Masala Dosa served with Brahmin style Sambar

Masala Dosa served with Brahmin style Sambar 

For the Dosa Batter

Ingredients

11/2 cups Rice

1/2 cup Urad dal / Split Black Gram

Salt to taste

Method

Separately soak rice and urad dal at least overnight in water. Grind the dal and rice. Leave it to ferment overnight. Add salt and mix it.

Potato Filling

Ingredients

2 large Potatoes boiled and chopped

2 Green chillies chopped

Few Curry Leaves

1 Dry Red Chilli broken into pieces

1/2 tsp Chana Dal /  Yellow Split peas

1/2 tsp Urid Dal / Split Black Gram

1/2 tsp Mustard seed

2 Pinches of Asafoetida

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

Salt to taste

1 tbsp Oil

Few Coriander  Leaves chopped

Method

Take a wok, add oil, let it heat. Add the chana dal and urid dal, stir it for few seconds, add the mustard seeds, let it crackle. Add the red chilli and curry leaves, saute it for few seconds, add the asafoetida and stir it. Add the potatoes, salt and turmeric powder. Stir and cook for 2 minutes, garnish with coriander leaves and keep it aside.

For the Masala Dosa

Ingredients

Batter

Potato Filling

Ghee for Drizzling on the Dosa

Method

Take a dosa skillet. Let the skillet warm up. Add a ladle full of batter and swirl and spread the batter on the skillet. Drizzle ghee on top and let it cook till it becomes light brown, add 2 tbsp of the filling and spread it. Fold the dosa into half. Serve it hot with Sambar and Coconut Chutney..

Brahmin Style Sambar 

Brahmin Style Sambar Powder

Ingredients

1 tbsp Toor Dal

1/2 tbsp Chana Dal

10 Red Dry Chillies

4 tbsp Coriander seeds

1/4 tbsp Fenugreek seeds

1/4 tbsp Pepper Corns

1/4 tbsp Turmeric powder

Method

Roast all the above ingredients except for the turmeric powder. Cool it. Add it in a grinder with the turmeric powder. Grind it in to a fine powder.

To make the Sambar

Ingredients

1/2 cup Toor dal washed and soaked

1 Potato peeled and cut into cubes

1 Tomato cut into cubes

1 Carrot cut into pieces

1/4 cup small Onions peeled

1/2 cup Pumpkin cut into cubes

2 Green chillies cut into pieces

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

2 tbsp Sambar powder

Salt to taste

2 tbsp Fresh Coconut grated  or Desiccated Coconut powder

1 tsp Tamarind paste

1 tbsp Jaggery

For seasoning

1/4 tsp Mustard seeds

1 Red Dry Chilli broken into pieces

Few Curry leaves

2 Pinches of Asafoetida

2 tbsp Coconut Oil

Few Coriander leaves chopped

Method

Take a pot, add the dal, turmeric powder, salt and 4 cups of water. Let it boil on low flame for 15 minutes. Add the vegetables. Let it continue to boil till the vegetables and the dal is almost cooked. Add water if required. Add the coconut grated or powder, sambar powder, salt, tamarind paste and jaggary. Simmer for 10 minutes more. Meanwhile take a pan, add the oil. Heat it. Add the mustard seeds, red chilli, curry leaves and asafoetida. Sauté for few seconds. Add it into the Sambar. Simmer for 2 minutes more.  Add the coriander leaves and serve hot.

Pizza Uttappam

Pizza Uttappam 

Indo Western Fusion cooking... Italy meets South India.. Uttappam is a South Indian Dish and it is served with an Italian Pizza topping.. 

For the Pizza Sauce 

Ingredients

3 Ripe Tomatoes cut into cubes 

4 big size Garlic pod chopped

1 Onion chopped 

Salt to taste

1 tbsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Dry Mix Herbs

1/2 tsp Pepoer powder 

1 cup Tomato purée

1 tbsp Olive oil

Method

In a wok, add olive oil. Add garlic and sauté for a minute, add the onions. Sauté till translucent. Add the tomatoes, stir and cook it for 5 minutes. Add the tomato purée, salt, pepper powder, sugar and mix herbs, stir and let it simmer for 5 minutes more. Keep it aside. 

For the Dosa / Uttappam Batter

Ingredients 

3 cups Rice

1 cup Urid Dal / Split Black Gram 

1 tbsp Fenugreek seeds 

Salt to taste 

Method 

Wash and soak all the 3 above ingredients seprately overnight. Grind the ingredients in a grinder and keep it for fermenting for 8 hours. Add salt and if required then add water for the right consistency. 

P.S. I normally grind a kg of rice and 300 grams of dal and divide the batter as per my requirements into separate vessels and refrigerate it. 

We can also take 2:1 proportion of rice and dal. 3:1 proportion of rice and dal gives crispy dosas.

For the Pizza Uttapam

Ingredients

Pizza sauce

1 bowl of Dosa / Uttappam batter 

1 cup Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese mix grated 

2 tbsp Black Olives sliced 

2 tbsp Red picked chillies sliced 

1 Onion sliced

1 Green Capsicum sliced

1/2 Red Capsicum sliced

1/2 Yellow Capsicum sliced 

8 Mushrooms sliced 

Sprinkle of Pizza mix dried herbs 

Olive oil to drizzle 

Method

Take a pan, add one ladle full of batter in the pan, keep it on a low flame, sprinkle some cheese, add the pizza sauce on the batter, arrange the vegetables on by one on the pizza. Add some more cheese on top, drizzle some oil on top and sprinkle pizza mix. Cover and cook, for 2 to 3 minutes till the base has become brown and crispy. Serve hot. 

Maggi Noodles with Veggies and Eggs...

Maggi Noodles with Veggies and Eggs... 

It is a all time favourite dish of many. My husband claims that he lived on Maggi during his collage days, my daughter can have Maggi any time of the day. For me it is quick and easy to cook. I have cooked it in a desi way with Veggies and Eggs and seasoned it with Madras Curry powder.. 

Ingredients 

4 pieces of Veg Maggi Noodles

4 Eggs

1/4 cup of each Vegetables chopped 

Carrot

Capsicum 

French beans 

Cauliflower or Broccoli 

Onion

Tomato

1 tsp Garlic chopped

1 tsp Green chillies chopped

2 tsp Curry powder

2 Maggi Masala sachets

Salt to taste 

1 tbsp Oil

1 tbsp Butter 

Few Coriander Leaves chopped for garnishing 

Method

Take a wok, add oil and butter. Let the butter melt. Add the garlic and chillies. Sauté it for a minute, add the onions. Sauté it till brown in colour. Add the vegetables one by one and stir it, add the curry powder, Maggi masala and salt. Stir it. Take Maggi, crush it and add it to the vegetables, stir it. Add 3 cup of water, stir it. Cover and cook, stirring in between  till it is done, and little water is left in the wok. Break the eggs on top, cover and cook till the eggs are done, switch off the flame and garnish it with coriander leaves.

Happy Valentine with Chocolate Strawberry Rose Cupcake...

Happy Valentine with Chocolate Strawberry Rose Cupcake...
Humorous Anniversary...❤️❤️
It was a small funny incident which happened 2 years back on my anniversary day, I had just woken up from my sleep, I saw my husband walking in side the room towards me, trying to tell me some thing and he was very excited.  I was in my own world. There was a big bunch in his hand which I though was a big bunch of roses, I very happily went to take it from in his hand and was wondering that in 18 years of our married life he never got me any surprise gifts, how come today he got roses that too early in the morning... I became very... very happy.  But no, it was not roses,  it was a big bunch of fenugreek leaves and spring onions which he had picked up on the way back after dropping our daughter to school. He wanted me to make Meethi Aloo for lunch... He loves to shop for vegetables and he loves to eat... So for Valentine's Day Strawberry roses for him...

Chocolate Strawberry Rose Cupcake
Strawberry filling
Ingredients
5 medium size strawberries  sliced
1/4  cup Sugar
1 tbsp Cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp Water

Method
Put the  strawberries in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly and cook for 5 minutes,  then add the sugar and cornstarch mix. Stir  4 to 5 minutes more until mixture thicken slightly. Remove from heat and allow it to cool.

Chocolate Strawberry Rose Cupcake  
Ingredients
1 cup All purpose Flour
2 tbsp Coco powder
1/2 cup Powder Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1/2 cup Oil
2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 cup Milk + 1 tbsp Vinegar ( Mix)
    OR
1/2 cup Curd + 1/2 cup Milk ( Mix )
Any Frosting
6 Strawberry Roses
1 tbsp of Golden Sugar sprinkles

Method
In a large bowl sieve together flour, coco, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Keep it aside. Take oil and sugar. Beat it well till the sugar in cooperates with the oil. Add vanilla essence and Milk vinegar OR Milk Curd. Beat it once more. Add the flour mix 1/2 cup  at a time and beat it until  you get a thick batter. If the batter is too thick then add 1 or 2 tbsp milk. The batter should be thick dropping consistency. Arrange the cupcake liners. Fill in 2/3 rd of the cup cake liners. Bake at 180 degrees for 25 minutes or till done. Insert a toothpick and if it comes out clean it is done. Cool the cupcake completely. Make a hole in each cupcake in the centre  and spoon the strawberry filling in each. Pipe the frosting on the cupcakes. Decorate with strawberry rose and some golden sprinkles.

Roti Jala served with Pickled Chicken

Roti Jala served with Pickled Chicken 

Roti Jala is a traditional flat, net, lacy bread from Malaysia and is served with any curry. I have made Malaysian Pickled Chicken to go with Roti Jala. 

Roti Jala

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cups  All Purpose Flour

1 tetra pack Coconut Milk or more 

1 Egg Beaten

Salt to taste

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder 

Melted Ghee for Brushing (Optional) 

Method 

Take a mixing bowl, add the flour, salt and turmeric powder, mix it. Add the egg and coconut milk little at a time and whisk in to a thin batter. Heat a frying pan. Keep the flame on low heat and brush the pan lightly with ghee. Drizzle the batter from a squeeze bottle on the pan to create a net pattern. Cook until it is  light golden on the base. Turn and lightly cook the other side, take it out on a plate and repeat with remaining batter. When cool, fold roti in to half from both the sides and then roll from the other end. Serve with pickled chicken. 

Pickled Chicken 

For the Ground Spices 

Ingredients 

1 tsp Cumin seeds

1 tbsp Coriander seeds

10 Cloves

2 Cardomom 

1 small stick Cinnamom 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder

Method 

Dry roast all the above ingredients except Turmeric and Nutmeg. Cool the ingredients, add the turmeric powder and nutmeg and grind it into a fine powder. 

For Marinating the Chicken 

Ingredients 

10 medium size Chicken pieces

Spice powder

Salt to taste

Method

Mix all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl and marinate it for 1 hour. 

For the Wet Spices 

Ingredients 

2 Onions cut into thick slices

1 tsp Ginger chopped

1 tsp Garlic 

1 Lemon Grass Stalk chopped 

5 Red Dry Chillies soaked in water

Method 

 In a blender blend chillies, onions, ginger, garlic and lemongrass into a paste. Add very little water if required to make the paste. 

For the Pickled Chicken 

Ingredients 

Marinated Chicken pieces 

Wet Paste 

3 tbsp Vinegar 

1/2 tbsp Sugar 

Salt to taste 

½ cup Chicken stock

2 tbsp Ghee 

Few  Mint and Coriander leaves for garnishing 

Method 

 Heat ghee in a wok on medium heat, add the wet paste. Stir fry the paste for 3 minutes or till the oil has separated from the paste. Add the marinated chicken and fry for 10 minutes. Add the stock, stir and cover the wok. Simmer until the chicken has cooked. Add vinegar, salt and sugar. Stir and simmer for another 2 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves and mint leaves. Serve with Roti Jala.

Spicy Pumpkin Orange Jam

Spicy Pumpkin Orange Jam

Ingredients
1 big bowl or 1/2 kg of Pumpkin peeled, deseeded and cut in to thin slices
Juice of 2 Oranges
Juice of 2 Lime
1 tbsp Ginger juice
1 stick Cinnamon
1 Star Anise
2 Pinch of Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Chilli flakes
Pinch of Salt
3 cups Sugar
2 cups of Water

Method
Add the pumpkin and water into a large pot. Cook the pumpkin on high flame until the pumpkin slices are soft, mushy and the water has almost evaporated. Add the sugar, orange juice, lime juice, ginger juice,  cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, salt and chilli flakes. Cook on low flame on a large burner, stirring it occasionally in the beginning and then continuously as the jam begins to thicken and reaches the setting point. To check, take water in a small plate, add a droplet of the jam, if the droplet settles in one place and does not spread then it is done. Remove the pot from the heat. Take the clean glass jar. It has to be completely dry. While it is still warm, pour into the jar. It can be preserved upto  2 months.

Chicken and Prawn Balti

 Chicken and Prawn Balti

Ingredients
10 to 12 Boneless Chicken pieces
1 bowl medium sized Prawns
2 Onions chopped
2 Tomatoes chopped
1 Green Capsicum cut into pieces
1 tsp Green Chillies crushed
1 tsp Ginger crushed
1 tbsp Garlic crushed
1 bowl Tomato puree
2 tbsp Curd
Salt to taste
3 tbsp Balti Masala powder
2 tbsp Oil
Few Coriander leaves chopped  for garnishing

Method
Take a wok, add oil. Let it heat. Add the onions and sauté it till translucent. Add the green chillies, garlic and ginger. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes sauté it for 2 minutes, then add the chicken, stir it. Add the tomatoes and capsicum, stir it, add the salt and balti masala. Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Add the prawns and tomato puree, stir it the add the curd. Stir and cover and cook till the chicken pieces are tender. Garnish it with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Balti Masala powder
Ingredients
2 tbsp Cumin Seed
1 tbsp Coriander seeds
1 tbsp Fennel seeds
1 tbsp Mustard seeds
1 tbsp Fenugreek seeds
1 tsp Nigella  seeds
1 big Cinnamon stick broken into small pieces
4 Black Cardamom
1 tbsp Peppercorns
10 Cloves
1 tbsp Dry Fenugreek leaves
20  dried Curry leaves
5 Bay leaves
1 tbsp Turmeric powder
1 tbsp  Garlic powder
1 tbsp Ginger powder
1 tbsp Red Chilli powder

Method
Take a pan. Add all the spices one by one and dry roast it. Cool it. Add the spices into a grinder, add the powder. Grind all the ingredients to a fine powder. Cool it and store it in an air tight dry glass bottle.

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.

Dahi Palak Vada

Dahi Palak Vada 

 For the Palak Vada 

2 cups of Spinach leaves chopped, and sautéed in 1/2 tsp oil till the water dries up

1 cup Gram flour

Pinch of Soda bicarbonate 

Salt to taste 

1/4 tsp Carom seeds 

Oil to fry 

Method 

Take a mixing bowl, add the spinach, gram flour, salt , carom seeds and soda bicarbonate. Mix it well. Heat oil, add 1 tsp of the batter in hot oil and fry the Palak vadas till brown, once done, keep it on the absorbent paper, cool it and break it into half. 

For the Dahi Palak Vada

 Ingredients 

Palak Vada 

2 Cups Curd 

1/2 cup Milk

1 tbsp Green Chutney ( Add  1/4 cup Coriander leaves, 1 Green chillies, 1 tsp Raw mango and Salt in a blender and blend it together)

1 tbsp Sweet Tamarind Chutney ( 2 tbsp Tamarind pulp, 4 tbsp Jaggary, salt, 1/4 tsp  chilli powder, mix together and cooked it till the Jaggary melts and thicken up a bit)

Salt to taste 

2 tbsp Sugar 

1 tbsp Sev

Sprinkle of Chat masala

Few Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing 

Few Pomegranate seeds for garnishing 

Method

In a mixing bowl, add curd, milk, salt, sugar. Beat it well. Add the broken pieces of vada. Mix it. Drizzle the green chutney and the sweet chutney, sprinkle the chat masala. Sprinkle the sev, coriander leaves and pomegranate seeds from top. 

Surmai Sukha Masala (King Fish semi dry gravy)

Surmai Sukha Masala (King Fish semi dry gravy)

For the Wet Paste
Ingredients
4 pieces of Surmai including Fish head
8 Garlic cloves
3 tbsp Coriander Leaves
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1 tsp Tamarind paste
1 tsp Lime juice
Salt to taste

Method
Add all the above ingredients in the blender except fish, add 3 tbsp or more water and blend the spices into a paste. Apply  lime and salt on the fish and keep it aside for 10 minutes, after 10 minutes apply the wet paste on the fish and marinate it for 15 to 20 minutes.

For the Gravy
Ingredients
Marinated Fish
1 big size Onion chopped
10 to 14 Garlic cloves whole
4 Green chillies broken into pieces
1 tbsp Coriander Leaves chopped for garnishing
2 tbsp Oil

Method
Take a pan, add oil. Let it heat. Add garlic, saute it till light brown in colour. Add the chillies, saute it for a minute. Add the onion and fry till light brown in colour. Add the marinated fish, cook the fish on both sides for 5 minutes each, add 1/4 cup of water and cook on medium high heat till the gravy dries up and the oil from the gravy is seen. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice....

Mutton Curry

Mutton Curry
An experiment in my kitchen...
It is a simple recipe, marinated and cooked on low heat in a pressure cooked without even stirring and it cooks in its own juices ....

Wet paste
Ingredients
1 Onion
5 Garlic cloves
1 small piece Ginger
4 Red Dry Chillies
4 Green chillies

Method
Grind all the above ingredients in to a paste.

For the Mutton
Ingredients
500 grams Mutton
1/2 cup Curd
1 medium size Onion cut into 8 pieces
3 medium size Potatoes peeled and cut into 4 pieces
10 Garlic cloves
1 medium piece of Ginger sliced
4 Green chillies whole
Salt to taste
1/2 tbsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
Wet paste
2 tbsp Mustard Oil  OR Vegetable Oil
Few Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing

Method
In a mixing bowl add all the above ingredients except coriander leaves and mix it well. Marinate it for for 6 hours.  Add the marinated mutton in the pressure cooker. Close the lid of the cooker and give 4 whistles or till the mutton has cooked. Once the pressure releases, garnish with coriander leaves. It is ready to be served with hot rice or roti.

Crispy Palak Chaat / Spinach Chaat

One must include green vegetables in the diet. Some time children don’t want to have vegetables. We can always innovate Recipes with vegetables which will encourage the children to have vegetables without fuss. Spinach is a good source of iron.... Here I have made a healthy Chaat with spinach...

To make the crispy Palak 

Ingredients 

Few Fresh Palak /Spinach leaves around 12 whole leaves 

Oil to Drizzle

Salt to sprinkle 

Method 

Take a baking tin, spread the Palak leaves, drizzle oil and sprinkle some salt. Bake it at 200 degrees for 15 minutes. Half way in between turn the leaves. Bake till crispy. 

For the Palak Chaat 

 Ingredients 

Crispy Palak leaves

1 small Potato cut into cubes and boiled 

1 small Onion chopped

4 tbsp Beaten Curd 

3 tbsp Green Chutney ( Add 1/4 cup Coriander leaves, 1 Green chillies, 1 tsp Raw mango and Salt in a blender and blend it together)

2 tbsp Red Chutney ( Add few Garlic cloves, 2 Dry Red chillies and salt in a blender and blend it together with little water)

1 tbsp Sweet Tamarind Chutney ( 2 tbsp Tamarind pulp, 4 tbsp Jaggary, salt, 1/4 tsp  chilli powder, mix together and cooked it till the Jaggary melts and thickens up a bit)

1 tbsp Sev

Drizzle of Lime juice

Sprinkle of Chaat masala

Few Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing 

Few Pomegranate seeds for garnishing 

Method

On a plate first add the crispy spinach leaves, then one by one add the potatoes, onions, curd, green chutney, red chutney, sweet tamarind chutney, drizzle the lime juice , sprinkle the  chat masala, add the sev and then garnish with coriander leaves and pomegranate seeds... 

Instant Vermicelli Dosa served with Tomato Chutney

Instant Vermicelli Dosa served with Tomato Chutney 

Vermicelli Dosa
Ingredients
4 cups Vermicelli (Boiled in water and strained)
1 cup Idli Rawa
1 cup Rice Flour
1/4 cup Desiccated Coconut
1 cup Curd
1 Onion chopped
3 Green Chillies chopped
2 tbsp Coriander Leaves chopped
Salt to taste
1 tsp Eno
Ghee to Drizzle

Method
In a mixing bowl, mix all the above ingredients, except ghee. Add water little at a time to make a thin batter. Let the batter stand for 30 minutes. Heat a skillet. Pour 2 ladle of the batter on the skillet, spread the batter on the skillet, let it cook for a minute on low heat,  drizzle ghee on the dosa and let it cook till brown on one side.Flip over and cook on the other side. Serve hot  vermicelli dosa with tomato chutney.

P.S. Before making the next dosa, wipe the skillet with wet cloth, or else if the temperature is high, the dosa will not spread properly.

Tomato Chutney
Ingredients
4 Tomatoes chopped
1 Onion chopped
10 Garlic cloves crushed
1/4 cup Coriander Leaves
5 Green chillies
Salt to taste
Few Curry leaves
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
1 Red Dry Chilli broken into pieces
2 Pinches of Asafoetida
1 tbsp Sesame Oil

Method
In a grinder, add tomatoes, onion, green chillies, garlic, coriander leaves and salt. Grind it into paste. Add little water. Take a pan. Add oil, let it heat. Add mustard leaves, curry leaves, dry red chillies and asafoetida. Let the mustard seeds crackle. Add the chutney. Let it simmer on low flame for 5 minutes. Serve hot for Vermicelli Dosa....

Aloor Chop / Potato Fritters Bengali Style

Aloor Chop / Potato Fritters Bengali Style 

Aloor Chop is a famous street food of Kolkatta. It is found in any Tele Bhaja shop (Shop which sales fried food) in any corner of the street. It is normally had in the evening with garm... garm.. chai ( hot... hot.... tea) and served with Muri (Puffed Rice).

For Stuffing.. 

Ingredients 

2 large Potatoes boiled and mashed

1 tsp Green chillies chopped

1/4 tsp Ginger paste 

1 tbsp Bhaja Masala (Roast Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds in equal portion and 1  Red Dry Chilli and ground it) 

2 Pinches of Garam Masala 

Salt to taste

Few Coriander leaves chopped 

Method 

Mixed all the above ingredients together properly. Divide the mashed potatoes into equal proportions. Make balls of each portion and flatten it. Keep it aside while the batter is made.

For the Batter and frying 

Ingredients 

1 cup Gram flour  (Besan)

2 tbsp Rice flour 

1/4 tsp Chilli powder 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

Salt to taste 

2 Pinch of Soda bicarbonate 

Oil for frying

Method 

Take a mixing bowl, add all the above ingredients, except oil. Add water little at a time to make a thick batter. Heat the oil in a wok. Take the potato chop one at a time, dip it into the batter. Add the chop into the hot oil and fry till golden brown in colour. Serve hot with Muri (Puffed Rice)...

Muri (Puffed Rice)

Ingredients 

2 cups Puffed Rice

2 tbsp Fried Peanuts or Roasted Peanuts 

2 tbsp Chana chur / Bengali Mix Chewda (Optional)

1 Green Chilli chopped 

1 tbsp Aam Tel Or Mustard oil

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp Murir Masala

Method 

Mix all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl together.

Murir Masala 

Ingredients 

1/4 tsp Cumin seeds roasted

1/4 tsp Coriander seeds roasted

1 Red Dry Chilli roasted

2 Pinches of Dry Ginger powder

1 cloves

2 Pepper corn

1small stick Cinnamon 

1/4 tsp Amchoor powder / Dry Mango Powder 

Rock Salt as per taste

Method 

Ground all the above ingredients together.

Aam Tel

It is made in summers, the raw mangoes are cut into pieces and sun dried with turmeric and salt. Mustard oil is heated up.... Asafoetida, Panch Phoran,ginger paste and mustard paste is add to the hot oil. Then the mangoes are added and then it is bottled up and keep in the hot sun for a week. It stays for a year.

Vermicelli Upma

Vermicelli Upma

Ingredients
Half Packet of Rice Vermicelli
1 Onion chopped
1/4 cup Carrot chopped
1/4 cup Green Peas
2 to 3 Green chillies chopped
Few Curry Leaves
Juice of half Lime
3 tbsp Peanuts
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Bengal Gram / Chana dal
1/4 tsp Split Black Gram / Urid Dal
2 tbsp Oil
Few Coriander leaves for garnish
2 tbsp Grated Coconut or desiccated coconut. 

Method
Take a big pot,add water and salt, bring water to a boil. Add the vermicelli to the boiling water and cook on medium high for a few minutes, until it is cooked. When done, immediately remove from the heat and drain the water out.Rinse in cold water and drizzle some oil, so they do not stick together. Take a wok, add oil, let it heat. Add Bengal gram and spilt black gram, saute it for few seconds, add the mustard seeds, let it crackle, add the peanuts. Saute it till brown in colour. Add chopped chillies and curry leaves, saute it for a few seconds. Add the onion, fry till translucent.add the green peas, saute for a minute, add the carrots and continue to saute for another minute. Add 1/4 cup water, simmer it on low heat. Add the salt, sugar and turmeric Powder, stir it and let it simmer for 3 minutes. Add the vermicelli and stir it well and cook for 2 minutes till all the spices are mixed well. Add lime juice and stir again. Remove it from the heat, garnish with coriander leaves and coconut.

Frozen Strawberry and Mint Chocolate Crust Pie

Frozen Strawberry and Mint Chocolate Crust Pie 

To make the Chocolate Crust

Ingredients 

1 bowl of Chocolate Cookie 

3 tbsp Melted Butter 

Method 

Add the chocolate cookies and the butter in a grinder and grind it into powder. Add the crumbs  into bottom of a 9" pie tin. Spread and press the crumbs evenly. Bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees celcius in a preheated oven. Let cool. Add the pie filling.

For the Pie filling 

Ingredients

10 Strawberries cut into slices

5 whole Strawberries cleaned 

Few Mint leaves 
 2 cups Cottage Cheese Crumbs 

1/4 cup Cream

1/2 cup Condensed Milk 

1/2 tsp Vanilla Essence 

1/2 kg Vanilla Icecream  

Method 

In a blender, add the cottage cheese, vanilla essence, cream, whole strawberries and condensed milk. Blend it till smooth. Pour the mixture on the crust and spread it evenly. Scoop the vanilla Icecream on the top of the cottage cheese mixture. Spread it evenly. Decorated the top with sliced strawberries and mint leaves. Chill it in the freezer for 4 hours. Before cutting keep it out for 2 minutes. 

Chicken Meat and Veggies Stuffed Buns...

Chicken Meat and Veggies Stuffed Buns...

Chicken Meat  Stuffing 

Ingredients 

150 grams Chicken minced

1 Egg

1 Onion chopped finely 

1 tsp Garlic chopped finely 

1 tsp Green chillies chopped finely

1 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped 

1/4 cup Spring Onions chopped finely

3 tbsp each Yellow and Red Capsicum chopped finely 

2 tbsp Carrot chopped finely 

1/4 cup Mozzarella cheese grated

Salt to taste 

1 / 4 tsp Pepper powder 

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning

Method 

Take a mixing bowl and mix all the above ingredients. Knead it very well for 5 minutes till all the fats incorporates well. Keep it in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.

Buns 

Ingredients 

400 grams  All purpose flour 

1 1/2 tbsp Dry Yeast

2 tbsp Sugar 

1/4 Cup Lukewarm Milk 

1 Cup  Lukewarm Water

2 tbsp Melted Butter

Salt to taste

Egg wash 

Chicken stuffing

2 tbsp Mozzarella grated 

Italian seasoning for sprinkling 

Method

Take a mixing bowl. Add flour and salt. Mix it. Make a well in the centre of the flour. Add sugar, yeast and 1/4 cup lukewarm milk + 1/4 cup lukewarm water. Stir it with out disturbing the surrounding flour. Cover and let it rise. After it rises. Start mixing the flour... Add water little at a time to make a soft dough. Add 1/2 tbsp melted butter, Knead the dough for 5 minutes adding 1/2 tbsp melted butter in between. Rub some butter on top, cover and keep for rising double in size. Rub some butter on the palms. Sprinkle some flour on the platform, take the dough, punch it and knead it again for sometime. Divide the dough into equal proportions. Grease the baking tray.  Rub some butter on the palms. Take one portion of the dough. Roll the dough giving it a round shape. Flatten the dough and take a portion of the stuffing in the centre of the dough, close the edges and give it a round shape. Repeat the process with other buns. Place each buns on the baking tray at some distance. Cover with soft Malmal cloth till it rises double in size. Brush it with egg wash. Bake it in a pre heated oven at 180 degrees celcius for 20 minutes. Take the tray out of the oven, sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese and Italian seasoning from top. Bake for another 5 minutes more at 160 degrees celcius till brown on top. Cool the buns a bit and remove it from the tray. 

Vegetable Soup with Crispy Rice

Vegetable  Soup with Crispy Rice

A hot bowl of soup is always welcomed on any day. Tried, sick or dieting. In this recipe I have made a very simple vegetable soup which is delectable and easy to make. It is a soul food. I have attached a video to show the steps. Please do encourage me as this is my first self made video.... Thank you....
Ingredients
2 tbsps of each Vegetable minced
Onion
Garlic
Capsicum
Cabbage
Carrot
Broccoli
French Beans
Spring Onion
1 tsp Ginger minced
1/2 tsp Green chilli minced
2 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
2 tbsp Light Soya Sauce
2 tbsp Lemongrass sauce
Salt to taste
3 tbsp Corn flour
2 tbsp Sesame seed oil 

Method 

Take a deep bottom pan, add oil. Add the garlic, ginger, green chilli. Saute it for a minute, add the onion and capsicum, saute it for a minute. Add rest of the vegetables one after the other, saute it for 2 minutes. Add the salt, rice wine vinegar,  light soya sauce and lemongrass sauce, stir it. Add 4 cups of water and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Add 2 tbsp of water in the corn flour, mix it. Add the corn flour into the soup. Let it simmer till it thickens. Serve the hot soup with some chopped spring onions and  crispy rice. 

To make Crispy Rice
Take cooked rice, add in hot oil and fry it. 

Aab Gosht

Aab Gosht
This dish is made in several ways. As milk is added, it makes this dish unique. 
Ingredients
1/2 kg Mutton
1 cup Bengal Gram soaked
2 Medium size Onions chopped finely
3 Medium sized Tomatoes chopped
1 tsp Garlic paste
1 tsp Ginger paste
1 tsp Green Chilli paste
1 tsp Cumin powder
1 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Fennel powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Pepper powder
Salt to taste
1/2 cup Coconut Milk
1 cup Milk
1 tbsp Oil
1 tbsp Ghee

Method
Heat oil and ghee in a pressure cooker. Add onions and saute till translucent.  Add tomatoes, ginger and green chilli pastes, gram dal, turmeric, salt and mutton. Stir well for 5 minutes, add 1 1/4 cups of water and pressure cook till 3 whistles. After all the pressure releases open the cooker.  Add cumin powder, coriander powder, fennel powder, garam masala powder and pepper powder , stir and simmer for 10 minutes on low heat. Add coconut milk and milk and let it simmer for 10 minutes more. Serve hot.

Egg Omelet Sandwich with Cottage Cheese Spinach and Carrot Spread

Egg Omelet Sandwich with Cottage Cheese Spinach and Carrot Spread.......
For the Spread
1 cup Cottage cheese crumbs
1/4 cup Hung Curd / Yogurt
2 tbsp Fresh Cream
1 cup Spinach chopped
1/2 cup Carrot shredded
1/4 tsp Garlic powder
1/4 tsp Pepper powder
Salt to taste
1 tsp Butter

Method
Take a pan, add butter, let it melt. Add spinach and saute till the water in the spinach has dried up. Keep it aside. In a blender add cottage cheese, hung curd, cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder and blend it till smooth. Add spinach and carrot, mix it. Keep it aside.

Egg Omelet
Ingredients
6 Eggs
1 medium size Onion chopped finely
1 medium size Tomato de seeded and chopped finely
1 tbsp Red Chillies sliced
Salt to taste
1/4 Pepper powder
2 tbsp Oil

Method
Take a mixing bowl, add all the above ingredients expect oil. Beat the eggs well. Take a big pan, add oil, let it heat. Spread the egg batter and let it cook. Once done cut it into pieces.

To Assemble
Take bread slices, apply the spread on the slices. Add a omelet piece on the bread slice. Cover with another bread slice, cut the sandwich into pieces. Serve with potato chips....

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..