Bhojan Universe

This is a very popular variety of vada in Southern India. I remember savoring the taste during my train rides to Tirupathi…

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Channa Dal
• 3 Chopped Green Chilli Peppers
• 1 Inch Ginger
• 2 Tea Spoons Fresh Mint Leaves
• 1 Bunch Coriander Leaves
• 1 Onion
• As Desired Salt
• 2 – 3 Cups Water
• Oil For Frying

Directions For Cooking

• Wash and soak channa dal in the water for 3 hours.
• Grind the dal coarsely in blender add water if necessary do not make into paste.
• Grind mint, ginger, green chillies, salt and coriander leaves make into smooth paste.
• Add this mixture to dal.
• Add chopped onions and mix thoroughly.
• This mixture should be thick enough to hold its shape when pressed between your palms.
• Heat oil in a frying pan. Moisten your fingers and flatten the mixture into a patty.
• Fry until crispy and reddish brown.
• Serve with coriander and tamarind-date chutnies .

An alternative to this recipe is using boiled chickpeas instead of channa dal, when using chickpeas it is not necessary to soak.

This is a very popular time-pass snack. Everyone I know loves this. The sour and spicy flavors makes you eat more and more….

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Rice Flour
• 5 Table Spoons Roasted Gram DalChutney dal-Putnalu)
• 1-1 1/2 Cups very sour Buttermilk (Low fat preferred)
• 8-10 Green Chillies(Hot)
• 1 Table Spoon Cumin Powder
• As desired Salt
• 3 Table Spoons Ghee or Butter (melted and warm)
• Oil for Frying

Direction For Cooking

• Grind the chillies with salt and a little buttermilk.
• Boil the buttermilk with this paste.
• Seive both flours.
• Add the warmed ghee and the buttermilk.
• Knead well till it mixes.
• Put the dough in a cookie press or a chakli mold with star or plain design.
• Heat oil in a deep dish and press and fry till light brown in color.

Uppma means a mixture of salt and flour. This flour can be made of any wholesome grains. There can be variations by adding or emphasising particular spices.
The below is a recipe of Roti Uppma. Roti is Indian bread and this Uppma can be made with left over Rotis or with a day old wheat or white bread for a variety.

Ingredients

• 6-8 Rotis
• 1 Onion
• 5 Green Chilies
• 1 Tea Spoon Cumin Seeds
• 1 Tea Spoon Whole Mustard Seeds
• 1/2 Tea Spoon Turmeric Powder
• 2 Table Spoon Corianders Leaves Chopped
• 1 Tea Spoon Black Gram Dhal
• 1 Bengal Gram Dhal
• Curry Leaves
• 2 Table Spoon Oil
• Lemon/Lime Juice
• Salt As Desired

Directions For Cooking

• Heat oil in a frying pan and add black gram dhal and Bengal gram dhal let it roast for a while then adds cumin seeds, mustard and turmeric powder.
• When mustard crackles add green chilies, curry leaves and onions.
• Make the rotis into small pieces and add them to the pan
• Add lemon juice, coriander leaves and salt.
• Cook well it all the moist absorbs.