Food SOS - Ask questions here!

Hello rajsand,

Did you by chance change your mixi/blender recently?
If your answer is yes, then reduce the spped.
If no, use a blender after you grind it.
The idea is to add air to maavu and increase the volume.
Hope this helps.

Hi,

Is it worth buying a food processor? IF so, Please suggest me which one is the best processor for a long time use. I think it helps for chopping, mincing large amount of vegs. for a party preparation. I searched in amazon that Cuisinart is better when compared with other. Any idea ?

Thanks!

WARNING

When you buy meat from supermarket or local butcher, never let them cut it for you. It's unhygienic.

Get your own electronic slicer. It costs just twenty quid in Argos.

:P

Hello Nichiro
No I dont use a blender, I use wet grinder. I have never had this problem, I tried cleaning the whole grinder and then yet it doesnt fix the problem.

What is 'khatti Bhaaji' called in english/kannada/tamil? Saw chef Sanjeev Kapoor using Khatti Bhaaji (a variety of greens) making 'shindi sai bhaabji' . What is its nearest substitute?

Hello friends,

It is not related to cooking. So, pls excuse and help me out

Those who live in Boston: which is the best place to buy corals/pearls ?

An immediate reply would be highly appreciated and thanks for yr replies.

Bye.

Hi,
Can anyone suggest me a good brand for onion chopper?.Since our cooking involves lot of chopping I am debating whethere to buy a onion chopper (for home purpose only) ?.Suggestions would be helpul. :roll:
Thank You.

Hi Appujitu,
Cuisinart and kitchen aid are good brands when it comes to food processor and choppers. u can get the smallest one fro chopping onions. braun is also good, it is a set of hand blender and chopper which u can get in costco for 25$. the other two brands will be 80$or lesser. u can also chop others too. but if u go for big processors u can slice, chop and grate veg but for higher price.
hope this helps u
kz

Hello R

I dont know any specific shops in Boston , but as far as I know

one who wants to buy corals can visit the Inter Gem show , there

was one recently , and I think there is another one coming up in July.

You can check out their site http://<a href="http://www.intergem.....net</a><br />

Priya

Tastemakers/Priya,

Thanks for the site! I had been searching long for this one.

Minni

hi Appujitu

i am using borner V slicer. i am extremly happy with my decision. it's very sharp and makes onion very very fine with crushing it unlike food processor.it's easy to clean it has 2 more blades so u can make fresh fries also. believe me it's amazing. one thing it's very sharp so u can to be careful.it's little costly too $30.

Hi Kz,
Thanks for your tip!. I have Hamilton beach blender & Sumeet mixies at home. Basically I am looking for small chopper for daily use and not much to clean. Any how i check the brands you have mentioned.

Hi deepali128,
What is borner V slicer, is it a brand name ? Does it do both chopping(almost like mincing so small) and slicing ? Is it hand operated or electric? I want hand operated one with no sound. So if you can give more tips on borner V slicer It will be helpful! If electric one is so good then i don't mind going for it.
Thank you

hi Appujittu,

it's not electrical. it's like grater but in plastic. with german blades. insist for the same brand only.
it's The original V-slicer. mandoline.Borner is company name. t bought it from Linen and things.

Can anyone tell me where I can get 'Osterizer Mini Blender'. I tried in all stores but none of them carry the small mini jar seperately. I know how useful it is to make chutneys and thuvayals.. I tried on the net but looks like the shipping is double the actual cost of the product.
Thankyou

Mini blender is available in the Indian stores

Hi Deepali128,

Borner V-Slicer Select Mandoline

Borner V-Slicer pro Mandoline

Borner V-Slicer Mandoline plus

Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus,

these are the varities I found on the net, Linen & things carry only the Zyliss Mandoline Slicer IS this one good?

I just want to know which of these model you have, and any idea(shop), other than net ,to buy this product.

Thank You-apujittu

Thanks, Priya. I thought that there in Boston might have separate coral shops like Balaji corals, abson etc. in NJ.

Will check the site..bye..

Has anyone tried making ghee using heavy/whipping cream without first making butter ? Does it come out well.

hi....
i am very new to cooking...i still depend on recipes....but i do not know y but i somehow have problem with the amount of salt a lot of time....can anyone tell me what can we do if we put more salt to any subzi by mistake....
is there any way we can rectify that?

Heard that putting raw potato will take the salt away. Tried a couple of times, but no effect.

So, my sincere suggestion is to use a spoon till u get used to it or use the other side(with small holes) to pour the salt so that there is no chance of adding more. Atleast, u will come to know how much of salt is going in extra and can reduce the amt of salt the next day.

And, try buying Diamond crystal(red with white color) salt whereas the other one(dont remember the name) purple color has more salty taste than the diamond. So, for newcomers, sincerely suggest to go with the former one.

Hi apujittu,

i checked my carton.it's:

Borner V slicer Mandoline.orignal. german blades.
i bought from linen and things store in Rochester NY.
it was $30.it has total 3 blades with cap to hold the onion tomato whatever. it comes in only 1 color off white.u can buy in india also

Thanks R for answering my query....am sure it will be very helpful to me :)

Hi deeplai128,
Thanks for the info ! I live in US , so I will try to look for your exact description of the product.

Does anybody know , where we can get the ready made ada for making ada pradhaman.

Guha

guhapriya, i have seen the ada in the indian stores which carry kerala food

Hi foodlover123 & R,

Yes, potato DOES help in reducing excess salt. Slice thin rounds of raw potato & place them over the entire surface of the sambar, curry whatever. Once they are cooked, remove them from the sambar & you can see the saltiness gone from it. But , one problem I've faced is the sambar becomes thicker by the time the potatoes are cooked. Even some curries lose their correct consistency, so better to check salt in the initial stage itself ! I have read that even a ball of cooked rice [sadham] can be added , but never tried it.
Years back, have seen in a Sanjeev Kapoor show on TV, he said 1tsp. of salt is enough for a dish cooked for 4 people. Correspondingly, if you are cooking for just 2, say you & your husband, 1/2 a tsp. of salt should be sufficient.
Hope this helps.

Thank you indu for ur suggestions..will definately try it....

Thanks, Indu.

R what is diamond crystal?Is it "Kal uppu"?Cos the salt am using is Morton iodized salt..BTW have u used Splenda ?

GVB

foodlover,

I use very less salt for cooking and its usually the last thing I add. Salt brings out the flavours well, so adding a tiny amount, say 1/2 tsp is necessary in the initial stage of cooking, but you can add the rest of the salt just before turning off the flame. The salt that is added at the end makes it pass through the digestive sytem than the salt with which a veggie/meat is cooked.
Especially, if you are using Iodine salt, then as you know Sodium Iodide/potassium Iodide (with which Iodized salts are fortified with) becomes unstable at higher temperatures and release Iodine. So, adding Iodized salt in the beginning of cooking or during cooking is equivalent to using Iodine less salt.

Minni

No, gvb. that is the brand name. Morton-is it not saltier? That was the one I was telling that it is saltier than the diamond crystal.

Since I came to US, have been using this diamond crystal brand. ONly one time, changed into Morton; around 3 to 4 times, by mistake, added more salt and my dishes became salty and it does not have the small holes too. Then, decided to stick with the same old brand.

Bye.

Hi R,
Oh okay..I have never tried the other brand. so don't know whether its saltier or not...Thankfully i have not had any problem with the one am using now..

GVB

Hello,

Cayenne pepper (powder) ....red chilli powder these 2 are same?

(I don't know where I've to post this question.)

No. Cayanne powder is also chilli powder which is red in color. But, it is made of different variety of chillies and has different flavor. It tastes good in salads and soups or dips when added in small quantities. If you add it to Indian food, the flavor is not very indian.

CI.

Hello CI,

Thanks for your reply. (and I'm waiting for your new thread :) )


rsankar.

Hi,

What is the best side dish for coconut milk pulav? Checked Mrs.Revathy's side dishes , but they all have coconut too.

And, anyone has recipe for Sanjeev kapoor's dal kitchidi(rice and moong dal)?

Thanks and Bye.

Hi R
My SIL recommended 'Rajma masala" (without coconut version)as an accompaniment for Coconut milk pulav and I liked the combo too.
Another suitable side dish can think of is "Cauliflower kurma".Or "Dal makhni".

Regards
Sowmya

R,
I think the best side dish for any pulav is raita. Try making it without any pepper or chillies. Add a tsp of mustard powder and salt and garnish with cilanthro and try it.

If you are making cucumber raita, best way is to remove water content and then add it to the yogurt. This way, you will get thick raita.

This is my opinion.

CI.

Hi CI,

I am having a get together with my folks after a long gap. So, my cousin is going to make raitha. And, I like the idea of adding mustard powder(gets extra flavor). Will tell her for sure..

And, sowmya, do u know how does she makes rajma masala w/w.o coconut?

Thanks to both of you.