Vaalichi Bhaji

I had Vaal in my fridge and made this Goan veggie dish for dinner today. Here’s an authentic Goan dish prepared in the microwave for

Srivalli’s Microwave Easy Cooking Event - Side Dish

Ingredients:

1 bunch of vaal/long beans (approx 12-15 )
2 green chillies
1 medium onion (optional)
1 tbl spn freshly grated coconut
1/2 tea spn mustard
1 tea spn oil
a pinch of hing
salt to taste

Method:

Use a microwave safe glass bowl for this recipe as we will use oil. I made this sabji on 100% power. (default mode in my LG microwave)

Chop the vaal and onions. Slit the chillies.

Looks like Goa doesn’t it ?

Dry the bowl ( heat in microwave for 1-2 mins on high) and add the oil in it. Heat at 100% power for 1-2 mins. Now add the mustard and hing. Cover half with a lid, heat for 3 mins or till the mustard splutters.

Now add the onions and microwave for 2 mins. Stir in between.
Now add the green chillies, vaal and salt to taste. Add around 3/4-1 cup water, stir well and microwave for 5 mins. Stir once or twice in-between.

Mix the grated coconut, cover and cook for another 5 mins. Add more water and cook if required as the beans may require more cooking.

Serve as a side dish with rice-dal or with chapati/roti/bread.

Experimenting with the centered layout for this post

 

BhauBij, 2 gifts and a cake

Bhaubij (known as Bhai duj in North India) is a celebration of the Brother-Sister relation and is celebrated 2 days after Diwali.

BhauBij this year was on Sunday and luckily my brother was with me after many many years!

We usually do a ovalni (a special puja) in the evening on that day. The thali used for ovalni usually consists of a diva, gandh (kumkum with little water) for tika, 2 rounds of wheat dough, any gold item, nane (currency coin). Ovalni means to do puja of the person with the thali just setup, after which the brother gives the sister a gift.

I got 2 gifts from my bro after the ovalni - a futura cooking pan and a borosil baking bowl with lid

Without wasting more time, I prepared the Healthy, Eggless and Microwave Cake I had set my eyes on!

All Credit goes to Mansi for this wonderful recipe

My only changes were :
1. I skipped adding milk powder, cookies and chocolate as I didn’t have them
2. I used 3-4 teaspns of Drinking chocolate powder instead of cocoa.
3. I added more milk, so that the cake batter forms ribbon when dropped using a spoon.
4. Instead of adding powdered sugar, I added normal sugar.
5. Kept the batter for around 15-20mins after mixing all ingredients so that the lumps are easily removed and the sugar mixes properly.

Even after so many changes, the cake turned out Awesome My brother just loved it!

I complete 50 posts on this blog with this one and what a coincidence to describe about Bhaubij

 

Microwaved Rice

I have been using the microwave since last 2 years and cannot stop praising it! Unlike the rumours, cooking food in a microwave is relatively easy!

Heres’ how my hubby cooks rice in a microwave:
1 cup rice
2 cups water

Method:
Clean the rice with water. Add 2 cups of water and soak for a few minutes. Place the bowl in microwave for 10 mins on 100% power.
Do NOT cover the bowl.

After the 10 mins time is done, check if water is left. Add a little water just upto the level of the rice. Do NOT add too much water. Just upto the level of rice. (Water should not be seen on top, but if you slightly turn the bowl you should see water. )
COVER with lid and microwave for 4-5 mins on 100% power.

Rice is ready!

Tip: If water still remains, remove the lid and microwave for 1-2 mins.