Pepper Chicken Masala

 Ingredients
For Marination
Chicken pieces        600g (medium size)
Pepper powder    3/4 tsp
Turmeric powder  1/2 tsp
Lemon juice            11/2 tsp
Salt                    1/2 tsp
For The Masala
Onion              3 large(thinly sliced)
Tomato             1 large(''          ''    )
Ginger paste       11/2 tbsp
Garlic paste         11/2 tbsp
Green chillies          3 (slit vertically)
Peppercorns       1/2 tsp
Fennel seeds        1 tsp
Cinnamon            small piece
Cardamom                  1
Cloves                           6
Dry red chillies                  2
Pepper powder            13/4 tsp
Chilly powder(kashmiri)     1/2 tsp
Garam masala            3/4 tsp
Lemon juice              2 tsp
Salt                          as needed
Water                    3/4 cup
Curry leaves             2 sprig
Coconut oil           3 tbsp

Method of cooking
-Wash,drain and marinate the chicken pieces with salt, lemon juice,turmeric and pepper powder and keep in the refrigerator for 1/2 an hour.
-In a non stick kadai /wok, heat oil and add the fennel seeds.When it starts to splutter add the pepper corns, dry red chillies,cinnamon,cardamom,cloves,curry leaves and then add in the sliced onion. Add a little salt and saute.
-Now add the slit green chillies,ginger and garlic paste.Saute well till the onions are done.
-Keeping the flame very low add the chilly powder,pepper powder and garam masala.Stir for a minute.
-Now add the tomatoes and cook till soft(keep the flame on medium).
-Now add in the marinated chicken pieces and mix well .Saute for 5 minutes till the masala gets sealed on the chicken well.
-Add water and mix well.Cover the pan and cook till the chicken is done and the gravy reduces and coats the chicken well.Add lemon juice and curry leaves,mix and off the flame.Pepper chicken masala is ready to be served.

Tomato Pepper Rasam

Rasam is a spicy,tangy soup of the South Indians.Usually it is served with
plain rice and sambar combination.It can also be used as a remedy for common cold.
       There are different types of Rasam.Traditionally it is prepared using tamarind water as base along with other ingredients like tomatoes,pepper powder,cumin seeds etc.Here's a recipe for tomato rasam:

Ingredients

1.Tomato              1 big(chopped)
2.Tamarind            Lemon size
  Warm water       1 and 1/2 cup (soak tamarind in water for 5 to 10 mins. extract juice from it and discard the pulp)                                                   

3.Garlic cloves         5-6
4.Green Chillies       3
5.Cumin seeds         1 tsp
  (Coarse grind 3 to 5 and keep aside)

6.Chilly powder        1/2 tsp
7.Turmeric powder    1/4 tsp
8.Pepper powder       2 tsp
9.Water                   3 and 1/2 cups
10.Coriander leaves 
            (chopped)     1/4 cup
11.Mustard seeds       1/2 tsp
12.Oil                       2 tsp
13.Salt                    to taste

 Cooking method

-In a saucepan,heat oil and sputter mustard seeds.
-Add the tomatoes and saute.
-Now add chilly powder ,turmeric powder,1 tsp pepper powder and the coarsely ground mix.Saute till the tomatoes are soft.
-Add the tamarind water along with 3-1/2 cup water and let it boil for 10 to 15 mins.
-Now add the remaining 1 tsp pepper powder,salt and the coriander leaves.
-After 2 minutes off the flame and serve in a bowl with rice.