TEA / CHAI

Chai or tea is an essential part of any Indian's day. India has many beautiful and picturesque tea gardens. Chai is very easy to make and can be made with various spices too. A steaming cup of tea and a hot plate of pakoras is heaven on a rainy evening.

Ingredients:-

·        Tea powder

·        Sugar

·        ½ cup milk

·        ½ cup water

Preparation:-

·        Boil the water with 1 ½ teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of tea powder.

·        When the water boils add ½ cup of milk.

·        Bring it to a boil and strain in a cup.

·        Serve hot.

To make ginger tea, add grated ginger to the water as it boils and add milk.

Same goes for cinnamon or cardamom tea.

BANANA CARAMEL SAUCE FOR PANCAKES

Ingredients:-

·        Three bananas

·        1 cup sugar

·        2/3 cup fresh cream

·        1/3 cup milk

Preparation:-

·        In a small pot, pour all the sugar and a little bit of water. The sugar should not be immersed in water but it should just be wet.

·        Heat it on a low flame till all the sugar melts and the mix starts boiling.

·        Boil this sugar syrup till it caramelizes or changes colour to dark golden brown.

·        Once it is brown, add the cream and milk to mixture.

·        The sugar will instantly crystallize but keep on stirring till it dissolves and the whole mixture is rich golden brown syrup.

·         Make sure to do all this on a low flame otherwise the sugar will burn.

·        Take the pot off the stove and add sliced bananas to it.

·        Fold in the bananas and serve this sauce on pancakes.

MASHED POTATOES WITH KALA MASALA

Ingredients:-

·        4 potatoes

·        1 onion

·        coriander

·        Kala masala

·        Salt

·        Oil

Preparation:-

·        Boil the potatoes till they are completely cooked.

·        Peel and mash them. It’s ok if they are a little lumpy.

·        Add 1 chopped onion, chopped coriander, 1 teaspoon kala masala and salt to taste.

·        Drizzle oil and mix it all together.

·        Serve with chapatti or dal-rice. 

ONION UTTAPA/ UTTAPPAM

Ingredients:-

·        Parboiled rice and urad dal batter (like idli batter)

·        Salt

·        1 onion

·        2-3 green chillies

·        Finely chopped coriander

·        Oil

Preparation:-

·        Mix salt to taste with a large bowl full of batter.

·        Add 1 chopped onion, 2-3 chopped chillies and finely chopped coriander to the batter and mix it.

·        On a hot skillet, pour 2 teaspoon oil. Ladle out the batter on this skillet in a circle. Cook on a medium flame for 3-4 minutes on each side.

·        Serve hot with chutney and sambar.