Tuesday, June 10, 2008

FRIED GRITS with VEG. TOPPING - Arusuvai 1

I always used to read in blogs about Arusuvai frienship chain and the surprise ingredients that they receive and always wondered if i will ever be lucky enough to receive one.Little did i know that 2 months later my wish will come true.I received a mail from Madhuram of egglesscooking if i was interested in receiving surprise ingredients from her.I was so excited and happy and so you all can guess what my reply was.

The package arrived sooner than i expected and i was so eager to see what was in it.It contained 3 packets - 2 of which contained the ingredients and the 3rd one had some yummy australian ANZAC biscuits that madhu prepared.We (hubby and me) gobbled it up in no time.It was really really delicious.Thank you much for those madhu:).


Now coming to the ingredients.I was asked to guess both of them.The one in the bigger packet had the texture similar to rava , so i thought it would be polenta but as you can see i was wrong.She told me that if i couldnt guess then the answer was right there behind the stamp.I just couldnt stay in the dark anymore so pulled off the stamp and was very happy to see that it was QUICK GRITS.

Grits was something that we wanted to try after seeing the comedy movie "My Cousin Vinny". This is one of the most hilarious movies i have ever seen. In a way grits do play a role in winning the case.The ones who saw the movie will know what i am talking about and the ones who havent seen please watch it.Its a must see.

Since this was my first time cooking with grits i didnt want anything to go wrong.So browsed for recipes and stumbled upon an interesting one in Epicurious.com .I made slight changes to this recipe and made my own topping which one can choose to totally avoid.Hubby loved it without the topping and i loved with the topping.So here is the recipe.

FOR GRITS
INGREDIENTS
water - 2 1/2 cups

quick-cooking grits - 1/2 cup

grated sharp Cheddar - 1 cup(i used italian 4 blend cheese reduced fat)

garlic pdr - 1 tsp (optional)

unsalted butter - 1 tablespoon(i used 1 tsp)

Salt to taste

FOR TOPPING:-

Button mushroom - 4-5 nos,clean using wet cloth and dice small

Green bell pepper - 1/4 cup , diced small

zuchini - 1/4 cup,diced small

gin-gar paste - 1 tsp

red chilli pdr - 1 tsp

worchestershire sauce - 1 tsp

salt
FOR COATING:-
Flour paste ( mix flour and water to form a thin paste)
bread crumbs
METHOD

In a heavy saucepan bring 2 cups of the water to a boil, add the grits in a stream, stirring, and cook them, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes, or until they are very thick. Add the Cheddar, the butter, and salt to taste, stir the mixture until the cheese is melted, and spread it in an 8-inch-square baking dish. Chill the grits mixture, covered, overnight.

Heat oil in a pan.Add gin-gar paste and red chilli pdr.Saute for a few seconds and add the vegetables.Stir on high flame.When it softens slightly add salt and sauce.Lower the flame and let it cook until its done.

Have ready in separate bowls the flour paste and the bread crumbs. In a pan add some oil for shallow frying. While the oil is heating cut the grits mixture into squares or any shape you like. I used a heart shaped cutter.Working in batches, dip the grits into the bread crumbs first,then flour paste, letting the excess drip off, then coat them again with the bread crumbs, and fry them in the oil, turning them carefully, for 2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden, transferring them as they are fried to paper towels to drain. Serve the topping spooned over the grits.


Also my friend Siri of siri's corner is hosting a cool summer event - Frozen yogurt . Click on it for more details.

31 comments:

@the_whisk_affair said...

it looks fantastic ranji, looks so crisp, more or less like cutlets! grits is something that i've heard a lot abt (as southerners fav), but have never tasted it! anyways, good job experimenting!! :-)

@the_whisk_affair said...

beautiful pics by the way!

Beyond Curries said...

Ranji, I'm very glad that you liked the ignredients as well as the cookies.

The cutlets are superb Ranji. I'll also try it out soon. Actually I tried upma once, it did come out well, but I think it still needs some modification as to the water ratio, to get very good upma. Maybe you can also try it out.

Reg. the second ingredient, I just sent it for you to make the undalu I had posted the other day. But if you think that you can come with another recipe using it, that's great too. I'll also learn something new. I have not tried any other thing with that powder.

Finla said...

Thankx to the friends ship chain we can see this delicious fritts cutlets.

notyet100 said...

looks delicious,..nice post..

Laavanya said...

I love the 'my cousin vinny' movie too.. :)
I always thought that they will be like a porridge but I like your cutlet-like version of it.

ranji said...

JZ...yes these are crisp outside and soft and creamy inside...its something different..tastes delicious..thank u so much :)

Madhu..Thank u so much :)...i am glad u liked it....

HC,notyet100..thank u so much :).

LAAvanya...grits can be made into porridge to..thats the simplest way to make it...try thi out..its even better :)..even i like the movie ..

Madhavi said...

Hey Ranji, great entry, lovely cutlet :))

Cham said...

Great way to use the secret ingredient, love the cutlet

Dori said...

That's a yummy way to make grits, looks too good!

Vaidehi Bhave said...

Hi Ranjitha,

thanks for your comment on my blog..could u plz tell wht difficulty u faced while reading the recipe ? if its abt Marathi Language..then dont worry .. I have posted it in English..here is the link

Paneer Chili

bha said...

nice pics and those grits look yummy

Unknown said...

Yum!..so crispy..

Purnima said...

Ranji, grits is new ing. to me, the recipe is totally unique as well, it surely looks perfectly done, n I wd prefer the toppings, they sure look appealing! Tks for sharing!!

Srivalli said...

ranji..that looks yummy...great use of arusuvai!..

Rachel said...

Decadent!!

Arundathi said...

that looks delicious, ranji!

FH said...

Great use for grits, I love it too. It's almost like Bulgur! Glad you enjoyed Arusuvai!:))

Unknown said...

Ranji dear, the grits looks so delicious.I am glad to see u after the break.
Just to let u know that Biscuits are called Anzac not Anzal. It is prepared to celebrate Anzac day that falls on 25th April.

@the_whisk_affair said...

girl, u've been tagged for a meme! come over and check it out...try to do it, i would appreciate it if u wud! :-)

Sum Raj said...

nice entry ranji..u have came up with new recipe tht i have nerver heard of grits....ur recipe came out sooo crisp and delicious with the veg topping....can v use egg instead of flour paste?

Unknown said...

very nice entry ranji, never thought it wud be grits when you showed me that day:) it looks like crispy looking cutlets :)

Unknown said...

new to me...but looks and sounds delicious too..like the topping too

Meera said...

That looks so delicious!! Loved the pictures too.

Sum Raj said...

An award waiting for u on my blog..check it out

@the_whisk_affair said...

ranji, theres something very heatfelt on my blog for u!!

kamala said...

Great use of ingredient Ranji.Missed your posts.

Shubha Ravikoti said...

Lovely ranji.. the grits look awesome... I remember my cousin vinny.. its such a nice movie.. and builds up so well heheh... and yeah grits does help winning the case.... and also his girlfriend the car expert does it..:)

Cool that u got ur arusuvai packet dear... it feels so nice to read about it. I am waiting when i will get mine..:D... lets see now..:)

Very nice use of the secret ingredient..!

Devi Priya said...

Eye catching pics

Swati Raman Garg said...

ok iam tooo dumb buddy i did not know what grits r .. but these cutlets kind stuffs look so crispy n tasty... and topping has zuchini .. i love it.. u r too good yaar.. droolworthy pics u have always....

ranji said...

Swathi buddy thank u so much for so many comments :)..i feel so happy seeing ur energetic lively comments...grits are just like rava tastes slightly different..its one of the most popular breakfast dish in southern part of usa...:)