Upvasachi Shengdanyachi Usal/Peanut Sundal - Keto#Alphabet Challenge

With the festival season, we need a lot of naivedyam or upvas/vrat recipes. This one dish is always prepared for Ganapati. I simply love it, and make it often since it is rich in protein and most of all keto, this is so addictive that you can't stop eating it. This is also called by different names in different states like Verkadalai Sundal, Verusenaga Guggillu in south states of our country. This is a very easy dish to prepare.

Ingredients
1½ Cup Raw Peanuts – soaked
½ Cup Packed Freshly Grated Coconut
1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
2 Dried Red Chillies
A Sprig Curry Leaves
2 - 3 Tablespoon Oil
A Pinch Asafoetida
Salt to Taste
Method

Soak the peanuts in water 30 minutes. Then wash it well.
Add about ½ teaspoon sea salt to the soaked peanuts.
Pressure cook for one whistle on high then keep it for 5 minutes on low. Drain the water completely and set aside.
In a wok or kadai, heat the oil / ghee. Add mustard seeds and wait till they splutter. Turn the flame to low add red chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida. Stir-fry for a minute. Add the cooked peanuts and grated coconut. Stir-fry for a couple of minutes. Add salt to taste, if required. Mix well. Switch off the flame.

Serve warm or at room temperature.
Labels: Shengdane, Peanuts, Vrat, Alphabet Challenge, Maharashtra, Keto, Low Carb, Indian

Let's see what other recipes are being served in alphabet "U" today..

• Culinary Cam: Curry Udon with Prawns 
• Blogghetti: Easy Homemade Peach Upside Down Cake 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Stir-Fried Udon Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables (Yaki Udon) 
• Food Lust People Love: Spicy Urad Dal 
• A Messy Kitchen: Ube Muffins
• Magical Ingredients: Ube Paratha 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Ukrainian Cod in Tomato Sauce
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Unsweetened Coconut Oatmeal Peach Crisp
• Sneha’s Recipe: Upvasachi Shengdanyachi Usal/Peanut Sundal - Keto 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Utah Buttermilk Scones 
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Vegetable Upma  

Lemon Rice/Chitranna#Alphabet Challenge

Chitranna in Kannada is also known as lemon rice. It's a rice-based dish widely prepared in South India. Lemon rice is one of the most popular South Indian rice recipes. It is a real comfort food. Quick and easy to make with all ingredients in your pantry. This can be made with leftover cooked rice, is a crunchy, flavorful, tasty and tangy dish that is easy to make and tastes so good. 

Lemon juice, fried nuts and spices combine perfectly to give this steamed rice an amazing spicy, tangy and nutty flavor. The nuts add a crunch for the perfect rice dish texture. This vegan lemon rice recipe is sure to become one of your favorite rice dishes and gets ready in just 10 minutes.

1 Cup = 200 Ml

Serves Two
Ingredients

¾ Cup Rice 
3 - 4 Tablespoon Oil
A pinch Asafoetida
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
2 Sprig Curry leaves
3 Whole Dried Red chillies
1 Teaspoon Level Turmeric powder
2 Tablespoons Lemon juice or to taste
3 Tablespoons Raw Peanuts
1 Teaspoon Urad dal
1 Teaspoon Chana dal
½ Teaspoon Grated Ginger - optional
Salt to taste

Method

Wash and cook the rice with salt till done, do not over cook it. Drain and let it cool completely.
Heat oil in a wok / kadai, add mustard seeds and chana dal and urad dal let it mustard seeds splutter and the dals start to brown. Immediately add asafoetida, curry leaves, ginger, red chilli and peanuts. Saute them well till the peanuts turn dark brown. Then add turmeric powder followed by rice. 

Turn around a few times so the rice is completely mixed and is warmed. Add salt and lemon juice to the rice and mix well.

Serve hot. Enjoy with Chutney, raita and papad.
Labels: Cooked Rice, Lemon juice, Peanuts, Urad dal, Chana dal, South Indian, Main Course, Vegan, Gluten free, Vegetarian, Serves Two, Alphabet Challenge

• Sneha’s Recipe: Lemon Rice/Chitranna 
• Food Lust People Love: Easy Lamb and Fresh Tomato Curry
• Culinary Cam: Lingcod Over Legumes 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Lemon Vinaigrette 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Melody’s Homemade Lemonade 
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Mediterranean Lentil Salad 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Barbecue Pork Lo Mein 
• Blogghetti Lemon Pepper Tilapia Sheet Pan Dinner 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Fresh Dill Deviled Eggs with a Hint of Lemon 
• Palatable Pastime: Liver and Onions 
• A Messy Kitchen: Lemon Balm Jelly

Quinoa Dosa With Peanut Coconut Chutney

Quinoa Dosa is a healthy and tasty dosa that is very easy to prepare just like regular dosa. The batter for the Quinoa dosa is made of rice, quinoa and urad dal. Quinoa dosa is healthy and different to break the boredom of making regular dosa , you can relish it with your favorite chutney or sambar!

Ingredients
1 Cup Quinoa - I used organic quinoa
1 Cup Idly Rice
½ Cup Urad Dal
1 Teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
Water as required for grinding
Salt to taste
Oil as required for making dosa

Method

In seperate bowls wash the quinoa

urad dal and fenugreek seeds.

idly rice,

 Wash 3 to 4 times until you see clear water. Soak it in enough water for 6 hours.

After 6 hours, drain all the water and wash it in fresh water and drain all the water. In a wet grinder add little quantity of the soaked urad dal and fenugreek seeds, rice and quinoa add little water to grind this to a fine paste. Grind the mixture into a smooth, and fluffy batter with adding little water as possible in regular intervals when needed.

When this is ground to fine paste transfer the mixture to a bowl, add required amount of salt and mix well. Allow the batter to ferment for 8 to 10 hours or overnight.

In the morning give the batter will be light and fluffy a good stir and check the consistency of the batter. If it is little thick add around ¼ cup water to make a flowing but thick spreading consistency batter, this will yield perfect crispy dosa.

Heat a dosa tawa, brush it oil and spinkle a little water and wipe is clean with a kitchen towel. Now pour a ladle of batter and spread it like regular dosa. Drizzle few drops of oil and cook dosa in medium flame. 

When dosa looks done transfer it to a plate.

Let's Prepare the Chutney to go with it!!

This Peanut Coconut Chutney goes well with any South Indian food like dosa, idli, uttappam etc.

This chutney is very tasty and easy to prepare, done with few ingredients. I' am 100% sure almost every kitchen has these ingredients ready to use.

Make One Cup
Ingredients
For Chutney
½ Cup Peanuts
¾ Cup Freshly grated coconut
2 Tablespoons Roasted Chana Dal
¼ Cup Yogurt
1 Bunch of Coriander leaves/Cilantro
1 Inch Piece of Ginger
3-4 Green Chillies
1 Tablespoon Sugar
Salt to taste
For Tadka
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
2 Dried Red chilies
Pinch Asafoetida
5-6 Curry leaves
Method
Grind together ingredients mentioned for chutney in a mixer grinder using very little water to make thick chutney. Take it out in a bowl.
For the Tadka

In a small saucepan kept on high heat, add oil and let it heat well.

Once the oil is nice and hot, reduce the heat.
Add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add the asafoedita, red chillies and curry leaves mix it well for a minute. Switch off the flame and pour over the prepared chutney.

Serve with quinoa dosa.

Enjoy this delicious combo!! 
Labels: Quinoa, Dosa, Peanuts, Ginger, Chutney, Healthy, Breakfast, Main course, South Indian, Crepes, Improv Cooking Challenge

September 2021 Improv Cooking Challenge
Theme is Peanut & Ginger
Asian Noodle Salad by  A Day in the Life on the Farm
Haitian Tablet Pistach by  Pandemonium Noshery 
Kung Pao Chicken  by Palatable Pastime 
Minty Tomato Peanut Chutney by  Magical Ingredients 
Quinoa Dosa With Peanut Coconut Chutney by  Sneha's Recipe  

A Chunky Peanut Butter Dip#SundayFunday

A Chunky Peanut Butter Dip is delightful for fresh crudités or hors D’oeuvres/appetizers, a great crowd pleaser. Tasty, low in calories, you must try this for your coming party.

Makes ¾ Cup
Ingredients
1/3 Cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
½ Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes
Fresh Lemon juice of a small lemon
1 Tablespoon Sriracha or Chili sauce - I used Sriracha 
1 Tablespoon Ketchup
1 Teaspoon Light Soy sauce

Method

Mix all ingredients until well-blended. 

Serve with crudités/raw vegetables sticks like (cucumber, radish, boiled turnip, bell pepper, carrot or vegetables of your choice).

Or with these Cajun Tortilla Chips. Enjoy!!
Labels: Chutneys & Dips, Peanut Butter, Peanuts, Crudités, Sunday Funday, Nibbles, Low Cal, Healthy, Vegan, Gluten Free

Today I’m joining a new group of bloggers for an event called Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. I thank our host for this week's event Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm the theme is "Nibbles".

• Barbecue Smokehouse Almonds by Palatable Pastime
• Cheddar Horseradish Dip by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chunky Peanut Butter Dip by Sneha's Recipe
• Confit de Gesiers by Food Lust People Love
• Fontina Salami Bites by Making Miracles
• Olive Tapenade by Pandemonium Noshery
• Spiced Cheese Wafers by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Tomato Bread by Our Good Life

Sabudana Vada - Vrat

Sabudana Vada is a vrat ka khana.  In major towns like Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Bhopal and Nagpur, it is available as street food and is widely eaten throughout the year. 

It is the dish of choice when an individual observes a "fast" during Shivratri, Navratri, or a similar Hindu religious occasion.  These crunchy vadas simply melt in the mouth… leaving the stomach full while the tongue craves for more.
Makes: 6  Vadas
Ingredients 
1 Cup Sabudana
2 Large Potatoes
3 Tablespoon Roasted Peanut - coarsely powdered
2 Tablespoon Lemon juice
1 Tablespoon Cumin seeds
1 Tablespoon Roasted Cumin powder
2 Tablespoon Coriander leaves - finely chopped
2 Green Chilies - finely chopped
1/2 Tablespoon Sugar powder
1 Teaspoon Salt /Sendhav Namak or as per taste
Ghee or Oil for frying
For the Green Coconut Chutney
A handful Each Coriander and Mint leaves
2-3 Green chillies (or as required)
1 ½ Teaspoon Lemon juice

Salt to taste/Sendhav Namak
1/2 Cup Packed Fresh Coconut - grated
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
Salt to taste
Method 
For The Green Coconut Chutney

Grind the coconut, coriander leaves, the mint leaves, green chilies, lemon juice and a little salt, sugar to a fine paste.  Remove in a bowl and refrigerate till needed.
For the VadasWash sabudana 3-4 times and soaked overnight in the water or for 4 -5 hours . Keep water level same as level of sabudana.

Boil and mash the potatoes. Add sabudana and rest of the ingredients. 

Combine everything with your hand.

Divide the mixture into equal portions. Shape each portion into a round and flatten slightly.

Deep-fry the vadas in hot oil until they are golden brown in colour and drain on absorbent paper.

Serve hot with green chutney or any sauce. Have these hot, when cold they are chewy.  

My Notes

Quantity of potatoes should be just sufficient to hold sabudana. 
Do not soak sabudana in too much of water. If its there, drain out excess water from sabudana before mixing with potatoes.

You can even add 2 teaspoons of rice flour while mixing for more crispiness.

Labels : Sabudana, Millets, Vrat, Snacks, Peanuts, Deep Fried, Mashed Potatoes, Vegan, Gluten free,  Street food

Egg & Potato Curry#Improv

Egg & Potato Curry pic has been on FB page for years, not realizing that the recipe has not yet been posted on my blog.

When going to my post just recently realized this is still pending, so here is the delicious and creamy recipe.

Serves 3
Ingredients
6 Hard Boiled Eggs
2 Potatoes - peeled and boiled till half done

½ Teaspoon Heaped Garlic paste 1½ Teaspoon Heaped Chili powder ½ Teaspoon  Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander powder 1 tsp

1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste

3 Tablespoons  Tomato Puree

1/3 Cup Oil

Grind To A Fine Paste

Dry roast each seperately

1/3 Cup Onion Birista-Homemade
1 Tablespoon Heaped Desiccated Coconut - dry roast
1 Teaspoon Sesame Seeds - dry roast
1 Tablespoon Peanuts - dry roast & skinned
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds - dry roast

Method

Grind  the ingredients  in a small blender jar with little water  to fine paste. 

In a pot/ kadai heat oil add  the garlic, tomato puree and rest of the dry spices and the  ground paste, fry for 2 minutes or till oil surfaces.  Now  add  the potatoes and saute for a minute or till they are coated with the masala.  

Add a cup of water or more according to the gravy consistency (do not add more water this gravy is thick), cover and cook for 10 minutes till potatoes tender, add boiled eggs cut into two halves, lightly give it a mix . It's ready to serve. 

Garnish with  chopped coriander leaves and enjoy with rotis or paratha. 

Labels :  Egg, Hard Boiled, Desiccated Coconut, Fried Onions, Peanuts, Healthy, Curry, Main course, Improv Cooking Challenge, Potato

Check out what the other bloggers have made! 

Improv Cooking Challenge: February 2020
Ingredients: Potato and Egg
Hash Brown Breakfast Sandwich by Cookaholic Wife
Potato, Egg, and Arugula Curry by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Steak and Egg Hash by Making Miracles
Seasoned Keto CrackersBoxty (Irish Potato Pancakes) by Palatable Pastime
Patates Salatasi - Turkish Potato Salad by Pandemonium Noshery
Egg & Potato Curry by Sneha's Recipe
Mom's Potato Soup with Egg Dumplings by Our Good Life
Potato Pancakes by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Shengdana Chikki / Peanut Brittle#FantasticalFoodFight

Peanuts in Maharashtra is also know as Shengdana.  This  chikki  / candy / brittle is a quick and easy snack from Maharashtra a winter special sweet, crisp made with just two main ingredients - peanuts and jaggery. 

This an easy candy is very popular in India during winter months.  It is a perfect snack to gorge on in winters to keep your body warm.  It's made specially during the festival season of Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti.

Ingredients 
200 Grams Peanuts
200 Grams Jaggery
1 Teaspoon Desi Ghee(optional) - this is used to give a shine

2 Teaspoons Water

Method

First keep all the essentials ready. 

Grease the tray or board the rolling pin with oil or ghee and keep aside.

Grate the jaggery and keep aside.

Roast and skin  the peanuts, separate them into two.

Keep a small bowl of water.

Heat jaggery  with  water   in a pan until it melts on medium low flame. 

Boil the jaggery  and keep stirring it continuously until

 it starts to bubble,  changes color and turns into hard crack consistency. (test its consistency by putting a drop in cold water- it should form a ball crack after you take it out).  Add the ghee and peanuts and mix thoroughly.  

Spread the mixture immediately and use the rolling pin, roll  to a centimeter thickness 

give cuts. Let it cool completely 

Take a knife and lift them up then break  into squares.  

Store them in an airtight container.

Labels: Chikki, Brittle, Candy, Peanuts, Jaggery, Desi Ghee, Fantastical Food Fight, Healthy, Homemade

You can learn more about our group and how to join in the fun over at this site.


#FantasticalFoodFight

Be sure to check out the other Fantastical "food fight" recipes this month !

Click on the hop link button to be transported to the other recipes:

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