Amla Chutney / Nellikkai Thokku Recipe

Amla chutney or thokku is a versatile dish, which can be served with parathas, chapathis, curd rice or can be mixed with steam cooked rice. This amla thokku has a shelf-life upto 3 weeks with refrigeration.

Recipe Video in Youtube Shorts on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Ingredients:

6 Amlas Grated 

8 Green Chilies Coarse Ground

1 Tsp Urad Dal (Black Gram Dal)

1 Tsp Mustard Seeds

1/4 Tsp Turmeric Powder

1 Tsp Chilly Flakes Optional 

1/4 Tsp Asafoetida

1/4 Cup Oil 

Salt as per taste

Prep:

Wash the amla well and wipe it. Using a cheese grater, grate the amla and reserve.

Remove the stems from green chilies. Rinse in water twice. Pat the green chilies with a towel. Add the chillies to a mixerjar and grind to form a coarse paste and reserve.

Method:

Heat a wok on medium flame with oil.

Add the mustard seeds and split blackgram dal to the oil allow it to splutter. 

Next add grated amla, coarse ground chilly paste, turmeric powder, asafoetida, and salt stir well and fry.

Check for salt and spice content add it if needed. I normally add 1 tsp chilly flakes.

Stir and fry the amla on medium flame for 5 to 10 minutes or until the color of the amla changes to golden brown.

Remove the amla thokku from flame allow it to cool down and bottle it.

This thokku stores well upto 3 weeks in a airtight bottle.

Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, offers a wide range of health benefits, including boosting immunity, supporting heart health, improving digestion, and promoting skin and hair health. It's a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, making it a valuable addition to a healthy diet. 

Here's a more detailed look at the benefits:

1. Boosting Immunity: Amla is exceptionally high in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that supports immune function. This can help the body fight off infections and illnesses. 

2. Supporting Heart Health: Amla may help lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow, all of which are beneficial for heart health. 

3. Improving Digestion: Amla contains dietary fiber, which can help regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation. It also stimulates digestive enzymes, aiding in the efficient breakdown of food. 

4. Promoting Skin Health: The high vitamin C content in amla stimulates collagen production, which can improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Amla may also help reduce blemishes and even out skin tone. 

5. Enhancing Hair Health: Amla is often used in hair care products to strengthen hair, reduce hair loss, and improve scalp health. It can also help prevent premature greying and promote hair growth. 

6. Other Potential Benefits:

Blood Sugar Regulation:

Amla may help regulate blood sugar levels, which could be beneficial for individuals with diabetes. 

Liver Support:

Studies suggest amla may have hepatoprotective properties, potentially protecting the liver from damage. 

Brain Function:

Some research indicates that amla may help improve memory and reduce stress hormones. 

Weight Management:

Amla juice may aid in weight loss by boosting metabolism and improving digestion. 

Grapes Pani Puri Recipe / Drakshai Pani Puri / Angoor Pani Puri

I really enjoyed creating this version and one of a kind panipuri. If you enjoy seasonal fruits try to create this version of pani puri, it has perfect balance of sweet and spice. Treat your family and friends with this grapes panipuri  recipe.

Recipe Video on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Grapes Pani Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Black Seedless Grapes

1/4 Tsp Grated Ginger

2 Tbsp Sugar

1 Green Chilly

1/4 Tsp Cumin Powder

1/4 Tsp Chaat Masala

1/4 Tsp Salt

Grapes Pani Method:

Wash and peel the ginger and grate it and add it to a mixerjar.

Remove the stem from chilly and chop in half and add it to the mixerjar.

Separate the grapes from stem, rinse in water thrice and add it to the mixerjar.

Add sugar, chaat masala, cumin powder and salt and grind to form a smooth puree.

Add tiny amount of water and grind once more. Transfer the grapes puree to a large bowl and mix 1 cup

water gradually tasting along if the pani is in right consistency and place the pani in the fridge till chilled.

Before serving pani can be poured in serving glasses.

Grapes Filling Ingredients:

2 Medium Potatoes

1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Onion

5 Sprigs Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves

5 Sprigs Mint Leaves

1 Finely Chopped Chilly

1/2 Tsp Cumin Powder

1/4 Tsp Chaat Masala

1/4 Tsp Chilly Powder

1/4 Tsp Salt

1/2 Lime

Grapes Filling Method:

Wash and place the potatoes in a pressure cooker. Add enough water for till potatoes are covered. Place the lid and whistle and cook on high flame for 4 whistles or until the potatoes are cooked.

Remove the potatoes from the cooker once cooked, peel it and crumble into a large bowl. Allow the potatoes to cool down before adding all the ingredients to it.

Peel and wash the onion, finely chop and add it to the potato.

Rinse the chilly and finely chop add it to the potato.

Separate the grapes from the stem and rinse in water thrice and place it in a colander to drain well. Pat it dry and chop into halves and add it to the potato.

Separate the mint and coriander leaves rinse,  in water thrice. Finely chop and add it to the potato.

Squeeze in half a lime juice.

Add chilly powder, cumin powder, chaat masala and salt. Mix all the ingredients till the potatoes and grapes are well combined. 

Cover and place the bowl in the fridge to cool the mixture down a bit.

Grapes Pani Puri Ingredients:

Chilled Grapes Pani

Chilled Potato and Grapes Filling

Ready to use Pani Puri Shells

Spicy Boondi 

Let's Prepare Grapes Panipuri:

Pour the grapes pani in serving bowl or shot glasses. Garnish the pani with boondi.

Create cavity in the puri shells and fill it with 1 tsp of the potato and grape filling and place it on a serving platter.

Garnish the puri with tiny amount of boondi and serve the puri along with grape pani.

Fill the cavity with the grape pani and Enjoy!

Other Pani Puri Recipes on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel:

Simple Pani Puri

8 Different Types of Pani Puri 

Mosambi Pani Puri

Jamun Pani Puri

Pizza Puri

Butter Chicken Panipuri

Tricolor Pani Puri

Chocolate Pani Puri

Bangarpet Pani Puri

Mutton Keema Pani Puri

Chicken Shawarma Pani Puri

Mango Pani Puri

Masala Puri Recipe

Sukha Puri Recipe

Masala Puri Recipe

Kukumapoo Vazhaipazham Lassi / Kesar Badam Banana Lassi / Saffron, Almond and Banana Smoothie Recipe

Saffron, almond and banana lassi is a soothing and filling drink for this hot summer. 

Recipe Video on Vidyascooking Youtube Channels

Ingredients:

1 Over Ripe Banana

3 Tbsp Badam Milk Powder (Here's My Recipe for Homemade Badam Milk Powder Please Click Here)

2 Tbsp Sugar

1 Cup Chilled Yogurt

1/2 Cup Chilled Milk

Prep:

Boil the milk, bring it to room temperature then place it in the fridge till it is chilled

Place yogurt in the fridge till chilled.

Tip:

For creamy taste and texture boil the milk and reduce it a bit. Boiled milk also enhances the flavor and taste of any milkshake and lassi recipes.

Method:

In a mixerjar, peel, chop and add the banana followed by the sugar and badam milk powder grind to form a smooth puree.

Next add milk and yogurt and grind till a smooth lassi is formed and serve chilled in a tall tumbler...Enjoy!

Other Lassi Recipes on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel:

Chikoo Lassi

Avocado Sweet Lassi

Avocado Spicy Lassi

Grapes Lassi Recipe

Dry fruit Lassi Recipe

Banana Lassi

Cucumber Lassi 

Beetroot Lassi 

Strawberry Lassi

Mint and Coriander Lassi

Banana Stem Lassi

Mango Banana Lassi

Besan Chilla / Kadalaimaavu Dosai Recipe

Besan chilla or kadalaimaavu dosai is a healthy and simple breakfast which can be prepared in a jiffy.

Besan Chilla / Kadalaimaavu Dosai Recipe on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Besan Chilla /Kadalaimaavu Dosai Recipe Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Kadalaimaavu / Besan / Chickpeaflour

1/2 Cup Idly Dosa Batter

1 Large Finely Chopped Onion = 1 Cup Chopped Onion

8 Sprigs Finely Coriander Leaves

4 Sprigs Curry Leaves

2 Finely Chopped Green Chillies

1/2 Tbsp Cumin Seeds

1 Tbsp Chilly Flakes

1/4 Tsp Asafoetida

1 Tsp Salt

Oil as required 

Prep:

Peel and wash onion, finely chop and add to a mixing bowl.

Separate the curry leaves and  coriander from root and hard stem and rinse thrice in water, finely chop and add to the chopped onion in mixing bowl.

Remove the stem from chilly and rinse well, finely chop and add to the mixing bowl along with onion and coriander.

In another mixing bowl add idly batter and besan flour. 

Next add cumin seeds, chilly flakes and asafetida to the flour and batter, using a ladle stir the flour and bater till well mixed and no lumps are formed.

Add 1/4 cup water and stir the batter to pouring consistency. Check and add 1/2 tsp salt stir well and reserve.

To the chopped onion, coriander and chillies add 1/2 tsp salt and mix well.

Method:

Heat a tawa on medium flame, ladle the batter and spread to form thin dosa.

Spread 2 tbsp of chopped onion and coriander mixture on the dosa, with light hands gently press on the batter.

Spread 2 tbsp of oil and tiny amount of ghee on the dosa and fry it for 2 to 3 minutes on medium flame then flip and fry for another 2 more minutes until golden. Remove from tawa and serve the Besan chilla hot with chutney...Enjoy!

More Chilla and Dosa Video Recipes on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Masala Dosa

Mini Masala Dosa

Chocolate Dosa

Chicken Masala Dosa

Open Masala Dosa

Paper Dosa

Dosa Pizza

Tomato Rawa Dosa

Egg Dosa

Idly Dosa Batter

Red Rice Idly Dosa Batter

Mixed Vegetable Sichuan Dosa

Chilly Cheese Dosa

Sweet Dosa Waffle

Keema Dosa

Sweet Ragi Dosa

Avarebele / Hyacinth Beans Dosa

Mixed Vegetable Uthappam

Tomato Uthappam

Japanese Dosa

Mixed Vegetable Uthappam Waffle

Ragi Dosa

Chikoo Suji Halwa / Sapota Kesari Recipe

Sapota or fondly referred as chikoo is a seasonal fruit which is harvested during August till March. Sapota is very sweet and grainy textured fruit, when used in dessert dishes this fruit tastes amazing.

Recipe Video is uploaded on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Sapota / Chioo Halwa Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Sapota / Chikoo

1/2 Cup Sooji / Rawa /Semolina

1/2 Cup Sugar

4 Tbsp Ghee

10 Cashews

10 Raisins 

3 Cardamoms

1 Cup Milk

1/2 Cup Warm Water

Prep:

Wash and peel the sapota, chop and remove the seeds.

Add the sapota and sugar to a mixerjar and grind to form a smooth paste. Add 1/2 the amount of milk and grind to form smooth puree.

Wash and peel few more sapotas, remove the seeds and chop into tiny bite pieces for garnish and reserve.

Heat a pan on medium flame once the pan is hot place on low flame, add the sooji and constantly keep stirring and dry roasting for 2 minutes until the sooji is light pink in color. Remove from flame a reserve on a plate.

Method:

Heat a pan on medium flame with ghee. Add cashews and raisins and fry till light golden.

Add the roasted sooji and fry for 2 minutes in ghee. Add the remaining milk to the sooji and stir till no lumps are formed.

Add the sapota puree to the sooji and stir well add 1/4 cup of water and stir well and cook till the sooji is well cooked. Constantly keep stirring making sure the semolina doesn't form lumps.

Once the halwa is cooked it will form a ball consistency and ghee will separate from halwa. Remove the halwa from flame and transfer to a serving plate.

Top the halwa with chopped sapota and serve hot...Enjoy!

More Kesari Recipes Posted on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Grapes Kesari

Pineapple Kesari

Mango Kesari

Peanut Chutney/Nilakadalai Chutney Recipe

Peanut chutney can be prepared in different methods, but this recipe is one of the best chutneys that I prepare all the time.

Ingredients:

5 Tbsp Peanuts

2 Garlic Pods

2 Green Chilies

2 Tsp Oil

1/4 Tsp Salt

Prep:

Peel and wash the garlic pods.

Remove the stem from chilies, wash and slit into half.

Peanut Chutney Recipe on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Method:

Heat a pan on medium flame.

Add oil to the pan and allow the oil to heat well.

Add garlic, stir and fry for few seconds.

Add peanuts and chillies and fry till peanuts turn golden.

Remove the fried peanuts from flame allow to cool down a bit.

Add the fried peanuts to a mixer jar, add salt and grind to form a coarse paste.

Add 2 tbsp water and grind, make sure not to grind the chutney too smooth.

Once the chutney is ground transfer to a serving dish and serve along with rotis, dosas, idly ...Enjoy!

Other Chutney recipes on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Tomato Chutney

Onion Chutney

Coriander Chutney

Mint Chutney

Tamarind Chutney

Raw Mango Chutney

Red Chilly Chutney

Onion Garlic Chutney

Ridge Gourd Chutney

Coconut Chutney

Chikoo Milkshake / Sapota Milkshake

Chikoo or Sapota is a seasonal fruit which is harvested from August till March. Sapota is a very sweet and grainy texture fruit. It is always better to peel the skin and then consume the fruit. This filling and healthy sapota milk shake can be served during breakfast time. 

Chikoo Milkshake Recipe Video on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Ripe Chikoo / Sapota

1 1/2 Cups Chilled Milk

3 Tbsp Sugar

Prep:

Boil 1 1/2 cups milk and refrigerate until chilled

Wash and peel the sapota. Chop into half remove the seeds and reserve. 

Method:

In a mixerjar add the chopped sapota and sugar. Cover and grind to form a smooth puree.

Add chilled milk and grind to form a smooth milk shake. Serve the milkshake in a tall tumbler...Enjoy!

Hubby enjoying sapota milkshake 😍

Other Milkshake Recipes on Vidyascooking

Grapes Milkshake

Almond Avocado Banana MilkShake

Custard Apple Milkshake

Milo Banana Milkshake

Strawberry Milkshake

Kitkat Milkshake

Bengaluru Style Mango Milkshake

Banana Milkshake

Sharjah Shake

Ferrero Rocher Milkshake

Nachos Chips Recipe

Nachos chips prepared at home from scratch is so flavorful and tasty. 

Nachos Chips Recipe Video on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Maize Flour / Makka Atta / Yellow Corn Flour

1/2 Cup Maida / All Purpose Flour

1/4 Tsp Cumin Powder

1/4 Tsp Pepper Powder

1 Tsp Salt

1 Cup Luke Warm Water

Oil as required

Method:

In a mixing bowl add yellow corn flour, maida, cumin powder, pepper powder and salt mix well.

Add luke warm water in small batches and knead to form a smooth dough.

Let the dough be slightly sticky the corn flour will absorb the moisture.

Add 2 tsp oil and knead to form a smooth dough.

Cover and allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes.

Reserve excess maida/ all purpose flour in a bowl 

Knead the dough for 5 minutes. Form even roundels and dip in some flour and place on flat surface or rolling board and roll it with gentle hands.

Sprinkle excess flour on both sides and roll to form a thin roti. Using a bowl or cutter cut the dough into equal circles.

Place a tawa on medium flame and start to fry the rotis for few seconds on both sides till tiny bubbles form.

Fry all the rotis and reserve on a plate allow to cool down completely.

Using a sharp pair of scissors cut the roti in half and into quarters.  

Heat a wok with enough oil for frying.

Once the oil reaches smoking point. 

Gently drop a small batch of cut roti in hot oil. Place the flame on medium.

Flip the nachos on both sides and fry it for a minute till light golden in color.

Drain the nachos from oil and allow it to drain in a colander.

Once the nachos have cooled down. Plate the nachos with guacamole ...Enjoy!

More Indo Mexican Recipes on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Strawberry Salsa for Nachos

Mango Salsa for Nachos

Guacamole for Nachos

Chicken Tacos

Mexican Spiced Pineapple Salad

Grapes Lassi Recipe

When grapes are in season prepare this delightful lassi.  I loved the paneer / rose flavor grapes in this recipe.

Grapes Lassi Recipe on My Youtube Channel

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Grapes (Seedless / Paneer / Rose Flavor Grapes)

We can use any seedless grapes but the paneer / rose flavor grapes is so good.

1/2 Cup Fresh Chilled Yogurt

3 Tbsp Sugar

1/4 Cup Chilled Water

Method:

Separate the grapes from stem and rinse in water thrice.

Add the grapes and sugar to a mixer jar and grind to form a smooth puree.

Add yogurt and grind to form a smooth lassi.

We can dilute with water and grind if the lassi is to thick.

Transfer the lassi to a serving glass and serve...Enjoy!

Grape and other lassi recipes on Vidyascooking Youtube Channel

Banana Lassi

Avocado Sweet Lassi

Dryfruit Lassi

Grapes Lassi

Cucumber Lassi

Strawberry Lassi 

Beetroot Lassi

Mint and Coriander Masala Lassi

Mango Lassi

Banana Stem Lassi