Category: Mains

Mains

Radish Sambar and Eggplant Fry

The HomeChef

Nothing can beat a homemade meal. After a nice short vacation, a simple cooking at home  is what I needed. This cannot be replaced by the extravagant dishes at restaurants.

A delicious and tasty home lunch can be made with this combination: Radish (Mullangi in Tamil) Sambar and Eggplant/Brinjal fry (Yennai Kathirikkai in tamil) with steamed rice. Yumm indeed!

The Mullangi Sambar is made with radish and dal. Radish is considered to have a cooling effect to the body. The style I chose to make this sambar is much easier where the tempering is done in the beginning itself. You can choose to do at the end as well.

Please find the video recipe below for the Mullangi Sambar:

Yennai Kathirikkai- Eggplant Fry

This is a mouth watering simple side to go with steamed rice made with eggplant/brinjal. It is a dry dish and complements well with any gravy and rice.

Please find the video recipe to make Yennai Kathirikkai below:

Mains

Dosa- An Indian breakfast

The HomeChef

Dosa is a common household name in India as it is one of the most popular breakfast dishes especially in the South.

This recipe is to show the making of plain dosa. The key ingredients are rice and urad dal. The batter requires fermenting in a tropical like temperature. It is a very versatile dish which can be transformed into Masala dosa, Uthappam and many more. Dosa can also be made for dinner or snack served with any Indian chutney or gravy.

Please find below the video to make the delicious and simple Plain Dosa.

 

Mains

Fruity bowl with Apple,Banana,Mango Smoothie

The HomeChef

Today being International Women’s day, I send my wishes to all the lovely ladies out there and always remember you are special and never forget to take care of yourself.

A great way to pamper yourself is to have a healthy start in the morning with the goodness of the wonderful fruits nature has to offer.

This is surely a treat!

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Apple Banana Mango Smoothie- topped with Peaches, Strawberries and Blueberries

Things you need:

For smoothie:

  1. Apple- 1/2
  2. Ripe banana- 1
  3. Mango- few pieces
  4. Yogurt- 1/2 cup
  5. Milk- 1/4 cup

For toppings:

  1. Peaches- 1/2sliced
  2. Strawberries- 2 sliced
  3. Blueberries- few
  4. Sprouts- optional

Method:

  1. Blend all the ingredients  for the smoothie to make a thick drink.
  2. Pour it into a small serving bowl.
  3. Top the smoothie by arranging the fruits for the toppings.
  4. Enjoy a delicious, colourful and healthy smoothie with fruits.

 

 

 

Mains, Side dish

Malai Kofta curry

The HomeChef

Malai Kofta has its origins from the Mughlai cuisine. In India, it is one of the most popular side dishes and every Indian restaurant will have this included in the menu.

The kofta is made out of fried potato and paneer balls. It is the vegetarian equivalent for meatballs. The base gravy is very rich and creamy. It goes very well with any Indian bread like roti, naan and also can be had with rice.

This is a must try recipe and will fill you up quickly due to its richness. Make it at home and impress with the beautiful colour and taste it brings to the plate.

Please find the video recipe below:

Mains

Beet with Black beans Burger/Tikki

The HomeChef

Everybody loves a burger.

I wanted to make a video of a veggie burger ever since I started this website as it is in my featured image. That burger was made with potato, carrot and beans. Usually potatoes are added in the cutlet versions in Indian recipes. But then I stepped across the beetroot burger in the freezer section in one of the supermarkets and it sounded so different and healthy. And hence this creation!

This burger made with beetroot and black beans is super delicious and checks all your boxes for a healthy version and also vegan friendly. The patties can be made small sized and enjoyed as tasty tikki or cutlets with mint chutney for starters. Enjoy it also as a burger with the French brioche bun or any burger bun with cos leaves and your preferred sauce. Eating healthy sure will bring a smile to your heart.

Please find the video recipe below:

 

Mains, Side dish

Vegetable Kurma- restaurant style

The HomeChef

The vegetable kurma is a very delicious Indian curry which has coconut added along with mixed vegetables and spices. It goes well with rice, roti, idiyappam, dosa or poori.

This version is irresistibly great in taste. The goodness of the softly cooked vegetables will just melt in your mouth. Roasting the coconut and then making it into a paste has the added aroma and flavour. Hope you enjoy making it as well.

Please find the video recipe below:

 

Mains

Vegetarian Pizza

The HomeChef

The most yummiest comfort food would be the pizza. It is great if it is homemade where you choose the toppings of your choice with the quantity  you want and tailor it to the tastes and likes of ever member in the family.

It is one of the most enjoyable dishes as you can get to have the kids involved and most definitely the husband too.

For the pizza dough (makes ~5 medium pizza):

Ingredients:

  1. Plain flour- 4 cups
  2. Yeast sachet(7g) – 1
  3. Sugar – a little
  4. Warm water – 1.5 cups
  5. Olive oil – a little
  6. Salt- a little

Method:

  1. Activate the yeast by mixing the sachet in warm water with little sugar and stir. Keep aside for 5 mins
  2. Mix it into the flour with little salt. Knead the dough for 10 mins and set aside in a bowl lightly oiled. Cover it and leave it to rise in double ~ 30 mins.

For the Pizza:

Ingredients:

  1. Pizza sauce
  2. Mozzarella cheese – 1/2 cup
  3. Onion – 1/2 sliced and pan fried
  4. Zucchini – 1 thinly sliced
  5. Mushrooms – 1/2 cup sliced
  6. Red Pepper- 1/2 sliced
  7. Baby Spinach leaves- few

For the method please watch the  video: Features Ashok (my husband) who helped me do the Pizza 🙂

Mains, Side dish

Spinach Dal – Keerai kootu

The HomeChef

The Spinach dal is a very healthy protein rich curry which is loaded with nutrients due to the super food, spinach. This is another popular dish of South India, easy to cook with simple ingredients. Keerai means greens and kootu means dal based curry (usually thick in consistency) in Tamil.

It is a dietary requirement that we include lot of green vegetables and this is a great recipe for just that. It goes well with both steamed rice or roti.

Please find the video recipe below:

 

Mains, Side dish

Potato Peas Masala- Chettinad style

The HomeChef

Potato peas masala also called as Aloo Mattar is a very popular dish in India. It is a curry which goes well with any Indian bread or rice.

The style I have chosen to cook this recipe is a well renowned cuisine of Tamil Nadu called Chettinad cuisine. In this cuisine, all the spices are freshly ground which adds amazing flavour and aroma to the dish. Hope you enjoy it as well.

Please find the video recipe below:

 

Mains

Gobi (Cauliflower) Paratha

The HomeChef

The Gobi Paratha is a very delicious Indian bread filled with cauliflower and spices.

It is very flavoursome compared to the plain roti. Also it is an easy way to make your children eat the vegetables. They will absolutely love it. The paratha goes well with any roti side or even just yogurt/raita will do.

Enjoy this delightful version of the roti.

Please find the video recipe below: