Unnakaya

Unnakaya / Stuffed Banana Roll

                                                                                        

Here is the recipe for unnakaya (stuffed banana roll) 😃.  A spindle shaped snack where the main ingredient is banana 🍌 or plantain (Nenthrapazham).  The plantains are steamed, mashed and filled with coconut dry fruits mixture. Then it is fried in coconut oil. This snack is a favorite among many and is perfect for any parties 👌. This is the main snack of Malabar region (Kerala /India). The recipe varies from region to region. The variations are mainly made in the stuffing. Coconut, dry fruits, sugar and cardamom powder are the main ingredients used as stuffing. Sometimes scrambled eggs are added to the stuffing. Sometimes coconuts are completely avoided.  Plantains are used as dough. Unnakaya is loved by all 😋😋. It is a perfect snack box item. It is too easy to prepare but care should be taken while selecting the plantains 😊. Over ripened plantains should be completely avoided. Plantain should be neither under ripe nor over ripe. Another important thing to be considered is while steaming the plantain it shouldn’t be over steamed 😉. If you over steam it the dough will be sticky and you will not be able to roll the banana to shapes. Steaming should be done properly . Keeping these points in mind will help you make tasty and crispy – soft unnakaya 👍👍 . Crispy from outside, soft from inside.  Okay then let’s get started...

Mango Pineapple Smoothie

Mango Pineapple Smoothie

                                                                  

Wanna try a smoothie that tastes like a tropical vacation….. Then here it is Mango Pineapple smoothie 🍍. A perfect thirst quencher to try during summer. It can also be served as a breakfast smoothie or as an evening snack 😉.  A lip smacking drink that can be prepared in minutes with just three ingredients 😋.   A healthy and tasty drink is ready with just few ingredients: pineapple, mango and honey.  Blend them until smooth and creamy, your smoothie is ready. Add your own twist you can add strawberries, apples, bananas etc…. Okay then let’s get started.

Garlic pickle

Garlic Pickle/ Velluthulli Achar/ Lahsun ka Achar
                                                               

Pickles are an extremely well liked complement in all Indian delicacies 😊. You can’t imagine a thali (Indian style meal served in a big plate) without pickles. Though the taste differs from region to region. It is totally different from pickled cucumbers and olives that are available here in US. Lots of spices and oil are added to get an extra flavor. Back home in India we prepare pickles with almost all available items like mangos, gooseberry, lemon, tomatoes , ginger, garlic,  mixed vegetables, sea foods, meat etc…🍋🐟🍅 the list goes on. Usually it depends upon the seasonal items that are available. In summer we prepare mango pickles to enjoy those till the next mango season. Same is with gooseberry, lemon etc …. The method of preparation also varies sometimes ;they are sun dried 🌞 sometimes ,they are fried and sometimes they are pickled in salt solution and then spices are added directly. My mom is a specialist in making mango pickle 👌. Miss her and her mango pickle 😢. Here I have tried making garlic pickle 😋.  I have tried pickling mangoes, prawns, mixed vegetables and even strawberries !!!  Among all garlic and mangoes are my favorite 😋. Don’t be alarmed by the amount of chili powder used, Indian pickles are indeed very potent and flavorful 😊😊. The extra spices, salt oil help them to preserve for longer periods. Try making this quick and easy garlic pickle 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Methi Paneer

 Methi Paneer / Fenugreek leaves Cottage Cheese Gravy

                                                                               

I’m here with another North Indian dish. Yes its Methi paneer.  A must try combo of fenugreek leaves and Indian cottage cheese is indeed a treat to your taste buds 😋.  I like all paneer recipes and if it is cooked with fresh methi leaves its simply out of this world 😃….. Yeah here I have used fresh methi leaves straight from my patio garden 😄.

Jalebi

 Jalebi/ Imarati
                                                                                        

           

It’s my 50^th post 😃!! It’s an occasion to celebrate. Kickstarting the celebration I’m posting jelabi / imarti . A perfect delicacy for any occasion 👌.  It is a popular Indian sweet. Though it is known by different names in different parts. Towards the south we call it as Jelabi or jangari; in North India we call it as Imarti. We make this with urad dal (lentil). This is a juicy-soft sweet that melts in our mouth. It is a deep fried snack. Back in India it is a must in all bakeries. This is my favorite sweet 😍.  Since childhood this is my favorite among all sweets 😊. We hardly get to eat this here. So tried making it.  After couple of failed attempts finally got the shapes correct. Always it tasted good but the shape was a flop. But this time the shapes came out perfect 👌. The recipe is pretty simple 😊. First you have to prepare a batter, fry it and then immerse it in prepared sugar syrup.  Batter should be very thick. Water should be used in minimal quantity while grinding.   Do try it and share your feedback 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Nannari Sarbath

  Nannari Sarbath

                                                                               

Summer is here 🌞!!! Roll up your picnic blankets; it’s time to party outside. A much awaited time of the year. The days are pretty longer, you get to spend a lot of time outside. It’s also time to make something cool and refreshing 🍹.  Quenching your thirst is the main task you do during summer 🌞. So something fresh and cool energizes you. Here I have something special for you. “Nannari sarbath “. Since childhood these colorful syrup always fascinated me. I’m sure you all love it. It is a perfect summer drink. Me and my sisters were very fond of this 😍. So is my hubby; last Jan when we went to Palakkad we didn’t forget to have this 😉.  Lucky me I got a full bottle of nannari syrup and I carried it to here. I was waiting for the mercury to rise a bit so that I can enjoy this after a tiring day outside in the hot sun. Last week I made this. Unlike other summer drinks, Nannari sarbath has medicinal value also . We use roots of Hemidesmus indicus ( Naruneendi /Nannari) to make this. The roots are washed, crushed and boiled along with water to get the syrup. Then this extract is used as refreshing syrup with sugar and lemon . Apart from that the extracts are also used for medicinal and other purposes like soap making. I got the syrup so I have directly used the syrup here 😃. Beat the heat with this healthy and stimulating drink 👍. Okay then let’s get started.

Popsicle

Popsicle

                                                           

Popsicle is a perfect treat during these summer days 🌞. Popsicle is also called ice pop, freezer pop or ice lolly . It is made by freezing flavored or fresh fruit juice. This brought back my childhood memories ...remember how we used to wait for the 'Icewala" for this Summer delicacy😊😊😊 All brightly colored pops were a treat to our sight 😍.  Grape, orange, pineapple and milk were the common flavors available 😋. Here I have tried making a healthy Popsicle 💪. A healthy orange Popsicle. Juice the oranges 🍊🍊 and then mix it with sugar.  Pour the juice on to the moulds. Freeze it. Healthy popsicles are ready in no time.  Cool down this summer with a simple, healthy and frozen snack. Summer vacations are around the corner; surprise your kids with delectable – fun filled snack 😉. A warm weather favorite of all. Okay then let’s get started.

Spinach Vada

Spinach Vada/ Cheera Vada/ Spinach- Lentil Fritters

                                                                                                                                                                  

Parippu vada (lentil fritters) is everybody’s favorite 😍.  Since childhood I love them a lot …so ll you 😋… it is a tasty snack, which is available in almost every place. Tea and parippu vada is a superb evening snack which can’t be missed 😋. It is made with chana dal/ kadala parippu (a type of lentil). Along with dal you add onion, ginger and chili.  Including spinach to  this combo adds  a healthy twist 💪 and you have spinach vada!!! This healthy snack is worth trying 👍. They are a guilt free snack.  Okay then let’s get started.

White Forest Cake

White Forest Cake                                                    

Baking for someone you love is always special 😊. Last week my little one celebrated her birthday and I baked a special white forest cake for her 😍. She was too excited while cutting the cake 😘, and of course I was thrilled too 😃. Seeing her all excited made me super excited. She told she doesn’t need a cake from outside, "Amma you bake me a cake". I was totally confused what to bake.  As she is fond of white chocolates I baked a white forest for her 😍. The cake turned out exceptionally well. Unlike black forest here we don’t use dark chocolates instead we use white chocolates. Whipped cream, white chocolate and sponge cake are the main ingredients for a white forest cake. Here first I have baked two sponge cakes (vanilla), and then this is layered one above the other. The layers are filled with melted chocolate and whipped cream. Finally it is frosted with whipped cream and decorated with white chocolate shavings and cherry. The cake literally melts in your mouth 😋. I have used sugar syrup to make the cake super soft. Pls don’t skip this step it makes the cake real moist .So get ready to surprise your loved ones with this super soft white forest cake 😍. Okay then let’s get started.

Chicken Tikka

Chicken Tikka              

It’s been a while since we met and it’s been a while since I posted a non vegetarian recipe 😉. So here we go a perfect starter for any party; it’s chicken tikka 😋. Chicken tikka is a north Indian cuisine and is popular all over the world 😊. Small pieces of boneless chicken are marinated and baked using skewers.  Just the marination and baking is the only thing you have to do . For best results overnight marination is preferred.This helps the chicken to absorb the spices and makes the chicken juicy and tender. Cooking the chicken in oven is easier than on stove top 😉.  In oven you cook the chicken evenly 🍗.  Last 5 minutes you can opt for broil to give that charred effect. It is served with chopped onions, lemon wedges or green chutney 😋. Okay then let’s get started.