Sunday, February 21, 2016

OLIVE OIL TOMATO PICKLE - How to make Andhra Tomato Pickle in a healthy way

Indulge your taste buds and do justice to your heart with this delicious Tomato pickle cooked in Extra Virgin Olive oil.

Today i am giving you an easy to follow Andhra tomato pickle recipe, with the ingredients you can find in your pantry at any time. I had this delicious pickle at our close friend Saranya's home with her super soft Iddli's. I asked her to get pickle recipe from her mother in law who prepared it. But like most of the mothers she couldnt give the quantity of the ingredients, but i got an idea of how to make it. Luckily it came out well in the first try itself. This is a refrigerator pickle like my garlic pickle recipe and goes well with Iddli / Dosa / curd rice /  Pongal / Biriyani etc.

Healthy Andhra Tomato Pickle recipe using olive oil

Olive oil Andhra Tomato Pickle / Andhra Tomato Pachadi / Tomato Thokku Recipe
preparation time : 10min, Cooking time : 60min, Difficulty level : easy

Ingredients :

Tomato : 4 lbs / Approximately 2kg
Turmeric powder : 3/4 tsp
Chilly powder : 2 1/2 tbsp
Jaggery : 2 blocks
Tamarind  : 1/2 cup approx soaked in 1/2 cup warm water
Olive oil : 1tbsp
Salt : 2 tbsp ++

For Tampering :

Mustard Seeds / Kaduku : 1 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek Seeds / Uluva: 1 tsp
Urad Daal / uzhunnu parippu : 1 tsp 
Cumin Seeds / Nalla Jeerakam : 1tsp
Garlic : 2 whole pods, finely chopped
Ginger : 1 inch, finely chopped
Curry leaves : 2 springs
Asfoetida / Hing / Kaayam: 2 tsp
Olive oil : 4 tbsp

How to make Andhra Tomato pickle in a healthy way?

1. Wash tomatoes under cold running water and Keep aside. Alow to dry completely. Cut each tomatoes into half and then slice into 5 or 6 long pieces. 

2. Add  1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy bottom vessel and add the sliced tomatoes. Cover and cook for 40 minutes or until its a slightly thick chunky sauce.


3. Squeeze the tamarind fully and filter it to remove the impurities. Add this to the cooked tomatoes. Adjust the tamarind to suit your taste.

4. Cook till the water from tomatoes are 80% absorbed. Now add the turmeric powder, Jaggery, Chilly powder, salt and saute in medium to high flame for few more minutes. Turn off the flame.

5. Heat 4 tbsp olive oil in a separate kadai / Tadka pan and add the mustard seeds. When it splutters add the Fenugreek seeds and saute till it turns to red.  Now add urad daal, cumin powder and dried red chilies. Saute for 2 minutes and then add the curry leaves. Turn off the flame and add Hing / Asfoetida powder. Add this Tadka to the cooked tomato pickle mixture and combine well.


Healthy Andhra Tomato Pickle in olive oil
6. Turn on the heat and cook the pickle on high for 5 minutes or till the pickle becomes thick and oil separates. Voila!!! you are done. Keep it uncovered to cool completely, 3-4 hours.


7. Transfer the Tomato pickle to an air tight glass container when it is really cool and add enough oil to cover the top surface of pickle. (1/2 tbsp ). Pickle stays fresh in room temperature for 2 days and stays up to 3 - 5 months in refrigerator. Make sure you use clean, dry spoon each time to take the pickle.

Similar posts : 

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

VALENTINE'S DAY 2016

Regardless of your relationship status, Valentine's Day is a great time to put on your hostess hat and practice entertaining in style. Why go out for an expensive meal on Valentine's Day, stand in a line for 30 min,  when you can woo your sweetie with delicious home-cooked feast in a far more romantic setting? Every year i make it really special when it comes about Valentine's day. Even after having my daughter, i got the same time and enthusiasm for creating a romantic feast for my husband. You can see this post, i wrote years back about creating a special Valentine's day at home apart from homemade food.

Breakfast : Classic Buttermilk pancakes, I cut it with a large heart shaped cookie cutter and drizzled melted chocolate on top and served with halved strawberries.

http://cookingwithlena.blogspot.com/2014/07/classic-buttermilk-pancakes_21.html
Classic buttermilk pancakes
Lunch : Crispy chicken finger KFC style , Mushroom Mini pie and triple berry crumble
Chicken fingers, Mushroom Pie and Triple berry crumble
Dinner : Fried chicken dry roast with Rice roti


Enjoy!!!
Lena

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

A surprise Birthday cake for my Husband


My husband loves motorcycles. I didn't had difficulty to choose theme for his birthday cake as i know his passion well. This was a red velvet cake with buttercream frosting. 

Enjoy!!
Lena