PARIPPU VADA

'Parippu Vada' is a popular tea time snack in Kerala which is prepared from crushed dal / lenthils. It is also known as Masala vada or Channa Dal fritters.

Recipe for Authentic Parippu Vada / Parippu Vadai / Masala Vada :
Cooking Time : 10min
Preparation time : 2 hr 5min
Makes : 12-14

Ingredients :

Channa Dal (Kadala parippu) : 1Cup
Onion : 1, medium, finely chopped
Green Chillies : 4, finely chopped
Ginger : 1tsp or 1 1/2inch piece, finely chopped
Curry Leaves : 3springs, finely chopped
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry

Directions for the easy Parippu Vada : 

1. Wash and soak Channa dal for 2hours. Now drain with a colander and let them dry.  (If the dal has water in it, you wont be able to make the perfect crispy parippu vada's.)

2. Transfer it to a mixer grinder with salt and crush for a second or two. Make sure you are not grinding the dal into a smooth paste. Add all ingredients except oil to the crushed Dal and combine well.

3. Heat oil to deep fry in a kadai. Wet your palms and make a lemon size ball and flatten to a round patty and drop into the hot oil. (small sized Parippuvada's takes less time to cook and needs less oil.)

4. Flip to the other side after 5 minutes or when the sides turns to golden in color. Drain excess oil on tissue paper and serve hot with tea or coffee.

Notes :

You can use Toor dal (thuvara parippu) instead of channa Dal, but channa dal gives the authentic taste to parippu vada especially when it is fried in coconut oil.

Enjoy,
Lena

Baked Salmon - How To Bake Salmon?

There are lots of different ways to prepare salmon. I usually make our Kerala Style Fish curry (nadan meen curry) or  Mulaku curry (Red curry). But when i started my other blog "Food Blogger on Diet", i started searching  about more healthy food, and wherever i check i can see "Salmon" in their list. Salmon is high in omega-3 oils, high quality protein, essential amino acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B, Vitamin E etc.

How to make the best baked salmon
Preparation time : 5 min
Cooking time : 20 min
Yield : 4 servings  
Calories : 157 in 4oz
Ingredients :

Salmon : 16oz fillet, cut into 4 pieces

For the marinade :

Lemon juice from 1/2 of a lemon / 1/2tsp natural Vinegar
Pepper Powder : 1/2tsp
Dried / Fresh Parsley : 1tsp
Olive oil : 1tsp
Grated Garlic : 1clove(optional)
Salt
(You can choose your favorite ingredients for the marinade like Butter / white wine / soy sauce / honey / thyme  )

Directions :

1. Pat dry the salmon fillet. This is the most important step when you bake a salmon fillet.
 

2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees approx.). Combine the ingredients for marinade and pour over a medium glass bowl. Now place salmon fillets in the bowl, and neatly cover both sides with the marinade. Now bake for 20minutes or till done. (Do not cover the top with foil)

3. Serve hot / cold with pickled cucumbers or any salad.

Enjoy,
Lena

CLASSIC BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

Pancakes are fluffy, round cakes prepared from a starch based batter and cooked on a hot surface such as frying pan / griddle or sometimes on a hot oven. These are delicious served with butter and syrup on top with strawberries and whipped cream for a real treat. I had uploaded my Banana Pancakes and strawberry pancakes when i was in Banglore. But this Classic buttermilk pancakes are my family's Favorite.

How to make Classic Buttermilk Pancakes ?
Preparation time : 20min

Makes : 8pancakes
Serving size : 2pancakes
Calories : 174cal

Ingredients :

All purpose flour / Maida : 1Cup / 130g
Baking powder : 1tsp
Baking Soda : 1/4tsp
Sugar : 2tbsp
Butter Milk* : 1Cup
Egg : 1, Slightly beaten (Vegetarians can omit the egg and add 1tbsp thick yogurt)
Salt : 1/4tsp
Melted Butter : 3tbsp 

*Butter milk Substitute :

1. Add 1tbsp vinegar to 1 cup of milk and stir well. Let it stand for 10minutes. Viola!!! the perfect buttermilk is ready
2. Add 3tbsp Greek yogurt / any thick yogurt to 1cup water. Mix well and use in any recipe.

Method :


1. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Keep aside.

2. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, sugar, melted butter and Egg.

3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.

4. The batter will have some small lumps, but do not try to over mix it. Mix gently with a rubber spatula by scraping the sides of the bowl.


5. Heat a griddle / frying pan on medium flame and add 1sp butter / brush with butter using a pastry brush. Now pour the batter on the hot griddle (almost 1/4Cup) and cook for 2-3mins on each side until light brown in color.

6. Serve hot with corn surup / honey / maple syrup.

Enjoy!!!

Lena

 

CHEESE CROQUETTES

Croquette is an oval / cylinder shaped deep fried starter which has has a unique creamy texture in the filling because of the main ingredient - white sauce. The name 'croquette' came from the French word, 'croquer',  which means "to crunch". I had uploaded my Egg croquettes recipe earlier, which is a hit in my family.

How to make the perfect Egg croquettes?

Cooking time : 30min
Serves : 4 

Ingredients :

Mozzarella cheese : 1/2cup++ , Shredded

Parsley : 1tbsp Chopped

Green chillies : 2 Chopped

Onion : 1 Chopped

bread crumbs : 1/2Cup to 3/4Cup

White Sauce :

Maida(Flour) : 2 1/2 tbsp

Butter : 2tbsp

Milk : 1Cup

Salt & Pepper to taste

Coating :

1 Egg beaten

3/4 Cup Dry bread crumbs
(If you are a vegetarian, mix 2tbsp of maida with 4tbsp of water and make a batter to substitute the egg coating)

Method :

1. Heat butter in a sauce pan and add Onion. When it turns to translucent add flour. Stir continuously (medium heat) until flour turns light brown.

2. Remove from heat and gradually add milk (2 to 3 tbsp in the beginning and mix well, then add the remaining), stirring continuously so as not to form lumps.

3. Put the sauce pan back on fire and cook till the white sauce turns thick and starts leaving the sides of the pan. Add salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

4. Add to the white sauce, Mozzarella cheese, parsley, onion, chillies and 1/2Cup bread crumbs. Mix well and cool the mixture.  Now  refrigerate the mixture for a 30 minutes.

5. Shape the mixture into 14 croquettes. (oblong rolls with flat sides).Dip each croquettes in beaten egg and coat well with bread crumbs. Deep fry the croquettes on high heat till golden brown.

6. Serve hot with homemade Mayonnaise / Ketchup.

Tips for making the perfect crusted starter :

Use the smallest shallow vessel to the save the amount of oil you use while deep frying. Let the oil become hot and add 2 to 3 cutlets / croquettes at a time. If you are adding more, the edges will touch each other and it will become a mess. I use my 'Appachatti' / 'smallest kadai'  fry my croquettes / cutlets. Make sure the oil is really hot before adding your cutlet / croquette, else it will absorb oil. Only when one side is browned, turn to the other side, otherwise cutlet / croquette will break.

Enjoy!!!
Lena