Category: Cooking DIYs/How To’s

Masala Box | Spice Box | Vaggarne Dabbi | Tadka Dibba

A well arranged masala box, with all the essentials for everyday cooking
04/18/2018 10:13:24 PM vindhyadesai

Do you find yourself scampering around while cooking, looking around to find mustard, cumin, methi, pepper etc. A masala box or vaggarne dabbi or tadka dabba will come to your rescue. In many cuisines people have spice stands, boxes etc. But masala box is something very unique to Indian cuisine specially in Southern and Western parts of India.
It is generally a stainless steel box with multiple small containers like pigeon holes. These containers hold a small quantity of spices. In olden days, the masala box used to be made of copper or brass. Here I have described an easy way to fill up your masala box with some typical South Indian spices. It is a do it yourself activity, ready to make meals like mixed veg upma, lemon rice, to add tadka for chutneys etc. ... “Masala Box | Spice Box | Vaggarne Dabbi | Tadka Dibba”

Green Chilli Pickle | Hasimenasinakayi Uppinakayi | Pickle Recipes

Spicy, mouth watering, homemade green chilli pickle
02/19/2018 9:49:49 PM vindhyadesai

Years ago when I first bought a jar of green chilli pickle home everyone had loved it. I always wanted to make green chilli pickle, so, here it is, a brand new spicy pickle recipe from FOI. The beautiful yellow mustard with fresh green chillies pickled with lime juice and a dash of vinegar, absolutely mouth watering.
Here I have used less spicy, long fat green chillies. You can use any kind of green chillies you want. Or you can even ask your vegetable vendor for the best variety to make green chilli pickle. While making pickles there are a few things to keep in mind. A clean, dry kitchen counter, sterilized glass jars to store pickles. Of course you also need loads of patience, you will need to visit this green chilli pickle once every few days. ... “Green Chilli Pickle | Hasimenasinakayi Uppinakayi | Pickle Recipes”

Homemade Khova | How to make khoya?

Homemade khova recipe, a base for many rich Indian sweets
06/24/2017 9:25:21 PM vindhyadesai

Ever wondered how to make homemade khova. Khova is the base for many rich Indian sweets. Khova is generally made by boiling milk for several hours to get the thick cream enriched with ghee.
But how about trying this rich homemade khova which can be made instantly. Yes, this too takes time but not as long as the elaborate version. This homemade khova or khoya recipe makes use of milk powder (skimmed) to get the instant thick creaminess. ... “Homemade Khova | How to make khoya?”

Homemade Apple Sauce | How to make apple sauce?

Homemade Apple Sauce for baking cakes, desserts and more
02/26/2017 5:59:45 PM vindhyadesai

Did you know apple sauce is a substitute for eggs in baking? Several cakes and desserts can be baked with homemade apple sauce. It is super easy to make.
Homemade apple sauce can be used as a dip just as a little snack with some cut fruits. It can also be used to pour over ice cream just like caramel or fudge sauce. A healthier alternative!
I used this batch of homemade apple sauce to make apple pancakes. I have adapted this apple sauce from The Pioneer Woman recipe.  Homemade apple sauce is scrumptious and can be eaten by the spoonful. Delicious! ... “Homemade Apple Sauce | How to make apple sauce?”

Homemade Instant Badam Milk Powder | Instant Almond Milk | Beverage Recipes

Warming, aromatic homemade instant badam milk powder with fragrant kesar-elaichi
02/03/2017 9:59:17 PM vindhyadesai

A nice cup of warm milk always sounds soothing. If it is made from an instant powder it is very quick to make a glass! This homemade instant badam milk powder exactly serves that purpose.
This homemade instant badam milk powder is fragrant with spices like kesar-elaichi. This powder is also MTR style, the nice aromatic powder you get to buy in stores. This powder can be made and stored for several days. ... “Homemade Instant Badam Milk Powder | Instant Almond Milk | Beverage Recipes”

Homemade Lime Pickle | Pickle Recipes | Nimbekayi Uppinakayi

Lip-smacking, juicy, mildly spicy, refreshing homemade lime pickle
01/31/2017 5:16:29 PM vindhyadesai

We all know pickling is an art. It is this statement which makes us all take a step back and stop ourselves from trying to make pickles. Making pickles in India is a very old tradition. Homemade lime pickle, lemon pickle, mango pickle have to be the most popular pickle recipes.
Just make pickles in a clean dry environment. Then you will find pickle making a breeze. Even I have experienced pickles turning out bad after taking utmost care. But it is definitely possible to make good pickles. ... “Homemade Lime Pickle | Pickle Recipes | Nimbekayi Uppinakayi”

Thai Green Curry Paste | How to make Thai green curry paste?

Mild, fragrant, homemade Thai green curry paste – base for tasty Thai curries
12/05/2016 9:57:05 PM vindhyadesai

Thai curries are aromatic and fragrant. The aroma is rendered by a unique blend of ingredients ground into a paste. Thai green curry paste is so called because of the green colour from the chillies, basil (Thai), lime leaves etc.
Ingredients are generally ground into a paste using mortar and pestle. Obviously this will bring out the flavours of the ingredients even more.
Along with green curry paste there is another variation which is the red curry paste. These pastes are used with coconut milk and other ingredients to make beautiful curries from the Oriental! ... “Thai Green Curry Paste | How to make Thai green curry paste?”

Whole Wheat Papdi | How to make baked papdi?

Homemade whole wheat baked papdis/crackers for chaat
11/08/2016 9:51:16 PM vindhyadesai

Dreaming of a having a plate or two of some chaat (Indian street food) on a rainy day? Then you decide to rustle up some chaat at home, only to discover that you do not have papdis at home.
Papdis or crackers are an essential ingredient to chaats like bhel, papdi chaat, dahi papdi chaat, masala puri etc.  I say you can easily make these at home, whole wheat papdi, baked instead of deep fried.
You would probably be excited that now you can make chaat with ease. Make a batch of these and store them. This recipe yields up to 50-55, 1″ in diameter papdis.
Also this recipe can be easily doubled or tripled. You could also make this a fun activity by involving your family especially kids to carve out the papdis. Just store these in an airtight container and they are available when required. They stay good for a few months. ... “Whole Wheat Papdi | How to make baked papdi?”

Shenga Chutney Pudi | Groundnut Chutney Powder | How to make groundnut chutney powder?

Spicy groundnut chutney powder, pre-made side dish
09/22/2016 9:52:21 PM vindhyadesai

Having a side dish always on hand in the form of a dry powder and which does not spoil is very useful. Chutney Powders/Chutney Pudis are a great side dish for chapathis, rotis, dosas, idlis or even hot rice with ghee. Shenga chutney pudi (groundnut chutney powder) is a very famous side dish from North Karnataka. All households make large quantities of this tasty spicy powder and store it. Try this with thalipeeth or with dosas. Dosas like rava dosa, open masala dosa taste really good with this chutney powder. The best combination has to be Bhakkri or Jowar Roti (plain sorghum flour oiless thin rotis) with this tasty shenga chutney powder mixed with yogurt/curd. A slightly different form called ‘shenga hinDi’ a coarser and rougher chutney powder with only oily shengas, is also a super delicacy from the beautiful land of North Karnataka (like Bijapur and other places). Other shenga/groundnut recipes to try. ... “Shenga Chutney Pudi | Groundnut Chutney Powder | How to make groundnut chutney powder?”

Gooseberry Jam | How to make gooseberry jam?

Sweet gooseberry jam with tangy notes
9/14/2016 10:40:28 PM vindhyadesai

Gooseberries are very rich in Vitamin C and dietary  fibre. They are tart and tangy and also pulpy making a good berry for making jam/marmalade. Moreover they are available throughout the year in most places especially in tropical places. There are so many variety available, big lemon sized ones, small ones, soft ones and even red ones etc. I have used green soft gooseberries almost seedless, which are not very sour to make jam as given in recipe below. Try other jam/marmalade recipes. Another version made in India is the Amla Murabba or Nellikayi Gulambu (as called in Kannada) will also be posted on FOI. ... “Gooseberry Jam | How to make gooseberry jam?”