Bhel-Chaat

Bhel is famous Indian street food and it just taste so well with all the chutneys and it's flavors.  My mouth just start watering whenever I think of roadside and street side bhel available in India. It is enjoyed so well when chatting and hanging around with friends and having a spoon of bhel.............We find different types of bhel in India, today I am sharing with you very basic recipe of bhel.

To make Bhel you will need :-

2 cups of mamara (already shared recipe)

2-3 teaspoon cilantro chutney (already shared recipe)

2-3 teaspoon tamarind dates chutney (already shared recipe)

1 tablespoon red onion finely chopped

4-5 tablespoon gram sev

1 tablespoon carrot finely chopped

1 tablespoon finely chopped tomatoes

1/4 teaspoon garlic chutney

2 tablespoon cilantro chopped

Take a bowl and mix all the ingredients. Top it up with gram sev and cilantro. Enjoy anytime.....

Hakka Noodles/ Chinese Noodles

Who does not like Chinese food? I love spicy food and I like Chinese food so this is one of my favorite recipe.

To make Hakka Noodles you will need :-

3 cups of noodles (earlier shared recipe for boiling it)

1/2 cup green bell- pepper thinly sliced

1/2 cup carrot thinly sliced

1/2 cup cabbage thinly sliced

1/2 cup onion thinly sliced

1/4 cup green onion sliced

3-4 cloves of garlic finely chopped

3-4 tablespoon soya sauce

3 teaspoon ginger chilly paste/ chilly sauce

Salt to taste

4-5 tablespoon of olive oil

1/4 teaspoon vinegar (optional)

Take a broad pot and add oil to it. Allow it to heat up. Add onions to it and saute it for some time. Add carrot and garlic to it. Saute it. Add cabbage and bell peppers and saute all the veggies for some time. Do not cook it full and let them little crunchy. Add noodles, salt, ginger chilly paste and soya sauce to it and mix well. Serve hot.

Potato Masala Squares/ Pockets

Hey guys, today I am sharing with you the recipe which is very good appetizer for your party. I have earlier shared potato peas puff recipe it is exactly same like that instead I have not used peas in it and changed it's shape to mini squares which are very good bite size as appetizer for parties.

To make Potato Masala Squares/ Pockets you will need :-

2-3 puff pastry sheet (Mid- East)

1 cup Potato masala mixture (as shown in potato peas recipe)

Take a baking tray and line up with foil or parchment paper. Preheat oven upto 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Take puff pastry sheet and cut in small rectangle shape. On one side add potato masala mixture and fold the other side on top of it and seal the edges of it. Put it on baking tray and bake about 10-15 minutes in middle rack at 425 degrees. Serve hot with ketchup or chutney.

Cilantro (Coriander) Chutney

I like to add green herbs in my diet. I like cilantro among them. I add them in subji, dal, kadhi and every possible recipe in which it goes well. Also I make cilantro chutney in bulk so that it comes out handy to me and I can use it with pakoda, bhajiya, aloo paratha, etc.

Lets make this Cilantro Chutney. To make Cilantro chutney you will need :-

2 cups of cilantro leaves (washed and water drained)

4-5 roasted peanuts

1-2 tablespoon lime juice

1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon roasted cumin seeds

1-2 green chillies chopped

Water as needed

Add all the cilantro leaves, peanuts, green chillies and roasted cumin seeds and 4-5 tablespoon water and churn them in mixture. Make a smooth paste. Take out in serving bowl and add salt and lime juice and mix well. Serve with pakoda, bhajiya, gota, paratha, etc.

You can store it for a month in airtight container and use it whenever you need.

How to boil noodles/spaghetti

Sometimes we are not able to figure out simple things or even if we are doing all correct something goes wrong and we are not able to make some recipes. I am sharing you one of them when I started cooking and was struggling to perfectly boil noodles.

Sometimes we over boil noodles or sometimes they are not properly cooked. So I am sharing you simple technique by which your noodles will be boiled perfectly.

To boil noodles/spaghetti you will need :-

1 handful bunch of noodles

1 tablespoon olive oil/cooking oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

4-5 cups of water

4-5 cups of ice/cold water (optional)

Take a open pot and add water to it and allow it to boil on stove. When it is boiling add noodles, olive oil and salt to it. Do not cover it with lid. When it gets soft little bit then stir them very gently. If required add one more cup of water. It will take almost 12-15 minutes to boil at medium temperature. Check carefully by breaking a little piece of noodles to see weather it is cooked properly. If they are overcooked they will loose their texture. So do not boil them too much. Take them out of flame and drain all the water and put noodles in strainer so no water remains in it. Put this strainer in pot filled with ice or run cold water on noodles and then drain all water and use them.

Use them while making noodles in red/white sauce, even with pesto of your choice. I use to make bake dish and hakka noodles.

Masala Chaas (Buttermilk)

When you want something to drink with your daily simple meal and that too homemade, nothing can substitute than a glass of Masala Chaas/buttermilk.

 It is my husband's favorite home made drink and he takes yogurt in form of chaas or simple yogurt or masala yogurt in his everyday meal. I am not a big fan of chaas but to accompany him, I also started including chaas in my diet.

To make Masala Chaas you will need :-

2-3 tablespoon of plain yogurt

1 teaspoon chopped cilantro 

1 teaspoon chopped mint (optional)

Salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon roasted cumin powder

1/2 cup water

Take a bowl and add yogurt to it. Add salt and cumin powder and mix well so that all lumps are broken. Use stirrer if required. Add water, mint and cilantro to it and mix well. Serve cold or at room temperature.

So what are you waiting for? Try it today and enjoy.........

Cabbage Carrot Subji

When we add something which is liked by our family into boring everyday subji, definitely they would love to eat the new version of the same old subji........

Today I tried with carrot with cabbage and it taste really good.

To make Cabbage Carrot Subji you will need :-

2 cup of  roughly chopped cabbage

2-3 tablespoon of carrot diced

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon jeera/ cumin seeds

2 tablespoon oil

1/2 tablespoon coriander cumin powder

1/2 tablespoon red chilly powder

1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon chopped coriander for garnishing

2-3 tablespoon water

Take a pot and allow oil to heat up. Add jeera to it. Allow it to crackle. Add chopped cabbage to it and saute it for about 1 minute. Check in between and if needed add water. When it gets cooked properly add all the spices and mix well. Allow all the spices to blend in subji. Serve with roti or paratha.

Homemade Yogurt (Dahi)

Today I am sharing with you very simple recipe but sometimes it plays trick when you are making out of India. In my early days in United States I was just struggling to make yogurt at home. My husband generally takes  yogurt at least one time in his meal so I want to make it at home so that I don't have to buy from outside. 

One of my friend here gave me trick and I followed it till today and everything is going well.....

To make Homemade Yogurt you will need :-

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon yogurt

Take a pot (tapeli) and add milk to it. Put it on low flame and allow it to boil. One boil is enough for it. Put the flame off and allow milk to cool till it is lukewarm. Add yogurt to it and mix well and put in the warm place like oven or microwave (don't turn it on). It needs average 3-4 hours in summer and about 5-6 hours in winter to form into yogurt.

Note :- You need not to turn on oven or microwave.

Drumstick with Besan (chickpea flour) Subji

People make lot of use of drumstick. Mostly it is used in making sambhar, but I made subji out of it and this is one of my and my brother's favorite subji.

To make Drumstick with Besan Subji you will need :-
2 drumstick (cut in to length  of around 2 inch and boiled)
1/2 cup besan
2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon ginger chilly paste
3-4 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Pinch of turmeric powder
Salt to taste

Take a pot and add oil to it. Add mustard seeds when oil is hot and allow it to crackle. Add besan to it and roast it properly. Add buttermilk and mix well till it gets smooth. Allow it to simmer on low heat. Add ginger chilly paste, sugar and salt to it. Add turmeric powder and mix well till it gets thicken. Add drumstick to it and mix well. Serve hot with roti and rice.

Note :- You can also add garlic to it and that too taste good.

Olive Salad- Side Dish

Today unexpected guest came and I had to make some quick side dish and it just clicked to me and I started mixing the things and this salad comes out really good.

To make Olive Salad you will need:-

2-3 olives sliced
1 cup cucumber sliced
1 cup carrot sliced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup apples diced
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt to taste

Take a bowl and mix olives, cucumber, carrot, apples and cilantro. Add mayonnaise, black pepper, olive oil, salt and lemon juice to it and mix well. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Try this once it turns out really good and helps when shortage of time.....

Easy Fruit and Salad Appetizer

I always try to make recipes simple. Also I make sure that they are easy and can be made in very less time. I am sharing with you few of them for the upcoming holiday parties.

To make fruit appetizer you will need :-

3-4 apple cubes

3-4 banana cubes

3 toothpick

Take apple and banana cubes and place it on toothpick and serve.

To make salad appetizer you will need :-

3-4 olives

3-4 cucumber slices

3-4 apple cubes

3-4 carrots slices

Take all the things and arrange on toothpick and serve.

Almond (Badam) Basundi

Hey guys festival season is going on so lets make something sweet. Today I tried with almond basundi for the first time and it turned out really good and thought of sharing with you all.

To make Almond Basundi you will need :-

2 cups milk (preferably full fat)

3/4 cup La Lechera condensed milk

1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

3-4 cardamom seeds

5-6 almond sleeves

Take a pot and add milk to it and allow it to get hot. Then add condensed milk and mix it well. Add sugar if desired. Stir in continuously at low flame. Add almond sleeves and cardamom seeds to it. Stir in mixture till it gets thick. Allow it to cool down and serve cold.

 

Coriander Mint Rava (Semolina) Idli

Hey guys I am back......I had taken break from blogging because my exams were there and I need to concentrate on that. Now I am free from studies so now I can think differently on my new recipes. Today I am sharing you very simple and easy breakfast or anytime snack recipe. It's Coriander Mint Rava Idli.

To make Coriander Mint Rava Idli you will need :-

1-1/2 cup semolina/rava

1/2 cup sour yogurt

Salt to taste

3-4 tablespoon coriander mint chutney

1 tablespoon oil

Water if needed

Pinch of baking powder

Take a bowl and add rava to it and microwave it for about one minute. Allow it to cool down. Add yogurt and salt to it and mix well. Allow it to rest for about 1 hour. After that add coriander mint chutney and baking powder to it and mix well.

Take idli steamer and allow water to boil. When water comes to boil apply oil on the idli mold dish and pour the batter. Do not fill too much. Steam it till it gets cooked. Say about 8-10 minutes on low to medium flame. Serve hot with tea or chutney of your choice.

Masala Muesli

My husband is very much found of diet and healthy food. So today I tried with muesli but with a twist. Instead of eating in breakfast I made it in dinner and that too masala.

For making Masala Muesli you will need :-

1 cup muesli soaked in buttermilk
Salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon pulav masala
2-3 tablespoon peas
2-3 tablespoon corn kernels
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon red chilly powder
 Pinch of Turmeric powder
Water as needed

Take a pan and add soaked muesli along with all the other ingredients except water. Allow it to cook little bit. Add water about 1/2 cup and mix well. Cook muesli till it gets cooked and water is soaked. Serve hot. I serve plain yogurt with masala muesli.

Rajma (Red Kidney Beans) Masala

On sunday I try to make recipes which my husband likes the most. So I made today one of his favorite Rajma Masala.

To make Rajma Masala you will need :-

1-1/2 cup of rajma boiled 

1 teaspoon garam masala

1 teaspoon red chilly powder

1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon cumin coriander powder

2-3 curry leaves

3-4 tablespoon oil

Water as needed

1/2 cup onion chopped

1/2 cup tomato chopped

2-3 cloves of garlic chopped

Take a bowl and soak rajma for about 3-4 hours. Take out water about and add new water  about 4 cups and pinch of salt and pressure cook for about 7-8 whistle (adjust as per your pressure cooker). Allow it to cool down. Take a pan and add oil to it. When the oil is warm then add cumin seeds and when it gets crackle add curry leaves to it. Be careful so that it does not splutter. Add chopped onion to it and saute till it get cooked. Add chopped tomatoes and garlic and saute it till it gets cooked. Add all the spices and mix well. Add boiled rajma to it and mix well.

Serve hot with roti or paratha.

Roti Atta (Dough)

Today I would like to share with you my experience when I came to United States. Here the whole wheat flour available is such that I was just not comfortable in my earlier days, say about 1-2 months. Then I found the secret to make roti atta as India by experimenting various things and methods. 

For making Roti Atta you will need :_

3 cups of whole wheat flour ( I used sujata whole wheat flour)

1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

1 tablespoon oil

1-1/4 cup lukewarm water

Take a bowl and add whole wheat flour and salt and mix well. Then slowly add half cup water while mixing the whole wheat flour. Add water as needed and make  not too soft dough nor too hard dough,  don't make it so soft that you find it difficult while rolling. Apply oil on dough and knead is again. Allow it to rest for atleast fifteen minutes covering the lid before making roti.

Sometimes I feel lazy so I make roti dough for 2 days and store in refrigerator in airtight container immediately after making dough, if I am using it next day. It stays good for the next day too and saves your time.

Instant Chocolate Cup Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Festival season is still continuing and I thought of making something different from traditional sweet, so I thought of making cup cake!!!

When you have to serve large amount of people as dessert this serve really good as each one have their own individual portion and you don't have to worry about serving the guest. I have skipped eggs and substituted with evaporated milk.

For making Instant Chocolate Cup Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting you will need :-

1 packet of Pillsbury Cake Mix

1 tin of evaporated milk

Oil quantity as shown on cake mix packet

Cup cake liners

Butter spray

Cream Cheese 1 packet (softened)

Zip lock bag

3-5 tablespoon sugar

Make cake batter as directed on packet. Arrange cup cake liners on the cup cake molded tray. Spray butter spray on each of them properly and then pour the cake batter uptil half. Bake it as directed on cake mix packet. Allow it to cool down. 

Take a bowl and add softened cream cheese and sugar and mix well. Fill it in ziplock bag and then one one corner cut it and make a cone shape. Design as per your choice. Serve your near and dear ones these goodies................