Batata Harra - South Indian version

It was decided to be a simple, yet yummy lunch in my family yesterday and pudhina rice along with potato fry were zeroed in on for the menu.

I decided to try a new type of potato dish and found this Lebanese recipe at https://recipes.timesofindia.com/recipes/batata-harra/rs58717347.cms which is a very easy to make tasty dish.

Ingredients:

1. Potato - medium sized - 7 or 8 (cleaned and cut into medium size pieces)
2. Onion - 1 medium sized (finely chopped)
3. Garlic pods - 5 or 6 (peeled and minced)
4. Lemon juice - 1.5 teaspoon
5. Salt - as per taste
6. Black Pepper powder - 2 tablespoons
7. Dry Red chilli powder - 2 pinches
8. Oil - 2 tablespoons
9. Coriander leaves - 2 tablespoons (finely chopped)
10. Cumin seeds or powder - 1 teaspoon
11. Turmeric powder - 2 pinches

Method of Preparation:

1. Saute 1 tablespoon of oil in a kadai, add the potatoes and salt. Saute well.
2. Add 1 cup of water, give a light stir, close the kadai with a lid and boil for 10-15 mins until the potatoes are cooked 90%.
3. Transfer the potatoes onto a plate and add 1 tablespoon oil to the kadai.
4. Add the chopped onions and saute well.
5. Now, add the garlic and saute well till raw smell goes off.
6. Add the turmeric powder and cumin.
7. Stir it and add the potatoes now.
8. Mix the potatoes well with sauted ingredients and add the black pepper powder.
9. Add the chilli powder and lemon juice. Sprinkle water and mix it well.
10. Check the taste now and add salt/ spice as required.
11. Close the kadai with lid and cook well for 3-5 minutes. Once done, turn off the flame, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

Note:

1. Olive oil or coconut oil is recommended.
2. Cumin and dry red chilli powder are optional.
3. Above said quantity yields 5-6 serves.

Banana Finger Millets Cake - Oven Less Recipe

Dear all,

Hope everyone is fine and safe in this unprecedented situation the world is in.

The lockdowns, loads of work in a state of WFH, managing family at home, etc. can easily make us stressed and feeling sick. However, if we stay aware of our mind, it is easy to remain calm and productive, no matter what the situation is - because, as it is said, Every Situation is Powerless without your Reaction.

May we all stay mindful and build our immunity.

Being a cake lover, I couldn't help but browse a lot on oven less cake recipes at nights till I feel sleepy. Result of it is my own version of a delicious cake.

Ingredients:

1. All Purpose flour (maida) - 3/4 cup
2. Finger Millets flour - 1/4 cup
3. Wheat flour - 1 cup
4. Eggs - 2
5. Brown Sugar - 1 cup
6. Fig - 1 (chopped finely)
7. Ripen Banana - 1
8. Curd - 1/2 cup
9. Ghee - 2 tablespoon
10. Olive oil - 1 teaspoon
11. Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup
12. Baking powder - 1.5 teaspoon
13. Baking soda - 1 teaspoon

Method of Preparation:

1. Sift the flours one by one onto a wide container
2. Beat the curd well to remove the lumps
3. Beats the eggs in a cup and mix in the beaten curd
4. Add the sugar and mix well.
5. Beat the banana well separately(I used electric beater for this and within 2-3 minutes I had the banana in fluffy, fluid state). Mix it with the egg and beat nicely.
6. Mix in the vegetable oil now (I used sunflower oil which is used for day-to-day cooking).
7. Add the baking powder and baking soda, mix gently to break any lumps. Leave on 5 mins to get effervescence which I was having it at the end of step 5, thanks to the electric beater.
8. Add the flour slowly followed by fig. Mix well by cut n fold method until to raw flour is seen.
9. Heat the cooker, without gasket and whistle) with soil for 10 mins on high flame. Then, place a stand on the soil.
10. Coat a vessel with ghee and olive oil. Pour in the cake mixture. Gently spread the top with fingers to make it even.
11. Keep the vessel atop stand n close the lid. Let it cook in medium flame for 5 mins. Then reduce to sim.
12. Let it get baked in low flame. It takes around an hour. In between, u can check if it's cooked by inserting the knife and see if it's coming out clean.

Note:

1. The white color on the cake is powdered white sugar I had added since the sweetness was lil low for my family. After cooking, I also sliced the cake and poured honey to make it sweeter.
2. The yield is approx. 600gms of cake, which was gulped within 2 days in our home.
3. Ghee, olive oil are optional. You can use butter or vegetable oil instead.