flame and transfer immediately to a bowl.
We can use either black or white sesame seeds. The black seeds are dehulled and rich in flavor and taste compared to white.
The aroma of coconut oil is preferred than other oil.

Paruppu Urundai [Lentil Dumplings] Rasam

#vegan, Healthy, Rasam, South Indian

Paruppu urundai rasam is not a very common dish like paruppu urundai mor kuzhambu or urundai kuzhambu. Paruppu urundai rasam is my husband’s favorite dish. In our family we make during the weekends and this is one of our special recipes.

INGREDIENTS:

Toor Dal [Pigeon Peas] (split, 1/2 cup)
Red Chilies (4)
Sambar Powder (1 tsp)
Mustard Seeds (1 tsp)
Tomato (chopped, 3/4 cup)
Tamarind (a gooseberry size)
Jeera [Cumin Seeds] (1/2 tsp)
Green Chili (1/2)
Ghee (1 tsp)
Salt (to taste)
Ginger (a small piece)
Turmeric Powder (1/2 tsp)
Cilantro (chopped, fine, 4 tsp)
Hing [Asafoetida] (cake, a small piece)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

Category: Lunch \ Dinner

Cuisine: South Indian

Serves: 4

METHOD:

RECIPE FOR PARUPPU URUNDAI [LENTIL DUMPLINGS]

Wash and soak toor dal [pigeon peas] for 45 minutes. Add red chilies and hing [asafoetida] along with toor dal.
Strain the water, add salt and grind to a coarse consistency.
Save the water.
Form the mixture into balls of a small lemon size.
Grease a plate with oil and steam on a low flame for 10 minutes.

PARUPPU URUNDAI RASAM RECIPE:

Soak tamarind in water for 30 minutes and extract the juice.
In a pan add one cup of tamarind juice and one cup of plain water and bring it to boil.
Add chopped tomatoes, sambar powder, turmeric powder, green chili, salt and cilantro.
Cook until the raw smell of sambar powder is substituted with good aroma.
Add the saved water.
Add the steamed paruppu urundai [dumplings] one at a time and cook till the urundais start floating.

FOR TEMPERING:

Heat a shallow skillet and add ghee and mustard seeds.
Wait for the seeds to splutter and then add jeera.
Switch off the flame and add the hot mixture to rasam.

Step by step pictures of the recipe:

Wash and soak lentils, red chilies and hing for 45 minutes.

Strain the water and add the ingredients to a grinder bowl and add salt.

Grind to a coarse consistency. Grease a plate with little oil.

Add tamarind water, chopped tomatoes, sambar powder, turmeric powder, salt and chopped cilantro.

Cook for 10 minutes then add the saved water and dumplings to the rasam. Cook until the dumplings float.

Add ghee and mustard seeds to a skillet. Wait for the seeds to splutter and add jeera.

Add the hot mixture to the rasam and garnish with chopped cilantro.

NOTES:

Tamarind pulp can be diluted and added.
Hing powder can be substituted for hing cake.
Dumplings can be dusted with rice flour and added to rasam instead of steaming but this method requires lot of practice and skill. When dumplings are steamed they won’t break.
While steaming open and check if it is soft as also cooked.
Dumplings can be added in two batches. Wait for the first batch of the dumplings to float. After they started floating check there is enough water and then add the second batch.
Beginners strain the lentils using a strainer instead of directly adding it to the grinder bowl. If the lentils are grinded with water it becomes soft and chances of breaking is more.
As soon as you add jeera stop the flame. jeera gets burnt fast and spoils the smell of rasam.
For sambar powder recipe please check my channel and I have given the link in the description of the video.