Moong Dal Curry

Overview
A very simple dal curry which goes well with plain rice or chapati. Quick and easy recipe that can be served as a side dish. You can use different kind of lentils to make this dish. This is a healthy and nutritious dish since it is rich in protein too.

Dal Curry

Ingredients for Dal Curry

Ingredients
Split yellow Moong dal - 1/2 cup
Red onions - 1/2 cup - finely chopped
Plum Tomatoes finely chopped  - 1/2 cup
Garlic 4 - 5 cloves finely chopped
Cilantro finely chopped - 1/4 cup
Turmeric - 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chilly powder - 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder 1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Oil - 1 tablespoon
Salt to taste

Steps
1. Wash the dal in several changes of water and let it drain. After all water has drained dry roast the dal till the dal gets roasted and nutty aroma comes. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and cook in a pressure cooker till dal is cooked.
2. In a pan heat oil . when the oil gets hot add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add cumin seeds to this followed by finely chopped red onions and garlic. Saute till onions start to turn slight brown. Add turmeric powder, chilly powder and coriander powder to this and mix well.
3. Saute few minutes and add the finely chopped tomatoes to this. Add salt mix well and cover lid and cook till tomatoes are cooked well.
4. Pour the cooked dal to this along with  one cup water and mix well. Bring this to a boil. Turn off heat and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with finely chopped cilantro.

Serve hot with plain rice or chapati.

Dum Biryani ( Thalassery Dum Biryani)

Overview
Biryani is a traditional rice and meat dish made in all states of India. This is a very special dum biryani from the region of Thalassery Kerala. The main difference from this and other biryanis is that only green chilli's is used for this no red chilly powder or coriander powder. I have used beef to make this biryani but you can also use chicken or mutton.

Beef Dum Biryani

Ingredients - not shown in picture Golden Raisins and Cashews 

Ingredients
Beef two pounds cleaned and cut into big cubes
Basmati Rice  - 3 cups
Red Onions 4 large - thin sliced
Plum tomatoes - 4 finely chopped
Garlic - 8 - 10 coves finely chopped
Ginger 2 inch piece finely chopped
Green chillies - 8 - 10 finely chopped
( adjust the amount of green chillies to the level of spiciness you like)
Mint leaves finely chopped - 3/4 cup
Cilantro leaves - 3/4 cup
Lemon juice 4 tablespoons
Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
Fried Golden Raisins - 3 tablespoons
Cashews - 3 tablespoons
Salt to Taste
Oil - 6 tablespoons oil
Oil for frying onions

Whole Masala for Rice 
Cinnamon stick 2 pieces
Cardamom - 2
Cloves - 4
Star Anise - 1 - 2
Fennel Seeds - 1 teaspoon
Black Pepper - 1 teaspoon

Biryani Masala
Cinnamon stick 2 pieces
Cardamom - 3
Cloves - 4
Star Anise - 1 - 2
Fennel Seeds - 1 teaspoon
Black Pepper - 1 teaspoon
Shah Jeera - 1/2 teaspoon

Steps
1. Marinate the clean cut beef cubes with 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, salt to taste and lemon juice and keep in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. Add oil in pan(about 1/4 cup)  and when oil gets hot add the thin sliced red onions to oil and  fry till it is golden brown. Drain oil and keep aside.
3. In a coffee grinder grind the biryani masala to a smooth powder and keep aside.
4. In a heavy bottom pan heat 3 tablespoon oil. When the oil gets hot add the finely chopped garlic, ginger and green chillies to it and saute few minutes. Add finely chopped tomatoes to this along with salt mix well and cover and cook till the tomatoes are soft.
5. Add the marinated beef cubes to this and mix well. Add mixture to a pressure cooker and cook till the beef is cooked well and soft. Transfer to a pan. Add the finely chopped cilantro and mint leaves and fried onions to this mix well and cook till the gravy is thick .
6. Add the prepared biryani masala to this and mix well. When the gravy is thick turn off heat.
7. Wash the rice in several turns of water and soak in water for about 30 minutes and drain wanter  and keep aside.
8. Add 3 tablespoon oil in a pot when the oil gets hot and whole spices for rice to this and saute well. Add the washed and drained rice to this along with 6 cups of water 2 tablespoons lemon juice and salt.
9. When the rice boils. Reduce heat to low and cover with lid and cook for about 8 minutes till rice is cooked.  Uncover lid and fluff rice with fork and keep aside.
10. In a oven safe dish add the prepared beef to it as a first layer. Add the cooked rice over it. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in oven at 200 for about 30 minutes. Garnish with fried golden raisins,  cashews and chopped cilantro.

Serve hot with Indian Pickles and Raita.

Peanut Salad

Overview
This is a delicious and healthy salad made with boiled raw peanuts and fresh vegetables. It has the sour taste from the lemon juice and dried mango powder and the spiciness which compliments it from hot green chillies and red chilly powder. This can be served as an healthy snack or as an appetizer.

Peanut Salad

Peanut Salad Ingredients

Ingredients
Raw peanuts - 1 1/2 cups
Diced red onions - 3/4 cup
Diced tomatoes - 3/4 cup
Diced cucumbers - 3/4 cup
Finely chopped cilantro  - 3 tablespoons
Finely chopped green chillies - 3 - 4
Dried mango powder - 1 tablespoon
Dry roasted cumin seed powdered - 1 teaspoon
Lemon juice - 2 tablespoons
Salt to taste
Turmeric - 1/2 teaspoons

Steps
1. Boil raw peanuts with enough salt and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 cup water in covered pot till soft about 25 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
2. Dry roast cumin seeds and powder and keep aside.
3. Dice the onions tomatoes and cucumber.
4. Mix all ingredients in bowl add salt as needed and serve immediately. Mix all ingredients only when you are ready to serve.