Vrat Siddu With Walnut Chutney#AlphabetChallenge

Siddu is a traditional, stuffed steamed bread from the State of Himachal Pradesh, India. It's made from wheat flour dough, then rolled into thick circles, stuffed and steamed. I have made this for vrat/fasting so used bhagar/sama rice flour ( Barnyard Millet Flour). 

Ingredients
For The Siddu Outer Covering
150 Grams Bhagar/Sama Rice Flour
1 Teaspoon Ghee
¼ Teaspoon Sendhav Namak
For The Walnut Chutney
8 -10 Walnuts
3 Green Chillies
½ Cup Fresh Yogurt
Salt To Taste
For The Filling
2 - 3 Medium Potatoes - boiled & mashed
½ Teaspoon Sendhav Namak
¼ Teaspoon Black pepper
½ Teaspoon Grated Ginger - 1/2 tsp, grated
¼ Teaspoon Crushed Green Chilly
2 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Lime Juice
For Frying/Tadka
1 Tablespoon Desi Ghee
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Teaspoon Lime Juice
A Pinch Sendhav Namak
A Pinch Black Pepper powder
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
Method
For The Outer Covering

In a pot / kadai add 400ml water, salt & ghee mix well then add the sama rice flour, mix till it form a smooth batter. Then cook on low flame. With this method it require a little effort to knead. If your batter is still wet then spread it a plate and microwave for 2 minutes to dry it a little, then knead to a smooth soft dough. Cover and keep this aside, till we make the filling & Walnut Chutney
To Make The Walnut Chutney

Soak the walnuts in some little water for some time to soften them. Grind the soaked walnuts and green chillies with some salt to a fine paste. Add yogurt into a bowl and whisk well. Then add the walnut green chilli paste to the yoghurt, mix well and refrigerate till the Siddu's are ready to serve.
For The Filling

Heat desi ghee in a pan add the crushed green chilly, ginger and sauté for a minute, then add the mashed potato and mix well, add rest of the ingredients and give it a good mix. Filling is ready, let this cool.
To Make The Siddu

Make lemon sized balls of the dough. 

Place one ball on a lightly oiled plastic sheet/parchment paper. Roll out to a small disc / circle with hand or keep the ball between 2 sheets and roll with the chapatti/puri press. 

Use a cutter to cut it into a small circle. 

Place 2 tablespoons of the filling.

Gently fold it into as show in the above pic. and press the edges to seal it. 

Make all the Siddu's like wise. 

Steam the Siddu in a lightly greased steamer for 15 minutes. 

Insert a knife to check if the siddus are cooked( the knife should come out clean).
For Frying/Tadka

Heat desi ghee in a non stick broad pan, add the cumin seeds when they start to brown sprinkle a pinch salt, pepper and coriander leaves, mix well, then arrange the Siddu's on the pan When just start to change color at the bottom change sides and fry for a minute only. Switch of the flame.

Sprinkle lemon juice and serve with Walnut Chutney & Yogurt.

Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Steamed, Breads, Vrat, Walnuts, Chutney, Boiled Potato, Healthy, Indian

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• Sneha’s Recipe: Vrat Siddu With Walnut Chutney 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese#Alphabet Challenge

Italian Ricotta Cheese, is easy and a flexible recipe which anyone can make at home. Ricotta is a fabulous component of many Italian dessert's, such as cheese cake, cannoli etc.. It is also used in pasta's, pizza's, lasagna, ravioli and so on. Well In India this is very expensive to buy and making it at home is so easy and delicious. I love to have this as a filling for pancakes.

Makes around 350 Grams
Ingredients
2 Liters Full Fat Milk
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup Full Fat Yogurt
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons White Vinegar - mixed in ¼ cup water

Method 

In a large pan, heat the milk, heavy cream, till it comes the temperature comes to 90°C. Then add in the full fat yogurt, salt, vinegar mixed in water,  gently stir on a low flame and let is heat for 3 -4 minutes, stirring lightly until milk curdles up. Meanwhile take a strainer and cover it with a muslin cloth and place it on top of a deep bowl. 

Once milk curdles up and comes to boil, stir and put off the flame. Strain curdled milk with a strainer having muslin cloth. Do not throw away its water also known as whey (You can use this in soups or to knead dough for making bread), let it drain for 15-20 minutes. Gather muslin cloth and squeeze properly to remove excess water or whey out of it.

Once done keep cheese covered with the cloth and keep a heavy object on top to give it shape of your choice.
Refrigerate and use this within 3-4 days. 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese is ready for which we would pay a hefty sum to buy it.
Labels: Cheese, Homemade, Ricotta, Italian, International Cuisine, Keto, Low Carb

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "R"

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Qabuli Biryani#Alphabet Challenge

Qabuli Biryani is a vegetarian layered rice dish from Andhra, this biryani has layers of basmati rice, chana dal in a yogurt gravy and saffron milk & kewra water! I made this for our friends get together and they all were amazed with the flavor and taste.
Serves 6
Ingredients
For The Chana Dal Gravy
150 grams Chana Dal / Bengal Gram Lentil - soaked
1½ Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
½ Cup Oil
1 Cup Thick Yogurt - whisked
3 Green Chilies - slit
3 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Kitchen King Masala
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
½ Cup + ½ Cup Brown Onion - crushed
1 Teaspoon Salt
A Juice of One Lemon juice
1 Large Potato - boiled and fried
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Bay Leaf
2 Cloves
4 Whole Black Peppercorns
1" Stick Cinnamon
1 Brown Cardamom
2 Green Cardamoms
For The Rice
300 Grams Basmati Rice
2 Tablespoons Sea Salt
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1" Stick Cinnamon
3 Cardamoms
5 Cloves
8 Black Peppercorns
1 Brown Cardamom
Method
To Boil The Rice

Wash and soak the basmati rice for 15 minutes
Boil 6 -8 cups of water and salt. Add the whole spices. Drain the excess water from the soaked rice. When the water comes to roll boil,add the rice and boil for about 10 minutes on medium flame. Remove the rice when it is just cooked but the grains should be firm. Drain the water, let it cool completely.
For The Chana Dal Gravy
Wash and soak the chana dal for 2 hours.

Heat oil in a kadai / pot fry add all the whole spices and sauté for a minute then add ginger garlic paste, and sauté till the raw aroma vanishes. Switch off the flame, add then ½ cup room temperature water and then the whisked yogurt mix well. Place the pot back on to the flame and on high flame stirring continuously with a whisk, whisk this till it comes to a rolling boil, then reduce the flame ( the yogurt will not curdle if you try this method, this is a tried and tested method). Now add the dal mix well, ½ cup crushed brown onions and place this on the flame and cook covered on low flame till the dal is just done but still whole. Add green chilies and half the coriander leaves, give it a stir. 

This gravy should be thick, do not dry this completely. Switch off the flame add lemon juice. Keep aside. 

Assemble The Biryani 

In a heavy bottom pan add ¼ cup water, & ¼ cup oil mix well and then half of the boiled rice with a sprinkle of pinch of salt and then add all of the cooked dal mixture. 

A sprinkle coriander leaves, potatoes cubes and brown onions.

Then the remaining rice top it with yellow color, fried onions, coriander leaves, slices of tomatoes and few drops of kewra and a few dollops of butter all over. Cover it with a foil tightly and leave it on dum on high flame for 5 minutes then very low flame for 15 minutes. Switch off the flame. 

Let it rest for 10 minutes. 

Lightly mix the rice and serve hot. We enjoyed this with raita.
Labels: Alphabet Challenge,Chana Dal, Biryani, Rice, Indian, Andhra Pradesh,Main course, Vegetarian

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Ribbon Pakoda/Ola Pakoda#Alphabet Challenge

This is another addictive savory snack. Ribbon Pakoda is a snack that I enjoyed in my young age and still love eating it. When my daughter was schooling this was a regular snack that was in her tiffin. This is also called Ola Pakoda in Tamil. During festival eating to many sweets one gets tried, you want something spicy and this snack balances that sweetness. Try this addictive and super easy snack.

Ingredients
2 Cups Chickpea flour / Besan
1 Cup Rice flour
A Pinch Asafoetida
1 Teaspoon Red chilly powder - adjust to taste
1 Tablespoon White butter
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
Oil for deep frying
Method
Sieve the rice flour and besan thrice.
In a bowl mix all the above ingredients together, add water little at a time and knead it into the soft dough.

Make the dough a little soft so that the it can be squeezed easily from the murukku maker. This is plate that is used to make the ribbon / ola pakoda.

Heat oil in a kadai.
Grease the inside of murukku press with oil. Make a ball and put in the murukku press and press it directly in the oil. When they turn light golden brown, flip the side and cook till light golden. Remove pakoda and place it on a tissue paper to drain the excess oil.

Let it cool completely and then store it in an airtight container. Repeat the same for the remaining dough too. You can keep this for a month and enjoy this as a tea time or tiffin snack.

Labels: Savory Snacks, Festival Sweets, Chickpea flour, South Indian, Tamil Nadu, Alphabet Challenge

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Okra / Bhendi Sabzi #AlphabetChallenge

Ingredients

250 Grams Bhendi/Okra
1 Medium Tomato - chopped
1 Medium Onion - chopped
A Sprig Currry leaves
2 Tablespoons Oil
1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 Teaspoon Garlic & Ginger paste
1 Teaspoon Vindaloo masala
Salt to taste
¼ Teaspoon Garam Masala powder


Method
Wash the bhendi well. Dry them well using kitchen towel or paper towel. Cut off both ends (head and tail part). And chop them into pieces.
Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add cumin seeds. Let them sizzle a bit add the curry leaves, chopped onions and fry till transculent, add ginger garlic paste fry well. Then add chopped tomato, vindaloo masala and fry well. Then add the chopped bhendi and salt mix well so that all the masala gets coated with bhendi. Cover it and let it cook. Stir in between. When you cook bhendi by covering the pan with lid, you will get softer texture. Then add garam masala powder. Mix it well. 

Serve hot with roti/ phulka / paratha, dal/rice.
Labels: Bhendi, Okra, Alphabet Challenge,Vegan,Gluten free, Vegetarian,Indian

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Naturally Fermented Appam Using Homemade Toddy#Alphabet Challenge

Traditionally, appams are fermented with a local alcoholic drink known as toddy, since we do not get toddy in my city decided to make this from scratch at home.
Making naturally fermented appam with homemade toddy (or kallu) these are perfectly soft, lacy pancakes. You can check the different appam recipe posted below.

Cup Measurement 250 Ml
Makes 25 - 26 Appams
Ingredients
2 Cups Idly Rice
1 Cup Grated Coconut
4 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
100 to 125 ML Water
To make the Fermented Coconut Water / Toddy
175 ML Coconut Water
1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
Method

Add a tablespoon sugar into the coconut water ,mix well . Close well and keep this water in indirect sunlight for 3 days Do not keep it direct sunlight. I kept this in morning at 9 am till 4 pm in indirect sunlight. Then kept at room temperature on my dining table for a day or until fermented. It stays well in the refrigerator for 4 - 6 weeks.
For Making The Appam

Soak rice for minimum 6 hours or overnight and drain all the water the next day. Wash it once in fresh water and drain that water too.
Keep aside 3 tablespoon of the soaked rice. In the remaining rice mix rest the coconut and keep aside .
First grind the 3 tablespoons of rice with water and make a fine paste. Pour this into a sauce pan, add 300 Ml water and mix well. Cook it on medium low flame stirring continuously, till is form a thick and shiny dough. Let it cool completely.
Grind the remaining rice and coconut mix with 2 - 3 tablespoons fermented coconut water to fine paste. I ground it in 3 batches. Now add the cooled rice paste along with a little of the ground rice coconut paste and blend it well so that it is incorporated. Add this paste to the remaining ground batter, wash the mixer jar with water, pour this to into the batter and mix very well with your hands for 2 - 3 minutes. Leave it to ferment overnight in a warm place. 

It takes 14 - 16 hours to ferment this batter, keep this in a warm place. Once the batter is fermented - the batter will be bubbly and frothy. Add salt and mix well. Taste for sugar, add if necessary. 

Make appams in a appam pan or you can make them on a tawa too. 

Enjoy with Avail or Stew. 
My Notes

Egg Appam can be made with this batter, just break an egg on top when the appam is nearly ready cover with a lid and let the yolk set.

See here for the other two method that the Appam are made Palappam - With Idly Rice - Vegan & Gluten Free
Appam / Instant Appam
Labels: Alphabet Challenge,Appams,Kerala,Side Dish, Flatbreads,South Indian, Gluten free, Vegan

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Mix Flour Shankarpali/Shankarpara#AlphabetChallenge

Shankarpali is crispy, crunch and yet very soft like fried biscuit. This snack typically made in India during Diwali or Christmas, actually a festival is incomplete without this snack. It is made in two forms savory and sweet. Today, I am sharing the sweet version.
Makes 400 Grams
Ingredients  
1 Cup Level All Purpose Flour
½ Cup Level Wheat flour
½ Cup Level Fine Semolina
2 Tablespoons Heaped Ghee - melted and cooled
Salt a pinch
Oil as required to deep fry
For The Sugar Syrup - to knead the dough
½ Cup Sugar
½ Cup Water

Method 
In a small sauce pan mix sugar and water, bring this a boil only till sugar melts. Immediately take off flame add salt and ghee.  This syrup does not require any thread consistency . Allow to cool. When cooled then add the semolina mix it and let it sit covered for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes take the whole wheat and all purpose flours into a big kneading bowl.   Add the sugar semolina mix little by little , mix well with the help of your palms. knead the dough. The dough should be of medium consistency. Not very hard nor very soft. 

Make equal sized balls and roll into 1/4 cm thick circle. Cut them into square or diamond shape. 

Heat oil, when the oil if medium hot then put the cut squares in to it. Do not fry on high flame, because they will remain uncooked from the inside. 

Fry the pieces till light brown and crisp. Once all are fried, place them aside to cool. They become nice crispy on cooling. Once cooled store them in an airtight container.

Enjoy these sweet, crispy yet melt in mouth Shankarpali.
Labels:  Festival Sweets, Shankarpali, Christmas, Mix Flour, Snacks, Alphabet Challenge

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