For me a scrumptious lunch isn't necessary a 5 course meal at all times.It all depends on the situation and my mood.Sometimes even a simple meal of curd rice and pickle is by far the tastiest meal ever.Sometimes it is a full fledged meal at a restaurant that makes me feel - 'Wow,this is the meal I ever wanted to have'.See,this is how my preference for a meal change!!!
Here is a meal- a lunch,[that I had a couple of years ago] and I enjoyed every bit of it.I was back to mom's place when I knew that someone special would arrive in a few months and I was tormented by all sorts of sickness associated with it.Mom in her efforts to nourish me used to prepare delicacies day after day and this was the first meal I had at mom's place as soon as I reached home after the long and exhaustive journey back home.
The meal, as you can see, had a dish made with greens[Amaranth kootu],tangy rasam,simple pumpkin stir-fry,cucumber raita and of course my favorite pappad.
I relished every morsel of this meal and thanked mom from the bottom of my heart for making the best meal ever.All the while I was eating the dishes that I used to cook and anything that I made was always not good to taste though hubby didn't think so.I wished someone would prepare my meals so that I need not even enter the kitchen.
Since all the other recipes on the menu above are already in my blog,I will post the kootu recipe here.Kootu is the easiest side dish to prepare to go with rice.Prepare the spice mix in advance and you can have a meal ready in minutes.Kootu can be made with different types of vegetables-white pumpkin, beans, carrot, cabbage,greens like fenugreek leaves,amaranth,etc.
Here is mom's recipe for keerai kootu :
Greens-1 bunch,chopped
Toor dhal-1/2 a cup
Kootu Podi-2 teaspoons
Peanuts-2 tablespoons
Red chilli-2
Turmeric powder-a pinch
Curry leaves- a few
Mustard-1 teaspoon
Urad dhal-1 teaspoon
Asafoetida powder- a pinch
Salt to taste
- Pressure cook dhal,turmeric powder and greens with enough water.When done,mash well with the back of a ladle.
- Heat oil in a pan and put in mustard,urad dhal,curryleaves,red chilli,asafoetida powder,peanuts.
- Simmer and roast till peanuts are golden brown.
- Put in the cooked dhal-greens mixture,kootu powder,salt and bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and serve with steamed rice.
Bon Appetit...
Labels: Better Half, Scrumptious Meal Series
