Tomato Dosa

This dosa brings a very welcome variation for the regular breakfast in Tamil families. For others, it sounds like a great treat!

Ingredients:

* 1 1/4 cup raw rice and 2 tbsps of tur dal, soaked in water for 2-3 hrs

* 2 tomatoes chopped

* 2 tbsp grated fresh coconut (optional)

* 2-3 dried red chillies

* 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves (optional)

* salt to taste

* oil as required

Procedure:

1 Drain and grind smoothly the rice and tur dal with chopped tomatoes, dried red chillies, grated fresh coconut, coriander leaves, salt and little water to form a dosa-like batter.

2 Heat non-stick tawa on high flame till hot, reduce heat, pour a ladle full of dosa batter, spread the batter with the bottom of the ladle evenly making circles to form a dosa and drizzle with some oil along the edges. Cook on medium heat for 1-2 mts and increase to high flame for a few seconds and flip the other side and cook for 20-30 seconds or till done.

3 Serve hot with coconut chutney, small onion chutney or molaha podi.

Sunday chickpeas Pulao

On a lazy and rainy Sunday this sounds like an easy treat :-)

Ingredients for the chickpeas pulao:
1. 1 cup basmati rice (wash it at least 2 hours back keep it for drying on a colander)
2. A handful chickpeas, boiled with salt
3. Coarsely ground masala: 4 green cardamoms, 2-3 peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, 1/2 inch cinnamon stick
4. 1 tea spoonful cumin seeds, pinch of turmeric powder, salt, 1/2 tea spoon sugar
5. 1 tomato finely chopped, 1 green chilly (not very hot one) slit lengthwise

Process:
1. Heat sunflower or groundnut cooking oil in a pressure cooker
2. Put cumin seeds and bay leaves in the hot oil and stir still crackling sound comes. Put the slit green chilly
3. Put pinch of turmeric powder, salt and sugar
4. Put ground masala and rice in the cooker and keep stirring till the rice starts changing color (become slightly whitish)
5. Put the tomato and stir for 2 mins.
6. Put 2 cups of water and close the cooker.
7. Switch of the gas after 2 whistles.
8. Let the pressure release and then open the cooker lid. Bring it to room temperature.
9. Transfer the Pulao to a serving vessel. Enjoy with curd and chips (roasted papad for the weight watchers).