Sunday, November 13, 2016

Vankaya Masala / Brinjal Masala - Restaurant Style


Brinjal Masala / Eggplant Masala also called as "Vankaya Masala" is one of the delicacies of Andhra cuisine. I love this gravy especially the one served at weddings and restaurants. It tastes so unique and little rich and creamy in consistency than the regular one that is made at home kitchen. I often make this vankaya masala at home along with the side of hot white rice. No accompaniments are required and it goes well with rotis, chappathis too. In weddings, they serve this gravy along with Brinji Rice which is an excellent combination. Fresh tender small brinjals / Eggplants are best suited for making this gravy.

Ingredients


Fresh Tender Brinjals - Around 20
Ripe Tomato - 1 Big or 2 Medium 
Red Onion - 1 Big
Fresh Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Ghee - 2 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 Stem
Green Chili chopped finely - 1 tsp
Coriander Leaves - To Garnish
Water - As Required for making the gravy
Salt - As Required
Jaggery - 1 tiny cube
Thick Tamarind Extract - 1 tbsp

Grounded Paste


Urad Dal - 2 tsp
Channa Dal - 2 tsp
Black Pepper Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Seeds - 1 tbsp
Sesame Seeds - 2 tsp
Groundnuts/ Peanuts - 1/2 tbsp
Dry Red Chillies - 8 or 10 
Cashew Nuts - 5 or 6


Method


  • First cut the vegetables that are required and keep them ready. While cutting the brinjals for this gravy, slit them into four halves on the outer side of the tiny brinjal keeping the stem intact. In this way, the whole brinjal will be cooked perfectly and seen in the gravy.
  • Dry Roast all the ingredients that are required to make the grounded paste till you get a nice aroma on a medium flame. It should not turn black. Let it cool down a bit. After its cooled completely, make a thick paste out of it.
  • In the cooking pan, add 1/2 tbsp of  oil and a tsp of ghee first . When its heated, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds in order. 
  • Add the shredded onion,green chili pieces and a pinch of salt into the pan. Fry them for a minute and then add the ginger garlic paste into it. Fry the contents in the pan till the raw smell goes off.
  • Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, curry leaves into the pan and fry them till the tomatoes get mushy and mashed.
  • Add the tiny brinjals / baby eggplants and little salt now into the pan.Fry them for a minute.
  • Add the thick tamarind extract, required amount of water into the pan. Add jaggery into it now. Cover the lid and allow the contents to cook. When the tiny brinjals get cooked to three fourth, add the grounded paste into the pan. Add required amount of salt for the whole gravy and remaining ghee and oil into it now.
  • Let it cook on medium flame for 6-7 minutes. Once you notice the oil oozing on top layer of the gravy, its done. By then, the gravy would have been perfect with all raw smell completely gone.
  • Switch off the flame and let the gravy cools down little bit. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with hot rice or rotis.



Tips / Suggestions



  • This gravy tastes extremely good after couple of hours as the gravy settles down with all the grounded spices well.
  • Fresh tiny brinjals are a must for this gravy.
  • For getting the exact creamy consistency, make sure you add all the ingredients in the grounded paste without fail especially the cashews.
  • Do not overcook the brinjals initially. When its cooked to three fourth, add the paste.Otherwise, all the brinjals would get mashed and they wont be seen in the gravy properly.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Diwali 2016 / Lakshmi Pooja 2016 At Home


Diwali, festival of lights has been my favourite festival since my childhood. I would always dream of Diwali every year, would open and embrace my new diwali dress secretly, would collect the fire crackers and count them every single day, would enjoy the sweet samples that my mom made during Diwali. Those memories are priceless. Keeping that in mind, I am trying my best to make my kids diwali an enjoyable one which they should remember in their life time and relish as I do.

Diwali this year 2016 was celebrated at home only with my kids as my husband had gone to India on an official trip. So, the energy level was little down. Inspite of that, I triggered the event with music, good festive food, decor at every corner of the home, lights and dinners with extended family. Performed the Lakshmi Pooja in the evening and offered new jewelleries to goddess lakshmi and made prasadams too.

Hope to  enjoy the next  Diwali with my husband and kids together. Wishing you all a very Happy, Colourful Diwali this year...

Decor made by my kids

Decor by my kids

Diwali Goodies -- Kesar Peda, Mixed Nuts Burfi and Kara Boondi


Navarathri 2016 / Golu 2016

Navarathri Golu 2016 at my home
Navarathri 2016  started in full swing, thamboolam invites poured in, full sight of navarathri dolls at many Indian grocers here, colourful sarees taken out with matching jewelleries, all kinds of lentils, beans occupied the kitchen counters for sundals...It went on and on. Mind was so refreshed to welcome Navarathri Devi at home.

I single handedly decorated the Golu this time as the kids and my husband were too busy at their respective works.Of Course, the steps were organized and kept ready by my husband.  Trust me, it was very tiring for me to keep the dolls and decorate alone. After keeping the Golu, I sat and enjoyed my hard work with great satisfaction. Well, my dear friends, I hope you would like my Golu this year and would appreciate my work!!! Please give me your suggestions to improvise my Golu.

Navarathri Mornings started with "Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam" followed by other devi songs. One kind of Sundal was offered as Neivedhyam to our Navarathri Devi. During the 9 days, many of my friends attended the Lalitha Sahasranama Pooja in the mornings and we enjoyed a full feast of South Indian Food.

First Day Neivedhyam -- Kesari and Moong Dal Sundal
Totally, it was really good to see vibrant colours of sarees, kids in Indian dresses. I am sure you would have enjoyed Navarthri Golu at your homes too and celebrated Navarathri Devi in a grand way. Wishing to make a beautiful Golu next year too....




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