Punukulu

Here is a very quick snack that I tasted at ISB canteen ...
Ingredients:
Dosa/Idly batter - 1 cup
Onion - 1/2 (chop finely)
Green chillies - 1-2 (chop finely)
Salt - to taste

Oil for frying
How to:
1. Mix all ingredients together except oil
2. Heat oil in appakkara (the vessel used for making kuzhi paniyaram/ unniyappam)
3. Pour the batter in the appakkara and turn the punukulus when golden on the lower side
4. Take out when the other side is also doen and drain oil on a tissue paper
5. Serve hot with coconut chutney

Palak-Methi soup

I tried this soup today and it came out really well.
You need :
Spinach - 1 bunch
Methi leaves - 1/2 bunch
Tur dal - 1/2 cup
turmeric - a pinch
Salt - to taste
Butter - 1 tbsp

How to:
- Cook dal well with salt and turmeric.
- Add chopped spinach and methi leaves and cook covered for 8-10 minutes
- Add water to adjust consistency and boil. Mix well and add butter
- Serve immediately

Dal Palak with Raw Mango

One more mango recipe for the season...
You need :
Toor dal - 1/2 cup
Spinach - 1/2 bunch
Tomato - 1 small
Raw mango - 1 small
Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
Turmeric - a pinch
Red chillies - 1 or 2
Mustard - 1 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste
How to:
- Roast the dal for a minute and pressure cook with turmeric powder till done
- Mash the dal and add chopped spinach leaves and tomato and cook well
- Make a paste of coconut, mango and red chillies
- Add the coconut paste and salt to the spinach-dal mix and boil for a few minutes
- Prepare seasoning with oil and mustard and pour it to the dal
- Add the ghee and keep the dish closed
- Serve hot with rice

Raw mango raita

Another mango recipe from Kerala.
You need :
Raw mango - 1 (peel it if the cover is bitter)
Ginger - 1" piece
Curd - 1 cup
Salt - to taste
How to:
- Chop the mango and ginger finely
- Beat the curd with a spoon for about 30 seconds
- Mix all the ingredients
- Serve chilled

Raw Mango Salad

Here is a traditional kerala recipe for very simple and yummy salad made of raw mango.

You need :
Raw mangoes - 1 big (should be very sour - the 'moovandan' variety available in kerala would be the best for this salad)
Red chillies - 2
Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste

How to:
- Chop the raw mango very finely (Remove the peel if it is bitter, else leave it on.)
- Crush the chillies
- Mix well the mango, chillies, salt and coconut oil and serve immediately

Frozen Green Peas thoran

A very quick and nutritious palya recipe shared by my cousin.
Ingredients:
Frozen peas - 1 cup
Coconut (grated) - 2 tbsp
Green chilles - 1 or 2 chopped
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Water - 1/2 cup
Oil - 2 tsp
Mustard, urad dal, red chillies, curry leaves - for seasoning
How to:
- Thaw peas and keep aside
- Heat oil and prepare seasoning
- Add green chillies, peas, turmeric powder, salt and water and cook covered for 10 minutes or till the peas is tender and all water is evaporated.
- Add coconut and stir well.

Carrot-Tomato Chutney

My father shared this recipe with me yesterday. It tasted yummy with kallu-dosa.
Ingredients :
Carrot - 4 big ones
Tomato - 2 small ones
Red chilly - 1
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Mustard,urad dal, curry leaves - for seasoning
How to :
- Heat 1 tsp oil and add the red chilly and fry for a minute
- Cut carrot into bid pieces and stir-fry in the oil for about 5 minutes or till it looks tender.
- Add tomato pieces and saute for 2 minutes
- Cover and cook for 30 seconds
- Remove and grind coarsely in mixie
- Heat the rest of the oil and prepare seasoning.
- Add the carrot-tomato paste and fry in simmer for a minute.
- Serve with dosa or idly