Mushroom Podi Pirattal (Mushroom Fry with Spice Powder)

My hubby being a vegetarian, eating out can be fiddly sometimes. Indian restaurant/fast food is a life-saver many times, but when we are in a mood for fine dining, it becomes really hard to pick a restaurant that has atleast a few vegetarian dishes in the menu. He is not a salad lover too. Though vegetarian soups are an option, he becomes doubtful about the "meat stock" being the base for many soups. With all these restrictions, there are only a very few safe options available, like Cheese Ravioli, Grilled mushroom burgers, Veggie Pizzas etc. At these times, I keep teasing him that now is the time for him to get converted to a non-vegetarian, but hasn't worked so far ;-) Mushrooms are his much preferred choice and he is comfortable with any entree that has mushrooms in any form, be it grilled or roasted or baked. Back in India, mushrooms weren't a familiar food for us, and I've hardly tasted them before coming here. It was available only in special stores and no one had the anxiety to go buy and cook it.

After trying out some interesting mushroom recipes at restaurants here, I started cooking mushrooms frequently at home by applying some Indian touch to it like Mushroom Soup, Mushroom Briyani, Mushroom Kurma etc. All these are recently adopted dishes from various sources and are wonderful dishes that anyone can enjoy! Nowadays, mushrooms are becoming another staple food in our diet. This is one such fabulous mushroom dish that my Mother-in-law told me after watching it in a cooking show. In fact, she shares new recipes everyday with me after watching the TV shows! I pick to try the recipes that sound yummy and new to me. Last week when she told about this recipe, it sounded interesting to me as its made of idli podi and I sure wanted to try this soon. After a few relaxing days in our long weekend, I decided to try this today and it didn't disappoint me. It was yummy, and moreover uses very simple ingredients and quick to make too! I called her immediately and told her how tasty it came out :)

Before going to the recipe, its time to share my excitement! I've been showered with awards lately and I'm in the seventh heaven now! I received the awards from four of my dear fellow bloggers on the same day! Its such an ecstasy to receive the "Blogging with a Purpose" award

from Rekha, Srilekha, Vani and JZ!

I also received the "Yum Yum Blog" award from my dear friends Ramya and Srilekha. Thanks so much to all of you for sharing your awards with me :) I will soon pass these awards..

Ingredients:

• Sliced Mushrooms (button) - 1 cup
• Gram Flour(Besan) - 1 tbsp
• Rice Flour - 1/2 tbsp
• Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
• Onions - 1/2 cup (Chopped)
• Idli Podi - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves - a few
• Corriander leaves - a hand full
• Oil for deep frying

Procedure:

• Mix the sliced mushrooms, gram flour, rice flour, chilli powder and salt along with some water. Be little cautious in adding water. Start by sprinkling some water then mixing, and repeat this until the flours are well blended with mushrooms. Should NOT be watery like bajji batter.
• Deep fry this in oil in batches and set aside on a paper napkin to let the oil drain.
• Heat a tsp of oil in a pan, season with fennel seeds and fry the onions, curry leaves until the onions turn light brown.
• Add the mushrooms, Idli podi and fry well in medium heat for 5 mins.
• Finally add chopped corriander leaves and fry for a min. Remove from heat.

We enjoy this with a mixed rice dish like veg briyani or pulao.