Methi Pithla

Pithla recipe is on special request by my friend Ajit. He has asked me because he doesn't know that I have learnt this recipe from Pavan ;-) Though my first attempt to cook Pithla was wreck, I have managed it well now. But yeah, m still struggling to get the taste which Pavan gets. I simply love it !

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 5-8 tsp besan (chickpea flour)
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tsp Fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup onion chopped
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1 tsp Mustard seeds
• 2 tsp Oil
• Turmeric powder , salt
• 4 Green chili pieces
• Curry leaves 4-5
• Coriander leaves
• 2 cups Methi leaves (fenugreek leaves)

Method :

1. Heat oil, add mustard and cumin seeds, let crack
2. Add garlic, green chili pieces and curry leaves.
3. Add turmeric powder and fenugreek leaves, onion. cook for 5-7 minutes
4. Add boiling water and salt.
5. When it starts boiling add chickpea flour sprinkling 1 spoon at time by hand
6. Breaking as many lumps
7. Add chickpea flour as per desired thickness of gravy
8. Cook for 5-8 minutes on medium heat
9. Serve with rice or chapati

Tip : U can prepare it w/o Methi, in case u dont like it.

Modakam ( Dumplings)

On the occassion on Ganesh Chaturthi, I decided to offer Modakam to Lord Ganesha as Naivedyam. I like it sooo mch and it came out well also. But as i am fasting today.. I couldn't taste it :-(


Ingredients:

For the filling mix all the following ingredients :

• 2 Cup shredded fresh coconut

• 1/2 Cup mixture of unsalted pistachios and cashews

• 1/2 Pinch of cardamom powder

• 1/2 Cup milk powder

• 1 Cup sugar

For the outer cover
• 1 Cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp Ghee
• 1/2 Cup water
• 1/2 Cup milk
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Prepare a soft dough with above mixture.
Grease the palms of your hands properly and make a ball from the dough.
Flatten the dough to make a cup shape.
Put 3/4 tsp coconut filling into this cup.

Dip thumb and index finger in the oil and make 5-6 small pinches on the outside edges of the cup.
Bring them together on top and join to shape a peak.
Put modak on a pre greased plate

Heat oil in pan and fry all the modaks in oil.
Naivedyam is ready to offer lord Ganesha :-)