Masala idli

Ingredients:

12 idlis - cut into chunks
1 medium sized onion - sliced along length
1 small tomato - finely chopped
1/2 cup sweet corn
1 green chilli - finely chopped
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp fennel seeds
1/4 tsp grated ginger
2 tbsp kasoori methi/coriander leaves
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
Salt
Oil

Method:
1) Take 2 tbsp oil and heat in a pan. Add mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter. Add cumin and fennel seeds. Add green chili and ginger.
2) Add onion and fry until it changes colour. Add tomato and fry until it blends in.
3) Add corn, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Fry for a minute.
4) Add idli and mix. Drizzle lemon juice and mix. Check for salt.
5) Garnish with kasoori methi
DONE!!
Serve with yogurt or raita :)

Tomato saaru

Ingredients: Serves 6

1 cup toor dal
9-12 cups water
2 tomato - sliced in half
1-2 tbsp rasam powder
1 tbsp jaggery powder - optional
1 tsp coriander powder - optional
Salt
3 tbsp oil
2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
2-3 sprigs coriander leaves - finely chopped
3 dry red chilli - optional
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp asafoetida

Ingredients:
1) In a pressure cooker, wash toor dal, add 8 cups of water and tomato. Close the lid, place the weight and wait for two-three whistles. Keep aside and wait for pressure to be released.
2) Open the lid, add more water if you want a thinner consistency. I added 2 more cups :)
3) Add 1 1/2 tbsp of rasam powder, jaggery powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and bring to boil. Check for salt. Add remaining rasam powder if you want it spicy.
4) Heat oil in a skillet for a minute. Add mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter. Add cumin seeds, red chilli, asafoetida and fry for 10 seconds. Add it to saaru. Garnish with coriander leaves.
Done!

Tip 1: Do what appa does and add 1 garlic pod to the tadka.
Tip 2: I like to try different herbs for garnish. Dill goes really well as well :)