Tuesday, 8 September 2015

SOYA BIRIYANI

A healthy biriyani which is really quick and does not involve the regular biriyani making process. This is defintely a different recipe from the regular vegetable biriyani and the non vegetarian varities.

INGREDIENTS

Basmati Rice                        1 cup (wash, soak and drain)
Soya chunks                         1 cup
Onions                                  2 medium thinly sliced
Tomatoes                              2 medium chopped
Green Chilly                         1 or 2 according to your spice requirement
Garam Masala                    1 tsp
Cloves                                    3 nos
Cardamom                            3 nos
Cinnamon sticks                 few small pieces
Ginger Garlic paste             1 tsp
Oil                                           2 tbsp
Mint leave                             few
Salt to taste


GARNISH
Finely chopped fresh corriander leaves

METHOD:

Boil water with little salt added to it. When the water comes to a boil add the soya and cook for about 10 minutes. Drain the water and wash with cold water. Squeeze the water from the soya and keep it aside.

In a pressure cooker, heat oil and add the whole spices. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute well.
Add the sliced onions and saute until they turn pink. Add the chopped tomatoes, chillies and mix well. Add salt and garam masala powder and saute until the tomatoes become soft. To this add the soya beans and mix well. At this stage add the mint leaves and stir well. Add the rice and the salt. Stir well and add 1 1/2 cups of water. Do not add more water as the onion tomato mixture is moist already.

Pressure cook for 2 whistles. Let the pressure cooker cool on its own. Transfer the biriyani to the serving dish and garnish with chopped corriander leaves. Serve hot with a raita of your choice.

NOTE: Soya chunks as such do not absorb much flavour into them but they are full of proteins. 

Thursday, 7 August 2014

CARROT & MANGO SALAD

A simple, quick to make and yummy salad!!!

INGREDIENTS

Grated carrot        - 1 cup
Grated mango       - 1/2 cup
Green Chilly         - 1
(de-seeded &chopped)
Salt to taste

GARNISH
Fresh coriander leaves chopped

METHOD
Mix the grated carrot, mango and the chilly in a bowl. Mix them gently. Season with salt just before serving and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

NOTE
The salad tends to be soggy than crunchy if salt is mixed earlier because all veggies tend to release water when salt is added to them. Choose a mango which is not too raw or ripe..


Friday, 25 July 2014

HAIR STYLES

Girls and braids go hand in hand. The one thing which makes them happy is to sport a great hairdo and then blush when they get the feel good compliments..My girls are forever behind me to try out new styles..And I have to admit that I feel great when they tell me about the compliments they got..The other day my daughter's friend even recommended that I take a course in hairstyles!! Wow, isn't that a real confidence booster!!

Quite soon I will come up with some easy, quick and awesome hairstyles which I am sure will be real eye catchers!!


Thursday, 24 July 2014

HOW WE'VE GOT THE NAME PIA!

My nephew Dhruv (Dudu) gave me this name "Pia" short for the south indian version of big mom "Periamma".. Awesome and super casual name, I just love being called Pia.. Sometime in the future, hope that Dhruv will read my blog (if I still blog??!!!) and feel happy about the fact that the name of this blog is his creation..!!! Thank you Dhruv for this!!!