Indoor air dried screw pine leaf ( pandan leaf) and its powder

 

                                                                                                                                                     Dried screw pine leaf and powder

Screw pine  leaves are narrow elongated leaves that comes in a bunch of leaves. It can grow up to 2 metres. But it is harvested shorter.                                                    

                                            Screw pine leaf

      

Screw pine is called  by different names. Daun  pandan in Malaysian,  Bai Toey Hom inThai,  Rampa in Hindi and Sinhalese(Sri Lanka) Takonoki in Japanese, Chan Xiang Lan in Mandarin and Screw pine in English.

It is a fragrant spice used in coconut rice called nasi lemak  using knotted pandan leaf.It is served with fried yellow tail fish,fried sprats and fried peanuts, fried chicken wing, bullseye egg or boiled egg, sambal and slices of cucumber . You can choose to your taste. It will be a delicious meal. I cook this rice using pandan powder and lemon grass powder.

It is used in meat curries and variety of sweets and sweet desserts. It is used in steaming, boiling and as wrapper for Glutinous sticky rice. 

Juice is extracted from bruised leaf to make Pandan Chiffon cake which is famous in Singapore and Malaysia. 

kaya bread spread is also made from pandan leaf and coconut milk.

 Pandan leaves are used as cockroach repellent in the house and cars.

 Pandan leaves are rich in essential oils.

 When it comes to storage place the fresh pandan leaves in a plastic bag and store in the vegetable compartment for 4 days. If you want to keep for long it is said to freeze in baking sheet. Then keep in the zip lock bag and freeze.

Today I am going to dry pandan leaves indoors and get pandan powder.

                                 Recipe summery                                                                                       For                                                                   Indoor air dried Screw pine leaf and its powder                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Preparation Time : 30 minutes                                                      Drying time:  one week                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Air dried screw pine leaf               Method:                                                                                                        1. Snip the leaves separately.                                                        2. Cut away the bottom of the leaves.                                          3. Wash well since there will be sand and dirt.                            4. Place in along towel and wipe out the water.                          5. Cut into three parts of each leaf.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fresh cut leaves                                    6. Place in a kitchen towel or news paper and leave it                    to dry in an airy place.  Direct sun is not needed.                    7. Stir now and then everyday.                                                      8. When it is dry cut into small pieces                                              and grind in a grinder.                                                               9. When it is cooled store in a bottle.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Indoor air dried Screw pine leaf  and its powder is ready.         

Recipe follows in detail with pictures

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Drying time: one week 

Preparation:

Snip the leaves separately. Cut away the bottom of the leaves. Wash well since there will be sand and dirt. Place in a long towel and wipe out the water. Cut into three parts of each leaf.                                                               

Cut fresh leaves

                                                                             

Place on a kitchen or news paper and leave it to dry in an airy place.  Stir now and then every day.  Direct sun is not needed.  

When it is dry cut into small pieces and grind in a grinder.

When is cooled store in a bottle.

Screw pine leaf powder

I dried 270 grams leaves and got 30 grams powder.

                      

                                                  

Oven made onion powder

                                                                

                       

                                                  Oven made onion powder

Onion which is also known as bulb onion is a widely cultivated vegetable.

Onions are low in calories and packed with nutrients and minerals. Onions are eaten raw and raw onions are used in salads which are delicious. Onions are fried, used in curries and soups. The smell of fried or caramelized onions is irresistible.

Today I want to bake onion in the oven to make onion powder which is expensive in the shops.     I am going to bake 3 kilos of onions. 

 

                                 Recipe summery                                                                                      For                                                                                    Oven made onion powder                                                                                                                          Preparation time:  2 hours                                                             Cooking time: 6 hours    

      Method                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. First clean the outside skin of the  onion.                                 2. Wash well and wipe them with a napkin.                                 3.Cut the onion into quarter pieces.                                             4. Then cut them into small pieces. I used a food                           processor to do this.                                                                   5. Spread the processed onion in an oiled tray.Please                     don't use aluminium foil as I did.It is troublesome.               6. Bake the onion at 100 degree Celsius stirring                             occasionally.                                                                                 7. It took 6 hours to bake.                                                             8. Cool the produce in the tray and grind.                                   9. The yield was approximately 330 grams. If you bake                1 kilo onion you will get 111 grams.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             10. It can be used in soups, stew and in marination.                                                                                                                                        Oven made onion powder is ready.                                                      

Recipe follows in detail with pictures.

 Preparation time: 2 hours

Cooking time:6 hours

First clean the outside skin of the onions. Then wash well and wipe them with a napkin. After that cut the onions into quarter pieces.Then cut them into small pieces. I used a food processor to do this part. It is impossible to cut 3 kilos by hand. You can bake 1 kg at a time. 

                                                              Spread the processed onion in an oiled tray. You can see aluminum foil at the bottom of my onion tray. It is troublesome. Please don’t use. as I did. I do not know about laying a baking sheet. I have not tried.

                                

                                                         Shredded raw onion                                            

 

   Bake the onion at 100°Celsius, stirring occasionally. I used two trays and it took 6 hours to bake.  It turned out be good. Cool the produce in the trays and grind it. The yield was approximately 330 grams. When you bake 1 kg you will get around 111 grams. 

                                    

                                                      After baking the shredded onion

To make a small quantity we can use the air fryer. I will try and let you know.

                                      

                                                              Final oven roasted onion

                                      The yield was approximately 330 grams. When you bake 1 kg you will get around 111 grams

                                                                

                                                                    Stored Onion Powder

 To make a small quantity we can use the air fryer. I will try and let you know.

Onion powder can be used in soups, stews and marination. Few of my recipes in which I used onion powder will follow.                

 

Making of indoor air dried lemon grass Powder

Indoor air dried lemon grass powder

Indoor air dried lemon grass powder

Lemon grass is a native plant from Sri Lanka and India and is grown in many parts of the world. It is used in cooking mainly with the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka and  Thai dishes. It has oil. it has  some medicinal properties.It has been used in Ayurveda medicine.  In Chinese medicine for stomach problems . It is used in soaps and. cosmetics. In food it serves as a fragrant in chicken and mutton curries.It has a mild taste of lemon. It is said to lower cholesterol and improves sugar levels. And relieves pain.used in aromatherapy

                                     Recipe summary                                
                                               For
               Making of indoor air dried lemon grass Powder

Preparation time: 1 hour
Drying time:  1 week

 lemon grass

Preparation
1. Wash 500 grams lemon grass and wipe with a towel.
2. Peel the outer layer.
3. Cut away 2 inches on the top and ½ an inch at the bottom.
4. Cut 3 inches from the white part at the bottom and slice into thin round pieces. I got 130 grams.
5. Shred it and  place on a kitchen paper or news paper and leave indoor.

Shredded hardest
 part of lemon grass

6. The green part of lemon grass is difficult to cut. cut about one and inch inch 
pieces. I processed in the food processor.  

I got 50 grams.


7.  Place on a kitchen paper or new paper and leave indoor.

It will take 1 week to dry.

Indoor air dried 
lemon grass powder

8. When it is dry grind using a coffee grinder store in a container. 
9. I Got 30 grams of powder.
Store in a bottle.
It can be used in curries, rice, soups and  stews.

                                                                                  

Recipe follows in detail with pictures.    
  

Preparation time: 1 hour
Drying time:  1 week

Ingredients
 500 gram  Lemon grass

Preparation
Wash the lemon grass and wipe with a cloth. Or towel.
Peel the outer layer.

 lemon grass

Peel the outer layer.

Peel the outer layer

Cut away ½ an inch at the bottom

Cutting ½ an inch at the bottom

Cut away 2 inches the top

Cutting 2 inches on the top

Cut 3 inches of the white part . slice into thin round pieces. 

Cutting 3 inches of soft part

Slice into thin round pieces. 

Slicing the soft part

I got 130 grams.  Place on a kitchen paper or
 new paper and leave indoor.

Shredded softer part of lemon grass

The green part of lemon grass is difficult to cut. I processed in the food processor. 

Hard part of the lemon grass

I got 50 grams. Place on a kitchen paper or new paper and leave indoor.

Shredded hardest part of lemon grass

Drying harder part of lemon grass separately

It will take 1 week to dry.
When it is dry, grind using a coffee grinder store in a container. 
I Got 30 grams of powder.
Store in a bottle.
It can be used in curries, rice, soups and  stews.

Lemon grass powder

Other powders I made

Spicy cucumber curry

We think of using cucumber in salads and pickles. Today I am going to make a spicy cucumber curry.

                                                              Spicy cucumber curry
 

                                 Recipe summary 
                                          For
                           Spicy cucumber curry

Cucumber

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 6

Preparation
Peel and cut the cucumber into bite size pieces.

Method

1. In a large pan heat 2 table spoon of oil. When the oil is hot, reduce the heat to low.

2. Add half of 150 grams onion.

3. Add 1 dry chili chopped.

4. Add ½ tsp cumin seeds and ½ tsp fennel seeds and fry for 30 seconds. 

5. Add rest of the onion and fry till translucent.

6.Add 1  green chili cut into small pieces and 1 red chili , 3 cloves garlic sliced, 20 grams ginger finely chopped cut into small pieces and 10 curry leaves chopped and fry for 7 minutes  

7. Add 1 kg cucumber pieces and fry for 1 minute. 

8. Add 1 cup of water,  2 tbsp curry powder, 40 grams tamarind juice, and ½ tsp turmeric powder and mix well. Bring to the boil.  Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes.

 9. Add 1 tsp salt salt. Once you add salt and cover the pan the cucumber will start releasing a lot of water and you want most of it evaporated. 

Spicy cucumber curry

10. Add ½ cup  coconut milk.  

11. Add pepper powder.

12. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Simmer for another three minutes and take the pan off the heat.

The spicy cucumber curry is ready.                                                                                   

Recipe follows in detail with pictures.

                     

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves:4

Cucumber

Ingredients
Main
1 kg cucumber

Spices
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp fennel seeds
½ tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp black pepper powder
2 tbsp curry powder
1 dry chili

Others
150 grams onion, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, sliced
20 grams ginger, finely chopped
1 green chili, cut into small pieces
1 red chili, cut into small pieces
10 curry leaves, chopped
40 grams tamarind, juice extracted
1 tsp salt
½ cup coconut milk
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup water

Preparation
Peel and cut the cucumber into bite size pieces.

Cucumber

Method
In a large pan heat 2 table spoon of oil. When the oil is hot, reduce the heat to low. and add cumin seeds and fennel seeds and fry for 30 seconds.

 Add half of onion and fry till becomes brown. Add dry chili and fry for 2 minutes.

Adding dry chili

 Add some more onion. Fry for 1 minute.

Adding more onion

Add cumin seeds and fennel seeds and fry for 30 seconds.

Add cumin seeds and fennel seeds

Add green and red chili, garlic,ginger and curry leaves and fry for 7 minutes or until the onion turns translucent. 

Add cucumber pieces and fry for 1 minute. 

Adding  cucumber 

Add water, curry powder, tamarind juice, and turmeric powder and mix well. Bring to the boil.  

Mixing cucumber with the spices.

Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes. Once you add salt cover the pan. 

Adding salt 

The cucumber will start releasing a lot of water and you want most of it evaporated. 

Curry is cooking

Add coconut milk. 

Adding coconut milk.

 Add pepper powder.

Adding pepper powder

Taste for seasoning and adjust. Simmer for another three minutes and take the pan off the heat.

Final curry

The cucumber curry is ready. Serve while hot with rice.

Spicy cucumber curry

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Easy mild cucumber curry

https://simplycookingandhealth.blogspot.com/2014/10/easy-mild-cucumber-curry.html