Palak Ka Kapa

Palak Ka Kapa

It is a Kumauni style spinach preparation. It is easy to cook and in through sense a soul food.  It is eaten with hot steamed Rice.

Ingredients
1 Bunch Palak (Spinach) chopped
2 tbsp  Rice flour
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red chili powder
2  Whole Dry Red chillies broken into pieces
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
Pinch of Asafoetida
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil

Method
Take oil in a wok and heat it on high flame till smoking hot. Lower the flame. Add cumin seeds and whole red chillies. As the cumin seeds crackles, add the rice flour and asafoetida. Sauté  it  until the color of rice flour becomes light brown in colour. Add the spinach, salt, chilli powder and turmeric powder. Mix the spinach well. Add 1 cup of water and cook approximately for 10 minutes on high flame or until done, stirring and mashing it occasionally with a ladle. Switch of the flame.  Cover and let it stand for 10 minutes. Serve with hot steamed rice.

Lau re Much Muche Khosha Bhaja served with Taak Massor Dal with Radhuni Phoran.....

Lau re Much Muche Khosha Bhaja served with 

Taak Massor Dal with Radhuni Phoran.....

Crispy Bottle Gourd Peel Fry served with 

Sour Split Red lentils with Wild Celery seeds seasoning.. 

As summer is in, I prefer to have simple and light food. Some thing sour and tangy... Taak Massor Dal with Radhuni Phoran is a simple dal made with raw mango to have a tangy.... Sour taste with wild celery seeds which has a distinct flavour and one of the key ingredient in Panch Phorn. It is rare to find it in local markets, but is available in Bengali stores.

Lau re Much Muche Khosha Bhaja is a very interesting side dish made from the peels of a Bottle Gourd. We Bengalis make a dish out of the vegetable peels too. If you see there are more nutritious values in the peels of a vegetables which we thrown away. This is a crispy fry dish which goes well with hot dal and steam rice. It is absolutely a soul food.... 

Lau re Much Muche Khosha Bhaja

Ingredients 

1 bowl of Bottle Gourd Peel cut into thin slices

1/4 cup Rice Flour

2 tbsp Gram Flour

1 tbsp Poppy seeds

1 tsp Nigella seeds

1 tsp Green Chillies chopped 

Salt to taste 

Oil to deep fry

Method 

Mix all the above ingredients except oil together. Mix it well. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a wok, spread the bottle gourd peels little at a time on the hot oil, fry on medium heat till crispy and golden in colour. Serve it with hot Taak Massor Dal and Steam Rice. 

Taak Massor Dal with Radhuni Seasoning 

Ingredients 

1/2 cup Massor Dal / Split Red Lentil washed and soaked

1 Onion chopped 

4 to 5 pieces of Raw Mango 

1 Green chillies slit 

1/2 tsp Radhuni / Celery seeds

2 Bay Leaves

1 Dry Red Chilli 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

Salt to taste

1 tbsp Oil  

Few Coriander leaves chopped 

Method

Take a pressure cooker. Add oil, let it heat. Add Radhuni seeds, bay leaves and dry chilli. Let the seed crackle. Add the onion and green chilli, fry till translucent. Add the mango pieces, stir it. Add the soaked dal, salt and turmeric powder. Stir it, add 3 cups of water. Pressure cook and give 3 whistles. Let the pressure release on it's own. Add a cup of water more, depending on the consistency wanted. Simmer for 5 minutes more. Add coriander leaves for garnish. Serve hot.

Methi Thepla with Instant Chilli pickle....

Methi Thepla with Instant Chilli pickle..

I just love it. Can be eaten any time of the day and taken while travelling too. It remains for 1 or 2 days. Easy to make and delicious too. 

Ingredients 

4 cups Whole Wheat Flour 

1 cup Gram Flour

Salt to taste 

2 tsp Chilli powder

2 tsp Cumin powder

1 tsp Coriander powder

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1 bowl or 1/2 bunch Fenugreek leaves (Methi) chopped 

1/2 cup Curd 

Water as required 

2 tbsp Oil 

Oil to drizzle on the Theplas 

Method

Take a mixing bowl, add whole wheat flour, gram flour, chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala and turmeric powder. Mix it, add 2 tbsp oil. Mix it well. Add the methi leaves and mix it again. Add curd and water little at a time and make a  soft dough. Cover an keep it for 30 minutes. Divide the dough into equal portion.  Heat a skillet. Take one portion of the dough, sprinkle little flour and roll the dough into a round disc. Put the thepla on the skillet and roast both the sides. Drizzle oil on the thepla and roast till done. Repeat the process with the remaining thepla. Serve with instant chilli pickle and green chutney. 

Instant Chilli Pickle

Ingredients

6 Big Jalpano Red and Green Chillies or any Chillies 

Salt to taste

1 tbsp Mustard dal

1 tbsp Fenugreek dal

1/2 tsp Fennel seeds coarsely ground

1 tbsp Red Chilli powder

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1/4 tsp Asafoetida powder

Juice of 1 Lime

1 cup Mustard oil

Method

Wash the chillies, wipe it dry and cut it into round pieces. Add salt mix it. Add the mustard dal, fenugreek dal, fennel powder, chilli powder and turmeric powder. Mix it well and let it stand for 30 minutes. Take oil in a pan. Heat the oil well. Add asafoetida. Cook it for few seconds. Add the chill mix. Stir and cook for 2 to 3  minutes. Add lime juice and cook for about 1 minute more. Cool it and keep it in a clean and dry glass container. This pickle can eaten immediately and can be kept in the fridge for 15 days to a month.

Shindi Kadhi served with Alu Tuk

Shindi Kadhi  served with Alu Tuk 

Brought up in Chembur from childhood, my husband has many Shindi friends. So when I got married and I also stayed in Chembur for 9 years after marriage, I made friends with his friend's family. As neighbours since we use to meet them daily, I learnt few Sindhi dishes from them. One of my family favourite is Sindhi Kadhi and Aloo Tuk served with hot steaming rice.

Ingredients
Mix Vegetables
12  Okras slit into 2 vertically
1/4 cup Carrots cut into cubes
1 small Potato cut into cube
1/4 cup Brinjal cut into cubes
1 Drumstick cut into 1 inch pieces
2 Big Tomatoes made into purée
Few Curry leaves
2 Green chillies cut into pieces
1 tbsp Ginger minced
3 tbsp Gram flour
1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds
1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp Coriander seeds
1/4 tsp  Asafoetida powder
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder
1 tsp Coriander powder
1 tsp Tamarind paste
2 tbsp Oil
1 tbsp Oil to fry the Okras
Few Coriander leaves chopped

Method
Take a pot and add 1 tbsp oil. Stir fry the okras till cooked. Keep it aside. Heat rest of the oil in the pot, add fenugreek seed, cumin seeds, and coriander seeds. Let the seeds crackle, then add ginger, curry leaves, chillies and asafoetida and stir for few seconds. Add the gram flour and roast it stirring it continuously till it has  become golden brown in colour. Add tomato puree and about 1 liter of water, stirring it continuously to avoid forming lumps. Let it cook on low flame for 15 minutes.  Add all the hard vegetables and let it cook till the vegetables are almost done. Add the brinjals and okras. Add the salt, turmeric power, chilli powder and coriander powder. Let it simmer until the vegetables are tender. Add the tamarind paste and let it simmer for another  5 minutes over medium low heat. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot. Sindhi kadhi taste great with hot steaming Rice and Aloo  tuk.

Aloo Tuk

Ingredients
4 big Potatoes peeled and cut into rounds
Oil for deep frying

Method
Heat oil in a wok. Put in the potato rounds, fry the potatoes till light brown in colour. Remove the fried potatoes and drain the excess oil. Keep it aside to cool a bit. Take the potatoes one at a time and flatten the potatoes.  Just before serving, reheat the oil and re-fry the potatoes to golden brown in colour.  Drain excess oil on an absorbent paper.

For Seasoning
Ingredients
Fried Potatoes
Salt to taste
1 tsp Red chilli powder
1 tsp Dry Mango powder
1 tsp Cumin powder

Method
Mix all the above ingredients together and sprinkle the seasoning properly on the Aloo Tuk and toss it.

Khatte Aloo

Khatte Aloo 

Ingredients
1/2 kg Baby Potatoes boiled and peeled
1 cup Curd
1 tsp Ginger and Green chilli paste
Salt to taste
1 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Fennel powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Dry Mango powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
Oil to fry
For Seasoning
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
1 Red Dry Chilli broken into pieces
Pinch of Asafoetida
Few coriander leaves chopped for garnishing 

Method
Take a wok, add oil to fry the potatoes. Let it heat, fry the potatoes till light brown in colour. Keep the potatoes on an absorbent paper to drain out the oil.  In a mixing bowl add the potatoes, curd, ginger - chilli paste, salt and rest of the spices. Mix it. Keep it aside for 30 minutes. Take a fresh wok, add 2 tbsp oil, add the seasoning, let it saute for a minute. Add the potatoes, stir, cover and cook till the oil starts to leave the spices. Garnish with coriander leaves, serve hot.

PiyajKoli

PiyajKoli
Piyajkoli in Bengali,  are the stem of the Onion buds, it  is a winter veggie and a delicacy of Bengal. It is very surprising that Onions are grown in Maharashtra, but these onion buds are not known and seen much in the markets of Mumbai. It is one of my most favorite vegetable and I wait for it eagerly. Very simple to cook and extremely delectable.

I am sharing  2 very easy recipes with Piyajkoli / Onion buds.   

Piyajkoli Bhaja / Stem of the Onion Buds stirred fried with potatoes...
Ingredients
2 bunch of Onion buds cut into 1 inch size pieces
2 Potatoes, peeled and cut into long stripes
2 Green chillies slit
1/4 tsp Nigella seeds / Kalonji
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil

Method:
Take a wok and heat oil to smoking point and add green chilli and nigella seeds. Let it crackle. Add the potatoes. Saute it for a minute. Sprinkle some salt, stir fry and cook potatoes until they are half done. Add the stem of onion buds, turmeric powder.
Stir occasionally in between and cook on medium high flame till done. Serve with hot dal and rice.

P.S. Small size Prawns can be added to the stir fry...

Aloo ar Piyajkoli Diye Macher Jhol / Fish gravy cooked with Potatoes and Onion buds Stem....

For Marinating and frying the Fish
Ingredients
6 pieces of any Fish like Tangra (Cat Fish) or Rani (Red Mullets) or Barramundi (Bhetki) or any medium size fish...
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
Mustard Oil to fry the fish

Method
Marinate the fish with salt and turmeric powder and keep it for 15 minutes. Heat oil in a wok. Fry the fish till brown on both the sides.

For the Gravy
Ingredients
Fried Fish
2 Big size Potatoes cut into wedges
1 Bunch bunch of Onion buds cut into 1 inch size pieces
1 large Tomato sliced
2 Green Chillies slit
2 Green Chillies paste
1 tsp Ginger paste
1/2 tsp Panch Phoran
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil

Method
Heat mustard oil in a pan till smoking hot. Add the Panch Phoran and the slit green chillies, let the Panch Phoran crackle. Add the potatoes, saute and cook for 2 minutes, add the tomato, ginger, chilli paste, salt and turmeric powder. Stir and cook for 3 minutes on medium high flame. Add 2 cups of water, half cook the potatoes. Add the stem of the onion buds. Cover and let it simmer till the potatoes are almost done. Add the fish.. Cover and cook on medium heat till the fish is done and the potatoes are cooked. Serve with hot rice.

P.S. Brinjals can also be added to the gravy if wanted..

Green Sorrel leaves / Ambat Chuka with Makhana

Green Sorrel leaves / Ambat Chuka with  Makhana
Ingredients
1 bunch Green Sorrel leaves chopped
1 Onion chopped
1 tsp Ginger paste
1 tsp Garlic paste
1 tsp Green Chillies paste
1 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Sugar
Salt to taste
1/2 cup Makhana
1 tbsp Fresh Cream
2 tsp Ghee

Method
Heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan, add chopped onion,  saute it till brown. Add ginger, garlic and chilli paste. Sauté it for few minutes. Add the chopped sorrel leaves. Cook for 2 minutes. Add coriander powder, cumin seeds, chilli powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder, sugar and salt. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the makhanas and 1 tsp ghee, stir it well and cook it for 2 minutes at low flame. Add the cream and serve hot with Roti, Naan, Paratha.

P.S. If you can't take too much of sour then you can add 1/2 bunch of sorrel leaves and 1 bunch of spinach.

Maharashtrian cuisine ...... Kandachi Pat takun Zunka, Bajri chi Bhakri and Kolambi Bhat

 Maharashtrian cuisine......

Kandachi Pat takun Zunka

Bajri chi Bhakri 

Kolambi Bhat

Kandachi Pat takun Zunka

Ingredients

2 cups Spring Onions chopped 

1 Onion chopped 

2 Green chillies chopped 

1 cup Gram flour 

1/2 tsp Chilli powder 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/4 tsp Mustard seeds 

2 tbsp Oil

Method 

Heat oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds. Let it crackle. Add onion and chillies. Sauté for few minutes. Add spring onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the gram flour little at a time and stir it. Sprinkle some water and keep stirring and cooking till the gram flour has cooked and Zunka is dried. Serve hot with Bhakri.

Bajri chi Bhakri 

Ingredients

1 cup Bajra flour

Warm water

Salt to taste 

Ghee to apply

Method 

Take Bajra flour in a mixing bowl,  make a well in the middle. Add salt and warm water. Knead it to make a soft dough. Make round balls out of the dough. On a flat surface, sprinkle someflour. Take a portion and pat the ball with your palm. Use flour as required. Keep flattening the ball in circular motion to make round shape like roti. Don't make it too thin. Heat the  skillet. Lower the flame. Place thr bhakri on skillet and spread little of water on upper side of bhakri. When water on bhakri dries completely turn it to cook from other side. Now remove the bhakri from the skillet and keep it on the direct flame. It will get puffed. Remove from the flame and apply  ghee from top.

Kolambi Bhat

For the Wet Masala 

Ingredients 

15 Garlic cloves 

1" piece Ginger 

3 Green chillies 

1 tbsp Coriander leaves 

1 tbsp Grated Coconut 

1 tsp Coriander seeds 

1 tsp Poppy seeds 

1 stick Cinnamon 

3 Cloves 

15 Pepper corn

Method 

Add all the above ingredients and water in the grinder and grind it in to a paste.

For Kolambi Bhat

Ingredients 

2 cups of Prawns peeled and cleaned

4 cups of Basmati Rice washed, soaked for 10 minutes  and dried 

3 Onions sliced 

2 Tomato sliced 

1 tsp Red chilli powder 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

2 Cloves 

1 Black Cardamom 

1 stick Cinnamon 

2 Bay Leaves 

1 Dry Red Chilli 

1 Star Anise 

Wet Masala 

1 tbsp Lime juice 

8 cups of Hot water

4 tbsp Oil

Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing

Method 

Heat oil in a wok. Add the cloves, cinnamon, cardamon, star anise, bay leaves and dry red chilli. Sauté it for a minute. Add the onions and sauté it till light brown in colour. Add the prawns and sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the rice and sauté it for another 2-3 minutes. Add the wet masala paste, tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt, lime juice and water. Cook till the rice is done. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Khandeshi Thali

Khandeshi Thali...

Khandesh is a region of central India, which forms the northwestern portion of Maharashtra state.The region falls in north-west Maharashtra and covers Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Malegaon, Nashik and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. The Khandeshis like their meals spicy and earthy. Peanut oil, dry coconut, tiny lavangi chillies are the trademark of their cooking. But the foolproof way to tell a Khandeshi dish from another is to look for oil swimming over the dish, locally and lovingly called tarri. Kala masala is to the Khandeshis what bottle masala is to East Indians. Every family has its own version of the recipe that's pounded every summer and bottled for use all year long. It's a heavily roasted preparation and includes khopra, coriander seeds, dried red chillies, peppercorns, whole turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, black cardamom, shahjeera, fennel seeds, hing, khus khus, bay leaves, nutmeg, mace, dagad phool, dry ginger and jeera. Pumpkins, green tomatoes, green sorrel leaves, ridge gourd and the very popular brinjal are all sourced on the day of cooking." The Khandeshi baingan bharta or hirva vangyachi bharith is made with green brinjals (long, slim, striped variety commonly found in Jalgaon) that are roasted on an open flame till black. They are then pulped and pounded with green chillies, garlic, peanuts and spring onions. Bharleli vaangi, another popular brinjal preparation, involves stuffing aubergine with a paste of roasted peanuts, dried coconut, garlic, turmeric, red chilli powder and kala masala. But the most famous and easiest Khandeshi bhaji is made without vegetables. Shev bhaji is a curry made with dry coconut, garlic and onions. The crisp shev absorbs the spicy curry and oil, making it ideal to slurp up with the bhakri.

Information : Net source

Today my Kandeshi platter consist of 

Vangyache Bharith

Khandeshi Chicken

Boondi

Jawari chi Bhakri

Shingdana cha Thecha

Khandeshi Vangyache Bharith

Ingredients

1/2 kg Big size Brinjal roasted

1 Bunch Spring Onions chopped

12  Garlic cloves minced

4 Green chillies fried and crushed

1 tbsp Dry coconut  slices

2 tbsp  Peanuts coarsely  ground

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

2 tbsp Vegetable oil

Salt  to taste

Coriander leaves chopped

Method

Remove the skin of the  brinjal and mash it very well. Heat oil in a pan . Add cumin seeds and let the seeds crackle. Add garlic  and chillies. Sauté it for few minutes. Add the peanuts and coconut. Sauté for few minutes more. Add chopped green onion and sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the mashed brinjal and salt. Mix it well and cook for 5 minutes. Garnish it with coriander leaves. Serve it salad and Bhakari.

Khandeshi Chicken Curry

For Marinating the Chicken

Ingredients 

1 kg  Chicken cleaned and cut into pieces

1 tsp Turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Method

In a mixing bowl, add the salt, turmeric powder and chicken. Mix it and marinate it for 30 minutes..

Wet Ground Masala

Ingredients

1 small Onion chopped

1 piece Ginger

10 Garlic cloves

4 Red Dry Chillies

2 tbsp Coconut grated

1 tbsp Oil

Method

Roast all the above ingredients in oil  till brown. Grind the roasted masala in a grinder to make a paste.

For the Chicken

Ingredients

Marinated Chicken

1 big Onions chopped

1 1/2 tbsp Kala masala

Wet Masala

Salt to taste

2 tbsp Oil

Chopped Coriander for garnishing

Heat oil in a pressure cooker.  Fry chopped onions till translucent. Add the ground masala and stir cook for 3 minutes. Add the kala masala and cook for 3 minutes.  Add marinated chicken and mix it.  Add 3 cups water to it and mix. Add salt to taste,  cover the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for upto 2-3 whistles.  Garnished it with chopped coriander, serve it  with sliced onions and Bhakris.

Boondi

For the Boondi

Ingredients

1 cup Gram flour

2 tbsp Rice flour

Pinch of Soda bicarbonate

Pinch of Salt

1 tsp Oil

Approx. 3/4 cup of Water

Ghee or Oil for frying

Almond and Pistacho flakes for garnishing

Method

Mix the gram flour, rice flour and salt.  Add water slowly and make a smooth batter to dropping consistency, batter should have no lumps. Add 1 tsp oil and soda bicarbonate  mix it well. Heat the ghee or oil in a frying pan over medium high heat. Hold the  skimmer about 2 inches above the oil over the center of the frying pan. Pour some of the batter onto the skimmer to cover all of the holes.Batter will start dropping through the holes into the oil. If the batter doesn’t drop right away through the holes. Add little more water to the batter and start again. Drop enough boondesi into the oil so they just cover the surface of the oil in frying pan in a single layer.Fry the boondies until the boondies are light golden in colour. Take the boondies out and put them directly into the warm syrup and mix it. Let it soak in the sugar syrup for 15 minutes. Drain the excess syrup. Boondies are ready to serve. Garnish with almond and pistacho flakes.

For the Syrup

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Sugar

1 cup water

1/2 tsp Cardamom powder

Pinch of Saffron

Few drops of Lime juice

Method

Boil the water and sugar in a sauce pan on medium high heat, stir to dissolve the sugar, lower the heat and let it simmer for  3 minutes. Add the crushed cardamom, saffron and lime juice  to the syrup. The syrup should be one string syrup. Switch off the flame.

 Shingdana cha Thecha

Ingredients

12 Green Chillies silted

12 Garlic Cloves

3 tbsp Penuts

1 tsp Oil

Salt to taste

Method

Take oil in a pan. As the oil heats up add the chillies, penuts and garlic. Sauté it till the chillies starts to change it's colour. Add salt to the sauted chillies and garlic. Coarse grind all the ingredients in a grinder... Serve with Bhakri..

Kala Masala

Ingredients

1/4 cup Dry Coconut grated

1/4 cup  Coriander seeds

2 tbsp  Cumin Seed

1 tbsp Shahi Jeera

1 tbsp  Fennel Seeds

12  Dried Red Chillies

2 tbsp Pepper Corns

2 sticks Cinnamon

10 Cloves

3 Black Cardamom

1 tbsp  Dagad Phool

1/2  Nutmeg

2 Mace

10 Bay leaves

1 tsp Asafoetida

2 tbsp  Poppy Seeds

1 piece  Dry Ginger

2 tsp Oil

Method

Dry roast the coconut till brown. Set aside to cool. Roast each ingredient seperately ,except turmeric, asafoetida and ginger in oil and set aside to cool. Grind the roasted ingredients with turmeric , asafoetida and ginger in to fine powder.

Konkani Thali

Konkani Thali

Tur chi Dal
Papdi chi Bhaji
Surmai Machi Fry
served with Chappati and Rice...

Daali Thoy / Tur chi Dal
Ingredients
1 cup Toor Dal
2  Green Chillies
1 inch piece Ginger grated
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
Few Curry leaves
1 Dry Red Chilli broken
2 Pinch of Asafoetida
Few Coriander leaves chopped
2 tsp Ghee

Method
Cook dal in pressure cooker with a turmeric, salt, green chillies and ginger. Heat ghee. Add mustard. When mustard starts to crackle, add curry leaves, red chilli and asafoetida. Pour this seasoning to the cooked dal. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add coriander leaves and if you want pout more ghee on the dal.  Serve with hot rice.

Flat Beans Bhaji (Papdi chi Bhaji)

For the Ground Masala
Ingredients
1/2 cup Coconut
2-3 Red Chillies
1/2 tbsp Tamarind paste
1 tsp Coriander seeds
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Jaggery

Method
Add all the above ingredients in a grinder and grind the ingredients into a paste.

For the Vegetable
Ingredients
1/2 kg chopped Flat Beans
2 Onion chopped
1 Tomato chopped
3 Green chillies cut into pieces
Few Curry leaves
Wet Masala
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Asafoetida
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Oil
Few Coriander leaves chopped

Method
Add oil in the pan. Heat it. Add mustard seeds and let it crackle. Add Curry leaves and asafoetida. Add the tomato. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the flat beans. Sauté it for few minutes more. Add salt,turmeric powder and wet masala. Stir and cook it 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water and cover and cook till the flat beans have become tender. Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Surmai Machi Fry
Ingredients
6 pieces of sliced Surmai
1 tsp Tamarind paste
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Konkani Masala
1/2 Chilli powder
1/2 cup Samolina
Oil for Shallow frying

Method
Marinate the fish with Tamarind paste,
Salt,Turmeric powder,Konkani masala and
Chilli powder for 15 minutes. Coat the fish with Samolina. Heat the oil in a pan. Fry the fish till golden brown from both the sides. Serve hot.

Achari Began

Achari Began
Ingredients
1/2 kg small Brinjals cut into 4 pieces
1 Tomato cut into strips
1 tsp Ginger Paste
Few Curry leaves
1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp Coriander seeds
1/4 tsp Fennel Seeds
1/4 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
1/4 tsp Nigella Seeds
1 tsp Garam Masala
1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Fennel powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1/2 tsp Dry Mango Powder
1/4 tsp Asafoetida
1/4 tsp Sugar
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil

Method
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds and nigella seeds. When the seeds crackle, add hing and curry leaves.  Add ginger paste and sauté it for few seconds. Add in turmeric, coriander powder, fennel powder, garam masala powder, chilli powder and fry the spices for half a minute. Add the brinjals. Stir it well. Add the tomato. Add about 1/4 cup of water and cover the pan with lid. Let it cook till the water has dried up.  Open the lid and add salt to taste. Cover and let it cook for another 3-4 minutes on medium flame, stirring it occasionally. Add sugar and amchur powder and stir it  well. Let it cook uncovered for few more minutes till the brinjals are cooked.

Eggplant Lasagna

Eggplant Lasagna
Ingredients
2 big Eggplants  cut into halves
2 Onions chopped
4 Tomato purée
1/4 cup Yellow Capsicum cut into cubes
1/4 cup Green Capsicum cut into cubes
2 tbsp Garlic crushed
Salt to taste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 cup Mozzarella cheese grated
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese powder
1 tbsp Olive oil
Parsley chopped
4 home made whole wheat  Lasagna sheets

Method
Preheat oven to 200 degrees celcius. Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise. Rub the eggplants with salt. Place eggplant halves, cut sides down on a baking tray. Bake at 200 degrees celcius for 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Scrape inside of the eggplant with a spoon gently, so that the skin remains intact. Heat a large pan on medium-high heat. Add oil to pan. Add garlic and onions, sauté till light brown in colour. Add capsicums and  cook for 3 minutes. Add the tomato purée and cook till the juices have reduce. Add the salt, Italian seasoning and the scooped eggplant. Mix Parmesan cheese powder. Remove from heat. Add the filling evenly into each eggplant half. Cover the top with lasagna sheets. Sprinkle evenly with grated mozzarella cheese. Bake at 200 degrees celcius for 20 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Remove from oven... Garnish with parsley.

P.S. Lasagna sheet, extra Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella cheese can be added after the first filling and then the second layer of filling can be added and the process can be repeated. I wanted to avoid cheese so just added it on the top...

Italian Fried Rice

Italian Fried Rice 

Ingredients 

2 cups of Cooked Rice 

1 Onion chopped 

1/4 cup Green and Yellow Capsicum chopped 

1/4 cup Red Cabbage chopped 

2 tsp Red Pickled Chilles sliced 

1 tsp Garlic cloves minced

2 tbsp Sliced Green Olives 

1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Italian Seasoning 

1/2 tsp Pepper powder 

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 tbsp Parmesan cheese powder 

2 tbsp Olive oil 

Baby Parsley for garnishing  or chopped Parsley 

Method 

In a large nonstick pan, add oil. Add the garlic and onion, saute till light brown in colour. Add the cabbage, capsicum, olives and red chillies. Stir it and cook for 3 minutes. Add salt, pepper powder, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and vinegar. Stir in the rice. Cook and stir for 3 minutes. Garnish with parsley.

P. S. Vegetables like Mushrooms, Zucchini, Broccoli, Carrot can be added..

Mix Vegetables and Cottage Cheese in White Gravy Su's Style

Mix Vegetables and Cottage Cheese in White Gravy Su's Style
Ingredients
1 cup Green Peas
1 cup Cauliflower cut into small florest
1 cup Carrot cut into pieces
1 cup Potatoes cut into small cubes
1 cup French Beans cut into pieces
1/2 cup Black Grapes cut into pieces
2 Green Chillies slit
1/2 tsp Ginger Grated
2 cups Cottage cheese cut into pieces
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
2 Bay leaves
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
Salt to taste
1/4 cup Cashwenuts
1/2 cup Curd
1/4 cup Fresh Cream
2 tbsp Ghee

Method
Take a pot, add ghee, heat it. Add cumin seeds and bay leaves. Let the cumin seeds crackle, add all the vegetables and ginger. Saute the vegetables for 3 minutes, add salt, cumin powder and  garam masala powder. Stir fry for 2 minutes, add the grapes.. Mean while add the curd and the Cashwenuts in a grinder and grind it. Add the paste to the vegetables. Add 1/2 cup water, let it cook till the vegetables are almost tender, add the cottage cheese and fresh cream. Let it cook till the vegetables are done.

Baked Doi Begun (Brinjal)

Baked Doi Begun (Brinjal)
I wanted to give Doi Begun a twist...
Ingredients
3 Medium size Bharta Brinjals cut into cubes
2 cups Fresh cream
1 cup Hung Curd
1/2 tsp Red Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Bhaja Masala (Roasted Cumin Seeds and  1 Red Chilli made into powder)
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard Oil

Method
Take a baking dish, add the brinjals, rub in salt, beat the hung curd and cream. Pour the beaten cream and hung curd and 1 tbsp of mustard oil and mix it with the brinjals. Sprinkle the Bhaja masala and chilli powder.. Bake at 200 degrees Celcius for 45 minutes  or more till the brinjals are  cooked, in between drizzle remaining mustard oil on the brinjals...  Serve hot.... Garnish with coriander leaves....

Rice,Lentils and Aubergine Risotto

Rice,Lentils and Aubergine Risotto

Ingredients
1 cup Rice
1 cup mix Lentils
1 cup Aubergine cut into small cubes
1 medium Onion chopped
2 big Tomato paste
6 Garlic cloves minced
3 cups Vegetable broth
1 tsp dried Basil
1 tsp dried Oregano
Salt to taste
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
1/4 cup Italian cheese mix
2 tbsp Olive oil

Method
Take a pot. Add olive oil. Add garlic and onion, saute it for 2 minutes. Add the aubergine and stir fry it for 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste, salt, 1/2 tsp of each basil and oregano. Add the rice and lentils... Stir for 2 minutes. Add the vegetable broth. Stir and cook till the rice and lentils are done, add the Parmesan cheese and stir. Sprinkle the Italian cheese mix, oregano and basil from top. Serve hot.

Mustard Green Leaves and Cottage Cheese Polau

Mustard Green Leaves and Cottage Cheese Polau
Ingredients
1 cup Basmati rice washed and soaked for 30 minutes
1/2 bunch Mustard Green Leaves (Sarson ka Saag) chopped
1/4 cup Spinach chopped
1/4 cup Dill leaves chopped (optional)
2 medium size Onion sliced
1 Tomato sliced
2 Green chillies chopped
1 tsp Ginger grated
1 tsp Garlic grated
1 cup Cottage cheese cut into pieces and fried
Salt to taste
1 tsp Garam Masala powder
1 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
2 tbsp Ghee
Method
Take a pot and add ghee. Add cumin seeds, let it crackle. Add garlic and ginger, sauté it for few seconds. Add onions and green chillies,  fry till light brown. Add the mustard leaves, spinach leaves and dill leaves. Saute and cook for 5 minutes. Add the tomato, salt, chilli powder garam masala powder  and coriander powder.  Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Add the rice, fried cottage cheese and 2 1/2 cups of water. Stir, cover and cook till the rice is done. Stir in between. Serve hot.

Quick Stir Fried Veggies with an Indian Twist

Quick Stir Fried Veggies with an Indian Twist
Ingredients
1 small size Yellow Capsicum cut into cubes
1 small size Red Capsicum cut into  cubes
1 small size Green Capsicum cut into cubes
8  small size Cauliflower  florest
1 Onion cut into cubes
Few French Beans chopped into big pieces
1 Carrot cut into medium size pieces
10 Garlic cloves whole
I cup Spinach chopped
Salt to taste
1 tsp Chilli sauce
1 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
1/2 tbsp Honey
1 tsp Kitchen King Masala
1 tbsp of Olive oil

Method
Take the cauliflower florest and carrots, par boil it in hot salted water. Drain water and keep it aside. Take a wok, add oil, let it heat. Add the onion and garlic, saute on a medium flame for 2 minutes, one by one add the vegetables, stirring it continuously. First add the cauliflower, stir it for 2 minutes, add the carrots.. Keep stirring and let it cook for 2 minutes. Now add the French beans, after few minutes add all the 3 colour capsicum and the spinach leaves. Stir and add the tomato ketchup, chilli sauce, salt and 1/2 tbsp of honey. Stir till the cauliflower has be come tender.. Add the kitchen King Masala and stir it for 2 minutes... Serve it hot....

Kitchen King Masala
Ingredients
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp Coriander seeds
1/2 tbsp Caraway seeds
1/2 tbsp Mustard seeds
2 tsp Fenugreek seeds
1 tbsp Fennel seeds
2 tbsp Split Bengal Gram
8 Dry Red Chilli
1 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tbsp Dry Ginger powder
1/2 tbsp Black Peppercorns
8 Cloves
8 Green Cardamon
2 Black Cardamon
2 stick Cinnamon
1 Star Anise
1 small piece Nutmeg
2 Mace
1 tbsp Poppy Seeds
1/2 tbsp Rock Salt

Method
Dry roast all ingredients one by one and allow to cool except ginger, turmeric powder and rock salt. Cool all the ingredients and grind into smooth powder. Cool powder masala to room temperature and store in air tight container. It remains for 12 months..

Begun Pora Roasted Mash Brinjal... A Bengali Dish

Begun Pora
Roasted Mash Brinjal... A Bengali Dish
Ingredients
1 big size Brinjal
1 Tomato chopped
1 Onion chopped
2 Green chillies chopped
1/4 tsp Ginger grated
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil
Few Coriander leaves chopped
Method
Give 2 slits on the brinjal. Rub salt on the brinjal and roast it on the gas or chula. Let it cool, peel of the skin. In  bowl add chillies, onion, tomato,ginger, mustard oil, salt and  brinjal, mash it well. Garnish it coriander leaves. Serve it with hot roti.

Safflower Leaves Bhaji

Safflower Leaves also known as Kardai in Marathi...

The flower from the seeds of this plant are used as medicine.

Safflower seed is also used to treat fever, tumors, coughs, breathing problems, clotting conditions, pain, heart disease, chest pain, and traumatic injuries. Safflower seed oil is used as a cooking oil. The tender leaves of the plant are use for cooking. This vegetable is available in the winter.

Ingredients
1 Bunch Safflower Leaves chopped
1 big size Onion chopped
2 Tomato chopped
1 tbsp  Garlic minced
1  Dry Red Chill broken
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/2  tsp Red Chili Powder
1 tsp  Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Oil

  Method
Take a pot, add 4 cups water, add the safflower leaves. Let it boil for 3 minutes or the leaves are cooked. Drain the water out and keep the leaves aside. Heat oil in a pan, add the cumin seeds and dry red chilli. Let the cumin seed crackle. Add the garlic and onion and fry it till it becomes light brown in colour. Add the tomato, turmeric powder, red chilli powder,coriander powder and stir well, cover and cook until tomato are tender. Add the cooked safflower leaves and stir well.Cook on medium heat until all water dries up and it starts to leave oil from the sides. Once done serve hot with steamed rice.