Diwali Lunch Menu

Here it is .......Very simply but yummy !!!

1. Drumstick Sambar (South Indian's Special)

2. Prawn or Shrimp Fry

3. Pepper Rasam ( South Indian Soup)

* Drumstick Sambar

Ingredients

Serve 4 person

To Boil

Toor Dal -1/2 cup

Tomatoes -3/4 (Roughly chopped)

Turmeric Powder -1/8 spoon

Oil -1/8 spoon

Hing -2 dash

To Fry

Onion -1/2 {Straight Cut}

Drumstick -5 to 6 2 inch pieces

Sambar powder -1 and a half spoon (prefer homemade)

Salt

For Seasoning

Mustard -1/8 spoon

Jeera -1/8 spoon

Fenugreek - 5

Curry leaves -4

Small onion -2 {Finely chopped}

Heat 2 spoon oil in a pan. Add all the ingredients given above. When the mustard splutters switch off the stove and set the pan aside.

Coriander to Garnish

Tamarind Paste -2 Spoon

Preparation: Wash Dal for 3 change of water. Transfer it to pressure cooker. Add all other ingredients given to boil in it. Add 2 cup water and cook for about 2 to 3 whistle. Now drain water from dal. Reserve drained water. Smash dal with mathu or wooden stick used for smashing. Set aside.

Now Heat a spoon oil in a pan. Add onions and fry well then add drumstick and dal water to it. If dal water is not sufficient add little water to it. Leave it to cook for about 4 minutes approx. Now add smashed dal to it. Leave it to boil for 2 more minutes. Next add sambar powder, salt. Reduce the flame to low-medium. After 1 minute add tamarind paste. After 1 minute add seasoning to it. Leave it to boil for few seconds with lid. Garnish with coriander. Sambar is ready to serve with rice , Idli, Dosa , Vada.

*Prawn OR Shrimp Fry

Ingredients

Serve 2

Prawn or Shrimp - 1/2 Cup

{Prefer smaller size for better taste}

Ginger - 1 spoon finely chopped

Garlic -1 and a half spoon finely chopped

{Try not to add gg paste}

Onion -1 finely chopped

Tomatoes - 1 small , finely chopped

Red Chilly Powder -3/4 spoon (Add according to spicy level)

Coriander Powder -3/4 spoon

Turmeric Powder -1/8 spoon

Olive oil, salt to taste

Masala -Cinnamon sticks, cloves

Method

First clean and wash the prawn for 2 to 3 change of water. Set aside.

Now heat a deep bottomed pan. Add 3 to 4 spoon oil to it. Add masala ingredients to it. Next Add onions , finely chopped ginger, garlic and fry till golden brown. Next add tomatoes, powder ingredients to it. Fry till oil separates from it. Now add 1/2 cup water and leave it to boil for 2 minutes. Next add prawn to it. Fry till it forms a thick gravy. Serve hot with any rice dish.

* Rasam

South Indian Soup. Every family have their won tradition of preparing it. The following recipe is my mom's......our favorite.

Ingredients

Serve 4

To Mix

4 Red chilly

2 garlic , smashed

Tamarind Paste -4 Spoon

Tomato -1/2 , Smash it with fingers

3 cup water

little coriander leaves

1/8 spoon turmeric powder

2 dash hing

salt

For Seasoning

1/2 spoon oil

1/8 spoon mustard

1/8 fenugreek seed

1/8 spoon urad dal

4 curry leaves

1 dash hing

Pepper rasam powder (homemade) or any branded powder

Method

Take a bowl and transfer the ingredients given to mix. Smash everything in the bowl with fingers. Taste for salt and spice level. If the salt or spice level is less rasam will taste very bad.

Adjust accordingly. Set aside.

Now heat oil in a pan. Add the seasoning ingredients to it. Now transfer the mixture to the pan. Wait for the first boil. Immediately switch it off and add rasam powder. Cover with lid set aside.

Note:: If rasam boil for long time fresh smell will go off leaving different taste.