Mini Uttapam Appetizer

I had a left over Idli batter and I thought of making something unique for my afternoon snack. I thought of adding cheese because it is one of my favorite ingredient. So I prepared mini uttapam appetizer. I made it very simple with the ingredients I have with me on hand.

To make Mini Uttapam Appetizer you will need :-

6-7 mini uttapam (already shared recipe of uttapam)

2-3 tablespoon ketchup

2-3 tablespoon coriander chutney

1 teaspoon garlic chutney ( easily available in Indian Grocery Store)

Cheese as required

Take a plate and place mini uttapam and apply on one uttapam ketchup about 1 tablespoon, on another uttapam 1 tablespoon coriander chutney. Apply garlic chutney on another uttapam as per your need. Shred cheese on all the uttapam and serve.

Vaghereli (Masala) Idli

Whenever I have leftover Idli's, I always make this vaghereli idli. It tastes just too good. So let me not just talk about it and share you recipe....

To make Vaghereli Idli you will need :-

8-10 idli cut into diced shaped

Salt to taste

2-3 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon red chilly powder

3-4 teaspoon chopped cilantro

Take a pot and add oil to it and heat up oil. Add mustard seeds to it and allow it to crackle. Add sesame seeds and be careful they will splutter. Add idli and all the spices and salt to it. Mix well. Add chopped cilantro before serving.

Peas Pulav

I like to make the traditional recipe with the twist and although the taste should remain the same. I tried with peas pulav and it turned out good.

To make Peas Pulav you will need :-

1 cup basmati rice

3-4 teaspoon chopped cilantro

Salt to taste

5-6 tablespoon frozen peas

1 teaspoon ghee

1-1/2 cups of water

Take a bowl and add rice to it and wash it 3-4 times. Now in the broad pan add washed rice and add 1-1/2 cup of water, frozen peas, ghee and salt. Allow it to cook on low flame. When the rice gets cooked add cilantro and mix well. Your peas pulav is ready to serve.

Dahi Wada

Summer has started and I wanted something which can go very well in dinner. I thought of making dahi wada. Wada are made from urad dal. I have already shared recipe of urad dal wada.

To make Dahi Wada you will need :-

4-5 urad dal wada

6-7 tablespoon of yogurt mix

2-3 tablespoon tamarind dates chutney

Pinch of red chilly powder

Pinch of cumin powder

Water for soaking

Salt to taste

1/4 tablespoon sugar

Take a bowl and add urad dal wada and soak in about 1-2 cups of water for about 1 hour. When you want to serve take out all wada out of water and squeeze all the water by pressing wada. Keep it in another bowl. Now for yogurt mix add yogurt, sugar and salt in a small bowl and mix well till it breaks all lumps and sugar and salt dissolves. Now take serving bowl and arrange wada, add yogurt mix on it and sprinkle red chilly powder and cumin powder and serve.

I generally keep yogurt mix in refrigerator when I want to serve in summer. It gives coolness in hot summer days.

Vegetable Bhajiya (Dumplings)

I am big fan of fried food. Even though fried food is not too healthy I enjoy a lot. Last week it was very cloudy and I thought of making something fried for my lunch. I thought of making Vegetable Bhajiya adding my favorite vegetables to gram flour. 

To make Vegetable Bhajiya you will need :-

1 cup gram flour

2 teaspoon yogurt

2-3 tablespoon frozen corn

2-3 tablespoon carrot chopped

5-6 tablespoon onion chopped

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Pinch of baking soda

1/4 teaspoon red chilly powder

Water as needed

Take a bowl and add gram flour, yogurt, carrot, corn, onion and salt. Mix well. Add water to make a batter not too thin just like you can make dumpling out of it. Add baking soda and mix well. In a frying pan add oil and when oil gets heat up add small dumplings with the help of spoon. Fry them at medium flame. When it gets cooked properly remove from the flame and serve hot with ketchup or chutney of your choice.

Ginger Chilly Paste

Hey guys I shared many recipes in which I mentioned about ginger chilly paste. Today I will share with you how to make ginger chilly paste and also to store it for long time.

To make Ginger Chilly paste you will need :-

1/4 cup ginger roughly chopped

12-13 medium size green chilies roughly chopped

2-3 tablespoon water

1/4 tablespoon salt

Wash ginger and chilies properly. Pat dry them. Remove the skin of ginger and roughly chop them. Take a grinder and add roughly chopped ginger and chilies and grind them to fine paste. Your ginger chilly paste is ready. 

If you want to store it for a month or so then add salt to it and mix well and freeze it in airtight container. When you want to use take out the container from freezer about 1-2 hours and you can use it then. Then freeze it again back.

Til and Valiyari Mukhwas (Sesame Seeds and Fennel Seeds)

Hey guys I like to make many combination using the same ingredients. I have already shared recipe of Fennel seeds mukhwas and Sesame seeds mukhwas in my earlier post.

To make Til and Valiyari Mukhwas you will need :-

1 cup Sesame seeds mukhwas

1 cup Fennel seeds mukhwas

Take a bowl and mix sesame seeds and fennel seeds mukhwas and store in airtight container. It stays good for 2-3 months. You can adjust quantity of sesame seeds and fennel seeds as per your taste.

Tip of the day (How to quickly ferment Idli Batter)

I had guest over weekend and I forgot to check weather and I was so confused because I was planning to make Idli and how it will get ferment in 6-8 hours on a rainy day!!!

I thought of adding salt immediately after I churned my dal and rice. I added a 1 teaspoon of salt in around 3-4 cups of batter and to my surprise it got fermented so fast that I was able to make fluffy idli after around 6 hours. So do try this in cool weather and it will surely works. 

Keep your batter in warm place like oven or microwave without turning it on. Even if the oven or microwave is not on with the help of salt it will ferment fast.

Til (Sesame Seeds) Mukhwas

In India different types of mukhwas are made at home. My mother always makes fennel seeds, sesame seeds mukhwas at home. I am not too fan of such mukhwas but I like the one available in market. My husband likes homemade mukhwas, so I started making it at home and now even I eat often such homemade mukhwas.

To make Sesame Seeds Mukhwas you will need :-

2 cups sesame seeds (available in Indian Grocery Store)

2 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Take a bowl and wash sesame seeds very well with water 2-3 times because sometimes it may have dirt in it. Drain out all the water from it. Keep it to dry by spreading on cloth or paper napkin. Make sure that all the seeds are dry. Now take this dry sesame seeds and put in bowl. Add lemon juice, turmeric powder and salt to it and mix well. Keep it aside for about 2-3 hours. Then take a heavy bottom pan and roast these sesame seeds on very low flame. Stir it continuously till it get crispy. Be careful while doing this, because sesame seeds splutter a lot and these hot seeds might burn you. Now after all the seeds are properly roasted keep it aside to cool down completely. After it gets cooled down then store in airtight container. It stays good for about 2-3 months.

Khajur (Dates) Bite

I had guest on this weekend and I thought of making something sweet but in bite size. I go on thinking so much and I just looked at the ingredients which I have. I combined 3 of them together and it turned out in to bite size dessert which was loved by everyone so much that it just gone away all!!!!

To make Khajur Bite you will need :-

10-12 khajur/dates

1 tablespoon nutella hazelnut spread

4 tablespoon peanuts without skin

1 teaspoon powdered sugar

Take khajur and wash them properly and pat dry them. Make a slit from one side. In another bowl add peanuts and nutella and mix well. With the help of spoon fill in the khajur. After all the khajur gets filled up then dust powder sugar and keep in refrigerator in airtight container. Serve chilled.

You can make this day before and keep in refrigerator.

Urad Dal wada (Black lentil dumplings)

Past two days it rained and I thought of making something crunchy which also matches with the weather. I thought of making Urad Dal wada. My mother makes this often and I have watched her making wada and the whole procedure but never made it on my own. This was the first time I made it on my own and it came really good.

To make Urad Dal wada you will need :-

2 cups of urad dal without skin/ with skin (available in Indian Grocery Store)

Salt to taste

2-3 tablespoon ginger chilly paste (adjust to your choice)

Oil for frying

4 cups of water

Pinch of baking soda

Take a bowl and add urad dal to it. I was not having urad dal without skin with me so I soaked dal for 1-2 hours and washed it more than 10 times each time removing its skin as much as possible. After that almost 90% of skin was removed. If you have urad dal without skin than it would be better option. Then wash dal(without skin) 2-3 times and soak it for atleast 4-5 hours till all dal gets covered and above that little water. Keep adding water if dal absorbs all water. After 4-5 hours remove all the water from dal. Now grind dal in mixture. Add water about 5-6 tablespoon if required. Batter should not be too liquidy. Add ginger chilly paste and salt and mix well. Add baking soda and mix well. Heat up oil in frying pan and when oil gets moderately hot, then with the help of spoon add small dumplings carefully to oil and allow it to fry till golden brown. Remove from the flame and serve hot with coriander chutney or tamarind and date chutney.

Guacamole

I am big fan of avocado and I like to add in my sandwich, burrito and I can just eat it with chips. Among all of them I like to make guacamole out of it. 

To make Guacamole you will need :-

1 avocado

1 tablespoon chopped onion

1 tablespoon chopped tomato

Salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Take out pulp from the avocado. Slightly mash it. Add chopped onion, tomatoes, salt, black pepper and lemon juice and mix well.

You can also add coriander leaves and green chillies if you like.

Masala Mirch (Spiced Pepper)

I went to purchase vegetables and to my surprise I found big green peppers which are mild and I immediately took some for preparing masala mirch. My mother makes this often and everybody loves it. 

To make Masala Mirch you will need :-

2-3  peppers (big green peppers which are mild)

5 teaspoon oil

Salt to taste

Pinch of garam masala

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon coriander cumin powder

1-1/2 teaspoon red chilly powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

Water as needed

Wash peppers properly and pat dry them. Remove all the seeds by making a slit. Keep them aside. Take a bowl and add coriander cumin powder, sugar, salt, garam masala, red chilly powder, turmeric powder and 2 teaspoon oil and mix well. Now heat up 3 teaspoon oil in the pan. While oil is heating up fill some of the masala in the peppers and keep some masala for garnishing. When oil is hot add peppers in pan and allow them to cook. Add 4-5 tablespoon water if needed. Cook on all the sides. When the masala gets cooked and when the peppers get tender add rest of masala and cover with lid. Allow all the masala and peppers to cook well. Serve with roti or paratha.

Onion Rings

On sunday afternoon, I thought of making something crunchy and tried with the onion rings and it turned out good.

To make Onion Rings you will need :-

1 big red/white onion rings

3-4 tablespoon all purpose flour

3-4 tablespoon corn flour

Salt to taste

Pinch of turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon chilly flakes

1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder

1/2 teaspoon dry basil leaves (crushed)

Pinch of baking soda

1/2 cup water

Oil for frying

Take onion and cut into slices and separate all the rings out of it and keep aside. Take a bowl and add all purpose flour, corn flour, salt, black pepper, chilly flakes and basil. Mix well. Add baking soda and mix well. Add little water at time and make a thick paste, but it should be such that onion rings can be dipped into it. Heat up oil in kadai and when oil gets hot, dip one onion ring at time and then carefully put in oil for frying. Fry till it gets cooked and crispy.

Enjoy with ketchup or a cup of coffee or tea.

Garlic Sev

Sev is very traditional Indian snack. It is made from chickpea flour and it is fried in oil. It is basically crispy fried noodles.

To make Garlic Sev you will need:-

1-1/2 cup chickpea flour

1 tablespoon garlic powder

Salt to taste

Pinch of red chilly powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon oil

Pinch of cumin powder

1/2 cup water

Oil for frying

Take a bowl and add all the ingredients except water. Add water slowly and make a not too soft not too hard dough. Apply oil to it and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes. Then grease the sev making jar with butter spray all over and then put the chickpea dough in it. Allow to heat oil on medium flame. Make sev in circular form in the oil. Be careful while making it. Turn it over and cook it. Take out of oil and then store in airtight container after it gets cool off completely.

It can stay good for about 20-25 days.

Strawberry Lemonade

Anything which is combined with lemon in a drink gives very refreshing feeling. I have tasted at many places strawberry lemonade and its one of my favorite drink. I have today made my version of Strawberry Lemonade.

To make Strawberry Lemonade you will need :-

4-5 strawberry roughly chopped

1 big lemon juice

1 teaspoon sugar

Salt to taste

Pinch of Black Pepper

1 cup of water

Take all the things to a mixer and churn it well. If you want to make it chilled then add few pieces of ice cubes to it. You can even strain it from strainer and serve. I like to have some chunks of strawberry in my drink so I don't prefer to strain it. It is very easy to make and it taste too yummy.

Red Bell Pepper and Carrot Handvo

Handvo is one of the favorite dish of my husband so I go and try new ingredients and combinations. Today I thought of making it on little orange-red side, so thought of carrot and red bell peppers.

I have already shared recipe in my earlier post of Handvo how to make basic batter. Then just add 1 cup of diced carrot and red bell pepper. Mix it well. Tadka, roasting and cooking of handvo is same as my other handvo recipe.

You can check my other recipes of Handva, they are also too good in taste.

How to store Spinach (Palak) Puree

I always make small batches of spinach puree and freeze it. It can stay good for a month or so. It is made easily and comes out handy when you need it quickly.

Wash Spinach were well with water. Take a big pot filled with water and add spinach leaves to it and boil it. It is done very quickly. After it gets boiled remove all the hot water carefully and then transfer spinach leaves to cold water for a minute or so. Then take out leaves and puree in mixer. Store in airtight container for a month in freezer.

Grape and Plum Summer Drink

I like fresh fruits as they are good source of energy. Summer has already started and I thought of making something from the fruits I have....I checked out my refrigerator and found that I have some fruits and then I thought of making a fresh summer drink.

To make Grape and Plum Summer Drink you will need :-

1 cup green grapes

2-3 plums roughly chopped

Salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon sugar

Pinch of black pepper

Pinch of cumin powder

1 cup water

Grind grape and plum to mixer and blend it. Take it out and with the help of strainer strain all the pulp out of it. Then add cold water, salt, sugar, black pepper and cumin powder and mix well. Serve chilled.

You can make it ahead of time for say about 1 or 2 hours and keep in refrigerator when your guest are going to come. 

Mooli Paratha (Easy)

I try to keep my lunch light. I tried with mooli paratha, it turned out great and taste too good with yogurt.

To make Mooli Paratha you will need :-

1-2 medium size radish grated

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon chilly flakes

Oil for roasting

1 teaspoon oil

Mix all the ingredients except water. Add water slowly and make a paratha type dough. Roll it and roast on skillet. Roast both sides till golden brown spots are seen or it is cooked properly. Serve hot.

Methi (Fenugreek) Poori

I love Indian snacks and I go on trying with the ingredients which are my favorite. I thought let's make something different. I tried with methi poori.

To make methi poori you will need :-

1/2 cup dried methi leaves

1 cup semolina

1-1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup oil

Salt to taste

2 teaspoon carom seeds

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon cumin powder

1-2 cups water

Pinch of turmeric

Oil for frying

Mix all the ingredients except water. Add water slowly and make a tough dough. Allow it to rest for an hour or so. Make small balls of dough and roll in round shape. Prick with the knife or fork so they do not puff up. Fry them at medium heat when oil gets hot. Fry till golden brown color is seen. 

Store in airtight container after it gets cooled off for 15-20 days.

Healthy Grape Salad

Rather than having my full Indian meal in afternoon, sometimes I prefer to have a light salad with one fruit of my choice added in it. 

To make Healthy Grape Salad you will need :-

1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup green grapes
4-5 medium size diced radish
1/2 roughly chopped lettuce
1/2 cup cucumber sliced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and add salt and lemon juice as per your requirement. Sometimes you would love to have such lunch. Try it.

To make Plum Salad you will need :-

1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup diced plums
1/2 rougly chopped luttuce
1/2 rougly chopped brocolli
1/2 cup cucumber sliced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt to taste

Mix well all the things well. Adding any one fruit in the salad will make a so difference.

Healthy Sandwich

Sometimes I like to get simple in my diet. I thought of making healthy sandwich for my lunch. It is great to have some green raw vegetables in your diet.

To make Healthy Sandwich you will need :-

1 cup Julian cut bell peppers (red, yellow, green, orange)

2-3 tablespoon green onion chopped

Salt to taste

Lemon juice to taste

2 Pita Pocket

Take a bowl and add bell peppers and onion to it. Add salt and lemon juice as per your taste. Mix well. Fill in the warm pita pocket and enjoy. 

For more flavors you can add ketchup, mayonnaise and vegetables of your choice.

Pillsbury Indian Roti and Paratha variety available at.. (other than Indian Grocery Store)

Last weekend I had gone to Walmart and to my surprise what I found in frozen section? I found Pillsbury Indian Roti and Paratha variety over there. There was huge variety of Roti and Paratha at Walmart and I was so delighted to see this because if I need it sometime I do not have to rush to Indian Grocery Store to buy it.

Pillsbury Variety available at Walmart is :-

1.  Spring Onion Paratha

2. Paneer Paratha

3. Aloo  Masaledar NaanParatha

4. Paneer Naan

5. Micorwable Roti (Wheat)

6. Mooli Paratha

7. Plain Naan

8. Microwable Multigrain Roti

9. Ready to Puff Roti

10. Plain Paratha

11. Malabar Paratha

Enjoy now beacause all this good stuff is available nearer to you.

Grapes Pickle

I like to make my recipes simple and tasty. I try to make with few ingredients and make your work simple. This recipe is quick option to accompany with your meal or when you want to increase your menu count when guest are at your door.

To make Grapes Pickle you will need :-

1 cup green grapes

1 teaspoon pickle masala (sour- easily available in Indian Grocery Store)

1/2 teaspoon oil

Wash all the grapes properly. Pat dry them. Add pickle masala and oil to it and mix well. Cover it with airtight container and keep in refrigerator for getting it chilled. It taste good when it is chilled. You can also serve at room temperature. Always keep this pickle in refrigerator otherwise it will perish. It is made in no time and with less ingredients.

It taste so good that you will go on making again and again..........

Herbed Bread

I like to do lot of variation with my daily food.  Yesterday I was hungry and I went and checked out my refrigerator and I found out white bread. I thought of making something new out of it. I quickly checked my spice section and immediately flavor pop in my mind. I made it!!! and it tasted also really good.

To make Herbed Bread you will need :-

2 bread slice

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon red chilly flakes

1/4 teaspoon mixed herbs

3-4 tablespoon butter

Take a bowl  and add softened butter to it and mix all the spices with butter. Apply butter herbed mixture on both the sides of bread. Put it on the skillet and cook it till it get golden brown spots on it. Serve with soup or ketchup. It goes really good as side dish with pasta.

Sabudana and Potato Chakri-Vrat Recipe

I like to do fast. My mother prepares various stuff on day of my fast. One of them is Sabudana and Potato Chakri. It is made and dried in sunlight and can be stored for a year. When needed we can fry them in oil and can enjoy.

To make Sabudana and Potato Chakri you will need :-

1 cup sabudana soaked in water

1 cup grated potato (boiled)

Salt to taste

1 tablespoon ginger chilly paste

1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds

2 cups water

1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds

Pinch of baking soda

Oil as needed

Take a bowl and soak sabudana with water till all the sabudana are soaked properly. Use lukewarm water. Cover it with lid. Allow it to rest for about 8-10 hours. After that take this sabudana to big vessel and mix well till it get little lumpy. Add grated boiled potato to it. Add all the spices and mix well till it gets cooked properly and everything comes together and make a lumpy mixture. Allow it to cool down little bit. 

Take chakri mixture to the sev making vessel and make a round ring out of it. Dry down all the chakri completely in sunlight. Then you can store it in airtight container and then use as needed.

Note :- The image of chakri I have shown is after it has got dried in sunlight.

Potato Peas nu rasadar shaak

Indian cooking is fun and we can try with lot more variation in our daily food. I like potato too much and go on trying it with different other vegetables. Today I am sharing you one of my favorite shaak i.e. potato peas.

To make potato peas nu rasadar shaak you will need :-

2 medium size potato pealed and cut into small pieces

3-4 tablespoon frozen peas

Salt to taste

1 small tomato chopped

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Sugar to taste

1 teaspoon Lemon juice (optional)

1 teaspoon garam masala

1/2 tablespoon coriander cumin powder

1/4 tablespoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon red chilly powder

1-1/2 cup water

2-3 tablespoon oil

2-3 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Take a pot and and oil to it. When oil gets heated add mustard seeds and allow it to crackle. Add cumin seeds thereafter. Add diced potatoes and peas mix well. Add water and salt and cover it with lid. Allow it to cook till vegetables get tender. Add all the spices and allow it to simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and simmer it for 1-2 minutes. Before serving top it up with chopped cilantro.

Rice Flour Sev

I had a great vacation in India. There I learned from my mother to prepare Rice Flour Sev. This sev is to be made first and then to be dried in sunlight and then we can fry and eat. It taste too good. 

Basically it is made like Khichu(already shared recipe), the change in this is that no lumps should be there and we have to add little bit fruit salt so that it can be soft and rise little bit.

To make Rice Flour Sev you will need :-

Khichu (already shared recipe)

Pinch of fruit salt while making batter for khichu or you can mix with the rice flour and then make khichu.

After it get cooled down little bit. Put it in the sev making tin (available in India). Cover it with lid and then roll it and make a sev. Plastic sheet to be used and it should be properly greased with oil. Then make sev on it and allow it to dry in sunlight till it gets hard. It will take 7-8 hours or more.

Put it aside in open vessel for 1 day and allow it to dry completely. You can store this sev in airtight container for about a year. Whenever you need then just fry the sev in oil and enjoy.........

Muthiya & Surti Papadi Subji

This recipe is made in my house since long. Earlier I did not like it but now I have started liking this dish. It can be eaten alone or with Bhakari.

To make Muthiya & Surti Papadi Subji you will need :-
1 cup surati papadi
10-11 raw muthiya dumplings (already shared recipe)
2-3 cups water
Sugar to taste
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon coriander cumin powder
1 teaspoon ginger chilly paste
1/2 teaspoon red chilly powder
Salt to taste
3-4 kokam
3-4 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds

Take a pot and add oil to it. Add mustard seeds and allow it to crackle. Add surti papadi and water and allow it to cook well. Add all the spices except kokam. Allow water to gets boiled. When water gets boiled add 10-11 dumplings of muthiya and cook well. Do not stir too much otherwise it will break. Remove from the stove after it gets cooked and makes a thick gravy out of it. Serve hot.

Fenugreek (Methi) Muthiya

Fenugreek can be used in many forms. It gives a specific aroma/smell when it gets cooked. I and my husband love fenugreek. Today I thought of making fried muthiya out of it.

To make Fenugreek Muthiya you will need :-

1/2 cup handva flour

1/2 cup wheat flour

1 teaspoon ginger and chilly paste

Salt to taste

1 tablespoon yogurt

Sugar to taste

Pinch of turmeric powder

Pinch of red chilly powder

1/4 teaspoon carrom seeds

Oil for frying

3-4 tablespoon water if needed

Take a bowl and all the ingredients except oil. Mix well. Make a hard dumplings out of it. If required add 3-4 tablespoon water if needed. Keep it aside. Heat up oil and fry these dumpling on low heat. Fry till it gets cooked and get little brown color. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Poha Fried Chevda

I like chevda too much. This is my one of favorite snack. This homemade chevda is fried and although I have make sure that most of the oil is drained out.

To make Poha Fried Chevda you will need :-

2 cups of poha

Salt to taste

4-5 tablespoon raw peanuts

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon red chilly powder

1/2 tablespoon sugar

Oil for frying

Take a scooped shaped frying stick and add poha to it and fry well. Put in the plate. Add spices to it. Fry peanuts till it get golden brown. Add to chevda and mix well. Transfer this chevda on kitchen towel and keep it for some time till oil is absorbed by kitchen towel. Store in airtight container. It stays good for 15-20 days.

Ladoo (Atta Ka Ladoo)

Ladoo is very traditional recipe which is made in every Indian houses in different form and with different ingredients. I am sharing you today the recipe of ladoo which is taught by my mother. 

To make Ladoo you will need :-

1-1/2 cup bhakari flour

1 cup ghee (unsalted butter)

3/4 cup sugar (adjust to your taste)

Pinch of cardamom powder

Poppy seeds for garnishing

Oil for frying

3-4 tablespoon water

Take a plate and add flour and add 4-5 tablespoon ghee and mix well. Add little water at time and make a hard dough. Make small dumplings and fry at medium heat. Fry these dumplings till it get cooked and light brown in color. Allow it to cool down completely. Break this dumplings and churn them in mixture. Now add the left over ghee, sugar, cardamom powder and make small balls out of it. Top it up with poppy seeds. 

This stays good for 5-6 days at room temperature. Enjoy with your meal.

Dabeli Peanuts- Easy Munching Snack

I am trying with various snacks to munch on cricket day. I tried it for myself and then the taste come out really well and thought of sharing with you guys. These are super easy to make.

To make Dabeli Peanuts you will need :-

1 cup peanuts

Salt to taste

1 tablespoon dabeli masala (dry)

1-2 teaspoon oil

Take a oven tray and cover it with aluminium foil. Spread peanuts, salt, dabeli masala and oil and mix well. Spread it on single layer. Preheat Oven at the lowest temperature for 5 minutes. Put this tray on middle rack and roast for 3-5 minutes at lowest temperature and your peanuts will be ready. Adjust timings as per your oven. If it is not roasted in 3-5 minutes put it again for 1-2 minutes.

Easy Munching Snack

Cricket World Cup is going on we had a party for watching match together. I am also a cricket fan and I do not want to waste my time in serving all the guest and being in kitchen. I tried with this easy munching snack for my guest.

To make Munching Snack you will need :-

2 cups of peanuts

2 cups of masala wafers (Balaji Wafers)

1 cup soya sticks

1 cup banana wafers

2 cups rice papad

Take a bowl and make a small peices of masala wafers, soya sticks, banana wafers, rice papad and add peanuts to it. Mix well. Serve anytime.

Leftover Recipe - Healthy Sauce for Spaghetti

After eating oily food for so many days I thought of having something very light lunch so I made carrot- corn soup (already shared recipe). This time I made it little thick so that it can fit in the lunch. I had 2 cups of left over soup, so I thought of making spaghetti in red sauce and use that soup in it.

I boiled my thick soup by adding 1 teaspoon of  corn flour dissolved in water. It helps to thicken the sauce and then you can add the spices and flavor as per your choice and your red sauce for spaghetti is ready. It's healthy because it is made without oil!!!!

Tip of the day- Frozen Chickoo

It is very hard to get fresh chickoo in United States. We always get it in powder form or frozen. I and my husband are very fond of chickoo milk shake. When we had our vacation in India I saw my mother has frozen chickoo pieces for me so that I can enjoy my favorite drink anytime.

To make frozen  chickoo, wash chickoo and peel of the skin. Remove seeds from it. Make pieces of your choice and put in airtight container and freeze it. They stay good for a month.

Potato & Sweet Potato Bhaaji- Vrat Recipe

As I mentioned in my earlier post that we had our fast on Shivratri I prepared Potato & Sweet Potato Bhaaji to accompany Sabudana Khichadi. Potato Bhaaji is liked by everyone. Once I tasted this type of bhaaji made at Food Catering and I got the flavours and tried with the same ingredients but with less oil.

To make Potato Bhaaji you will need :-

2 medium sized boiled and diced potatoes

1 medium diced and boiled sweet potatoes

1/4 cup peanuts

3-4 green chilles chopped (adjust to your taste)

Salt to taste

Sugar to taste (optional)

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1-2 teaspoon water

3-4 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Take a pot and add oil to it. Add cumin seeds to it. Add peanuts and green chillies and roast them properly. Add diced potatoes and diced sweet potatoes and mix well. Ass sesame seeds, lemon juice, salt and sugar and mix well. Garnish with corainder leaves on top of it.

Sabudana Khichadi

Hey guys I am back with my new recipes. Before few days we had our Shivratri vrat and I prepared this wonderful dish for my family as all the family members keep fast.

To make Sabudana Khichadi you will need :-

2-1/2 cups of sabudana

1/2 cup boiled water

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon green chilies

Salt to taste

2-3 teaspoon oil

1-2 teaspoon raw peanuts

1 small diced potato (boiled)

Coriander leaves for garnishing

Take a bowl and add sabudana to it and immediately add half cup water and allow it to sit for half an hour. Your sabudana will get soaked quickly. Then take a pot and add oil to it. Heat up oil. Add cumin seeds to it, then add raw peanuts and green chilies and roast them properly. Add diced boiled potatoes and sesame seeds to it and saute it for a minute or so. Add sabudana, lemon juice and sugar and mix well. Cover it with lid and then cook it for a minute or so on low flame. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with raita or plain yogurt.

Rice Uttapam & Sambhar

I am getting busy these days and not able to post much, but today I grabbed time and writing this wonderful recipe which is liked by everyone in my family.

To make Rice Uttapam you will need :-

I have already shared recipe of Idli Batter, its same for uttapam. For uttapam you have to grind it one more time and make a smooth pouring consistency batter.

Water as needed

Salt to taste

2-3 teaspoon oil

To make Sambhar you will need :-

2 cups boiled and pureed tuvar dal

1 tablespoon sambhar masala

2-3 cloves

1 tablespoon red chilly powder

1/2 tablespoon coriander cumin powder

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

Salt to taste

3-4 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

4-5 curry leaves

1 cup boiled vegetables (drumstick & potato)

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 cup diced onion

4-5 kokam pieces 

4-5 glass of water

For making uttapam heat the griddle first. Clean the surface with the water soaked cloth. Now add 1-2 teaspoon oil and spread the batter. Allow it to cook on medium flame. Turn on other side when it gets cooked on one side. 

Take a pot and add dal to it. Add 3-4 cups of water to it. Put it on medium flame. Add turmeric, coriander and cumin powder, red chilly powder, sambhar masala and salt.  Add diced onion and kokam to it.Allow it to simmer for some time. Take a small bowl for tadka and heat 3-4 tablespoon oil in it. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and allow it to crackle. Add cloves and curry leaves to it and transfer this to dal mixture. Add boiled vegetables and tomatoes. Cook it again for about 5-10 minutes. Add coriander leaves on top of it and serve hot.

Khichu (Papadi No Lot)

In winter season my mother makes this khichu often. Also papad is made from this and can be stored in airtight container and can be enjoyed by frying or roasting them. I like this in any version. It taste too good.

To make Khichu you will need :-

2 cups of rice flour 

4-5 cups of water

1 green chilly finely chopped

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon carom seeds

Salt to taste

2 tablespoon oil for garnishing

Pickle masala for garnishing (optional)

Take a pot and add 4-5 cups of water and allow it to boil. When it is boiling add carom seeds, cumin seeds, salt and green chillies. Allow all these to boil in water at medium heat. When it starts bubbling add rice flour and reduce the flame to low and mix well. Stir continuously braking all the lumps. Mix well till it gets cooked well. Cover it with lid for a minute or so. Add 2-3 tablespoon water if it looks too dry. Serve hot with oil and pickle masala.

This can be great snack at evening.....

Pav- Bhaji

Happy New Year!!!! Let's start this new year with yummy recipes. Today I am sharing you my most favorite recipe that is Pav- Bhaji. I just love it. 

This is the recipe which I learned from my mother when I started to cook. I wanted to learn my favorite dish first so that I can make it on my own. I even like to eat at the roadside joints in India, because they have the unique flavor and taste and that too spicy....

To make Pav- Bhaji you will need :-

2-3 medium size potato

1 cup cabbage chopped

1 cup cauliflower chopped

1/4 cup green bellpepper chopped

2 medium size onion chopped

3-4 medium size tomato chopped

4-5 garlic cloves

1-1/2 teaspoon pav bhaji masala

1 teaspoon red chilly powder

1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

1/4 teaspoon cumin and coriander powder

4-5 tablespoon butter/oil

1 teaspoon lemon

1/2 cup chopped cilantro 

4-5 buns

Butter for roasting buns

1-2 cups water

Pressure cook potato, cabbage and cauliflower upto 5-6 whistles adding water to it about 1 cup. Allow it to cool down. Mash them with the help of blender. Take a pot and add butter to it. Add chopped garlic and onion and saute it till it gets transparent on low to medium heat. Add tomatoes and saute it till it get tender. Add green bell pepper and saute it for a minute or so. Add all the spices and cover it with lid. Mix well and add mashed vegetables. Cover it with lid and allow it to cook. Add water if it looks dry. Cover it again with lid and allow it to cook. It should have consistency like thick gravy.

To roast buns apply butter on both the sides of bun and roast on medium heat on skillet till it gets brown spots on it.

Sprinkle chopped cilantro and add lemon juice before serving. Serve with chopped onion or salad.