Cooking With Siri | Recipes, Reviews and Reflections.: [VeganMoFo 2014 Recipe] Minapa Vadiyalu Pulusu | Black Gram Wadi Curry + Four Giveaways To Win: Rude Food; Gluten-Free, Sugar-free Cookbook; BongMom's Cookbook and Quick-fix Indian Book

September 26, 2014

[VeganMoFo 2014 Recipe] Minapa Vadiyalu Pulusu | Black Gram Wadi Curry + Four Giveaways To Win: Rude Food; Gluten-Free, Sugar-free Cookbook; BongMom's Cookbook and Quick-fix Indian Book

Like many of you out there I am a HUGE lover (read as hoarder) of cookbooks and books based on food writing. I don't need any reason in particular to buy one. Sometimes it's the theme of the cookbook; sometimes the author; sometimes the reviews are so great that I can't stop myself from ordering a copy; sometimes it is as silly as the book cover. Whatever may be the reason, now I have a selection of books that I seldom use and book giveaways to few lucky readers was something I wanted to do since a long time. I handpicked 12 such books (4 of which are featured today) that I simply loved for each day of this week. Winners will be randomly picked and there are few more simple ways to increase your chances. Scroll down to the end of the post for more details on how to participate. Don't forget to check out (if you haven't already) on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 posts as well. All it takes is to leave a comment and we never know, you might be THE winner. Enter and try your luck! Click here to access all book giveaways on a SINGLE page.

Also, since it's VeganMoFo, a vegan friendly recipe is a must. Today, I made amma's favorite dish - a tangy curry with fried black gram (urad dal) wadis. On days when your tastebuds are craving for a different yet simple curry, try this. There is something really magical when fried wadis are dunked in onion-tomato-tamarind flavored stew. The wadis absorb all the juices and the result is truly wonderful. Rice is the best accompaniment and if are a non-vegan, don't forget to add a tsp of melted ghee on top.

Day 4: Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi and Gluten-free, Sugar-free cooking by Susan O'Brien

Day 5: BongMom's Cookbook by Sandeepa Mukherjee Datta and Quick-fix Indian by Ruta Kahate

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Previously On VeganMoFo 2014 -

Day 1 | No Grind Chutney with Gongura (Sorrel) Leaves
Day 2 | Moongachi Bhaaji | Whole Green Gram and Potato Curry with Koli Masala

Day 3 | Crispy Hedgehog Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs

Day 4 | Cabbage and Onion Vada/Fritters

Day 5 | Ripe Red Chilli Pickle

Day 6 | Garlic Tostones | Puerto Rican Twice Fried Plantains With Rice and Beans

Day 7 | Zero Oil Zucchini Curry

Day 8 | Lemon Rice (Nimmakaya Annam)

Day 9 | Mark Bittman's Crisp Noodle Cake

Day 10 | Peanut Chaat

Day 11 | Under 15 minute Easy South India Coconut Chutney

Dried Urad Dal Vadiyams (Wadis), easily available in any Indian stores

Minapa Vadiyalu Pulusu | Black Gram Wadi Curry

Recipe: Amma
Serves 2-3

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried black gram (or moong dal) wadis/vadiyams
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 green chillis, slit lenghtwise
a big pinch of hing (asafoetida)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped
3 tbsp of tamarind pulp (mix in some water if it is too thick)
salt - to taste
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
oil - for frying

Preparation

Step 1: Heat oil and fry the black gram wadi to golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towel and Set aside.

Step 2: Leave about tbsp of oil in the same kadai and remove the rest. Add urad dal, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, hing and green chillies. Once mustard start to crackle, add onion and ginger garlic paste. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes, until translucent.

Step 3: Add chopped tomato and cook until the entire mixture turns mushy. Season with salt, turmeric and red chilli powder. Stir in the tamarind pulp and mix everything together.

Step 4: Finally add the fried vadiyams and mix again. On low heat, cook for 2 to 3 minutes and turn off the heat. If you have time, cover and let the curry sit for 10 to 15 minutes for the flavors to blend together. Serve with rice.

How can you win these Day 4 and Day 5 Book Give-aways (Worldwide Shipping)

1. Leave a comment on this post. As simple as that.

To increase your chances in the random drawing, do one or more of the following and leave a separate comment once you did so.

2. Follow Cooking With Siri on Facebook

3. Follow on Twitter. - @sirime

4. Subscribe to Cooking With Siri feed.

4. Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use this text -
{CookBooks #Giveaway Day 4 & 5} #Enter for a chance to #win FOUR books @sirime's blog | Worldwide Shipping | Details: http://tinyurl.com/cwsbookgiveawayday45

If you are already liked me on facebook, following on twitter or subscribed to RSS feed, just leave a comment letting me know and you are entered in the giveaway automatically! You don't have to be a blogger to win these book give-way(s) and open worldwide.

Last date for participation is September 29th 2014 midnight IST and Four randomly chosen winners will be announced on September 30th 2014.