Sagar Vegetarian Restaurant

A few days ago I went to review Sagar Restaurant, which specialises in Pure South Indian vegetarian cuisine. The menu allows you to explore other regional veg dishes especially infamous chaats from Mumbai!

My initial impression was that it was lovely.  The decor was simple, clean yet striking, a quiet and calming space, very zen like to be able to eat in peace and comfort. Traditional music was floating in the air which definitely added to the ambiece of the restaurant. 

The staff were extremely attentive, helpful and knew their dishes well. I fancied the Idli Sambhar, my mum who had accompanied me, was recommended to have the Medu Vada. 

These starters were truly incredible.
The idli were like soft clouds that just melted away on my tongue. The silky texture of onion in the sambhar and its consistency was spot on!

The medu vada, simple  crispy battered fried doughnuts, not greasy but cooked to perfection, was stunning when dipped into the coconut chutney and drenched in the tasty sambhar!

I was also pleasantly surprised having ordered an orange juice that I received a freshly squeezed sweet and tangy oj.

For my mains the Traditional Udapi thali was getting prepared and the chilli & onion Uttapam for my mum.

The thali is one of their best sellers and I can totally understand why and I agree! Presented well and all the individual dishes were named and shown to me by Shridhara the manager. 

I found all the elements of the thali complimented each other.  A mixture of curries, dry and saucy. Two types of dal to go with the heaped mountain of rice. The over generous puri/flatbread binded each portion together.

My favourite in particular had to be the dry cabbage bhaji. A soft, salty, crunchy dry curry. Extremely tasty and so very moreish! The creamy yogurt based coconut curry was amazing too!

“Rasam…ummmm!” Was how my mum described the thin almost transparent soup.  It was to her liking due to the chilli factor. It hit the back of your throat with a warming sensation!  I just loved how she reacted.

My siro, a sweet semolina pudding had started to disappear mysteriously.  Yes you guessed right, my mother couldn’t help herself.  She said she never eats siro unless it’s homemade but the look of Sagar’s siro tempted her.  I too loved it. Sweetly balanced, the cashews were toasted and cardamom notes stayed on my palette ~ Divine!!

Overall I can’t rate this restaurant enough.  I have to admit so far it is THE BEST SOUTH INDIAN restaurant I have been to and I have been to a few!

There’s no surprise that there are two more branches of Sagar in Central London.

If you fancy traditional South Indian food, good service and great prices, Sagar is the place to go!

I would sincerely like to thank Shridhara and Jay Kumar for awesome service and the management for having us over for the review

Please feel free to visit their website http://sagarveg.co.uk/ and try this yummy restaurant for yourselves 
Until next time, much love D x

If you would like me to review your vegetarian restaurant dishes in the UK, please feel free to message me on dhmakani@gmail.com

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Fuss Free Vegetarian Biryani

Sometimes I do wonder if I can invest more time in photography because of all the wonderful pictures I see my fellow food bloggers post. I do feel strongly however that it is all about the food and recipes so I like to share the recipe as soon as possible and as many recipes as I can.

I do hold my fellow food bloggers in very high esteem that take skilled food photographic pictures. I hope one day to be as half as good as them!

This fuss free biryani, I made a few days back. It went down really well with the in laws and we especially enjoyed the crisped rice that baked to perfection.

Hope you enjoy this dish and are having a wonderful weekend. Much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

2 carrots grated
1 courgette grated
1 red onion diced
1 red bell pepper diced
¾ tsp ginger paste
1 large cup frozen peas
1 tin sweetcorn rinsed
1 tbsp sunflower oil
Pinch of cumin & mustard seeds
Pinch of red dried chilli seeds
2 cloves
2 tbsp Biryani masala to taste
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp ground coriander and cumin powder
1- 2 level tsp salt or to taste
300g tomato crushed passata
2 tsp tamarind sauce
½ tsp brown sugar
Water

A whole large pot of pre cooked boiled rice

METHOD

In a large pot, heat the oil on a medium heat, throw in the mustard and cumin seeds.  Once they sizzle away, sprinkle in the red chilli seeds.  Sauté the red onion and pepper until soft

Mix in the grated carrot and courgette with all the seasoning and spices.  Combine well, reduce to a low heat, cover and cook for 10 minutes

 

Add the sweetcorn, peas and tomato passata. Stir well and simmer for a further 10 minutes.  Meanwhile pre heat the oven to 200°c

Once the biryani veg is prepared.  Layer a large rectangular oven dish with the boiled rice (2cm depth)  pour over all the prepared curry and spread evenly.
Cover with the remaining rice

Place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes until the top rice layer is nice and crispy.  Serve with a cooling raita or kadhi

Makani Biryani

A carrot, potato and cherry tomato biryani made by Mr Shivaay Delights 😉
With left over rice from earlier.  D is one very happy chick!!!

Feeling Thankful ♡

Red Pepper & Lime Risotto With Feta

I can do risotto anytime of the year but this one especially as it’s extremely summery in taste. Tangy from the pepper, hot from the chilli and salty from the feta! Not forgetting the lift from the lime…Enjoy friends!

Much love, D x

Shivaay Delights

I have had this fusion risotto running through my mind for quite a while now. Yesterday I had all the ingredients I needed, so “hey presto!” it was created, made and devoured very fast.
A Mexican base with sweet, earthy notes of red pepper and a sour lift from the lime. Only then to top it off with some Feta cheese, for that Greek influence.

Oh my friends…you have to try this and tell me how it goes..Have a wonderful Wednesday and enjoy. Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

1 red bell pepper diced
2 garlic cloves minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1½ cup arborio rice
1 litre vegetable stock
Salt to taste
Juice of half a lime
Feta cheese crumbled

METHOD

● Heat the oil in a large non stick saucepan on a medium heat. Sauté the pepper for a couple of minutes and throw in the rice. Mix and…

View original post 79 more words

A Broad Bean & Rice Soup

A broadbean and summery spinach soup! Ummm laced with rice and garlic..love this! Enjoy friends!

Shivaay Delights

“Start as you mean to go on!”, well that is the saying! I’ll try, but I can’t promise to be really healthy all the time. I do intend to make more healthy foods and enjoy them in many different ways, so come explore with me in 2014!

Broadbeans!!! Ummmm not one of my favourite things until very recently! They have always been around me and making an appearance as my Dad just loves them. I used to pick them out from anything my Mum used to make with them in it. My Dad’s plate came in extremely handy and he loved them being passed over to him.

So what’s changed? I really don’t know, maybe my palette has transformed and I’m quite enjoying them now. Strange what taste buds do in our life times!

This soup is an interesting combination of luscious healthy greens plus rice that I just adore!…

View original post 160 more words

Good Morning Friends ♡

And yummy Vegetarian food!

Come join our new vegetarian food group on Facebook and post your yummy recipes, pictures and blog links…Let’s all share and connect through food! 🙂 Where WordPress and Facebook comes together! 🙂

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1433687623575418?ref=m_notif&notif_t=group_activity

Can’t wait to see you all there my lovely friends!!!

Have a brilliant day! Much Love D x

Coconut & Lime Green Thai Curry

Thailand! One place I know I want to visit.  It’s as if it has been calling me to come over for a very long time!  I am extremely drawn to it and one day soon, I hope to go to this beautiful land with my family.

We are very lucky here in the UK as we have so many different types of restaurants and even more fortunate to have some gorgeous Thai restaurants too.  I love the culture, the ambience and the food.

So I wanted to share my green thai curry recipe with you all to enjoy.  I made it at the weekend as a belated Valentine’s meal for my husband and I.  For now this will keep me going until I get to Thailand!

INGREDIENTS

1 large courgette sliced into half slices
1 red bell pepper diced
1 packet mange tout
1 packet baby sweetcorn
Frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
1 tbsp sunflower oil
2½-3 tbsp green thai curry paste
Salt to taste
400ml coconut milk
1 tbsp cornflour if required
lime juice to taste
Lime to garnish
Dessicated coconut

METHOD

• Heat up the oil in a large saucepan.  Stir fry the courgette, pepper, mange tout and baby sweetcorn.  Cook for a few minutes on a medium heat

• Add the paste and stir through, season with salt and cook on a low heat for a further 5-7 minutes

• Pour in the coconut milk,  combine well, if the curry sauce is too thin stir in some cornflour

• Let the curry simmer slowly for 15-20 minutes until the veg has become tender and absorbed the flavours

• Squeeze in a little lime juice at the end and serve on a bed of white fluffy rice

Spring Baby Leek & Chilli Risotto

A fresh and light risotto ~ the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of Spring time here.  As the pink blossom on the tree adorns us.  Bright yellow flecks of daffodils gracing us with their presence. 

I absolutely love this time of year!

I happened to stumble upon some gorgeous crisp baby leeks and I just had to cook with them.  It’s the first time I have used baby leeks and what a delicious treat!  A certain sweetness was added to the creaminess of the risotto and the chilli cut through a little of the richness and warms the back of the throat!  I have to admit, that this is now my very favourite risotto recipe I have made.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Have a happy, fun filled day! Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

4 baby leeks sliced thinly
1 green chilli chopped finely
250g Arborio Rice
1 litre hot vegetable stock
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil

METHOD

• Heat the oil and butter in a large non stick saucepan on a medium heat.  Throw in the leeks and chilli

• Sauté for 6-8 minutes.  Add the rice and combine.  Once the leek is softened start pouring a ladle of vegetable stock one at a time, stirring continuously

• As the rice absorbs the stock keep adding a ladle of stock at a time.  Cooking on a medium heat

• This process normally can take up to 25-30 minutes.  You may need a little extra stock.  As the risotto becomes creamy and the rice tender and soft, take off the heat and serve immediately

☆Please wear a daffodil to represent our fight against cancer!☆