Tofu with Broccoli

Items needed:

Cut Broccoli-1/2 lb

Tofu-1/2 lb

Tomatoes-1/2 or 1

Onions-1/4th-cut into pieces

White pepper powder-(1/2 -1) tea spoon

Garlic-3 cloves

Salt, Chilli powder as needed

Coriander powder-1 tea spoon

Dried Oregano leaves-few

Oil-1 tea spoon

Melted Butter-3 teaspoons

Preparation time:40 mins

Method

Wash tofu, squeeze out all the water from it.Once water is removed,cut tofu into pieces.Apply a thin coat of butter on two sides of tofu.Fry them on a nonstick pan until they turn into  golden-brown color.

Meanwhile cook the cut broccoli in microwave for 6mins ( frozen or fresh).Use water exactly up to the level of broccoli pieces if fresh.Once it is cooked, drain the pieces and keep the drained water aside (may be useful for gravy).

In a pan add a teaspoon of oil, to it add onion pieces. Fry them until their color turns golden.Now add boiled broccoli,turmeric powder,grated garlic,oregano leaves  and white pepper powder.Add very little salt, on a medium flame let them fry for  5 mins with occasional stirring.

Now add fried tofu into the cooking pan,allow 5-10 mins on low-medium flame so that garlic flavor/white pepper powder gets onto tofu pieces.

Now add cut tomatoes and add remaining salt needed.After 5 mins of cooking, add chilli powder,coriander powder.In case gravy is needed, can add  broccoli boiled water. Cook on low flame for 5 mins.

Tofu & Broccoli curry is ready..

Note:

Instead of butter, oilve oil can be used to coat tofu pieces.

Instead of frying, tofu pieces can be baked in oven at 350F, but it takes 30 mins!

If more gravy is needed, add tomato paste(mixed with  water) towards the end and boil for few minutes.

Atukulu-Flattened rice laddu

Items needed

1 cup atukulu

3/4 cup sugar-powdered or brown sugar as it is

1/4 cup almonds

1/4 cup dry coconut powder

Butter(unsalted) or Ghee as needed

Elaichi powder-for flavor

Raisins-few

Preparation time:1 hour

Method:

Fry flattened rice/atukulu in a tea spoon of ghee until their color turns to reddish.Allow to cool down.

Cut raisins into their halves (vertically or horizontally) and fry them in 1/2 teaspoon of ghee/butter.

Fry separately almonds(skin peeled ones) and coconut powder,allow it to cool.

After cooling, grind atukulu+almonds+coconut  in a blender as powder.

Now add powdered sugar to the ground powder, and mix well.

Melt butter(unsalted) or ghee, and use it to wet the powder and make round balls as shown in the figure.

Allow some time for drying.

Tasty Laddus are ready!

Peanut-Almond-Flaxseed Powder

Items needed

Peanuts - 4 cups

Almonds-1 cup

Flax seed powder/Flax meal-1/4 cup

Salt as needed

Red chilli powder as needed

Cumin seeds-4 table spoons

Garlic cloves-10

Method

Microwave water for 3 mins and soak almonds in that water for 3mins. Peel off the almonds.

In a pan, fry the peeled almonds until they turn into light red color, keep aside.

Similary fry peanuts,cumin seeds and flax seeds/powder individually.

After each of the above ingredients  gets cooled, altogether or individually, powder them using a blender/mixie.

If  interested can add few garlic cloves(peeled) to the ingredients while grinding.

Before final run in the blender, add salt and chilli powder and run the blender once to mix the contents well.

Peanut powder is ready..

Note:

If you are new to  using flax seeds/powder use it less than 1/4 cup as it may work more on your stomach due to its fibre content.

Flax seed powder is readily available which can be fried until a slight change in the color is observed, later can be mixed with peanut and almond powder.

This powder is very good for managing cholesterol levels.

Kale Fry

Items needed:

1 bunch of kale

1 or  2 carrots-medium sized

1/4 th of a medium sized onion

Green chilli-2 or Red chilli powder

Chana dal,Moong dal- 1 tsp each

Cumin powder,Coriander powder,Turmeric powder,Coconut powder(dry)

Curry leaves/powder

Salt to taste

1 table spoon oil or as desired

Preparation & Cooking time-35 mins.

Method:

Finely chop kale leaves,wash and drain the water using colander.

Grate carrot/s and keep aside.

Cut the onions and green chillies into pieces.

Place the nonstick cooking pan on the stove,add oil.

To the oil, add Chana and Moong dal and fry them.

Add onions and green chillies  to the fried pulses and half fry them on.Now add chopped kale leaves,turmeric powder,curry leaves or curry leaves powder and keep frying on medium flame  until the leaves are half fried or until the leaves quantity becomes half.

Now add grated carrot to it and reduce the flame below medium and keep frying until the color of the carrots change.Add salt now.

Now add Coriander powder,Cumin powder,Coconut powder and red chilli powder(if needed) and fry for another 5 mins on low flame.

Kale fry is Ready…!

Tips:

Make sure to drain the water completely from kale before adding to the pan.

Try to use non stick pan so that can make this fry even with less than 1 tablespoon of oil.

Add salt only at the end to get the  consistency as fry.