Idlli Sambhar

Ingredients:

• Rice-2 cups
• Urad Daal (white)- 1 cup
• Salt-1 1/2 tblsp
• Baking Soda- A pinch
• Oil-for greasing

Method

Pick, wash and soak the daal overnight or for 8 hours. Pick, wash and drain the rice. Grind it coarsely in a blender. Grind the daal into a smooth and forthy paste. Now mix the grinded rice and daal together into a batter. Mix salt and set aside in a warm place for 8-9 hours or overnight for fermenting. Idlis are ready to be cooked when the batter is well fermented. Grease the idle holder or pan well and fill each of thm with 3/4th full of batter. Steam cook idlis on medium flame for about 10 minutes or until done. Use a butter knife to remove the idlis. Serve them with sambhar or chutney

Indian Somosha

Ingredients

• Potatoes( boiled, peeled and mashed)-4 large
• Green peas (cup boiled and drained)-1/2
• Cumin seeds-1 1/2 tsp
• Aamchoor(mango powder)- 1 tsp
• Red chilli powder-1 tsp
• Garam masala powder-1/2 tsp
• Cashewnuts-1 tablespoon
• Maida(all purpose flour)- 3 cups
• Ghee-2tbs
• Salt-as per taste

Method
Heat the ghee for the stuffing and add the cumin seeds and cashew nuts. When the seeds splutter add the dry powders and fry for 10 seconds. Add the mashed potatoes and green peas and mix well. Mix in salt to taste. Fry on a low flame for about 10 minutes. Set aside.
Prepare the cover for the samosa by combining the maida, hot ghee or oil and salt to taste.
Add enough water and knead the dough. Set aside for about 10 minutes. Divide the dough into round portions. Take each portion and coat it with some maida so that it does not stick to your hands. Roll it into a not too thin perfect round. With a pizza cutter, make 2 semi circles with the round. Take one half circles. Dip your index finger into the cold water and apply it to the straight edge of the semi circle. Now hold the semicircle in your hand. Fold the straight edge, bringing together the watered edges. Seal the watered edges.
You should now have a small triangular maida pocket. Stuff it with the potato mixture and now water-seal the upper edges. Repeat for the rest of the dough. Deep fry in oil till golden brown and serve with mint chutney. Do not overheat the oil, since this will cook only the outer maida covering and the inner layer will remain uncooked even if the samosa has turned dark brown
on the outside.