Plain Dosa

Breakfast is also called as the brain food.It is said to eat breakfast like a king because it is the important meal of the day,so its better not to skip breakfast as it is the actual fuel for the whole day.Dosa is very popular in sounth indian breakfast it is made from a fermentation process of rice and lentils batter.There are different varities of dosa. Here is the recipe for plain(sada) dosa. 

Ingredients
White rice/Pachari/Raw rice  2 cups
Split black gram/Urad dal  1 cup
Fenugreek seeds              1 tbsp
Cooked(parboiled)rice      1tbsp
Salt          to taste

Procedure
-Wash and soak the rice, split black gram and the fenugreek seeds in water for 4 to 5 hrs(soak black gram separately)
-Grind the soaked dal first with little water into a smooth paste and pour it into a large bowl.
-Mix the raw rice,fenugreek seeds and cooked rice and then again grind this into a smooth paste.  
-Combine this batter to the dal batter.
-Now mix this very well (the consistency of the batter should neither be too thick nor too thin).Cover and keep aside (in a warm place)to ferment overnight.
-Next day,heat a nonstick or iron griddle to medium- low heat.
-Add salt to the batter and again stir well.
-Grease the pan with little oil and pour a ladle of batter in the center, quickly using back of the ladle spread it into a round shape.
-After 2-3 minutes flip it once,take it out and serve hot with Sambhar or chutney.

*After pouring the batter into the heated pan you can cover it with a lid;this way you don't have to flip the Dosa.After 1 or 2 minutes you can take it out.
*When the sides raise a little and you see a light brown colour at the bottom,then its time to take out  the Dosa.
*Each time while pouring the batter the pan should not be over-heated,keep it at low flame and brush oil so that the batter does not stick to the pan,then bring it to medium flame to cook. 

  
     

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.