Masala Oats Paniyaram

Highly inspired by my new friends in London I have tried this recipe and to my surprise it came out to be wonderful and tasty. Instead of using actual batter for paniyaram I used oats mix which made it more healthy.Thanks Rupa for letting me use your paniyaram pan and also instructing me how to use it..you are a star.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Oats
• 3 tablespoon Rice Flour 
• 1/2 cup Thick Curd
• A nice pinch of Baking Soda
• 1 Carrot grated
• 1 big Onion finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli powder
• Oil 
• Salt - to taste
• Paniyaram pan
• To Temper:
• 1 teaspoon Oil
• 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon Urad Dal
• 2 teaspoon Curry leaves chopped finely

Directions:

• Dry roast oats for 2mins.
• In a pan heat oil add mustard seeds,urad dal and curry leaves let it splutter.Then add onion and sauté till transparent.
• Then add carrot and sauté till raw smell leaves, add chilli powder and give a quick mix.

• In a mixing bowl take roasted oats,carrot onion,rice flour,curd,baking soda and coriander leaves.
• Add water, mix well to form a medium thick batter , like our idly batter.
• Grease the paniyaram pan with oil and add a spoon full of the batter in each hole.

• cook covered until it gets cooked. When the top part looks cooked then turn and cook on other side till golden brown.
• Serve hot with any chutney or sauce of your choice.

Baked Chicken Pasta

I am very big fan for Big chill baked pasta( anyone from Delhi can understand what I am saying),well its a food chain which is famous for its unique pastas. I wanted to try out this recipe since long and finally I got a you tube video of similar recipe by Todd's kitchen.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup Pasta any shape ( I mixed two shapes)
2. 1 tablespoon Oil
3. 1 small Onion chopped
4. 1 Tomato chopped
5. 1 Capsicum
6. 2-3 cloves of Garlic finely chopped
7. Salt to taste
8. 1 tablespoon Italian herb seasoning (oregano)
9. 2 tablespoon Pasta Sauce / spicytomato salsa
10.  1/2 cup boiled chicken breast fillets, cubed (increase or decrease according to your choice)
11. 1/3 cup Cheddar cheese (increase with your choice)
12. 1/4 cup mozzarella Cheese (optional)

Directions:

• Cook pasta in water along with little salt.Drain it and keep aside
• take little bit oil in a pan and fry the chicken pieces little bit so that it doesn't taste like boiled. This step is purely optional you can skip it and use the boiled chicken directly
• Heat oil in a pan add  garlic, onions, capsicum, tomatoes cook for 2 minutes. when raw smell goes add herbs. sauces and chicken pieces and salt, give a quick stir

• In a baking dish add pasta, sauce mixture and little bit of shredded cheese and mix well.

• Now cover the top portion with enough cheese and bake it in 220 degrees for 10 minutes or till the cheese have melted and browned a bit.
• Serve with your choice of bread.

Note:

1. I have used the basic pasta sauce. you can make your own flavour.
2. you can even make it pure veg by adding veggies instead of chicken.
3. I have used two types of cheeses but choice is all yours.
4. Be very careful while serving as the dish will be very hot.

Bhappa Doi Bengali Style

Never thought steamed sweet yoghurt or bhappa doi would be so easy to make.This recipe will drag you back to the streets of Bengal. Thank you my dear sister-in-law(supriya bhauja) for the idea of making this at home.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup plain Yoghurt / Curd
2. 1 cup Milk
3. 1/2 can (200 gm) sweetened condensed milk
4. 5 almonds sliced
5. 10 pistachio nuts sliced
6. 5 raisins
7. 2 cups water for steaming

Directions:

• Beat together yoghurt, milk and condensed milk till well blended. 
• Add almonds, pistachio nuts and raisins, and mix well.
• Pour the mixture into a pudding mould. cover the mould with a plate or with aluminium foil.Fill a large bowl half with water and bring the water to boil, put the covered mould into the water (making sure water can’t splash into it), reduce the heat and cover the bowl. 
• Steam for 20 minutes. 

• 

  Remove the bowl from heat.open the cover and allow to cool naturally.
• Once cooled refrigerate until well chilled (approx. 4 hours). 
• Place a serving dish on top of mould and invert. Shake it gently to release. Remove mould and Serve cold. 

Note: The original source called out to use full tin (400 gm) of condensed milk but it was too sweet for us to handle so I would suggest to use 1/2 tin.

Suji / Rawa Toast

If you are bored of same cereals or butter toast for busy mornings then you can definitely try this Indian version of bread toast.This is my mother in laws creation which we all love to have in the morning.Even my 2 year old kid loves the crunchiness and taste of it.

 

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup Suji / Rawa
2. 1 Onion chopped
3. 1 Tomato chopped
4. Salt to taste
5. 2 Green Chillies chopped
6. 1/2 teaspoon Curry Powder
7. Butter or oil to toast

Directions:

• In a bowl add ingredients except bread , add enough water to make it a batter consistency.
• Heat few drops oil/ butter in a flat pan, spread a nice layer of above mixture on one side of the bread and put it on the pan to toast.
• while its in pan spread the other side of the bread with the mixture.Wait till one side is  golden brown colour then flip it and wait till other side also colours.
• When both side are golden brown colour and little bit crispy remove from pan and serve hot.
• Serve with with ketchup and some freshly squeezed orange juice to complete your meal.

Creamy Green Peas Masala

If you are carving for food from local dhabbas but don't want to buy from there due to the oil portion in it then you are in the right page. This creamy green peas masala tastes just like local dhabba -creamy and yummy with less oil. I bet you will go for second round for this side dish. It goes well with anything to everything like roti , phulka, chapati, rice, pulao etc etc..

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup Fresh or Frozen Peas
2. 1.5 teaspoon Channa/Chole Masala
3. 1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
4. 1 teaspoon Kasoori Methi
5. 1 Onion chopped
6. Salt to taste

To Grind:

1. 2 large Tomatoes
2. 2 Onions
3. 1 tablespoon Ginger-Garlic paste(you can also use fresh)
4. 2 Green Chillies
5. 5 Cashews
6. 2 tablespoon Curd
7. Milk (instead of using water to grind use milk for more rich gravy)

To Temper:

1. 2 cloves
2. 1/2 inch Cinnamon
3. 1/2 teaspoon jeera
4. 1 tablespoon Ghee/ butter
5. 2 tablespoon Oil

Directions:

• Heat one teaspoon oil in a pan add to grind ingredients except curd, cashews and milk. Sauté till the tomatoes are soft.Let it cool down for sometime, then add curd cashews to the mixture and grind to a fine paste by adding little milk at a time or as required
• Heat butter and rest oil in a pan , add to temper items. Once the spice aroma starts coming add onions and sauté till golden brown.
• Add the masala paste ,chilli powder, channa masala, salt and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Add peas and little water to the masala- mix, cover and cook for 5 minutes

• Check for gravy consistency.
• Add kasoori methi and mix well, Serve hot with rice or roti.

Mint Chickpeas Pulao / Channa Pudina Pulao

I love to experiment a lot with rice as its a perfect lunch box item for my hubby. Yesterday I had boiled black chickpeas without any idea of what to make from it. After a bit of search in the internet I got a recipe for chickpeas pulao but the idea of the twist with mint and coconut was from my new friend in London. Rupa thanks for the idea we all loved the flavour. Its quick and easy with full of flavours.

 Ingredients:

1. 1 cup Rice
2. 2 cups Water
3. 1/2 Cup soaked and boiled Black Chickpeas / kala Channa
4. 1 Onion chopped
5. 1 teaspoon Channa Masala
6. 1 teaspoon Chilli powder
7. 1 tablespoon Ghee
8. Salt to taste

To Temper:

1. 2 teaspoon Oil
2. 1 teasoon Ghee
3. 1/2 inch two Cinnamon
4. 2 Cloves
5. 1 Cardmom
6. 1 Star Anise

To Grind:

1. 1 Fist full of mint leaves
2. 1 teaspoon Ginger-Garlic paste (you can make fresh also)
3. 1/4 Cup grated Coconut (fresh or dry anything is fine. I used fresh)

Direction:

• In a cooker (rice cooker/heavy bottom pan, I used rice cooker) heat oil and ghee together, add the to temper items in the list.
• Once aroma starts coming add onions and sauté till golden brown.
• Add masala paste, channa masala powder , chilli powder give a quick mix and add boiled kala channa and cook for two minutes.
• Add washed rice and two cups of water, salt and mix well cover and cook.
• Once the rice is done add ghee and fluff it up. Serve hot.

Note: If you are using pressure cooker then cook up to 2 whistles.

Lego Masala Biscuts

Masala biscuits is something I wanted to try since long and the Lego idea came when I didn't find any appropriate cookie cutter in my kitchen. I know its weird idea but it worked well but when you come up to such ideas don't forget to sterilise that stuff before using.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup All purpose flour / Maida
2. 3 tablespoon Butter
3. 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds / Til
4. 1 tablespoon Curry leaves chopped
5. 1 tablespoon coriander leaves chopped (optional)
6. 2 Green chillies finely chopped
7. 1 teaspoon Salt
8. 1/2 teaspoon Sugar
9. 4 tablespoon Milk ( more or less according to the consistency of the dough)

Directions:

• In a mixing bowl add flour with butter and rub it gently until it resembles breadcrumbs.

• Now add salt,sugar, curry leaves, coriander leaves, sesame seeds, green chillies and milk. Knead it to a stiff dough like a roti dough.
• Flour the surface and roll the dough thin of about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter with desired shapes. I used one of the Lego blocks from my kids Lego set
• Collect the scraps and repeat the process until you are done with the entire dough.Prick the biscuits with fork to avoid puffing up.

• Preheat the oven at 180 deg C for 10 minutes. Meanwhile arrange the biscuits in a lightly greased baking tray.

• Bake the biscuits for about 20 minutes.They are soft when hot, once cooled down they are crispy.
• Store is a air tight container, 

Egg Capsicum Masala

Eggs, eggs, eggs... It can be added to your daily meal in any shape or form and its super healthy. There are days you crave for eggs, today is the craving day for me but I had to finish few veggies which are sitting in my fridge since ages,so the result is this...

Ingredients:

1. 3 Hard-boiled Eggs
2. 3 Capsicum finely chopped
3. 1 Tomato finely chopped
4. 1 Onion finely chopped
5. 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
6. 1 teaspoon Red chilly powder
7. 1 Green Chilly-finely chopped
8. 1 tablespoon Oil
9. 1 teaspoon curry powder
10. Salt to taste

Directions:

• In a bowl, add  ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon red Chilly powder, salt with 1 tablespoon water and mix  well.
• Remove the egg shell, roll the eggs in the above mixed ingredients.
• Heat the  1 teaspoon oil in pan, fry the eggs for 2 minutes and keep aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in pan, add capsicum, onion, tomato, sauté until onion and tomato becomes soft.
• Add  the green chilly with remaining turmeric, chilly powder, salt and curry powder sauté well for another 2 minute.
• Add the fried egg with the capsicum masala and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Serve hot with rice / roti. 

Almond biscuits

Everyone loves to munch something in the tea time and best partner of tea is biscuit. Biscuit is something we have with us by default, whether we r travelling or going for work we make sure we have a packet with us every time as an emergency food. How about if those things can be made at home.. So next time don't buy it just bake it and trust me it takes just 10 minutes of effort and other 10 minutes the oven will work for you.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour / maida
2. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3. 1 pinch salt, skip if using salted butter
4. 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
5. 1/2 cup sugar
6. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
7. 2 tablespoon milk
8. 1/4 cups broken almonds

Directions:

• Preheat the oven at 180 degrees for at least 10 minutes.
• Take the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix it properly.
• In another bowl take butter and whisk it till smooth.
• Add sugar to butter and whisk for another 2 minutes
• Then add vanilla extract and milk and mix it properly.
• Add dry ingredients and almonds and fold them till soft dough is formed.
• In a lightly floured surface roll the dough till 1/2" thickness.
• Use circle cookie cutter to cut into biscuit shape.
• Place on a lightly greased baking tray few inches apart.
• Bake them for 10 minutes in pre heated oven or till edges are brown.
• Let it cool in the tray for 5 minutes, then remove them and cool it in a cooling rack completely.
• Store it in air tight container.

Note: If  you don't have a cookie cutter then you can use a wide mouth bottle cap or a small steel bowl.

Chilli Prawns

As a kid we all loved Chinese a lot. I still remember those days when we used be all dressed up in the evening and waited for dad to come back from work and take us to some new place for dinner, we used to be very excited to eat new stuffs but my mom was a very choosy eater but she tasted everything and tried to find how it was prepared, and next day whoa the same dish was made at home my her and tastes ditto the same. Till now she has the same nature - choosy eater but keen observer, 

This is one of her mouthwatering Chinese dish recipe.

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 kg large size prawns
2. 1 egg
3. 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
4. Salt to taste
5. 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
6. 1 tablespoon cornflour
7. 1 tablespoon besan (gram flour)
8. Oil to deep fry
9. 2 onions large diced
10. 1 capsicum large diced
11. 1-2 green chillies (as per taste)
12. 1 small tomato diced
13. 1 teaspoon soya sauce
14. 1 teaspoon chilli sauce
15. 1 teaspoon tomato sauce
16. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Directions:

• Remove the skin of the prawns and clean it properly
• Add egg, ginger-garlic paste, salt and chilli power to prawns and mix well .Marinate it for 30 minutes.
• After the marination time add besan and cornflour to it and deep fry till golden brown colour.
• In a large pan (preferable non sticky) heat little oil.
• Add onions and fry for 1 minute, then add capsicum , green chillies and tomatoes and fry for another 1-2 minutes.
• Add all the sauces and salt according to the onion quantity , mix will and cook for another minute.
• Add the fried prawns to the sauce and fry for 2-3 minutes or till the onions are cooked. Don't over cook it, the dish tastes good when onions and capsicum are bit crunchy.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Note: For more strong Chinese flavour you can add a pinch of Chinese salt/ aji-no-moto , but I personally avoid it when I cook for my family as its not that healthy.

Drums of Heaven in Schezwan Sauce

Happiness is when you plan a surprise and successfully implement it. 
There is a famous saying 'Way to a man's heart is through his stomach' and in 99% cases its true. So, next time you want to give a surprise to your loved ones make it a food surprise and I am sure they will love it.
Here is one easy and yummy recipe for you to make. Enjoy and have fun..

There are two phase of this recipe one is making the chicken lollipop and second making the sauce in which the chicken lollipops will be tossed.

Ingredients for Chicken Lollipop:

1. 6 nos. chicken leg pieces
2. 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
3. 1 egg
4. Salt to taste
5. 1/2 teaspoon pepper powder
6. 1 teaspoon chilli sauce
7. 1 teaspoon soya sauce
8. 1 teaspoon vineger
9. Enough oil for deep frying

Ingredients for Schezwan Sauce;

1. 4-5 garlic chopped
2. 1" piece ginger chopped
3. 1 medium size onion chopped
4. 3 green chillies (reduce according to taste)
5. 1 teaspoon chilli sauce
6. 1 teaspoon soya sauce
7. 1 teaspoon vinegar
8. 1 teaspoon tomato sauce
9. Salt to taste
10. 2 teaspoon oil

Directions for chicken lollipop:

• Clean the chicken and keep aside.
• In a different bowl add one egg and all other ingredients except oil and whisk properly.
• Marinate the chicken in the egg mixture for at least one hour.
• Once the chicken is well marinated deep fry the pieces till golden brown. 
• Chicken lollipop is ready. It can be served like this with ketchup if you want or else proceed further for the sauce.

Direction for Drums of Heaven in Schezwan sauce:

• Heat oil in a pan and add chopped garlic-ginger and sauté  for a minute.
• To this add the chopped onions and green chillies and sauté for a minute or so till the onions are pink.
• Now add the sauces and sauté for another minute.
• Add salt and very little water to prepare the sauce.
• Once the right consistency is reached toss the chicken lollipops in the sauce and serve hot.
• You can garnish it with spring onions or coriander leaves.