Coconut Rice

The combination of grated coconut, channa dal and rice make a delectable serve. Coconut rice is a easy to prepare meal. 

Ingredients:

1. Grated coconut - 1 cup
2. Cooked Rice -  1 cup
3. Coconut oil - 2 tbsp
4. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
5. Channa dal - 1/2 tsp
6. Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
7. Red Chillies - 2 or 3
8. Curry leaves - few
9. Salt - as required

Method:

• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. When it crackles, add Channa dal, Urad dal, Red chilli and fry till golden brown. Add Curry leaves and stir. Now add Grated coconut and fry on low flame stirring continously. Fry until golden brown. Add Salt and mix well. Now, our coconut rice powder is ready. You can save this in an air-tight container and keep it in refrigerator for 1 or 2 days.
• To make Coconut rice, Add few tbsp of Coconut rice powder in cooked and cooled rice along with required salt and few tsp of coconut oil and mix well.
• Serve with Appalam or Pappad.

Omakkuzhambhu

Omum has more medicinal value. It is a digestive aid and an antiseptic. It helps for good digestion.

Omum consist of moisture, protein, fat, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. The Oil  in the seed, is strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic and expectorant.

It helps to cure even Ulcers, Pimples, Kidney stones, Toothache and Earache. It is used internally for the treatment of Colds, Coughs and Asthma.

So, it is good to intake omum on daily basis or atleast once in a week.

Ingredients:

1. Omum - 2 tsp
2. Oil - 2 tbsp
3. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
4. Tamarind - gooseberry size
5. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
6. Urad dal  - 1/2 tsp
7. Channa dal - 1/2 tsp
8. Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp
9. Curry leaves - few
10. Salt - as required
11. Asafoetida - a pinch
12. Jaggery - 1 tsp

To Grind For Sambar Powder :

1. Coriander seeds - 3 tbsp
2. Channa dal - 2 tbsp
3. Urad dal - 1 tbsp
4. Black pepper - 1 tbsp
5. Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tbsp
6. Fenugreek Seeds - 1/4 tsp
7. Red chilli - 1 or 2

Method :

1. Soak Tamarind in hot water and make it to pulp. Keep aside.
2. Add little oil in a pan and fry the ingredients for Sambar Powder till golden brown. Cool and grind it to  a fine powder.
3. Heat oil in a pan on low flame and add Mustard seeds, Urad dal, Channa dal, Fenugreek seeds, Curry leaves, Asafoetida , fry till golden brown. Add Omum and fry for a minute. Be careful, otherwise the ingredients will get burnt.
4. Add Tamarind pulp which we have prepared earlier. 
5. Add Turmeric powder and salt. Let it boil for 5 min. Add 2 cups of  water and make it to boil again.
6. Now add Sambar powder which we have prepared and stir it thoroughly and make it to boil for another 15 minutes in medium heat.
7. Add Jaggery and cook until the oil starts to leave the side of the pan. The consistency should be semi-solid. ( If Kuzhambhu is too runny, you can mix 1 tbsp of rice flour with water and make it to a paste and stir it in Kuzhambhu ).
8. This can be served with Rice. While serving add 1 or 2 tsp of sesame oil to enhance taste.

Lemon rice

There are many health benefits of lemons that have been known for centuries. The two biggest are lemons’ strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers and they can be used as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser. Lemons contain many substances--notably citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene--that promote immunity and fight infection.

So, making use of lemon in our diet is sagacious.

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup

Water - 1 3/4 cup

Salt - as required

Oil - 2 tbsp

Lemon Juice - 1/4 cup

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp

Red Chilli - 2

Green Chilli - 1 ( cut in to long narrow pieces )

Chana dal Pre-soaked in water for atleast half an hour - 1 tbsp

Unsalted Peanuts - 1/4 cup

Curry leaves - few

Asafoetida - a pinch

Method:

• Wash and cook rice in the ratio 1: 1 3/4 with water. Cool and keep aside.

• Heat oil in a frying pan on medium flame, fry peanuts till colour changes to light brown. Remove and keep aside.

• On that remaining oil, add Mustard seeds, Cumin seeds, Red chilli, Green chilli, Curry leaves, Asafoetida, Chana dal, Turmeric powder and stir for a minute.

• Add Cooked rice, Fried Peanuts, Lemon juice and salt over it.

• Mix gently. Do not break the rice and stir fry for about 2 minutes. Enjoy...