DEVAKOTTAI SAMAYAL ARAI

In this post, we will be making a biryani masala powder. You can make this masala powder at home , instead of buying ffrom the stores.  This biryani masala powder is the one I used in Chicken Biryani Homestyle , Pan Pulao and Veggie Biryani and please note this can be used as a garam masala powder substitute in any recipe you wish) These are the ingredients needed for the homemade biryani masala powder.  Cloves- 8 Cinnamon stick - 3 inch piece Cardamom - 5 Bay leaves - 3 big Star Anise - 3 Shahi Jeera / Black Cumin Seeds - 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds / Sombu - 2 tbsp Peppercorns - 1 1/2 tbsp Coriander Seeds - 1 tbsp Dry Red Chillies - 12 (or as per your taste) Salt - 1 tbsp You need not roast the above ingredients. Grind everything to a fine powder.  You can use this entire amount of biryani masala powder to make 2 kgs of Vegetable / Chicken / Mutton Biryani. 

Moringa Leaves Chutney Powder In my childhood, we used to live in a big single family home with lots of trees and flowering plants. There was almost every tree in our backyard. You name it, we will have it! For example, Coconut trees, Mango tree, Guava Tree, Pomegranate tree, Banana Tree, Moringa Tree, and the list goes on...... Hmm, we come across a lot about the Moringa Trees, and the goodness of their leaves nowadays. The vegetable from this tree is called Drumsticks. We can cook delicious dishes with these drumsticks, with a combination of lentils or just a curry which will be yummy with cooked rice varieties, idli or dosa.  The leaves from this tree are also very healthy. It can be cooked with lentils as well.  The kids may not like the taste of these leaves.  In this case, we can make chutney powders and they can mix this with hot cooked rice and clarified butter (ghee). When I have a lot of moringa leaves, if I do not want to cook all of them into a curry, I clean ...