Bhenda Gojju

"They laugh at me because I am different,
I laugh at them because they are all the same"
~Kurt Cobain



Small tender fresh bhindis/ bhend picked from grocery stores and I could not resist clicking these tiny beauties. Today I am sharing here the recipe of Bhenda gojju. Gojju is yogurt based dish from Konkani cuisine served as an accompaniment with meals.



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Moong Dal Cheelas




Recipe adapted from here Archana's Kitchen

Ingredients
Yellow moongdal ½ cup
Split green moongdal ½ cup
Urad dal ¼ cup

Palak ½ cup finely chopped
Onion ½ cup finely chopped
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Fennel seeds 1 tsp
Coriander leaves 1 tbsp finely chopped
Green chillies 2 finely chopped
Ginger
½ tsp finely grated
Haldi
½ tsp
Salt to taste

Method:


Rinse and soak ½ cup yellow mung dal, ½ cup split green moong dal and ¼ cup
urad dal for 2-3 hrs. After the soaking time use 1 to 1 ½ cup soaked water
itself to grind the dals into smooth paste of pouring consistency. 


In a pan heat some oil, add 1 tsp cumin seeds, when it splutters add 1 tsp fennel seeds/badishep/ saunf and 1 chopped onion. Sauté the onions, later add 1 cup of chopped palak and switch off the gas. Cover the pan for a minute and half. 
Add this sautéd mixture to the batter, plus chopped coriander leaves, chopped green chillies [ depends on your need for spiciness] grated ginger, haldi and salt. Now heat the tawa/griddle and spread one laddle of batter on it. Put little oil around the spread batter and allow it to cook under medium heat on both sides till it becomes crispy. Serve it with chutney/ tomato sauce.

As a healthy variation you can add tomatoes, grated carrot, spring onions, mint leaves, methi leaves, shredded cabbage according to your choice and availability of the ingredients.
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Soya Golmatol

Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, a name known globally, has been one of the culinary inspiration to many housewives, food lovers and aspiring chef's. I still remember, how during my teens I used to wait for his cookery show "Khana Khazana" aired on Sundays. I think it was his way of anchoring the show, presentation and food styling that got me hooked to the programme rather than the cooking itself.

Now with my newly developed passion for cooking I keep checking his recipes and trying them. Today I jot down his fusion recipe for Soya Golmatol


Ingredients

Soya Nuggets soaked in hot water 2 cups
Oil 2 tbsp + to deep fry
Green chilli sauce 1 tsp
Soy sauce 1 tsp
Cornflour/ Corn starch 4 tsps
Garlic 20-25 cloves
Tomato Ketchup ½ cup
Red chilli Sauce 1 tsp
Spring Onion greens 1 stalk
Sesame seeds (til) 1 -2 tsp


Method:

Above pic shows in the making of this recipe. 
Squeeze out extra water from soya nuggets and put them into a bowl. Add green chilli sauce, soy sauce and 2 tsps cornstarch and mix. Chop garlic coarsely. Heat 2 tbsps oil in a non stick wok. Add soya nuggets to the oil in the kadai and deep fry. Drain the nuggets and keep aside on a tissue.
Heat sufficient oil in a kadai. Add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add tomato ketchup, red chilli sauce and ½ cup water and mix well. Let it come to a boil. Mix remaining cornstarch in 2 tbsps water and set aside. Now add the drained nuggets to sauce in the wok and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add cornstarch mixture and mix well. Cook till the sauce thickens. If the sauce is too thick add a little more water and mix. Chop spring onion greens. Transfer soya nuggets into a serving bowl, garnish with spring onion greens [I garnished with coriander leaves in the below pic which was my first attempt, due to nonavailability of spring onions at that time] and serve hot. You can also garnish with sesame seeds. 


"Aap khud bhi banayein aur doosron ko bhi khilyaein" ... can you remember the dialogue now ??? Yes that was the message of share and care given by our own Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor at the end of each episode :)

Happy cooking!
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Pasta cooked in Cilantro sauce

Pasta is a kid friendly and easy to cook dish. 
Today I post Master and Miss Cilantro Pasta. [ I have tried to create kids face design while presenting the pasta and hence the name ]


Ingredients

Mixed Pasta [ I have used shell and spiral shapes] 1 cup
Capsicum 2 tbsp chopped
Sliced black olives 1 tbsp
Olive oil 2-3 tbsp
Salt to taste

Ingredients to blend
Coriander leaves chopped 3/4 cup
Green Chilly 1 or 2
Garlic 3/4 cloves
Ginger 1 inch grated
Almonds 8-10
Lemon 1/2


Method:

Boil the pastas as per packet instructions. Strain, rinse in cold water and drizzle olive oil over it. Keep it aside.

Blend the ingredients as mentioned above to green smooth paste.


On low flame take little olive oil in a pan, add chopped capsicum [2 tbsp], green smooth paste. Sauté for some time, add sliced black olives and then mix the boiled pasta. Mix it so that the green smooth paste coats the pasta. Switch off the gas flame and serve it hot.

Happy Cooking !
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Eggless Blackforest Cake (Using Condensed Milk)

Since the time I developed interest to cook, I was looking forward to baking and preparing a simple eggless cake. Blackforest cake being favourite at home, I browsed through various recipes and came across one at Easycooking by Divya. The recipe and steps were so easy [No wonder the blog title is easycooking] that I instantly bookmarked it and finally I am here posting the cake baked from home. Have been baking it regularly now after my first attempt [cake seen in the last pic on this post] with few adaptations. Rest of the pics are from recent attempt and have been updated on 1/1/2017

Lets move on to the recipe to see how it is made.




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Phodnicha Bhaat /Seasoned Rice

Phodnicha baat is simple, quick Maharashtrian recipe prepared by tempering leftover rice [You can also use freshly cooked rice] and served as dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner.


Ingredients

Cooked Rice 1 cup

Onions finely chopped 1 medium
Mustard seeds little more than 1/2 tsp
Green chilies chopped 1-2
Turmericpwdr/ Haldi 1/2 tsp
Hing pinch
Coriander leaves finely chopped 1 tbsp for garnish
Lemon juice [optional]
Cumin seeds  1/2 tsp [ I excluded them in this preparation]
1 tbsp Oil
Salt, Sugar to taste


Method:

Heat oil in a pan. Once hot add mustard seeds, allow them to splutter. Now add cumin seeds, hing, haldi, green chillies stir for few seconds. Add finely chopped onions and saute it till they turn soft and pink. Now add the leftover rice, salt and sugar and give a gentle stir to mix everything taking care not to mash the rice. Cover the pan and let it cook for a minute or so. Switch off the flame, Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and juice of lemon before serving. Have it as it is or served with salad, raita or plain yoghurt.



Hope you all are enjoying these virtual treats from my kitchen and trying out these yummy recipes

Happy Cooking !!!

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Patholis - An amchi delight

Patholi is a traditional amchi sweet prepared on fragrant haldi [Turmeric] leaves especially during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Gowri festival, Nagpanchami besides other special occasions.

I was not able to locate these leaves at my place and so decided to prepare them on banana leaves [Had read about the use of banana leaves for making patholis/ada on internet, here, here and here]. This lacks the heavenly aroma of turmeric leaves but then it was quite good, enough to satisfy our cravings on festive occasions here in Pardes !


Ingredients

Rice 1 cup
Poha [flattened rice or beaten rice] 1 fistful
Coconut grated ½ cup
Salt to taste

For filling
Coconut grated 1 cup
Jaggery ½ -3/4 cup as per your preference for sweetness
Cardamom/elaichi powder
Ghee

Few Banana leaves

Method:

Wash and soak rice for 2-3 hrs. Grind this soaked rice with soaked poha, grated coconut together to smooth paste [ the batter should be thick and spreading consistency, so avoid adding more water]. Add salt to taste.

For the filling [churnu], heat ghee in a pan, grated jaggery, stir till jaggery dissolves, then add grated coconut, elaichi pwdr. Mix it well and keep aside.

Clean, dry the banana leaves with soft cloth or tissue. Cut into rectangular strips. Run these strips over the gas flame one after the other for few seconds to make it pliable and then we can use it as a wrap. [if this step is missed out the leaves may tear of while folding]. Now keep the leaves aside.

Once all the things are ready, place the banana leaves strips on a flat surface/ table. Spread a tbsp batter of rice paste on these strips. Take care that the rice paste should be applied as thin layer as possible and avoid applying it on the periphery of the leaves. Now take a tbsp churnu and place it in the middle of the batter lengthwise. Repeat this for all other leaves. Fold the leaf in the centre lengthwise. Press lightly around the edge of the leaf. Pile them in pedavan / steamer and steam it for 15 minutes. Allow them to cool down for another 10-15 minutes. Remove the leaf and serve the patholis warm with dollop of ghee.


Note: I missed to click step wise photos for this recipe. Will update it as and when I prepare them again.

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Besan laddoos

Laddoos are famous Indian sweets known to be prepared during celebrations and festivals especially Diwali. Besan Laddoo is prepared from chickpea flour [besan]. Preparation wise it is an extremely simple sweet dish but with a tricky step of roasting the flour in ghee continuously till it gets an even brown color.

This particular recipe by Jayashri Baleri, my Facebook friend gives you 10/10 results. I was so much inspired by her preparation, a classy one that I had to give a try to her recipe. 


Ingredients 
[35- 40 laddoos of medium size were prepared from the quantity that is mentioned below] 

3 measures of besan flour,
1 measure of ghee,
2 and 1/4 measures of sugar powdered. 
Cardamom powdered 1 ½ tsp
Chopped/Crushed Nuts like pistachios, almonds, cashews.
Raisins [I have excluded them]


Method:

Roast the besan on a very low flame using ghee in parts [note this tip] i.e. keep adding ghee at regular intervals, so that the besan doesn't burn. If all the ghee is added at the beginning itself the besan ghee mixture becomes very heavy and difficult to stir and hence added in parts till almost all the ghee is used up. Keep stirring continuously. This procedure will take about half an hour [It took me abt 40 mins]. You will know by the nice roasted aroma that fills not just your kitchen but also will reach your neighbour's house ;). 

At the end of this step, it will look like a dark brown mass in almost liquid form but not to worry. [Even if you don't get dark brown color, please note that the color of besan should change to a darker hue than the raw besan flour, after this step I got a lovely golden brown colour] Let it cool completely, then add nuts of your choice, raisins, and the powdered sugar along with the elaichi/cardamom powder. Use your hands [note this tip] and try to mix everything very well and then make laddoos. 
Keep some crushed nuts/raisins aside and if u wish use them to garnish these laddoos.


Store these laddoos in airtight containers.

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Masale Bhaath

This post is continuation of my affair with Maharashtrian cuisine. Today, I note down the recipe of Masale bhaat which is traditional veggie rice prepared in its own way in every Maharashtrian house especially for special functions and weddings. It’s a no onion recipe and hence can be prepared during festivals too. Recipe adapted from recipe book "Annapurna" by Mangala Barve.



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Goda Masala

This is a typical masala that is mixture of spices blended together and used mostly in the recipes that originate from Maharashtra. I browsed on internet for traditional recipe to be prepared at home and came across variations. What I found was the ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, white sesame seeds, peppercorns, coriander seeds, grated dry coconut [Khobra/Khopra] been commonly used in most of them. Ingredients such as dagadphool [stone flower], nagshekar [cobra's saffron] if available can be used besides above ingredients to prepare this masala.

There is also Kaala masala that is used in place of Goda masala. The difference between 'Goda masala' and 'Kaala masala' is the quantity of certain spices and the time for which they are toasted. The main distinct ingredients in goda masala are sesame seeds and coconut flakes. Goda masala is used in the regional recipes, such as masale bhat or vaangi bhaat, various curries and dals like aamti etc.
I have used the ingredients that are commonly used to prepare this masala.
Didn’t use dagadphool and nagshekar due to its nonavailability

I reduced all the ingredients proportionately to make this powder in a quantity that we can finish when it is still fresh.

Recipe source: adapted from here

Ingredients

Oil 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds 2 tbsp
Shahi jeera [caraway seeds] 1 tsp
Black cardamom 3
Black peppercorns 2
Cloves 10
Bayleaves 10
Coriander seeds 2-3 tbsp
Dalchini /Cinnamon  4 inch piece
Dried red chillies 3
Sesame seeds 1 tbsp
Dry coconut  [Khobra/Khopra] grated  4 tbsp

Method:

Take oil in a pan and heat it. Roast cumin seeds, shahi jeera, black cardamoms, cloves, black peppercorns, bay leaves and coriander seeds. Add cinnamon, whole dry red chillies, sesame seeds, dry coconut, and continue to roast till a nice aroma is given out [If time permits you can roast them individually in the order mentioned]. 
After all the roasted spices cool down, grind them into a dry grinder.
Store it in an air tight jar.

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Peachy Elaichi Phirni

Phirni is a thick creamy rice pudding somewhat similar to kheer flavoured with cardamom powder and saffron/kesar. Fruit flavours may be added to this pudding in the form of fruit pulp or fruit chunks. Below is the recipe for peach phirni where I have added fresh peach puree and garnished with peach chunks. You may choose to add other fruits such as mango, guava, avocado, strawberry based on its availability at your place. 




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Baby Corn Paneer Masala

Today's recipe is tried from JustIndianFood.com by Aparna Kamath with little adaptation as per the availability of ingredients and to suit the family requirements.


Ingredients:

Baby corn 300gms [I used canned ones]
Paneer 100gms [ I used frozen paneer cubes]
Tomatoes 2 
Onions 1
Cashewnuts 1 1/2tbsp
Ginger 1/2″ piece
Garlic 4 cloves [ I used 1 1/2 tsp of ginger garlic paste]
Chilli powder: 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder: 1/2tsp
Amchur (dry mango powder): 1/2 tsp
Garam masala: 1tsp
Coriander leaves: chopped 2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method
As written by Aparna Kamath on her blog
Wash the baby corn and cut into half if big. Cut the paneer into half inch cubes and fry on a tava without using any oil. [I omitted this step and kept the frozen cubes in MW for 2 mins]. Roughly chop the tomatoes and onion. Grind to a fine paste. Grind the cashewnuts to a fine powder, separately. Heat oil in a pan and add the ground onion tomato paste, ginger garlic paste. Fry on a low flame until the raw smell goes. Add the chilli powder and turmeric powder, along with the baby corn. Fry for a few minutes. Add the cashew nut paste and the paneer. Dilute with water to desired consistency. Sprinkle garam masala, amchur and add salt as required. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and serve with rotis or parathas.


Aparna Kamath who has masters in food nutrition and dietetics says paneer (cottage cheese) is a good source of protein for vegetarians. It is also rich in calcium. Baby corn is a good source of vitamins and minerals, besides being low in calories and cholesterol.  It is also a good source of fibre, helping to relieve constipation, The cashew nuts can be avoided for those on weight reducing diets, diabetes and cardio vascular diseases.

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Sabudana Khichadi

Maharashtrian food has been and will be dear to my heart and tummy. Just thinking about any particular dish like Khichadi, Aamti, Rassa I start drooling. You must be wondering why so,,,thats because I am raised in Mumbai and have relished on "N" number of recipes and variations prepared either by my neighbour aunties/grannies or my mom. Soon I will be updating these recipes one by one over here.

For today, I note down my tried and tested recipe for sabudana khichadi. This khichadi is prepared from sabudana /sago pearls/ tapioca pearls. They are light, easy to digest, mainly a starchy food giving a quick boost of energy and hence prepared particularly on fasting days such as thursdays, saturdays, Sankashti chaturthi and Ekadashi.



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Sesame Chilli Honey Potatoes

This recipe for potatoes from Sailu's Kitchen was so simple that I bookmarked it and opted the healthy way of preparing them as mentioned on her site,,,,where in potato wedges/ fingers are being baked before tossing them in sauces. [ I am novice baker and trying to learn the basics of baking by preparing simple recipes like this]

This is one yummy recipe, not just kids but adults also would like to have it again and again :)



Ingredients:

Potatoes -2 [large size]
Chilli powder - ½ tsp [ optional you can also use red chili sauce 1-2 tsp, I omitted this step in order to make it less spicy for kids]
Garlic cloves - 4 , finely grated
Tomato sauce - 2 ½ tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 1/2

Sauces
Red chilli sauce - 1 tsp [you can omit this again if u want it less spicy]
Soy sauce -1 tsp
Tomato sauce - 2 tbsp
Vinegar - 2 tsp
Garlic cloves - 2, finely chopped
Honey - 2 ½ tbsp [ you can reduce or increase as per your preference for sweetness in the dish]
Olive oil

Method:

In a bowl mix salt, red chilli powder [optional red chilli sauce], tomato sauce, grated garlic, olive oil. Wash the potatoes, peel and chop them into wedge shaped pieces or fingers as in French fries. Marinate these wedges with the above mixture and keep it aside for 10 -15 minutes. Adjust the salt if needed.

Line the baking tray with heavy duty aluminium foil, grease it little bit and spread the potato wedges/ fingers on the tray. Bake them at 200 -210 degrees C till potatoes are done and cooked. It may take around 30-40 minutes time. Stir the potatoes in between. [ you can deep fry/shallow fry the potato wedges as an alternative method to baking]

Heat some olive oil in a wok, add finely chopped garlic and stir till it becomes light brown. Next add chili sauce, tomato sauce, soy sauce, vinegar one after the other and bring it to a boil. Add the baked potatoes, honey and toss it well till the potato wedges/ fingers gets coated well with the sauces. [for about 2-3 minutes on medium flame]. Garnish with chopped spring onions [or coriander leaves] and toasted sesame seeds.

Relish them warm as starters or as a side dish [ U can see the dish with dosa in the pic below...my kids enjoyed eating them like this]



Happy cooking !!!
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Spicy Minty Baked Veggies

A healthy snack recipe today

Ingredients:

French beans cut into 1 ½” pieces long - ½ cup

1 Potato medium sized, diced into small triangular slices
1 Carrot, sliced into roundels
1 Onion sliced
((You can add in more vegetables like cauliflower/ brocolli/ capsicum...but then the quantity of below ingredients will change in proportion to the quantity of veggies used)).

5 Garlic cloves finely grated

2 tbsp Mint leaves chopped
1 tbsp Coriander leaves finely chopped [optional]
2 tsp Red Chilli flakes
Pepper powder to taste
Salt to taste

Curry powder to taste
Olive oil
1 ½ tbsp Cornflour


Method

In a bowl mix olive oil, finely grated garlic, red chilli flakes, pepper powder and mix it well. Keep the bowl aside

Wash and clean the veggies. Wipe all the moisture. Chop/ dice them as required. Mix these veggies in a bowl along with cornflour and salt. Now add the oil mixture and toss it well, taking care that the dressing coats the veggies. Sprinkle chopped mint leaves/ corriander leaves and mix it again.

Preheat oven to 220 degree celsius. Line a baking tray with heavy duty aluminum foil paper. Spread the veggies mixture in the tray and bake it for 35-40 mins.
After 20 -25 mins or so remove the tray and sprinkle some curry powder, gently stir it [ you can omit this step if u dont need them very spicy] and again keep it back for remaining time till the veggies are crisp and done. Spicy minty baked crisp veggies are ready for munching.

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Food Creativity

Some of my food creations I did few months back.

Fruit salad with vanilla ice-cream

A creative dessert here with fruit salad and vanilla ice-cream. Fruits used are blueberries, black dried prunes, watermelon chunks, cherries, peaches, banana and green grapes. 


I presented this dish based on theme of Olympics 2012 held in London. Olympics logo for basket ball sports made from banan slices, peach slice and prunes. 
Olympic rings made from ice-cream cone baskets filled with respective colored fruits.

Vegetable Salad

Smoky eggplant, tomatoes, corn, black olives, grilled capsicum tossed in olive oil and drizzled with Italian dressing.


You can see the Olympic fever continued to present this dish too.
Logo for an archer and target prepared from bread slice, grated carrot, black olives, eggplant pieces, chopped tomato, corn kernel

Capsicum Cheese Carrot Sandwich


A slice of toasted bread with sauted capsicum onion mix and cheese, later topped with shredded carrot, black olives, tomato slice, and lemon wedge.
The above sandwich was designed to look like Mr. Clown. 

Tomato  Carrot Soup


Ingredients used to prepare the above soup has been plated in a way to welcome the new beginning, new year 2013 amid chilly weather.

Hope you enjoyed above creations !!!

Note: I will be updating this space with more similar creations

Happy Creations!!!

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Dilli Style Aloo chaat


Recipe credit: Sanjeev Kapoor


Ingredients

3 large Potatoes,cubed 
1/2 inch, 
3 tsps Lemon juice,
Salt to taste, 

1 inch piece Ginger,cut into thin strips , 
1 large Onion ,chopped,  
1/2 tsp Chaat masala, 
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder, 
1/4 tsp Cumin powder,  
Green chillies,chopped
Oil to deep fry

3 tbsp Fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped 

Method:

Add 1 tsp lemon juice and a pinch of salt to the ginger strips and keep in the refrigerator till use. Heat sufficient oil in a kadai till medium hot. Add potato pieces and deep fry till crisp and golden. Drain and place on an absorbent paper. Transfer the potatoes into a big bowl. Add onions, salt, chaat masala, red chilli powder, cumin powder, green chilies, coriander leaves and the remaining lemon juice and mix well. To serve transfer the mixture into a serving bowl, garnish with ginger strips and serve immediately.

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