Author Archives for My Cooking Diaries

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About My Cooking Diaries

This is Cecilia Pinto, based in Mumbai, India. Started this blog to share my cooking experiences with the world.

Millets Dosa and Idli with Onion Garlic Chutney


Millets Dosa and Idli with Onion Garlic chutney

Ingredients

1.5 cups Sorgum (Jowar)

½ cup Urad dal (Split black gram)

½ cup chana dal (split Bengal gram)

1 tbsp. fenugreek seeds (methi)

¼ cup poha

Salt to taste.

Add all the ingredients from Jowar to fenugreek seeds to a vessel.  Wash well and drain.  Replenish with water and leave to soak for atleast 8 hours.  Drain out the water, put fresh water and add ¼ cup poha.  Grind the ingredients in batches to a thick smooth paste.  Transfer the batter to wide large vessel and leave to ferment overnight.

Once fermented, add salt and mix well.  Set aside for half tone hour, if possible.  Prepare the dosas and idlis.  Heat a griddle to very hot, sprinkle some water to bring doen the temperature a bit, wipe the pan clean and pour 1.5 ladle of batter (depending on the size of the pan) and spread in concentric circles to cover the pan.  Cook on medium heat.  When light brown drizzle some ghee in the center and the sides, fry till golden brown and remove.  Serve crisp and hot with chutney and sambar. 

To make idlis, heat the idli steamer.  Grease the idli molds and fill with batter.  Steam for 15 minutes.  Pierce with a toothpick to check if they cooked.  Remove.

Onion Garlic Chutney

Ingrediens

1 medium Onion, sliced roughly

¼ cup garlic, peeled

1 tbsp. urad dal

1 tbs. chana dal

4 red chillies

Small pc. Tamarind

Salt to taste

Tempering

1 sprig curry leaves

1 tsp. mustard seeds

2 tbsp. oil

Take oil in a pan, when hot add the urad and channa dal and fry till golden.  Then add the onion and garlic and chillies and fry till light brown.  Take off heat and leave to cool.  Then grind to a paste with tamarind and salt.  Remove to a bowl.  Prepare tempering by heating oil, add the mustard seeds, when they splutter add curry leaves and pour over the chutney as garnish.  Serve with Doss and Idlis.

Whole Masoor Green Curry Akkha Masoor


Masoor Dal, like all the pulses has numerous health benefits making it essential to be added to the diet. It helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels making it good for the heart. It contains dietary fibres and protein helping to keep the blood pressure normal and also assures the heart to be free from any disease providing a good source of folate. It is beneficial for diabetics to have masoor because it has a low glycemic index. It has Vitamin E and lutein which are good for the eyes. It also helps improve digestion because of the prebiotic carbohydrates present in it and the laxative property helps to prevent constipation. As these pulses are a good source of iron, it helps the pregnant ladies providing that extra energy required for their babies. All the above mentioned benefits make this dal a super hero of every kitchen.

This is my mother’s recipe form the book “Mai’s Recipes”.

To obtain a copy of the book, please check out the following link,

or Watsapp me (Cecilia Pinto) on +91 98 33 45 71 88.

Mai’s Recipes Contact details

Prawn Dangar


Prawn Dangar, typically prawn cutlets is a popular and much loved dish in Goa. It can be served as an accompaniment to any main meal or as a snack or appetizer.

Ingredients

1 Cup Prawns, preferable small prawns

2 medium Onions, chopped finely

2 green chillies, chopped

½ cup coriander leaves, chopped

½ tsp. ginger garlic paste3

½ tsp. turmeric powder

½ tsp. chilli powder

½ tsp. coriander powder

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1 tsp. tamarind paste or lemon juice

1 tsp. sugar (optional)

2 tbsp. gram flour (Besan)

1 tbsp. rice flour

2 tbsp. grated coconut

Rawa (semolina) for coating

Oil for shallow frying

Clean, wash and drain prawns.  If using large prawns, chop them into small pieces.  Squeeze out all the excess water and transfer to a mixing bowl.  Add all the ingredients from Onions to coconut.  Mix well, squeezing the mixture so that it binds well.  Cover and keep the mixture aside for 15 minutes.  Form the mixture into golf sized balls, flatten a bit and coat with rawa.  Shallow fry for 5 minutes on each side, till golden brown and crisp. Serve as an accompaniment to a main meal or as a snack or appetizer with ketchup or green chutney.

Bhindi Kadhi and Khichidi Combo


Bhindi Kadhi

Ingredients

100 to 250 gms. Lady’s fingers (as desired)

1” Ginger

4 medium green chillies or to taste

2 tbsp. coriander leaves

2 tbsp. ghee

2 cups buttermilk, undiluted
1 tsp. Turmeric powder

1 tbsp. gram flour

½ tsp salt or to taste

Wash lady fingers and slit each in half.  Deseed if desired. Chop ginger, green chillies and coriander leaves.  Heat ghee in a vessel and fry the lady’s fingers on very gently heat till tender. Add all the remaining ingredients, mix well, and bring to a boil.  Reduce flame and simmer for about five minutes. Serve hot with plain rice or khichdi.

Ponsache Gariyo Jackfruit Fritters


Ponsache Gariyo – Jackfruit Fritters

Halasina Hannina Mulka

½ cup boiled rice

½ cup basmati rice

2.5 cups jackfruit

¼ cup jaggery or to taste

1/2 cup fresh coconut

¼ tsp. Black pepper

Salt to taste

1 tsp. cardamom seeds

Oil as required for frying

Method

Soak rice for minimum 4 hours.  Grind Alongwith all ingredients to a smooth thick paste.  Drop spoonful of batter in hot oil or use your fingers to scoop up the batter and drop into the oil.  Fry on medium heat to golden brown.  Enjoy as tea-time snack or for breakfast.

How to clean and cook Kandi Pith of Banana Stem


Banana Stem, Plantain “Kandi” Vegetable

How to clean and cook Kandi

Banana stem has a wide range of health benefits and it is advisable to consume this vegetable periodically, where available.  Some of the health benefits include helps prevent constipation, acts a detoxifier, helps with kidney issues, regulates blood pressure, prevents urinary tract infection, prevents diabetes, etc. It is highly beneficial to health especially in summers and is full of fibre.

Ingredients

1 Kg. Kandi

1 Onion sliced

1 tsp. urad dal

1 tbsp. Bafat or any mixed masala to taste

1 tsp. Mustard seeds

1 sprig curry leaves

2 tbsp. tamarind pulp

1 tbsp. jaggery

½ cup fresh grated coconut

Salt to taste

2 tbsp. oil

Method

Kandi is the pith, the innermost tender portion of the banana tree trunk which is used after the tree bears its fruit to full term.  Try to get a very tender kandi. Remove the top and bottom of the trunk, and slice vertically to remove the outer layers to reveal the inner most pith the cylindrical white part which is called the “Kandi”.  Slice the Kandi into thin circles and remove all the fibers and cut the vegetable into small cubes and immediately immerse in water to prevent oxidation.

Rinse the chopped Kandi and boil with 1 tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. turmeric powder  till tender.  In a pan add oil  And when hot add the mustard seeds and allow to splutter.  Then add the curry leaves and sliced onion and fry till soft and translucent.  Add the bafat masala powder, toss and add the boiled kandi and mix well.  Cook 5 to 7 minutes then add the jaggery and tamarind pulp.  Stir well and simmer 5 minutes, then add the grated coconut, mix and let it heat through and simmer 5 minutes.  Serve hot as an accompaniment with any main meal.

Salted Raw Jackfruit Vegetable Stir Fry


Salted raw jackfruit vegetable / Brined raw jackfruit stir fry / Uppad Pachir Aajadina / Salla Upkari / Ghare Sukhe

Ingredients

2 Cups Brined raw jackfruit

1 Onion, sliced

1 tsp. mustard seeds

1 sprig curry leaves

4 flakes garlic, crushed

1 tbsp. bafat masala powder, or to taste

(Alternately use 1 tsp. chilli powder, ½ tsp. coriander powder, ¼ tsp. turmeric powder & ¼ tsp. cumin powder)

¼ cup fresh grated coconut

2 tbsp. Oil

Remove the jackfruit petals from the brine and soak in plain water for an hour or two and rinse in 2 to 3 changes of water to remove excess salt.  Then shred the petals by hand and set aside.

Heat a pan, add oil and when hot add the mustard seeds.  When they splutter add the crushed garlic and curry leave and toss.  Then add the sliced onion and fry till light brown.  Add the chilli, turmeric, coriander & cumin powder and mix well.  Then add the shredded jackfruit and mix well.  Add ¼ cup water, mix and let cook for 5 to 7 minutes.  Then add the grated coconut, mix well and cook 1 minute.  Remove from heat and serve hot as an accompaniment with any meal.  Tastes delicious.

P.S.: How to salt raw jackfruit

500 gms. Jackfruit bulb

3 to 4 tbsp. salt

½ cup boiled and cooled water

Slit the jackfruit bulb and remove the seed and pith.  Wash the jackfruit petals and place a layer of the jackfruit in a glass dish.  Sprinkle a tablespoon of sea salt over the layer.  Cover with another jackfruit layer and add salt.  Repeat till all the jackfruit is used.  Pour the water over the jackfruit, cover the dish and set aside for 2 to 3 month to marinate.  However, after one month, the jackfruit is ready for use.

Aamle ka Murabba


Candied Indian Gooseberry

Aamle Ka Murabba

Aamla (Indian Gooseberry)

These fruits have a rich amount of Vitamin C which not only keeps winter blues away but also helps keep the body cool in summers. 

The amla fruit is eaten raw or cooked into various dishes, such as dal (a lentil preparation) and amle ka murabbah, a sweet dish made by soaking the berries in sugar syrup until they are candied. It is traditionally consumed after meals

In Ayurvedic traditional medicine, dried  and fresh fruits of the plant are used as a common constituent

Ingredients

15 Aamlas (Indian Gooseberry)

Salt

¼ cup water

1/4 kg. Sugar

1 Lemon                                                       

Method of preparation

Wash the Aamla and soak in salted water for 2 days to make the skin firm to avoid rupturing the skin when cooking.  Drain, prick with a fork.  Transfer to a vessel, cover with water and boil for 3-4 minutes.  Drain.

Wash the lemon and cut into quarters.

Boil ½ cup water in a vessel, add sugar and lemon, bring to a boil and remove the scum. Continue to cook until 2 string consistency.  Add the boiled aamla and cook for 2-3 minutes.  Remove and cool. Transfer to a sterilized glass or ceramic jar, cover with a muslin and secure.  Leave to mature for 2 days.  Remove the muslin and cover with a lid.  Enjoy one aamla after lunch and dinner to reap its healthy benefits.

Jackfruit Mandas, Ponsache Mandos, Dhonas


MANDAS, Jackfruit Mandas

Goan Ponsache Mandos or Dhonas

Ingredients

2 cups boiled rice

2 cups fresh grated coconut

2 cups jaggery

2 cups ripe jackfruit

1 tsp. cardamoms, powdered

1 tsp. Salt, or to taste

½ cup cashewnuts/almonds (optional)

Method

Wash and soak the rice for 3 to 4 hours and grind to a paste alongwith the coconut, grated cucumber, jaggery and salt.  Add the cardamom powder and let it stand for about an hour. Add the chopped nuts, if desired.  Bake or steam till done.  To test if the mandas is ready, insert a toothpick or a knife in the center and it should come out clean.

Chicken Sukka, Traditional Manglorean Chicken Sukka


Recipe from the book “Mai’s Recipes” – Contact us for your copy!

Chicken Sukka, Manglorean Chicken Sukka

Ingredients

1kg. chicken

1 coconut (preferably fresh)

1 onion, sliced

2 tomatoes, chopped

2 tbsp. oil

Salt to taste

Roast (each separately) & grind

to a coarse paste

7 kashmiri chillies

1 tbsp. coriander seeds

1 tsp. cumin seeds

1tsp. mustard seeds

½ tsp. black pepper

¼ tsp. turmeric powder

¼ tsp. methi seeds

Method

Clean, remove skin and cut chicken into small pieces.

Heat oil, fry the sliced onion, when light brown add tomatoes and fry for 5 minutes.  Then add the chicken and cook till almost done.  Add the masala paste, salt and little water (if required) and simmer till done.  Adjust seasoning.

Tip: To improve taste, avoid adding water

        as far as possible.

Mixed Vegetable Pickle


MIXED VEGETABLE PICKLE

Ingredients

1 kg. carrots

½ kg.Tendlis (Ivy Gourd)

½ kg. raw papaya

10 green chillies

2” pc. ginger

2 pods garlic

1 litre vinegar

1 cup sugar

½ kg. oil

Few curry leaves

1 tsp. mustard seeds

Salt to taste

(For carrot pickle, use 2 kgs.carrots and omit papaya and gerkins)

Roast & grind to a paste in vinegar

100 gms red chillies

1 ½ tsp. mustard seeds

1 tsp. cumin seeds

1 ½ tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. fenugreek seeds

1 ts. asafoetida (hing)

 Method

Wash vegetables, drain and cut into thin strips.  Do not wash after cutting.  Salt well and dry in the sun for 2 days.  Chop the green chillies, ginger and garlic finely.  Boil oil in a vessel, add mustard seeds and curry leaves.  Then add the cut masala and fry till light brown.  Add the ground masala paste, remaining vinegar and sugar and cook 5 to 10 minutes.  Then add the dried vegetables and mix well.  Bottle when cool.

Carrot Pickle


An ideal time to make and preserve pickles for use throughout the year!

Carrot Pickle

Ingredients

1 kg. Carrots

5 green chillis

1” pc. Ginger

1 pod Garlic

1/2 litre Vinegar

½ cup sugar

¼ kg. Oil

1 sprig curry leaves

1/2 tsp. mustard seeds

4 tsp. Salt

Roast & grind to a paste in vinegar

50 gms. red chillis

1 tsp. mustard seeds

½ tsp. cumin seeds

1 tsp. turmeric powder

½ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. fenugreek seeds

½ tsp. asafoetida (hing)

Wash vegetables, drain and cut into thin strips.  Do not wash after cutting.  Add the salt and dry in the sun for minimum 2 days.  Chop green chillis, ginger and garlic finely.  Boil oil in a vessel, add mustard seeds and curry leaves.  Then add the chopped chillis, ginger and garlic and fry till light brown.  Add the ground masala paste, remaining vinegar and sugar and cook 10 minutes.  Then add the dried carrots and mix well.  Bottle when cool.

Check out the delicious and tantalising Mixed Vegetable Pickle

Lemon Pickle without Oil


Sweet & Sour Lemon Pickle Without Oil 2 methods of preparation with same ingredients One is an instant method and the other is over two days as the lemons need to be kept under weight overnight. Check out both methods and use the one that suits you. The end result is almost same though the 2nd method gives the pickle an improved texture.

Method 1
LEMON PICKLE with Jaggery without Oil

Sweet and Sour Lemon Pickle

Ingredients

12 lemons

3 tsp. Salt

3” pc ginger

10 flakes garlic

1/2 cup vinegar

2 cups Jaggery, powdered

4 tsp. Chilli powder

2 tsp. turmeric powder

Method

Wash lemons and wipe dry. Cut the lemons into fours, or eight pieces if lemons are large in size. Remove the pith and seeds. Apply salt liberally about 4 tbsp. Mix well and keep under weight overnight or for 24 hours minimum.  If possible you may keep in the sun in a glass jar.  Mix in between couple of times. Chop the ginger and garlic.  Take a vessel, add the lemon pieces with the liquer, chilli powder, chopped ginger and garlic, jaggery and mix well.

Place on heat, cover and cook till the lemons turn soft. Stir in between.  Cook till lemons are soft and gravy is thick. Then add the vinegar, mix and simmer 10 minutes.  Cool and bottle.  Store in a cool dry place for 2 to 3 weeks to mature

Method 2

LEMON PICKLE with Sugar without Oil

Sweet and Sour Lemon Pickle

A variation in preparation

Ingredients

1 dozen lemons

3” pc ginger

10 flakes garlic

½ cup vinegar

2 cups Sugar

4 tsp. Chilli powder

2 tsp. Turmeric powder

Method

Cut the lemons into four or eight pieces depending on the size of the lemons, remove the pith and seeds, apply salt liberally about 3 to 4 tsp. and keep aside.  Place a heavy weight over the lemon pieces and leave overnight. Chop the ginger and garlic.  Take a vessel, add the marinated lemon pieces, chopped ginger, garlic, chilli and turmeric powder, sugar and mix well.  Place on heat, stirring frequently till sugar dissolves.  Bring to a boil and simmer till lemons are cooked.  Don’t overcook or the lemon skins may tend to harden.  When cooked add the vinegar and mix well.  Check seasoning.  Take off heat and bottle when cool.  Store in a cool dry place for 2 to 3 weeks to mature.

Pork Chops


Pork Chops

This recipe is dedicated to all Pork lovers!! Turns out simply delicious and awesome. Those who do not enjoy pork can enjoy the masala gravy, it’s lip-smacking….

Ingredients

1 kg. Pork Chops

1 large Onion, chopped

2 tbsp. tomato paste

1 tbsp. Oil or ghee

Grind to a smooth paste

10 red chillies

1“ pc. Ginger

10 cloves garlic

10 cloves

1” cinnamon

1 tsp. cumin seeds

½ tsp. peppercorns

½ tsp. turmeric

4 tbsp. vinegar

1 tsp. salt

Method

Wash, drain the chops.  This recipe may be used for pork chops, ribs etc. Apply the masala paste to the chops and marinate for 15 to 30 minutes.  At this stage you may pre-prepare and marinate overnight.

Heat a wide pan, add the oil/ghee and fry the chopped onion, when they soften and are translucent, add the tomato paste and saute 2 to 3 minutes.  Place the pork chops/ribs s in a single layer (reserve the excess marinade) and fry 2 minutes on each side.  Add the reserved marinade alongwith  the masala water from the rinsed jar and add to the chops.  Stir to mix well.  Cover and bring to a boil, reduce flame to medium and cook 30 minutes.  If gravy dries up add some more water, l1/4 cup or so, to avoid the masala burning and cook till meat is tender and gravy is thick and oil surfaces.   Check and adjust seasoning.  Serve hot with rice or bread or just as is for an appetiser!

Stuffed Prawns, Extra Colossal Stuffed Prawns


Shrimp have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and low levels of mercury. As with other seafood, shrimp is high in calcium, iodine and protein but low in food energy. A shrimp-based meal is also a significant source of cholesterol, from 122 mg to 251 mg per 100 g of shrimp, depending on the method of preparation.  Shrimp consumption, however, is considered healthy for the circulatory system because the lack of significant levels of saturated fat in shrimp means that the high cholesterol content in shrimp actually improves the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol and lowers triglycerides

Many shrimp species are small as the term shrimp suggests, about 2 cm (0.79 in) long, but some shrimp exceed 25 cm (9.8 in). Larger shrimp are more likely to be targeted commercially and are often referred to as prawns.

When buying prawns there are several considerations. Firstly, see that they have all of their legs, feelers and eyes in tact and that the tail has a firm spring when curled. It should feel firm in texture and when you taste the meat it should be immediately sweet, with a long clean finish, no strong after taste.

Prawn sizing is based not only on form (HOSO or PDTO) but also on the actual number of prawns per pound or kilogram. The charts below will give you a quick and easy guide on sizing of the two forms. 

HOSO Head on Tail On

PDTO Peeled Deviened Tail On

Stuffed Prawns, Extra Colossal Stuffed Prawns

This recipe may be used for any large sized prawns

Ingredients

4 Nos. Extra Colossal Prawns

4 red chillies

4 cloves

1” cinnamon

8 peppercorns

½ tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. ginger garlic paste

1 small onion, chopped

1 tbsp. garlic

½ tsp. cumin seeds

1 tbsp.vinegar

½ tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1 egg and rava for coating

Oil for shallow frying

Method

Clean prawns by chopping off the tip of the head and then slitting the back including the shell to devein, but not cutting through. Wash well and apply salt, turmeric and ginger garlic paste.  Set aside to marinate.

Grind together the chillis, cloves, peppercorns, cumin seeds, garlic, onion, vinegar, salt and sugar, with a little water to a smooth paste.

Heat ½ tsp. oil in a pan and fry the ground masala on low heat till the raw smell disappears, about 1 or 2 minutes. Take off heat and cool.

Stuff the prawns with the masala paste.  Then tie with thread, roll in beaten egg and rava and shallow fry 3 to 5 minutes on each side. 

Remove the thread if you wish and serve immediately with lemon wedges and sliced onion.

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