Black Eyed Beans Pulao / Vellapayar Pulav

Ingredients:

1/2 cup black eyed beans / vellapayar
1 cup basmati rice
2 cups of water
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 green chillies, chopped
1 tsp ginger-garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 cardamoms
2 cloves
1 cinnamon piece
salt to taste
1 1/2-2 tbsp oil

Preparation:

1. Soak the black eyed beans in water for 5-6 hours or overnight.
2. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes. Mean while boil the black eyed beans with turmeric powder and salt adding enough water and keep it aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan and add cardamoms, cinnamon , cloves and cumin seeds. Add sliced onion, green chillies and crushed ginger-garlic and saute till soft.
4. Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala and salt and saute till the raw smell disappear.
5. Then add the drained boiled black eyed beans, mix well and cook for about 5 minutes at medium flame.
6. Add the drained rice to this and mix well for a minute. Then add 2 cups of water and mix well. Adjust the salt..
7. When it starts to boil, reduce the flame and cook covered till done. Remove from flame, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot ............

Ring Batura

Ingredients:

2 cups plain flour/ maida
1 cup wheat flour/ atta
1 egg
1 tsp yeast
2 tbsp yoghurt
1 tbsp sugar
salt to taste
milk as required for kneading
oil for frying

Preparation:

1. In a bowl, add plain flour and wheat flour and mix well.
2. Add yoghurt, yeast, sugar, egg and salt into this and knead it well to make a soft dough adding milk and keep it covered for 4-5 hours.
3. Then knead it again and roll the dough using a rolling pin and cut out into ring shapes using a large and small round cookie cutters. (Cut out smaller circles in the centre of larger circles to make rings).

     4. Heat oil in a pan on medium flame and deep fry the ring batura's on both sides. Drain on paper towels and serve...

Mint Lemon Soda / Mint Soda Sarbath

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
lemon juice of 1 lemon
4 tbsp sugar ( add to your taste)
a pinch of salt
1 1/2 cup chilled soda, or as required

Preparation:

1. In a blender, add the mint leaves, lemon juice, salt and sugar and blend well adding 1/2 cup of water.
2. Add 2-3 tbsp of prepared mint-lemon mix in two serving glasses and pour chilled soda on top of this....Serve immediately...