Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Simple Meal plan

What can be more blissful than a simple meal. Such meals turn out to be really special and extra delicious :) as they are sought after getting bored with the elaborate recipes.I love it coz simple dishes with very basic ingredients turn out finger lickingly yummy....Here goes my meal plan.

Menu:

1. Thili (plain) Rasam
2. Lauki sabzi / bottle gourd stir fry

For the Thili (plain) Rasam:

Ingredients:

2 tomatoes, quartered
1 tbsp rasam powder
¼ tsp asafoetida/hing
Salt as per taste
½ tsp sugar
3 tbsp tamarind pulp
2 -3 bowls of water
1-2 tbsp coriander leaves, finely chopped
Tempering:

1 tsp oil/ghee
1 tsp mustard
¼ tsp asafoetida/hing
5-6 curry leaves

Method:

1. In a vessel put water, tomatoes and pressure cook it for 2 whistles.
2. Once it cools, mash the cooked tomatoes using your fingers, make it into a thin tomato pulp (if necessary add little more water).
3. Add rasam powder, tamarind pulp, sugar and salt to the tomato pulp,
4. Mix the contents and heat on a low flame, stir occasionally.
5. Prepare for the tempering on the other hand.

6. For the tempering:
> Heat oil/ghee in a small pan
> Add mustard and curry leaves, when it starts to splutter add asafoetida/hing

7. Remove from the flame and add it to the Rasam, stir well.
8. Bring the rasam to boiling point and switch off the flame.
9. Garnish with coriander just before serving.
10. Serve hot with rice.


Lauki Sabzi/ Bottle gourd stir fry

Ingredients:

1 cup – bottle gourd, chopped and cooked
1tsp – aamchur powder (dry mango powder) / lime juice
½ tsp – jeera seeds (cumin) ½ tsp – turmeric powder
1 tsp - oil
1 dry chilli, broken into halves
A pinch of asafoetida/hing
Salt as per taste

Method

1. Heat oil in a vessel, add mustard after it splutters add jeera (cumin)seeds, asafoetida/hing, red chilli, turmeric powder.
2. Immediately add the cooked bottle gourd (this gives a brighter colour to the sabzi) and mix the contents of the vessel gently.
3. Lastly add sugar, aamchur powder (dry mango powder)/lime juice,and salt.
4. Mix well again, so that the vegetable blends well with the spices.
5. Simmer on low flame for 2-3 minutes with lid closed.
6. Take it off the flame and garnish with chopped coriander.
7. Serve hot with rice or roti.

Relish your simple and healthy meal :)



16 comments:

FH said...

Love the thili Rasam, can drink few cups a day! :)

saffronapron.blogspot.com said...

True, simple means are really relaxing and you need them once in a while without going for any fancy stuff.

Ashwini said...

Love rasam..rice , rasam and subzi is the comfort food..

sathya said...

yummy rasam and sabzi ! i always go for rasam with potato fry :)

gtyuk said...

I agree with you, simple things turn out to be the best sometimes!
rassam and bottle gourd stir-fry seem to be a perfect pair!

Manju said...

that is soo true, many a times, a simple meal is the most comforting one!

Suparna said...

Thanks for the visit friends, belated Holi greetings to all of you :)
TC

sharada said...

Nice simple cool meal i must say!!

lubnakarim06 said...

Lauki sabzi looks yummy...Will try this version. I totally agree with you in case of simple meal....

Suparna said...

Sharada, Lubna thanks for visiting.

Varsha Vipins said...

Really a simple n comforting meal Suparna..On lazy cold days,I make rasam n some stir fries like this.The pics are so tempting..:)
Thanks for the visit n comment..Pls be around..:)

Preety said...

i agree nothing is more awesome than simple and healthy meal..yours look perfect too

Suparna said...

Thanks for the visit dear varsha and preety :)
TC

Unknown said...

yes i agree with you simple and helthy meal is a choice

Malar Gandhi said...

Love all kinds of rasam, this looks perfect for me.

Suparna said...

Thanks rekha and malar for ur visit and comment :)