Tomato Sweet Pachadi

Thakkali /Tomato Sweet Pachadi is an authentic dish which is served in Tamil Brahmin weddings . this dish  served either in Kalyana sappadu (marriage feast), or in poojais like Samarathanai, Sumangali prarthanai. Me and My family have sweet tooth. So we enjoy everything that is sweet. On Festival days I prepare Mango pachadi, Fruit Pachadi, This time I prepared Sweet Tomato pachadi. outcome of this  sweet and tangy taste of this Pachadi' simply delicious.you can keep this pachadi for a week.

Ingredients

 Tomatoes - 8

 Sugar- 11/2cups

Water-1/4cup

Ghee - 2tbsp

Cashews - 2 tbsp   

Raisins - 2tbsp

Dates - 2 to 3 seedless dates chopped finely

Method:

1.Wash and chop the tomato into small pieces.

2. In the heavy bottom pan one tablespoon of ghee and Fry the dates, cashew nuts, raisins separately and Remove and keep them aside.

3. In the same pan add sugar and water. No need to wait for the sugar to dissolve completely. Just add the water and slightly mix and leave it. Then in a same pan  add the chopped tomato to the sugar and stir well.

4.Do not add any water, after adding tomatoes, as the tomatoes will leave out water while cooking.

5.To get the perfect consistency the tomatoes need to be cooked for some time. Keep this in a medium low flame and stir continuously.

 6. Once all the water content evaporates and  the tomatoes will get the glossy texture and  while the consistency becomes thick add 1 tsp of ghee and mix well.

 7. Now you can add the fried cashews, raisins and the dates and mix them for 2 minutes.

8.Yummy tomato sweet pachadi is ready to be served.

Vegetable Smoothie

Vegetable Smoothies are one of the highly nutritious drinks. It should be considered a goldmine of natural vitamins and nutrients and can provide us with the same energy that a whole meal can provide. we can drink a glass of smoothies as an alternative to our meal or breakfast. It will help us to lose or maintain weight.

 

Ingredients:

Carrot-1

Tomatoes-2

Beetroot-1

Ginger-1

Lime-1 tsp

Honey- 1tbsp

Or Sprinkle roasted and ground cumin powder. Pepper powder and a pinch of salt if you wish.

 

Method: Wash and cut all the vegetables in small pieces. Blend all in a juicer with or without ice cubes.  Taste and adjust water consistency, Garnish with black pepper, cumin powder or dried herbs. Drink! A blushing smoothie is ready for a healthy start of your day:)

Instead of tomato  we can replace with apple, orange or cucumber As per availability!

Tomato And Peas Curry with Kasuri Methi

Tomato And Peas Curry with Kasuri Methi is very simple & easy to prepare and great tasting dish This curry is little tangy and spicy.Kasuri methi enhances unique flavor to the dish. This is not cream based curry. Without cream it is too good. But if you want you can add cream. I didn't add any cream.I adapted this recipe from here. . But I do make few changes to her recipe and it turned out great. here is my version

 Ingredients

Tomato   2-3 medium

Peas   1 cup

Onion-1

kasoori methi-2 tbsp

Cashew nut  -   6-7 no.s(soak it in warm water)

Green chilli   -2 finely chopped

chilly powder    1 tsp

Coriander powder     1 tsp

Garam masala    1 tsp

Ginger   1/2" piece

Cumin seeds/Jeera    1/2 tsp

Milk/Fresh Cream-1/2 cup

Salt   as needed

Oil    1 tbsp

Butter    1/2 tbsp

Method:

1.Chop onions and tomatoes very finely

2.Grind tomato, soaked cashew nuts, green chillies and ginger to a smooth paste.

3.Heat oil or butter in a kadai,add cumin seeds when it splutter add onions and Saute onions till golden brown.

4.Add redchilli, garam masala, coriander all the dry powders and mix well.

5.Then add Peas and fry. Then add the grounded tomato paste and cook in medium heat and  keep stirring

6.When oil starts separating, add kasuri methi leaves Stir fry.

7.Now Add milk and cook until the gravy becomes creamy and fry for 2 minutes.( You can even add fresh cream)

8Adjust salt and stir well. Allow to boil the curry for some 5-7 minutes

9.Now the tomato &peas curry is ready and serve hot with Rice, Roti, or Naan.